Adventures from the North: A Crusader Kings 3 PS5 Multiplayer AAR

[14301:tannerman207]

Adventures from the North: A Crusader Kings 3 PS5 Multiplayer AAR​

Welcome to Adventures of the North: A Crusader Kings 3 Multiplayer AAR. This AAR is the result of a multiplayer session in which myself and several others embarked on a campaign in which we our goal was for each of us to complete a Varangian Adventure and convert to the local culture and faith of our destination within the first three generations of our dynasty. The following account of that session is derived from input provided by the players as well as the actions taken by their characters in-game. As we plan to continue this campaign in future sessions, I expect to update this thread as we progress. If you own the game on PS5 and are interested in potentially joining future campaigns, please let me know as this campaign came about from a newly created multiplayer group for those interested in role-play.

Introduction
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For the peoples unfortunate enough to reside along the coasts and riverbanks of Northern and Eastern Europe, the late ninth century was a hellish existence. The vast emptiness of the sea conjured terrifying images of dragonships carrying fierce, hulking warriors. These warriors raided, pillaged, and plundered their way all across the North Atlantic, hailing from the rough, unforgiving terrain of their homeland Scandinavia. The images of dragonships and raiding parties were inevitably seared into the collective psyche of the peoples most subjected to their onslaught; they watched powerless as their treasure was seized, their homes destroyed, and their folk either slaughtered or carried off, never to be seen again. The lords of these lands could do little to protect their subjects, often resorting to bribing the warriors with silver in exchange for peace. Exorbitant bribes of captured nobility sapped the resources of the counts, dukes, and kings entrusted with defending their realms from these great warriors. The sight of dragonships glistening in the sun from the valuables vanishing over the horizon did little to ease the minds of the peoples left with the task of rebuilding their homes and communities, for they knew that soon more would return. Indeed, for these peoples, the late ninth century was a hellish existence.

But for the Norse warriors who braved the North Atlantic, the late ninth century was a time of opportunity and profit. These Norse warriors, known to us in modern times as the Vikings, lived in the cold, cold north of Scandinavia with its rugged coastline and thickly forested interiors. The lack of available farmland and suitable mates in Scandinavia led many free men to leave their homes en masse. Excelling both in sailing and war, the Vikings risked their lives, traveling great distances across vast expanses of ocean to foreign lands that offered abundant lands, riches, and trade for those strong enough to take them by force. They fought with an unmatched zeal for warfare, displaying fearlessness and bravery whenever they met an opponent. To the warrior who met his end on the battlefield, it was believed that a great hall of heroes long past would open its doors and that he would forever be a part of the eternal glory of the gods. The tantalizing prospects offered by this enterprise pulled at the strings of men young and old who yearned for adventure and fame. Together, these Vikings posed a grave threat to whomever they crossed paths with and offered great power to the few rulers who were able to effectively marshal their forces.

It was in this age that saw the rise of several rulers who commanded the loyalty of large Viking armies through fear and admiration. Climbing from the depths of obscurity, these fearless adventurers attracted warriors from across the mainland eager to pledge their lives in exchange for the promise of reward, either in this life or the next. They were able to amass the silver, fame, and warriors necessary to fulfill their ambitions and embark on voyages far from home. Upon arriving at their destinations, the great Viking hordes that flocked to these daring leaders clashed with the inhabitants in fiercely fought contests and gradually wrested control away from the ruling nobility. Leaving behind the ancestral homes of their forefathers, the Vikings who claimed victory abroad also claimed the lands of those defeated and eventually settled them. Conquerors, opportunists, and pursuers of legacy, the legend of these fearless adventures and the tales of their exploits would define the Viking age.

Jarl Fredrik - House van Brunnsholm

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The Low Countries were among the prime targets of Viking raids during the late ninth century. The decline of the Carolingian Empire and its division into several kingdoms significantly weakened the authority of the Frankish kings. As members of the Carolingian dynasty warred with and schemed against each other, defense of the coastline and rivers were often left in the hands of local Dutch nobles. Constant harassment from overseas raiding parties left the local nobility increasingly weakened and vulnerable, with each defeat at the hands of Vikings raiding parties further risking the integrity of the Frankish kings' grip over the region. Over time, the nature of these incursions evolved from raiding to settlement and colonization. While the Vikings were unable to establish major settlements in the Low Counties up to this point, that would soon change upon the arrival of one man.

Fredrick I, founder of House van Brunnsholm, is believed to have been the Jarl of Västergötland before his arrival to Holland in 874 CE. In the peace treaty signed between Fredrick and the Frankish king Lothaire II, Fredrick is addressed as Jarl of Västergötland in addition to being recognized as the rightful ruler of Holland. Historians generally cite the main reason for this agreement being to dissuade the Frankish king Charles the Bald from invading Lotharingia with Lothaire's forces preoccupied in Holland. The treaty also called for a mutual cessation of hostilities, in effect allowing the Viking settlement to act as a bulwark from future Viking raids. For Fredrick, the agreement validated his rule and gave ample time for Fredrick to consolidate his position. Whatever the case, Fredrik proclaimed himself the Jarl of Holland and commissioned the creation of a runestone in Holland. The runestone is dedicated to Fredrik's victory over Lothaire and stands today as a symbol of the van Brunnsholm dynasty's longstanding reign in the Low Lands.

Jarl Ivàri - House BłackHàrt

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The Viking occupation and eventual settlement of Moravia dates back to the mid-870s CE when Ivàri I BłackHàrt defeated King Svatopluk in the Battle of Přerov. Various sagas attest to Ivàri arriving to the slovien lands he would later rule at the behest of his father-in-law Count Werner of Klingenberg. The most popular account tells of Ivàri traveling from his lands along the southwestern coast of Norway down and around the coast of Denmark and northern Germany, eventually sailing up the Rhine. With a large raiding party in tow, Ivàri pillaged the countryside until he drew the attention of Werner's army. To Werner's surprise, a messenger arrived at Werner's camp with Ivàri's offer of negotiation. Upon their meeting, Werner was further surprised to learn that Ivàri had been baptized while out on a raid in the British Isles. It was then Ivàri who was taken off guard when Werner offered his daughter Wulhilde's hand in marriage as well as a proposal: the two men would join their forces and march west to the Kingdom of Moravia.

The arrival of Ivàri and Werner's armies in Moravia sparked three years of bloodshed between their forces and those of King Rostislav and his successor King Svatopluk. Rostislav left the throne to his son Svatopluk after he suffered a fatal injury in battle, although the site of this battle is unmentioned in the surviving accounts. Svatopluk proved a worthy adversary to the combined forces of Ivàri and Werner, who managed to avoid any decisive battle for several years, which severely drained the supplies and energy of his opponents' armies. However, this strategy came to an end at the Battle of Přerov, where the King was handedly defeated by the superior commander Ivàri. Svatopluk was forced to resign himself south to Nitra, where he would later die from gout. The Znojmo runestone commemorates the ascension of Ivàri to Jarl of Moravia and later conquests would see the expansion of his realm into neighboring Bohemia and Upper Silesia and the elevation of his house in the slovien lands.

Jarl Aslak - House Stórr

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Like his contemporaries, Aslak I was a Scandinavian ruler departed from his homeland in pursuit of silver, land, and fame. It is believed that Aslak ruled as Jarl of Hålogaland and parts of the Northern Isles before he and his army sailed down the coast of Norway, through the Danish Straits and into the Baltic Sea sometime in the late 870s CE. While the exact details of Aslan's conquest over the Prussian lands are unknown, a runestone raised in Warmia, on the southern shore of the Gulf of Gdańsk, attest to the defeat of the Prussian forces by Aslak's army and subsequent settlement of Scandinavians in the region. This settlement extended further inland on both sides of the Vistula river, from the coasts of Pomerania to as far as Lithuania, encompassing not only Prussian but Pomeranian and Polish lands. Interestingly, the Warmia runestone refers to Aslak as High King of the Baltic Sea, leading some scholars to believe that the Jarl sought to unite the Slavic and Baltic lands as a singular political entity. Aslak's dream of a unified region would become the rallying cry of his lineage and of House Stórr for future generations.

