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unmerged(47028)

Field Marshal
Aug 1, 2005
3.771
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The Return of Ancient Gods: Lithuanian Kingdom


Introduction


In the beginning there was the primal chaos, nothingness, and chaos waters. In this nothingness two creators existed Dievas (God) and Velnias (Devil). Dievas begins to build a world from dirt which was brought by Velnias from the bottom of chaos waters and creates everything perfect – plains, fields, Velnias begins to spit swallowed dirt creating everything chaotic – mountains, rocks. Dievas creates birds – sky creatures and Velnias creates animals and beasts – land creatures. Following the creation of an island , Dievas decides to rest. While Dievas is asleep, one eyed Velnias tries to drown him by dragging him into water this way stretching the island they created and making it large. However, Dievas wakes up and punishes Velnias by sending him to the underworld – the Hell. Dievas later washes his face in heaven, a drop fells on the ground, and that’s how man is created
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This is a short AAR about pagan Lithuanian Kingdom.

I use vanilla game 1.08 plus DLCs. As it is impossible to start the game as a pagan ruler I chose the year Duke Mindaugas became the ruler of Lithuania because he was an Orthodox Christian while Lithuania was still pagan.​
 
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Table of Contents:



1236-1252

1252-1288

1288-1290

1290-1296

1296-1322

1322-1369

1369-1383

1383-1393

1393-1342

1342-


 
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Grand Duke Mindaugas






Medeina - goddess of forests, trees and animals. She is single, unwilling to get married, though voluptuous and beautiful huntress. She is depicted as a young woman and a she-wolf (vilkmergė) with an escort of wolves. Her duty is not to help the hunters, but to protect the forest. Even when Duke Mindaugas became officially Christian he still worshiped Medeina.
medeina_zpsec78179a.jpg


On 19 February 1236, Pope Gregory IX issued a papal bull declaring a crusade against Lithuania. He targeted Samogitia, planning to conquer the coast of the Baltic Sea and connect with the Teutonic Knights in Prussia.

In fall of 1236, crusaders marched from Riga into Samogitia, raiding and plundering local settlements. However, on their return the Livonian Brothers of the Sword were met by Lithuanians led by Duke Vykintas.

In the next morning, on 22 September 1236, Lithuanians slaughtered all the crusaders, including Volkwin, the Master (Herrmeister) of the Livonian Brothers of the Sword.

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The Battle of Saule



It was a disaster for the Livonian Brothers of the Sword which became incorporated into the Order of Teutonic Knights in the following year but it lead to the birth of Lithuania.

On the same year Grand Duke of Lithuania Mindaugas became the leader of all Lithuanians.

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Lithuania was surrounded by hostile countries: Kingdom of Poland, Teutonic Order, Livonia and Orthodox Principalities of Rurik dynasty.

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Europe still faced Mongol threat. However, Europe was still celebrating the success of the Six Crusade which resulted in regaining control of Jerusalem and other areas through diplomatic means rather than actual fighting.

The Byzantium Empire was still licking its wound following humiliating loss of Byzantium to Crusaders of the Fourth Crusade.

Castilians, Aragonese and Portuguese continued holly fighting for The Iberian Peninsula. Swedish were preparing for the Second Crusade for Finland.

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Following the consolidation of Lithuania, Mindaugas led his troop to subdue Yotvingians and Samogitians. The campaign was successful. However, the success was temporal as Poland invaded and captured Yotvingia. At the same time Poland usurped Grodno from the Principality of Volhynia endangering the existence of Lithuania.

At the end of his reign, Midaugas invaded Prussia in order to liberate enslaved Prussian from the Teutonic Order yoke. Unfortunately before the end of campaign Mindaugas died from ill health on 31 May 1252. His dream to create Lithuanian Kingdom had to be postponed.

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Grand Duke Mindaugas had two wives: Morta Vismantaite (daughter of Duke Vismantas) and Alexandra Rurikovich (daughter of Grand Prince Briachislav III of Polotsk).

He had 5 sons and 3 daughters. The oldest son Vaisvilkas, who married Konstacja, daughter of Henryk II, King of Poland, became the Grand Duke of Lithuania. Mindaugas daughter Ramune married Iziaslav Grand Prince of Vitebsk. These marriages secured southern and eastern borders of Lithuania.

