Sorry for the truly extensive delay in the update folks, but I have barely any time due to university and a ton of homework, but I will be back soon enough.
"God Ænd Minh Riht" An Anglo-Saxon England under the Godwinson house.
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Chapter XXXII The Northern Crusades I
Chapter XXXII.
The Northern Crusades I.
After the fiasco that was the Crusade against the pagan tribes of Finland, Sweden achieved victory in Estonia at the battle of Leal (Lihula in the native tongue), holding the castle against near-endless hordes of unbelievers, although the Swedes suffered grievously to hold it and needed reinforcements shortly after the slaughter. This victory, while insignificant at first glance, was the foundation upon which the Swedish Empire in the Baltic found its inception, this battle also weakened the idolaters, whose casualties were above six hundred, the exact number of attackers is unknown, but most scholars place it above two thousand. After this victory the Leal Castle received funds for reparations and expansions, along with reinforcements and a new commander, since Jarl Charles the Deaf died due to his multiple wounds a week after the battle.
Håkan of house Stenkil, King of Sweden, humbled and bankrupted due to the massive blunder that his crusade was, his power slowly fading away, and the Bjelbo house growing richer and stronger with each day, licked his wounds for twenty long years, gathering enough strength to punish the heathens for their sin of existence, his hatred and resentment was unfathomable, his true intentions for conquest of the Finnish kingdom was its destruction, not leading its people to be under the guidance of the Roman Pontiff.
Nevertheless, the pagans lost momentum and were severely weakened after being defeated by the Novgorod Principality’s armies multiple times and Sweden was once again ready to fight the infidels that contaminated the North with their impious breath, the drums of war were heard once again in 1229.
The war was incredibly brutal, the Tavastian lands were razed to the ground, and every possible source of wealth exploited, the king personally slaughtered entire villages, killing not only the men but the women and children too. Tavastia was rapidly losing population at the rate of the massacres, which lead to a major colonization effort after the war, the foundations of various cities were laid during this period, and to this day these cities are majorly inhabited by the descendants of said colonizers
After three years of violence and slaughter, finally were the heathens subdued, the Pagan Queen slain in combat by the Swedish king. This was one of the most important wars of the Baltic Crusades but was not the last...
The Northern Crusades I.
After the fiasco that was the Crusade against the pagan tribes of Finland, Sweden achieved victory in Estonia at the battle of Leal (Lihula in the native tongue), holding the castle against near-endless hordes of unbelievers, although the Swedes suffered grievously to hold it and needed reinforcements shortly after the slaughter. This victory, while insignificant at first glance, was the foundation upon which the Swedish Empire in the Baltic found its inception, this battle also weakened the idolaters, whose casualties were above six hundred, the exact number of attackers is unknown, but most scholars place it above two thousand. After this victory the Leal Castle received funds for reparations and expansions, along with reinforcements and a new commander, since Jarl Charles the Deaf died due to his multiple wounds a week after the battle.
Håkan of house Stenkil, King of Sweden, humbled and bankrupted due to the massive blunder that his crusade was, his power slowly fading away, and the Bjelbo house growing richer and stronger with each day, licked his wounds for twenty long years, gathering enough strength to punish the heathens for their sin of existence, his hatred and resentment was unfathomable, his true intentions for conquest of the Finnish kingdom was its destruction, not leading its people to be under the guidance of the Roman Pontiff.
Nevertheless, the pagans lost momentum and were severely weakened after being defeated by the Novgorod Principality’s armies multiple times and Sweden was once again ready to fight the infidels that contaminated the North with their impious breath, the drums of war were heard once again in 1229.
The war was incredibly brutal, the Tavastian lands were razed to the ground, and every possible source of wealth exploited, the king personally slaughtered entire villages, killing not only the men but the women and children too. Tavastia was rapidly losing population at the rate of the massacres, which lead to a major colonization effort after the war, the foundations of various cities were laid during this period, and to this day these cities are majorly inhabited by the descendants of said colonizers
After three years of violence and slaughter, finally were the heathens subdued, the Pagan Queen slain in combat by the Swedish king. This was one of the most important wars of the Baltic Crusades but was not the last...
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Chapter XXXIII The Mongol Age IV
Chapter XXXIII.
The Mongol Age IV.
The inexhaustible armies of the Great Khan sow great victories across many lands against countless nations and exotic cultures, imposing the will of the Khan upon his new subjects, killing anyone foolish enough to defy the will of the Master of the Steppes and brave enough to face his armies, truly horrifying were the consequences for disobedience and bravado, the lands of the unruly were plundered, the animals slaughtered and the humans as well, few were the lands that avoided being counted in the Mongol’s bloodied tally, one such nation, or, to be precise, nations, we're the many principalities that composed Rus, called Russia or Ruthenia by other nations.
