Tomorrow (I hope) guys, you will see who's this captain and what is capable off. Together we will travel from Szrebenik to Severin.
The lucky marriage - Alternate history of the Capetian Dynasty
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On the Iron Road
On the Iron Road
Motto: "In war, truth is the first casualty." Aeschylus
The distance between Srebrenik and Severin was covered in little more than two weeks, however, the speed was not uniform. In the first part of the road, the group ridden as fastest as possible, changing multiples horses on their road, until they arrived to Smederevo were they crossed the Danube north. Smederevo was close to the frontier with the Banate of Severin, therefore, once north of the river, the group of little more than 500 men moved away from the big road who turned north and head east across the country. They arrived to a small town named Orovcak [1], situated in the foothills of the mountains, not far away of the iron mines so much conveyed by the different rulers who exerted power over the region. Orovcak was fortified by the previous Bans and held a small garrison of soldiers which was also charged with the protection of the mines in the mountains and with policing the road to Severin. The Iron road. Bypassing the fortress was impossible. Forcing it way trough was even less possible as not only the fortress controlled the road, but the road itself crossed the mountains through a narrow defiles carved by a mountain rivulet called Nera. It was so narrow, having in both side very abrupt cliffs, that it could be hold by a hand of men against an entire army.
Facing this dilemma, the captain of the unit go straight to the garrison commander and ask him with an authoritarian voice for provisions and guides. He announce him that he was on a very important mission on behalf of the Ban and of the Khan itself and that they were waited in Severin as soon as possible, showing to the illiterate soldier big letters caring both the seals of the Ban and of the Khan.
Since the sentinel announce him of approaching band of soldiers, the commander knew that they will bring nothing good. He do not had any orders concerning them and the only men in the fortress who knew to read was now sick. What he should do? Sending messengers to Severin and waiting for them to return, it will take several days. Days which were very precious as the winter could arrive in any moment and once the snow will start falling, there will be no way to cross the land. If the Ban was indeed waiting those men and he will stop them there in the mountains or significantly delay them, his head will hand in a spear or a gallows… And, what they will eat all this time they will be blocked there? Not from his provisions! It was a hard year and he barely had enough food to keep his own men fed through the winter. 500 men and their horses will consume everything in two-three weeks only. On the other hand, letting those men passing trough could also cost his head. What if they were enemies? But what they could do 500 men, now right before the winter come? Nothing serious… Balancing the two options, the captain decided to let them go. But without any provisions! He needed everything for his own men. The winter was near and God knows how harsh would it be.
The stranger was not pleased at all by the refuse of provisions and departed muttering something in strange languages. His companions mounted their horses and departure after only several hours of resting. They were pressed and very concerned about not being caught by the snow in the passes. The temperature was already closed to 0 degrees Celsius and they were all dressed with heavy cloths under and over their armors.
Crossing thought that narrow defile, having in one side the frozen river and on the other side vertical cliffs, gives the commander frozen sweat. He permanently feared an ambush and he and his men were permanently on guard. Even a small band of men could wipe them easily. They covered the 50 miles to the Castle of Mehadia in just one day and one night of march resting only very little.
Mehadia Castle was built by the Hungarians some on hundred years before and constantly improved, transforming itself into a strong fortress who controlled the road. This road was one of the most important of the entire country, linking the capital not only with one of the iron suppliers, but also with the castle of Karan-Sebeș were the road split in two. One continued to Temesvar and the other one go straight to north in Transylvania. Both were crucial as the one was the gate with the Occident and the other one was linked the Banate with the lands held north to the Mountains. When Bogdan, the first Vlach Ban raised to the power during the last King of Hungary, right before the Mongols will show up, he comes from Hațeg (Hatzeg), a county just right north-east of Karan-Sebeș. The Ban was firstly a Voivode, the Voivode of Hațeg, but also he was ispán of Fehér and Hunyadi (count of Alba and Hunedoara), Herțeg of Amlaș and Făgăraș (Duke/count of Amlaș and Făgăraș, two small regions in the Transylvanian side of the mountains), and ruler over many towns and castles in the Mures Valley and over most of the Apuseni Mountains (except the gold mines from Abrud which were controlled by the Khan directly). Moreover, he was ruler over Vidin and Tribalia (Timoc Valley), on the right side of the Danube.