Jarl Haraldr - House af Gotland

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Haraldr I first rose to prominence as the Jarl of Visby, a settlement on the island of Gotland built around the trade routes of the Baltic Sea. His early life is unknown, but much is known regarding his exploits in the Baltic Sea and along the major waterways of Eastern Europe. The poet Dryi, believed to have served in Haraldr's court in the late ninth century, composed several verses detailing Haraldr's raids in the Black Sea and eventual settlement along the Desna river. Dryi attests to Haraldr's contact and eventual alliances with the High Chieftains Ruslan Ruslanovich of Polotsk and Dyre of Kiev. With their help, Haraldr was able to seize control of Chernigov without fighting a single battle, extending his realm as far east as Kursk before settling for peace with Khazar Manasseh II of the Khazaria Khaganate. The verses of Dryi coupled with a runestone raised in Chernigov tell the story of how Haraldr's wife Predslava, sister to Ruslan, was abducted by Jarl of Östergötland and forced to serve as his concubine. The pair were reunited in Chernigov, but not before Predslava bore the late Jarl a son. The young Jarl agreed to return his mother Predslava to Haraldr in exchange for his arms should Haraldr be called upon. Haraldr agreed on the condition that when the Jarl of Östergötland came of age, he would stand ready to lead his armies into battle should Haraldr ever need it. With strong alliances bound by the oaths of marriage, Haraldr was able to establish Chernigov as an independent realm and himself as Jarl of the East Slavs.

Jarl Huld - House Vaeni

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While opportunity overseas called to the conquerors Fredrik, Ivàri, Aslak, and Haraldr, the void left in their wake left gave rise to opportunists back home. Huld I was one such opportunist. The Jarl of Småland incorporated the lands of his former neighbors Fredrik and Haraldr into his realm, adding to his domain the vacated lands of Västergötland then Visby, respectively. The lands won by the departure of Fredrik and Haraldr gave Huld the strength necessary to annex the northern portion Jutland from his neighbor Jarl Bagsecg, resulting in the death of the latter. Huld organized several large raids of the British Isles and Northern France, sacrificing dozens of Catholic commoners and nobility alike hauled back as captives. In a similar vein as the dream of Aslak, Swedish sagas attest to Huld's lifelong quest to find a mythical treasure said to have been hidden somewhere in the British Isles. It was said that this treasure would bestow upon its finder the claim to the Kingdom of the Isles. This prophecy was departed upon Huld as a young child by a powerful Viking who he idolized. In this fervent quest to find the treasure, Huld's efforts would leave a lasting legacy for his descendants.

Jarl Tanya - af Degurechaff

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Perhaps no other ruler of the late ninth century CE matched the infamy of Tanya I 'the Evil', Jarl of Bergslagen, Viken, Agder, and Vestlond. The female ruler was derided by later accounts of the age as a murderous madwoman who stopped at nothing in her relentless pursuit of power. Modern historians discount these accounts as the likely propaganda of her enemies in the male-dominated Norse culture. Tanya's enemies were numerous as she expanded the realm of the first Swedish king and queen, Björn Ironside and later his granddaughter Jórunn. Like Huld, Tanya wasted no time preying on the abandoned lands of Jarl Ivàri and his weak neighbors, expanding her personal domain and the reach of House Münso. Undoubtedly, Tanya was a force to be reckoned as a commander on the battlefield and as a ruler of men. In time, the reach of Tanya and her own dynasty would stretch far beyond the shores of Scandinavia.

Conclusion

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The late ninth century CE saw the arrival of great adventurers into the annals of history along with their dynasties. While their realms were forged through conquest and opportunity, the Viking adventurers would soon be tasked with managing the divide between their old ways of life and those of their new homelands. The next generation of these rulers would grapple with the consequences of their forefathers and be forced to determine which traditions would remain and which would be cast away. For those opportunists who yet remained in the lands of their ancestors, they would be tasked with deciding where the fate of their houses lied. Altogether, the stories of these adventurers would carry on throughout the Viking era as their actions would forever alter the course of history.

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[HistoryDude]

This looks interesting.

So... there are realms in Scandinavia, Russia, the Netherlands (for similar reasons to Normandy in OTL), Denmark, Prussia, and Moravia (Czech Republic)?

CK3 exists on PS5? I didn't know that, but I do only play the PC (Windows and Mac) version, but I'm following this anyway

 

[14301:tannerman207]

This looks interesting.

So... there are realms in Scandinavia, Russia, the Netherlands (for similar reasons to Normandy in OTL), Denmark, Prussia, and Moravia (Czech Republic)?

CK3 exists on PS5? I didn't know that, but I do only play the PC (Windows and Mac) version, but I'm following this anyway

Thanks! CK3 does exist on PS5 and Xbox, although we are a bit behind the PC version having just received Northern Lords (so no cool culture hybrids in this campaign unfortunately). The two realms still in Scandinavia have three generations to complete a Varangian Adventure. I am confident as to where Huld is planning on going but not as much for Tanya. She is technically a vassal to Queen Jórunn, which prevents her from attempting the VA CB. It will be interesting to see how she gains her independence and where in the world her dynasty settles down. The next session is slated for this weekend so more updates should follow!

 

[14301:tannerman207]

Adventures from the North: Part 2
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At the turn of the tenth century, the Viking age neared its zenith. The grand exodus of Scandinavian settlers came in great waves upon the shores of recently conquered lands, establishing permanent settlements. Trade routes were also established, bringing a mass influx of goods and people into the new settlements. The Scandinavians proved themselves capable administrators, and before long their realms were thriving. Holland, Prussia, Moravia, and Chernigov quickly became beacons of light for those seeking adventure, fame, profit, freedom, and opportunity. Tales of their success would soon be used by rulers back home in their attempts at fulfilling the ambitions of their dynasties.

Across these new realms, settlers and locals mixed and exchanged not only goods and services but ideas and beliefs as well. Whether out of curiosity, compassion, or a cold sense of pragmatism, the open worship of different faiths was typically tolerated, as were important holidays, practices, and rituals. In their efforts to gain legitimacy in the eyes of their new subjects, Viking conquerors even began to embrace local traditions and adopt their subjects' ways of life. While fresh arrivals retained their Norse heritage, the next generations would only have the stories of their ancestors as links to the past. By the turn of the eleventh century, the descendants of the Vikings would be nearly indistinguishable from the native populations they ruled over, were it not for the longing for adventure and conquest that proved their ultimate heritage.

But far from the simple portrait of assimilation that this summary may render, the Vikings made an enduring impact on the cultures and religions of the world. In the modern age, key Viking figures have had their image revitalized centuries after their deaths by nationalist movements attempting to promote national unity. Considered external invaders in their time, these figures have been recast as national heroes who led their people to glory and shielded them from foreign threats. While less aligned with the primary sources than with the interests of the state, a renewed interest in the Viking age has led many people living in modern times to develop a greater understanding of their shared history with the conquerors and adventurers of old. Through their response to challenges and crises faced both at home and beyond their borders, the legends of the Viking age entered themselves and their dynasties into the pantheon of legends that forever inhabit the spirit of their nations and people.

Sins of the Father - House van Brunnsholm

Jarl Fredrik

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Upon his victory over King Lothaire II, Fredrik I was presented with a set of dire predicaments posed to his reign. The first problem for Fredrik was the marriage between his former adversary Lothaire and Queen Anastasia, sister to Basileus Basileios of the Byzantine Empire. Lothaire was left spouseless after the death of his first wife Queen Teutberga to pneumonia and decided against marrying his mistress Waldrada, which would have legitimized his son Hugues. Greek historians of the age cited the decades of civil war and invasions from the north and east as rationale for the union with the Karling king, while Lothaire faced threats from his uncle King Charles the Bald in the west to the Viking menace in the north. As Byzantium regained its strength, Fredrik considered the prospect of being expelled back into the sea by the combined forces of the Franks and Greeks.

