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The ten coin key is like Christmas, the mystery is often the best part. Vassals increasing you 'Bad Boy' points is logical as their territorial gains are increasing your realm's income and forces. The tech rate seems to be excellent as you were paying ahead of time penalty (unless you need the tech, you may want to let the penalty expire before purchasing the tech). Thank you for the update
Eilif keeps having his fun - or at least what passes as "fun" amongst hel-worshippers. One wouldn't want to stand in his way. Geirr forgot the first rule - if you wish to have similar hellish fun, don't do it in the Fylkir's lands.
And with the return of the raiders, something great should be on the horizon.
Bersi's invasion didn't give him enough of Cumania to usurp the title, but that's something to keep in mind if your dukes get strong - might be worth it to usurp/create kingdom titles, especially if the duke in question can do it anyway. At some point, vassal limit may play a role, and gavelkind quickly increases the number of vassals if multidukes are around.
Ch138 Q1: Threat.I had thought vassal actions would not impact on Eilif’s own threat level, but (see some later apparent examples as well) that seems to be happening. Is that a thing? Is there something about feudal or imperial mechanics (or some other aspect) that causes this to happen?
Yes, it's a thing. It isn't noticeable until you are powerful, and it is less than if the emperor takes the land himself, but it's a natural consequence of the threat system. As Norse are aggressive pagans, it is likely that as long as they have targets to attack, the empire's threat will never completely recede.
Ch138 Q1: Threat. I had thought vassal actions would not impact on Eilif’s own threat level, but (see some later apparent examples as well) that seems to be happening. Is that a thing? Is there something about feudal or imperial mechanics (or some other aspect) that causes this to happen?
This is strange, vassals doing stuff shouldn't increase your threat level. There needs to be some interesting detail that's causing this but I have no idea at the moment
Yes, it's a thing. It isn't noticeable until you are powerful, and it is less than if the emperor takes the land himself, but it's a natural consequence of the threat system. As Norse are aggressive pagans, it is likely that as long as they have targets to attack, the empire's threat will never completely recede.
All episode I was waiting for some unexpected disaster to happen but no, all is good in the Norse Empire of Russia! Can't wait for the second half of the play session already
It's been filling the treasury nicely, even while being able to conduct wars, given the raiders are all Jomsvikings and Retinue troops (so don't need to be disbanded to declare war and then regain repalcements on foreign territory). It's the perfect raiding situation, from what I can see.
The ten coin key is like Christmas, the mystery is often the best part. Vassals increasing you 'Bad Boy' points is logical as their territorial gains are increasing your realm's income and forces. The tech rate seems to be excellent as you were paying ahead of time penalty (unless you need the tech, you may want to let the penalty expire before purchasing the tech). Thank you for the update
It was good to finally end the mystery, even if it was only a small payout. I agree re vassals and threat - makes sense. Yes, that wa smy assumption re the ahead of time penalty, but given this is still my first and only CK2 game, I wasn't sure. I've delayed a fair bit of late, but some of them I just want.
Eilif keeps having his fun - or at least what passes as "fun" amongst hel-worshippers. One wouldn't want to stand in his way. Geirr forgot the first rule - if you wish to have similar hellish fun, don't do it in the Fylkir's lands.
And with the return of the raiders, something great should be on the horizon.
Eilif's fun isn't to everyone's tastes. Though perhaps a little less extraordinary in an aggressive Norse viking society of the time! And raider fleet returns are now becoming very lucrative indeed.
Bersi's invasion didn't give him enough of Cumania to usurp the title, but that's something to keep in mind if your dukes get strong - might be worth it to usurp/create kingdom titles, especially if the duke in question can do it anyway. At some point, vassal limit may play a role, and gavelkind quickly increases the number of vassals if multidukes are around.
I'll try to remember this, but at present the vassal span seems pretty reasonable, even as I periodically offload one-off chiefs to Jarls and the occasional Jarl to the King of Svipjod. To All: I will soon start writing up the next chapter, which the screenshots are already taken for (second part of last session).
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Chapter 139: Pope and Fylkir (21 January 988 to 27 March 990)
Chapter 139: Pope and Fylkir (21 January 988 to 27 March 990)
Previously, on Blut und Schlacht … frailty and growing age had not really slowed down the Dark Fylkir unduly in recent years – either in private or public, in part due to his use of the Dark Power; the Neverending Raid – now finishing up in Tunis – continued through wars and rebellions using the standing army of the Jomsvikings and bulk of the Imperial retinue; this and increasing tax revenues had fuelled a long building boom back in Father Russia; Crown Prince Styrbjörn had shown persistence in recovering from his setback in Sarkel, regaining his Jarldom with Eilif’s help and trying to build upon his regained position; meanwhile the ambitious Russian magnates were always looking for opportunities to expand their own and the Empire’s holdings, even though not every war brought victory.
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1. Raiding Rome – January 988 to August 989
The treasure fleet dropped off its precious cargo of gold in southern Russia on 21 March (more details in Section 3 below) and soon set sail again for the Mediterranean. They aimed for the Pope’s seat of Rome and the 10,150 man raiding force was on its way there from the Black Sea by 3 April.
As they were en route, they received word that the Tulunid Holy War for Tunis, begun during Russia's raid there the previous year, had succeeded on 1 May, with victory for Sultan Hammud ‘the Hideous’ over King Ascanio of Sardinia and Corsica. The Russian Vikings simply shrugged and went on about their business: they were all heathens to them.
Hakon, Olafr and Einarr were laying at anchor off Roma by 26 June, where Pope Benedictus IV ‘the Gracious’ was about to get a very nasty surprise, right in his Papal seat! Benedictus had over 8,000 men currently under arms and was at war with Jarl Sumarliði of Tver. The Pope and the Knights Templar had come to the aid of King Jon of Irland, whom Sumarliði had invaded. This war had escaped the attention of Eilif, who was not involved in it, and he would not become aware of it until some time later. For now, all his raiders knew was that those Papal troops were not in Roma itself.
Roma had seven holdings on its seven hills – four bishoprics, two castles and a city. The raiders started on Roma itself: it would be sacked on 8 August (86 gold), followed by Tusculum (2 November, 73 gold), and Viterbo (16 December, 125 gold, 998 casualties).
In 989, Tivoli fell (15 March, 69 gold), then Ostia (21 April, 78 gold), Sutri (28 May, 60 gold) and finally Anagni (4 July, 14 gold). By that time, all the casualties lost in the siege of Viterbo had been regained. On 23 July, the last loot was gathered (the fleet carrying 632 gold) and the troops boarded for the transit to their next target: Amalfi, not far to the south-east, but enclosed by Byzantine lands the raiders did not want to cross (and thus antagonise the Basileus). All were aboard by 2 August.
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2. Agul’s Host – Russia: January to July 988
A new raiding host 1,866 men under an adventurer named Agul – appeared in Luki, just across the Lovat River from Holmgarðr, at the end of January 988. Eilif waited to see whether they would head elsewhere or settle in to loot before reacting.
By early April it was clear they were hanging around so the levies of (just) Holmgarðr itself were mustered, supplemented by the two now full-strength Retinue companies (550 men) there. They headed first to Ingria with 3,300 men under the command of Chief Nuyaksha, so they could approach Luki from the north to avoid a river crossing.
Another levy contingent was raised in Ladoga under Eilif himself as the main army began its approach march to Luki on 8 May. Agul’s host broke their siege of Luki and would escape this first attempt to catch them by just five days. But they would not be so lucky in Pskov, when their escape to Lettgallen was delayed by a minor river crossing as Nuyaksha pressed on from Luki on 8 June.
The Battle of Pechory in Pskov began on 24 June, finishing after Eilif’s reinforcing contingent arrived in time for the pursuit.
The victory would be enough to discourage the hostile raiders from any further ravaging within Russia – they could try their luck to the west in Poland. The levies were disbanded straight after the battle on 13 July while the Retinue companies headed back to Holmgarðr.
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3. The Papal Invasion – Russia: August 988 to November 989
The Russian raid on Rome had begun in early July 988. The whereabouts of the Pope’s troops was discovered in mid-September: and they were not in Ireland: they had just landed in Ingria and were bound for the capital! The Imperial and vassal levies were called out and ordered to gather in Toropets, south of the capital, with over 9,400 men due to eventually muster. But it would take time.
A group of slower-moving vassal levies in Holmgarðr were soon disbanded when it became clear they would have failed to get out of the capital in time. By then a Tverian was already under attack by another (still neutral to Russia) ally of Irland, to the south-east near Moskva.
By mid-October, the Papal Army numbered 5,500 and was passing through Holmgarðr towards Torzhok, while 5,200 Russian troops had so far gathered in Toropets. For now, the Russians would continue to avoid contact until they had a decent majority of troops, especially small units blundering into contact. One reason for this was to ensure a defeat did not invalidate the raid in Rome.
Ch139 Q1: Raid Dynamics.So, I wasn’t sure if a Papal defeat of Russian troops back in Russia who weren’t set to raiding would trigger the ban on looting that occurs when a raider army is defeated by the country being raided. I suspected it did, but I didn’t want to test it out in-game. Anyone know the answer to that one for sure?
