The Annals of Silesia

[Koch4646]

Chapter I: Early Reign of Duke Wlost Dunin

​

Part 1. Count and Council

1068​

The young Duke Wlost of Silesia had a talent for organization. Taxes were paid on time, disputes settled efficiently, fairly and with firmness. The Duke was interested in men of talent, much to the dismay of his more aristocratic advisors, but it was this appreciation for results over rituals that made the Duchy of Silesia run efficiently.

Duke Wlost Dunin

Mayor Jerzy of Krosno, a lowborn burgher of that town was one of these talented men that made his way into Duke ’s inner circle. Jerzy was a weapons maker and armorer by trade and became the largest supplier of arms in Silesia leading to his eventual rise to Mayor of Krosno. When Duke Wlost was awarded the Duchy of Silesia, the Mayor of Krosno’s reputation as a strong leader, thorough organizer and tough deal maker was well known. The Duke wasted little time vetting Jerzy. The Mayor of Krosno so impressed the Duke that Jerzy would be asked to join the Duke's council and eventually made Chancellor of the Duchy of Silesia.

Mayor Jerzy of Krosno

Duke Wlost’s friendship with Mayor Jerzy, as strong as it was, was not without their disagreements. In 1067 the County of Cieszyn, in southern Silesia, was without a lord. Mayor Jerzy wanted the Duke to press his claim on Cieszyn with the King. At this time, not all of the Duchy of Silesia was actually under Duke Wlost’s tutelage, and this may have upset Jerzy more than the Duke himself. The Polish King, Boleslaw Piast, was undecided as what to do with the county. He could keep the county title for himself. This would risk upsetting all the Dukes of Poland, not just Wlost. Boleslaw could award Cieszyn to Wlost. This would appease Wlost, but to the agitation of the other Dukes, something the King wanted to avoid. The King settled on a compromise that the Duke could accept. The County of Cieszyn was awarded to Baron Sieciech Topor, now Count Sieciech of Cieszyn. In return for the County of Cieszyn, Count Sieciech was offered to Duke Wlost as a Vassal.

Count Sieciech Topor

With the succession of Cieszyn settled, Duke Wlost was content to move on with the daily administration of the Duchy, or so he thought. At the next Silesian council, a representative from Count Sieciech arrived to pay homage to the Duke. Count Sieciech not arriving in person was against normal etiquette of the court unless the Count had sufficient reason, but the representative had none to offer. The Duke of Silesia should have been very offended by this, and he was, but he dared not show his emotions outwardly. The representative did dispense with typical flattery. Mayor Jerzy, on the other hand nearly walked out on the council, and had to be convinced to come back in by other council members. After the drama subsided the general council convened as normal.

General council meetings were used to conduct duchy business, discuss policy on tax amounts, and dish-out punishments for lawbreakers. Lesser nobles could attend the general council meetings, where they could express their opinions on matters of policy, discuss issues of law, and bring up grievances and disputes to the Duke. This particular council went without issue until the council was ready to disperse, at which time the representative of Count Sieciech asked why the Count had not been offered a seat on the council. Many nobles and council members gasped at this. The Duke of Silesia waited for the air to clear and plainly explained that if the Count wanted to have a seat on the duchy council one must attend the duchy council. After the nervous laughter subsided, the represented bowed to the duke, but before leaving expressed great disappointment at the conduct of the council today.

The general council adjourned for that day’s meeting. Traditionally the following day the duchy council met privately. No dignitaries, no ambassadors, no other nobles other than the council itself. The conversation was dominated by the topic of the Count. The Mayor Jerzy of Krosno characteristically wanted the Count’s head on a pike, the Duke had to remind the Mayor that such talk from anyone, let alone a lowborn burgher, would soon see his own head on a pike. This subdued the Duke ’s hotheaded friend, and Jerzy bowed repentantly to Duke Wlost. The Duke of Silesia listened to each member of the council.

