King Girdenis V the Holy (Part II)
In June 1449, Lithuanian army invaded Venetian held western Hungary. Venetians, who still did not recover from the disastrous Crusade, could not effectively resist the invasion. One castle after another fell before the victorious march of Girdenis the Holy. A Venetian mercenary army was defeated by Vaisvilkas of Trakai at Mohacs on 14 November 1449. Another Venetian army was routed at Pest on 5 February 1450. Girdenis marched on Kakath and took it on 12 April 1450.
Girdenis’ mother, Queen Anele of Hungary was already weak for several years. For all those years, her vassals in Anatolia and Greece showed no loyalty and even openly revolted. However, with the help of Girdenis and some of her other allies the rebels were crushed. However, the Duchy of Athens was lost to Bulgaria on 25 February 1450.
On 19 May 1450, Queen Anele died. Girdenis the Holy inherited the Kingdom of Hungary or better say, what was left of the Kingdom of Hungary. The inheritance included some lands in Anatolia, Crete and Cyprus, and Varangian Guard of Queen Anele. Upon the receipt of the news, Doge Attilio surrendered on 21 May 1450. Lithuanian crown gained the rest of the Duchy of Pest as a result.
Without the support of the Empire, Duke Georg of Nyitra became also very vulnerable. As the King of Hungary, Girdenis the Holy demanded fealty from Duke Georg. The duke refused to acknowledge the authority of Girdenis. A couple of months later Lithuanian army under Gediminas is Zubstovo marched on Trencsen. On 22 September 1450, Duke Georg and Grandmaster Comita of Hospital met Gedinimas. The Christians gave way, and though Georg Askanien held out for a while, it was soon clear that further resistance was impossible. Georg was captured. He swore fealty to Girdenis but was stripped of the title of Duke of Nyitra and made a vassal of Duke Vidmantas is Oroslavo of Nyitra.
In December 1450, Girdenis the Holy declared war against Queen Christina Crovan of Scotland, the usurper of Scottish throne, for the Prince Kenneth’s Crovan, Girdenis’ nephew and his son-in-law, who married Girdenis' eldest daughter Birute, claim on Scotland.
A fleet was assembled and left Klaipeda in May 1451. In June of 1451, the fleet reached shores of the Orkney Islands. Lithuanian army under Hetman Andrzej Subislawowic of Amstrine and Vidmantas of Nyitra landed at Birasy and captured the castle. Hetman Andrzej of Amstrine was a bastard son of Duke Pukuveras II Gediminaitis of Turov and Duchess Nadzieja Subislawowic of Pomeralia. He was young but proved himself leading armies in Greece and Anatolia against Hungarian traitors. For his services he was awarded the Barony of Amastrine in Herakleia and soon became the Hetman of Lithuania and Hungary.
On 1 July 1451, 33,000 men strong Scottish army under Duke Laurence Dunkeld of Albany arrived and met 44,000 men strong Lithuanian army at Kirkwall. Duke Laurence was outmanoeuvred by Hetman Andrzej who showed his military brilliance. Lithuanian Knights of the Black Horse routed Scottish cavalry, pursued and then attacked the rear of Scottish army. Scots panicked and fled. 20,000 Scots laid their heads in the battlefield or fleeing while Andrzej lost only 2,000 men. That was one of the most successful battles in Lithuanian history.
13,000 Scots managed to escape Orkney but were later defeated at Thurso by 5,500 men under Dausprungas Gediminaitis son of Duke of Moskva.
In November an army of Teutonic Knights landed at Perth. Vidmantas of Nyitra separated from the main army and intercepted crusaders before they could join Duke Laurence. The Knights were ambushed on 16 November 1451. 4,500 men were slaughtered only 3,000 managed to escape. Lithuanians lost only 55 men. Hochmeister Gottschalk was wounded and captured in the battle.
The Battle of Perth
Knight of The Black Horse spears Hochmeister Gottschalk the Fat
of the Teutonic Knights
On 16 April 1452, the remnants of Duke Laurence army and Teutonic Knights were caught at Golspie. 31,000 men under Hetman Andrzej assaulted heavily entrenched 10,000 Scots. The battle was very bloody for Lithuanians. More than 5,000 lost their lives. However, Scottish resistance was broken and Queen Christina pleaded for peace. She acknowledged Kenneth Crovan as the rightful King of Scotland.
Girdenis the Holy requested King Stanislav II of Bulgaria to return the Duchy of Athens to Duke Konrad Szakoly of Aegean Islands. King Stanislav II refused to submit to demands and Girdenis declared war on 25 May 1452. Lithuanian armies soon invaded the northern Bulgaria.
Duke Laurence of Albany soon found out about the war and on 30 June 1452 rebelled against King Kenneth IV of Scotland. The King’s army was annihilated at Crieff. The rebels soon captured the County of Gowrie and 32,000 besieged the Castle of Cupar personally defended by King Kenneth IV.
Girdenis realised his mistake leaving King Kenneth IV and an army of 19,000 men was assembled at Danzig. Unfortunately the main armies were in Bulgaria.
The Kingdom of Sweden became divided under the rule of old weak unmarried and childless Queen Ragnhild af Erik. The war for the independence of Finland ended in a victory of the Duke Faste of Finland. However, the independency was not enjoyed for long. Soon independent Duke Arnfast af Erik the Great of Norrland conquered Finland.
Duchess Beatrice Plantagenet became a duchess after the early death of her farther Duke Gerald II. It was suspected that he was assassinated in 1441 under the orders of King Thomas because Duke Gerald II was the leader of Cathars.
Religious prosecutions against Cathars followed and in 1443, Cathars revolted under Duchess Beatrice. Soon Wales, Hereford, Gloucester and London joined the cause. The war already lasted 10 years and the end is not visible yet. If Cathars will lose it will be their last fight for religious freedoms.
