Some Literature

[Kickstarted and Running 965]

I wrote this for a Medieval History class, well started it more like, and I've just gotten to finishing it. It was a project that the class did, we made a culture using any of the elements from any culture we learned of. I saw some interesting African ones, but what I did mine on was a European based nation.

 

It originated from the Teutonic Order, and spread out from there. I made a map for it too, and I guess I thought I might share it with a group of more than 35 people to judge.

 

Requirements were to make you head of the nation, base it off a culture we learned about, make a map, observe the appropriate codes of that culture and choose to ignore or follow them, pick a type of government around in that time.

 

The Empire of Gotteslandt started from the Teutonic Order settled in the Prussian region around the Baltic. In 1255, as the town of Konigsberg was being founded, the Hochmeister fell ill, and Ordensmarschall James was elevated to the Hocmeister of the Teutonic Order. Within hours of being made Hochmeister, he ordered that the remaining Lithuanians be vassals, or face quick death at the hands of the Order. The order was more than pleased to bring death to their hated enemies, and the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, eager to see the Lithuanians, once Pagans, put to the sword.

 

This was taken with less than enthusiastic choler by the Lithuanians, who subsequently declared war on the Order, claiming the lands inhabited to have been stolen. Withing the week, the first battle raged. Hochmeister James rode out, his banner flying in the harsh Prussian winds, carried by his banner carrier, his swordboy riding on his left. The Lithuania king, a man once Pagan rode out, his retinue also of a banner carrier and a swordboy. Saying to the Hochmeister, "Aš iššūkis jums garbingos kovos, jei neturėjo garbę ginčyti", insulting him and the entire Order. As the King turned and rode to his lines, the Hochmeister would hold out his hand to his page, being handed a crossbow, and firing the bolt into the back of the king.

 

The Lithuanian soldiers, unsure what to do, stood there, until a captain named Danukas strode forward, and knelt before the Hochmeister with the words "Jūs turite nužudyti karalių, ir mes, be abejo, toks pat likimas, jei mes neturime sekti" and swearing fealty. Word spread quickly of the Lithuanian kings fall, his son, a 12 year old boy was crowned and reigned for three days before the Hochmeister and his solders, including the newly appointed General Danukas and his Lithuanian Regiments, came to the gates and slew those who did not kneel, the young king included.

 

Lithuania was broken, with no king, the provinces broke, other armies of the Teutonic Order, assisted by the Holy Roman Empire, marched upon the remnants, quickly taking over Lithuania for the Order. the Hochmeister would ride back to Konigsberg after the young king fell, looted riches being carried in carts to help fund the construction of the city, and a palace at it's center.

 

​The Most Holy Pontiff fell ill shortly after, and passed on, a Cardinal from Prussia was elected, who happened to be antiquated with the Hochmeister James. After being elected, he issued a Papal Bull, ordering all vassals of the Lithuanian royal family, to swear to Hochmeister James, or be declared heretics and be excommunicated. This was a formality, they were already under Order control. The Most Holy Pontiff also declared the Hochmeister King of Prussia, and ceded all the lands occupied by the Teutonic Order, to the Order. The Pope also gave all authority of the Teutonic Order to the King of Prussia, who happened to be Hochmeister.

 

Celebrations were held for 6 days, the last day being Saturday. Knights marched in full dress along the streets, squires behind them. The King of Prussia rode through the streets of Konigsberg all six days, being lauded by the common and noble alike, the royal coffers will filled with donations from the Papacy, England, Holy Roman Empire, and France, along with orders that the Teutonic Order treasury would be merged with the Royal treasury, to help bolster each other. General Danukas was made Archduke of Lithuania, and given permission to maintain the Lithuanian Regiments

 

By April 6th 1257, the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire (HRE) was taxing his subjects too heavily, spending the wealth for himself, holding lavish parties, and spoiling himself. Princes and Lords from across the Empire were ceding, and forming coalitions, putting the Empire in a state of peril and war with itself. Working out a deal with the Pope, King James got a Bull issued by the Pope ordering all former vassals to rejoin the Empire, or cede to the Empire's loyal friend, Prussia.

 

3 coalitions, consisting of roughly 1/3 of North Germany ceded to Prussia. Princes were made Archdukes, the other nobles kept their titles, being forced to swear vassalage to King James of Prussia. By December 2nd 1257, Prussia declared war on the Empire, using the vices and sins and mistreatment of the masses as it's causam belli. By July 3 1258, the Prussian armies were marching into Vienna. General-Archduke Danukas led the Lithuanian Regiments, lords led their levies, while the King and Hochmeister, one man, led the Teutonic Order himself.

 

Vienna was quickly captured, the Emperor slain, and three of his four sons slain in battle, the fifth, a 5 month old infant, was spared. The King forced all the vassals of the Imperial Family to come and swear fealty, those who didn't were killed. The captured regions of the Austrian regions were made into a Kingdom under Prussia, the Austrian Kingdom, the previous son of the Empire made king, and the Lord High Steward of Prussia was made regent.

 

Despite the Papal Bull, and there being no war declared by France on the Empire, various Princes had stayed ceded to France, and French soldiers committed raids upon Imperial, no Austrian, peasant farms, burning them, raping, and pillaging as they went. The King of Prussia ordered troops not tasked with reconstruction or garrison of various forts and cities to march to the Austrian-French border, along the Rhine. Declaring war on France, King James I of Prussia had soldiers go to every sacked town and farm, and recruit them into the army.

 

At the first battle with the French, the Prussian King met the French King one to one in the middle of the field, James demanding the French surrender the rightful lands taken, and immediate reparations for damages. The French King, a man named Charles III, laughed and spat upon James with no words, his chortles heard all the way back to his lines.