In early November, the Papal Army was in Torzhok and making for Tver across the Volga. It looked like the Kingdom of Breizh (an ally of Irland) had been the one to defeat the Tverians and had now occupied Moskva with 2,500 men. Anlaufr (the Pope’s army commander) was in Tver on 26 November with his 5,500 but continued south-east, towards Mozhaysk. The Russian army in Toropets kept watch, now numbering 5,600.
It was in mid-December that Eilif’s advisers had finally worked out why the Pope and other allies had already been heading towards Russia when the raid on Rome began: the previously unnoticed war by Jarl Sumarliði on Irland, mentioned above.
By that time, Anlaufr was passing through Mozhaysk to join up with Bishop Alfrond in Moskva, where the Papal Army arrived a few days later. The Russian army marched to Vyazma, where more reinforcements waited and others would come, numbering 7,000 by 20 December.
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By early January 989, attrition had reduced the Pope’s army in Moskva to 4,900 men and it was heading for Bryansk. The Russians, now commanded by their premier general Hakon, had no such problem as they wintered in Vyazma. But after arriving (along with the Briezhan army) on 20 January, Anlaufr counter-marched back to Moskva, with both enemy forces combined numbering about 7,400. Still Hakon waited in Vyazma.
The end of February saw Hakon in Mozhaysk, now with almost 8,600 troops. In early April, he had 9,100 and decided it was now time to provoke battle against the Pope and his allies. When they clashed on 19 April, it was discovered Bishop Alfrond had the overall command, while the Pope himself commanded the enemy’s left flank. The Russians held the advantage in most troop classes, except for archers, where the Papists had a clear advantage for the skirmishing phase.
But when the main melee began on the centre and right on 2 May, the Russians took a clear advantage. The enemy’s centre broke three days later, with Hakon not pursuing, instead turning the Pope’s flank as Olafr pressed home the assault on the right. By 11 May, both remaining enemy flanks had broken and the pursuit was on.
When it ended in a solid Russian victory, it was discovered that the King of Briezh had been among the combatants, along with the Mayor of Viterbo ... as both were taken prisoner. King Guorbili commanded a suitably kingly ransom, while Mayor Pericle also chipped in with some useful funds to ransom himself.
Anlaufr and the Pope meanwhile fled in shattered retreat south-east to Moramar by 7 June and then east to (neutral) Cheremisa. They ended up in Syrt by 23 July and then started heading back. Hakon waited in Moramar and took on replacements.
From Cheremisa, Anlaufr headed across the Oka River towards Nizhny Novgorod on 2 September, out of supply and suffering more attrition. Hakon let them cross and then advanced north on 12 September: there would be no escape for the Papists, with the ensuing battle from 21 September to 11 October little more than a slaughter. It seemed the Pope himself had not waited around for it, either.
By 9 November, the Papal Army had disappeared – perhaps disbanded before the rest were completely destroyed. Their job done, the levies disbanded and the Retinue companies headed back to Holmgarðr. The Pope’s invasion of Russia was over – and Tver’s chestnuts pulled out of the fire, in Russia anyway.
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4. Domestic Affairs
Eilif’s irritating younger half-brother Ingólfr – commanding a huge force of just four men as Chief of Sarpa – returned to his factional mischief on 24 January 988. Already made Eilif’s Court Jester, this was the final straw for the Dark Fylkir. He was family though, so rather than anything Hellish, Prince Ingólfr was ‘internally banished’ by transfer to his nephew the Crown Prince, Styrbjörn. Who actually appreciated the gesture!
Eilif also used his time back in the capital to call what may well be his last Great Blot. On 17 February, Eilif sent out the invitations far and wide to all his vassals. Just one vassal, the young Chief Uoti (a Suomenusko, heading up the recently acquired county of Savolax) was by custom allowed an exemption from attending. But the hothead did not have the sense to offer up the gold required to buy this exemption, offering insult instead.
This was enough to tip Eilif over the edge. If Uoti chose bravado, Eilif would choose revenge. Such open and rude defiance could not be tolerated.
Just four days after the invitations went out, Hjalmar af Munsö deposed Eilif’s young grandson/nephew from the Swedish throne. Hjalmar’s brother was the new heir, so killing the new king would not quickly regain the throne for Snorri. Eilif explored whether the unfriendly Hjalmar might be persuaded to join the Fellowship, to bring him into line …
… but on 13 March Hjalmar launched an ambitious war on Franconia and the same day rejected the Dark Fylkir’s overture. Two days after that, he joined the independence faction. This would not do: Eilif soon opted for more stringent measures to bring Hjalmar to heel.
All the good Germanic revellers were assembled for the Blot by 27 March and the festivities began. In two weeks from 4-18 March, four sacrifices were made, clearing out the dungeons of some longer term female inmates who could not be ransomed. He showed he was an equal opportunity sacrificer, not discriminating on the basis of culture or religion.
The feast followed and Eilif’s son-in-law made his customary display of drunken foolishness. Eilif abandoned any moralistic pretences this time and joined in the revelry.
And Uoti’s fate looked to be sealed when 20 plotters had agreed to join the murder plot by 7 March. Chief Nuyaksha looked to prosecute the plot, as Eilif also decided to punish King Hjalmar for deposing his nephew/grandson from the throne of Sviþjod.
Unfortunately, Uoti evaded the first attempt on his life at the end of April. Eilif resolved to continue, however. The young troublemaker would need eyes in the back of his head to survive.
As the Blot went through its traditional form, the latest treasure fleet docked on the Black Sea coast in southern Russia (as mentioned above). It funded another great building program, all concentrated in the capital county, with more military improvements in Nygarðr and Chudovo, plus a sick house for the hospital.
Steward Refil was on hand to speed up the construction works. Holmgarðr was now beginning to rival the great cities of Western Europe and the Mediterranean in terms of its tax income. The expansion of castle town in Tana (to Level II) was completed on 6 April.
Prince Styrbjörn sent word on 13 April that he had made his uncle Ingólfr Chancellor: perhaps he would be able to win over the troublesome Rurikid scion.
The Blot ended on 16 April – a great success that added further glow to the now rich court and great prestige of the Russian Emperor and boosting the morale of the armies.
Just five days later came news that the Pagan Defensive Pact against Eilif had been disbanded.
A month later, the now insane King Hjalmar became the possessed and loyal servant of the Dark Fylkir: his presumption in deposing a Rurikid from the throne had been duly rewarded. The next day he abandoned his membership of the independence faction.
June brought news that amused and rather please Eilif: his half-sister Vigdis, who had been pestering him to help in her plot to kill Empress Björg for years now, had done enough to offend her husband beyond the point of no return. Snorri of Skåne had her imprisoned on 22 June and her fate was sealed five days later.
Not long afterwards, another of the plotters against Chief Uoti advised she had made a new arrangement for his demise. And four weeks later the upstart was sipping his wine one evening, when …
And despite the size of the plot and the earlier failure, no blame came back to Eilif. He cackled with joy that night.
At the end of July, despite a huge cost, Eilif had the chance to establish a great monument that would glorify his reign and boost Rurikid prestige for ever more in Toropets. He had the money and just couldn’t resist this appeal to his considerable ego.
The new sick house in Holmgarðr was finished in quick time, ready by 14 September to provide a little assistance the next time plague struck the capital.
And Eilif was still able to have his fun, with yet another child confirmed to be on the way by 14 November, with Alfhildr being born in June the following year.
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The new year of 989 AD saw more rewards come for Eilif’s long focus on improving his governance and stewardship skills. First, he spent some of his own gold to smooth things over between Grand Mayor Skuli of Livonia and his neighbour, the redoubtable High Chieftess Þordis of Lithuania, earning the gratitude of both.
Shortly afterwards, he became even more diligent in his habits and also improved his grasp of stewardship in particular. If it wasn’t for his drunkenness, by this late stage of his life Eilif would have been quite an able administrator, formerly one of his weakest attributes.
Once again, Eilif’s personal life was challenged, by the insignificant (to Eilif) wife of Botulfr. He simply denied her accusation and carried on with his long term affair.
More good news came at the start of May, when Crown Prince Styrbjörn’s perseverance was rewarded by earning the nickname ‘the Tenacious’. It seemed most appropriate as he matured into his role as heir to the Empire. Including now having three sons of his own and a concubine. Diplomacy was his strong suit, which should serve him well during his presumed future early reign.
By 4 July, the Christian defensive pact had also been dissolved as the perceived threat of Eilif dwindled to insignificance. A few weeks later, Eilif magnanimously supported a new practice of harvest festivals in Ösel, while the suspicion caused by his use of the Dark Power to possess King Hjalmar had finally dissipated.
On 1 August, Eilif submitted a legal amendment to the Council for ‘slightly tax focused burgher obligations’. On the 5th, Spymaster Tolir inherited the title of Veliky Ustug from the mysteriously disappeared Falki – removing him from Eilif’s court.
Young Prince Karl was the best qualified in the current court to take his place – and was fully committed to his father after the recent boons granted him, so became a Loyalist on the Council when appointed.