Fredrik did not take this prospect lightly as evidenced by his fateful decision to arrange the death of Anastasia in 883 CE. Anastasia's murder severed all ties between Lothaire and Basileios. Without the strength of the other, both Lothaire and Basileus would have their rules mired by internal struggle and foreign invasions. Lothaire was forced to grant independence to the Dukes of Gelre and Frisia before his death in 898 CE, splitting his realm between his two young sons King Archambaud of Lotharingia and King Lothaire III of Burgundy. Basileus died shortly after in 901 CE, leaving his son Basileus Konstantinos VII with a weakened empire. Anastasia's death solved Fredrik's first problem, but it may have incidentally led to the second.

Anglo-Saxon warriors under the banner of King Alfred Aethelwulfson of Wessex arrived on the northeastern shores of France at some point in the early 900s. It was widely circulated in later accounts that Alfred sailed across the English channel at the invitation of Queen Adelhaid, Lothaire's third wife and mother to the young King Archambaud, although the veracity of this claim is questionable at best. The landing of Saxon warriors and ensuing conflict between Alfred and Fredrik was critical to the survival of the van Brunnsholm house as Alfred had invaded and expunged Vikings from Brittany in the prior decade. Fredrik rushed his armies overland through Flanders to the Saxon war camp in Guines, where negotiations failed. On the plains of Guines, Fredrik won a decisive victory over Alfred that forever ended the pious king's ambitions in the Lowlands. However, while Fredrik's bravery saved his dynasty from near ruin, it would result in his personal demise when he sustained a fatal injury while fighting on the front lines. Fredrik I died from his wounds in 902 CE. He was 60 years old, having ruled over Holland for 28 years.

Duke Charles

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Fredrik's death did not spell the doom of his house as many predicted, for Fredrik left the realm in the hands of his capable sons, Duke Charles of Holland and Count Sumarliði of Zeeland. The two brothers made a name for themselves early in their father's reign while on raiding expeditions in North Africa, famously capturing Emira Tazrurt of the Rustamid Emirate whom lived as Fredrik's prisoner until her execution in 905 CE. Sumarliði served in the Varangian guard and was in the far east when word reached Constantinople of King Alfred's failed invasion. Despite being groomed early for rule, Sumarliði's absence allowed the eldest son Charles to claim the throne. Unlike his brother, Charles was more interested in matters of scholarship and theology than the battlefield, stemming from his visit to the Vatican in the guise of a Christian pilgrim as a young boy. His pursuit of knowledge and spirituality did little to temper his ambitions.

Charles' precarious position was soon solidified by decisive action on his part. His first act was the commission of a runestone in Holland to honor his late father. His reverence for Fredrik's noble sacrifice won the support of his subjects, which he then marshaled in his war against Duke Meginhard of Gelre for his lands on both sides of the Rhine. The campaign ended with the members of House Billung swearing an oath of fealty to Charles as their rightful liege. Charles enduring legacy, however, lies not in his conquest of Gelre but in his conversion to Christianity. His baptism and a shrewd donation to the church in Rome resulted in Pope Victor II recognizing Charles as Duke of Holland and Gelre. In adopting the ways of his Dutch subjects, Charles adopted the dress of the local nobility, opting to keep the cloak he had once worn on his expeditions in the Mediterranean Sea, a reminder of his days as a Viking warrior.

A House Divided - House BłackHàrt

King Ìvàri I

The arrival of Vikings in the Slovien lands of Moravia in the 870s CE preceded a bloody decade of military expansion to close the ninth century. Under the rule of Jarl Ìvàri, the borders of Moravia soon encompassed Upper Silesia, Bohemia, and Kuyavia. The Czech and Polish noble houses provided little opposition to the superior might of Viking army. This decade of expansion culminated in the crowning of Ìvàri as King of the Grand State of Moravia in the first spring of the tenth century. A lifetime of conquest had secured the legacy of Ìvàri and propelled the rise of House BłackHàrt. However, the passage of time spares no man. The following Christmas would be his last as Ìvàri, patriarch of the BłackHàrt dynasty, fell into the hands of God in 901 CE at the age of 69, having ruled as king for little over a year.

King Hásteinn

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The intervening years following the death of Ìvàri were among the most tumultuous in the history of the BłackHàrt dynasty. The death of their patriarch and subsequent succession of kings exposed a growing rift among members of the dynasty that pitted brother against brother. King Hásteinn, the third of four sons, immediately succeeded his father as King of Moravia. Not much can be said of Hásteinn's rule, however, as his ascension over the elder sons of Ìvàri was short lived. A mere three months into his reign, Hásteinn was forced to abdicate his throne by his brother Ìvàri II, who claimed the throne for himself with the help of a fellow Viking ruler in the spring of 902 CE. While impressive in feats of verse-writing and battlefield strategy, Hásteinn quickly folded under his brother's claim to the throne, leaving the seat of House BłackHàrt for the farmlands of Bohemia. He ruled as king for an unimpressive three months.

King Ìvàri II

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Having expelled his younger brother to the recently conquered Czech lands of Bohemia, Ìvàri II did not hesitate in crowning himself king. A warrior with no equal, Ìvàri II struck fear into the hearts of his enemies and subjects alike through acts of both bravery and cruelty. Ìvàri II chafed at the moral teachings of Christianity, which he saw as incompatible with the firm hand necessary for ruling his subjects. Despite being baptized as a young man, Ìvàri II openly renounced Christianity and shocked his subjects with a slew of human sacrifices. Estranged from the abrahamic religion followed by the rest of his dynasty, Ivàri II founded the cadet branch of House Súrr. The rivalry of disparate houses would plague the rule of King Ivàri II, as the oaths sworn by his brothers to the Moravian crown grew increasingly tenuous. Duke Erich of Bohemia, son of the former king Hásteinn, ruled as Duke of Bohemia in his father's stead, awaiting his coming of age in anticipation for civil war with his uncle.

The internal strife that Ìvàri II helped produce ultimately proved a temptation too strong for his neighbors to the North. The invasion of Kuyavia began in late 906 under the auspices of the High Chieftain Þorbrandr of Greater Poland, vassal to the Viking warlord Aslak. Victories came for the aggressors came at the Battles of Znin and Brydgoszcz, with the subsequent occupation of Wieluń and Sieradz weakening the Moravian king's hold on the Polish lands. Ìvàri II was spared the fate of such a humiliating loss when he was once again aided by his pagan ally who had helped him seize power. The combined forces proved too much for Þorbrandr, dealing the invaders major defeats at Wielun and Sieradz. With both Wieluń and Sieradz returned to Moravian control, the invasion halted in its tracts. Ìvàri II stood in defense of his realm, owing a great deal of his fortune to the timely intervention of his ally and mother-in-law, the infamous Jarl Tanya, Woman of Glass.

Twilight of the Exalted - House Stórr

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In an age of conquest and military expansion, the campaign waged by Jarl Aslak of House Stórr was unmatched. At the turn of the tenth century, Aslak's domain stretched from the Daugave river in the east to the Elbe in the west, reaching as far inland as the forests of Breslau. Runestones raised across the Baltic coastline commemorated the triumph of Aslak's forces over the Slavic and Baltic tribes that soon bent the knee. Greater Poland, Lower Silesia, Mecklenberg, and Pomerania quickly became enveloped by the Viking horde. In 893 CE, the exalted warrior and leader of men was proclaimed King of Prussia. Travelers flocked from the east to catch a glimpse of this new kingdom and its ferocious warrior king. Among the travelers were missionaries sent to convert the pagan tribesmen to Christianity. Upon hearing word of the proselytizing clergy spreading throughout his kingdom, Aslak issued a royal decree granting them safe passage in efforts to promote trade and commerce in his realm. The consequences of this decision would be felt by his subjects and descendants for the next few centuries.