Holding a so big strategical position, Mehadia had a significant garrison and its castellan was a noble of high rank, therefore the intimidation game will not held. The band abandoned the road and melted in the forest. The landscape was still rough and wooded, but far less broken and it could be well used as cover. Now, the two Vlach which had accompanied them knew very well the region, and therefore guide them through the forest into the mountains, bypassing both Mehadia and Aqua Herculis (Băile Herculane), the old town with curative hot springs and healing waters used since the antiquity. The Romans, the mighty conquerors of Dacia, had transformed the town into a leisure heaven and the tradition of going there to spoiling yourself stayed alive since Hercules himself had stopped there, according to the legend, to take a bath and rest before going to battle.
The guides tell the story to the captain about the miraculous springs and the big bronze statues of Hercules which marked those springs but he was more concerned on how to make himself undetected rather than to hearing stories about leisure and pleasures. Maybe, one day, he will go there. Maybe. Now, he was concerned how to quell the shepherds who meet them on the Domogled Mountain. The Vlachs assure him that they will not spoke but he do not wanted to take risk. At a sign, his men armed their crossbows and send the shepherds to the afterlife, with their dogs too. He then ordered to slaughtered several sheep for food, letting the rest to be easy prey for the wolves and bears. The two guides were outraged! For the first time they start to question their choice…
The travelers continued forward east, crossing the mountains on that late fall. On the eve of 30 November, the first snowflakes start falling. They need to speeding up. They moved south-east thought he forest paths employed by sheep and goats until they arrived to Matorăț, the most northern village of Jidovștița Confederacy. Finally, they had arrived and they could rest for one full night. Next day, on the first of December, they arrived in Jidovștița village and meet the other members of the Confederacy. They were greeting by 320 horsemen armed to the teeth. The community armed force had mobilized and were ready to go to war. Still, even they will join their forces, they were still way too few for taking Severin.
There were two main entrances in the city that they could employed. One it was the direct route, via the Cattle Road ,employing the gate of the Jews Tower. Another one was using the western route, via the Iron Road, which was the main road and the main entrance in the town. Each entrance have their advantages and weaknesses. If they used the northern entrance, it was easier to enter in the town, however they were on the other side of the castle and they might be caught in the town struggling to cross it. Until they will arrive to the castle, the element of surprise will gone and the chances to capture Ioan will vanish. If they use the western entrance, they could enter directly in the outside court of the Castle and had the element of surprise… unless they will be stopped at the one of the multiple points of control.
A decision should be taken.
Before the nightfall, the troops leaved Jidovștița, following the cursus of the river with the same name, down to its mouths when it joined the Danube, but they were not accompanied by the troops of Jidovștița Confederacy which were instructed to stay home and be ready. It was Saturday 2 December 1290. Once arrived at the Danube, the company hidden in the forest until the day approached. Then they moved east, as quickly as possible using the great road bordering the river. It was the same Iron Road which linked both Orovcak and its iron mines and Transylvania trough the pass called the Iron Gates of Transylvania [2] with Severin.
Trough the mountains, from Smederevo to Severin
***
The town of Severin, “Severinopolis” in the Latin texts, was huge, holding more than 10.000 souls [3], surrounded by a high and thick palisade and a deep and large moat, while the main fortress, the siege of the Ban, was truly impressive. Built by the Hungarians in 1078 from wood and earth, later being upgraded to stone, the fortress was hugely expanded by the Templars, which also constructed a double layer of fortifications which surrounded the initial keep. Those successive precincts harbored inside them barracks and depots, ateliers, storage, barns, stables and even a small vegetable garden. The water supply was ensured by three wells dig very deep into the groundwater, rending them impossible to be poisoned. The keep itself, originally erected by the Hungarians, was lat time modernized by the Ban Nicolae who expanded it by adding a tower on each corner and several buttress, while also increasing its height with several meters. Outside the walls of the castle, an even deeper moat, full of waters from the Danube, add a further layer of protection.
The fortress was situated in the southern side of the town, on a hill right on the Danube coast neighbouring a fluvial port on each side, with the eastern one being the biggest and the most important. The port was flanked in his eastern side by the old Roman castrum of Drobeta which once protected the mighty bridge built by Apollodorus of Damascus at the orders of Emperor Trajan after his first Dacian war. However, from the bridge it had survived only a pillar on each side of the river but the castrum walls were re-build several decades ago when the New Town was enclosed with walls. The now enclosed perimeter of the castrum harbored several branches of workers, especially the ones who worked at the docks, as well as many warehouses and storage.
