Homelands
Chapter Twenty: Storm and Sun
Part 3
Prelude:
Prince Dzintis had a strange position in history because he became King before his father did. In 1201 Prince Dzintis was carried off to Prague to be crowned King Dominic, a name decidedly Czech enough. That same day, he was wed to the daughter of King István as part of that King's want to try to foster forgiveness from its large neighbor. The young boy, only just turned sixteen was quickly thrust onto the world stage unprepared. The Czechs were unwilling to have Meinekinus as a regent, so instead Dzintis was on his own, forced to go from unknown Prince to King in a day. Regardless the crowning and wedding was a collecting point for many powerful lords of the East to meet with sympathetic lords of the West. Even though very young, Dzitinis ensured his father and grandfather he would take to his job with great spirit and energy. To the Czechs he promised a golden age of greatness and power, something he fought for everyday and eventually would bring to pass. His rule was seen as largely separate from the influences of his father and grandfather. He took up a great deal of pride in being the ruler of Bohemia and completely dropped his Prussian coat of arms, instead taking up the Bohemian one without any additions.
Dzintis as King Dominic I of Bohemia
May 13th, 1201
Sviendorog and Meinekinus stood behind Dzintis as he received the crown of Bohemia. The crowd was anxious to hear from their new King, who was fluent in Czech as well as Prussian. With the crown on his head he turned to face the people as King of Bohemia, and his grandfather as an equal in the world. Meinekinus bowed slightly and stepped aside as the boy walked past his father and stood before the crowd.
"A time of greatness stands before Bohemia, as it once did in the times of Great Moravia. We have a choice, do we go into the world quietly? Attempting to be missed? Or do we attempt to move with it? Keeping our heads up. Proud. I believe this answer is clear, we must attempt to carve an existence for our great land, for we must remember this... that which many often forget... It is not Prussia will inherit Bohemia, but Bohemia will inherit Prussia!"
The speech caused massive cheers and glee, but Sviendorog was taken slightly aback, he turned to Meinekinus who had no reaction on his face.
"What does he mean by that?"
"I don't know, but the people like it, so it was the right thing to say," Meinekinus pointed out. He stood still, watching his son receive praise and good tidings from the nobles of Bohemia. "We must get going, though, father. There is still much to be done in Prussia."
"Yes, we must." And excusing themselves to Dzintis, they left Prague headed over Prussian roads back toward Memelgrád.
"So whatever became of Borut, father?"
"Little bastard was sent away... plain and simple. Too many sons... too much infighting." He turned and looked at Meinekinus, "Luckily there was no protest from other nobles, he seemed to be unpopular across the board. I gave his land away to another count so everything happened pretty quickly. Road is finished though, cannot complain."
"I must ask though, what happens to all the other sons, wives?"
Sviendorog swallowed, "The life expectancy for women in court is rather low. Sons stay in the castle until they are sixteen. If we feel they can rule, they are kept, the others leave. They get titles or even just homes in and around the Baltic. Keep them close enough if needed, but far enough away not to be trouble. Rotten ones, like Borut, are sent south."
"It doesn't seem very consistent with the idea of a family..." Meinekinus lamented.
"No, but we aren't a family most of the time. We are a dynasty. Most families forget in time who their distant relatives are, but we can't. It's all recorded and compiled. There is a lot of hatred in our dynasty. In some countries all the titles go to the oldest regardless. It makes things easier, cleaner. But since we give it to the heir of our choosing there is always another son unhappy with his father's choice. Gunvald dealt with it, I didn't so much, but you have and will. Dzintis won't... his inheritance is clear as day."
"I am not sure I like the hatred involved... but once I am King... then I get a bit of respite. Right?"
"Let me tell you about the Saxons... they hate us Prussians so much, they need to be tracked, and kept in line. If not they will do something stupid."
"Actually, it seems they might get their chance without being stupid."
"Hmm?"
"I've been tracking their lines, they are very close to the Romans. One bad heir in that line and the title Emperor of the Romans could possibly fall into their lap."
"Good riddance," Sviendorog said. He gave little more thought to the issue. If his father wasn't worried, Meinekinus told himself to not worry. Much of the remainder of the hour was spent in silence, quietly being shuffled by their guard back to the relative safety of Memelgrád.
"Heh," Sviendorog finally quipped, "Could you imagine a united Prussian/Roman Empire?"
"I could not, father, and I certainly wouldn't want to rule it."
"Yeah, I never suggested I wanted to rule it. Though a good Roman bath would be nice around the city."
"You could always build one, father. You are King."
"Eh, but we are running out of room, and I only really want one bath." Sviendorog smiled idly.
"Well, you have some time left on this earth, you might as well have one more bath," Meinekinus joked. The two men shared their laugh, but for Sviendorog the thought of death was starting to become a constant. A nagging doubt that he was having more and more trouble shaking. But he smiled anyways, he tried not to think on it and just go about life.
"Yes, I shall have it when we get back."