Part 3
Chapter XI. –The Rising
Count Eyvind now sat with a huge responsibility…
Viken and Skåne had to be taken care of, and in the meantime he had to keep the good connections with his liege King Henry.
That was two very difficult jobs, as both Skåne and Viken had been pillaged and plundered during the last war, and King Henry never had time for his vassals. He was only a child, but still had 39 vassals and 25 Sub-vassals. And by that, I mean vassals of his vassals…
-4 Saxon vassals
-1 Italian vassal
-19 English vassals
-1 Norman vassal
-4 Swedish vassals
-2 Frankish vassals
-1 Arab vassal
-1 Castilian vassal
-2 Norwegian vassals
-1 Scottish vassal
-1 Occitan vassal
-1 Welsh vassal
-1 Italian vassal
-19 English vassals
-1 Norman vassal
-4 Swedish vassals
-2 Frankish vassals
-1 Arab vassal
-1 Castilian vassal
-2 Norwegian vassals
-1 Scottish vassal
-1 Occitan vassal
-1 Welsh vassal
and then of course Eyvind, and the 25 sub-vassals…
But after just 2 years under Eyvind, Skåne and Viken really made progress. The deceases were cured and the industry was rebuild. The armies were reinforced and people really felt better and safer, under Count Eyvind.
In 1174, King Henry ended up in a war against Poland. He asked for his vassals support, but Eyvind really proved himself worthy as a man of Skåne, and not a puppet of his liege. He refused to send his men into war.
The responses to that were a bit different… Some liked his patriotic style, while other was afraid that it could mean their own doom. Some thought that Eyvind was weak and acted like a coward; some thought he handled the situation as a man.
No matter what, he never got the support of his Stormænd. They longed after a stormy leader like Sigurd had been before Eyvind was crowned. They tried to damage his reputation and find a weakness they could take advantage of.
Eyvind was pressed. He sought refugee in the church and asked for their support. And so he got…
The Stormænd didn’t dare to take action, as long as the clergy supported Eyvind. It was a parted mood, in a parted land.
Eyvind left Skånborg and moved to Viken with his family. There, the Stormænd were a bit easier to talk with. But all in all, Eyvind were pushed up against a corner. It was limited what he could do…
Then, early in 1176, King Henry found himself in war with the German King Ludolf.
England was pressed now, and stood alone…
Eyvind had a single chance, to prove that he also was a great leader, as his brother Sigurd.
Count Sune of Öland, had throughout the last years discriminated Eyvind and spoken badly of him. He really sucked up for his liege, but that would perhaps be his own doom now…
Eyvind had filled treasure chamber, a 3000 man big army and a lot of war-mongering Stormænd.
It was time… Eyvind called to Tinge and allied up his own Stormænd again. Together, they would raise war against King Henry and Count Sune.
