So, are you going to claim the kingdom of Lithuania, or will you wait for a more prestigious kingdom?
Chronicle of the House of Luxembourg
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Zeno: I think that the King of Hungary tried crusading up north, but got a severe beating instead. I suspect this because there is no King of Hungary any more....
1153-1157: The Crusader-King
Opinion in Europe, and more particularly in the people under Folkmar's rule, began to change. He was widely esteemed in Europe, and respected for his growing devotion to the Church. He was also feared, for he had proven himself to be a talented, relentless, and lucky (or blessed) Lord. The powers of Europe decided to leave well enough alone, and the lands under Luxembourg's rule in the west knew an extended period of peace.
His vassals noted, however, that he was increasingly losing interest in anything but furthering God's will. He married off his children to anyone who asked for them and sent any and every child under his care to recieve monastic educations regardless of their natural talents and inclinations. He did not bother checking in on his lands, and only ever bothered to order the construction of fortifications and training grounds. Beyond providing him manpower to continue his crusade, he did not care at all what happened in his lands. Whatever the Church wanted, it got. Beyond that, he merely aceeded to the wishes of whomever was asking him for something.
In May of 1153, Folkmar set out for Osel. He sent word to the Lettiglians that he intended to finish the work his uncle Simon began decades ago. The Lettiglians formed their lines with weary resolve when Luxembourg arrived in June. The fought fiercely, but their ferocity was no match for the fanaticism of Folkmar and his soldiers. The Lettaglian warriors were butchered to the last man, and Osel was secured with such alacrity that many of the more isolated pagans did not even realize that there had been an invasion until they reported to pay their taxes and discovered their new lord were Christian westerners.
Folkmar moved on to Estonia. While sailing north, Folkmar recieved word that his eldest son had completed his education. Folkmar could not have been prouder- Reinhart, according to his priestly mentors, was destined to be perhaps the greatest theologian and philosopher of his generation.
The first day of November, 1153, saw Folkmar reaching Estonian shores in the province of Narva. The driven crusader dispatched what resistance the pagans offered and forced the people into subjugation. The last vestiges of resistance finally gave up on January 17th, 1154. Urged on by the whispers who guided him, Folkmar immediatley marched on to the other Estonian province of Dorpat, which fell on July 22nd.
Next for Folkmar's righteous fury were the Livonians. The Livonian tribe held a huge swath of land, both to the north, the south, and the east of the lands in the baltics already claimed by Folkmar. They, too, fell like wheat before the scythe. Livs fell on September 7th, and Reval fell in the waning days of the year. Folkmar started marching south, eager to press the fight.
In February, while passing through his lands, word reached Folkmar that he had also been given the title "Duke of Estonia" by the Pope, not that he cared. As he marched, his men began recieving missives as well. He didn't care, though, so long as they were not slowed. However, he soon came to regret that decision. On February 24th, 1155, one of the mercinary bands under Folkmar's command, claiming that their services have been purchased by the Tribe of Kola. Much like the Prussians and the Lithuanians, Folkmar had thought he had destroyed that tribe. He had not, however- they had lands farther to the East that he did not know about, and had been planning their revenge ever since the fall of Sambia. The mercinaries were defeated, but Folkmar finally learned his lesson. He knew from now on to send scouts out to see if those he crusaded against held lands in other places.
March was tiring, but uneventful. April, however, saw the Matron-Crusader Gerberga giving birth to yet another child while in the field. A son, named Sigfried by the happy couple, took his first breath on April 9th. Folkmar gave his wife two day's rest before he continued his march south. While he was resting with his wife, he signed papers formally granting the conquored land of Dorpat to the Church. Folkmar promised the Pope that many more lands would be going to the Church in the future as well. By the end of April, Folkmar had reached his destination- Potlosk- to continue his campaign.
Potlosk was added to Luxembourg on July the 8th. The Pope celebrated by crowning Folkmar Duke of Potlosk as well. Folkmar couldn't be botherd with that, though, for he had already marched on to Orsha. Orsha fell on November 2nd. The next six months were a blur, as one Russian province after another were returned to Christian rulers. Jacwiez fell on January 4th, 1156. Minsk fell on February 13th. The fall of Minsk marked the end of the Livonian tribe.
By now, the pressure on the Pope had grown. He had not expected Folkmar to be so successful, and he had to acknowledge it some how. Folkmar was given the honorific title Duke of Livonia, but that did not satisfy Folkmar's supporters in the Holy See. Finally, the Pope decided to give Folkmar the Crown so many in Rome felt he deserved. On March 7th, Folkmar was crowed the first King of Lithuania.