 

James I let out a sharp whistle, signaling his infantry to charge forward, his crossbowmen let loose a barrage, and his cavalry trotted out to the sides, in an apparent attempt at a flank, when from the woods, the recruited peasants ran, holding spears, forks, knives, sticks, rocks, hammers, and anything else they could use, they hit the French from the rear, leaving them in confusion, allowing the cavalry and opening in the French lines, crashing against them, the French were quickly slain and defeated, over 1/3 surrendered, and were assimilated into an all French regiment who did nothing but clean and help around the camp. The peasants were given the chance to become full time levies, scavenging armor and weapons from the fallen, all of them remaining joined.

 

By May 13th 1259, as the armies came to camp, and a Frenchman named Adrian approached the King, saying "J'exige que vous nous faisons ce que nous sommes nés pour faire, pour tuer" looking him right in the eye. The Prussian King nodded, and made him Captain of the French soldiers captured, which had grown since the first battle. They played a crucial role in the siege of Paris on July 2nd 1259.

 

The current French King, Alain, a 21 year old boy, and first born of the late King Charles, ordered the city locked down, soldiers on constant watch, with only 12% of the soldiers resting at one time, only being allotted 4 hours of sleep at a time. When King James and his men arrived, the battle could likely have been won by words alone, but he wished to send a message to Europe.

 

The Prussian forces were sent supplies and 300 soldiers from England by Lord High Admiral William of House Dorahy, a good friend of King James of Prussia, the supplies ranged from food, to wood, to cloth, to armor and weapons. It was then on the night on July 2nd 1259, Paris burned. The French Companies led by Captain Adrian, led the spearhead. Armed and armored in fresh gear, they were supported by Teutonic Knights, while the Lithuanian Regiments of General-Archduke Danukas took the walls, and the levies of Austrian Lords securing the perimeter of the city, preventing any from fleeing.

 

King Alain rode forward, a white flag raised, he demanded a duel with King James, who did so, quickly slaying the arrogant youth, who thought himself superior to a man who knew war his whole life. The French soldiers loyal to Alain surrendered mostly, some fought to the death. The youngest son of Alain was a boy a year and 7 months old, was made King of France, putting the Lord High Marshal as regent, and having him swear fealty to King James I of Prussia.

 

After arriving back in Konigsberg in January 7th 1260, he declared himself Emperor of Gottslandt, and was crowned in March 31st by Pope Karl I, a Prussian Pope, taking the name Constantine. Lords from all over the Empire came, feasting for 7 days, each peasant in the Empire was given 2 Florins from the treasury. During this time, Norway struck. They invaded Northern Prussia, attacking Konigsberg on the third day of the feast, their captain slain by Emperor Constantine.

 

Calling upon Lord High Admiral William of Dorahy, he supplies them with ships, and began blockading Norwegian ports. Norway had been conquering along the North Baltic, and to attack the Empire of Gottslandt was brave, but stupid. Transporting Prussian levies, Teutonic soldiers, and elements of the Lithuanian Regiment up into the Netherlands, and the North Baltic. Meanwhile, General-Archduke Danukas led remaining Lithuanian Regiment forces up the East Baltic, squeezing Norway.

 

The King of Norway, Baldur I, fortified Oslo, and ordered his navies to go to port, his soldiers to cease attacks and move to Oslo. The order was done too late, by May 4th 1260, General-Archduke Danukas approached from the east, while Emperor Constantine attacked from the sea, British ships unloaded the troops right into the harbor, their navy far superior to the Norwegian raiding ships.

 

Oslo was slain in battle, he died a noble death, his axe falling many enemies. In the end however, Norway was conquered and added to the Kingdom of Prussia, and in turn, the Empire. Now, the only opposition to Gottslandt was the Kingdom of Russia, a Orthodox kingdom ruled by the Rus, former viking raiders who conquered the lands there.

 

Recently, they had been occupied with repelling barbarian invasions, and their coffers were drained, and their armies were recuperating and rearming for the event the barbarian raiders came back. The Emperor rallied his men, already having been deployed, they would surely be ready to slay some heretical Orthodox dogs. Calling upon his Austrian levies, and French soldiers, along with the Teutonic Order in its fullest to march with him and General-Archduke Danukas to Russia.

 

By December 4th 1260, they had reached the Russian border, and marched in, attacking castles and cities that opposed them with little opposition, reaching Moscow by April 13th 1261, King Afansi rode out, alone, to meet Emperor Constantine who also rode alone. The words of the two were not recorded, but there was a duel, it lasted an hour and a half, three bouts, the two were in shirts and trousers when Constantine won, piercing his opponent through the abdomen, and ending him in a mercy stroke.

 

Russia was absorbed into the Kingdom of Prussia, adding another title to the Emperor of Gottslandt. Arriving home in Konigsberg by August 3rd 1261, the Emperor awarded medals to his generals in the Ausrian-Prussian war, Franco-Prussian war, Norwegian-Gottslander war, and Russian-Gottslandter war. From here, the Lord High Chancellor urged the Emperor to organize the Empire's peerage, as the Prussian peerage was inadequate for maintaining an Empire. Thus a new one was drafted (See below).

 

From here, the Empire enjoyed peace, England was their closest ally, with support from the Empire, William Dorahy became King of England, the Papacy would find many of their future Popes to be from the Empire. The Empire would be a real and dominant force throughout the coming ages. Promoting sciences and advances in technology, the Empire would come to lead the world as it's chief power.

 

[Kickstarted and Running 965]

Below is the map of the Empire of Gottslandt.

 

 

 

[Kickstarted and Running 965]

-reserved-

[Knox213 10]

Moved to the Archive. It shall be sorted into the appropriate category shortly.