The History of Russia (Volume I: 750 - 1440)
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Can't believe I haven't spotted this before. I've always been rather fond of the history book style of AAR, so I'll be following this to see how things unfold 
Decline of Lithuania
(850 - 900)
(850 - 900)
I. Lithuanian Crisis and the Tribal System
Around 850 Lithuania was one of the major powers in northern East Europe, controlling a territory from today`s Lithuania to Lake Onega. Just 50 years later it was reduced to a small area in the Baltic. How was this possible?
Older Historians pointed to the constant warfare in East Europe, which made the political landscape of the area highly fluid, and that it was the advancing Christianization, that stabilized the situation, since it brought civilization to a barbarian part of Europe.
Fig. 6: Political map of East Europe around 900
This view has been replaced by a more elaborated theory since then. The few available sources indeed indicate, that warfare was a common event in East Europe, but probably not more common than in the rest of Europe. The differing factor is the more instable internal structure of the tribal political entity.
Just as in western realms, the current leader tried to pass his realm to his children. But contrary to feudal societies, where primogeniture was already in effect, it was expected that all male children inherited titles. Additionally the major leaders of all tribes within the realm had a say in determining the successor of the current leader, and it seemed to be possible that they preferred someone who was not a son of the current ruler.
This combination of succession law and loose federalism had the effect, that large realms were not to last long. Lithuania, strong around 850, probably dissolved due to this and made it vulnerable for aggressive neighbors such as the Germanic realms of Norrland and Vestergautland, who occupied territories in the north.
II. "Epic of Purysho" and succession in the Rus
"He is a devil on this earth and his character lacks any positive trait. There is no sin or monstrosity he would not gladly commit and brag about it."
Alexios Melissenos, Byzantine author around 900, writes this about Purysho, ruler of the Rus in the late 9th century. The cause for Alexios` anger and our knowledge about Purysho was the so-called "Epic of Purysho", which was available to Alexios . Since no written copy did survive, Alexios is our only source.
This Epic praises the long rule of Purysho, who is described as fearless leader on the battlefield when expanding his realm. It is believed, that Rus expanded northward during that time and occupied former Lithuanian territories.
More important were the passages, that described several "conspiracies" around Purysho`s person and which ended in the violent execution of the traitors. Alexios assumed, and modern historians agree with him, that these "traitors" were basically innocent victims to secure the line of succession of his favorite son Paksyut, since the executed always belonged to his family, like his brother or nephew.
It is true, that the Rus was an exception to the rule, that tribal societies would dissolve sooner or later and the "Epic of Purysho" describes, that this was possible through the elimination of all unwanted pretenders. It is no surprise, that Alexios, who was Bishop of Heraclea, was disgusted about this. But one should keep in mind, that such a practice was not unknown to Francia or the Byzantine Empire either. The difference was, that nobody would have written an Epic about it.
III. Christianization of the South
In the early 9th century the leader of the Carpathian Empire converted to Catholicism. Around 900 all of southeast Europe was Christianized. Additionally the Byzantine Empire had occupied the whole Crimea and expanded northward into today`s Ukraine. So Christianity had already a stable status on the periphery of East Europe and it was probably this Byzantine involvement, which made the "Epic of Purysho" available to Alexios.
The more important event for the Christianization of East Europe was the conversion of Khagan Yavantey to Catholicism. When the Khazarian Empire dissolved in the early 9th century, Kundaciqid was the Tengri successor state in the west. In the 860s Yavantey became Khagan. Although it is not known, whether he had already become a Christian at that time, he did not only stabilize his realm, but also made sure, that his subjects followed his faith.
Fig. 7: Spread of faiths in East Europe around 900
Around 900 most of the territories of Kundaciqid were Catholic and Christianity had a strong beachhead in southern East Europe.
very nice update, poor lithuania, but i guess someone had to explode eventually.
Good and interesting religion spread, and eagerly awaiting what comes next.
Good and interesting religion spread, and eagerly awaiting what comes next.
This guy has it all
Too bad he is not depressive, then he could simply commit suicide.
Too bad he is not depressive, then he could simply commit suicide.
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This avatar is very cool and original, I don't think I've ever seen an AAR written in the style of a contemporary history book before. I hope you'll continue writing it, because I love this idea!