The reputation of King Aslak, conqueror of the Slavic and Baltic tribes, drew the attention of ambitious young warriors eager to make a name for themselves. While Aslak went on campaign, his lands to the south were subject to a frenzy of raids from the neighboring Vikings in the south. It was no secret that relations between Aslak and the Moravian kings were openly hostile. Failed diplomatic overtures by Aslak were answered by the Moravian kings with the pillaging of his provinces. The most damaging of these raids were launched by Viking warriors recently settled to the south of Moravia. Upon receiving word of their devastation of his southern border, Aslak's forces scrambled to meet the raiding party. Despite outnumbering the raiders nearly four-to-one, Aslak's forces were badly routed at Płock, prompting further razing of his domain. This defeat coincided with a noticeable decline in Aslak's health, spelling the nearing of the end for the world's mightiest conqueror.

In the autumn years of his life, Aslak looked to the future of his house and realm. Surrounded by neighboring rulers with ill intentions for his dynasty, Aslak sought to preserve his legacy for future generations. The noticeable inroads made by missionaries his kingdom exposed Aslak to the Christian doctrine for the first time in his over sixty years of age. In mulling over the future of his line and sanctity of his soul, Aslak converted to Christianity. Aslak’s conversion marks the beginning of the Christianization of the Baltic region, the widespread adoption and spread of Christianity in the Baltic region through the practices of forcible conversion and religious suppression during the Middle Ages. In time, Catholicism become the predominant religion in the region. But still the hardened warrior, the frail Aslak led his army west to the High Chiefdom of Courland in a last hurrah for the Viking ruler. As the sun set on his reign, Aslak would die knowing it was not to be the end of his dynasty.

Descent Into Tyranny - House af Gotland

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To the east of the Dnieper, Jarl Haraldr of Chernigov set his sights on the flailing Khazars. The Khaganate was weakened with the succession of Khagan Isaac II. As in his conquest of Chernigov, Haraldr called on his Slavic and Norse allies to lend him their strength in his war against the nomads. Answering his call were High Chieftain Halfdan of Kiev and Jarl Sigurdr of Ostergotland, son of his wife Predslava. The conflict, known as the Chernigovian Invasion of Ruthenia, lasted several years from the mid- to late-890s. The Battle of Poltava marked the first actual clash between the Norse and Slavic armies of Haraldr and the Khazar horse archers of the Khazaria Khaganate. The Khazars were ultimately routed by the superior numbers of Haraldr and his allies. Proceeding this victory was a second battle at Vyr’ which proved to be decisive. Engulfed inward along multiple fronts, the Khagan chose to divert the majority of his forces to the Eastern border, which further widened Haraldr’s numerical advantage. Khagan Isaac II sued for peace in the spring of 899 CE, recognizing Haraldr’s rule over the Slavic lands of Pereyaslavl, Karachev, and Novosil. King Haraldr proclaimed himself King of Ruthenia on later that year. A runestone raised in Novgorod-Seversky marks Haraldr’s ascension to kingship.

Haraldr's rise to King of Ruthenium precipitated a descent into tyranny. Haraldr had ruled over his subjects with moderation at the discretion of his wife Predslava. The failed treatment and death of his wife Predslava in 901 CE is cited in the sagas as the catalyst for Haraldr's tyrannical actions during the 900s. Haraldr broke his alliance with High Chieftain Halfdan, invading Kiev in late 902 CE. Halfdan’s forces were met and mercilessly slaughtered by Haraldr’s army in Chernigov on the following year. It is recorded that out of an army of 1600 men, only a few dozen survivors marched back to Kiev. Halfdan, forced into exile in Pinsk, watched on as Haraldr moved his capital from Chernigov to Kiev in 904. Haraldr’s victory over Halfdan and subsequent establishment of Kiev as his capital would mark the beginning of the Kievan Rus’, the medieval state which unified the East Slavic tribes into one realm. Celebrated as the Father of the Rus', King Haraldr would leave a complicated legacy for his descendants to endure following his death.

Blood on the Sand - House Vaeni

While his contemporaries established their domains abroad, Jarl Huld gathered his strength. Further departures of neighboring warlords would allow Huld to expand his domain across Scandinavia, at its height stretching from the northern coast of Norway to the Kattegat sea, from Aarhus in the east to Visby in the west. But Huld's visions of treasure and glory ultimately saw him join the ranks of his fellow adventures. Arriving on the Eastern shores of England in the mid 900s, Huld quickly conquered East Anglia and Cambridgeshire, expelling King Eadmund Aethelweardson in 905 CE. Huld expanded into Mercia later that year. The Mercian King Thoraed Burghredson was forced to flee to the Isle of Man, retaining control only over the outer edges of the English heartlands. In the wake of Jarl Huld's assault on England, two members of house Vaeni saw their fortunes rise. Huld's second eldest son Djodmundr died in battle shortly after the conquest of East Anglia, leaving Huld's grandson Andres as the rightful Earl of Cambridgeshire. Huld’s granddaughter and wife to Jarl Gnupa of Jorvik, Queen Halla, stayed behind and ruled over her father's old lands in Njudung. In a stroke of political savvy, Huld received oaths of fealty from the sons of King Thoraed, who retained control over Staffordshire and Worcestershire. Crucial to the negotiations was the imprisonment of Cynehild Thoraeddohtor, whom Huld held as leverage. The forays of House Vaeni into the British Isles momentarily tilted the balance back in favor of the Vikings, while the true prize offered by the foggy island remained to be discovered.

A Shattered Mind - House af Degurechaff

It might be said that nowhere in Europe proved safe from the influence of Jarl Tanya the Evil. She proved the extent of her reach in the 890s, embarking on the infamous Viking raids of the Papacy that left the Catholic world shocked and terrified by the Northern menace. The raids won Jarl Tanya endless prestige and acclaim as longships hauled priceless artifacts from the Holy See back to her home in Bergslagen. It was shortly after these raids that Tanya commenced the second great exodus of Scandinavians into Europe. Under her leadership, two fleets of longships sailing up the Rhine and Elbe landed in Europe and traveled overland into Moravia. Thousands of warriors and freemen arrived in the newly settled lands and began clashing with the Moravian subjects. Massive riots and uprisings prompted then Jarl Ivàri Ito assemble his army. Tanya's arrival in Moravia ended hostilities when she commanded her men to fall in line. Impressed with the loyalty of her men, Ivàri I arranged a meeting with Tanya that brokered an alliance between the two houses. With the marriage of Ivari II and Alfrhildr Tanyasdottir, Tanya and Ivàri I marched both their armies march south into the territory of King Arnold of East Francia.

In late 897, the weakened King Arnold granted Tanya her choice of land and gold in exchange for the cessation of hostilities. Tanya took as her own the Bavarian lands of Austria, rich with fertile farmlands. Upon the expiration of the treaty, Tanya renewed her hostilities with Arnold, this time as vassal and Marshal to her son-in-law King Ivàri II Her men swarmed over the southern border into Steyermark, which the Franconian King is forced to recognize as Tanya's domain in the late 900s. The incredibly weakened state of East Francia led Tanya's men to beg her to continue her march into central Germany. The pleading requests of her men were ultimately denied when Tanya received word of the invasion of Kuyavia her liege King Ivàri II, which was stymied by the eventual arrival of Tanya's superior warriors.

It is in doubt due to her terrorizing of Catholic kingdoms and clergy that the historians of her age reviled her. Rumors spread by her political rivals were soon printed as record, leaving Tanya's image heavily distorted in the eyes of future generations. It was believed that Tanya arranged the deaths of her eldest and youngest sons Sigrbjorn and Vagn on suspicion of treason. The unlawful slaying of her kin would have been considered a crime among Tanya's contemporaries, though the evidence in favor of this telling is thin. One account of Tanya's settlement in Austria cites numerous examples of the lunacy that her critics charged her with, including the construction of a glass monument as well as a widely ignored decree that forbid all personal items of clothing in her court. For hundreds of years, Tanya was remembered as a sadistic madwoman who took pleasure in the pain of innocent Catholics. Modern historians tend to discount these portrayals, downplaying her more eccentric qualities and bringing attention instead to her status as a female ruler in a male-dominated society. While many today struggling with separating the truth from the legend, there is no denying the legend of Tanya the Evil, Woman of Glass.

