Homelands
Chapter Sixteen: Winters of War
Part 4
Prelude:
The Winters of War refers to a period of Prussian history marked by sudden and inexplicable expansion as ordered by King Gunvald in his later years. In 1175, when the second wave of wars started he was 48 years of age, far beyond the average age for a man in his time period, even royalty. Many historians suspect a degree of insecurity or even madness in his choice to fight constant wars in Russia for four years. But Prussia's ultimate triumph, the crown of the Rus was blocked by the Mordvins, who conquered Moscow, Tver and Novgorod in the same time period. The Mordvins were a Finnic people, native to central Russia; their Kingdom expanded quickly and then, due to Prussia's unwillingness to commit to an all-out war against them, lasted (albeit smaller) until the 1300's when it finally converted to Christianity. The Mordvin Kingdom was surprisingly European for a pagan collective. The nation was organized on feudal grounds (probably based off the Prussian method), Kings married their daughters to foreigners, dynastic systems were well-maintained and strict. The major dynasties of the Mordvins were the Merya dynasty, which founded the Kingdom; the Narva dynasty, which was a cadet branch of the Merya dynasty that spoke Russian and was partially Muslim as well as pagan; and lastly the Wolgast dynasty, which was descendent of Wends but fully Mordvin by the time they took the throne. Under the Wolgast dynasty the Mordvin Kingdom converted to Christianity and submitted to Prussia in order to quell internal issues.
The Kingdom of Mordvins (Dark Green) at its height under the Narva Dynasty circa 1220. In light green the Kingdom's tributary tribes and in grey the Mordvin population of Prussia. Prussia shown with its 1176 border.
September 10th 1176
The conquest of the Russian tribes had been halted by the Mordvin's sudden and unexpected expansion. The Mordvin Kingdom was a young one, becoming prominent only in the last few decades. Gunvald had rushed out to the new territories quickly after being summoned by his son to help defuse a potentially dangerous issue. It seemed that after the conquest of the Cumans and large number of Mordvins now lived inside Prussian territory. Acting on Sviendorog's suggestion, Gunvald brought another 20,000 troops with him. It was at the tiny fortress city of Moscow that they met with the King of the Mordvins, a chief by the name of Reko of Merya. When Gunvald and Sviendorog arrived with their respective body guards they found the court at Moscow lively, unlike those in Prussia. Reko resembled a living Dionysus. His face was hairless and pudgy, his hair unkept and curly. For a crown he wore leaves and branches woven into a circlet; for clothing a simple toga; and for a throne a large relaxing chair covered in lavish pillows. By his side was a bear, tied to a pole, but calm and kept. It slept quietly surrounded by small coins and offerings.
Prussia in 1176 with its new gains highlighted.
The King of the Mordvins stood up, trying to act as refined and dignified as a god. Gunvald glanced around and saw that no one else dressed like him. It was a show, the Prussian King thought to himself, he is trying to scare us.
"War is a terrible thing, neighbor," Reko began. Gunvald could not help but roll his eyes and look disaffected. "I'd hate to see it break out between our peoples."
"Reko, I am not here to be preached to. Get on with it."
"Gunvald, in your son's overzealous conquest of the Muslims he made a large number of our brothers and sisters into your subjects. I hope that this does not lead to any issue in the future."
"Well that depends, have you called me here to instigate that issue? Because that is what I assumed and that is why we have 45,000 troops waiting for orders."
Reko paced back and forth while Gunvald spoke, he seemed to care very little that the Prussians were threatening a massive invasion if they felt he was provoking something. "And I assume soon the missionaries will be parading through the streets burning women and chastising the country folk."
Sviendorog looked to his father as Gunvald swallowed his anger. "You are lucky that the Volga river is not an asset to us. Now if you wish to continue, I would be glad to bring up the massive number of Russian Christians you have taken under your flock."
It was only now that Reko ceased his pacing and looked at Gunvald directly. "Maybe I will continue, good King of Prussia. Then what?"
"Your people will feel the might of Prussian anger." Sviendorog smiled, he knew his father would be blunt soon enough. Reko turned to speak with his advisor, no doubt trying to decide if he could even survive a total onslaught from the Prussians. He knew the answer was an astounding 'no.' Sviendorog had unsuccessfully argued to his father that the Volga river would make the best eastern defense and that wiping the Mordvins off the map now would be better than letting them get stronger, as was the current trend. But Gunvald insisted that better territories lie not to the east but to the west and south.
The Mordvin King sat back down and looked earnestly at Gunvald who had fixed his gaze on the pagan. "Then I guess it is of no use..." he seemed to lament. He reached back to one advisor who handed him a scroll. "This is my alternative proposal." He handed the roll to a young knave sitting at his feet. The boy, no older than ten, took the paper and handed it to Gunvald with a deep bow. It was written in Russian, the common tongue used between Prussians and Mordvins, and offered a sum of gold each year for access to the Black Sea for trade.
"I must admit, this probably should have been the first order of business, Reko. I don't feel like I must accept this after you have tried to belittle me. I will give it to you on one extra term, the treaty will last five years. After that you must come to Memelbuhr and have it renewed. We ask a 10% tarriff. If you try to short sell us, you will be in trouble. Got me?"
"Completely, Gunvald." The Prussiann King rolled the paper back up and handed it to his captain.
"I assume we are done here," he said, turn and leaving without further to do. Sviendorog looked at Reko intensely, he knew one year that the Mordvins would have to come to him for the right to use the Black Sea and he would simply say no. He shook his head to rid himself of such thoughts. I am not King yet, he said to himself. Not yet. He left with his father and their guard, Gunvald seemed pleased with the outcome and smiled accordingly.
"Father, we are only postponing the inevitable!" Sviendorog said. "You let that wild man get away with a treaty and trade instead of castrated."
"There is more to this than war!"
"No, father! The Volga could have been our trade route, our body of water! Moscow could have been our fortress, Russia was in your hand, dancing nearly naked in front of you!" Sviendorog clenched his fist into a ball.
Gunvald looked at Sviendorog seriously, "I saw it, but it was just that... a scrawny man dancing around naked."