1204: The Path of The Letts

[Narvait]

*War for Tukums*

It was pagan Letts fighting Poles and Oesilian Ests. Chief Tushis Romuvan ruler of Selija offered his help against Polish Holy War, since giving Catholics a land so close would be dangerous to Selija’s own interests. Of course Semigalls - our reliable allies and friends were joining..

Belligerents
Lett Pagans:
Vanema (Lamekins)
Semigallia (High Chief Viesturs, troops lead by Talivaldis)
Selija (Tushis)
Total men ~ 4,600

Estonian Pagans:
Oeselia (High Chief Cake)
Laanemaa (Chief Ihavald)
Total men ~ 3,500

Poland:
Poland (King Wladislav III)
Total men ~ 7,100


Phase I:

Lett troops merged and went into Tukums. Estonians would maneuver around but avoid any battle.


Phase II:

Polish troops arrived into Tukums. Long battle started where outnumbered Letts were fighting bravely. In the skirmish phase light infantry and archers were holding their own against Poles, but during melee better armored enemies gained an upper hand. In the meantime Estonians started to siege Vanema hillfort.

Lett forces lost the Tukums battle and retreated into Zemgale, where they felt into Estonian trap. In the forest they got attacked by fresh enemies. Absence of Viesturs turned out crucial, without his forest ambusher skills Lett army had no chance. In the battle of Zemgale Estonians were victorious and returned to siege Vanema.

***
It was cold. Coat of Lamekins was wet from that “stupid small rain”. Wind was moving tree branches. Horse knew the road well, Chief did not even have to lead him: the Holy Grove of Kandava, Abava valley, forests and fields. There it was! No, not the Hillfort, it was the siege camp of Estonians near the old Hillfort.

Lamekins ordered his men to stop and waving the flag went to the Siege Camp. An older men rode to meet him:

• “Underdog?! We were waiting for ya! A bit wet don’t you find?” High Chief Cake was enjoying the moment.
• “You have won High Chief!”
• “Sorry, I could not hear ya well? Must be the rain!”
• “You won! Take Tukums, lead your men home. Enough deaths already.”
• “But I kind of like it here. Lovely castle you got! And your wife looks pretty!”
• “Don’t talk like that! Or..”
• “Or what Underdog?”
• “Tukums goes to Poles then” and Lamekins turned around.
• “Wait, wait Chief! Calm down, a little joke here or there is good for old friends. We take Tukums and are leaving” Cake turned to his men and cried out load: “Pack up men! We won, Tukums is ours!”

***

What was so great about Tukums that Estonians, Letts and Poles were fighting fiercely for that piece of land? It never let Lamekins sleep and he prepared for the next raid. He must find out!

 

[stnylan]

A rather ugly brutal little three-way war.

 

[Narvait]

Part 3 Underdog - The Curse of the Ring


Lamekins was raised into rank of Veteran of the Medeina Band. In the following festival he sat next to Rimgaudas from Skalva. Word after word and new friend told him the legend of Tukums:

“My friend Varidotas, or as you say Varidots. Yes, he was a Lett. So, he served at GrandMaster Vinno’s castle. Yes, in Tukums. So, one night he woke up hearing whispers and noticed few men carrying a strange chest. He said they spoke in strange language and in that chest there were some treasures. Yes, treasures, important to their crucified God. Treasures as if belonged to a guy named Jeslem. They hid the chest near Northern Tower.”

***

A thunderstorm ravaged the sky. Lightnings and rain. Wind blew. In the wooden Chief’s hall Lamekins, Viba and their 5 years old son Dausprungis were dining. It was dark and candle light was twinkling.

• “It was a great raid. We found the chest!” Lamekins noted
• “You are right! This might help us in our deals with Christians,” Viba smiled
• “No deals with Christians!” said strictly young Chief: “hear that Dausprungis, no deals with Christians. Perkons is our protector!”
• “Yes, Peko our potecto,” said little boy
• “What a young smart boy you are!” Viba smiled: “You will grow a great man!”
• “A great Chief or maybe High Chief,” added Lamekins
• “King, my young boy you are already our king!” said happy mother.
• “Viba, on other news, the raid was a success, and Viesturs promised me support” started Chief
• “Lami, don’t tell me!”
• “Yes, our boy must be a High Chief, and I will become one, The High Chief of Oeselians”
• “But Lami, they beat us last time, are you sure?”
• “Poles beat us not those Northern hares”
• “Lami, but...”

*Campaign against Oeselia*

In the battle of Tukums due to miscommunication between Vanema soldiers and Semigall allies, Oeselians won despite being outnumbered. They first rooted Vanemans and then destroyed the arriving Semigalls.

