Homelands
Chapter Seven: King and Conqueror
Part 3
Prelude:
On January 1st, 1107 Aethelweard accepted the title Rex Balticum, or King of the Baltic. Usually the title was referred to as King of Prussia, or in some places King of Lithuania. The title, recognized first by Alexander of Kiev was of Aethelweard’s own invention, and was meant to further his own power and prestige while allowing him to more easily divide the nation up. One noble that gained much was Andrei Rurikovich, who became Prince of Polotsk. Aethelweard’s own son became Prince of Lithuania, the title of the heir apparent until the 1200’s. By the end of 1107 Aethelweard had moved his capital north, from Marienscír to Memelbuhr (formerly Memelscír and also called Memelburg). Aethelweard correctly assumed that by moving his capital to a more central location he can better run the nation.
January 1st, 1107
On the balcony of the great long house, Aethelweard kneeled before the Patriarch of Constantinople. Great throngs of people had gathered to watch their Duke be made a King. The buildings all flew colorful banners and the buildings were lined with flowers. The new church rang her bells loudly as Aethelweard had a small circlet of steel laid on his head. The circlet was adorned with the Prussian Eagle. It was a simple crown, but a crown of authority rather than wealth. Great cheering rose throughout the entire city and eventually, standing back up, Aethelweard urged calm.
Returning inside, Aethelweard made sure that packing and moving arrangements were beings finalized.
“Aethelweard, I don’t understand why it is so important to move from our cozy home here in Marienscír,” Markéta whined.
“Yes, father this seems rather unnecessary,” Eadbert said. The young man, not yet wed, was the heir apparent and Prince of Lithuania. He tried hard not to flash a look of anger toward his father.
“Both of you, we must move to Memelbuhr, I can better rule from there.”
“But the church and the burial tomb…” Markéta pointed out.
“When I die I will be brought back to Marienscír, but I must go where I can best rule this entire Kingdom,” the King then turned to Eadbert and sternly said, “And then we find you a suitable wife.”
August 7th, 1107
The move to Memelbuhr had taken longer than expected. The construction on a new palace had fallen behind schedule, but the workers tried furiously to complete it before winter. The new castle had more room in it, and was effectively divided in two, part for living and part for working. Aethelweard was the first to miss the bustling streets of Marienscír, but in moving the palace, people had moved into the new capital. Memelbuhr, unlike Marienscír, was populated by Lettish speakers. The two groups were similar, but the Letts were more full-blooded. Many Prussian men had died during the initial invasion and settlement, so that most Prussians fifty years later were half-bloods, either the result of Saxon and Prussia marriages or Lettish and Prussian marriages.
Languages of the baltic:
Green: Wendish
Light Green: Polish
Grey: Prussian
Dark Red: Lithuanian
Medium Red: Lettish
Red: Estonian
Blue: Russian
Teal: Swedish
Pink: Finnish
Areas with black hashes: Provinces with a large Saxon minority
Eadbert, pleased with his own set-up in the palace, took the labor of finding a wife. Aethelweard took the time to find only one suitable woman, Agita of Memel. She was the daughter of a conquered Lettish chief, and wedding the two would bring some legitimate unity to the northern region. Eadbert looked at the small woman with some displeasure.
“Father, am I to bed a pagan witch who does not speak Saxon?”
“Eadbert, she was raised in a convent and speaks fluent Saxon.” The woman was out of earshot, so Eadbert sighed. “You must go through with this, now the wedding is in a week, and you shall produce an heir for the sake of your Kingdom!”
“Yes, father,” Eadbert said spitefully.