Folkmar paused when word reached him that he was a King. He had recieved several letters from the Pope, one of which ordered him to try to bring the heretical devotees of Orthodoxy back to the One True Church. Folkmar, in response, sent word south to Keiv (which, contrary to initial reports, had managed to survive and even expand.) The letter was one sentance long. It read: "Serve the true Vicar of Christ or be invaded." The Prince of Kiev disliked the threat, but he was also no fool. Folkmar was (to his mind, at any rate) a derranged sociopath that had the ability and willingness to butcher every last man in Keiv if he had to in order to do what he believed was God's will. At the same time, he had no intention of renouncing the faith of his fathers. He offered to serve Folkmar, who he pretended to believe was God's emissary, rather than convert to Catholicism. Folkmar thought that would be a good first step, and settled (for now) for Keiv's feudal devotion.
After Keiv made his oaths, Folkmar marched on the Volgans. He devoured their men, and province after province fell in quick succession. July saw Luybech fall. August saw Mstislav's capitulation. Smolensk fell in September. Bryansk fell in October. The Pope, alarmed by the celerity with which pagan lands were falling to the Crusader-King, demanded that Folkmar revoke the right of lay investiture as an effort to gain some further control over the Lithuanian King. Folkmar, of course, accepted without hesitation. He no longer cared about ruling anyways.
A short march and a siege saw Burtasy fall in the waning days of 1156. Folkmar immediately drive the moneylenders out of that province, much in the same manner Christ drove the moneychangers out of the Temple a millenia ago. Folkmar, increasingly growing irritated with the constant messages from the east that seemed (to him) to be irrelevant, he decided that he needed to divest himself of all responsibilities save for his crusading duties. Thus, on January 12th, 1157, Folkmar gave away all non-Russian lands, the loyalty of all his vassals save the Prince of Keiv, and all titles he held save his Kingly one to his eldest son and heir, Reinhardt the Philospher. He also disbanded his army, so that his son would not have to suffer the displeasure of vassals who did not want their men fighting under someone else's command.
Opinion in Europe, and more particularly in the people under Folkmar's rule, began to change. He was widely esteemed in Europe, and respected for his growing devotion to the Church. He was also feared, for he had proven himself to be a talented, relentless, and lucky (or blessed) Lord. The powers of Europe decided to leave well enough alone, and the lands under Luxembourg's rule in the west knew an extended period of peace.
His vassals noted, however, that he was increasingly losing interest in anything but furthering God's will. He married off his children to anyone who asked for them and sent any and every child under his care to recieve monastic educations regardless of their natural talents and inclinations. He did not bother checking in on his lands, and only ever bothered to order the construction of fortifications and training grounds. Beyond providing him manpower to continue his crusade, he did not care at all what happened in his lands. Whatever the Church wanted, it got. Beyond that, he merely aceeded to the wishes of whomever was asking him for something.
In May of 1153, Folkmar set out for Osel. He sent word to the Lettiglians that he intended to finish the work his uncle Simon began decades ago. The Lettiglians formed their lines with weary resolve when Luxembourg arrived in June. The fought fiercely, but their ferocity was no match for the fanaticism of Folkmar and his soldiers. The Lettaglian warriors were butchered to the last man, and Osel was secured with such alacrity that many of the more isolated pagans did not even realize that there had been an invasion until they reported to pay their taxes and discovered their new lord were Christian westerners.
Folkmar moved on to Estonia. While sailing north, Folkmar recieved word that his eldest son had completed his education. Folkmar could not have been prouder- Reinhart, according to his priestly mentors, was destined to be perhaps the greatest theologian and philosopher of his generation.
The first day of November, 1153, saw Folkmar reaching Estonian shores in the province of Narva. The driven crusader dispatched what resistance the pagans offered and forced the people into subjugation. The last vestiges of resistance finally gave up on January 17th, 1154. Urged on by the whispers who guided him, Folkmar immediatley marched on to the other Estonian province of Dorpat, which fell on July 22nd.
Next for Folkmar's righteous fury were the Livonians. The Livonian tribe held a huge swath of land, both to the north, the south, and the east of the lands in the baltics already claimed by Folkmar. They, too, fell like wheat before the scythe. Livs fell on September 7th, and Reval fell in the waning days of the year. Folkmar started marching south, eager to press the fight.