The town had two Cathedrals, one Catholic dedicated to Saint Jean and another one Orthodox, dedicated to Saint George. The Catholic one, a beautiful Gothic building, was the headquarter of the Catholic episcopate of Severin. The Orthodox one, also an impressive building having as architectural model the Saint Sophia from Constantinople, was the headquarter of the Orthodox Metropolitan of the Vlachs. The majority of the residents were Orthodox, however the Catholics held a strong and cohesive community. While the two have conflicting interests and sometime issues with the other ones, the relation between the Bishop and the Metropolitan were… cordial enough. The town also had a small Jewish community which was constricted on the north-eastern side of the town, near the gate-tower named after them. On the western side of the town, outside of the walls, was situated the fortified Monastery of Saint Andrew, which was a flourishing monastic center, hosting a seminar and a pretty decent library.
Plan of Severin at the end of 13th century
The garrison of the fortress numbered at least 1.000 men, without counting the city militia which was renowned by its Templar legacy which had popularized the use of crossbows and pikes among the Vlachs.
The Vlachs of Severin were an interesting breeding between east and west, between north and south, between Orthodox world and Catholic world, between the Slavic world and Latin world. From each they took good and bad. A Latin speaking population, they were mostly Orthodox in believes and practice. However, they had quarrels with Constantinople and therefore most of the Vlachs bishops, led by their Metropolitan, were now no more in communion with the Patriarch.
When the Mongols arrived in 1240, they quickly dropped their loyalty to the Hungarian King and choose the winning side. It was a wise choice! A choice which preserved their state. As the fate was cruel with them, being placed in the crossroad of nations, migratory tribes and expansionist empires, they had slowly transformed from a peaceful and passive population into a highly militarized one, keeping their stubbornness and resilience to endure many hardships. In military terms, they were by far the most powerful vassals of the Khan, and maybe this power brought them in his concerns. The Vlachs cavalry was a mixt between the western-style heavy cavalry inherited from the Templars and Hungarians and the light, fast moving eastern-style mounted archers inherited from the Cumans and perfected under the Mongols. Pretty uniquely among the eastern nations, the Vlachs of Severin employed crossbowmen in quite big numbers, another Templar legacy, backed by good quality archers.
The quality of their troops could widely variate but overall it was quite good. As most of the population was made up by freemen, with an increasingly martial tradition, each male above 14 or 16 was responsible to the call of arms, directly to the Ban-Voivode. They were obliged by law (to be read customs, common law and bilateral agreements) to had weapons according to their wealth and status, to train regularly and to serve their Lord (the Ban/Voivode) for different period of time during which they will ensure their food and supplies. Usually this call of arms was for defensive purpose when the freemen could serve up to 90 days without payment. However if it was an offensive war, the Ban should negotiate with his troops the length of the service period and their payment. Therefore, the Bans could raise big and strong armies if he fought defensive wars, however it was very expensive for them to wage offensive wars. When the Golden Horde invaded the Black Horde in 1281, Ban Nicolae used all his charisma and influence to persuade the Vlachs to go to war in Nogai support. They do not see it as a defensive war as the Banate of Severin was not attached. They were not accountable to the Ban’s duty to his suzerain. That was the Ban’s business.
The freemen were organized in “steaguri” or banners commanded by their own leaders or, sometime, by appointed captains. Their military service could not be exchanged into any form of compensation. They could either be raised or not. Most of those free men were usually mounted troops and could fight both mounted and dismounted. They were all armed with bows and arrows, spears and shields, and according to their wealth, they had different forms of armor and sidearm weapons (swords, axes, maces, etc.).
Most of the heavy cavalry was provided by the boyars with their personal retinues, by the other Ban’s great vassals (cneazs and lesser voivodes) and by the Ban’s own “knights”, castellans, officers and clerks, as well as by his own personal retinue.
Another source of soldiers available only in case of severe external threat materialized by a foreign invasion, were the serfs. In this conditions, the Ban had the right to directly call the serfs which were accountable only to him for military service and not to their owners [4].
The power and influence at the court of each boyar and nobles was dependent on how many soldiers they could bring in service. However, only their own retinues held direct loyalty to them, and not their serfs. This created an incentive of avoiding such mobilization of serfs or to prevent those getting good weapons which also lead to the Bans less willing to allow his boyars to gather more serfs as it directly undermine his military performance.
Severin armed forces were therefore a mosaic of different banners gathered together. Each of these banners had similar strength but it could differ highly in composition. The core of the Banate was organized in several “Județe” (correspondent of a smaller county) ruled by “Juzi” or judges appointed by the Ban itself. While those Judges held the judicial and administrative power, they do not have the military power that was usually associated. This was an inheritance from the old Roman Empire Administration. The military was assumed either by appointed captains, by hereditary cneazs or by elected local leaders.