Religious and political shift in northern East Europe
(900 - 950)
(900 - 950)
I. Germanic Invasion and non-Christian religions
In the middle of the 8th century, northern East Europe was dominated by two religions, Finnish and Slavic paganism. Both were polytheistic beliefs, with Ukko respectively Perun being the most important deities, both of them connected to the sky and thunder. Differences existed, since Finish paganism was probably severely relying on Shamanism and had a rather unique concept concerning the human soul.
Two centuries later, this situation had dramatically changed. Finnish paganism, which had also been the dominant faith in today`s Finland and northern Sweden, had been almost completely driven out of Scandinavia and replaced by Germanic paganism. It is unclear, why the Germanic faith became more popular, but with the expansion of several Nordic realms such as Sweden and Noregr, it arrived in East Europe and became the prevalent faith in the Baltic coastal regions.
Fig. 8: Spread of religions around 950
The second threat to local paganism was the progressing Christianization. Through conversions the whole southeast of Europe had already become Catholic and was about to expand deeper into East Europe. The conversion of many nomadic tribes in the south to Catholicism was a further cause for the decline of especially Slavic paganism, although the nomadic people had a rather flexible stance toward religion and also adopted Sunnite Islam in some regions.
Nevertheless the religious landscape in 950 was completely different than two hundred years ago with advancing Germanic paganism and Christianity, Finnish and Slavic paganism on the retreat and Baltic paganism and Tengrism almost extinct.
II. Transformation of the Rus
After the downfall of Lithuania in the late 9th century, the Rus was the most powerful political entity in northern East Europe. In the early 10th century several population centers had evolved in Vladimir, Tver and Moscow with city-like settlements growing around more protective stone castles. The leaders of the Rus followed Finnish paganism, but in the years after 900 the first Christian missionaries arrived, probably from the south. In 931 (or 932 according to some sources), King Ovtay eventually converted to Catholicism.
With the arrival of Christianity and the Rus appearing within the Christian event horizon, the sources for northern East Europe improve. Nevertheless the first years after Ovtay`s baptism remain vague. In 938 Ovtay II, probably a grandson, was King already and he would lead the Rus into a new age.
Ovtay II tried to incorporate his realm into the Christian world and was considerably successful. In 938, when he first appeared in western sources, his sister Sochava was married to the Lombard Prince Theodicius. Although Theodicius returned to Italy just two years later, probably due to the early death of his young bride, the Rus was already accepted as equal among western Christian lords. Simultaneously Ovtay II tried to expand his influence on the other major leaders within his realm and it is believed, that in the middle of the 10th century the Rus had a feudal structure similar to the one in West and South Europe, with vassals providing taxes and troops for the ruler.
Fig. 9: Political map of East Europe around 950
But this transformation from a tribal pagan to a feudal Christian society was a top-down process and far from being finished around 950. The Christianization was probably a development within the elite, while the general population still followed its traditional pagan faiths. And although the feudalization of the Rus had made progress, tribal structures and procedures, especially when it came to the order of succession, probably remained intact in large parts of the Kingdom.
There are still 500 years left, so only God knows what might happen
And right now I have a lot to do to keep all these pesky raiders off my land. Not to mention random "adventurers".
And right now I have a lot to do to keep all these pesky raiders off my land. Not to mention random "adventurers".
Holy crap, I just realized, that there is a mistake in picture 8. I designated the "Slavic" pagan territories as "Baltic". But the only Baltic pagan territories are the two dark brown spots on the left. Silly me.
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Very nice looking history book. That errata was funny, though unimportant. Well, and there I hoped for a moment that you were going for a Suomi Russia, hahah
Just caught up! Nice historybook updates.
Those Germanic Norsemens must be a pain, they are too tied to their original kingdoms, and not very historically plausible in my opinion.
Those Germanic Norsemens must be a pain, they are too tied to their original kingdoms, and not very historically plausible in my opinion.
The Norsemen are pesky, but dangerous are the raiding parties with lots of horse archers. Lost a battle with massive casualties. For a few years the situation was pretty serious, but after all the Rus did prevail*.
*At least until now.