December came with news that Eilif’s concubine Gloð was pregnant – but the Dark Fylkir had his suspicions. After some investigations, he discovered that his Steward Refil had been overseeing more than the many construction projects in the capital!
Though Eilif harboured great ill-will, it was all hushed up both to save face and so that, should his health fail him at some future point, he would have ‘fresh meat’ to use as a sacrifice to Hel! As it was only a concubine and the Dark Fylkir’s morals were very malleable, Refil kept his job. For now, anyway.
It also seemed that the recent change on the Council had aborted the vote on the tax law change. It was resubmitted on 7 December.
Ch139 Q2: Interrupted Vote.Is that a thing? Does a vote get cancelled if there’s a change on the Council?
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Eilif’s harsh but effective administration of justice continued in February 990, with another murder trial being resolved through the application of torture. The guilty bastard refused to admit it, but suffered the ultimate punishment anyway. And wasn’t around later to dispute the verdict.
On the 6th he became known as a just administrator – good on a number of counts. Though just twelve days later, his recently found diligence proved too much for him to maintain, taking the shine off some of the positives.
By 27 March, the voting on the burgher tax proposal had not advanced at all. But Eilif had fulfilled his five year quest to see the realm prosper – improving his stewardship yet again. With diplomacy now his weakest trait – and a renowned drunkard already – at the venerable age of 58 he decided to go all the way and begin a round of carousing. Perhaps he would think of a new ambition to pursue while in his cups, with his drinking buddies.
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5. Religion
In addition to the religious celebration of the Great Blot, the period proved to be a particularly fruitful one for the spread of Germanicism. Celle converted in October 988 and Tmutarakan in May 989.
Then came word in August 989 that Eilif’s promising son Prince Karl had been doing the Gods’ work in in his own chiefdom.
This was followed by the conversion of Savolax on 28 November and then Balkhash just four days later. By late March 990, the reach of the True Germanic Faith was far and wide.
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6. Vassal Wars and Successions
On 4 May 988, High Chieftess Þordis ‘the Sword of Odin’ declared a Lithuanian Conquest of Marienburg against Æthelstan ‘the Conqueror’ of Galindia (Poland). Æthelstan was a Norse Catholic from Canterbury in England, with around 3,000 levies to Þordis’ 2,500. The war was still in progress on 27 March 990.
King Leopold of Denmark lost one of his wars - an Anhaltian Holy War to deprive him of Brandenburg - on 17 July 988. But the Danish Revolt War, which had begun against his predecessor King Björn way back in in December 983, was still going in March 990.
After the murder of the disrespectful Chief Uoti on 29 July 988, his title of Savolax was inherited by the 18 year old Aarto Savolainen – another Suomenusko follower and just as hostile to Eilif as his predecessor [-67 opinion]. Eilif just got rid of him by transferring his vassalage to Jarl Hrörekr of Yaroslavl, whose opinion he was trying to cultivate. Two birds with one stone.
Not long after this, Hrörekr won his revolt war against Jarl Buðli of Belo Ozero. In the process, Froði ‘the Wise’ of the county of Yaroslavl was unwise enough to be caught by Hrörekr, who was soon released – but not before his captor had earned the nickname ‘the Tormentor’.
Eilif approved heartily of such measures and was doubly glad he had offloaded Chief Aarto to such a stern task master.
In September 988, Jarl Ormr of Brabant declared his latest conquest, for the independent county of Rygyafylki in Norway.
He would claim success in late June the following year, adding to his own demesne and bringing more Scandinavian territory in the Empire.
In late 988, one of the many vassal wars against the unfortunate Khan Papaçyz of Khazaria, begun on 24 June 986, was concluded in favour of Jarl Hroðulfr of Ryazan.
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Jarl Buðli had started his prepared invasion of Bulgaria back in September 987 but by January 989 he was in some trouble against King Árpád Radislav II of Bulgaria [-50% warscore]. His problem was that the Byzantine Empire had joined as Árpád’s ally and the Greeks were now besieging Buðli’s capital in Belo Ozero. By 24 June, Buðli had 1,400 men left of his defeated army in Bulgaria, being pursued by a Byzantine force of over 12,500 men. It was all over five days later, Buðli forced to admit defeat.
In another blow to the ambitions of a prominent vassal, King Hjalmar’s Swedish Holy War for Franconia was defeated, begun the year before, was lost on 7 February 989.
Claimant revolts followed against Jarl Helgi of Austergautland (May 989), Jarl Sumarliði of Tver (December 989) and High Chieftess Þordis of Lithuania (March 990) to further distract some of Eilif’s magnates.
Other than the long Danish civil war [still being tracked out of interest], at least eleven Russian vassals wars continued by 27 March 990. Five of these were conquest attempts against Khan Papaçyz; three were conquests against the Polish realms (King Maslaw the Black and Æthelstan the Conqueror) and three the recent internal revolts.
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7. Raiding Amalfi –August 989 to March 990
The raiders went ashore in Amalfi on 22 August 989 – with the new commanders to replace the recalled (to Russia for the Papal Invasion) Hakon and his crew not yet appointed [an oversight on my part]. But only 85 local soldiers were guarding the county, so no casualties were lost, despite a beach assault being required.
The first holding to fall was the castle of Amalfi itself in October, producing both sacks-full of gold and a haul of four prisoners, though at a cost of nearly 600 men.
The hostages would eventually be ransomed during the following January, providing some ready cash for the Imperial coffers. While two of the letters contained the usual insults, Doge Ignatios of Amalfi showed himself to be a man of discernment and gracious words. Though Eilif still gratefully accepted his money.
Sorrento was looted on 5 January 990 (43 gold, 499 casualties), then Ravello on 7 March (74 gold), by which time the fleet held 938 gold (1,120 capacity). The next siege of Tramonti was about one-third progressed by 27 March.
At this time, the Russian Empire was one of a number of dominant powers in the known world, stretching from the eastern steppe to the west of Ireland, and northern Sweden to the Black Sea.
Though now in his late fifties, Eilif remained the supreme temporal and spiritual power of the Empire and Germanicism, and in the shadow world of the Dark Brotherhood of Hel. And while the raid in Italy was almost finished, Eilif had his choice of next projects with his threat having waned and no extant defensive pacts against him.
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Questions
Ch139 Q1: Raid Dynamics. So, I wasn’t sure if a Papal defeat of Russian troops back in Russia who weren’t set to raiding would trigger the ban on looting that occurs when a raider army is defeated by the country being raided. I suspected it did, but I didn’t want to test it out in-game. Anyone know the answer to that one for sure?
Ch139 Q2: Interrupted Vote. Is that a thing? Does a vote get cancelled if there’s a change on the Council?
In 989, Tivoli fell (15 March, 69 gold), then Ostia (21 April, 78 gold), Sutri (28 May, 60 gold) and finally Anagni (4 July, 14 gold). By that time, all the casualties lost in the siege of Viterbo had been regained. On 23 July, the last loot was gathered (the fleet carrying 632 gold) and the troops boarded for the transit to their next target: Amalfi, not far to the south-east, but enclosed by Byzantine lands the raiders did not want to cross (and thus antagonise the Basileus). All were aboard by 2 August.
Ch139 Q1: Raid Dynamics.So, I wasn’t sure if a Papal defeat of Russian troops back in Russia who weren’t set to raiding would trigger the ban on looting that occurs when a raider army is defeated by the country being raided. I suspected it did, but I didn’t want to test it out in-game. Anyone know the answer to that one for sure?
It was in mid-December that Eilif’s advisers had finally worked out why the Pope and other allies had already been heading towards Russia when the raid on Rome began: the previously unnoticed war by Jarl Sumarliði on Irland, mentioned above.
What I don't get is you didn't join in the war as a cobelligerent, why is Pope trying to ravage your lands? I mean it shouldn't give them any warscore or anything? Maybe they're really trying to get you to stop raiding them as you asked in the question? I'm confused.
The end of February saw Hakon in Mozhaysk, now with almost 8,600 troops. In early April, he had 9,100 and decided it was now time to provoke battle against the Pope and his allies. When they clashed on 19 April, it was discovered Bishop Alfrond had the overall command, while the Pope himself commanded the enemy’s left flank. The Russians held the advantage in most troop classes, except for archers, where the Papists had a clear advantage for the skirmishing phase.
The new year of 989 AD saw more rewards come for Eilif’s long focus on improving his governance and stewardship skills. First, he spent some of his own gold to smooth things over between Grand Mayor Skuli of Livonia and his neighbour, the redoubtable High Chieftess Þordis of Lithuania, earning the gratitude of both.
This was followed by the conversion of Savolax on 28 November and then Balkhash just four days later. By late March 990, the reach of the True Germanic Faith was far and wide.
Are there any other independent Norse counties/duchies there? We can just ask them to be our vassals. There seems to be a couple of realms in Norway, and Bjarmia that this can work.
Though now in his late fifties, Eilif remained the supreme temporal and spiritual power of the Empire and Germanicism, and in the shadow world of the Dark Brotherhood of Hel. And while the raid in Italy was almost finished, Eilif had his choice of next projects with his threat having waned and no extant defensive pacts against him.