Conclusion​

At the zenith of the Viking age, the old realms of Europe found themselves reforged by conquerors and adventures from foreign lands. New kings were crowned and old legends secured their place in the history books. But as the Vikings began spreading across Europe, they were introduced to the continent's various cultures and religions. Whether out of curiosity, pragmatism, or respect, the Vikings who settled into their new homes began embracing the ways of their subjects. But the ambitions of conquest and spirit of adventure that led the Norse men and women to these strange lands would endure in the hearts and minds of their descendants. While the first wave of Viking voyages was quickly passing, the full extent of its effects would ripple throughout Europe for the rest of the Middle Ages.

 

[HistoryDude]

These dynasties are doing well. Tanya managed to get all of Europe to fear her, which is quite the feat.

Holland is invading Wessex, which put them at odds with Jarnamoda and Jorvik in the future. They have also split the Karling-Byzantine Axis, which should provide security to the other Viking states.

Prussia has become Catholic already, and it was in open conflict with Moravia, which had a rough beginning.

Chernigov is expanding east, where I imagine that they will meet formidable Steppe warriors...

 

[14301:tannerman207]

These dynasties are doing well. Tanya managed to get all of Europe to fear her, which is quite the feat.

Holland is invading Wessex, which put them at odds with Jarnamoda and Jorvik in the future. They have also split the Karling-Byzantine Axis, which should provide security to the other Viking states.

Prussia has become Catholic already, and it was in open conflict with Moravia, which had a rough beginning.

Chernigov is expanding east, where I imagine that they will meet formidable Steppe warriors...

I tried to imagine how the historians of the Middle Ages would characterize Tanya. A female ruler who attacked Catholic kingdoms and raided the Holy See? Yeah, I don’t think that she would be seen in such a positive light.

In going back in the save to write Fredrik’s section, I was surprised by the ramifications that Anastasia’s death had for Lotharingia and the Byzantine Empire. Outside of role-play, her death made it so that by the time Lothaire’s third wife produced male heirs, they were too young to effectively rule.

The tensions between Aslak and Ivàri I and II have been a major theme of the first two sessions. Aslak has been successful in his campaign to unify the Slavic and Baltic tribes, but his descendants will have difficulty expanding south. The union between House af Degurechaff and House Súrr has already proven to be formidable opposition. I am personally looking forward to how Ivàri I is forced to convert since he is technically the third ruler of the BłackHàrt dynasty.

It’s unclear what direction Haraldr’s sons will take his realm. It is likely that they will do as their father did and take Slavic wives. Having lived most of their lives in Chernigov, they may consider themselves not Norse but rather Slavic as their late mother Predslava. I look forward to seeing which major religion takes hold in the Rus’. Eastern Orthodoxy would bind House af Gotland with the Romans to the south. But there is perhaps a second option, one that would secure the Rus’ independence from Constantinople as it did for another empire…

 

[14301:tannerman207]

Adventures from the North: Part 3
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In the second decade of the tenth century, the beaches of England were littered with shields painted red with the cross of the Christian savior. They would soon be claimed by the pulling of the tide, but the memory of the conflict that had claimed the lives of their owners would not be forgotten for the next millennium. Desperate to halt the pagan invaders of the north and to see a united Christendom, Pope Victor II called upon all Christians to embark on a most sacred pilgrimage to the northern island. Far from the holy lands in the east, England was to be where the Christian God led his followers to victory. Tens of thousands of men would heed the call and join the crusader armies as they marched north and sailed across the channel. The First Crusade for England had begun.

For the many far-flung Viking settlements across Europe, the First Crusade was as distant as their old homeland in Scandinavia. The first generation of Viking explorers was fast coming to a close. Succession in the kingdoms of Moravia, Ruthann, and Prussia would usher in a new generation of rulers. The new generation of kings saw their rule immediately challenged by upset siblings, upstart vassals, and peasant uprisings. To keep their realms intact, these kings would need to rise to the occasion and step out of their fathers' shadows. But as the old generation of adventurers and conquerors drew to a close, those remaining sought to secure their legacies and outmaneuver their rivals. As the tenth century roared on, so too did the Viking age.

House van Brunnsholm

King Charles of Holland

As Duke Charles entered the second decade of his reign, his rule over the Lowlands was unquestioned. The most serious contender to his throne and younger brother Sumarliði died in 910 CE from wounds he had sustained in the war for Gelre. To the south, the death of his father's old rival Lothaire II split the late king's realm between his two young sons Archambaud and Lothaire III. The rivalry between House van Brunnsholm and the Carolingians became renewed in the early 910s CE when Duke Charles marched his army into Utrecht. While the details of the conflict have been lost to history, Charles eventually emerged victorious in the spring of 913 CE. Two years later, Charles was crowned as the first King of Holland in a public ceremony held in his capital of Amsterdam, a title that would be held by the van Brunnsholms' for generations to come.

Charles's conquest of Utrecht and ascension to king came during the First Crusade for England. Charles had originally answered the call of Pope Victor II, pledging both soldiers and gold in the effort to retake the kingdoms of England from the barbarians north of Wessex. Early reports from the fighting in England, however, discouraged King Charles from embarking across the channel. Charles's decision to renege on his pledge is one of the most critical events in the First Crusade. His reluctance and eventual refusal to join in the fighting was endemic among Christian rulers in Europe during the First Crusade. Pope Victor II's vision of a united Christendom failed to materialize in the absence of any real leadership or organization among the crusaders. Had the capable Charles and other influential lords heeded the call, the First Crusade may have had a chance of success. Instead, the First Crusade ended in disaster for Pope Victor II and further laid open the Christian heartlands to foreign invaders.

House Súrr

King Ìvàri II of Moravia

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While the First Crusade raged on, the Slovien lands of Moravia became subject to fierce incursions by the Germanic Christians to the west. Internal strife amongst Ìvàri and the members of his dynasty had significantly weakened the king's hold on his late father's domain. His neighbors to the west capitalized on the growing divide between the houses of the BłackHàrt dynasty, as did his adversary to the north, King Aslak of Prussia. In 915, Aslak launched the Second Invasion of Kuyavia. Beset on all sides and unable to muster a defense, Ìvàri once again called upon his vassal to the south, Jarl Tanya of Austria and Steyermark. Tanya's forces would move northward from Wien, beating back the Christians from the West before arriving in Kuyavia. Her clash with the Prussian forces would save Ìvàri from certain defeat, preserve his lands in the north and further indebt himself to his mother-in-law. But temporarily safe from external enemies, Ìvàri was forced to turn his attention inward as his brothers and nephews plotted against him.

House Stórr

King Aslak of Prussia

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While the health and life of King Aslak waned, the rise of his kingdom and dynasty continued on into the tenth century. Too weak to lead his men into battle, Aslak handed the reigns over to his youngest son Björn, who led his father's army to victory over the High Chiefdom of Courland in 911 CE. A recent convert to Christianity, Aslak made it public and well-known that he pledged vast sums of gold to the crusaders headed to England. Despite Aslak's eagerness to prove his faithfulness to his patriarch and fellow believers, domestic factions began forming amongst his subjects and vassals, which threatened to erupt the moment Aslak's armies departed for England. Aslak's decision to abstain from the First Crusade drew the ire of many later historians when he later decided to launch the Second Invasion of Kuyavia in 915. As Prince Björn marched the Prussian army into the southern Polish lands, he soon encountered a much smaller resistance force led by the Moravian king's vassal Jarl Tanya. Foolishly thinking he held the upper hand, Björn instructed his army to engage with the severely outnumbered foe. The massacre that followed resulted in the total obliteration of Aslak's army and subsequent capture of his son Björn. Upon hearing the news, Aslak rose for the first time in weeks and saw to the release of his son. It was no secret that Björn was the favored son, and Aslak resolved to stay alive until he saw the safe return of his eventual heir. Although he secured the release of his son and the withdrawal of Tanya's forces with the payment of two hundred pounds of gold, Aslak would not be witness to Björn's arrival in the capital. King Aslak died in March 916 CE at the age of 68, having ruled as King for twenty-two years.