The main source of revenue was taxation of commerce, while the land taxation and the revenue from the land, while significant, it was less important [5].
***
The year of the Lord 1290, Sunday 3 December, Severin
The city was covered in white by the first snow of the year. The snow had fallen all night long, with great and heavy snowflakes and the snow was a hand-breadths thick. Early in the morning, the bells of the churches were calling the people to the mess, while the children were rushing out of their homes full of joy to see the snow. The adults were far less enthusiastic, many thinking that they should now use the sleighs instead of the carts. It was that moment of the day when the light fought the darkness. However, being winter and snowing, the visibility was so reduced than you could barely see 20 paces away. To making things worse, the fog raising from the Danube created a thick mist, reducing further the visibility.
A group of some 100 soldiers and four time the number of servants approached to the city, passing next to the walls of the Saint Andrew Monastery. The road followed the cliff who descended steeply to the river, leaving on their left side the walls built on the top. They pass next to the great tower called “Turnul Dracului” – “The Devil’s Tower”, perhaps because of the two walls which continued from it outside, forming a sort of horns, or perhaps because the citizens had the sense of humor baptizing the tower facing the Monastery with this name. After the Devil’s tower, they passed next to the Iron Gate which represented the main entrance in the city. However they continued the road forward with the intention of entering in the fortress, of which main entrance was further away. The road was flanked on both side by strengthened terraces, built in stone to further fix the cliffs.
The troop halted 20 paces away from the main gate and their commander and another man advanced to the guards in front of them. With the same authoritarian voice and iron confidence, the stranger ordered the gatekeeper to open the gates and to let them inside as he was in mission from the Khan, the own Ban’s brother in law and his Lord Suzerain. He spoken Mongolian, while the man next to him translated in the Vlach’s language [6]. He show him the letters with Nogai’s seals, written both in Latin and Slavonic [7]. The gatekeeper was in trouble. He wanted to send a men to the castle and ask for details before letting those armed men inside. However, his interlocutor held no patience. It seemed that he was a very high noble, a great dignitary, if he was accompanied by so many soldiers and servants.
He had sent two men to check the group and collect more information about them, how many they are. He looked to the group in front of him. Despite the fog and the darkness, the guards approximate them as being some 100 soldiers and 400 servants, all mounted. The Mongols used to have even their servants mounted, so he do not see any problem letting him in. Surely, he was already waited as it was impossible that his arrival to not be announced. After all, the Iron Road was well patrolled.
He opened the gates and the riders poured inside in hurry. The gate was a huge defensive complex formed by several successive gates which crossed two inner courts and changed their direction. Any assault of this gate will be suicidal for the attackers. The stranger analysed closely the walls, the guards and the gates, counting them. They continued their road crossing the outer court all the way up to the gate that lead to the inner court.
There, the previous scene repeated. The Mongol dignitary yelled orders to open the gates and let them in. However, their presence was a surprise no more. From the towers, the sentinels had already spotted them and therefore they were received by the main commander of all the forces in the castle. He was a mid-age man, with a big beard and a big belly too.
The Mongol dignitary approach to him and order him to open the gate and let them inside, to meet the Ban in person. However, the commander refused to comply, responding that he need to firstly go to the Ban and have his confirmation. Then the Stranger approached to him and yelled:
“Do you know who am I?”
The guardsmen stay impassable. He looked to the man in front of him and see a young but well build man, with a small blond beard and beautiful light brown to blond hair and dark eyes, dressed ceremonially as the Mongol nobles do. He rode a superb black stallion, a horse which costed perhaps his pay for several years. And he was not badly payed. He was not a Mongolian himself, however he surely was of a very high born.
“You are someone who come to the house of my master, therefore I need my master accept to let you in.” responded the old bearded man, unimpressed by him.
“So therefore you threat your master’s quests? Do you know who we are? I am the son of the King of France… and England! If you know where England is. I am the son in law of the Great Khan itself! I am the envoy of the master of your master! And I do not come alone. He”, said him pointing to a random man from his suite, “he’s Voivode Bărbat of Argeș, the uncle of your master! He”, continued the emissary pointing to another man, ”he’s Vassily of Serbia, the brother in law of your master. Do you let us waiting here in cold? Do you want your head on a stick?”
“So therefore you threat your master’s quests? Do you know who we are? I am the son of the King of France… and England! If you know where England is. I am the son in law of the Great Khan itself! I am the envoy of the master of your master! And I do not come alone. He”, said him pointing to a random man from his suite, “he’s Voivode Bărbat of Argeș, the uncle of your master! He”, continued the emissary pointing to another man, ”he’s Vassily of Serbia, the brother in law of your master. Do you let us waiting here in cold? Do you want your head on a stick?”