In Zemgale few months later they met again, they thought the Romuva forests would help, but no, snow turned red from Lettish blood.

The war was lost again. Even worse: enemy had captured Viesturs young daughter.

Vaino the messenger whilst accepting the surrender told Lamekins they gonna make Viesturs daughter pregnant and send her back to help Lamekins’ son, since Lettish men can’t neither fight nor love. Such words got deep to the heart of Lamekins.
The duel would solve it. Vaino was not a great dueler and Lamekins expected an easy win. He ... but in the decisive moment sun rays mirroring from Andvari’s ring, blinded him just for a moment. Body fell to the left and head rolled to the right: “You duel as you War! Doggy!” Vaino spit on the ground and left.

***

Great fireplace was being collected. Dead chief was put on top of it, next to him shaman had cut the throat of Lamekins’ favorite horse. Two slaves got sacrificed to make sure Lamekins is served well in Aizsaule (other side of the Sun). Food and weapons, great clothes. Fire took it all. Young Dausprungis who usually was very active got thoughtful: “Mom, can I go to Aizsaule with daddy?”. “You will my son, but first you be a good boy, grow up and make your mummy and tribe proud!” Viba said: “and I will help you”.


At the long table men and women got seated according to their rank. The second best seat was reserved to Semigall High Chief Viesturs. He sat down with a grim face. A noise and chat became louder and surprised when Viba sat in the Master’s Chair. She sat as if nothing had happened and asked Dausprungis on her knees. Nobody could object to that and affirmative sounds followed.

• “Viesturs, how is Zemgale, how is Riga?” Viba asked.
• “Good, good, they are ok,” replied High Chief.
• “You are a great ruler, I expected no less”
• “Thank you!” for a tiny moment a smile appeared on Viesturs face: “Viba, you know Lamekins had always been a loyal friend, if you need anything!”
• “I realized we are small High Chief, our heart is big but lands are small...”
• “You know I want to kill that old Oeselian pig more than anyone, but we must regrow our men and coffers!”
• “Preparation is a necessity of course, and patience. I propose another target”
• “Which target?”
• “Kurzeme. It belongs to Mazheikis. He does not understand the political situation and never helps our common cause”
• “For Lamekins I will help you.” Said Viesturs and loudly roared: “For Lamekins the best of Underdogs!”
• “For Lamekins!” roared men of Vanema.

 

[terr0rizm]

That goddamn ring.
Dausprungis needs to drop it into a volcano in Iceland if y'ask me.

 

[Narvait]

That goddamn ring.
Dausprungis needs to drop it into a volcano in Iceland if y'ask me.

Unfortunately he did not...

And yet, if historians wrote on Lamekins centuries later they would mention him as an ally to the great Semigallian Viesturs who helped to re-conquer Riga, but even more important would be this note:
“According to many historians Lamekins was potentially a relative and perhaps even a father of Dausprungis, the... ”

 

[stnylan]

Well sometimes as a Chief it is wise to make an exit with a splash, so to speak.

 

[TheAnguishedOne]

A fun goal to work towards! Loved your last AAR I followed, and I'm liking this so far. Hopefully you'll be able to bounce back from this rough start.

 

[Narvait]

A fun goal to work towards! Loved your last AAR I followed, and I'm liking this so far. Hopefully you'll be able to bounce back from this rough start.

Thanks mate and welcome!

Unless that ring continues to knock my characters out before their 29th summer it should be alright!

 

[alscon]

The Underdog died because he was no longer that. The Underdog.

Tukums won, Tukums lost, Oeselia not subjugated. Could have gone better for Lamekins, but it could also have gone worse. May Dausprungis have better luck.

 

[Narvait]

Sun was shining bright over Venta river. Little Dausprungis was in the tree, dreaming of the lands faraway and adventures to come.
His mother arrived:

• “Dausprungis, get down, let’s meet the warriors!”
• “Mom, I will, later”
• “Now, now, don’t be an indolent brat, they conquered Kursa for you!”
• “A bit later, I am playing”
• “Dardedze will have new stories for ya, little bear!” Viba added, “come son, respect your father’s friends!”
• “Okay, okay,” Chief of Vanema and Kursa (!) got down from the tree.

War against Mazheikis was decisive and quick, since just a few years after Lamekins’ death allied Vanema and Zemgale both had recovered from unsuccessful Oeselian campaigns.
This was the last time Viesturs and Semigalls helped Bandava family in the war. Agita got abducted into concubine of old Oeselian High Chief and alliance faded. This was also the last battle where Vanemans were lead by Dardedze, concubine and friend of Lamekins. She left to Aizsaule few years after.