In February, while passing through his lands, word reached Folkmar that he had also been given the title "Duke of Estonia" by the Pope, not that he cared. As he marched, his men began recieving missives as well. He didn't care, though, so long as they were not slowed. However, he soon came to regret that decision. On February 24th, 1155, one of the mercinary bands under Folkmar's command, claiming that their services have been purchased by the Tribe of Kola. Much like the Prussians and the Lithuanians, Folkmar had thought he had destroyed that tribe. He had not, however- they had lands farther to the East that he did not know about, and had been planning their revenge ever since the fall of Sambia. The mercinaries were defeated, but Folkmar finally learned his lesson. He knew from now on to send scouts out to see if those he crusaded against held lands in other places.
March was tiring, but uneventful. April, however, saw the Matron-Crusader Gerberga giving birth to yet another child while in the field. A son, named Sigfried by the happy couple, took his first breath on April 9th. Folkmar gave his wife two day's rest before he continued his march south. While he was resting with his wife, he signed papers formally granting the conquored land of Dorpat to the Church. Folkmar promised the Pope that many more lands would be going to the Church in the future as well. By the end of April, Folkmar had reached his destination- Potlosk- to continue his campaign.
Potlosk was added to Luxembourg on July the 8th. The Pope celebrated by crowning Folkmar Duke of Potlosk as well. Folkmar couldn't be botherd with that, though, for he had already marched on to Orsha. Orsha fell on November 2nd. The next six months were a blur, as one Russian province after another were returned to Christian rulers. Jacwiez fell on January 4th, 1156. Minsk fell on February 13th. The fall of Minsk marked the end of the Livonian tribe.
By now, the pressure on the Pope had grown. He had not expected Folkmar to be so successful, and he had to acknowledge it some how. Folkmar was given the honorific title Duke of Livonia, but that did not satisfy Folkmar's supporters in the Holy See. Finally, the Pope decided to give Folkmar the Crown so many in Rome felt he deserved. On March 7th, Folkmar was crowed the first King of Lithuania.
Folkmar paused when word reached him that he was a King. He had recieved several letters from the Pope, one of which ordered him to try to bring the heretical devotees of Orthodoxy back to the One True Church. Folkmar, in response, sent word south to Keiv (which, contrary to initial reports, had managed to survive and even expand.) The letter was one sentance long. It read: "Serve the true Vicar of Christ or be invaded." The Prince of Kiev disliked the threat, but he was also no fool. Folkmar was (to his mind, at any rate) a derranged sociopath that had the ability and willingness to butcher every last man in Keiv if he had to in order to do what he believed was God's will. At the same time, he had no intention of renouncing the faith of his fathers. He offered to serve Folkmar, who he pretended to believe was God's emissary, rather than convert to Catholicism. Folkmar thought that would be a good first step, and settled (for now) for Keiv's feudal devotion.
After Keiv made his oaths, Folkmar marched on the Volgans. He devoured their men, and province after province fell in quick succession. July saw Luybech fall. August saw Mstislav's capitulation. Smolensk fell in September. Bryansk fell in October. The Pope, alarmed by the celerity with which pagan lands were falling to the Crusader-King, demanded that Folkmar revoke the right of lay investiture as an effort to gain some further control over the Lithuanian King. Folkmar, of course, accepted without hesitation. He no longer cared about ruling anyways.
A short march and a siege saw Burtasy fall in the waning days of 1156. Folkmar immediately drive the moneylenders out of that province, much in the same manner Christ drove the moneychangers out of the Temple a millenia ago. Folkmar, increasingly growing irritated with the constant messages from the east that seemed (to him) to be irrelevant, he decided that he needed to divest himself of all responsibilities save for his crusading duties. Thus, on January 12th, 1157, Folkmar gave away all non-Russian lands, the loyalty of all his vassals save the Prince of Keiv, and all titles he held save his Kingly one to his eldest son and heir, Reinhardt the Philospher. He also disbanded his army, so that his son would not have to suffer the displeasure of vassals who did not want their men fighting under someone else's command.
Interesting, so now Your the King of Lithuania and not your name sake dukedom. But your son will be both(unless thats given away again).
So, what does the rest of europe look like?
So, what does the rest of europe look like?
With so much land going to the Church, it's going to be the by far greatest land owner in Europe...!
And knowing the pope's grabbing of land to the papal states... Anyway, good update. I like how you play according to your character's traits.
And knowing the pope's grabbing of land to the papal states... Anyway, good update. I like how you play according to your character's traits.
(OOC Note: The Chronicle from this point out is played with the addition of LUCKS 1.02. I rather like the LUCKS mods, and encourage other players to give them a go...)
1157-1159: The Kingdom Grows, the King declines
As soon as Folkmar's regiments were disbanded, the King of Lithuania began to call up his Russian subjects to continue the campaign in the name of God and the Latin Church. Orthodox Russians were not excited about fighting a war in the name of the Bishop of Rome, but they had also suffered under despotic and unstable rulers before. They knew their chances of survival were better on the battlefield than defying their new lord.