King Björn of Prussia

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Björn arrived back from his confinement without an army or a treasury, the latter having been depleted by the ransom paid to Tanya. His older brother, Refill, honored his late father's wishes for unity and declined to press his claim for the throne. In 917 CE, Björn once again led an army into Kuyavia, albeit much weaker than the previous one. Tanya's withdrawal made for easy progress and Björn's army soon arrived in Olomouc and began to siege the capital province. The decision to lay siege to Olomouc proved disastrous as Tanya's armies emerged from the surrounding countryside and encircled Björn's army. Cut off from all supplies, the sieging army began to starve as thousands more men succumbed to the conflict. Messengers brought King Björn news from the north: his realm was in open rebellion. The news of the revolt back home forced Björn to end his siege and the invasion. So close to victory, King Björn was instead resigned to the spare comforts of a long march home as he rushed back to put down the rebellions that threatened his family's legacy.

House af Gotland

King Haraldr of Ruthenia

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In his exile to the north of Kiev, High Chieftain Halfdan cursed King Haraldr and his line, as the latter's betrayal had divorced Halfdan from his old lands along the Dnieper river. In his attempt to reclaim Kiev for his dynasty, Halfdan began preparing an invasion of the Ruthenian kingdom with the aid of King Helgi of Novgorod. But Haraldr was made aware of these plans and put in motion an invasion of his own in 911 CE. Ever the exceptional strategist, Haraldr effectively split the two armies, winning two decisive victories in Drutsk and Lukoml in 912 CE. Halfdan was forced to surrender later that year and ultimately pardoned in exchange for his oath of fealty. Halfdan's submission to Haraldr pushed the boundaries of his realm further north, nearing the southern edge of Novgorod. If Haraldr had plans to continue his invasion, they would never come to be as Haraldr, becoming weak of body and mind, died in 913 CE. He was 71 years old and ruled as King for fourteen years.

King Vigfús of Ruthenia

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King Vigfús ascended to the throne the day of his father's death and no sooner bore the crown than the realm was plunged into chaos. Earlier that year, Haraldr's second wife gave birth to his third son Flosi. While the middle son Einarr inherited his father's old lands in Chernigov, Vigfús was forced to split the lands west of the Dnieper rive with his newborn brother. Vigfús began plotting to murder Flosi and claim the young child's lands, but was soon unveiled as the mastermind of a failed murder attempt that forever scarred the boy. The callous disregard for justice displayed by the newly ascended king gave his vassals cause for rebellion. In a shrewd calculation reminiscent of the late king, Vigfús won the betrothal of Tatyana Helgovna Rurikid, daughter to King Held of Novgorod. With the encroachment of the Ruthenian kings momentarily ceased, King Held pledged his armies in support of Vigfús's conflict against his brothers and vassals. The combined forces overwhelmed the armies of his younger brother Flosi and the vassals who had rallied around his cause. Vigús marched his armies east after his brother Einarr, who had signaled his intention to join the rebellion after his war with the Khazars had ended. Einarr found himself stuck between two armies and decided brashly to fight the Khazars on the open plains in Bakhmut. The Khazarian horse archers and their feigned retreat drew in Einar's undisciplined men and resulted in an absolute slaughter. Einarr and his personal guard fled back to Chernigov, closely followed by his brother Vigfús. The lives of both Flosi and Einarr would soon be decided by the coldhearted king.

House Vaeni

King Huld of Mann and the Isles

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Jarl Huld became a key figure of the First Crusade in his victory over Pope Victor II. The foggy island proved defensible as the armies arriving by sea were slaughtered as they disembarked onto the shores of England. While the crusaders suffered from a lack of leadership, Huld was able to unify the numerous bands of Vikings flowing in from the North Sea into an organized defense. While tens of thousands of crusaders arrived in England, the scattered armies were met by a concentrated force of nearly thirty thousand warriors. The disorganized crusader armies stood no match to the superior fighting force of the Vikings as the First Crusade ended in bitter defeat for the Christians. Huld's leadership in the crusade won him acclaim with his men and with Norse rulers across Scandinavia. Thousands of men flocked to his banner after the crusade, leading Huld to renew his conquest of the Isles with the invasion of Mön in 916. According to the legend endorsed by his descendants, it was in Mön that Huld found the mystical treasure that had first led him to the Isles. In finding the treasure, Huld declared himself the greatest pirate and raider of the world, a distinction that his descendants would perpetually struggle to measure up to. In 916 CE, Huld was hailed by his men King of Mann and the Isles, marking the official beginning of House Vaeni's imperium over the Isles.

House af Degurechaff

Jarl Tanya of Austria

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If there is any sole reason for the survival of the Grand State of Moravia in the early Middle Ages, it would most certainly be the actions of Jarl Tanya. Without Tanya's defense of the Slovien lands from the Christians to the west and north, it is likely that the fledgling kingdom would have been snuffed out by its many rivals. The shrewdness in her dealings with the Prussian Kings Aslak and Björn not only saved her liege's realm but also won herself considerable treasure and fame in the process. The Slaughter at Kreuzburg in 915 CE remains one of the most brutal massacres of the Middle Ages, in which a Prussian army of almost six thousand men was reduced to half a dozen survivors. Tanya is said to have personally captured Prince Björn, knocking him off his horse in the midst of battle. She also devised the masterful strategy that ultimately won the war against the Prussians in her encirclement of Björn's forces at Olomouc. As her contemporaries shed their mortal coils, Tanya began to prepare herself and her realm for her eventual departure. But long after her death, Tanya would live on in the legends of the Viking age. It would be the task of her dynasty to ensure the continuation of her line and legacy.

Conclusion

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In a span of fifty years, the world had been transformed by the great exodus of Viking explorers of conquerors. By the end of 917 CE, new kingdoms had sprang up across Europe. Carved out of Christian and pagan lands alike, these kingdoms prospered and faltered with the passing of the crown from father to son. The succession crises that unfolded across Europe tested the foundation of these realms. The First Crusade, while resulting in a devastating defeat for the Christians, stood as the first attempt at a unified response to the northern invaders. The challenges faced by the new generation of rulers would prove to be formidable and influential in the eventual assimilation of the Viking settlers. But rather than resigning to be footnotes on the pages of history, the second generation of the Viking age would spend their lives striving to create their own legacies to stand the test of time.

 

[HistoryDude]

So... Moravia is under threat from the Christians, even as divided as they are?

The First Crusade fails, but I doubt that the Crusaders have given up. Why wasn't it targeted at Jorvik?

 

[14301:tannerman207]

Adventures from the North: Part 4
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Welcome back to Adventures from the North: A Crusader Kings 3 PS5 Multiplayer AAR. Far from the usual introduction, I wanted begin by providing an outline for the future of the series and the next campaign. It is my current intention to continue this series up until the release of Royal Court for the console version of the game. It is unclear when exactly this will be, but we have been told that the next update will be sometime this spring. When it is announced I will provide an update as to the end of this series. I am also currently considering the idea of starting a new series following the events of the next campaign, the theme of which will likely be centered around the cultural and court mechanics of the expansion. If you own the game on PS5 and are interested in joining the next campaign, let me know as you are welcome to join our group. This current campaign is also open to new members as you will see down below. If you have any suggestions as to what you would be interested in seeing in this campaign or in future ones, feel free to let me know. With that said, enjoy!

House Sigurdr

Count Egill of Salerno

The legendary House Sigurdr arrived in the Mediterranean with the conquest of Apulia in 918 CE. At the helm of the invasion force was Egill Sigurdsson, Jarl of Sjaelland and purported descendent of the famous Viking Ragnar Loðbrók. While the actual existence of Ragnar Loðbrók and his sons is a source of contention among modern historians, the life and deeds of Egill are confirmed by multiple sources in and around the Italian peninsula during the tenth century. His actions in the Mediterranean earned him a reputation as a fearsome warrior and commander, devoted above all else to appeasing his gods through combat and warfare. A lisping manner of speech caused him much embarrassment and contributed to a compensatory gregariousness and penchant for alcohol. Enticed by stories of Viking settlements to the East, Egill gathered his forces and embarked up the river systems of Eastern Europe, eventually reaching the Black Sea and the shining city of Constantinople.