Now, the Guardsmen looked troubled. What should he do? Should he let them enter in the fortress and then go and asked his master for details? Or should he force them to wait there until Ioan will get out of sleep. He remembered that the previous day Ioan partied very late in the night and drank so much that he was still drunk so early in the morning. He often partied heavily on Saturdays and he often do not get up next day until the mass was over. Well, if the men are who they said, and the letters said that they were, then he could not let them there in the cold and snow. He’s head could indeed lay in a spike… if Ioan get mad or embarrassed by the treatment of his guests. So he let them enter in the inner court. Once there, he ordered his men to take care of the guests. The accompanied soldiers and their servants should be garrisoned in the barracks, while several will accompanied the three highborn guest inside the main citadel. A guard was already sent to Ioan’s apartment to wake him up and announce the guests.
The stranger entered in the great fortress, accompanied by the “Prince of Serbia” and the “Voivode of Argeș”, plus the translator and 12 guards. The rest of the men remained close to the gates, simulating that they were tiered and clumsy. Once inside the great hall, also called the Hall of the Knights (“Sala Cavalerilor”), the men waited for the Ban. The matter was so urgent, that they could not wait until Ioan was ready to receive them. They urge him to come there as he was from his sleep.
Several minutes later, a half awake man wrapped in a big cloak made from aurochs skin stepped into the great hall, visibly deranged by the awaking. The great vine of Dealu Mare (the High/Great Hill), still could be felt in both his head and his belly. He had stopped twice to the latrines to ease itself of the last night burden… once being for vomiting… and he needed once more. Dam it, he drank and eat too much, regardless the strict lent that the Church imposed before the Christmas. God be merciful with his sinful soul!
Seeing the men in front of him, he asked why they are there. And how they arrived without being announced. Then, the leader of them spokes in Latin, a language Ioan knew, that he was the envoy of the Khan with a very urgent matter. He has a present for him… But the present remained outside, in the inner court. He make a sign to a man to go and bring him.
The man leaves the room followed by two Vlach guards. Once outside, he said something in a strange language and several men brought a big wooden box to the gates. There was the Ban present from the Khan. The guards were annoyed. What was there in that big box, barely carried by four men? It has the seal of the Khan. They could not opened so, they let them in. However, when they arrived in the doorway, the men dropped the box so it blocked the door. Then they opened the cover who was not locked but only sealed. Inside there were weapons. The guards were caught out of guard and in a second they were killed. In that moment, the other men which were in the court, drew their swords and charged. They all knew what to do. Some rushed to the gate and killed or immobilized the guards, capturing it. Others rushed to the ramparts and towers, taking them by assault. Armed crossbow, nocked bows and several strange tubes appeared from nowhere and the astonished Vlachs surrender in droves. Not out of fear of arrows and bolts, but out of fear of the Devil’s invention. From those tubes, fire and small bullets were spilled out with a noise like small thunders, leaving behind a hellish smell of brimstone [8]. Put on fire at close distance, they put fear even in the hearth of the bravest and the most battle-hardened warrior. Those few tubes do not make many victims but definitely shock the Vlachs into surrender. But not all of them surrender. Some opposed fiercely and blood flowed on both sides. A group rushed inside the keep to join their leader.
Inside, Ioan was immobilized with a knife threatening his throat, trembling without his cloak which was lying on the floor. The one who hold the knife was the leader of the group, the Khan envoy. Under the pressure of the blade, and after filling the floor with vomit, Ioan ordered his men to drop their weapon and surrender. They did it.
“Who you really are and why you are here?” asked Ioan with the mouth full of venom.
“Edouard est nomen meum!” [9], responded the stranger with a loud voice that everybody in the room heard. “I am the captain of the Khan, your Lord and Master, and I was tasked to arrest you.”
The coup was perfect, but far from bloodless. Outside, the fights continued for half of hour until the entire fortress was secured. Their leader do the counts and found that 20 of his men has lost their lives, while 10 more were seriously injured. On the other side, the defenders lost 5 time more, while the rest of them were captured and chained. The news spread outside of the town and the people start gathering. Followed by Edouard and his friends, Ioan appeared in front of the people addressing to them to calm down and follow the new orders. They were his guests and they will wait the arrival of the Khan, of which protection they will ensure. Nobody believe it but few decided to do something. Ioan had gathered a lot of enemies. On the other hand, his friends and collaborators, feared for their skin and heads and sent for help outside. In several days, the plains outside of Severin were full of armed people. Several thousand come to see what happens, concerned for their fate. Some were outraged, other rejoiced. The gates of the city were, nevertheless closed. Edouard had spread his men thin, risking to be overwhelmed. He bet on the fact that he held Ioan and his family as captives. Well dressed and well feed, Ioan show himself daily and spoke with the people, of course, under Edouard' close supervision.