The first contact with the Eastern invaders after the Cumans were defeated and its Khan fled to the court of his son-in-law, Mstislav the Bold of Halych, who quickly rallied all of the Principalities of Rus in a coalition against the Mongol forces, and managed to get support from some neighboring European states. During the engagement, the Rus's armies attacked the rearguard of the enemy first, and the Mongols fled and spread out of their armies, the Mongols stopped at the Khalka River and assumed fighting formation after being pursued by the coalition for several days, despite the nickname, Mstislav waited patiently for the arrival of the remaining forces of the coalition, once they arrived they formed and marched in an orderly, disciplined way against the Mongols, after a cruel, confusing, excruciating and long battle, the forces of Cumania and Rus emerged victorious, of the nearly 25,000 men of the Mongol army, less than three thousand survived, only to be chased and killed shortly thereafter, and the coalition forces, who numbered near 100,000 men lost approximately 10,000 of them. Khan Koten of the Cumans emerged dripped in the blood of the two Mongol generals Jebe and Subutai, both of them fell to his sword.
While this defeat was certainly pivotal for the survival of the Rus Principalities and the Cuman Khanate as independent nations, it didn't affect the overall capacity of the Mongolian Khaganate continued its conquest of new land, this victory certainly delayed whatever plan the Great Khan had and denied him and his mighty armies of vital information and intelligence, as well of two experienced generals. The Cuman Khanate continued as ever, until Khan Koten was baptized as Jonas by Dominican priests sent by the king of Hungary, alongside his two sons Subilaj then named Daniel and Kanya, then named George, around the year 1239.
The next time that the Rus feared the Mongols were when they attacked the Caucasian realms of Georgia and the two Armenias, as well as the Persian states, the Crusader Nations, and the Easter Roman Empire. After Georgia and the Armenias fell and the Rhoman Empire and the Crusaders States we're under a relentless siege under Batu Noyan and his disciples, Cumania, Rus, and the Northern Caucasus states like Alania and Circassia we're next on the eyes of Orda Khan, who wanted his domain to expand even further until it encompassed enough territory in his eyes. Another region that is suffering a brutal invasion by Mongol hands is India, but that's a story for another time...
The Mongol Age IV.
The inexhaustible armies of the Great Khan sow great victories across many lands against countless nations and exotic cultures, imposing the will of the Khan upon his new subjects, killing anyone foolish enough to defy the will of the Master of the Steppes and brave enough to face his armies, truly horrifying were the consequences for disobedience and bravado, the lands of the unruly were plundered, the animals slaughtered and the humans as well, few were the lands that avoided being counted in the Mongol’s bloodied tally, one such nation, or, to be precise, nations, we're the many principalities that composed Rus, called Russia or Ruthenia by other nations.
The first contact with the Eastern invaders after the Cumans were defeated and its Khan fled to the court of his son-in-law, Mstislav the Bold of Halych, who quickly rallied all of the Principalities of Rus in a coalition against the Mongol forces, and managed to get support from some neighboring European states. During the engagement, the Rus's armies attacked the rearguard of the enemy first, and the Mongols fled and spread out of their armies, the Mongols stopped at the Khalka River and assumed fighting formation after being pursued by the coalition for several days, despite the nickname, Mstislav waited patiently for the arrival of the remaining forces of the coalition, once they arrived they formed and marched in an orderly, disciplined way against the Mongols, after a cruel, confusing, excruciating and long battle, the forces of Cumania and Rus emerged victorious, of the nearly 25,000 men of the Mongol army, less than three thousand survived, only to be chased and killed shortly thereafter, and the coalition forces, who numbered near 100,000 men lost approximately 10,000 of them. Khan Koten of the Cumans emerged dripped in the blood of the two Mongol generals Jebe and Subutai, both of them fell to his sword.
While this defeat was certainly pivotal for the survival of the Rus Principalities and the Cuman Khanate as independent nations, it didn't affect the overall capacity of the Mongolian Khaganate continued its conquest of new land, this victory certainly delayed whatever plan the Great Khan had and denied him and his mighty armies of vital information and intelligence, as well of two experienced generals. The Cuman Khanate continued as ever, until Khan Koten was baptized as Jonas by Dominican priests sent by the king of Hungary, alongside his two sons Subilaj then named Daniel and Kanya, then named George, around the year 1239.