Business as usual for the Dark Fylkir - with the inclusion of a fight against the Pope. Tver might be happy for the assist, but it doesn't seem like things are looking well for Sumarliði if the enemy takes his lands. Many of Eilif's vassals might be biting off more than they can chew.
To provide some additional clarification, I might inform you that Poland is now a tributary of Galindia, which itself has been taken over by the Saxon conqueror. Surely also an interesting story.
But with all that weakness around, it is high time for Eilif to launch a devastating conflict! Hel needs to greet far more people in Helheim! No time for simple targets! Byzantium! The Umayyads! France! Someone strong has to face Norse might!
Ch139 Q1: Raid Dynamics. So, I wasn’t sure if a Papal defeat of Russian troops back in Russia who weren’t set to raiding would trigger the ban on looting that occurs when a raider army is defeated by the country being raided. I suspected it did, but I didn’t want to test it out in-game. Anyone know the answer to that one for sure?
My gut feeling would be the same as yours. If the raided defeats the raider, then there's a raiding truce in place. After all, anything else would pave the way for an easy exploit.
Old Norse for merciful is 'quick death'. You need to be specific when assigning construction jobs to the steward. Thank you for the update. May you and your family have a joyous holiday season and a blessed 2022 with no visits to Hel.
What I don't get is you didn't join in the war as a cobelligerent, why is Pope trying to ravage your lands? I mean it shouldn't give them any warscore or anything? Maybe they're really trying to get you to stop raiding them as you asked in the question? I'm confused.
It was explained later: one of Eilif's over-ambitious vassals had drawn this unwanted attention on themselves and thus Eilif. Still, one can't have stray Pontiffs running over the Russian heartland, even if it is to pursue a random vassal.
Are there any other independent Norse counties/duchies there? We can just ask them to be our vassals. There seems to be a couple of realms in Norway, and Bjarmia that this can work.
There's the Silk Road to Tana, which Eilif siezed a while back for his personal demesne and built a trade post in. Yes, the Black Sea ports have been used a few times now for unloading treasure from raids in the Med.
Business as usual for the Dark Fylkir - with the inclusion of a fight against the Pope. Tver might be happy for the assist, but it doesn't seem like things are looking well for Sumarliði if the enemy takes his lands. Many of Eilif's vassals might be biting off more than they can chew.
The fight against the Pope was indeed a 'bonus', even while raiding his home of its treasures. We may have helped Sumarliði quite considerably, given how much trouble he would have been in had we not dealt with the Pope and his offsiders in and around Tver. And yes, the vassals are often over-ambitious, but on balance they seem to win as much as they lose - and have been a major driver of Imperial expansion for years now.
To provide some additional clarification, I might inform you that Poland is now a tributary of Galindia, which itself has been taken over by the Saxon conqueror. Surely also an interesting story.
But with all that weakness around, it is high time for Eilif to launch a devastating conflict! Hel needs to greet far more people in Helheim! No time for simple targets! Byzantium! The Umayyads! France! Someone strong has to face Norse might!
Eilif certainly does want one more big tilt as his eventful reign and life move into their twilight years. It will be something big, if he can get the stars to align properly.
My gut feeling would be the same as yours. If the raided defeats the raider, then there's a raiding truce in place. After all, anything else would pave the way for an easy exploit.
Old Norse for merciful is 'quick death'. You need to be specific when assigning construction jobs to the steward. Thank you for the update. May you and your family have a joyous holiday season and a blessed 2022 with no visits to Hel.
The Steward certainly treated his 'job' liberally! The same wishes to you and yours for another year we hope will be an improvement on the last. And indeed to all my valued readAARs here on B&B.
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Chapter 140: Hel or High Water (27 March 990 to 28 March 992) Previously, on Blut und Schlacht … the Neverending Raid had mo
Chapter 140: Hel or High Water (27 March 990 to 28 March 992)
Previously, on Blut und Schlacht … the Neverending Raid had moved from Rome to Amalfi in Italy and was nearing its end as the treasure fleet filled again; the latest Russian building program was drawing down as the Dark Fylkir contemplated what he would do next; would the decision be his, or would the fickle Gods throw up obstacles to his ambition of launching a new Great Holy War against the Catholics?
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1. Amalfi Raid – March to September 990
On 27 March 990, the Retinue-Jomsviking raiding force sat in Amalfi with its last holding under siege and 938/1,120 gold in the treasure fleet. Tramonti fell on 13 April (no casualties, 65 gold), with the last remaining county gold scooped up between 2-10 May. The job done, the raiders headed back to the boats.
They sailed towards Flanders, as Eilif had decided the next war target would be France. By 29 June, King Valeran ‘the Wise’ of France was involved in a war to defend a de jure claim for Poitiers by Aquitaine King Simon ‘the Cruel’ [Aquitaine +30% warscore], and was beset by seven different raids.
The raiders reached port on 11 September, with over a thousand in gold aboard. This time, the treasury was kept full, with no new buildings commissioned. The big cash reserve would be kept as insurance for future contingencies during the proposed Great Holy War.
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2. Minor Wars in Russia – July 990 to March 991
Before the raiders could make it back to Flanders, two distractions arose to delay any new grand venture in France. In July, the overly ambitious High Chief Karatas II of Pruthenia decided to back a claim war on Lettgallen. Even while his single county was besieged by the forces of the High Chieftess of Lithuania, so he couldn’t even field the 510 men he had to his name. The Emperor’s nearest personal levies were mustered to quickly snuff out this irritation.
Then just a week later, a peasant revolt broke out way to the east in Bilyar. More vassal levies were added to the call-out, and directed to an eastern rallying point.
Any invasion of France would be put on hold while these matters were dealt with.
Bilyar fell to the rebels on 18 November, with the main Russian force still fairly distant. The advance Russian elements withdrew from Bolghar as the rebels advanced and would get away to Qazan with just a day to spare.
With no Ruthenian army in the field, the Russian Imperial levies had simply gathered then marched straight to Sambia. They arrived there on 7 December and (to avoid attrition) Hakon assaulted straight away, taking the tribal holding the next day for only light losses.
With that, Karatas was defeated and the short war was over. Hakon began marching the men to Russian Memel, so they could be safely disbanded.
It took until the end of January 991 for a large enough Russian force to assemble and attack the rebels in Bolghar. The battle was a routine win, though the rebels still held Bilyar and did not surrender immediately. Nuyaksha had the command and gave chase.
Ziedas Wilks, the claimant imprisoned after the defeat of Ruthenia, was ransomed for 10 gold on 5 February and released when the money arrived from Karatas on the 18th.
Also on 18 February, a group of almost 1,300 Vilnian raiders appeared in Riga. Hakon had arrived in Memel by then with around 6,500 men and set off via Zemaitija to teach them a lesson. The next day the main fleet set out from Flanders to the Russian Baltic coast to be ready to ferry a levy army to France when the time came.
The rebels surrendered on 1 March without any further fighting – it seemed they simply didn’t want to fight any more.
The battle against the raiders in Riga from 10-20 March saw the upstarts massacred (Russia 9/6,151; Vilnians 936/1,287 killed): they would not be causing any more trouble on Russian territory.
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3. Domestic Matters – April 990 to March 991
The restarted vote to enact ‘Slightly Tax Focused Burgher Obligations’ was not going well: by 21 April the two Loyalist councillors (Eilif’s son and Spymaster Karl and old Marshal Mayor Gnupa) had both voted against the proposal, with only Eilif in favour so far.
Jarl Ormr voted against the law on 3 June, with it going down ignominiously five days later.
Better news came a month later, with the birth of Eilif’s twelfth child.
By 23 July (before the latest treasure fleet arrived in Flanders) there was 641 gold in the treasury and net monthly income of 33.5 gold (troop costs minimised due to the Retinue being on raid). A month later, the monthly net surplus shrank to just 8.9 gold, after the levies were called out to respond to the two minor wars back in Russia.
During this period, factionalism remained minimal with no major magnates involved. Just three were active, the largest boasting just 2.8% of Eilif’s troop strength.
Despite the many good things happening around him, in March 991 the tone of Eilif’s writings took on a more melancholy tone. After decades in charge, the work of rulership and deep involvement in Hellish activities seemed to have broken something within the Dark Fylkir.
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4. Vassal Wars, Successions and Foreign Affairs – April 990 to March 992
The ambitious Jarl Ormr declared his next war of expansion on 3 April 990: a bid to conquer Fìobha from King Hysing of Éire.
Then, having started back in December 983 against then King Björn, the Danish Revolt finally ended without a result in May 990.
With peace finally at hand, an informal sounding of King Leopold to see if he may be willing to join the Russian Empire got nowhere.
But two more vassalisation offers were accepted, with first Hordaland and then the now independent Snorri of Skåne (married to Eilif’s niece Gerðr) both finding acceptance, despite neither being de jure subjects of Eilif’s. They had a reasonable opinion of him, but more importantly were overawed by his power.
Due to either distance or cultural differences, approaches to Nordland, Bjarmia and Karelia were all non-starters. Though the latter two were almost intimidated into accepting due to the power Eilif wielded.
