Children of the Fatherland: MP conversion game

The Knautschlings - part 16
Nothing like some good old pillaging



Whom I did not mention all that often during the last chapters of the Knautschling tale
are two of Denmark´s southern neighbors, Bavaria and Polaria.
As far as Polaria is concerned this will not change today since in the time period
covered by this chapter Polaria is once more having severe problems of it´s own.

Bavaria, ruled by the Goldstrand dynasty, is a friendly neighbor of Denmark.
Though interaction is scarce nowadays there is little reason to assume that the
Bavarians bear any hostile intentions towards the Knautschling kingdom.
Does that stop Waldemar from invading their land, burning down their houses,
killing their men and stealing their riches ?
Well, obviously that was a rhetorical question.
What we call the Viking Age is already history for more than a century in 1198,
but a small part of the Viking´s essence can still be found in Denmark.
For example there must be some flowing through Waldemar´s veins,
else there would be little reason for him to order this assault.



These ships accommodate slightly more than eighty thousand soldiers
who are about to wreak havoc on the Bavarian demesne.
Waldemar orders his chancellor to deliver a formal declaration of war to
the Goldstrands, but they would have surely figured out by themselves that
a horde of pillaging Danes is not there for charity-related reasons.
Shortly afterwards the first raiding parties reach the Bavarian shores.



They immediately siege some castles, burn some houses, rape some women,
steal some riches and rape some men.



Why, did that last part surprise you ?
The women in Denmark´s army are not angels, why would they be ?
As brutal as the initial onslaught is, as quickly is it repelled.
Johann von Goldstrand himself leads the Bavarian armies that drive most of
the Danes back into the North Sea.



But only few months later a second invasion army shall reach Bavaria.
Thousands of Bavarian peasants despair at the prospect of getting
all their food stolen yet again.



Waldemar himself meanwhile leads the remnants of the first invasion army
in the only skirmish where both kings are on the same battlefield.



Notice how the above historical document seems to indicate underwhelming leadership capabilities
on Waldemar´s part as his army is claimed to have been losing morale much faster than Johann´s.
This proves that this document must be a forgery.
But my dear readers, for you I have gone the extra mile and found an authentical
historical document which shows how the Bavarians get trashed.



Not by Waldemar personally though.
Waldemar ventures as far south as Württemberg



so that even more Bavarians can enjoy the pleasures of having their countryside pillaged.
With large parts of his realm in flames



and his treasure chest completely depleted



the Goldstrand king asks for peace.
Waldemar acknowledges that there is no point in stealing Bavarian riches
when they have none and agrees to peace.
The river Elbe shall henceforth signal the border between both kingdoms.





Besides concluding this chapter of the Knautschling tale, the end of the war
strengthens Waldemar´s position and clerical influence in Denmark is reduced.