Episode XVII: Tverssian Roulette
With the threat from the Golden Horde reduced, Tver had some breathing space. Roman Vladimirov took a short holiday in Switzerland, leaving the country without a chief financial advisor. Ruin, surely, would befall the nation’s finances.
Further good news was to follow, as several more of Tver’s former Novgorodian regions – including the rich city of Novgorod itself – were declared fully integrated into the Principality. Novgorod was now Tver’s richest city, greatly enhancing the treasury’s tax incomes.
Not everyone, though, was happy. Although liberated from the clutches of the Golden Horde, many in Ryazan still harboured dreams of resurrecting their own country, conquered half a century previously by the Horde. Several times, these sentiments flared up into armed revolts which had to be put down by the Tverian army.
There was some cause for optimism, though: in Horde territory bordering that of Tver, Russian Patriots sought to undermine Tartar rule, drive the Horde out of Russian territory altogether, and ally themselves with the growing state.
While Muscowy was still a vassal of the Horde, Konstantin was able to negotiate a treaty of Military Access with his cousin. The Duck was in a difficult situation, but he too was a Rurikovich – what would this great and noble family not do to aid each other?
Prince Aleksandr heartily agreed with his brother’s sentiments, and invited him to his private black-marble castle in Olonets – he had received a delivery of interesting snakes that might please Konstantin? Konstantin was about to accept, before Seamus Arkadiusz Dobczyński quickly told him that he was required to attend a military parade.
The parade concluded, Dobczyński briefed him on recent events in western Europe.
‘All hell is breaking loose in Germany, sir. Some nutter in Berlin’s started nailing weird religious ideas to doors.’
‘It’s the doors I feel for.’ He had a sip from his glass of wine. ‘Is this good news or bad?’
‘Could be good, sir. If they start fighting amongst themselves we might be able to make some territorial gains. Not yet, though. We’ll have tae see how it develops.’
‘Heretics, the lot of them. Next?’
‘Next we have...oh dear. Maybe we’d better not...’
‘Speak, man.’
‘Sir, I don’t think...’
‘
Gadaj..’
Dobczyński braced himself. ‘The...Duke of Murom rejects your invitation to dinner, sir.’
‘It wasn’t to him, it was to his wife.’
‘Yes, sir, but he found out. And replied.’
‘How rude! After I provided them with a son and everything!’
‘In better news, sir, we’ve introduced new education programmes in Yaroslavl. Promote a bit of Cultural Unity.’
‘I like a bit of cultural unity.’
‘Further unity could be achieved, sir, by sending Missionaries to try and convert some of our heathens.’
‘Good plan. Maybe send the army there too. Just to...you know.’ He had a small sip of his wine.
‘I know, sir. Done.’
‘Next we have...oh. That’s odd.’
‘What?’
‘Odd, and a bit disturbing.’
‘Oh dear. Are you all right, Dobczyński?’
‘I’m fine, sir. Haven’t been back for years and I’m sure father will be fine. These Górkas have been a nightmare since they took over’
‘Never send a vegetable to do a man’s job.’
‘No, sir.’
‘Although a lot can be achieved with a good firm carrot...’
‘It’s also led to the freedom of Gdańsk, sir. Or Danzig, as I suppose I should now call it.’
‘What sort of freedom?’ The Prince of Tver took a sip of wine.
‘The kind that has very odd political ideas, sir.’
‘It’sa republic, sir. Something called a Constitutional Republic. Chose a man called Sigmund Knobelsdorf to lead them. He was so surprised he died. So they picked another one.’
‘Elections? What nonsense is this?’ He had another sip.
‘Don’t know, sir. Sounds like a waste of time to me.’
‘If you have elections you might not get men like me!’
‘Then where would we be, sir?’
‘Anarchy, Dobczyński! Feminine, girly, limp-wristed thumb-sucking anarchy. Now, get me a clothes hanger.’
‘Yes, s...what?’
‘A clothes hanger, Dobczyński. I wish to cross the forecourt of the palace by a horizontal rope. I shall require a clothes hanger.’
‘Why...why would you want to do that?’
‘Because I do! Why do you always need reasons, Dobczyński? This is what I wnat and it is what I will have!’
‘Sir...what have you been drinking?’
‘Drinking? Just a glass of this new wine my brother sent me.’ He wielded the bottle. ‘Finest Burgundian Reserve!’
‘Which has been painted on the label over ‘Dr Kolobkin’s Revolutionary Anti Depressant Draught’.’
‘Brother Aleksandr is very ecological! He reuses bottles!’
‘
Never imbibe more than one small spoon’s worth or you may encounter unusual escapades... Sir, you’ve drunk almost a whole bottle.’
‘And I feel better than ever! Let me fly, Dobczyński! I must be closer to God! To the window!’
‘Not to the window!’
‘To the wall?’
‘To the bed! Now!’
Dobczyński dragged the ruler of Tver to the bedroom, and called for the palace physician. The effects of the potion would wear off in a few weeks, he said, but until then someone would need to take control of state business. In the parliamentary recess, there was a choice of two men: Dobczyński or Vladimirov.
Vladimirov, who had recently returned from his holiday, opened his mouth to speak. Dobczyński fixed him with a glare. The suggestion was withdrawn.
While the king was ill, strange times continued to abound. The large, frozen province of Solikamsk had been overrun by Russian Patriots and, the Horde having failed to quell the rebellion, the entire Province was surrendered to the control of Tver.
Normally, this would be excellent news. However, there were two problems. Firstly, Tver was already heavily stretched in an eastern direction. Travel from east to west took the best part of half a year. The acquisition of Solikamsk was to make these logistical issues even more pressing.
The second problem was that, having spent the best part of a century under Horde control, the majority of the population had grown up as practising Muslims. Many amongst them were now demanding that the whole of Tver convert to their preferred religion. The army, once again, had to be deployed to the eastern provinces.
The third, and greatest problem, was that for the cartographers’ guild, who sent angry correspondence to Dobczyński at the new acquisition. They had no choice. The Principality’s name was going to have to be lop-sided.
Overall, though, this was quiet period for the Principality of Tver and, in the long run, the unexpected liberation of Solikamsk was a great boon to the country. The country had grown even stronger, Konstantin had recovered from his ailment...what could possibly go wrong?