But as a result of these two peaceful acquisitions, the perceived threat posed by Eilif to his neighbours nonetheless rose in response. Defence pacts started to form soon after.
This was a small learning point. I hadn’t realised this would occur after peaceful acquisitions as well, but it’s fair enough I guess.
A Bulgarian noble, Count Braslav of Galaz, began a war to support a claim by one Kozma for Olvia, against the Russian Chieftess Sif ‘the Unfaithful’ on 14 August 990.
On 16 December High Chieftess Þordis of Lithuania lost her war against Æthelstan the Conqueror for Marienburg which she had started in May 988.
Two days later, Jarl Rikulfr II of Smáland (a subject of King Hjalmar of Sviþjod) died peacefully, to be succeeded in this small jarldom by his son.
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On 21 February 991, Eilif decided that the revolt of Alfgeir on behalf of a claimant against High Chieftess Þordis of Lithuania had gone far enough and was proving a distraction. He decided to invest some prestige in forcing an end to the war, even if it meant granting a favour to Alfgeir – though it was unlikely ever to be called in. By 26 February, the revolt that had begun in March the year before was over.
In another distracting internal conflict and one between two Rurikid dynasty members, Jarl Buðli ‘the Ill-Ruler’ launched a war for the 3rd Belo Ozeran Claim on Yaroslavl against Jarl Hrörekr ‘the Tormentor’. This latest spat made Eilif consider enforcing a realm peace on his quarrelsome vassals, but he held off doing so.
On 1 August, Prince Karl lost his quixotic attempt to win a holy war for Polotsk against King Maslaw the Black of Poland, which he had started all the way back in December 986.
Then on 16 December, Chief Eeri of Ingria managed to inherit a couple of Crimean counties, ending the long-standing Pereyslavian conquest of Lukomorie that Jarl Froði had started in July 986.
But the ubiquitous King Maslaw Piast ‘the Black’ must have offended someone within his realm, for on 27 December he was apparently murdered, by a person or persons unknown. His son assumed the crown of Poland.
Another significant succession in Russia occurred early in the new year of 992 AD, with old Jarl Hroðulfr of Ryazan succumbing to cancer. His holdings were split between Jarl Tryggve II de Normandie and his young son Hemming (his fifth child, but oldest son).
And in mid-March, a usurper was usurped over in Sviþjod!
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5. Great Holy War against France – March 991 to March 992
By late March 991, the Christian pact against Eilif was becoming quite widespread, but France showed no sign of joining it. Which was just as well for Russia, as the Dark Fylkir was now ready to launch his Great Holy War against the beset King Valeran.
Valeran was still at war with Aquitaine, but was now winning it. And a range of raiding groups were still pecking away at his flanks.
Both imperial (6,600) and vassal (5,200) levies were summoned throughout Russia and Sviþjod and began gathering to selected rallying points. The contingents from Father Russia (around 9,150) were ordered to Livonia, where the fleet would soon be waiting for them.
Nearer to France itself, the main army under Hakon (Retinue and Jomsvikings) marched straight for Paris, while the Brabantian and Sviþjod vassal contingents would gather at Hainaut in Flanders.
The first sighting of the main French army was made on 30 March, with around 5,000 men spotted in Paris. On 1 April, two minor powers (the Kingdom of Burgundy was a single county) joined the French cause. On 20 April, four of Eilif’s subjects joined the Germanic host.
Olafr’s army reached Paris on 25 April and a battle began at Compiègne, where the Russians were forced to attack across the Seine. But they had the advantage in numbers and troop quality, while the French army had not yet fully organised itself. However, five days later word came of a large French reinforcing contingent under Count Herbert approaching from the south, due to join the battle on 7 May. By then, the French centre had already broken.
By 1 May, the whole initial French army had broken, but on 7 May the battle was rejoined in a furious melee as the French reinforcements clashed with the pursuing Russians. Tremendous casualties were suffered by the left and central French divisions, which broke two days later. Their right held on for another eight days, but then they too broke on 17 May when the other two Russian columns ended their pursuits and crashed into the French flank with tremendous force. The battle was an opening victory for the Russians.
As at 28 May 991, another ten days were required if the Russian army, now numbering around 8,800 men, was to launch an assault on the walls of Melun (fort level 5.0). To the north, around 220 raiders under Snorri of Skåne (a vassal of Eilif since 24 June 990) and Snorri of Möre were tangling with a French vassal army of 1,500 Norman troops under Count Herbert. Chief Nuyaksha had taken command of the 2,144 vassal levies assembled in Hainaut and was marching them to Vermandois.
Due to the effects of attrition, Olafr launched an assault as soon as he could on Melun, which lasted from 7-9 June. Casualties were moderate, and preferable to weeks or even months of attrition: and a start needed to be made on bringing the French to heel.
And the storming of the walls brought a welcome boon for the Russian Emperor: a Noble Sceptre that had belonged to Duke Lothaire II, which thereafter would reside in the Rurikid treasury. A suitable birthday present for Eilif, who had just turned 60 at the end of May.
As June progressed, Nuyaksha’s levy army went quietly about its business in Vermandois, with the four allied contingents (some close, some marching all the way from Russia) were ordered to join him to bolster his force. Olafr’s main army in Paris was unbothered as they settled down to siege work.
Paris fell to Olafr on 28 July, for the loss of 92 troops, yielding 23.6 gold (and warscore to +19%). Then around a week later, things started to hot up again as two French armies – a larger one under Prince Krzeslaw in Amiens and the smaller under Count Guiges in Reims – appeared and then made a concerted advance on Nuyaksha’s smaller force in Vermandois, which started to march north, though they would be trapped by Guiges. This prompted Olafr to leave his siege work in Paris to strike Reims, though he was due to arrive there three days after Guiges would hit Vermandois.
But this was enough to divert the French, who shortly after both decided to advance on Paris instead. Their problem was that Olafr could arrive in Reims a week before Guiges could trap him in Paris. While this would mean leaving Paris to Krzeslaw and suffering a river penalty in the attack on Reims rather than benefitting from one in Paris, it gave him the chance to defeat each army in detail. Nuyaksha was able to halt and resume his siege in Vermandois without sacrificing its previous progress.
The Battle of Châlons in Reims lasted for four weeks and ended in a handy Russian victory, as the French divisions collapsed from left to right. Without pausing for rest, on 12 September Olafr turned around and headed back to Paris, again having to attack across a minor river against Krzeslaw’s larger army, which had arrived there on 26 August.
The Battle of Melun started on 23 August, with Count Guiges’ army routing towards Orléans. The fighting hotted up on 6 October as the centre and right erupted into a furious melee – and the French were making the most of it as Olafr and Hakon’s divisions began taking heavy casualties. Hakon’s wing was looking decidedly shaky. To add to Olafr’s concerns, Guiges’ army rallied more quickly than anticipated and started marching north to Paris after they arrived in Orléans the same day and was due to reinforce Krzeslaw on the 16th.
Two days later, Hakon’s wing had broken, but then so too had the French centre, followed immediately by their right wing opposite Hakon’s. The French left broke on the 11th and the arrival of Guiges’ reinforcements on the 17th was not enough to prevent a continued route and pursuit by the Russians.
It had been a tough fight, but victory came on the 25th – and the capture of one of the French Dukes. By this time, Count Herbert’s army had reappeared in Orleans as Krzeslaw and Guiges fled from their defeat in Paris. But Olafr’s army had been much reduced following weeks of relentless combat.
It was during this latest battle that the Russian levies (9,300 strong), now finished their secondary tasks and concentrated on the Baltic coast, were fully loaded on the fleet and began the voyage to northern France.
By 1 November 991, the war was going well enough. Another new Catholic ruler had joined Valeran’s cause – and Duke Manfred of Franconia brought more troops than the others that had joined him until now. Valeran was still ahead in his war with Aquitaine, but not by as much as he had been a few months earlier.
Victory came in the siege of Rethel in Vermandois on 7 December, with two prisoners taken for 42 Russian soldiers lost. The first (Princess Ingfrid de St Kentigern) was offered for ransom on 11 December, along with Duke Pierre who had been captured in battle earlier. By 25 December, 10 gold had been received for Ingfrid, while Pierre had paid a rich 145 gold for his own release.
Botulfr had the command of the levy army that landed in Rouen on 8 December and began his siege of the impressive main castle (5.0 fort, 2,113 garrison). And victory in the siege of St Denis in Paris came on the Christian’s Christmas Day, with no besiegers lost [warscore to +40%].
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The new year began with one of Duke Manfred’s contingents of 900 men besieging Artois in Flanders on 4 January 992. For now, this relative flea bite was ignored. A more significant threat came on 10 January, with the main French army under Count Guiges (5,783 men) rallying in Sens and heading towards Reims. Olafr (7,098 men) reacted by heading to Reims as well, due to arrive five days after Guiges and thus having to attack across a river yet again.
The French arrived first on 15 January, but Guiges army found themselves fighting a force of almost 1,000 Swedish raiders from Sudermanland. Not long before Olafr was due to join the battle in Reims, another ten gold was extracted for the release of Princess Gisèle, caught in Paris the year before) to Prince Ogier ‘the Tormentor’.