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Grand Duke Vaisvilkas the Cruel







Teliavelis is a powerful giant smith close to Velnias who made the Sun and threw it to the sky. The first smiths were devils and they later taught men the smith’s craft.
Teliavelis_zpsf3c5ad56.jpg



During his reign, Vaisvilkas unsuccessfully attempted to expel the Teutonic Order from Prussia but attempts were fruitless and it costs a lot of money to fund campaigns. His merciless taxation and banishing earned him a nickname “the Cruel”.

Nevertheless Vaisvilkas was a good diplomat. His aunty Kenna married King of France Godefroy and gave birth to future king Lois. Another aunty Roze married Khagan Batu of Golden Horde and gave birth to blue eyed Khagan Kchorchi. Vaisvilkas’ second cousin married the Queen of Croatia. Subsequently he married his stepdaughter, the Queen of Croatia Princess of Byzantium Empire.

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As his father, Vaisvilkas had two wives: Konstacja, Princes of Poland and Viacheslava, daughter of Grand Prince Vladmir II of Turov. He had 5 sons and 3 daughters. He also fathered 1 bastard son with a sister of Vladimir II.

Unfortunately for Vaisvilkas, his brother in law Meszko V lost his crown in 1273, after 4 years of rule, to his distant uncle Kazimierz III. However, fortunately Vaisvilkas, son Vidmantas married Zwinislawa, daughter of Kazimerz III who became princess of Poland after her father usurped the throne and then became the Queen of Poland following her father’s death 10 years later. Her brother died when he was two. Zwinislawa I became Greek Orthodox and began conversion of Poland.

Butigeidis married the Duchess of Sicily Carla and Rostislav married the Duchess of Lombardy Margarete.

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On 24 November 1288, Vaisvilkas the Cruel died.

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At the same time turbulent times continued in Europe. France and England fought for Aquitania. Bohemia which revolted against HRE during Mindaugas’ reign continued fighting already for fourth decade. Hungary annexed Walachia but lost Croatia which became independent. Sweden succeeded in two crusades: one for Finland and one for Anatolia. The Byzantine Empire retook Byzantium from the Latin Empire and expelled crusaders from the city. Aragon took fight to North Africa. Poland also expanded its territory at the Teutonic Order and the Principality of Volhynia expense. Danish Estonia became independent.

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Wait, so when do you become Pagan?
 
Wait, so when do you become Pagan?

My plan is as soon as possible. At the start of the game Vaisvilkas is already Orthodox too. In fact in his real live Vaisvilkas was very devoted Orthodox and ended his life in monastery giving up his crown to his brother-in-law (I think) who was also Orthodox. My point was to create Kingdom of Lithuania (need just 3 more provinces) first like Mindaugas did and then change it to Pagan as it historically happened following political strugle.


Welcome.
 
Grand Duke Vidmantas




Gabija – goddess of household fire. She is protector of home and family. Gabija could take forms of a cat, stork or rooster, or she could appear as a woman clothed in red. Gabija was greatly respected and cared for like a living creature. People would feed Gabija by offering bread and salt. Fire had to be laid to bed – women would cover charcoal with ashes every evening so that fire would not wander around. Sometimes a bowl of clean water would be left near the hearth so that Gabija could wash herself. If angered, Gabija would "go for a walk" burning the house.
Gabija_zpsb054960f.jpg



Vidmantas was the most promising and extremely charismatic Grand Duke*. Under his leadership everybody was expecting to unite Baltic tribes.

Vidmantas father married him to a daughter of the duke of Mazovia who then unexpectedly won a civil war and usurped the crown of Poland. Following the king’s death, Vidmantas’ wife became the Queen of Poland. He was then made a Duke of Samogitia and sent to Scalovia to fight the Teutonic Order. In one of his battles, Vidmantas was heavily wounded but survived leaving with a nasty scar.

Vidmantas marriage was not very happy. After the birth of his first child Girdenis he soon fell in love with a daughter of some unknown Scalovian krivis** Gintare (amber) who conceived and gave birth to his second son Svitrigaila. Vidmantas immediately legitimised his bastard son.

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Upon becoming of age, Girdenis married his father’s lover and mother of his half brother Gintare. She was 17 years older than Girdenis. This caused a conflict between Vidmantas and his sons Girdenis and Svitrigaila.

