1204: The Path of The Letts

[Narvait]

***
Peteris II died within a few years and House rule went into hands of 7 years old Gothic Prince Petros III of House Kerstigens, but Republic of Estonia into hands of Utilis (House Tontegode).

***
Next years were dark and little was known. Several Prince Mayors changed and each new Prince Mayor took a trade post or two from young Petros. Nothing could be done.

***

It was a great luck that boy had a great guarding, friend and regent all in one person - Bishop Vetseke. He told funny stories and made sure the black days would not harm young Prince.

***
But days were dark Estonia got attacked from three sides - Lithuania wanted Semigallia, a Sunni Cuman warlord went for Finnish possessions and a revolt happened in Kurzeme itself. Bishop Vetseke understood that he had to support new Prince Mayor. Of all wars they lost one - Finland was too far away to hold onto.

***
Aged 29 Serene Dodge of Estonia Petros III went into crossroads in the midnight. He held a black cat in his hands. Petros went there and spoke loudly:
"Dausprungis, I know you are there! You are the great warrior and I am happy to have your blood in me, just like I am having a blood of Hermanarich and great Gothic warlords. You are a worthy hero and a reason Estonia persists. I will prove to be a worthy heir and you will let me! Rest in Peace!"
With these words Petros released the Cat and Dausprungis was never seen again. Year 1333 - rule of Petros the Gothic Prince begun.

 

[TheAnguishedOne]

Alright! Hopefully no more short reigns and vassals being uppity. Petros III looks quite promising.

 

[Captured Joe]

How (and why) did you even become Gothic?

 

[Narvait]

How (and why) did you even become Gothic?

Invited a sexy Gothic girl, seduced. I usually hunt them for my partners, love their male portraits with sexy moustache. Produced bastards are of mother’s culture. Plus this one was attractive and diplomat by stars, so did not want to waste his childhood focus on heritage

But no worries, Petros will soon become Peteris. After all it is the Path of Letts.

 

[Captured Joe]

Invited a sexy Gothic girl, seduced. I usually hunt them for my partners, love their male portraits with sexy moustache.

I understand, I usually get my characters a Baltic or Hungarian wife too...

 

[alscon]

The charms of the republic. Petros at least seems to have the right qualities for one part of being doge, though he could do with being, you know, a better merchant .

Which makes me think that there aren't exactly peaceful times ahead.

 

[stnylan]

Mediaeval life is so chancy

 

[Narvait]

***
It was hard not to notice the big smile and charming words, compliments and enthusiastic manner of speech. Peteris Kerstigens III was a Prince Mayor who could find a way to hearts. It was during his reign when the Council got stripped of its rights and even abolished. Prince Mayor could make decisions unopposed. When Pope called for a Crusade against Sultan Garsiya II of Castile, Republic answered the call, hired a Holy Order and under command of Peteris himself went to Portugal.

Did he escaped near death in the lost battle of Tarazona where over 40,000 men battled and over 7,000 perished by dressing up as poor beggar?
Did he seduced beautiful Aldonca in Lisabon bar and even brought her to Ezerpils where she gave him a son?
Did he sieged many castles and participated in the harvest parties with local population singing and dancing under name of Jose of North?
Did he really single handed killed over 1,000 of saracens?

Many tales were told on his deeds, but one was clear. Pope named him the biggest contributor of the Crusade, and since Peteris III supported Pope's candidate Gomez d'Ivrea for a king of Castille, Vatican paid well. Including Vatican's gift treasury of Republic now held over 12,000 ducats. Also Elio of Italian branch of House Kerstigens was named a duke of Castille.

**THE NORTHERN WAR**

Concept of Northern War is a modern historian invention to describe number of campaigns of Peteris Kerstigens III to enlarge his realm. Indeed despite Peteris III being remembered as a Peaceful Architect and known by nickname 'Patron of Arts', his forces were actively fighting to expand Estonia's influence.