With an army numbering in the thousands, Egill alone was permitted entrance into the heart of Byzantium and audience with Basileus Andreas. A mere child at the time of his ascension, Andreas ruled under the regency of his uncle Bardas. Egill and Bardas struck a deal in which Egill would be permitted lordship in Italy should the northerners drive the Dalmatians back across the Adriatic Sea. So it was that in 918 CE Egill led his forces to victory and secured a foothold in the Mediterranean. But the conquest of Apulia lasted several years, a brief but tumultuous period in which Bardas seized power for himself and was installed as Emperor in 916 CE. Only a year later, Andreas was found dead in his chambers at age 8. The story endorsed by Bardas and his faction was that the culprits, Scandinavian in origin, attempted to kidnap the young prince for ransom only for the young prince to be killed during the struggle. As Egill established control over Apulia, he was recalled to Constantinople by Bardas to answer for his crimes. A second bargain between the two were struck in which Egill was baptized and handed over control of Apulia to Bardas.

It cannot be said as to whether Egill was truly responsible for the death of Andreas. The leniency in which Bardas treated Egill drew outrage among the populace and raised questions as to Bardas's involvement. The assassins themselves, while Scandinavian, could have easily been selected from the Varangian Guard or from their contacts to the north. Indeed, it was Bardas who actually possessed a tangible motive for killing Andreas as usurper to his throne. Whatever the case, Egill found his newfound fiefdom of Apulia ripped away. But the Viking adventurer would not be so easily undone. South of Apulia laid Salerno and the Sawdanid Emirate. Egill would claim Salerno in 917 CE. He would later destroy the last remnants of the Sawdanid Emirate, claiming for his realm Rossano and Cosenza by 927 CE. While denied his original prize, through determination Egill established a permanent foothold for his house in the Mediterranean.

House van Brunnsholm

King Charles of Holland

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The fledgling kingdom of Holland may never have been formed were it not for its formidable leader and founder Charles. Unsurprisingly, it would be Charles's death that provided the kingdom with its first real challenge. It is said that Charles was on route home from a grand feast held in Moravia that he suddenly grew ill. Charles's entourage was forced to stop short of its destination as Charles's court physician attempted to save the king's life. But his efforts proved vain and word soon reached Amsterdam to begin preparations for a coronation. In 922 CE, a stunned crowded met the arrival of Charles's entourage and set their eyes on their deceased king. Charles died at age 53 having ruled as King of Holland for roughly seven years.

King William of Holland

Amongst the Amsterdam crowd was Charles's only son William. A young man in his twenties when he took the crown, William had already earned recognition for his demonstration of martial discipline. He had also earned a reputation for paranoia, which was severely escalated with the sudden death of his father. William openly questioned whether Charles had been poisoned at the feast in Moravia. By 928 CE, however, William was no closer to determining the cause of his father's death and became primarily occupied with his war against Queen Sofie of Bavaria and East Francia. In this conflict William demonstrated his abilities as both a commander and a diplomat having secured an alliance with Duke Guthfrith of Wessex through the betrothal of his son Charles to the Guthfrith's daughter Cwenburg. Once having threatened the existence of the nascent Dutch realm, House Wessex now came to its aid against Queen Sofie. The third generation of House Van Brunnsholm was thus poised to continue the streak of success started by their forbearers.

House Súrr

King Ìvàri II of Moravia

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Having seen his realm come back from the brink of collapse, King Ìvàri II resolved to stabilize the kingdom. A truce was either purchased or secured with King Björn of Prussia to the north. While Ìvàri resigned himself to letting the prior invasions of Kuyavia go unpunished, he did not let it go unnoticed when his vassal and mother-in-law Tanya came to the aid of the besieged Prussian king during the revolts of the late 910s. Ìvàri could not afford to let the biggest backer of his reign drift into the sphere of Prussian influence, so he attempted to forbid Tanya from lending her support to Björn. His threats would ultimately prove futile as Tanya saved yet another kingdom from ruin. Ìvàri feared losing the support of Tanya more than anything. It is perhaps merciful then that he would not live to see the day. In the spring of 923 CE, Ìvàri II passed away at age 50, having ruled as king a remarkable 21 years.

King Robert of Moravia

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In Ìvàri II's place rose his brother Robert Ìvàrisson. King Robert was heralded as a savior by his fellow Christian subjects for signaling an end of pagan rule in Slovien lands. This respite proved brief, however, as Robert had barely warmed the seat when he was tossed off the throne. While he was a competent administrator, King Robert was a notorious recluse. The diplomatic ties that had won him the throne were quickly frayed as his vassals soon wondered why exactly it was that he should be king and not one of them. Seemingly more content with amassing a fortune than with ruling a kingdom, Robert recognized the writing on the law and abdicated the throne in 925 CE. He ruled as King of Moravia for two short years.

King Ìvàri Þorbrandrsson of Moravia

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Ìvàri Þorbrandrsson's reign as king, while as short-lived as his uncle Robert's reign, marked the third generation of kings from the BłackHàrt dynasty. Exceeding his predecessor in feats of diplomacy, Ìvàri won the support of his fellow vassals and took the throne in 925 CE. Like Robert, Ìvàri hailed from the Christian wing of the BłackHàrt dynasty, his father Þorbrandr having ruled over Kuyavia during the first and second invasion crises. Unfortunately, the second Christian king in as many years did little to repair the fractious state of the BłackHàrt dynasty. The new king would fast find himself outmaneuvered by the sons of Ìvàri II when he was deposed in 927 CE. As did his uncle Robert, Ivàri ruled as king for two years.

King Vémundr of Moravia

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As did his father Ìvàri II, Vémundr distinguished himself as a fearsome warrior. He served in the Varangian guard for a short spell before returning home upon the death of the late king. Indeed, the only aspect of Vémundr that outshone his prowess as a warrior was his penchant for food and alcohol. Adequate as a diplomat, Vémundr eventually convinced his siblings to back his claim to the throne in 927 CE. It then fell on King Vémundr to successfully manage the war with Queen Sofie of Bavaria to that he had inherited as well as mend the divisions of his dynasty. By the end of the 920s, the BłackHàrt dynasty and the kingdom that their patriarch had once built were once again on the brink of collapse. Whether Vémundr was up to the task remained to be seen.

House Stórr

King Björn of Prussia

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Faced with the prospect of watching his father Aslak's kingdom go up in smoke, Björn certainly rose to the occasion. The much maligned king achieved a major coup when he won the support of Jarl Tanya of Austria. After a large sum of treasure had changed hands, the combined Prussian and Austrian forces successfully put down four separate rebellions. With the survival of his kingdom secured, Björn reevaluated the endless state of conquest that had characterized his father's reign. In 920, the vigorous monarch declared a decade of peace in the kingdom in which the king would focus instead on diplomacy and realm building. But the vision of peace that Björn had in mind for his realm soon dispersed with the sight of Latgalian and Slavic forces pouring in from the east. Chieftain Velnias of Trakai, former High Chieftain of Samogitia, invaded the Prussian heartlands with aid of High Chieftain Dmitriy Vysheslavovich of Hrodna and his vassal Chieftain Iakov Pavelovich of Yatvyagi. The combined forces numbered in the thousands and threatened to set fire to the Prussian kingdom. The formidable invasion army was ultiamtely defeated by King Bjorn and his allies. However, his newfound disdain for the Baltic tribes to the north had convinced Björn that peace was never an option. By 928 CE, the armies of King Björn were marching into Estonia. The scorned king swore that he would not rest until he and his descendants could rightfully be called Kings of Prussia and Estonia.