Marshal Wszebor Wlostowic wanted to take a wait and see approach. He wanted to observe the behavior of Count Siesiech some more but thought allowing him onto the council now would undermine the power of the Duke greatly. Count Sieciech must submit to Duke Wlost unconditionally before consideration to the council. Chaplain Friederich Prochaska thought Duke Wlost should grant the Count a seat at the council, reasoning that he was now the most powerful noble in the duchy second only to the Duke. How could Count Sieciech be left out of the court council? The Duke heard all the arguments about the Count, and adopted Marshal Wszebor’s wait and see policy. He explained, simply, he could not let the Count’s poor behavior be rewarded with honors on the council. Only time will tell if the Count will take his proper role within the duchy as my vassal, the Duke explained.

Marshal Wszebor Wlostowic

With the matter of the Count of Cieszyn settled, a feast was held, which was customary after the monthly council. All the nobles in attendance were welcomed to join at the expense of the Duke, and the feast represented Duke Wlost’s gratitude to his Vassals.

 

[Bullfilter]

Good luck with your enterprise!

 

[Koch4646]

Thank you,

This is my first AAR. The first bit of fiction of mine in any form of publication. I am looking to make AAR writing my jumping off point, so to speak, into a bigger career.

Time will tell.

Thanks again.

 

[Bullfilter]

Thank you,

This is my first AAR. The first bit of fiction of mine in any form of publication. I am looking to make AAR writing my jumping off point, so to speak, into a bigger career.

Time will tell.

Thanks again.

Off to a good start then.

 

[Arnulf Floyd]

Beginning is hardest part in writting both AARs and literature, but with patience and luck, you can achieve awesome things

 

[guillec87]

are you ´planning on keeping independent or going to form Poland? or maybe turn German?

 

[Koch4646]

My initial plan is to go for the polish crown, I think ultimately that is what a polish noble would aspire to, but I will let opportunities take the game and characters where they want to go. My job is to tell the story.

sorry if this is ambiguous.

Thank you for reading.

 

[Koch4646]

Chapter I: Early Reign of Duke Wlost Dunin


Part 2: The Plot​

It was not long after the general council that the Duke of Silesia called for his ambassador, the Bishop Przemyslaw of Berzg, for a private meeting. The Bishop was not normally called upon in this manner by the Duke. It was only customary for the Duke to hear the Bishop’s intelligence at the general council. As a Bishop, He traveled to the other diocese and many churches throughout Poland and sometimes further outside the Kingdom. This gave the Bishop access to many different nobles, merchants, clergy, and laymen who gave him much knowledge about the affairs of the realm. In this respect, the Bishop was a very intelligent spymaster.

Bishop Przemyslaw

The Bishop of Berzg arrived at Wroclaw castle and was received by Duke Wlost. The Duke was not his customary self. He was anxious and pacing, and rushed through what he had to tell the Bishop. The Duke asked the Bishop to give up the names of the best assassins in the realm. No questions were to be asked by the Bishop, Duke Wlost demanded. The Bishop gave a biblical response, citing Proverbs 3:5-6;

5. Trust the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6. In all ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

The Duke was silent. After several moments the Duke reminded the Bishop that he greatly appreciated his council, but made it painfully clear that if this meant the Bishop would not perform his duties the Duke was left with no choice, but to replace Bishop Przemyslaw and send him to the guardhouse.

Duke Wlost

Bishop Przemyslaw was stunned by the Duke’s behavior but understood he would not be able to dissuade the Duke from whatever he planned to use the assassins for. With that realization, the Bishop said a prayer and blessed the Duke, bowed humbly, and reassured the Duke he would fulfill the Duke’s wishes to the best of his ability.

Although he was a man of high intellect and talent, what Bishop Przemylsaw was not, was a good spymaster. The Bishop had a great proficiency in intelligence gathering and kept the Duke well informed about the state of affairs of the Duchy. What Przemylsaw lacked was the fearlessness to find the murderous assassins the Duke demanded. What frustrated the Bishop further was that he did not know the specific reasons for why Duke Wlost wanted him to track down these vile creatures, and for what purpose were the going to serve. After all, who hired assassins if one did not want someone killed. Regardless, the Bishop went on to perform his duty.

After some time passed Bishop Przemyslaw was able to scrounge up some wretched fools from the dungeons, alehouses, and other unscrupulous places. These would-be “assassins” were brought to a country manor some distance away from Wroclaw castle. The men first met Marshall Wszebor who was there with a small bodyguard to protect the Duke and reminded these hired thugs that if they did wrong or spread gossip of their visit they would be executed without question.