There were intrigues during Viba’s regency and even a plot for Dausprungis life, where his mother would not imprison the elder Taitis. Instead they would agreed that he abandoned plot. There was another unsuccessful attempt to conquer Tukums, indeed that place seemed cursed, still inhabited by Suomenusko tribals and defended well.

But all of this was overshadowed by the astonishing change in the power balance. The family moved into Kursa, chosing Ezerpils for their new capital. Both Kurzeme and Vanema got developed by raid money. Where hardly over 1,000 Vanema warriors answered Lamekins’ warhorn, about 4,500 Curonians raised to warlord Dausprungis. New power had risen in the Eastern Baltics.

POST SCRIPTUM
Calm water, soft grass, little Dausprungis is fishing for pikes. Eyes get heavy, head gets heavy, grass is truly soft. It catches. He got a pike, as soon as Dausprungis put the fish in the net, it turned into Dwarf.

• “Oh, hello, young fella!”
• “Who are you?”
• “Call me Andvaris, ha, ha”
• “Why ha ha?”
• “Joke!”
• “What is the joke?”
• “Your life is a joke, hi, hi”
• “No it is not, is not funny”
• “You will father 4 sons, but only 2 will call you dad!”
• “That can happen!”
• “You will be a king, but never rule!”
• “This is strange”
• “No, it is a joke! Hi hi!”
• “Not funny”
• “You will start a great dynasty, but nobody will remember Bandavas!”
• “Stop it! Your jokes are not funny”
• “They are, they are, you little thief of a ring!”
• “What? No! It is my father’s ring”
• “Your father’s ha! You better wake up! Wake up little bear! Wake up!”

 

[TheAnguishedOne]

Well, at least regency went well. This Andvaris's "jokes" are worrying though.

 

[Narvait]

Well, at least regency went well. This Andvaris's "jokes" are worrying though.

It sure did. Curonia is a regional power now.

 

[stnylan]

A new power, but still a small power with some large neighours.

 

[Narvait]

***
Young man leaned his head to enter the door. He was strongly built, tall. Young warrior had a well groomed beard, expensive clothes and jewelry.

• “Mom!” said young Dausprungis
• “My big bear,” Viba smiled
• “Here, look at the necklace," Dausprungis passed it to mother, and explained: "we raided Tukums again”
• “Oh! Thanks!” Viba put necklace on
• “Mom, there is one thing I should tell you. We are going on Semigalls”
• “On Semigalls?? But they are our allies!”
• “No more.. Mom, since Viesturs died, new regent.. he just does not understand, we barely talk”
• “Maybe, maybe, but we should respect what Viesturs had done for us and take care of young Sabis”
• “Don’t worry about him mom, Sabis will rule Tervete until end of times. But under my protection!”
• “Ok, son," Viba affirmed, “But Dausprungis?!”
• “Yes?”
• “You are the last of Bandavas, give me a grandson first and a heir!”
• “You got two..”

• “What?”
• “I am joking mom, me and Viba are working on that” Dausprungis kissed mother and left.

***
War with former allies was quick. Curonia and Semigallia got reunited. It was very strategic piece of land, located well to raid rich Jersika province.

***
Loud cries of a woman, screams of the newborn. The doors of sauna house were opened wide by the leg, because in his hands Dausprungis held the newborn: “It is a boy! And a heir to Kurzeme! Kerstigens!”

***
In the wooden tower of Ezerpils hillfort 3 men were sitting around the table, when Dausprungis and unknown man entered:

• “Hello everyone! Meet Nikita! We are going to conquer Tukums!”
• “High Chief, please we are old and slow,” said marshal Varidots: “could you..?
• “Tukums? Again?” Commander Gederis remembered the last time:”them Estonians appear out of nowhere and kill us!”
• “Not out of nowhere!” triumphed Dausprungis: “From Kulgrindas! Tell them Nikita”
• “Hello men,” said Nikita.
• “Hey, hi, hello,” mumbled the three commanders
• “So, I served for Tukums chief Ilmalemb, they are using kulgrindas - hidden underwater stony roads across swampy areas,” Nikita explained:"you can walk them, but cant notice that from above" (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kūlgrinda)
• “But of course,” suddenly all made sense to Varidots now, “must have learned from Zhemaitians”
• “Nikita tell them more,” asked High Chief.

FINALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Estonian peasant revolt followed immediately, but was dealt with brutally, leader executed.


*The Northern Crusade*

Teutones Order declared war on Skalwa. It was too dangerous to let them earn the ground, so Dausprungis pledged support to Skalwian High Chief Vaisvilkas.