House af Gotland

King Vigús of Ruthenia

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In the aftermath of his brothers' failed rebellion, it becomes apparent that the Kingdom of Ruthenia was not the only inheritance that King Vigús received from his late father Haraldr. The cruel streak that had emerged late into Haraldr's reign had indeed passed down to his son Vigús. Flosi and Einarr were executed in September 918 CE, leaving Vigfús as the sole living male member of House af Gotland. The precariousness of his dynasty's future did not lend itself toward a more cautious approach to ruling as Haraldr spent the following years personally leading raids into the Byzantine Empire. Vigús fought and won numerous battles with Basileus Bardas from 922 to 925 CE that left several Greeks dead and the empire's northern frontier completely devastated. Bardas's own wife and his son Theodoros were at one point taken hostage by Vigús's men resulting in an exorbitant sum of gold paid for their release. Vigús returned to Kiev rich in plunder and notoriety as the great Varangian king of the East. The vast haul of the raids in Byzantium was almost immediately reinvested into the settlements along the river Dnieper. The remainder of this treasure would fund Vigús's invasion of Lithuania in 927 CE, lands which he claimed through his late mother Predslava as rightfully his. But the tyranny of Vigús and his late father Haraldr had poisoned relations with the minor lords of Ruthenia. As the king entered into his mid-fifties with only a young son as his sole heir, many in the realm began eyeing the throne and the end of House af Gotland.

House Vaeni

King Huld of Mann and the Isles

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Having withstood the onslaught of the First Crusade for England, King Huld turned his attention northward. In his bid to win legitimacy in the eyes of his Christian subjects and to deter further incursions into his lands, Huld had been baptized shortly after the First Crusade. Whether his conversion was genuine or merely a symbolic gesture is uncertain, what did follow was an invasion of Jórvík dedicated on grounds of expunging the heathens to the north in the late 910s. Finished in 918 CE, the invasion of Jórvík saw Huld's kingdom stretch across nearly the whole of England. Few holdouts remained in the south of Great Britain, but they would be left to Huld's successor as the pirate king perished in August of 920 CE at the age of 67. Huld had ruled as king for four years, creating a legacy that would last generations.

King Guðfriðr

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Guðfriðr Huldson was thrust into the role of king in late 920 CE with big shoes to fill. Deft in administration, King Guðfriðr was tasked with salving a bleeding treasury. The standing army that had served the late king greatly was greatly reduced. Whatever funds the king had were invested into his realm. With a weakened military, Guðfriðr relied on diplomacy to achieve his late father's aims. He eventually extracted from Duke Stigand of Kent an oath of fealty, bringing much needed tax revenues into his realm. Efforts and obtaining a similar oath from Stigand's brother and neighboring ruler Guthfrith of Wessex was undermined by the latter's involvement in the ongoing war between King William of Holland and Queen Sofie of Bavaria. Whether from financial pressures or the vexations of his diplomatic efforts in the south, Guðfriðr at some point became prone to bouts of delusional thinking and hallucinations. It was perhaps the ineptness brought on by this lunacy which allowed his vassals to reinstall Thoraed Burghredson as Duke of Mercia over his younger brother. Guðfriðr would spend the rest of his reign trying to preserve both his realm and his sanity.

House af Degurechaff

Jarl Tanya of Austria

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Tanya would forever prove herself as shrewd as any of her contemporaries in her answering the call of King Björn in the north. Ignoring the threats of her tiresome liege and son-in-law, Tanya lent her strength to the Prussian king, enriching herself and her realm in the process. The move was indicative of the pragmatism with which Tanya had ruled her subjects throughout her life. The flights of fancy that sprung from her perceived madness had not led her people to ruin but rather prosperity. It is not surprising then that her entire realm mourned her loss when the legendary Viking hero died from a seizure in the summer of 920 CE at age 69. Having ruled as Jarl of Austria for 23 years, Tanya would be remembered as the Tanya the Evil, the Woman of Glass, and the Shattered Mind.

Jarl Vemúndr of Austria

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A chip off the block, Vemúndr wasted no time dispelling the notion that he was not up to the task of rule. Fearless on the battlefield, Vemúndr strove to appease the old gods through acts of bravery and piety. But Vemúndr possessed a political savvy reminiscent of Tanya. Leveraging his position as brother-in-law to the king, Vemúndr issued a series of demands for payment to King Ìvàri II on behalf of his late mother. In one instance, upon the successful delivery of the agreed upon sum of gold, Vemúndr alleged that the payment had in fact been intercepted by bandits before it reached his realm and demanded repayment. As the king's most powerful supporter, Vemúndr was in a prime position to extract great wealth from his liege. This practice of extortion would be interrupted by the succession crisis of the three Moravian kings starting with the death of Ìvàri II in 923 CE. Having gained what he could from his position, Vemúndr sought to expand his realm by launching an invasion of Carinthia later that year. Vemúndr would marshal the famed fighting force of his late mother by winning a series of engagements with Queen Sofie of Bavaria. In one instance, the Bavarian queen was captured by Vemúndr. Her capture did not mark the end of the war, however, as she was released in exchange for a hefty ransom without terms of peace negotiated. In a short period of time, Vemúndr proved himself just as shrewd as Tanya, putting himself in the position to win not just Carinthia but perhaps a kingdom of his own.

Conclusion

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Characteristic of the age, much had changed in the short period of 917 to 928 CE. The deaths of King Huld and Jarl Tanya spelled the end of the first wave of Viking explorers. While their generation had transformed Europe, the future of the continent was now in the hands of their descendants. However, the Viking age was far from over as another legend was born with the exploits of Egill Sigurdsson in the Mediterranean. Elsewhere, the sons of great Viking rulers struggled to ensure that their own legacy would endure the times. In the years to come, these rulers would be tasked with choosing the correct path for their dynasty. The process with which the Vikings assimilated to their surrounding religious and cultural landscape was evident in Holland, Prussia, and the British Isles. Those that still clung to the old ways would soon be forced to decide which traditions they would embrace. Their decisions would be among the defining events of the century.

 

[HistoryDude]

A new Viking kingdom emerged in Italy. Will they become the rulers of all of Southern Italy or Sicily? Perhaps even the rulers of all of Italy?

Both Prussia and Ruthenia are expanding. I wonder when they will come into conflict with each other?

Will there be a religious war between the king of Man and the Isles and his jarls. Speaking of which, what happened to Jorvik?

Moravia went through a bunch of rulers. Let's hope that this doesn't lead to recurring succession crises?

 

[14301:tannerman207]

A new Viking kingdom emerged in Italy. Will they become the rulers of all of Southern Italy or Sicily? Perhaps even the rulers of all of Italy?

Both Prussia and Ruthenia are expanding. I wonder when they will come into conflict with each other?

Will there be a religious war between the king of Man and the Isles and his jarls. Speaking of which, what happened to Jorvik?

Moravia went through a bunch of rulers. Let's hope that this doesn't lead to recurring succession crises?

House Sigurdr could very well make a play for Italy or even the Roman Empire. Decades of civil war have weakened the Makedons’ hold on power to the point where a rival dynasty could overthrow them. Should they go that route, Egill and his descendants will need to build a power base in southern Italy and win the backing of the church.

For the time, the kings of Prussia and Ruthenia share common cause in carving up the Baltic tribes of the north. But any sort of peace between them is tenuous at best and will hinge on which of the three Abrahamic religions adopted by the future kings of the Rus’.

Jórvik, a Viking settlement having endured the First Crusade, was invaded by King Huld upon his conversion to Christianity. Huld’s conversion ended the possibility of future crusades launched for Great Britain while also giving his northward expansion the trappings of a holy mission. While fellow Christians, the Dukes of England are powerful rulers in their own right and will be powerful vassals well into the future.

The repercussions of the succession crisis in Moravia remains to be seen, but it is not unlikely that neighboring rulers attempt to exploit the situation. Whoever is able to solidify control over the kingdom will need to deal with these threats as well as the Jarl of Austria to the south.

I’m personally looking forward to whether we find out the culprit behind King Charles’s untimely demise as well as what religions take hold in the nascent Viking realms yet to convert.