One of the “Assassins”

This ragged group of hired villains was brought before The Duke of Silesia. They were given promise that their sins be forgiven and, more importantly, a monetary reward when they completed the Duke’s task. It was here the Duke finally revealed that he wanted Count Sieciech of Cieszyn assassinated. These men were taken in by Bishop Przemyslaw, and with his orderlies, trained in the shadowy arts of deception, poisons, and treachery. The assassin trained for a time and then released upon the realm to execute their mission.

One assassin, recruited into Count Seiciech’s kitchen, as poulterer, mysteriously disappeared one day when fetching a chicken from the chicken coop. Another established himself in the village of Cieszyn and ran an Alehouse. He used the intelligence from some drunken guards about the Count planning a visit to outside the county. The assassin organized an ambush of the Count based on the proposed travel plan. The assassin and his group of thugs readied themselves for an attack on the oncoming entourage of the Count. The Count’s entourage came through the wooded path where the thugs were hiding, but no Count could be seen. The entourage apparently prepared for this ambush, cut the assassins to pieces.

Count Seiciech of Cieszyn

One by one, over the next few years, the Duke kept receiving reports of failed attempts by the assassins to kill the Count. Although it was yet to be discovered whether or not the Duke was behind these assassination attempts or not. It seemed to the Duke that the Count was always one step ahead. The Duke began to believe that someone or some people in his court may be helping the Count. As the years went on and most of the Duke’s hired men were taken out, Duke Wlost wearied of his plot. The plot to kill Count Sieciech eventually ran its course unsuccessfully for the Duke.

 

[stnylan]

The count is being very persistent.

 

[Bullfilter]

Can’t get good help anywhere!

 

[Koch4646]

Part 3 of Chapter 1 is coming along nicely. It will be the longest part so far and what was originally 1 part has become 2 parts. My goal is to have Part 3 completely finished by Sunday evening 12/23 give or take a day.

Things get a little more "geopolitical." All I will say at the moment.

 

[Koch4646]

This is just the start of part 3.

Chapter I: Early Reign of Duke Wlost Dunin​

Part 3: Rurikids

Poland and Kievan Rus 1070​

Several more attempts were made to assassinate Count Seiciech, forcing the Count into hiding for some time. Even though the whole plot to kill the Count of Cieszyn was a burden on the Duke, he did make life hard on the Count. Mayor Jerzy of Krosno persuaded his friend, Duke Wlost, to stop with this obsession of Count Seiciech and whatever plots the Duke was engaged in. Jerzy had no love of the Count but heard rumors in the duchy court that the nobles believed the Duke to be acting tyrannically. As the Duchy’s Chancellor, Mayor Jerzy suggested that Duke Wlost hold some feast or festival to reassure his subjects that the Duchy was thriving and the Duke was a most benevolent ruler. Before a decision could be made a summons from the King of Poland arrived calling the Duke to come to Krakow Castle for a Magnum Concilium.

It was June 1070 and the King of Poland called for a Great Council. Duke Wlost served the King not only as the Duke of Silesia but also as the Steward on the King’s council, mainly responsible for collecting the taxes of the Kingdom. Duke Wlost was summoned to the Great Council to discuss future policy for the Kingdom of Poland. Duke Wlost made preparations for his journey to Krakow Castle, home to King Boleslaw and his court. The Duke left Mayor Jerzy in charge of the Duchy but brought Marshal Wszebor as guard and aid.

As Duke Wlost with Marshall Wszebor arrived at Krakow Castle they noticed a large tent structure on the outskirts of the castle surrounded by smaller tent structures that created a massive tent city. So large was this Great Council that most of the festivities would be held outside the castle as there was not enough room to accommodate all the dignitaries and magnates that came in attendance. The Duke of Silesia took notice of the many royal flags waving in the wind taking account of all that were in attendance. There was the customary coat of arms of the Polish dukes and counts. Curiously, flying from one of the larger tents, was the banner of the house of Rurikid also with the banner of the King of the Kievan Rus. I appeared The Kingdom of Kievan Rus would be in attendance at this Great Council.