The new muster took a while, but Folkmar had other things to contend with. His oldest son (an illegitimate bastard named Rupert) had been acting strangely for some time. Eventually, his oddness developed into full-blown madness. He soon began to proclaim that God had chosen him to rebuild the Tower of Babel. Many in Folkmar's new court- located in Potlosk- thought the boy mad. the King found him inspired. He gave the boy a free hand to do what ever he wished.
Folkmar's army was not in place to continue his crusade for several months. It was not until June 17th of 1157 that Folkmar renewed his campaign against unbelievers and infidels. Folkmar marched on the tribe of Pronsk, and bloodletting began anew. Khopyer fell on July 14th and Sugrov fell on September 14th. Once the Pronsk heathens were crushed, Folkmar turned upon the Cumans.
The first, and decisive, battle against the Cuman tribes was on October 16th, just as the Lithuanians entered the province of Desht-I-Kipchak. Both sides brought large forces, and the fight promised to be both bloody and protracted. Battle raged in Desht until December 14th, when the Cuman resistance was finally broken. Lithuania once again paid a high price for Folkmar's crusading, however- 3,000 of the 5 1/2 thousand Russians that marched with Folkmar found their final resting place in the forest and streams of Desht-I-Kipchak.
Desht was added to the Kingdom of Lithuania on the 27th of January, in the year of our Lord 1158. Lower Don, the other province under the control of the Cuman High Chief, fell on April 16th. After the fall of Lower Don, Folkmar once again disbanded his army, giving them a chance to recruit and rebuild.
Folkmar's return home saw Queen Gerberga bearing him another son (named Eberhard.) Folkmar also decided he needed to give away some of his new gains. In June of 1158, Mstislavl was given to the Church, and Bryansk was given to Rupert (the Mad or the Chosen, depending on who you asked.) Minsk and Orsha were also reformed as a Catholic Bishopric, but not until August of that year.
Folkmar was also pressed to resolve some demands from his local nobles upon his return. Nobles from Smolensk requested the right to Prima Noctae. Folkmar was offended by the request, and had the requesting nobles publically flogged. That did little to endear Folkmar to the Russian nobility, though his stock with the pesantry did rise. the Church also requested the end of all commerce in all Church squares in the capital, a demand to which Folkmar happily acceeded.
The time away from the focus of campaigning and crusading gave Folkmar time to think. Time to think gave Folkmar's mind time to wander. That, it turned out was not such a good thing. Folkmar began to report increased disembodied visitations from God, from Jesus, and from various angelic voices. the situation deteriorated slowly at first, but accelerated by the midyear of 1159. By September, when Folkmar began carrying a cross through the street and proclaiming that God commands that Lithuania make war on the blasphemous Muslims, few still doubted that their King was truly insane.
1159-1162: The March to Nowhere
Folkmar mustered his men and marched straight for the heart of Muslim territory, near the Ural Mountains. Folkmar told his soldiers to kiss their wives goodbye, because they wouldn't see them again until God personally told Folkmar that they were done. Folkmar began his march precisely at the beginning of the Russian winter, and marched straight through it, stopping his armies only after the thaw made it possible to fight. March saw King Folkmar in Kama, so the Lithuanians decided there was as good a place as any to begin their campaign. King Folkmar declared war on the locals, and set about slaughtering anyone who opposed to Christian rulers.
Kama fell on April the 8th, 1159. The Muslim nation that riled Kama also ruled a province by the name of Hlynov, which fell on June the 7th. August saw the last province held by the Muslim nation in the area- Votyaki- fall. The Muslim nation that Folkmar had decided to devstate had one vassal state in the province of Itil. Folkmar decided that they should be pusished as well, so he set off for them. Folkmar reached Itil in January of 1161, and quickly defeated resistance there as well. After the fall of Itil, Folkmar decided that he needed to march home. His advisors encouraged him to simply disband his forces, which would both get them home quicker and more cheaply for the Kingdom, but Folkmar refused. God had not given him permission to disband his army yet. God had something else planned.
The march back home took almost a year. During that time, Folkmar decided to give away another province- Lyubecha- to the Church. When word reached Folkmar that his insane son Rupert had committed suicide and that Bryansk had been returned to him, King Folkmar quickly gave that province to the Church as well.