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Scandinavian Influence
(950 - 1000)
(950 - 1000)
I. The Viking Age in East Europe
"This year came dreadful fore-warnings over the land of the Northumbrians, terrifying the people most woefully: these were immense sheets of light rushing through the air, and whirlwinds, and fiery dragons flying across the firmament. These tremendous tokens were soon followed by a great famine: and not long after, on the sixth day before the ides of January in the same year, the harrowing inroads of heathen men made lamentable havoc in the church of God in Holy-island (Lindisfarne), by rapine and slaughter."
The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle describes the looting of the monastery of Lindisfarne by Norsemen in the year 793, which is generally viewed as the beginning of the Viking Age in Europe. For the next centuries, raiding parties will harass coastal territories as well as locations along large rivers.
Although most Norsemen came from Scandinavia, it is known that some raiding parties had their origin further to the East, especially in today`s Baltic countries. Northern East Europe was not affected by these events in the early stage of the Viking Age, but that seems to have changed after the Christianization of the Rus in the early 10th century.
Christian chronicles report, how Norsemen used the East European river system to approach targets deep within the country. Via Lake Ladoga and Lake Onega they sailed along the Volga and Oka rivers and raided the neighboring landscape. Despite some successful attempts to push back the Norsemen, the rulers of the Rus (and even more so those of smaller entities) were probably mostly helpless against this threat.
Fig. 10: Spread of Christianity in Scandinavia around 1000
The Viking Age would eventually end with the Christianization of Scandinavia. Although this process took a long time, it began in the late 10th century. In 987, Dag of Jylland, who had converted to Catholicism as young man, became King of Danmark. At that point of time, the realm comprised large territories in Denmark and Sweden, as well as minor holdings in Finland. Dag made efforts to spread the new faith and around 1000 most of Denmark and large parts of Sweden were already Christianized.
II. Consolidation in the North
The northern part of East Europe around 1000 was dominated by three power blocs.
As a result of the Germanic Invasion, the Kingdom of Finland controlled Finland itself as well as some Baltic coastal regions. Additionally the territory between Pskov and Novgorod was part of the Nordic Kingdoms of Norge and Danmark.
In the second half of the 10th century, Lithuania could re-establish itself as regional power. Nevertheless it was not as powerful than in the 9th century and, more important, not united. Besides the Kingdom of Lithuania there was the so-called Duchy of Lithuania as independent political entity, although both realms were ruled by branches of the Toropetzky clan.
Finally the Rus could maintain its position as major power in the region. But contrary to the previous two centuries its expansion came to a halt, since it was occupied with internal struggles and external threats.
King Ovtay II had died in 979 and this time there was not a single successor. The realm was divided between his son Virdyan, who became King, and his grandson Vechkas. Throughout the 980s a power struggle between the two factions weakened the realm, but in 992 Vechkas died under suspicious circumstances and the realm was united again.
At the same time the Rus had to defend itself from the regular Viking raids, which seemed to have been especially severe in the 950s and 990s. Finally Ovtay II and
Virdyan had to advance the Christianization in order to establish a religiously unified territory.
Fig. 11: Political map of East Europe around 1000
The second half of the 10th century had been a difficult period of time, but in 1000 the Rus was probably in a stronger position than 50 years before, since it had an established feudal society and the Christianization was mostly accomplished, with minor pagan communities remaining in the southwest.
III. Fluctuation in the South
During the whole 10th century southern East Europe was characterized by the events in the Kundaciqid Empire.
The Kundaciqid Empire was one of the successor states of the Khazarian Empire, when it dissolved into a Christian western and Manichaean eastern part. In the middle of the 10th century, around 955, Khan Kundaq Catid revolted against the ruling Araslan dynasty. Since Kundaq was Sunnite Muslim, this was yet another split in the nomadic society for religious reasons. All predominantly Sunnite regions followed Kundaq, who established the Catid Khaganate north of the Caucasus Mountains.
The Kundaciqid tried to compensate these losses in the west by eliminating the realms of Severia and Turov between 950 and 970. In the following decades, small parts of the recently conquered territories could gain independence again, but led an insecure existence at the edge of the nomadic world.
So Rus is consolidating. I assume that they will turn out to be the dominant power, but nothing is sure yet and new realms might emerge. The Scandinavians really caused a big mess.