One week later, on Monday 11 December 1290, the city of Severin received his new master. Accompanied by his family and 5.000 soldiers, Khan Nogai entered in the town on-opposed but un-acclaimed too. He address to the people that he had not come as a conqueror but as a thoughtful master, concerned about the well-being of his subjects. He was called to judge the abuses of their ruler and so he did. No harm will be done to the people of Severin and the country will keep his rights and liberties and it will not be annexed to the Khanate. Everyone who was wronged by the Ban will be apologized and all wrong will be compensated twice the prejudice. He deplored the means of his captain, Edouard, who had spilled innocent blood and acted with brutality against his will and his orders. He will be punished for this!
After receiving these insurances, the population calmed down. After all, the Khan Nogai, Andrew, was a good and nice man! His awful commander was guilty of everything! He and his mercenaries will be punished! The Khan had promised! And about their Ban… many discovered that they held grudges against him. He has wronged so many people and the complaints start flooding, faster than the snow. That vicious and brutal man will be finally judged!
***
The Great Judgement was held after the Christmas, which was celebrated lavishly in Severin. More lavishly than ever it was, both in the Catholic and the Orthodox churches. Then Ioan was brought to justice. He was accused of usurpation or rights, law breaking, treason, murder, theft, deception, etc. At the end, Nogai stepped from his chair of justice and address to his brother in law and to the entire assembly of nobles, burgers, freemen and clergy:
“By all laws, you are guilty of death. And you should die for your crimes. However, you are our brother and God said that we shall forgive our brother not once, not twice, not seven time, but seventy-seven times. So, our brother, we forgive you of your numerous crimes, and you should live. But the Lord is not only good and merciful, but fair and rightful too. And so a King should be. Therefore, by justice, you are deposed of all your assets, all your titles and lands. All these will be inherited as you had died, because your life in sin will end today and from tomorrow you will start a new life, a life in virtues, a life in Christ. You will be tonsured and will enter in a monastery to repent for your sins and to pray for your soul. Good bye my brother and shall we meet again at the Last Judgement and shall we give the right answer to our Supreme Judge and shall He receive us all in the Kingdom of Heaven.”
All the presents were surprised by the judgment and confused about the announced succession and inheritance. Then, the Khan announced the new Ban of Severin:
“By my right of Suzerain and in the respect of the country laws and customs, I agree to have the Banat of Severin and all the lands attached, formerly held by the God servant Ioan, being inherited by the rightful heir of our beloved father, the great, the faithful and the honorable defunct Ban Nicolae. May he rest in pace at the Christ's right. All these will be inherited therefore by his grandson and our own son, Prince Vladislav”.
Vladislav was the son of Nogai with his Wallachian wife, Anastasia, daughter of Ban Nicolae of Severin and therefore the sister of Ioan.
The boy’s father wanted to baptize him Temür after his first born dead on the fields of Bârlad but then he change his mind and call him Jöchi after the founder of that Mongol branch of the Borjin clan. Jochi was the first son of Genghis Khan and means “Stranger”. Many consider him not being the true son of the Genghis, as he was born during his mother captivity. However, Genghis raised him as his true son and had given him the appanage of the west world. Nogai was descended from Jochi on his mother side, while his father was a prominent Cuman chieftain. He therefore give to his son a Mongol name and a Christian one. The Mongol name means that “he was and will remain a stranger in his house”. The boy was the sixth son of Nogai and was not even considered to be in line of inheritance, as the actual Crown Prince and heir (after the death of Temür) was Hasar. Hasar was born to one of the many Nogai’s wives he held before his Christianization. However, he had himself baptized after he had become the heir apparent.
The other name, Vladislav, was supposed to be a Christian one but it was in fact a Slavic name which had being Christianized and means “one who owns a glory”. His full name means therefore “A stranger who owns a glory” (or "The Glorious Stranger)" and right now the glory was called Severin. Vladislav was only 8 years old, but he was a brilliant boy, well raised and well built. Of course, the government will be ensured by a regency council formed by his mother, the Orthodox Metropolitan, The Catholic Bishop (the Khan's men), and two great nobles of the realm (appointed by the Khan). The regency will govern the country until Vladislav will turn 16.
