Chapter 24: Two Nights Before Christmas
1255-1262
Maelcwn has arrived in the Holy Land with his army twelve thousand men strong. The Catholics have already beaten most of the enemy Mohammedans in the area, and the rightful Christian land is free to be taken back.
Before the Welsh warriors are able to capture even a single stronghold, the Pope declares the Crusade to be won. The last and the most important battle took place tens of miles south from the location of Maelcwn’s army. Even though Maelcwn wasn’t able to take part in any battle, he is still considered a Crusader.
Maelcwn decides to visit the city of Jerusalem, the holy place where Christ was crucified, now that he has a great opportunity to do so. After spending couple of days praying there, he gets back to leading his army. They have a long journey ahead. A journey that will later be remembered as the Trail of Devastation.
Maelcwn orders his fleet to pick the army up in the Byzantine capital of Constantinople. The trip to Constantinople is supposed to be an easy and quick travel. What Maelcwn doesn’t foresee is the devastating diseases that soon take over the areas between Holy Land and the Byzantine Empire. As the Welsh warriors footslog forward, they pass by many dying villages and towns. Diseases like Smallpox and Measles have taken many lives, and eventually they hit the Welsh army too. Many warriors die on the way to Constantinople, and the rest that survive are all sickly and hungry. By the time Maelcwn and his group of soldiers arrive in Constantinople, the army of 12000 men has shrunk to 7000 men. Before his army gets aboard the fleet that has been waiting for them, Maelcwn donates 100 gold coins to the local Church. Later the Pope and the Dominican Order, which Maelcwn was part of, hears of the Welsh journey and Maelcwn’s generosity. They give him the respected religious title of a Commissus. And later Pope even sends Maelcwn a finger bone of a Saint.
The sea trip back to Dyfed isn’t an easy one either. Maelcwn, and many of his men, become sick and eventually contract scurvy. Once home, the Court Physician tells Maelcwn to eat a lot of fruits and vegetables. Eventually the illness goes away.
But like seeing many diseases on his way to home isn’t enough, Maelcwn’s realm comes under the wrath of Measles. Even the capital Dyfed! To appease God and hopefully make the disease disappear, Maelcwn takes the vow of celibacy and donates three hundred little pieces of gold to the holy order of Knights Hospitaller.
But it seems like these acts of piety are not enough. First Maelcwn’s daughter becomes sick. Then his second daughter too. After that his wife and eventually even he himself becomes ill! One of Maelcwn’s courtiers tells him about this one heretic healer that is willing to help Maelcwn and his family. Being the zealot he is, Maelcwn refuses to even meet the pagan.
While trying to survive measles in the protection of his own castle, Maelcwn receives news from Iberia. The local population in a Welsh ruled province has rose in a revolt. Even though he is ill, Maelcwn gathers an army of 4000 men and leads it to the rebellious province, where the King’s warriors destroy the joke of an uprising. The leader of the rebellion is crushed to death as a punishment.
Back home, Maelcwn decides to pray for couple of days. In seclusion. The praying was really worth it as two days later Maelcwn says that he has found a new connection with the Lord. Maelcwn is even more happy the day after his seclusion ended as his only grandson, Cyndyddan, asks for his permission to join Knights of Calatrava. He gets Maelcwn’s blessing right away. Maelcwn even gives his grandson 100 gold coins to bring to the Order, as a gift.
In March of 1258, something unbelievable happens. Something that has not been seen since the reign of Conamail! The three Celtic Kingdoms are once again united under a single banner! Maelcwn has inherited the Most Serene Republic of Alban from his late relative Mihangel! The inheritance laws of the Republic have been changed by a rebellion some years ago. The new system makes the eldest person of the ruling dynasty the heir to the throne. And so it happens to be that Maelcwn is the oldest member of his grand house!
Sadly the new Kingdom brings war with it. The King of Norge has declared a war against Mihangel for one Scottish province. And as Mihangel is no longer alive, the Norwegian King has to face Maelcwn. The enemy army is besieging castles in Northern Scotland. To defend his new domains, Maelcwn gathers an army of over 5500 men and marches with them to Alban.
The enemy invaders are beat time and time again by Maelcwn’s men and in December 1258, the King of Norge agrees to a white peace. Maelcwn is just happy that he can get back home to recover from his illness.
In the following year Maelcwn gets a mission from the Dominican Order. The members have decided that a new church should be build in the Welsh realm. Maelcwn obviously agrees and orders a new temple to be constructed in the Welsh province of Gwynedd.
While the new church is being built, Maelcwn addresses one big problem: the disapproval of his vassals. All the nobles of the vast Welsh Kingdom say that Maelcwn controls too many counties and duchies directly. To please his subjects, Maelcwn gives most of his extra titles away. He makes his 15-years-old son Asa the duke of Connachta and one of his new Scottish vassals the duke Strathclyde.
The following year, 1260, is a really good year. No war of any kind disturbs the peace of Brythoniaid and its sovereign is able stay home and rest. Before the end of the year, Maelcwn is no longer sick. He has got rid of measles. He is so grateful for surviving the disease that he once again donates 300 pieces of gold. This time to Knights Templars. Also, little before Christmas of 1260, the temple is ready. As a thanks, Maelcwn is promoted to the highest rank of the Dominican Order, Conversus. With this most important title, Maelcwn finally realises that he should get rid of his aggressive nature. It is something that is not expected from a Conversus.
In May 1261 Maelcwn’s youngest child, Elidyr, reaches adulthood. Maelcwn wants to give his second son a land to rule too, as his brother is the duke of Connachta. Eventually Maelcwn decides to give the county of Zamora to Elidyr. This is a quite interesting move as the two Welsh controlled provinces in Iberia have thus far always been under the King’s direct control.
In February 1262 Maelcwn decides to go for a pilgrimage. He is already 70 and doesn’t have much time left on Earth. After some thinking he decides to visit the city of Rome, the home of the Holy Father. Before he leaves for the trip, he donates another 100 gold coins to charity.
The trip starts well, but half way to Rome, Maelcwn ends up in an accident. The inn he is sleeping in sets aflame! He wakes up to the heat and smell of smoke. Not wanting to just run away like a coward, he helps others fight the fire! They are successful in putting the flames down, and even though Maelcwn gets couple of little burns, it was worth it as he will be remembered for his bravery.
Eventually Maelcwn arrives at Rome, the Eternal City. He is really fascinated by the greatness of the city and he will never regret going there. Sadly, all fun comes to an end, and soon Maelcwn is already departing for home.
Maelcwn gets home well before Christmas. He decides to take it easy for the rest of the year. Sadly Maelcwn doesn’t live to see the next year. On 23th December 1262, just two nights before Christmas, he passes away in his sleep at the age of 71. He will be remembered for his zealous nature and for reigning over all the three Celtic Kingdoms. Unfortunately the great realm is once again split due to different inheritance laws…