The next time that the Rus feared the Mongols were when they attacked the Caucasian realms of Georgia and the two Armenias, as well as the Persian states, the Crusader Nations, and the Easter Roman Empire. After Georgia and the Armenias fell and the Rhoman Empire and the Crusaders States we're under a relentless siege under Batu Noyan and his disciples, Cumania, Rus, and the Northern Caucasus states like Alania and Circassia we're next on the eyes of Orda Khan, who wanted his domain to expand even further until it encompassed enough territory in his eyes. Another region that is suffering a brutal invasion by Mongol hands is India, but that's a story for another time...
Special Chapter II One True Church
Special Chapter II.
One True Church.
After the 1054 schism between the two greatest power centers of Christianity, Rome, and Constantinople, the relations between both cities, the empires that swore fealty to defend them, and especially their bishops have been turbulent, hostile, and extremely complex to describe with few words, however, the Crusades established a precedent for joint planning, operating and having pretty much the same objectives, that and the crucial fact that the crusader states were economically interconnected with the Eastern Empire and the monarchs of these small nations were subjects of the Basileus and have sworn fealty to him, while dukes of Syria had mutual vassalage to the monarch of France, which was the oldest daughter of the Church, something that helped at least somewhat in some area.
The recovery and betterment of relations between these two branches of Christianity were slow, difficult, and full of conflicts, and internal strife in the hierarchy. Despite all this back and forth the situation normalized and the mutual ex-communication was finally lifted despite the protest and opposition between the clergy of both sides in 1199, this was the first truly big step towards reuniting both branches of the Christian faith.
What truly motivated and impulsed the reunification was the Mongolian invasion in the XIII century, where a council brew like in days of yore and reunification was at Christianity’s door...
One True Church.
After the 1054 schism between the two greatest power centers of Christianity, Rome, and Constantinople, the relations between both cities, the empires that swore fealty to defend them, and especially their bishops have been turbulent, hostile, and extremely complex to describe with few words, however, the Crusades established a precedent for joint planning, operating and having pretty much the same objectives, that and the crucial fact that the crusader states were economically interconnected with the Eastern Empire and the monarchs of these small nations were subjects of the Basileus and have sworn fealty to him, while dukes of Syria had mutual vassalage to the monarch of France, which was the oldest daughter of the Church, something that helped at least somewhat in some area.
The recovery and betterment of relations between these two branches of Christianity were slow, difficult, and full of conflicts, and internal strife in the hierarchy. Despite all this back and forth the situation normalized and the mutual ex-communication was finally lifted despite the protest and opposition between the clergy of both sides in 1199, this was the first truly big step towards reuniting both branches of the Christian faith.
What truly motivated and impulsed the reunification was the Mongolian invasion in the XIII century, where a council brew like in days of yore and reunification was at Christianity’s door...
Chapter XXXIV The Northern Crusades II
Chapter XXXIV.
The Northern Crusades II.
After the king, Håkan of house Stenkil achieved his victory and vengeance upon the unbelieving miscreants of the pagan Finns and razed the countryside in his hateful anger against them, he started to further colonize the land, and in 1234 he started a new crusade and ventured upon the lands south of Finland, the lands of the Baltic heathens, the country of Estonia, where a small and isolated yet heavily defended and secured stronghold of Norse Christian power stood defiant in a sea of unbelievers, the castle of Leal, this castle was practically the sole element of sovereign Christian land in the lands of the Baltic infidels, through the years has survived a sequence of assaults and sieges by enemy native forces, but it has stood resolute against the unceasing attacks of the hostile forces, yet its grasp of power and control over the region slowly but surely withers away, while the hordes of heathens grow larger and larger and each time more ferocious, disciplined and experience, with an unquenchable desire to extinguish the light of the Christendom on their lands and expels the foreigners once and for all. Since the death of jarl Charles the Deaf, the protector of the Leal castle, his son, Ulf Fase, was appointed as the holder and protector of this highly valuable and vital yet dangerous and isolated possession, he, as his father, started investing large amounts of money in the castle to get new men and new weapons, as well as expanding the castle, but by 1243 the situation wasn't sustainable and victory wasn't achievable within the current parameters and the overall situation, and neither was helpful the concurrent strife and conflict in Sweden after the death of king Håkan (II) in the battle on the ice, where Alexander Nevsky killed him in a duel and effortlessly and thoroughly defeated and humiliated his army.