1162-1163: Folkmar's Final Quest
In May of 1162, Folkmar finally saw sight of the land he had claimed as his own. His feet touched the ground, and his men cheered. They were home. It was that precise moment when God spoke again to Folkmar. Just as his men began to debark, Folkmar spun around and ordered them back onto the ship. The men, visibly disappointed but to fearful of their King, asked where they were going. Folkmar gave them a one-word answer: "Home."
Folkmar's weary army reached the gates of Jerusalem that August. The local muslim Shiek, who had long ago declared his independence from the Fatimeds, was stunned to see a Christian army marching upon the Holy City. The Shiek's army was afield, and had to be recalled. Folkmar set up for a siege and began assaulting the city walls of Jerusalem as the local Muslim overlords frantically recalled their soldiers.
Jerusalem's defenders arrived on September the 11th, 1162. Battle was short and decisive. The Muslim soldiers had already spent the finest of their forces in assaults on Muslim neighbors, and simply could not match the insane intensity Folkmar and his men unleashed. The soldiers of Jerusalem were swiftly dispatched, and the gates of Jerusalem were finally pried open on October 5th.
All of Christendom rejoiced upon hearing word that Folkmar had returned Jerusalem to Christian hands. Folkmar was not yet done, though. His army immediately turned south into Hebron, capturing that province on November 22nd. Following that, they marched back north to Tiberias. Tiberias fell on January the 12th, 1163. After the capture of Tiberias, Folkmar held under his control the entire expanse of land on which the Christian message had been proclaimed by the Faith's founder. At last, the Christian God that Folkmar spoke to in his mind told him that his work here was done.
1163-1169: Folkmar, God's Minister on Earth
On January 24th, 1163, King Folkmar of Lithuania, liberator of the Holy Lands, made a pronouncement. He proclaimed himself the Duke of Galilee and the defender of the Holy Lands. He proclaimed that it was his sacred duty to watch over these lands for those that adhered to the one true faith of Christ. He then announced that he was giving away all of his other lands.
Folkmar gave two provinces to the Church, and gave one province to each of his underaged sons. he also considered his daughter Oda, who alone among his remaining children strongly clove to the teachings of the Roman Church. To Oda he gave the vast bulk of his lands, as well as the title Duchess of Pronsk. He tried to crown her Queen of Lithuania, but the Church forbade it. Folkmar reluctantly accepted their wishes, and kept his Kingly title.
The next two years were relatively quiet. Folkmar shaved his head, and began acting more like a monk than a King. He took long walks through Jerusalem, and would often personally re-enact the stations of the Cross. He also began to openly respond to questions asked to him by invisible people. In February of 1165, Folkmar dismissed his entire court, appointing in their place various Archangels and other ministers of Heaven. He also began to act in a way so pious that even the Church was forced to praise his devotion, even if many doubted his claims of being attended to by angels.
A year later, in March of 1166, Folkmar's angelic ministers brought him disturbing news. Apparently, Folkmar's second legitimate son Adalbert, who had been given Potlosk after the fall of Jerusalem, and Folkmar's nepher Adalgaard, had been conspiring with Satan himself to defile the Holy City. Folkmar summoned these two men to Jerusalem, where he had them arrested and tried before a court of angels. Both men professed their ignorance, but Folkmar saw with his own eyes that the Devil himself spoke for the boys. The fact that the Devil vouched for them was proof enough for Folkmar- he had the boys burnt alive. Disgusted at what he saw as the senseless murder of his younger brother, Duke Reinhart of Luxembourg proclaimed his independence from Lithuania.
Soon afterwards, Folkmar issued a new law proclaiming that the King of Lithuania no longer felt bound to the feudal contract that had long ruled Luxembourg. Rather, Folkmar asserted his royal perogatory to influence and tax as he pleased. For evidence of this right, he sighted God. Folkmar insisted that God tolk him that it was his right to do so after the betrayal of his two oldest sons. His vassals didn't care what justification the King gave, though. They were not about to tolerate what they saw as the gross violation of the ancient agreement between Liege and Vassal. One by one, each of Folkmar's vassals rebelled. The last to go was Oda. who reluctantly broke ties with her father on January 9th, 1167.
Upon reflection, Folkmar realized that he didn't really care that his vassals were gone. His sole duty was to defend Jerusalem, and he thought he could do that better without the meddling of his vassals. Shortly after Pronsk broke their ties, however, the Order of the Knights templar requested the privilidge of defending Hebron from infidels. Folkmar granted their request, but then demanded their fealty. The Templars were reluctant to agree, but finally gave in and swore their devotion to King Folkmar in October of 1167. After the Order swore fealty to Folkmar, the King gave them the title and duties of defender of Galilee. A short time thereafter, Folkmar decided to give Tiberias away to the Church, and formed a Bishopric there.