DukeWlost and Marshal Wszebor of Silesia

The Duke of Silesia and his entourage were directed by the King’s orderlies to go the Great Tent structure for greeting ceremonies. Duke Wlost with Marshall Wszebor entered the Great Tent and saw a tall rectangular table in the center with no chairs except for at the top end of the table there was the King’s ornate throne. Throughout the tent, there were nobles milling around conversing, mingling, some laughing, and some others standing silently sizing-up the gathering. Some time went on and orderlies began directing the council members, nobles and magistrates to their spots.

To the right of the King’s seat at the top of the table was the King’s Advisor, Duke Przemyslaw Poraj, the Duke of Greater Poland. He controlled a great citadel of Poznan and his Duchy constituted the northern border of the Kingdom of Poland. Arrogant, but skillful, Duke Przemyslaw was extremely powerful and was a hardened man due to his the constant raiding from the Pagan tribes coming down from Pomerania. The Duke of Greater Poland always sought to gain greater power for his realm, endlessly using the marauding pagan tribes as justification as to why he should claim greater resources from the King.

Duke Przemyslaw of Greater Poland

Duke Wlost took his position next to Duke Przemyslaw. The two Dukes briefly exchanged greetings and pleasantries, then quickly returned to their own affairs. Duke Wlost with Marshall Wszebor beside him sized up the rest of the gathering nobles and ministers now entering the Great Tent.

To Wlost’s right now stood, stiffly and unmovingly, the brutal Swietoslaw of Wieliczka, the Marshal of Poland. Swietoslaw did not speak often at the council meetings. To most, he came across as a dullard. In reality, Swietoslaw was a shrewd strategist and the Marshal of Poland had the King’s ear more intimately than most nobles. The Marshal did not like to express his opinions publicly with the rest of the Council. The King often discussed the Council proceedings with the Marshall after the council was adjourned. Marshal Swietoslaw’s brutal reputation was from his counter raids against pagan tribes on the Baltic coast. It was said that when Swietoslaw came, no one was spared, not women, not children.

Marshal Sweitoslaw of Poland

On the other side of the great table, facing Duke Wlost, was the Court Chaplin, Wit the Scholar. A peculiar creature, who strangely, held no significant title in the Catholic Church. He served the church as some sort of minister that excelled at scholarly research and is said to have the whereabouts of some ancient relics in Greece and Anatolia. Here was another man on the King’s council that did not offer much in opinions, but if asked the Chaplin would often give a very long-winded response, rambling on about theology. The Royal Court thought it best to avoid asking Wit’s opinion less the council never end.

Wit the Scholar

There was another man of the cloth next to Chaplin Wit. This was the Polish Chancellor, the Bishop Lambert of Sacz. Appointed by the King more for his organizational skills than for any real leadership, the Bishop did have his concerns about the state of the Catholic church in Poland. The Poles had not been Christian for very long and although they embraced Christianity and readily adopted western European ways, the fact was the Catholic Poles were hemmed into the North by Pagan tribes and to the East by Christian Eastern Orthodoxy. Bishop Lambert was also appalled by the marriage of Wyszelawa Rurikid, daughter of King Sviatoslav II of the Kievan Rus, two years earlier. What was appalling to Bishop Lambert was the now Queen of Poland did not renounce her Eastern Christian faith and devote herself to the Church of Rome.

Bishop Lambert of Sacz

Directly to the King’s left was the King’s brother, Duke Wladyslaw Piast, Duke of Mazovia and Kujawy. Although he was not the official heir to the Kingdom of Poland, he was the next in line after the infant princess Katarzyna. Duke Wladyslaw was the most powerful of the three Dukes in Poland but suffered greatly from constant illness. This was something that did not go unnoticed by Wladyslaw’s rivals and something that may one day used against him if he should become too powerful a Vassal.

Duke Wladyslaw of Mazovia

All the nobles and ministers had gathered into the Great Tent and awaited the King… Part 3 to be continued...

 

[stnylan]

The King is up to something

 

[Bullfilter]

There will be a move. Will our Duke be blind-sided?

 

[Koch4646]

Thank you to everyone that has taken an interest so far. I should have rest of part 3 no later than sometime Friday.

 

[Koch4646]

Part 3 continues...