This was followed by another small realm joining the Christian cause on the 20th.
The Russians joined the Battle of Château-Thierry in Reims on 24 January and by the 27th a furious melee had developed, the French centre in particular taking heavy casualties. As January ended, Count Herbert’s army had reappeared in Sens and were marching north to join the battle. But the French centre broke first along with their French left, followed by their right on 2 February, themselves subject to a vicious Russian assault. It was over by 15 February, though the Russian had again taken some significant casualties themselves (though some of these would have taken by the raiders).
In the meantime, Laon had fallen in Vermandois for no loss on 6 February as the French siege of Artois continued. By 15 February, the Battle of Château-Thierry was won. The Russians switched forces to reinforce the weakened left flank commanded by Hakon and set off, without any rest or recuperation for the tired Russians, to attack Herbert’s army, which had halted in Sens.
After the Russians attacked Herbert at Nemours in Sens on 24 February, one of the Franconian contingents tangled with the Södermannian raiders in Reims. Hakon’s still shaky wing managed to hold on as Olafr in the centre struggled against surprising tough French opposition. But he was rescued by Einarr’s division after it savagely despatched the French left and hit the flank of the French centre, which was the next to break.
Another tough victory had been won by Russia at the end of March and the war was going well, but the main Russian army was exhausted and had lost many men from the incessant battles, all of which had been made across rivers, in almost a full year of fighting since April the year before.
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6. Cumanian Liberation Revolt – June 991 to March 992
Another major distraction had occurred in mid-991 when a large Cumanian revolt broke out in Inder under a formidable military leader. This had come just as the Russian levies were mustering to the Baltic coast for the Great Holy War in France.
This was the kind of contingency for which the treasury had been kept full after the last treasure fleet had returned from Rome and Amalfi. Almost 600 gold was invested in two mercenary bands, who would also cost around 63 gold per month to maintain. Though expensive, given the nature of the Cumanian host, a cavalry-heavy force had been assembled, with its own generals commanding, plus Steinn of the Jomsvikings. They had a long march ahead of them from Holmgarðr to distant Bolghar.
In the meantime, the rebels had a free hand, with Karagotay falling in Inder on 17 October, for no rebel loss. By 21 November, the Cumanian Rebels were besieging Aqtöbe, to the east of Inder.
By 25 December 991, the mercenary army had reached Bolghar and continued east. But they were still some way off when the rebels took the tribal holding of Aqtöbe on 7 February, again for no loss. The rebellion continued into March, as the expensive mercenary host closed in on them.
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7. Domestic Matters – April 991 to March 992
Eilif received a letter on 10 June that his sister Ulfhildr Styrbjörnsdottir, wife of Chief Alfr or Northampton, had died in England at the age of 48, from ‘depression’. Not reassuring news for him given his own melancholy of late.
Then early in July, old Mayor Gnupa, the long serving loyal Marshal and Hel-Brother, died from the effects of gout. Wanting to maintain his small faction of Loyalists on the Council and give Malmfrið both recognition and protection from further injuring in combat as commander, at a time when all were needed, Eilif appointed his well-qualified lover and concubine to the job.
With the drain of funding both the Great Holy War in France and more recently the need to hire mercenaries to deal with the Cumanian revolt, by 6 July 991 the treasury was down to 1,066 gold and the monthly deficit was running at 70 gold (income 36.6, expenses 106.8). Money from sacking holdings and ransoming prisoners was always being sought to help address the drain.
In mid-September, suspicion of Eilif’s dark doings again lapsed after he had abstained from invoking his Hellish powers for some time. He did wonder whether a dark healing – or even the sacrifice of a ‘spare’ child – might help remove his depression, but did not go through with it, preferring to concentrate on the wars in France and Cumania.
His humour was not improved when news came of two lower level Hel worshippers being burnt at the stake in November 911 and January 992. But once more, they were low level underlings, so he was not too concerned.
By 18 March, with the war coming to a head in France with the Battle of Nemours nearing its end in Sens, a messenger called in on the Dark Fylkir with a priority despatch …
… which he was under instructions to deliver to the Emperor’s own hand. The content of the message is lost to history, while what he found remains contested by historians. The public and contemporary Rurikid Chronicle glossed over the scene, with the classic understatement that Eilif was ‘not especially blessed’.
We now know from his recently discovered and translated Infernal Journal how blackened his soul truly was. And we will never know exactly brought his end – a heart attack or stroke (rather than ‘depression’) being the presumed cause. Some have speculated he may have died from shock after a conjuring gone wrong, but the real reason is far more likely to be a prosaic one.
In any case, at the age of 60 the Dark Fylkir was gone, lucky enough to have lived as long as he did given his lifestyle. His son Styrbjörn II ‘the Tenacious’ – known for his diplomatic skills and definitely not a love of Hel – became the new Fylkir and Emperor of Russia. It is likely his father never made him aware of this side of his life and kept Styrbjörn insulated from those dark influence. It promised to be quite a different reign in this regard to that of his father.
Whether the messenger was blamed or not is lost to history, though legend has it he 'disappeared without a trace' soon afterwards, on general suspicion from the Hel Worshippers.
I would ask what the High Chief was thinking when he declared war on the Empire, but he would not be the one sitting in the Eilif's dungeon awaiting a starring role at the next Blot. (I wrote before I read about ransom.) The agreeing to end a war and go to jail for a 'favor' seems silly. Polish succession looks to be a different branch of the Piast family. (Poland elective?) Good-Bye Fylkir Eilif, may your trip to Hel have enough twists and turns that you never return.
How are you going to play Styrbjörn differently from Eilif? You have many holdings to divest with 5 over and probable France winnings.
Thank you for the update.
I would ask what the High Chief was thinking when he declared war on the Empire, but he would not be the one sitting in the Eilif's dungeon awaiting a starring role at the next Blot. (I wrote before I read about ransom.)
He will be played a lot differently, according to his emerging characteristics. Eilif alway deliberately kept him insulated from all the Hel doings, which he tried to keep a secret even from his family. Though there were rumours and suspicions throughout his reign, no allegations were ever publicly proved.
I actually played through the battle in France and the first little bit of the reign and disbursement of excess holdings, but decided to end rage chapter with Eilif’s death. He will concentrate on holding the best of the new combined holdings.
As for any gains in France, it will be interesting to see what come as direct or indirect holdings and if it is won, I’ll be seeking advice from the Thing!
I’m figuring such a dark and powerful figure’s demise would be shrouded in mystery and rumour, but the simple cause was ‘stress’. Probably a heart attack … but maybe from a conjuring gone wrong??
For any other viking, I would bemoan his fate as he died during a Great Holy War, but not in battle, the gates of Valhalla remaining closed to him...
Eilif likely is happy that he goes to his mistress' realm instead.
Styrbjörn II may not be a military mind, but he still has to prove his leadership - though Eilif already weakened France a lot. Things are looking good over there despite the holy orders reinforcing the Catholics.
The Cuman revolt is another reason to create kingdoms and hand them out or keep them afterwards - as long as a kingdom title has existed at some point, well-equipped and led rebels will pop up from time to time.
Thus it might be a good idea to seize enough land to create the kingdom, if only to stop these pesky strong revolts.
Some more comment replies, before the next chapter goes up: a full history book style retrospective on Eilif's reign, which was indeed a long and significant one. If also rather horrible!
Styrbjörn II may not be a military mind, but he still has to prove his leadership - though Eilif already weakened France a lot. Things are looking good over there despite the holy orders reinforcing the Catholics.
While his generals may lead the important fighting, he must sort out his realm and direct the strategy. He inherits a very strong position thanks to the work and reforms of his predecessors and is no neophyte as a chief and Jarl himself, but it remains to be seen how difficult both those big tasks will be.
The Cuman revolt is another reason to create kingdoms and hand them out or keep them afterwards - as long as a kingdom title has existed at some point, well-equipped and led rebels will pop up from time to time.
I will see what can be done there in the future, though the next strategic priority has long been to expand more in the west and north of Europe, plus consolidate the Norse lands under direct or indirect Russian hegemony. Could require some juggling of effort and priorities.
The next one will look back rather than forward, though the immediate post-succession period was played through, including disbursement of excess holdings, etc.
To All: Thanks for your comments and readership, as always. I sometime wonder how many are still taking an interest in this corner of the CK2 forum, but am hoping a few still are. Letting me know you're out there, even with the occasional short comment or reaction, really helps keep the motivation to continue going. Next chapter follows shortly.
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Chapter 141: The Reign of Emperor Eilif II - A Retrospective
Chapter 141: The Reign of Emperor Eilif II - A Retrospective
Previously, on Blut und Schlacht … Fylkir Eilif II ‘the Wise’, Emperor of Russia, King of Garðariki and Finland, Trollmaðr of the Fellowship of Hel, died of apparently natural causes on 18 March 992 AD. He inherited the Imperial Crown and the Fylkirship of the Germanic Faith on 16 September 952 AD and so reigned for almost 40 years.
The popularly available ‘Chronicle of House Rurikid’ provides a fair overview of the public face of Eilif’s reign, as put forward by the Rurikids' own paid chroniclers. But as later scholarship and recent discoveries have revealed, there was far more to Eilif’s long and eventful reign than the Chronicle let on.