After that, things quieted down again for Folkmar. One of his sons died in 1168 and his land reverted to Folkmar, but Folkmar gave them to the Church rather than deal with it. Starting in 1169, as Folkmar's former vassals realized that the mad King had no intention of trying to force them to rejoin him, they began to make peace with him.
It was in the midst of this reconciliation, on July 9th, 1169, that Folkmar vanished. Several people claimed to have seen Folkmar carried off to heaven on the wings of angels, while others thought that he simply wandered off into the desert and died. Regardless of what happened, people soon began to report miracles being done in his name. Folkmar was quickly beatified and cannonized by the Church as St. Folkmar, Patron Saint of Crusaders.
1157-1159: The Kingdom Grows, the King declines
As soon as Folkmar's regiments were disbanded, the King of Lithuania began to call up his Russian subjects to continue the campaign in the name of God and the Latin Church. Orthodox Russians were not excited about fighting a war in the name of the Bishop of Rome, but they had also suffered under despotic and unstable rulers before. They knew their chances of survival were better on the battlefield than defying their new lord.
The new muster took a while, but Folkmar had other things to contend with. His oldest son (an illegitimate bastard named Rupert) had been acting strangely for some time. Eventually, his oddness developed into full-blown madness. He soon began to proclaim that God had chosen him to rebuild the Tower of Babel. Many in Folkmar's new court- located in Potlosk- thought the boy mad. the King found him inspired. He gave the boy a free hand to do what ever he wished.
Folkmar's army was not in place to continue his crusade for several months. It was not until June 17th of 1157 that Folkmar renewed his campaign against unbelievers and infidels. Folkmar marched on the tribe of Pronsk, and bloodletting began anew. Khopyer fell on July 14th and Sugrov fell on September 14th. Once the Pronsk heathens were crushed, Folkmar turned upon the Cumans.
The first, and decisive, battle against the Cuman tribes was on October 16th, just as the Lithuanians entered the province of Desht-I-Kipchak. Both sides brought large forces, and the fight promised to be both bloody and protracted. Battle raged in Desht until December 14th, when the Cuman resistance was finally broken. Lithuania once again paid a high price for Folkmar's crusading, however- 3,000 of the 5 1/2 thousand Russians that marched with Folkmar found their final resting place in the forest and streams of Desht-I-Kipchak.
Desht was added to the Kingdom of Lithuania on the 27th of January, in the year of our Lord 1158. Lower Don, the other province under the control of the Cuman High Chief, fell on April 16th. After the fall of Lower Don, Folkmar once again disbanded his army, giving them a chance to recruit and rebuild.
Folkmar's return home saw Queen Gerberga bearing him another son (named Eberhard.) Folkmar also decided he needed to give away some of his new gains. In June of 1158, Mstislavl was given to the Church, and Bryansk was given to Rupert (the Mad or the Chosen, depending on who you asked.) Minsk and Orsha were also reformed as a Catholic Bishopric, but not until August of that year.
Folkmar was also pressed to resolve some demands from his local nobles upon his return. Nobles from Smolensk requested the right to Prima Noctae. Folkmar was offended by the request, and had the requesting nobles publically flogged. That did little to endear Folkmar to the Russian nobility, though his stock with the pesantry did rise. the Church also requested the end of all commerce in all Church squares in the capital, a demand to which Folkmar happily acceeded.
The time away from the focus of campaigning and crusading gave Folkmar time to think. Time to think gave Folkmar's mind time to wander. That, it turned out was not such a good thing. Folkmar began to report increased disembodied visitations from God, from Jesus, and from various angelic voices. the situation deteriorated slowly at first, but accelerated by the midyear of 1159. By September, when Folkmar began carrying a cross through the street and proclaiming that God commands that Lithuania make war on the blasphemous Muslims, few still doubted that their King was truly insane.
1159-1162: The March to Nowhere
Folkmar mustered his men and marched straight for the heart of Muslim territory, near the Ural Mountains. Folkmar told his soldiers to kiss their wives goodbye, because they wouldn't see them again until God personally told Folkmar that they were done. Folkmar began his march precisely at the beginning of the Russian winter, and marched straight through it, stopping his armies only after the thaw made it possible to fight. March saw King Folkmar in Kama, so the Lithuanians decided there was as good a place as any to begin their campaign. King Folkmar declared war on the locals, and set about slaughtering anyone who opposed to Christian rulers.