Ioan had a son and two daughters, but they were even younger. The boy was barely 2 years old, while the girls were 3, respectively 5. Their faith was decided that they should follow the monastic life as their father. Sadly, the boy will dies of fever soon after the decision, and some declared that he was kept in cold weather until he get sick. It seemed that Nogai do not wanted to risk…
Ioan will be sent to a fortified monastery in the Moldavian Mountains, in a very secure place and under heavy guard. He will live for 8 more years until he will be killed at the orders of his nephew, Vladislav.
As an act of magnanimity and generosity, Nogai announced that he will suspend the tribute for three years, so “all the wrong committed by the former Ban will be corrected and everyone wronged will be compensated”. Moreover, he raised the status of the Banate to a Principality. Vladislav will be Ban no more, but a Principe-Voivode.
With a strong coup, and only several lives, Nogai had brought the most powerful vassal under his house. He will ensure that the regency council will be loyal to him and him only. Under the pretext to ensure the security of his wife and son, he will keep a strong garrison in Severin and he will come at least once per year in the city. Nogai liked the city and especially, he liked the city’s fortress. Now, what should he do with his most capable captain, the one who had conquered the city for him? The people wanted his head and he had promised the people to punish him for his acts… the acts he had ordered.
While putting the affairs of Severin in line, news from Rome brought the word that Pope Alexander IV had died and the conclave refuse to gather to elect a new pope. And it seems that they will not gather too soon either… There were fourth camps which hated the others to the death: two Italian (one lead by Colona family and the other by Orsini), a French camp and an anti-French camp (Germans and Iberians). And the French were also quarreling among themselves. It seems that there was no hope to get an accord and elect a pope in the near future.
But without a Pope there is no more Crusade, nor founds for the Crusade. Alexander had paid for that Crusade more than half of millions florins… Nogai found that those funds were cut. For the Cardinals, it seemed that the Crusade was ended and successful. Hopefully, most of Bosnia was under Khan’s thumb and the Dominican Inquisition was taken care of the heresy… and it do it so well than there were virtually no more Bogomils left in Bosnia.
The Khan had spent huge amount of his own money to conquer Bosnia and now to look generous to the people of Severin to sweeten the take-over. He had practically bribed everyone. And this was only few years after the war with the Golden Horde which had ravaged the country and his pockets. Well, without the Pope money he was broken. He could not afford the mercenaries anymore. Serbia, which was next on the list, should also wait.
After congratulation Edouard for his services and paying his worth in gold for successfully caring over the mission, Nogai announce him that he was forced to temporary renounce of his services. He will disband the mercenaries which will be persuaded to leave his country. One thing was problematic… He do not wanted to let free 5-6.000 men to roam freely through his land, therefore he asked Edouard to lead them all outside his borders.
Edouard was already the commander of a good chuck of the entire mercenary crop and his latest achievement, to capture such an impregnable fortress losing only 20 or 30 men, raised his prestige even further. The bastard of the King of France and England was worshiped by those men who were ready to follow him to the end of the world… as long as he guarantee them that new contracts with new money and plunder will wait for them.
Therefore, in the spring of 1291, a 5.000 strong army made of battle-hardened mercenaries and led by a young but charismatic commander, entered in Italy… They were searching for jobs and soon, the offers will appear. Edouard kept his men under a thigh lease. In his camp reigned an iron discipline and nobody dare to brake his law. The army also received a new brand name and identity. They were the “Company of the Iron Lily” [10] and everybody carried on their chests a silver-gray lily. Their discipline was one of iron, their courage too as their devotion to their commander.
But how he arrived there? Edouard’s story was long and truly amazing…
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Main sources: Wikipedia
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[1] Today Oravița, in Romania
[2]The name of the pass where multiple battles were held, inclusive the one of Tapae between the Dacians of Decebalus and the Romans of Trajan in the first Dacian War (year of 101).
[3]For the Vlachs, it was the greatest city they had ever seen and it was one of the greatest town in the entire Black Horde.
[4] The early Wallachian Voivodes have this right to call all the male to arms and they responded to him directly.
[5] Another feature of early Wallachian Voivodes. Only after the Ottoman suzerainty and the change of the commercial roads, they start to focus more on the land outputs. Only when they lost their independence, the soldiers become less valuable than the income (coupled also by the increase professionalization of the armies and the use of firearms) and therefore the freemen were doomed.
[6] A Latin language heavily influenced by Slavic one, from which evolved the modern Romanian.