Once the children of king Håkan stopped killing each other to get the throne, Birger Jarl stepped in and was hailed as regent in September of 1241 after he saved the six-year-old king Håkan (III) from an assassination plot led by the king’s uncle, Philip, and sent the rebellious branch of the Stenkil house out of the country after seizing all their properties, which were divided along the Folkung house and the king, the treasonous Stenkil and their followers fled to the lands of their relatives, the Godwinson, the lands of Angland.
Once secured and installed properly as regent, Birger Jarl heeded the desperate and hopeless pleas of his relative in Estonia, and with help from the knights of the Teutonic Order and the armies of Denmark and Sweden once again marched against the pagans. With the benedictions of the Roman Pontiff, funds from the members of the crusade, and certainty in victory the nordic crusaders departed to Leal to relieve the fortress, in mid-December of 1241 the coast of Estonia was seized and cleared from any heathen stronghold, and the occasional settlement, they arrived to Leal.
The rest is another story for another occasion...
The Northern Crusades II.
After the king, Håkan of house Stenkil achieved his victory and vengeance upon the unbelieving miscreants of the pagan Finns and razed the countryside in his hateful anger against them, he started to further colonize the land, and in 1234 he started a new crusade and ventured upon the lands south of Finland, the lands of the Baltic heathens, the country of Estonia, where a small and isolated yet heavily defended and secured stronghold of Norse Christian power stood defiant in a sea of unbelievers, the castle of Leal, this castle was practically the sole element of sovereign Christian land in the lands of the Baltic infidels, through the years has survived a sequence of assaults and sieges by enemy native forces, but it has stood resolute against the unceasing attacks of the hostile forces, yet its grasp of power and control over the region slowly but surely withers away, while the hordes of heathens grow larger and larger and each time more ferocious, disciplined and experience, with an unquenchable desire to extinguish the light of the Christendom on their lands and expels the foreigners once and for all. Since the death of jarl Charles the Deaf, the protector of the Leal castle, his son, Ulf Fase, was appointed as the holder and protector of this highly valuable and vital yet dangerous and isolated possession, he, as his father, started investing large amounts of money in the castle to get new men and new weapons, as well as expanding the castle, but by 1243 the situation wasn't sustainable and victory wasn't achievable within the current parameters and the overall situation, and neither was helpful the concurrent strife and conflict in Sweden after the death of king Håkan (II) in the battle on the ice, where Alexander Nevsky killed him in a duel and effortlessly and thoroughly defeated and humiliated his army.
Once the children of king Håkan stopped killing each other to get the throne, Birger Jarl stepped in and was hailed as regent in September of 1241 after he saved the six-year-old king Håkan (III) from an assassination plot led by the king’s uncle, Philip, and sent the rebellious branch of the Stenkil house out of the country after seizing all their properties, which were divided along the Folkung house and the king, the treasonous Stenkil and their followers fled to the lands of their relatives, the Godwinson, the lands of Angland.
Once secured and installed properly as regent, Birger Jarl heeded the desperate and hopeless pleas of his relative in Estonia, and with help from the knights of the Teutonic Order and the armies of Denmark and Sweden once again marched against the pagans. With the benedictions of the Roman Pontiff, funds from the members of the crusade, and certainty in victory the nordic crusaders departed to Leal to relieve the fortress, in mid-December of 1241 the coast of Estonia was seized and cleared from any heathen stronghold, and the occasional settlement, they arrived to Leal.
The rest is another story for another occasion...
Special Chapter III Council of Lyon
In the year of our Lord of 1272 A.D His Holiness, Pope Gregory X called the whole community of bishops of the Catholic Church to a Council meant to define relations with the schismatic Orthodox Christians of the eastern realms and The Roman Empire, this Council was celebrated in the French city of Lyon. The goals were plentiful and of varied importance and nature, but there were certain necessary issues to be discussed. Chiefly among them was the most controversial one, reconciliation and reunification with the Eastern Orthodox Church and with the Patriarch of Constantinople, meant to end the schism between the East and West and mend the wound in the heart of Christendom.
One of the critical topics discussed during the council was the acceptance of the Filioque clause by the Eastern Orthodox Church. The Filioque clause, which had been a source of contention between the Eastern and Western churches for centuries, concerned the procession of the Holy Spirit. The Western Church believed that the Holy Spirit proceeded from both the Father and the Son, while the Eastern Church held that the Holy Spirit proceeded solely from the Father. Reaching an agreement on this theological matter was essential for the reunification efforts.
