Scenario: Third Crusade (1187)
Country: Principality of Cherson, a vassal of the Byzantine Empire
Goals:
1: Smite the heathens
2: Bring civilization to the barbarians
3: Not become Emperor unless it’s thrown after me
Situation at start:
The Principality of Cherson, on the Crimea, is the Empire’s northernmost possession and surrounded by pagans, the closest being the Khazars, the Cumans and the Alans. The Prince, Theodoros, rules Cherson itself directly. He also has three vassals, the counts of Theodosia, Korchev and Tmutumka.
Part 1: Against the Khazars (1187-1193)
In Cherson, the 1187th year after the birth of Christ and the 6695th year after the Creation, began with a feast and much rejoicing as Prince Theodoros wed Eudoxia Segouropoulous, a local noblewoman.
However, this did not last long. Somewhere in the past, a scribe had somehow managed to replace the traditional succession laws with the customs of the Rus, who commonly share the inheritance equally between all sons. For a Prince that planned to have many sons, this was not acceptable. He therefore hanged some of the obviously guilty scribes and had the laws remade. The counts however, those ignorant fools, only noticed that the laws had been changed, and began grumbling.
To regain their favour the Prince, in his infinite wisdom, the following years forgot to collect his just tribute. His mind where already then set on grander matters than squabbling with lesser men. Evidence of this can be clearly seen in the rebuilding of the barracks, the enlargement of the practice fields and the building of new roads. Also, when it was discovered that Demetrios of Korchev in 1188, was plotting against his Lord, the evidence were hidden to be used on a more convenient date.
Theodoros’ firstborn, a daughter, was born in November 1187. Sadly, she was sickly from birth and did not live through the winter. His second daughter, Katharina was born in September the next year. When Eudoxia in 1190 again began to expect a child, the people prayed for a son and heir, but sadly, both Eudoxia and the child died in labour. The Prince, now approaching 40 and yet with out heir, sent his courtiers out to find a new wife. From the lands of the Bulgars, they brought back the fair maid Viola Balik. At the wedding feast, Prince Theodoros vowed that if God would grant him a son, he would vanquish the Lord’s enemies. And truly, he must have been heard as on the 1st of May, 1192, Viola gave birth to Pelekanos.
Therefore in June, the Prince sent a letter to Sokal, king of the Khazars, offering him the Prince’ protection if he would take the true faith and bow before the Emperor. The uncouth and illiterate barbarian instead chose to use the letter as a napkin. However, as with some divine forethought, the Prince’s brave soldiers was practising marching near the border, and Theodoros in righteous and justified anger rode forth to, as one scholar put it, subtract from the numbers of heathens. The news that the Emperor had set sail from Constantinople to aid him, spurred him on and the pagans could not stand against him, but fled like mice before the lion. The King of the Khazars was defeated at the mouth of Don at midsummer, but it was not before winter that the whole land had been subdued. The fate of Sokal is unknown to this day. Some say he escaped to live as a bandit, other that he drowned in the river during the flight.
The House of Cherson at the beginning of 1193
Theodoros of Cherson
Prince of Cherson
B: 1150
M Eudoxia Segouropoulous (d 1191)
|-Argyre of Cherson
| B: 1187 D: 1188
|-Katharina of Cherson
| B: 1188
M Viola Balik
`-Pelekanos of Cherson
B: 1192
EDIT: Fixed Screenshots
Country: Principality of Cherson, a vassal of the Byzantine Empire
Goals:
1: Smite the heathens
2: Bring civilization to the barbarians
3: Not become Emperor unless it’s thrown after me
Situation at start:
The Principality of Cherson, on the Crimea, is the Empire’s northernmost possession and surrounded by pagans, the closest being the Khazars, the Cumans and the Alans. The Prince, Theodoros, rules Cherson itself directly. He also has three vassals, the counts of Theodosia, Korchev and Tmutumka.
Part 1: Against the Khazars (1187-1193)
In Cherson, the 1187th year after the birth of Christ and the 6695th year after the Creation, began with a feast and much rejoicing as Prince Theodoros wed Eudoxia Segouropoulous, a local noblewoman.
However, this did not last long. Somewhere in the past, a scribe had somehow managed to replace the traditional succession laws with the customs of the Rus, who commonly share the inheritance equally between all sons. For a Prince that planned to have many sons, this was not acceptable. He therefore hanged some of the obviously guilty scribes and had the laws remade. The counts however, those ignorant fools, only noticed that the laws had been changed, and began grumbling.
To regain their favour the Prince, in his infinite wisdom, the following years forgot to collect his just tribute. His mind where already then set on grander matters than squabbling with lesser men. Evidence of this can be clearly seen in the rebuilding of the barracks, the enlargement of the practice fields and the building of new roads. Also, when it was discovered that Demetrios of Korchev in 1188, was plotting against his Lord, the evidence were hidden to be used on a more convenient date.
Theodoros’ firstborn, a daughter, was born in November 1187. Sadly, she was sickly from birth and did not live through the winter. His second daughter, Katharina was born in September the next year. When Eudoxia in 1190 again began to expect a child, the people prayed for a son and heir, but sadly, both Eudoxia and the child died in labour. The Prince, now approaching 40 and yet with out heir, sent his courtiers out to find a new wife. From the lands of the Bulgars, they brought back the fair maid Viola Balik. At the wedding feast, Prince Theodoros vowed that if God would grant him a son, he would vanquish the Lord’s enemies. And truly, he must have been heard as on the 1st of May, 1192, Viola gave birth to Pelekanos.
Therefore in June, the Prince sent a letter to Sokal, king of the Khazars, offering him the Prince’ protection if he would take the true faith and bow before the Emperor. The uncouth and illiterate barbarian instead chose to use the letter as a napkin. However, as with some divine forethought, the Prince’s brave soldiers was practising marching near the border, and Theodoros in righteous and justified anger rode forth to, as one scholar put it, subtract from the numbers of heathens. The news that the Emperor had set sail from Constantinople to aid him, spurred him on and the pagans could not stand against him, but fled like mice before the lion. The King of the Khazars was defeated at the mouth of Don at midsummer, but it was not before winter that the whole land had been subdued. The fate of Sokal is unknown to this day. Some say he escaped to live as a bandit, other that he drowned in the river during the flight.
The House of Cherson at the beginning of 1193
Theodoros of Cherson
Prince of Cherson
B: 1150
M Eudoxia Segouropoulous (d 1191)
|-Argyre of Cherson
| B: 1187 D: 1188
|-Katharina of Cherson
| B: 1188
M Viola Balik
`-Pelekanos of Cherson
B: 1192
EDIT: Fixed Screenshots
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