In february, AD 1089 three magnificent things happened almost simultaneously in the life of Buriberdi, the Prince of Alania. First of all, he turned 16, becoming of age to speak on his own behalf in front of his people and the elders of his tribe. For a modest person such as Buriberdi was, this was as much frightening as it was empowering. The principality of Alania had been ruled by the tribal elders for almost a decade after the death of his well-liked yet weak father Durgulel, and now it was finally his own will and vision - both delivered by the Holy Ghost - that would guide his people through the desert and across the sea if it was God's will.
The highlight of his birthday party was the humiliation of King of the Cumans, a formerly great and feared pagan tribe to the north of Alans. The Cumans had over two decades of constant war with its neighbours lost most of its power, and a short involvement by both Alans and Cumans in the civil war of a small sea shore county of Tmutarakan was followed by total occupation of what little was left of Cuman lands. At the height of the party, the Cuman king bowed in front of Buriberdi, handed over the mantle and sword of the Cuman kings and was sent to be beheaded outside the castle. The Alans would no longer be vassals to the Kings of Georgia, for Buriberdi was a king in his own right, by the Grace of God.
In the morning following the declaration of Buriberdi as being of age, and a king, a royal marriage was already being planned on. And no more than three weeks later, the King would marry the steward of his realm, Nada Cherven. The Cherven family had fled from their home in Constantia after Nada's father, Count Roman Cherven had entered into a dispute with his liege, Prince Nestor Tzamplakon of Karvuna. The exotic looking girl and her two sisters had risen a lot of interest in the minds of young Alans, but it was Nada's inner energy and hands-down way of doing things that finally drew Buriberdi's attention. They had known for years now, having shared most of their childhood together, first in the court of Durgulel's and after that in that of Buriberdi's. If there were tears shed at the wedding, all were of joy.
A mere month from the wedding and Nada was pregnant. It was no secret that Buriberdi and every one else in the court was praying for a boy. A heir to the throne would bring stability and peace to the realm that was divided geographically as well as in terms of race and religion. But the King of Cumans was also anxious to see his first child born and his own family thus in all senses of the word formed. As a man who would uphold the sacred institution he would show the Alans, Cumans and other people of his realm that under his dynasty, a prosperous time would follow.
Truly there would be something wondrous waiting for Buriberdi in God's plans, why else would he be so blessed already at the age of 16?
(next to come: the short history of Alans under the reign of Durgulel; how they came to be a part of the Georgian Kingdom; and events leading to the establishment of an Orthodox Christian Cuman-Alan Kingdom on the mountains of Caucasus)
The highlight of his birthday party was the humiliation of King of the Cumans, a formerly great and feared pagan tribe to the north of Alans. The Cumans had over two decades of constant war with its neighbours lost most of its power, and a short involvement by both Alans and Cumans in the civil war of a small sea shore county of Tmutarakan was followed by total occupation of what little was left of Cuman lands. At the height of the party, the Cuman king bowed in front of Buriberdi, handed over the mantle and sword of the Cuman kings and was sent to be beheaded outside the castle. The Alans would no longer be vassals to the Kings of Georgia, for Buriberdi was a king in his own right, by the Grace of God.
In the morning following the declaration of Buriberdi as being of age, and a king, a royal marriage was already being planned on. And no more than three weeks later, the King would marry the steward of his realm, Nada Cherven. The Cherven family had fled from their home in Constantia after Nada's father, Count Roman Cherven had entered into a dispute with his liege, Prince Nestor Tzamplakon of Karvuna. The exotic looking girl and her two sisters had risen a lot of interest in the minds of young Alans, but it was Nada's inner energy and hands-down way of doing things that finally drew Buriberdi's attention. They had known for years now, having shared most of their childhood together, first in the court of Durgulel's and after that in that of Buriberdi's. If there were tears shed at the wedding, all were of joy.
A mere month from the wedding and Nada was pregnant. It was no secret that Buriberdi and every one else in the court was praying for a boy. A heir to the throne would bring stability and peace to the realm that was divided geographically as well as in terms of race and religion. But the King of Cumans was also anxious to see his first child born and his own family thus in all senses of the word formed. As a man who would uphold the sacred institution he would show the Alans, Cumans and other people of his realm that under his dynasty, a prosperous time would follow.
Truly there would be something wondrous waiting for Buriberdi in God's plans, why else would he be so blessed already at the age of 16?
(next to come: the short history of Alans under the reign of Durgulel; how they came to be a part of the Georgian Kingdom; and events leading to the establishment of an Orthodox Christian Cuman-Alan Kingdom on the mountains of Caucasus)