Chapter 1 Part 3.2: Rurikids

All the nobles and ministers had gathered into the Great Tent and awaited the King. King Boleslaw entered the Great Tent from the back and took his place at the head of the council table. A man, dressed in eastern style garments, accompanied the King and took his place next to, but slightly behind, the King. This was a magistrate from Kiev. Duke Wlost observed the King with his royal field attire and donned the Korona Chrobengo or Polish Crown, on top of his head. Something else the Duke noticed was two crucifixes around the King’s neck, an ornate Catholic cross, and Suppedaneum cross. The King welcomed all the nobles in attendance and thanked them for their loyalty and obedience. Before asking Bishop Lambert to lead the council in prayer he acknowledged that he had very important announcements to make at this council, made a subtle nod of approval to his wife the Queen before moving on with formalities of the council. Duke Wlost noticed the subtle gesture to the Queen and glanced around to see if anyone else had noticed it too, but everyone had bowed their heads in prayer.

King Boleslaw Piast​

Wyszelawa Rurikid Queen of Poland​

Queen Wyszelawa Rurikid married King Boleslaw two years ago, in the summer of 1068. Wyszelawa Rurikid was the daughter of Svatislov II King of the Kievan Rus. The royal marriage between the house of Piast and Rurikid began a pact of friendship between the two peoples. The marriage to Wyszelawa, a devout Orthodox Christian did not come without its detractors. The Catholic church of Poland grudgingly agreed to the Catholic-Orthodox marriage. King Boleslaw reassured the Bishops of Poland that the marriage should be regarded in strategic terms and not religious. Poland would remain Christian and Catholic the King reminded the bishops, but the polish bishops were skeptical at the marriage proposal. Bishop Lambert of Sacz did not trust the Rus Queen and only relented to his objection of the marriage because increased raiding by Pagan tribes from the Baltic north plus unexpected Holy Roman aggression into Pomerania gave King Boleslaw necessary leverage to persuade Lambert into blessing the marriage. That pushed the Catholics in Poland to a union with the powerful Kievan Rus. Military support from the Rus would help secure the Kingdom of Poland and the Church.

Now, two years since the marriage and pact of friendship with Kiev, the King of Poland had called a great council to ask for the blessing of a formal military alliance with King Svatislov II and the Kievan Rus. It was Bishop Lambert who first raised an objection. Bishop Lambert expressed to the King and council his willingness to join in a defensive pact of mutual friendship with their Christian and ancestral cousins, but an all-out alliance was too extreme for this holy man. The Bishop expressed his desire not to send men of Poland to their deaths to fight for the gain of the Kievan Rus. The King pleaded his case. The Piasts and Rurikids are two of the same ancient family, the King stated. We are naturally inclined to mutually support each other in the defense of our realms, the King finished.

Great Council 1070​

Duke Wladyslaw of Mazovia and Kujaway and Duke Przemyslaw of Greater Poland were both undecided about a full military alliance. Wladyslaw, for his part, welcomed Kiev’s assistance against the Baltic tribes that were a constant nuisance to his domain. On the other hand, the alliance meant that Wladyslaw, who shared a border with the Kievan Rus, could see significant more raiding or destruction of his lands should a major conflict arise. Duke Przemyslaw thought more greatly of the possibility to employ Kievan Rus foot soldiers against the vile Pomerian and Pruthenian tribes to the north of his realm.

The three most outspoken of the council, Bishop Lambert, and the Dukes Wladyslaw and Przemyslaw all agreed that, for better or worse, Queen Wyszelawa was having a major impact on King Boleslaw. The Queen started to decorate Krakow Castle with Byzantine art that she could acquire. She had a copy of the Virgin of Vladimir placed in the Castle’s Chapel. Bishop Lambert and Wit the Scholar began to wonder if the Queen really understood that the Queen of Poland should commision art approved by Rome, not Constantinople. Both Dukes and Bishop Lambert hesitated to give their blessing to the alliance, fearful of further Byzantine influence.

Virgin of Vladimir​

While the council debated over the merits of an alliance with King Svatislaov and the Kievan Rus, The magistrate from Kiev that had entered the Great Tent with King Boleslaw rose and introduced himself as Patriarch Ivan of Zhytomyr. A Bishop in the Orthodox church, Patriarch Ivan reassured the Polish nobles that King Svatislov II was only interested in consolidating his power in the Central Russian plain, he had no interest in the affairs of the Kingdom of Poland. Bishop Ivan also stated that King Svatislov wanted to extend his apologies for not coming to this council in person, but wanted to plan a visit to Poland later this summer to address the council personally and sign the alliance with King Boleslaw.

