Chapter Four: Skræling Brækfast
After the death of Bolt the exploration at sea slowed down significantly. Scolars on trading ships collected some information about the Iceland coast, but that’s it.
Prince Sigurdsson announced that he would not run for Prince after the sammenkomst of 1433, he would then retire at the age of 78, en extremely high age at the time, after having being at the helm of the country for 25 years. All political rivals agreed that he was a simple man with one great quality, politics. At the debate there were three rivals that were able to gather 12 heads to back them up, out of the 47. Hákon Amundsen won the support of the head, mainly because of his proposal the explore more of the neighbouring continent.
On the fifth day of the sammenkomst the two rivals stepped down and Hákon Amundsen won the election without a vote.
He appointed general Mats Amundsen, his brother, the head of an exploration army that would add the territory west of Suðerland to the Vinland map.
In 1435, during the third year of exploration, Amundsen encounter the Skræling nation of Mohawk. They seemed t least more civilised than the tribes that once lived where the Suðerland colonies were founded once. After a few friendly encounters, Amundsen went back home to report. At the Grand Hall of Vinborg the nobles agreed that Mohawk had to be approached kindly, as Vinland was in no position to protect itself from savage skræling-beasts. Þórbrandr Eliasson, experienced diplomat, joined the expedition and prepared gifts for the visit to Mohawk the next spring. Prince Hákon Amundsen decreed that all possessions in the Suðerland area were to be fortified more than just the wooden palisades they had before. A new state colony was created and added west of Suðerland and fortified.
In April 1436, the diplomatic mission had reached Mohawk and talks started with The Mohawk leader. Þórbrandr Eliasson was able to get a great result from the talks, and managed not only the guarantee of peace and trade, but also the right for Amundson to cross through Mohawk for exploration. Mohawk guides would be provided. This success was mainly because the Mohawk chief was very impressed with the horse Amundsen rode on. The Vinlandic horse, that originated from Iceland centuries ago, was a very loyal and trusty horse. It was perfectly adapted for winter conditions, and had lots of stamina. The Vinland and Markland tundra and grassland was ideal for them.
As Amundsen soon discovered, there were a lot more skræling nations than he ever held possible. Both the Huron and the Iroquois bordered the Mohawk and agreed with the same terms as the Mohawks: peace, trade and passage. With the Skræling guides Amundsen could make good progress and by 1441 the whole region was mapped and the nation of Chippewa was also discovered.
At the Sammenkomst of 1441 Hákon Amundsen was re-elected without much resistance worth mentioning.
In the following term lots of investments were made to improve the economy, and slowly but surely bands of troops were raised to increase the size of the standing army.
After another re-election in 1449, both Hákon and Mats died in a tragic accident three years later. They held a party in Leifsborg in honour of Hákon’s sixtieth birthday. Both died in the explosion of the private distillery that blew up part of the house.
An new election would bear new tidings …
