Chapter XII: 1149-1153
July 26, 1149 was already starting out as a bad day for Vlad. He was attempting to relax when suddenly a wave of messengers from the Byzantine Empire arrived. For the next hour they explained why they were there. The reason for the length in time was simple: Byzantine was now at war with almost every major power in western Europe!
Vassak Roupinid, the young Byzantine Emperor, was said to be as suspicious as he was religious. When arguments between him and the new Pope Guttorm Knytling erupted, he announced that the Latin Church was attempting to undermine the independence of the Ottoman Church. He then declared war on not only the Holy Roman Emperor, but on the Duchy of Lorraine, the Duchy of Brandenburg, and many other counties. The Byzantine messengers in Vlad’s castle were there to get him to honor his alliance. On a better day Vlad may have accepted, but currently he was in no mood to fight another man’s crusade. He flatly turned down the offer, telling them that his family’s allegiance had been and always was to the church in Rome. Emperor Roupinid would fight alone.
While the war waged on outside of Croatia, another sad moment hit Boleslav’s life. His second wife, Teodora, had died during childbirth, and again his child had been lost as well. At age 20 with two dead wives and no heirs, Boleslav began to wonder if he had done something wrong for God to punish him like this. Nevertheless, he understood that being next in line for the kingdom he had to present a clear line of inheritance. Yet there were no proper women to woo in the Croatian court. He looked to foreign lands, but no noblewoman would marry him. A horrible rumor had been spread that he killed his wives and was only interested in collecting on the dowry. Eventually the marshal married Efrosina, another daughter of the Archbishop Hrvatinic, on September 8, 1150.
The next year Vlad launched a campaign against the County of Bihar, continuing the Wars of Unity and Peace. Once again, Boleslav performed well, moved his army masterfully, and initiated battle while Vlad was still slogging his way towards the county. And, yet again, Vlad arrived only to assist in an easy siege. For this campaign, Boleslav actually requested that Vlad reward him and his men for their service. Vlad complied…but a few weeks later Boleslav asked again, saying the sum before was not enough. Vlad bitterly complied again. Although it seemed like the moment of vanity Vlad had been waiting for, much of the gold went to Boleslav’s troops. He had wanted to make sure they got proper pay after a hard fought campaign.
Boleslav returned home only to be greeted with bad news. His third wife had died in labour. Boleslav now felt at his wit’s end, for it seemed he would never find true love. That changed during a trip to Rome to speak to the Pope on Vlad’s behalf. Along the way he passed some vineyards in the County of Ferrara. There he saw a beautiful noblewoman walking through the grounds, wandering her fingertips over the vines. She was Candida Einaudi, the daughter of Count Paolo Einaudi, and she married Boleslav on October 2, 1152.
Shortly after the news, Vlad claimed the County of Abauj and asked that Boleslav, alone, carry the campaign. Boleslav accepted and raised his army in the county of Pecs. Over 2,000 men came to the call, announcing their loyalty to the hero of the city. On May 27, 1153 Boleslav met battle with the Count Szilveszter and defeated his smaller force of 500 men. The castle fell on August 4.
July 26, 1149 was already starting out as a bad day for Vlad. He was attempting to relax when suddenly a wave of messengers from the Byzantine Empire arrived. For the next hour they explained why they were there. The reason for the length in time was simple: Byzantine was now at war with almost every major power in western Europe!
Vassak Roupinid, the young Byzantine Emperor, was said to be as suspicious as he was religious. When arguments between him and the new Pope Guttorm Knytling erupted, he announced that the Latin Church was attempting to undermine the independence of the Ottoman Church. He then declared war on not only the Holy Roman Emperor, but on the Duchy of Lorraine, the Duchy of Brandenburg, and many other counties. The Byzantine messengers in Vlad’s castle were there to get him to honor his alliance. On a better day Vlad may have accepted, but currently he was in no mood to fight another man’s crusade. He flatly turned down the offer, telling them that his family’s allegiance had been and always was to the church in Rome. Emperor Roupinid would fight alone.
While the war waged on outside of Croatia, another sad moment hit Boleslav’s life. His second wife, Teodora, had died during childbirth, and again his child had been lost as well. At age 20 with two dead wives and no heirs, Boleslav began to wonder if he had done something wrong for God to punish him like this. Nevertheless, he understood that being next in line for the kingdom he had to present a clear line of inheritance. Yet there were no proper women to woo in the Croatian court. He looked to foreign lands, but no noblewoman would marry him. A horrible rumor had been spread that he killed his wives and was only interested in collecting on the dowry. Eventually the marshal married Efrosina, another daughter of the Archbishop Hrvatinic, on September 8, 1150.
The next year Vlad launched a campaign against the County of Bihar, continuing the Wars of Unity and Peace. Once again, Boleslav performed well, moved his army masterfully, and initiated battle while Vlad was still slogging his way towards the county. And, yet again, Vlad arrived only to assist in an easy siege. For this campaign, Boleslav actually requested that Vlad reward him and his men for their service. Vlad complied…but a few weeks later Boleslav asked again, saying the sum before was not enough. Vlad bitterly complied again. Although it seemed like the moment of vanity Vlad had been waiting for, much of the gold went to Boleslav’s troops. He had wanted to make sure they got proper pay after a hard fought campaign.
Boleslav returned home only to be greeted with bad news. His third wife had died in labour. Boleslav now felt at his wit’s end, for it seemed he would never find true love. That changed during a trip to Rome to speak to the Pope on Vlad’s behalf. Along the way he passed some vineyards in the County of Ferrara. There he saw a beautiful noblewoman walking through the grounds, wandering her fingertips over the vines. She was Candida Einaudi, the daughter of Count Paolo Einaudi, and she married Boleslav on October 2, 1152.
Shortly after the news, Vlad claimed the County of Abauj and asked that Boleslav, alone, carry the campaign. Boleslav accepted and raised his army in the county of Pecs. Over 2,000 men came to the call, announcing their loyalty to the hero of the city. On May 27, 1153 Boleslav met battle with the Count Szilveszter and defeated his smaller force of 500 men. The castle fell on August 4.