Bishop Ivan of Zhytomyr​

Seeing an opportunity to resolve the debate about the alliance and to increase his own prestige with not only King Boleslaw, but also King Svatislov, Duke Wlost proposed he host a great feast in his Duchy of Silesia. He would gladly take in the King of Kievan Rus as a guest on the behalf of the Kingdom of Poland and at the expense of his Duchy ‘s treasury.

Duke Wlost of Silesia had effectively allied himself with the pro-alliance camp, which included both the King of Poland and King of Kievan Rus. The two other Dukes of Poland, Wladyslaw, and Przemyslaw, realizing that their procrastination may have cost them favor with two powerful Kings quickly affirmed their loyalty and blessing for a military alliance. The Bishops of Poland, now dismayed at the increasing influence that the Orthodox church was having on their King, but seeing no other option at the moment, relinquished any objection to the alliance.

With the conclusion of the alliance, King Boleslaw personally thanked Duke Wlost for his support and apparent break of the council stalemate. Patriarch Ivan of Zhytomyr was retained by Duke Wlost to help aid the Duke in preparing for King Svatislov’s arrival. At the end of the Great Council’s festivities, Patriarch Ivan and Duke Wlost headed back to Silesia to prepare for a great feast.

 

[stnylan]

Quite some diplomatic and theological shenanigans going on.

 

[Bullfilter]

Hmm, perhaps a grateful King may owe Wlost a favour after that crucial support? Hope the feast goes well - and no one is badly insulted or even murdered!

 

[Koch4646]

Chapter I: Early Reign of Duke Wlost Dunin​

Part 4: A Great Feast​

​

It was September 1070 and the heat of summer lingered as peasants immersed themselves in the year’s harvest. Duke Przemyslaw Poraj, of Greater Poland, surveyed the progress of the harvest from his castle at Poznan. The Duke also made preparations for his visit to Silesia where a great harvest feast would be held to honor the alliance between King Boleslaw of Poland and King Svatislaw II of Kievan Rus. As the Duke surveyed from the castle tower a man on horseback galloped fiercely to the castle. The rider arrived at the castle and Duke Przmeslaw approached the man to find out what was so urgent.

Duke Przemysal​

DukePrzmyeslaw at first did not recognize the disheveled rider, but when he was greeted by the rider as Lord, Przemyslaw realized that it was one of his Marshal’s Sergeants. The rider told the Duke that Marshal Odon was in desperate need of assistance in resisting raiding Prussian tribes who were plundering villages around Naklo Castle North of Poznan. The Marshal of Greater Poland, Odon, was heavily outnumbered but felt he could hold off further raiding long enough before reinforcements arrived to drive the raiders off completely.

Earlier that year the High Chief of the Prussians, Milzas of Marienburg, waged a brutal and successful invasion of Pomerania. Milzas incorporated most of Pomerania into his domain of Pruthenia. The devastation of the war in Pomerania left the land desolate and the conquered Pomeranians feared starvation. Wanting to stabilize his newly acquired land, Milzas offered half the spoils to the Pomeranians if they helped him raid the surrounding countryside. The Pomeranians agreed, and together Prussians and Pomerians raided into the untouched wealth of villages and farms along the Vistula river, the frontier of Pomerania and Poland. This was the domain of Duke Przemyslaw of Greater Poland.

High Chieftan Milzas​

Milzas’s Conquest of Pomerania and Prussian Raids​

A dispatch was sent to Wroclaw Castle in Silesia, where the King of Poland was attending the Harvest Feast. The dispatch informed the King that Duke Przemyslaw would not be in attendance at the Feast. The Duke further explained that significant raiding by Prussian marauders was laying waste to farms and villages on his Northern border and that he intended to deal a crushing blow to the raiding menace. Upon receiving the news King Boleslaw made a toast to the Duke of Greater Poland and asked God for his glory in battle, and thanked God for the commemoration of this alliance with King Svatislov II of Kievan Rus. King Boleslaw remarked it could not have come sooner.