[7] The Slavonic was the chancellery language used in the Romanian Principalities and of the Orthodox Church. ITTL, both Slavonic and Latin is equally used, with more emphasis on Latin, especially in no-Church business.
[8] Imagine a small primitive portable firearm, a cross between a fire lance and a hand canon
[9] In Latin : “Edouard is my name”
[10]Thanks @DracoLazarus for the suggestion
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Hi Guys,
I've done some re-wording in the last chapter (to make it easier to be read), however I did not changed anything in substance.
I'm still not pleased by the title of the chapter... but I could not get anything better. I've also considered "On the Iron Path", or "The Iron way" of "Blood, Iron and Brimstone (or fire)". Any preferences or suggestions?
Thanks!
I've done some re-wording in the last chapter (to make it easier to be read), however I did not changed anything in substance.
I'm still not pleased by the title of the chapter... but I could not get anything better. I've also considered "On the Iron Path", or "The Iron way" of "Blood, Iron and Brimstone (or fire)". Any preferences or suggestions?
Thanks!
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Cuāuhtemōc
Banned
Eduoard can always take over the Papal States in all but name and rule it via a puppet Pope. He has a big enough army to at least try.
He only had 5.000... yet
PS: spoiler alert: Edouard will have a chat 1:1 with His Holiness (someday)
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Cuāuhtemōc
Banned
He only had 5.000... yet
PS: spoiler alert: Edouard will have a chat 1:1 with His Holiness (someday)
I look forward to that chapter when you eventually post it!
Hi Guys,
Sorry, it's not a new chapter today... just a small announcement.
I will be quite busy in the following month and therefore I will add fewer and more rare upgrades.
Moreover, I have some issues concerning which path should I follow with the story (witch could have at least two or three diverging paths from the existing point). Since I have very few ideas and blocks pre-written, everything is at the mercy of the ad-hoc inspiration. I hope I will not hit a writing block in this month.
Anyway, thanks for understanding and you are welcome for any input/suggestion/feedback/critics/remarks!
Cheers!
Sorry, it's not a new chapter today... just a small announcement.
I will be quite busy in the following month and therefore I will add fewer and more rare upgrades.
Moreover, I have some issues concerning which path should I follow with the story (witch could have at least two or three diverging paths from the existing point). Since I have very few ideas and blocks pre-written, everything is at the mercy of the ad-hoc inspiration. I hope I will not hit a writing block in this month.
Anyway, thanks for understanding and you are welcome for any input/suggestion/feedback/critics/remarks!
Cheers!
If it can reassure you, I never have any chunk of my updates pre-written. I just sit every Tuesday (or Wednesday when I'm late) and ask myself, what region hasn't been updated for a long time ? And what is likely, given the geopolitical situation, to happen next ?
Well, I usually have a "master plan" to respect and sometime I write small blocks about something I will use in the story (or not). If I have time and inspiration, it will transform it into a full chapter. If not, I will use them lately.
This dead, because I certainly hope not.
Hi guys...
I really do not know what to say... I'm not sure if this thread is dead or not yet... Yes, I know that I've promised to finish the century... But I have lost my focus and I started somehow another project, therefore... maybe yes, maybe not.
If you intend to maybe come back to it some time, then it's not dead, merely a zombie thread.Hi guys...
I really do not know what to say... I'm not sure if this thread is dead or not yet... Yes, I know that I've promised to finish the century... But I have lost my focus and I started somehow another project, therefore... maybe yes, maybe not.
Hi!
There are actually several projects...
The first and the most important is a professional one. I need to learn a shitton of new things for my new position and therefore... less time for other little vices.
Now, concerning the alternate history... The new project is... still in the face of drafting and research. It's about a renewal of a my older idea of a different formation of modern Romania (so a 19 century Balkan focus TL). In my first try, I've got wild with way too much changes and butterflies and therefore I've stuck with a different European configuration than OTL. I intend now to keep the butterflies much more limited. Also, the POD was not enough developed.
I have also started to re-write the "The lucky marriage" into a different format, more as a story (similar somehow to the latest chapters). My "dream" is to write a novel which has this TL as structure and main drive story. I have no idea if I would succeed or not, if it will be interesting enough, or readable enough, but what the heck! when I've started this TL I have never imagined that I will write so much!
So... yah, maybe writing in the story, I will add some chapters to this thread... Sorry if I've disappointed anyone....
At least you haven't disappointed me. Of course real life takes priority, and I hope you are as successful in your future endeavours as you were in/with this magnificient TL!
- Status