Belligerents:
Kingdom of Denmark
Kingdom of Sweden
Kingdom of Finland
Kingdom of Norway
Teutones Order

VS
Republic of Estonia

Peteris had successfully used 'divide et impera' attacking his foes by one, and ensuring that Danish kingdom split into number of small polities he could vassalize by brute force. These are the lands earned by Estonia during the war:
Osterbotten - 1340
Narke - 1342
Stockholm - White Peace - Teutones held onto it
Helsinki - 1348
Savonia - 1349
Jylland - 1353 (taking Jylland split up Denmark in Scania, Rugen and Denmark proper)
Scania - 1354
Rugen - 1355
South Finland - 1356
Uleaborg - 1358
Vestlandet - 1360
Kallavesi - 1363
Olonets - 1365
Vastergotland - 1367
Slesvig - 1369
Skagen - 1371
Nidaros - 1371

As a result Peteris III Kerstigens claimed himself a King of Finland. Kingdoms of Sweden and Denmark got reduced to few provinces. All the Baltic Sea Catholics joined into a Defensive Pact against Republic. Only then the Holy Fury got stopped. "Vatican has created a monster," wrote bishop Karl of Sweddish Kingdom, saying that money given to Peteris III as victor of Crusade had caused killings and sufferings to Baltic Christian nations. Yet Peteris Kerstigens III responded by huge infrastructure and trade projects building prosperity and technology boost.

**THE PATRON OF ARTS**

In the Vanema province Elku (idols') Forest was located, the sacred Romuva place where ancient Curonians sacrificed to their gods. Nobody was permitted to hunt there, and nobody did. Even Christianity could not change this. However today the forest is known by name St Daniel's Forest. They kept it sacred, but they built a Great Statue of St Daniel Kerstigens at the entrance. It was a Peteris III idea to keep folk traditions and new faith united.

In the province of Tukums a Great Library (Petera Biblioteka) was built to remember the great scientist and proponent of Helio-Centric model Peteris Kerstigens I. This helped technology spread.

Great Harbor (Ezerpils Dizhosta) got stages II and III finished. Many infrastructure buildings got built to facilitate trade and taxes. Prosperity reached lands.

Also Peteris Kerstigens III was named magus of Hermetics Society, he was one of the enlightened rulers of the Republic. He wrote a book Bestiary (book that gave sex appeal to its owner, obviously he knew what to write, since evil tongues mentioned in his 50ies he was not really a grandfather of his son's children but rather a dad) and a Magnum Opus on Astrology.

**LATE YEARS**

When Peteris III was already 73 years old, another crusade was called - for Jerusalem. Muslims had taken it again. Of course Estonia participated again, but this time Europe met the strongest resistance possible. Mongol Empire joined the crusade as a defender. Many great mercenaries died for the cause, but it was all for nothing. Catholics lost. 2 years later also Peteris Kerstigens III The Hammer/ The Patron of Arts died. Apparently lost crusade did not help the old man. His sone 43 years old Andris took the rule, but only as a High Chief of Semigalls, since Toivo of Hiiumaa House took the rule as Prince Mayor.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A picture showing extent of the Most Serene Republic at death of Peteris Kerstigens III and his bloodline. It also contains a spoiler for what is to come.

 

[stnylan]

Interesting world.

 

[Captured Joe]

That's one big Estonia! Time to eat Lithuania and form a proper empire?

 

[Narvait]

That's one big Estonia! Time to eat Lithuania and form a proper empire?

Actually will check it up. I was so focused on Scandinavia (that is quite a lot of land needed), but perhaps Wendish Empire (Lithuania, Poland) is easier...
I lack CM, so no custom Empire.

 

[Captured Joe]

Wendish Empire should be doable yes, I think.

 

[TheAnguishedOne]

Peteris III, a fascinating ruler. A Crusade all but carried by his efforts (and hey, good to know he's got distant relatives in another part of the world if things ever went really south for the main branch of the family), and then using his rewards to expand home against his fellow Christians. History gonna remember him as a man who took what he wanted, but Estonia sure prospered under his rule.

