History of the Mukalovich Dynasty
Chapter 1
Much is known and written of the Rurik Dynasty. The sons of Rurik, a Varangian prince who united much of the Eastern Slavic people under the concept of the “Rus land”, ruling over a large kingdom called Kievan Rus.
His decedents, the Rurikovich Dynasty, ruled much of this land in fragmented Dukedoms, fighting over the different territories. However, there is very little written about one particular Dynasty with loose connection to the Rurikovich. Founded by the bastard son of one of these ruling Dukes, this is the story of the Mukalovich Dynasty. It is not a story of outstanding character, or of heroism on the battlefield. It is also not the story of a great empire. No, for the Mukalovich family, simply surviving the Medieval ages was their only measure of success.
The Dynasty was founded by Rurik Mukalovich. He was the bastard child of the Duke of Galich. Rurik, named by his mother after the patriarch of his father’s family, was raised in an orphanage from birth. His mother had died of syphilis a few years after his birth having gone back to the oldest profession, harlotry. The Duke had left instructions to his steward that if anything were to happen to the Duke and his heirs the documents that would legitimize Rurik were to be released, and Rurik would rule Galich. On the 10th of September, 1066, the unthinkable happened. The Dukes entire family was killed in a freak methane explosion whilst on a trip to inspect the duke’s cattle herd. Rurik was now the Duke of Galich.
The old Duke’s Steward had this to say about Rurik,
“When I told the young lad of 23 that he was to be the Duke of Galich, the boy burst into tears. He then began wailing about his misfortune in life, and how God must hate him so. Cleary the boy has a better understanding of what it means to rule than most people, and I’m sure he will make a fine Duke.”
Rurik’s first order of business was to move to Kiev. He then handed out landed titles to the few people of his father’s court that didn’t despise the bastard, and hired various members to act as his council. Rurik’s journal had this to say,
“I handed out counties to the two Igors, and some other courtier, I forget his name. I also handed out land to the Orthodox Church. They were kind enough to raise me from childhood, and never once did a member of the clergy touch my manhood in a sinful way, so I decided they deserved a reward. The old Steward also told me to create a family Coat of Arms. I picked a Red Bull, standing proud against a blue and white striped background. May it live on forever!”
Rurik’s rule was to be tested shortly, as various members of the Rurikovich dynasty declared war on him one month later, October 8th, 1066.
Even though Rurik was able to broker an alliance with the Kingdom of Hungry by marring one of the princesses, the Catholic Hungarian royalty was hesitant to come to the defence of an Orthodox ruler.
Rurik’s brother in law, Prince Lampert of Hungary, wrote a letter stating,
“We could come to your aid, but frankly, we don’t like you. Also, please stop being a heathen. Love and Kisses, Prince Lampert.”
It was at this time that Rurik started showing the oddest behaviour. Many people thought him to be possessed, but most historians that even cared to look at Mukalovich history agree that he was most likely stressed to insane levels. Either way, his strange behaviour did not win him any new friends in the political scene.
Also at this time Rurik's steward came to inform him of an issue with his Coat of Arms. According to letters recovered, a Count in what is now Northern Russia was suing Rurik for copy write infringement. Rurik quickly had his Coat of Arms changed to show two red dragons.
The war started well for Rurik, and his army was even able to lay siege to the Rostovian barony of Pereyaslavl. However, Rurik’s army was simply outnumbered and was forced to flee when the main Rurikovich army attacked their siege camp. Rurik fled to Kiev but his army was pinned down just outside the city and most of it destroyed. He then flied to Turov and made a desperate stand at the Battle of Dubrovitsya. His army was outnumbered almost 10 to 1, and the battle was quickly lost. With no army to speak of, Rurik was forced to give into the Rurikovich demands on January 4th, 1068. The losses were heavy, with Rurik seceding the titles of Duke of Smolensky, Turov, Kiev, and Yolhynia.
At the signing of the peace treaty, one of the Rurikovich aides remarked on Rurik's behaviour,
"We heard him in the next room crying loudly. He bemoaned the loss of the war and chastised his Marshal for fighting terrible battles. When he finally came into the room, he curtsied like a wench, signed the papers, and quickly left."
Rurik attempted to put these losses behind him and worked to better the small Dukedom that he now presided over, but little did he know his rule would face another threat, just over one year later....