After much debate and theological deliberation, a compromise was eventually reached at the Council of Lyon. The Eastern Orthodox Church agreed to accept the Filioque clause under certain conditions. They emphasized the importance of maintaining the original Creed of the Church without alterations but allowed for the addition of an explanatory statement clarifying the relationship between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
The acceptance of the Filioque clause by the Eastern Orthodox Church marked a significant milestone in the path towards unity. However, the process of reunification was not without its challenges. Internal infighting within the Orthodox Church emerged as differing factions and individuals debated the implications and consequences of the reunion. Some Orthodox clergy and theologians were skeptical of the compromise and raised concerns about the potential Latinization of their traditions and practices, an agreement was reached to preserve autonomy and ritual independence respective from Rome.
Nonetheless, despite these internal disputes, the painful but effective process of reunification gradually unfolded. The leaders of the Catholic and Orthodox Churches engaged in extensive dialogues, seeking to bridge the gaps and overcome centuries of division. While it took time and perseverance and a fair share of bloody conflict and generalized violence, the reunification efforts yielded positive results in the end of it all.
The successful reconciliation between the Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church would have a profound impact on Christendom. While it brought an end to the schism that had plagued the Church for centuries, fostering a renewed sense of unity and shared purpose among believers. It also provided a stronger foundation for joint efforts, such as the preparation of a new crusade against the Egyptian Sultanate, which threatened the Holy Land and the Crusader States, although the process would take years and lots of political backup from the Basileus, it was worthwhile in the end.
The Council of Lyon in 1272 A.D. was a pivotal moment in the history of Christendom. It marked the beginning of a renewed relationship between the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church, as the painful schism was finally healed. The acceptance of the Filioque clause and the arduous process of reunification demonstrated the power of dialogue, diplomacy, and perseverance in mending the divide in the heart of Christianity. Furthermore, the Council's efforts to prepare for a new crusade and address internal abuses in the Church reaffirmed the commitment of the Catholic leadership to safeguard the faith and protect Christendom from external threats, but that's a story for another time and another day…
One of the critical topics discussed during the council was the acceptance of the Filioque clause by the Eastern Orthodox Church. The Filioque clause, which had been a source of contention between the Eastern and Western churches for centuries, concerned the procession of the Holy Spirit. The Western Church believed that the Holy Spirit proceeded from both the Father and the Son, while the Eastern Church held that the Holy Spirit proceeded solely from the Father. Reaching an agreement on this theological matter was essential for the reunification efforts.
After much debate and theological deliberation, a compromise was eventually reached at the Council of Lyon. The Eastern Orthodox Church agreed to accept the Filioque clause under certain conditions. They emphasized the importance of maintaining the original Creed of the Church without alterations but allowed for the addition of an explanatory statement clarifying the relationship between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
The acceptance of the Filioque clause by the Eastern Orthodox Church marked a significant milestone in the path towards unity. However, the process of reunification was not without its challenges. Internal infighting within the Orthodox Church emerged as differing factions and individuals debated the implications and consequences of the reunion. Some Orthodox clergy and theologians were skeptical of the compromise and raised concerns about the potential Latinization of their traditions and practices, an agreement was reached to preserve autonomy and ritual independence respective from Rome.
Nonetheless, despite these internal disputes, the painful but effective process of reunification gradually unfolded. The leaders of the Catholic and Orthodox Churches engaged in extensive dialogues, seeking to bridge the gaps and overcome centuries of division. While it took time and perseverance and a fair share of bloody conflict and generalized violence, the reunification efforts yielded positive results in the end of it all.
The successful reconciliation between the Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church would have a profound impact on Christendom. While it brought an end to the schism that had plagued the Church for centuries, fostering a renewed sense of unity and shared purpose among believers. It also provided a stronger foundation for joint efforts, such as the preparation of a new crusade against the Egyptian Sultanate, which threatened the Holy Land and the Crusader States, although the process would take years and lots of political backup from the Basileus, it was worthwhile in the end.
The Council of Lyon in 1272 A.D. was a pivotal moment in the history of Christendom. It marked the beginning of a renewed relationship between the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church, as the painful schism was finally healed. The acceptance of the Filioque clause and the arduous process of reunification demonstrated the power of dialogue, diplomacy, and perseverance in mending the divide in the heart of Christianity. Furthermore, the Council's efforts to prepare for a new crusade and address internal abuses in the Church reaffirmed the commitment of the Catholic leadership to safeguard the faith and protect Christendom from external threats, but that's a story for another time and another day…
out of context, it's pretty funny to see this just out of nowhere.
It is not dead, i am kinda busy lately, but soon enough i will update the TL pal, just be patient.its dead
Let me know when you are ready to actually post an update and I'll unlock the thread.
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