In Western Chronicles Dausprungis is known as Rex Dausprunge de Curonia. They say he had a power of a great bear, and under his command Lithuanian pagans earned victories against Teutones. The decisive battle took place at Selija tribe year 1225 where 10,400 pagans fought 9,500 Teutones. Dausprungis commanded the Center and Vaisvilkas of Skalwa the left flank. Light armored Letto-Lithuanians ambushed the knights, and it turned into a massacre of Christians. Several 1000s of crusaders laid down on Selija land.

Later in battle of Nalsia according ot chronicle Dausprunge had killed brother Rudolf von Habsburg among others.

Crusade got called back year two years after on 1227 with complete and undisputed Romuva victory.

***
- "Son,"
- "Yes, mother?"
- "Tell me of your next plans!"
- "Jersika, will raid them!"
- "Why not conquer them?"
- "Indeed!"

 

[alscon]

Things are looking up. The key province - Tukums - has been secured, and the Teutons repelled. And Dausprungis even has a child to carry on his legacy! Or three...

 

[stnylan]

A very good result.

 

[TheAnguishedOne]

A Crusade defeated! Always good news as a Pagan.

 

[Narvait]

Things are looking up. The key province - Tukums - has been secured, and the Teutons repelled. And Dausprungis even has a child to carry on his legacy! Or three...

A very good result.

A Crusade defeated! Always good news as a Pagan.

Yeap, some good times ahead.

To be fair though those Holy Fury Northern Crusades are not THE crusades where all Europe comes at you, it is more realistic - Teutones Order alone fighting up pagan tribals. So, they were beatable.
If HRE deathstacks decided to join the party, Dausprungis would be quoting Bible right now.

 

[Narvait]

Russian chronicles know Dausprungis as Dovsprun Lamyakovich warlord of Curonians and a menace to good Greek Christians. A pagan Chief he was believed to be a shaman, born from a man and a bear mother, for his almost inhuman strength.
Early XIII century he had vassalized the Orthodox Prince Visvaldis of Jersika and was frequently raiding Christian Polotsk and Pskov principalities. A punishment of God for Polotsk sins.

After securing Jersika and raising funds for another war via raiding, it was decided to subjugate East Estonians. They were last remaining force in Estonia to challenge Curonians. Dausprungis understood, if he was to rule Baltics he had to act! Strong army was risen - on Letts side numbering 5,000 warriors, Estonians could only field 3,000. The decisive battle happened near Riga town. In the middle of the battle Dausprungis noticed a familiar short stature. Could it be? Andvaris? For a moment he had lost attention, but that was enough.

Several Russian sources (I.e. Polotsk Old Chronicle, Staraya Povest Polotska) claim that Dovsprun Lamyakovich got killed in the battle of Riga. We know that is not true.


***
First appeared riders, then a horse wagon. Viba was looking through the window and almost feinted, her stomach felt bad. She dressed her best clothes and went outside.
Near the wagon Dausprungis wife was crying with newborn Lamekins on her hands, older son Kerstigens observed it from distance.
On the wagon the great bear of Curonia was sleeping - her majestic son.

• “He got hit on his head,” explained Commander Daumants: “he comes alive, but is unable to speak”
• “Did you win the battle, son?” Queen Mother interrupted him.
• “What, Yes, we won. Estonians surrendered.”
• “Thank you, Daumants, for victory and for bringing my son home,” said Viba and turned to Kerstigens: “my boy, your dad will be alright! We shall venerate the ancestors for his health.”

Later in her room alone Viba collapsed on the floor. Her Lami died 28 years old and now their 28 years old son was turned into a vegetable.


***
Prince Kerstigens watched young Estonian girl Are being taken out of prison and brought to stone. She was screaming and trying to break out. “It will help dad to wake up,” thought Kerstigens, “it will help dad”. She got taken to the offering stone and killed. Are's body got burned. Her beautiful face turned into ashes. Why would his ancestors enjoy such a thing? World was screwed up place.
Dad never got better.

***
Two well built men carried Dausprungis to thrown room and sat him in the chair, holding from each side, keeping his head up. Court kryve Tots arrived with an amber crown. Dausprungis got crowned the first king of Estonia under cheers of his loyal warriors.
Viba was watching proud, her son had become a king! It took few years to subjugate remaining tribes, but under her wise leadership Curonians did it. Many Baltic holds were built in the process. Curonia developed.

***
King Dausprungis died 33 years old. He was the first king of Estonia. Kerstigens was only 14, he got sent to Gotland to earn experience and business contacts. Viba continued her third regency.

 

[stnylan]

Mmm, third regency for Viba? Anyone else would start to get suspicious :d