Chapter 1
Much is known and written of the Rurik Dynasty. The sons of Rurik, a Varangian prince who united much of the Eastern Slavic people under the concept of the “Rus land”, ruling over a large kingdom called Kievan Rus.
His decedents, the Rurikovich Dynasty, ruled much of this land in fragmented Dukedoms, fighting over the different territories. However, there is very little written about one particular Dynasty with loose connection to the Rurikovich. Founded by the bastard son of one of these ruling Dukes, this is the story of the Mukalovich Dynasty. It is not a story of outstanding character, or of heroism on the battlefield. It is also not the story of a great empire. No, for the Mukalovich family, simply surviving the Medieval ages was their only measure of success.
The Dynasty was founded by Rurik Mukalovich. He was the bastard child of the Duke of Galich. Rurik, named by his mother after the patriarch of his father’s family, was raised in an orphanage from birth. His mother had died of syphilis a few years after his birth having gone back to the oldest profession, harlotry. The Duke had left instructions to his steward that if anything were to happen to the Duke and his heirs the documents that would legitimize Rurik were to be released, and Rurik would rule Galich. On the 10th of September, 1066, the unthinkable happened. The Dukes entire family was killed in a freak methane explosion whilst on a trip to inspect the duke’s cattle herd. Rurik was now the Duke of Galich.
The old Duke’s Steward had this to say about Rurik,
“When I told the young lad of 23 that he was to be the Duke of Galich, the boy burst into tears. He then began wailing about his misfortune in life, and how God must hate him so. Cleary the boy has a better understanding of what it means to rule than most people, and I’m sure he will make a fine Duke.”
Rurik’s first order of business was to move to Kiev. He then handed out landed titles to the few people of his father’s court that didn’t despise the bastard, and hired various members to act as his council. Rurik’s journal had this to say,
“I handed out counties to the two Igors, and some other courtier, I forget his name. I also handed out land to the Orthodox Church. They were kind enough to raise me from childhood, and never once did a member of the clergy touch my manhood in a sinful way, so I decided they deserved a reward. The old Steward also told me to create a family Coat of Arms. I picked a Red Bull, standing proud against a blue and white striped background. May it live on forever!”
Rurik’s rule was to be tested shortly, as various members of the Rurikovich dynasty declared war on him one month later, October 8th, 1066.
Even though Rurik was able to broker an alliance with the Kingdom of Hungry by marring one of the princesses, the Catholic Hungarian royalty was hesitant to come to the defence of an Orthodox ruler.
Rurik’s brother in law, Prince Lampert of Hungary, wrote a letter stating,
“We could come to your aid, but frankly, we don’t like you. Also, please stop being a heathen. Love and Kisses, Prince Lampert.”
It was at this time that Rurik started showing the oddest behaviour. Many people thought him to be possessed, but most historians that even cared to look at Mukalovich history agree that he was most likely stressed to insane levels. Either way, his strange behaviour did not win him any new friends in the political scene.
Also at this time Rurik's steward came to inform him of an issue with his Coat of Arms. According to letters recovered, a Count in what is now Northern Russia was suing Rurik for copy write infringement. Rurik quickly had his Coat of Arms changed to show two red dragons.
The war started well for Rurik, and his army was even able to lay siege to the Rostovian barony of Pereyaslavl. However, Rurik’s army was simply outnumbered and was forced to flee when the main Rurikovich army attacked their siege camp. Rurik fled to Kiev but his army was pinned down just outside the city and most of it destroyed. He then flied to Turov and made a desperate stand at the Battle of Dubrovitsya. His army was outnumbered almost 10 to 1, and the battle was quickly lost. With no army to speak of, Rurik was forced to give into the Rurikovich demands on January 4th, 1068. The losses were heavy, with Rurik seceding the titles of Duke of Smolensky, Turov, Kiev, and Yolhynia.
At the signing of the peace treaty, one of the Rurikovich aides remarked on Rurik's behaviour,
"We heard him in the next room crying loudly. He bemoaned the loss of the war and chastised his Marshal for fighting terrible battles. When he finally came into the room, he curtsied like a wench, signed the papers, and quickly left."
Rurik attempted to put these losses behind him and worked to better the small Dukedom that he now presided over, but little did he know his rule would face another threat, just over one year later....
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