As a summary of the Dark Fylkir’s reign, the Chronicle of his time as Emperor is reproduced below, with some of the more significant events highlighted in the text and the most significant expanded upon from modern historical sources.
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1. Eilif’s Early Life (931-952 AD)
Eilif Styrbjörnsson Rurikid was born on 28 May 931 to the then Crown Prince Styrbjörn. His grandfather, Eilif I (the second of the so-called ‘Great Rurikids’), still ruled.
Eilif I, a great and godly ruler who had built on the foundations of Rurik the Founder to create the Empire and Fylkirate, died just a few years later on 21 January 934. Styrbjörn inherited a strong realm, but never seemed to rise to the heights of his more famous grandfather or father.
Eilif reached adulthood on 28 May 947, showing early promise as a skilled tactician, though his other abilities seemed somewhat mediocre by comparison. We now also know that at this time, Eilif identified as a gay man.
However, this did not prevent him from ‘doing his duty’, with his father soon arranging a marriage to Björg Orming of Tyrconnell, known most for her keen intelligence and natural cunning. While Eilif would take a series of concubines and lovers, Björg would remain Eilif’s wife from their marriage on 1 June 947 for the rest of his life, a union of over 44 years.
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2. Early Reign and Formative Years (952-959 AD)
It is with Eilif’s succession in September 952 that we take up the story from the ‘official’ Chronicle of House Rurikid.
Styrbjörn had seemingly lost much of his zest for life after the death of his wife and, though not a very skilled commander, had taken to leading his army in the field. Some hinted he may have formed something of a death wish and yearning for Valhalla. In any case, in a winning battle against the restive Wolgastian peasants, who had launched a new revolt just a year after the previous one had been defeated in 951, Styrbjörn got his wish and died in battle on 16 September 952. He was only 44.
As a result of the Empire’s succession laws, the Kingdom of Sviþjod went to Eilif’s beloved brother Sigurðr. It was a good thing for the dynasty that the two were also the best of friends, meaning there was never any real threat of the realm splintering or civil war breaking out following the succession.
Despite his private preferences, finding himself Emperor at 21 and having no heir after five years of marriage, Eilif’s initial focus was on family life, to ensure an heir would come. In this, he would prove very successful over the years after a slow start.
The Wolgastian rebels were soon defeated and vengeance for his father’s death at their hands followed. Some rumour that the old Norse punishment of the ‘Blood Eagle’ was enforced, but no reliable historical account remains.
Something not even hinted at in the Chronicle but now known from the revelations of Eilif’s secret ‘Infernal Journal’ is his deliberate cultivation of the darkly evil Fellowship of Hel, which culminated in his induction into that feared order in April 953.
He always kept his membership and activities of the Fellowship a fiercely held secret from all non-members, even from his closest friends and family. Though many may have suspected him over the years, nothing was ever publicly proved.
Eilif’s first child, a girl, was born in 954, the same year the exploits of his men earned him the feared and respected sobriquet of Viking raider.
The year 956 saw Russia attacked by King Ogier of West Francia, threatening the rich Russian holdings in Brabant. This war saw the dreaded Jomsvikings offer to join the cause on the side of Germanicism in May 957, bringing almost 8,500 men to the Russian cause and allowing Eilif to go firmly on the offensive.
The decisive battle of Aarschot was won by the Russian-Jomsviking army (15,323 men) on 28 September 987, seeing the French army (9,225 men) overcome in a tough fight, with 2,606 Russian and 3,088 French casualties.
Another major victory at Leuven on 10 February 958 (Russia 593/12,978; West Francia 2,603/6,269 killed) turned things further in Eilif’s favour. Eilif eventually prevailed on 25 August 958; a significant victory against one of the biggest Catholic kingdoms that would have been unimaginable to his grandfather, the great King Rurik, in the early days of the dynasty.
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3. Consolidation and Expansion (959-967 AD)
A series of expansionary wars (additional to those conducted by Russian vassals throughout Eilif’s reign) were carried out from 959 AD. But of great dynastic significance for the Rurikids, Eilif’s first son Styrbjörn – named for Eilif's own father – was born in November 959, from by his concubine Aslaug. An anxious period was past, after a relatively long wait. Many more children would follow in later years, whether from Empress Björg or a succession of concubines.
Eilif went through a period of happiness in his personal life in March 961 when, in the space of a few days he took his new commander Botulfr as a lover and, through the giving of a nice gift of a hunting falcon, also had his Empress fall ‘deeply in love’ with him!
Eilif was getting good at living a double life on a number of levels, even as he routinely conducted vile missions to advance his standing in the Fellowship of Hel. He advanced to the rank of Seidmaðr in December 961, placing him third in the Fellowship’s line of seniority.
Then in March 962, he edged ahead of Seidmaðr Knut as the Society Heir by the barest of margins [350 v 349.5 membership points]. This proved opportune, as just a few months later Jarl Rikulfr II would be burned at the stake and Eilif elevated to leader of the Fellowship – a position granting great dark powers and enormous influence over other members of the secret society. His hold at the top of Russian and Germanic society was now complete.
An attack by the Pomeranians would be launched in 962 and not end until 963.
Then came a few relatively easy wars of expansion against Karelia and Livonia between 962-964 AD. This allowed Eilif to declare the Kingdom of Finland on 5 May 964 – which he took for himself, after securing the Imperial inheritance to primogeniture in June 963. This had been a long term ambition to consolidate the rule of the ‘main’ branch of the imperial dynasty and help prevent subject kingdoms from breaking away.
Eilif’s 'other activities' and a concentration on his scheming skills to climb up the rungs of the Fellowship saw him declared an ‘Impaler’ in February 964 [taking his intrigue score to a very respectable 18].
Eilif’s First Great Blot was held in 966, with the next few years mainly being distinguished by raiding and extinguishing peasant revolts. 1 January 967 marked the centenary of the founding of the Rurikid Dynasty – as the Petty Kingdom of Holmgarðr.
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4. The Danish-Polish War (967-974 AD)
In June 967, Russia was dragged into a war against King Witosz II of Poland by its ally King Þorolfr of Denmark for an invasion of Pomerania. It would not be the first time the Danes insisted on Russian support for their adventures, often at great cost in Russian blood and treasure.
By May 968, a great Polish-Teutonic host (13,445 men) was operating in central Poland and another Teutonic army (2,767) was in Holstein and the Danes had largely vacated the field, even though they were ahead in the war [+21% warscore].
By December 969, the Polish grand army numbered over 16,900, while Eilif’s host of around 14,400 Russian and Jomsviking troops stood behind the Vistula River in Kujawy, hoping to use the major river obstacle to offset their disadvantage in numbers.
But the Battle of Kruszwica, the largest any Russian army had featured in to that point, ended in a decisive defeat for Eilif on 14 January 970. With the battlefield loss, Eilif decided on revenge against King Witosz through the Dark Arts, with a tainted touch administered the day the battle was lost, even if this brought suspicion on the Dark Fylkir.
With the war – on Denmark’s behalf, it will be recalled – now in trouble, the Jomsvikings were dismissed at the end of January 970, as Eilif took a back seat and left the Danes to their own devices. Perhaps this contributed to him becoming popularly known as ‘the Wise’ in March that year! By then, aged 38, he had six children to his name – the eldest being two girls, the next four all boys.
The Danish-Polish War sputtered on, with the enemy gradually mopping up Danish and Russian held counties to regain the lead in the reckoning by June 970 [-12% warscore]. But the Jomsvikings now required no monthly upkeep, so Eilif recalled them and began to carefully look for opportunities to re-enter the war, as it was dragging on: the Danes would not concede and this was hampering Eilif’s other grand plans.
Preoccupied as he has, it was with regret that Eilif did not feel able to assist the small Germanic outpost of King Sigbjörn of Latium when Pope Benedictus IV declared a crusade for Italy in September 970.
King Witosz II of Poland succumbed ‘frothing at the mouth’ to Eilif’s tainted touch on 4 June 971. But this did not end the war, which continued under his son King Maslaw. A revolt by Jarl Kolbjörn in 971 was short lived, while two new small wars were launched against local chiefs in Liivimaa and Galindia.
Eilif took to the field personally during these small wars, which were both won in 972, allowing the Jarldom of Livonia to be created. It would later be turned into a merchant republic. Latgale was the next local target and it too would be defeated later in 972.
The year 973 would prove the turning point in the long Danish Prepared Invasion of Pomerania. The French-Teutonic armies were divided and defeated in a series of battles and sieges, culminating in the siege of Bautzen on 22 January 974. King Hroðulfr ‘the Cleansing Flame’ of Denmark had inherited the title and thanks largely to Eilif’s efforts [75% of the glory], claimed victory over Poland that day, ending the great war and revenging the traumatic Russian loss at Kruszwica in 969.