Kama fell on April the 8th, 1159. The Muslim nation that riled Kama also ruled a province by the name of Hlynov, which fell on June the 7th. August saw the last province held by the Muslim nation in the area- Votyaki- fall. The Muslim nation that Folkmar had decided to devstate had one vassal state in the province of Itil. Folkmar decided that they should be pusished as well, so he set off for them. Folkmar reached Itil in January of 1161, and quickly defeated resistance there as well. After the fall of Itil, Folkmar decided that he needed to march home. His advisors encouraged him to simply disband his forces, which would both get them home quicker and more cheaply for the Kingdom, but Folkmar refused. God had not given him permission to disband his army yet. God had something else planned.
The march back home took almost a year. During that time, Folkmar decided to give away another province- Lyubecha- to the Church. When word reached Folkmar that his insane son Rupert had committed suicide and that Bryansk had been returned to him, King Folkmar quickly gave that province to the Church as well.
1162-1163: Folkmar's Final Quest
In May of 1162, Folkmar finally saw sight of the land he had claimed as his own. His feet touched the ground, and his men cheered. They were home. It was that precise moment when God spoke again to Folkmar. Just as his men began to debark, Folkmar spun around and ordered them back onto the ship. The men, visibly disappointed but to fearful of their King, asked where they were going. Folkmar gave them a one-word answer: "Home."
Folkmar's weary army reached the gates of Jerusalem that August. The local muslim Shiek, who had long ago declared his independence from the Fatimeds, was stunned to see a Christian army marching upon the Holy City. The Shiek's army was afield, and had to be recalled. Folkmar set up for a siege and began assaulting the city walls of Jerusalem as the local Muslim overlords frantically recalled their soldiers.
Jerusalem's defenders arrived on September the 11th, 1162. Battle was short and decisive. The Muslim soldiers had already spent the finest of their forces in assaults on Muslim neighbors, and simply could not match the insane intensity Folkmar and his men unleashed. The soldiers of Jerusalem were swiftly dispatched, and the gates of Jerusalem were finally pried open on October 5th.
All of Christendom rejoiced upon hearing word that Folkmar had returned Jerusalem to Christian hands. Folkmar was not yet done, though. His army immediately turned south into Hebron, capturing that province on November 22nd. Following that, they marched back north to Tiberias. Tiberias fell on January the 12th, 1163. After the capture of Tiberias, Folkmar held under his control the entire expanse of land on which the Christian message had been proclaimed by the Faith's founder. At last, the Christian God that Folkmar spoke to in his mind told him that his work here was done.
1163-1169: Folkmar, God's Minister on Earth
On January 24th, 1163, King Folkmar of Lithuania, liberator of the Holy Lands, made a pronouncement. He proclaimed himself the Duke of Galilee and the defender of the Holy Lands. He proclaimed that it was his sacred duty to watch over these lands for those that adhered to the one true faith of Christ. He then announced that he was giving away all of his other lands.
Folkmar gave two provinces to the Church, and gave one province to each of his underaged sons. he also considered his daughter Oda, who alone among his remaining children strongly clove to the teachings of the Roman Church. To Oda he gave the vast bulk of his lands, as well as the title Duchess of Pronsk. He tried to crown her Queen of Lithuania, but the Church forbade it. Folkmar reluctantly accepted their wishes, and kept his Kingly title.
The next two years were relatively quiet. Folkmar shaved his head, and began acting more like a monk than a King. He took long walks through Jerusalem, and would often personally re-enact the stations of the Cross. He also began to openly respond to questions asked to him by invisible people. In February of 1165, Folkmar dismissed his entire court, appointing in their place various Archangels and other ministers of Heaven. He also began to act in a way so pious that even the Church was forced to praise his devotion, even if many doubted his claims of being attended to by angels.
A year later, in March of 1166, Folkmar's angelic ministers brought him disturbing news. Apparently, Folkmar's second legitimate son Adalbert, who had been given Potlosk after the fall of Jerusalem, and Folkmar's nepher Adalgaard, had been conspiring with Satan himself to defile the Holy City. Folkmar summoned these two men to Jerusalem, where he had them arrested and tried before a court of angels. Both men professed their ignorance, but Folkmar saw with his own eyes that the Devil himself spoke for the boys. The fact that the Devil vouched for them was proof enough for Folkmar- he had the boys burnt alive. Disgusted at what he saw as the senseless murder of his younger brother, Duke Reinhart of Luxembourg proclaimed his independence from Lithuania.