 

[Narvait]

Peteris III, a fascinating ruler. A Crusade all but carried by his efforts (and hey, good to know he's got distant relatives in another part of the world if things ever went really south for the main branch of the family), and then using his rewards to expand home against his fellow Christians. History gonna remember him as a man who took what he wanted, but Estonia sure prospered under his rule.

Anything in name of God and Republic!

 

[Narvait]

***
“If they die, they die,” said a middle aged man with fancy mustache, “We must send them to distract enemy’s main force.”
“But it is almost certain death!” protested young commander Steiguts.
“Son. When you grow up you will learn to sacrifice, this is a strategy!” replied High Chief Andris, veteran commander of Estonia.
“Easy to sacrifice someone else’s life, ha!” Steiguts would not calm.
“We will do what it takes to win them,” Andris looked at young boy:”and you will command them!”.

Steiguts lost his life in the battle of Saaremaa, but Estonia achieved another brilliant victory against separatists who revolted against Prince Mayor Toivo.

***
Earlier Andris was fighting in Lithuania. Prince Mayor Toivo had declared a Holy War against the last pagans of Europe. He chose a perfect moment fighting weakened enemy and after short campaign Lithuania got incorporated into The Most Serene Republic. Toivo was a great Prince Mayor but he had one significant problem - he was not Andris.

These were the days that brought the most important diplomatic victory. Again Vatican had favored Kerstigens family. Since King of Norway was excommunicated and Kerstigens demoted to mere High Chiefdom, an Invasion was granted to Andris. Norway was to be ruled by righteous Catholic ruler and who else would be more fitting than a descendant of St Daniel and son of Crusade hero Peteris III.

But first Andris needed to secure keys of his own Republic.

***
Born a fighter he had always solved problems with a sword. Commander to his father Peteris III, fighting Swedes and Danes and Finns and Swedes and Finns... But this time Prince Mayorship could not be won in a direct battle. Assassins! The great Order of killers that made all Europe tremble. If only Andris could become one of them. High Chief focused on Intrigue and spent many days looking for connections.

“Shia Islam? Yes, absolutely!” enthusiastically exclaimed Andris, “But I can’t convert openly... my realm would not understand, we must act clever and step by step.”
“I understand,” agreed Emir Aladdin, “we shall contact you later then!”
We? Was that? Were they?

***
Andris got invited to Headmaster’s Ilyas fortress in Syria. He got taken to the dark room, Andris noticed there was another person in there. “She is the enemy of the faith and she must die!” stated Ilyas and uncovered her face. It was Agita, shy daughter of Andris. So, that is what it takes, thought High Chief and took the dagger. He put it in the stomach of Grandmaster, closing his mouth with other hand. Andris waved Agita to stand up and they went outside. When there he commanded a nearby guard to follow him and another one to provide them the best horses for mission. They got on horses, quickly waved goodbye and rode to the port.

***
Toivo died and Valdur got elected next Prince Mayor. He would right away revoke Trade Post that belonged to Kerstigens, but no luck! Andris’ intrigue skill was high enough. Very high, in fact just couple of months after a misfortunate carriage accident happened to Prince Mayor Valdur. Everyone suspected Andris involvement due to a text written on the back of carriage: “Do not F with K”.

A man of many sins!

 

[TheAnguishedOne]

Andris may be quite sinful, but it's working out so far. Secretly embracing Shia Islam is pretty shocking given his family's strong ties to Christianity.

 

[Narvait]

Andris may be quite sinful, but it's working out so far. Secretly embracing Shia Islam is pretty shocking given his family's strong ties to Christianity.

He is not a very religious man

Andris toyed with the idea of Assassins helping in matters of politics.. but alas - they required daughter to be killed as part of initiation.

 

[Captured Joe]

A man of many sins!

The moustache makes it really obvious, too.

 

[alscon]

Andris seems to be a more pragmatic man than his ancestors. Sure, they got rich and powerful, but that was only a nice side effect of being a pious Christian.

 

[stnylan]

I do believe the Letts have discovered the "joy" of organised crime