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5. On Viking and at War (975-985 AD)
Eilif now went raiding in Britannia, while the Crusade for Italy ended in victory for the Pope in January 976. Eilif pillaged through successive towns all through 976. In a very dark episode, Eilif’s sickly infant son Ulfr (his eighth child, by a concubine), who the physicians seemed unable to cure, was used in an evil ritual that June, where his life force was supposedly absorbed by the Dark Fylkir to prolong his own depraved existence. Whatever the facts, which were kept secret from the world at large, it did seem to invigorate the Emperor for the next ten years!
More raids followed, with Eilif’s Second Great Blot celebrated in 977. But in January of that year, Eilif – then aged 45 – became ‘infirm’, which significantly affected his health and abilities as a ruler. He would repeatedly seek dark remedies for this otherwise undiagnosed ailment in the years ahead.
After another peasant revolt was put down in 978, Eilif took his raiding force to Spain, during which time his heir Styrbjörn came of age – and married.
The period of lucrative raiding was ended in 978 when Eilif decided to assist Jarl Ormr’s conquest of Bremen – from that formidable old Christian enemy the Teutonic Order! Then in January 979, King Björn of Denmark once more dragged his Russian ally into war – this time against Gunnarr’s Danish Revolt. It was inconvenient, but Eilif would not be known as an alliance breaker!
Eilif had over 16,000 men (including the Jomsvikings) in Fyn (Denmark) at the Battle of Odense, where the Russians under the great general Hakon [Martial 30] easily defeated a Danish Rebel host of almost 4,000 men on 18 November 979. But his true objective was the main Teutonic army fighting Ormr. England – now a Germanic kingdom and allied in the war against the Teutons – had 7,500 men taking on twice that number of Teutons south-west of Holstein. The English were badly beaten, leaving two huge armies to manoeuvre around each other.
Hakon attacked the Teutons in the great Battle of Hannover in Celle on 21 February 980. He had a healthy initial advantage in numbers and far superior commanders, but Teuton reinforcements three days later considerably evened the score. The Teutons big advantage was in their massive force of heavy knights.
It seemed to be this that swung the day in favour of the Christians, with another heavy defeat being administered to the Russians, this time against their own expectations.
This was too much for Eilif, whose offer of concession on behalf of Jarl Ormr to Hochmeister Friedrich of the Teutonic Order was accepted on 1 April 980.
Eilif now returned to raiding, his exploits being rewarded with the ‘graduation’ from Viking to Ravager in August 981. And in May 982, Eilif’s latest attempt at dark healing was unable to cure his infirmity. But the toll of his dark doings on his soul and body were there to be seen. At age 50, he was possessed, stressed, infirm and a drunkard. But still firmly in charge.
Denmark once more involved Eilif in an unwanted war in February 983, this time against the Piast splinter kingdom of Bohemia, against King Witosz III. And in July that year, after Russia won a quick war against High Chief Ahma of Karelia, Crown Prince Styrbjörn accepted his father’s help in his attempt (as Chief of Sarkel and other counties) to conquer Lower Don from Khan Papaçyz the Conqueror of Khazaria – a popular target of Russian vassal aggression in this period. And once more, Eilif would lead troops personally on raid in France while Hakon led the levy army in Khazaria.
The Khazarian war for Styrbjörn was won on February 984, as Eilif continued to raid on. Meanwhile, Hakon took the main Russian army into Bohemia, to support the Danes. But in the meantime, Hrörekr ‘Son of Hel’ had revolted against Styrbjörn (now Jarl of Sarkel) and was winning [-39% warscore] his revolt war, with Eilif powerless to intervene in an internal dispute.
The corruption of Hel’s magic crept up on Eilif, making him frail on 21 May 984. And it seemed no amount of dark healing he had at his disposal could help this time. Still, at age 52, he tried to carry on as if nothing much had changed, with the stolen life of his son still helping to keep him healthy enough – though this benefit would expire in June 986.
But Hakon had met with success in Poland, winning the decisive battle of Posen [+75% warscore in one battle] against the Bohemians on 19 June 984 (Russia 742/7,924; Bohemia 2,837/4,638 killed), swinging the war back into Denmark’s favour.
Styrbjörn lost his Jarldom and freedom to Hrörekr in August 984. Eilif wanted to right this wrong, but revoking the Jarldom outright would have alienated many of his vassals. Other means would be used – good old-fashioned murder plots.
A reinforcing Russian army was badly defeated by a smaller force heavy with Teutonic knights in Lower Silesia on 14 November 984 (Russia 1,223/2,651; Bohemia 450/1,581 killed). But this was avenged soon after in a second battle (more of a slaughter) at Lower Silesia by Hakon’s main army on 16 December 984, bringing Denmark’s conquest of Brandenburg to a successful conclusion by 5 January 985 [Eilif contributing 51% of the war effort].
Eilif continued his highly lucrative raiding in France into 985, even while the other wars were being successfully concluded.
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6. Final Years (985-992 AD)
The final major legal change of Eilif’s reign was enacted once peace was achieved. When the Imperial succession laws had changed to primogeniture, those of Finland had followed accordingly when that kingdom was proclaimed. But those of the ‘core’ Kingdom of Garðariki, and thus the powerful Jarldom of Holmgarðr, had not followed. This risked seeing the bulk of the core demesne counties that had been built up for well over a century go to Prince Helgi – one of Eilif’s more troublesome sons.
From 26 March 985, though still in prison in Sarkel at that time, Styrbjörn was now heir to a unified Rurikid power base. The unhappy Helgi was shunted off to become his vassal!
Jarl Hrörekr was successfully murdered on Eilif’s orders in February 985. Attention now turned to his 12 year old son and heir, Rögnvaldr. His youth and innocence were absolutely no protection from a grimly determined Eilif, who soon had a strong plot going against him.
By 14 August Rögnvaldr had been killed in a ‘hunting accident’. Eilif inherited the Jarldom from the boy, released Styrbjörn and reinstated him to his former title all on the same day.
The years from 986-88 saw raids continue to fuel a great building program in the Imperial demesne counties, then a war chest accumulated for Eilif’s last great venture. In 988, he celebrated his third and last Great Blot.
In September 988, a large Papal army landed in Narva, making its way to central Russia to attack the Jarl of Tver in a side conflict, even as Russian raiders sacked Rome. Russian levies carefully concentrated until they had the numbers, while the Imperial Retinue and the Jomsvikings continued their ‘long raid’. In early May 989, Crown Prince Styrbjörn very suitably acquired the ‘official’ nickname ‘the Tenacious'.
The decisive battle of the ‘Papal Campaign’ was won at Moskva on 15 May 989, when an army led by Hakon took on a Papal army backed by King Guorbili of Breizh. Guorbili was captured and the Papal army’s strength broken (Russia 1,018/9,134; Papacy 2,113/7,436 killed). The last threat had been eliminated by September that year.
In March 990, the Russian Empire stretched from pockets in the very west of the known world to enclaves far to the east on the steppes; and from the north of the Black Sea to frigid lands on the White Sea.
During 990 and 991, minor wars were fought and won against foolhardy attackers and peasants as the raid was wound up in Italy. But none of these successes could prevent Eilif from falling into a depression in March 991. Still, he pressed on, as he ever had.
His last great project was a long-mooted Germanic Great Holy War declared against the old enemy, now known simply as France, on 20 March 991. He hoped it might shake him out of his melancholy thoughts.
The massed Russian army then fought a breakneck series of battles in northern France. The first major battle was won in Paris when Olafr and Hakon attacked at Compiègne on 25 May 991 (Russia 1,366/10,150; France 2,826/8,281 killed). Next came another attacking victory in Reims at the Battle of Châlons on 12 September 991 (Russia 227/9,614; France 1,305/3,383 killed).
Another battle in Paris was won on 25 October, as the now tiring main Retinue-Jomsviking army attacked another French force trying to liberate their capital (Russia 1,725/8,555; France 2,671/7,049 killed).
Next came a victory in Reims again, where the Russians assisted a Norse raiding army from Sudermanland to defeat the French once more at the Battle of Château-Thierry (Russians and Raiders 1,470/8,269; France 3,091/6,627 killed). By this time, one Russian vassal levy army of around 2,900 men was also besieging French holdings in Vermandois, while the main Imperial-vassal levy army from the Russian heartland of around 9,300 men had arrived by sea in Rouen to lay siege to it.
A fourth victory, back in Paris at Nemours on 28 March 992, saw the now severely depleted main Russian army of Olafr defeat a smaller French force that had slipped in while they were to the east in Reims (Russia 535/6,410; France 1,289/2,426 killed).
But it was during this battle, which may well have broken French resistance for now, that Eilif died from a suspected heart attack on 18 March 992, bringing a long, eventful and terrible reign to a close.
It would now be up to the new Emperor and Fylkir Styrbjörn II to consolidate his reign while prosecuting the Great Holy War for France. There may yet be surprises in store there if more Christians rallied to the defence of the French. But what was certain was that the new Fylkir would be different in some key respects to his father. He at least aspired to be a Rurikid ruler more attuned to the examples of his grandfather (Styrbjörn I), great-grandfather (Eilif I) and the great founder Rurik.
An excellent summary! And I understand that feeling of knowing people are reading your work. I know that any and all comments I get give that little boost to keep it going. Can never know what everyone thinks, but that engagement with a piece of work you did is a nice feeling.