In 1288, Vidmantas became the Grand Duke of Lithuania but instead of ruling Lithuania and leading it to glory he died 2 years later because of deep depression caused by his unhappy love life.

1288Lit2_zpse97b24a5.jpg


* Vidmantas had Diplomacy 25. I was looking forward for his rule.
** Krivis - Lithuanian pagan priest.
 
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Don't think I've seen a Lithuania AAR before (well, not in these parts, anyway.)

This looks both interesting and well-written - I'll be following :)
 
Grand Duke Girdenis








Milda – love and freedom goddess. Milda is flying a circuit of the world in an air chariot pulled by a group of white as snow pigeons. April (Balandis – pigeon) was called Milda’s month. The temple of Milda was Vilnius and Kaunas.
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Girdenis’ future was very bright. In his early thirties he inherited Grand Duchy of Lithuania from his late father who ruled the country just 2 years. His mother Zwinislawa, Queen of Poland was already 51 year old.

Girdenis had two brothers and a sister. Vaisvilkas died on his 18 birthday. Girdenis and his half-brother Svitrigaila could not get along with each other. Just 1 year after Girdenis’ rule commenced Svitrigaila was found dead. Four years later Girdenis wife Gintare was murdered on the orders of Girdenis sister Jevna who was living in Samogitia married to a local man.

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Girdenis built a temple to Milda in Vilnius in memory of his wife Gintare. However just one year later, Girdenis died too on 4 November 1296. He was the third grand duke in a row who died in the same month of a year.

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Because of his wife’s age Girdenis had only one child. His daughter Audra was just a nine year old minor when she became the Grand Duchess of Lithuania. Girdenis half-brother on the other hand had to sons: Irmantas and Budrys, who became pretenders to the Audras’ throne.

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Gridenis’ grandfather’s some sisters and brothers were still alive and successful. Gintare’s daughter became the Queen of Denmark. A son of Butigeidis Duke of Sicily married the Duchies of Sardinia. A daughter of Erdvilas became wife of Khagan Khorchi.

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Girdenis’ attempt to expand his Grand Duchy also failed like his grandfather’s and father’s. Nevertheless, he helped his mother to defeat the Grand Prince of Turov.

A civil war in Vitebsk ended with Matfei Grand Prince of Vitebsk usurping the Principality of Polotsk from Boris of Polotsk. Following his victory Matfei immediately attacked Livonia for Tartu but the exhausted principality was not strong enough to press its claim immediately and the war became prolonged.

Further away in Asia Minor, Duchy of Armenia Minor under leadership of Bohemond de Poitou won its independence from Sultanate of Rum.

The war between England and France ended inconclusively.

1290Lit5_zps41e16d0f.jpg

 
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These dukes just keep on dying don't they?
 
Wow - remind me not to go to Lithuania, lest I topple over one day.

Actually, Vilnius was the European suicicide capital in 2009...
 
Actually, Vilnius was the European suicicide capital in 2009...

I didn't know that... See? Never believe anyone who tells you that AARs are not educational. :)
 
Don't think I've seen a Lithuania AAR before (well, not in these parts, anyway.)

This looks both interesting and well-written - I'll be following :)

Thank you. Welcome to the thread.


These dukes just keep on dying don't they?

Wow - remind me not to go to Lithuania, lest I topple over one day.

Actually, Vilnius was the European suicicide capital in 2009...

I didn't know that... See? Never believe anyone who tells you that AARs are not educational. :)


I guess it became family habit :) I make claims on the Teutonic Order start war or just about to start war and my duke dies. I think somebody helps the order from the above. I have noticed though that females are more resilient and tend to live longer so I hope Audra will become the one who will change Lithuania's fate.
 
I didn't know that... See? Never believe anyone who tells you that AARs are not educational. :)

My head is a place full of irrelevant knowledge and trivial facts - it seems it actually came in handy for once :)

As for the new Grand Duchess, let's hope females are indeed more resilient...
 
