An actual update!
Homelands
Chapter Seven: King and Conqueror
Part 5
Prelude:
Eadbert’s attempt to lead the Prussians to victory in Livonia left Prussia looking weak in the face of her enemies. Aethelweard wanted to cover for this blunder so he and his marshals invaded the Tribe of Estonia in 1110. The Estonian Wars would last several months as the Estonians hard prepared for the war beforehand. However, the war was necessary in pushing Prussian supremacy beyond the Baltic coast. Estonia would eventually lead to an invasion of Finland, though it would also become a hot bed of noble rebellion for much of Prussia’s medieval history.
June 1st, 1111
Aethelweard sat with dignitaries from the surrounding realms. The recent annexation of Estonia threatened to throw the balance out of whack. The King of Poland was beginning to feel that Prussia might turn their attention to them in the coming years. The Teutonic Knights felt the same way. Meeting in Memelbuhr was King Aethelweard from Prussia, Grand Princes Alexander and Dmitri from Russia, King Wladislaw of Poland, Grand Master Martin of the Order, and King Valdemar of Sweden. Aethelweard and the Grand Princes had already agreed on a division of North Eastern Europe based on fair expansion, but this agreement frightened the Catholic West.
Prussia in Eastern Europe: Russian Princes in Dark Blue, Sweden in Blue, Pagans in Peach, Cumans in pink
“King Aethelweard, your nation has waged constant war these last decades, both against pagan tribes and the Catholics within your country. We fear we might be next,” the Grand Master said. He sat wearing a simple monk’s robe with a wooden cross around his neck. Aethelweard knew it was a show, he tried to look like a poor monk, but Martin had been stealing from the alms given by the Holy Roman Emperor.
“You chose to take residence on land already put aside for Prussian expansion,” Grand Prince Dmitri of Novgorod said plainly.
“Maybe so, be are we not just like your father, Aethelweard? Leaving one land for a new one…”
“My father fled from injustice and war so his people could have a better life. You came to Riga seeking only gold and power,” Aethelweard said.
“The nobles of Poland also fear the aggression of Prussia; surely you cannot just wave off a Kingdom a hundred years old than your own.”
“Nor do we intend to, Wladislaw. But you too have been prompting retribution. Your invasion and annexation of Pinsk has not gone unnoticed. The Prince of Galich has also sent word of your bullying,” Alexander said. Poland’s soft underbelly was just north of Kiev and her army.
King Valdemar sat quietly, having no real interest in either side of the debate. Internal strife and an aggressive Norway had halted his own plans for expansion in the Baltic, and he’d rather see it in the hands of a stable nation that squabbling noble republics or corrupt military orders. He knew more than anything, silence was the key to his success here.
“What shall be done about the Order, then?” Wladislaw asked.
“What?! Nothing, we have taken Riga, it is ours!”
“Poland and Germany have already recognized Riga as the rightful territory of Prussia and the Leofricson dynasty,” Aethelweard said. Martin steamed inside, he glared at Aethelweard and the Prussian King laughed.
King Wladislaw sighed, “The Nobles of Poland have voted… unanimously… if it would mean peace, Poland shall recognize again Prussia’s claim on Riga.”
“Treacherous fiends!!” Martin shouted. “We shall not simply be kicked off our lands! Good day to you sirs,” the Grand Master said storming out of the castle.
“I can agree to such a thing,” Aethelweard said.
“Good, the nobles and I have been growing worried.”
“And of the Prince of Galich?” Alexander asked, forcibly.
“We should meet in Krakow, we can all discuss it there,” Wladislaw suggested.
“Until then,” Dmitri warned, “you better hope no issues arise in Galich, or it’ll mean war.”
End Chapter Seven