While Duke Przemyslaw was dealing with the Prussian and Pomeranian raids, the glorious gathering of nobles from Poland and Kievan Rus were arriving in Silesia. Duke Wlost hosting the Feast in honor of the Polish-Kievan Rus Alliance, welcomed all the nobles to his humble Duchy.

Duke Wlost of Silesia retained the services of Patriarch Ivan of Zhytomyr, King Svatislov’s Bishop. Patriarch Ivan helped Duke Wlost organize the feast to cater to King Svatislav’s liking. During this time Ivan met Wlost’s son, Miroslaw, and was impressed by the child's abilities, and inquired about what plans the Duke had for the future Duke of Silesia. Wlost said Miroslaw was being schooled vigorously in all fields of study to be a well-rounded ruler, not just a military brute. Impressed with Miroslaw and Duke Wlost, Ivan of Zhytomyr mentioned that King Svatislov was looking for a suitable groom for his young niece Yevpraxia Rurikid.

Duke Wlost and Patriarch Ivan​

The Duke of Silesia was intrigued by the idea and told Ivan that he would like to discuss the matter with the Duchess. Patriarch Ivan obliged, but mentioned that King Svatislov was hoping to receive an answer before he left for Kiev at the end of the week.

The Duke, in reality, wanted to know a bit more background on Yevpraxia. The Duchess’s opinion was little use to the Duke. The Duchess Kunugunda Czarnkowa of Silesia was a pleasant and fair looking noble lady, but was not very opinionated about much and had a habit of abiding too much wine. The Duke even assigned a special detachment to keep watch on the Duchess’s behavior at the feast and to keep her from drinking too much and feared she embarrass the Duke and House of Dunin. The Duchess would agree to whatever the Duke thought best for Miroslaw.

Bishop Przemysal​

Bishop Przemyslaw, Duke Wlost’s ambassador was called for to shed some insight on the proposed betrothal. Although Bishop Przemyslaw had thus far failed in organizing a successful assassination of Count Sieciech, the Duke still trusted Bishop Przemyslaw’s intelligence. What was known is the Princess Yevpraxia is the daughter of the deceased King Iziaslav King Svatislov’s Predecessor and brother. Prezmyslaw also suspected that Boleslaw’s wife, Queen Wyszelawa Rurikid, recommended the betrothal that would intertwine the nobility of Poland and Kiev further. Not sure what to make of the Queen’s involvement in Miroslaw’s potential betrothal, Duke Wlost nonetheless was now captivated by the idea of Miroslaw’s marriage of Princess Yevpraxia Rurikid.

Bishop Przemyslaw saw the excitement take over the Duke and gave him one more piece of information. The Bishop had very good knowledge that Yevpraxia’s brother, Grand Prince Yaropolk Rurikid of Tuvrov was organizing a large army and was jealous of King Svatislov’s greed and wealth. Prince Yaropolk, Bishop Przemyslaw believed, was the real reason King Svatislov sought an alliance with the Poles, he needed friends from without because of enemies from within.

King Svatislav and Yaropolk Rurikid​

By the end of the week's feast and festivities, Duke Wlost had made up his mind and agreed to a betrothal between Miroslaw Dunin and Princess Yevpraxia Rurikid. King Svatislav II made his impression on Duke Wlost and Silesia. After all, many of the Polish nobility harbored doubts about what would be gained from an alliance with a people that many still thought as unsophisticated, too influenced by Orthodox idolatry, paganism, and barbarism. Duke Wlost, and more importantly, King Boleslaw took a step closer to aligning themselves with more Eastern ways of thought and customs. To King Boleslaw the Rus were not barbarians, they were Byzantine.

 

[Koch4646]

Thank you to stnylan, Bullfilter for your continued interest in my AAR. It does mean a lot. I see the view counter counting upward so I must assume there are many others hopefully enjoying the story. I think this will be a good end to Chapter I. All I will say is next Chapter should see a faster pace of events, I would think based on the gameplay. I am still parsing through gameplay notes, but have some ideas that might make a good story, I think Chapter I has "set the table" well for Chapter II.

Again thank you to all that are reading and I hope you enjoy.