Queen Audra





Žemyna – the goddess of the earth. The goddess is wife of Perkūnas and daughter of Saulė and Mėnuo. She personifies the fertile earth and nourishes all life on earth, human, plant, and animal. The earth needed to be fertilized by the first spring Perkūnas rain and thunder. Thus it was prohibited to plow or sow before the first thunder as the earth would be barren. While people pray to Žemyna they kiss the earth and say “I was born of earth will return to earth”.
zemyna_zpsc3dcca5b.jpg



Audra (storm) became the Grand Duchess of Lithuania after the death of her farther who died soon after his bellowed wife and Audra’s mother was murdered. She was just a minor. Her grandmother, Queen Zwinislawa of Poland was worried that her granddaughter could be murdered before her adulthood. Irmantas who was 4 years older than Audra and had a very strong claim could take over Lithuania.

Polish szlachta* supported an idea to betroth Audra to her half-cousin Irmantas expecting to unite both countries. Soon after her 16 birthday in April 1303 Audra married Irmantas.

Just 3 months after Audra’s coronation and marriage her aunty Jevna was murdered. Nobody found out who was responsible for her death but it was rumoured that it was done not without Audras’ knowledge or involvement. The death of her late mother was avenged.

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On year later Audra gave birth to Girdenis. Lithuanian bajorai** attempted to crown Audra as Queen of Lithuania but before they could do that Queen Zwinislawa died on 16 January 1305. Audra and Irmantas were crowned as Queen and King of Poland.

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During Zwinislawa’s reign many Polish szlachta changed their religion to Greek Orthodox therefore Audra, who was Greek Orthodox too did not meet any significant dissent.

Even though, Zwinislawa lost Slupsk to the Holly Roman Empire, Audra managed to restore Poland’s strength and expand at the Teutonic Order and Principalities of Volhynia and Turov expense.

Rimgaila, son of Audra’s Great Grandfather’s Vaisvilkas) brother (Rimgaudas) was given the Duchy of Turov. Rimgaila was one of those Lithuanian bajorai who still practised old Lithuanian pagan religion. Lutuveras, third Audra’s son received the Duchy of Kuyavia. Upon attaining majority Girdenis married Holuikhan, distant descendant of Khagan Genghis and was given the Duchy of Samogitia.

On 17 December 1322, Audra was poisoned. Like her father and grandparents, she was still very young and promising. Nobody found out who was responsible for Audra’s death but rumours were that Lithuanian pagan bajorai might have been involved in support of Audra’s son Girdenis who recant Christianity while staying in pagan Samogitia.

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Audra left eight children: 6 sons and 2 daughters. Girdenis and Visgirdas professed paganism and were fierce supporters of Lithuanian independence, while Lutuveras was 15 year old pro-Polish Orthodox and had a strong support of Polish szlachta.

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Upon the death of Audra the Kingdom of Poland and Grand Duchy of Lithuania became a pagan country. Hostile Christendom was surrounding the last pagan country - Greek Orthodox countries from the south and east while Catholic from north and west.

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Some very strong enemies bordered the Kingdom of Poland and Grand Duchy of Lithuania.

The Holly Roman Empire which already defeated Poland for Slupsk was ruled by Emperor Dietpold Askanien. Dietpold managed to crush recent revolt. He also banished or revoked titles of all Gediminaitis in the HRE. Descendant of Vaisvilkas Gintautas lost Sicily and Sardinia and Rostislav lost Lombardy. Rostislav remains imprisoned in the County of Zvolen under Byzantium control bordering Poland.

Byzantium Empire regained its power during the reign of Emperor Adrianos Batatzes who conquered the kingdoms of Taurica (1276), Croatia (1303) and Hungary (1320). In 1322, Adrianos was 63 year old. Hungary remained mainly Catholic and Adrianos and his descendants faced years of turmoil in the Kingdom.

Rurikovich ruled principalities were strong and expanding, especially at Cuman and Livonia expense. However, they were divided and in constant warring in civil wars. Currently Grand Prince Kirill was the head of the Rurikovich dynasty.

The Golden Horde, under rule of Khagan Borjigidai Borjigin was also a possible threat but the Kingdom of Poland and Grand Duchy of Lithuania had no borders with the horde. Gediminaitis and Borjigin also had close dynastic relationships.

However, there was one unexpected ally in Europe though. He was the King of England Nicholas de Bigod who became Cathar and converted his kingdom.

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* Szlachta - Polish Nobility
** Bajorai - Lithuanian Nobility
 
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Coincidentally, I was reading about the de Bigods earlier...

--

I can see the Lithuanians aren't going to give murder up for a while yet...