Soon afterwards, Folkmar issued a new law proclaiming that the King of Lithuania no longer felt bound to the feudal contract that had long ruled Luxembourg. Rather, Folkmar asserted his royal perogatory to influence and tax as he pleased. For evidence of this right, he sighted God. Folkmar insisted that God tolk him that it was his right to do so after the betrayal of his two oldest sons. His vassals didn't care what justification the King gave, though. They were not about to tolerate what they saw as the gross violation of the ancient agreement between Liege and Vassal. One by one, each of Folkmar's vassals rebelled. The last to go was Oda. who reluctantly broke ties with her father on January 9th, 1167.
Upon reflection, Folkmar realized that he didn't really care that his vassals were gone. His sole duty was to defend Jerusalem, and he thought he could do that better without the meddling of his vassals. Shortly after Pronsk broke their ties, however, the Order of the Knights templar requested the privilidge of defending Hebron from infidels. Folkmar granted their request, but then demanded their fealty. The Templars were reluctant to agree, but finally gave in and swore their devotion to King Folkmar in October of 1167. After the Order swore fealty to Folkmar, the King gave them the title and duties of defender of Galilee. A short time thereafter, Folkmar decided to give Tiberias away to the Church, and formed a Bishopric there.
After that, things quieted down again for Folkmar. One of his sons died in 1168 and his land reverted to Folkmar, but Folkmar gave them to the Church rather than deal with it. Starting in 1169, as Folkmar's former vassals realized that the mad King had no intention of trying to force them to rejoin him, they began to make peace with him.
It was in the midst of this reconciliation, on July 9th, 1169, that Folkmar vanished. Several people claimed to have seen Folkmar carried off to heaven on the wings of angels, while others thought that he simply wandered off into the desert and died. Regardless of what happened, people soon began to report miracles being done in his name. Folkmar was quickly beatified and cannonized by the Church as St. Folkmar, Patron Saint of Crusaders.
HOLY MACARONI!!! That guy have really ruined his country for his heir! You do like to roleplay I see...!
That guy have really ruined his country for his heir! You do like to roleplay I see...!
Hmmmm, if the son declared indipendance from you can he still inherit. I suppose if i wait I will find out.
I just discovered CK, and it looks like it rocks!
Then again, that might just seem so because this AAR rocks.
Just a quick recap; we start with the Conrad the Moderate , followed by Simon the Independent and Pious, then Phillippe the French Failure (who became the Luxembourgian Lightningbolt :wacko: ), then Charles-who-died-young, and then Folkmar the Uncle who became the first Christian King of Lithuania and was the most holy man to tread upon Earth's soil since our Lord Christ himself!
And now we have the young Reinhard who from his stats appears to surpass his father in the latter field - not the former!
BTW, I noticed that Reinhard is a German and not a Frenchman anymore (as the branch that ended with the young Charles was). How did this happen?
Then again, that might just seem so because this AAR rocks.
Just a quick recap; we start with the Conrad the Moderate , followed by Simon the Independent and Pious, then Phillippe the French Failure (who became the Luxembourgian Lightningbolt :wacko: ), then Charles-who-died-young, and then Folkmar the Uncle who became the first Christian King of Lithuania and was the most holy man to tread upon Earth's soil since our Lord Christ himself!
And now we have the young Reinhard who from his stats appears to surpass his father in the latter field - not the former!
BTW, I noticed that Reinhard is a German and not a Frenchman anymore (as the branch that ended with the young Charles was). How did this happen?
Reinhardt's grandfather (Conrad's second son) married a German woman and ruled over the German province of Rostock. I guess that since that branch was raised so far away from France and had a German mother, they began to identify more with the German people than the Frankish people. Sometimes in CK, a family's cultural identification will drift over time depending on who they marry and where they live.
wonderful AAR
what positive things happen to your realm when it's former ruler is cannonized?
what positive things happen to your realm when it's former ruler is cannonized?
IIRC the heir gets a prestige and piety boost, but its never happened to me.
A shame Piety can't be inherited! If you ever have a heresy in your lands, I think you should call them the Folkmarians
Can't wait to see a Europe map after that *inspired* chapter.
BTW the end leaves an opening for Folkmar to return as a methuselan prophet a la Children of Dune. Wandering off into the desert to die is so poetic.
A shame Piety can't be inherited! If you ever have a heresy in your lands, I think you should call them the Folkmarians
Can't wait to see a Europe map after that *inspired* chapter.
BTW the end leaves an opening for Folkmar to return as a methuselan prophet a la Children of Dune. Wandering off into the desert to die is so poetic.
The canonized person might gain the Saint trait, which will give his son some piety. I'm not sure whether it actually works though, since it requires for an event to fire for a dead character.
Is there any way to increase your chances of becoming a saint?
Good story I liked the way you made him go insane.
Good story I liked the way you made him go insane.