Chronicle of the Descendants of Riurik the Great

[Tsar Alexsandr]

Long title I know. Well here's the story about this particular writing. This is a historical account of a campaign I played a few years back. So I'll try to retell it from memory. I think that will add to the medieval flavor since this is tragically how most history was preserved...

[Tsar Alexsandr]

From the record of Archbishop Alexsei, Patriarch of Russia.

In the time of Vsevolod of Kiev, our valiant Veliki Kynaz, our lands were besieged by greedy and powerful boyar who in their arrogance did sin against the whole of Russia by dividing the nation. Vsevolod of Kiev lost Kiev to the heathens, great in number for the time but weak in morality, he did swear to right this wrong and recapture Kiev. Smolensk, Ryazan, Chenigov, Moscow, and the other cities followed the example of Kiev. Our prince found refuge in Novgorod, where his great forefather Riurik did first land. Vsevolod did call out to the saints and pleaded for their aide against the blasphemous enemy. His sons Valdimir II Monomakh and Rotislav, known elsewhere in this chronicle as Mikhail, valiantly stood by their father. The elder of the family took upon himself the capture of Moscow where he did order his son Valdimir to capture Riga from the pagan Balts, and to Mikhail he ordered the return of Smolensk. In a year Riga fell to the capable heir of Vsevolod, Valdimir and in another year Moscow and Smolensk would follow. From these victories did the Prince show his authority over the lands of Russia. The armies of the Grand Prince then marched on Vilnius, Kiev, and Ryazan. Valdimir would capture Vilnius and unite Lithuania under the control of the Russian Tsar. Mikhail as well captured the valuable city of Kiev, and the Grand Prince himself captured the fortress of Ryazan. Later in Vsevolod's rule, Mikhail captured the settlement of Caffa which the Russians renamed Feodosiya.

Alas, Vsevolod I of Kiev was by this time an old man, but though well aged he was not a man who would entertain idleness. He was a man who fought hard and often, always on campaign. He died in his camp preparing for another push into rebel territory when he died. The circumstances of his sudden death were most foul. Opponents of our mighty Prince called it divine justice for his harsh justice he employed in his youth, while others feared he contracted a horrible illness. Yet more spread the likely rumor that he was killed by a rival prince. May the good lord punish the coward if it were true! In regard to faith the Prince was a dutiful follower and supporter of the holy church. In policy he was wise, his rule, though turbulent was a worthy trial to show his merit. For in the storm that devoured or Russian lands, the Prince did not cower nor break. Instead he stood tall as the greatest Prince of his age. In his youth he did lead an expedition against the Byzantines, and it is much celebrated that he did leave his shield upon the gate of Constantinople. Though he swore to return he did accept the marriage to the Princess of the Byzantines, Anastasia, and did see the merit of an alliance with the powerful Byzantines. An alliance that stands to this day. But in all the history of the Rus, never did a Prince evoke such fear and respect from the mighty Byzantines.

His children were Valdimir II Monomakh, the future Veliki Kynaz, born of Anastasia. By Anna, princess of the Kypchak, he had Rotislav Vsevoldovich, known as Mikhail, and Evprakia of Kiev. A third child born of Vsevolod I was Chort, born late in the life of Vsevolod.

With the death of Vsevolod the realm passed into the hands of his worthy son Valdimir Monomakh who did greatly enhance his father's realm. Vsevolod is remembered for his unconquerable spirit, endurance despite hardship, and the ultimate sacrifice of his life for the glory of our mother Russia!

[Tsar Alexsandr]

From the record of Archbishop Alexsei, Patriarch of Russia.

With the passing of Vsevolod, Valdimir II Monomakh assumed the throne. Valdimir, a fair and valiant prince, strengthened the alliance between the Rus and the Byzantines. He was a ruler deeply concerned about his Russian subjects. And so it was that Valdimir modernized our land. Erecting churches, building roads, and improving trade. He also opened diplomatic relations with many foreign nations. Including Poland and Hungary. Under Valdimir, our nation won many victories against the Poles near Halych, and his brother Mikhail defeated the Hungarians who invaded the lands around Kiev. The invasions of the western powers proved fruitless, and many sons of the Catholic faith died on our frontiers. Yet Valdimir persisted, hoping to make peace with our Slavic brethren, to unite them against common foes. This would prove fruitless as well, as the Catholics would not tolerate our independence, nor would they properly understand our strength! And so, many western invaders died to the sons of Vsevolod.

Under Mikhail, the lands of the Bulgar were conquered, and so too was the land of Sarkel. He fortified these regions, and prepared them for invasion from the east. He then turned his eye to the south, and liberated the Georgians from the Turks.

Valdimir was well known for his cunning. He employed many spies to ensure that our land would be safe. He became known as Valdimir the Watcher, due to the many spies he employed. The Grand Duke's eyes saw much, and his reach was long. In the great expanses of our domain, little remained unknown. This was to ensure that we would not be without knowledge of what our enemies were doing. So that we could know, and plan, to meet them. And as often happened, to defeat the enemy.

Valdimir was an able ruler, a good governor, and a skilled general in war. His legacy was great, in that he completed the unification of the Russian lands that his father began. He added to our domain as well. Defeating the Polish and capturing Halych. Under him, Mikhail also defeated the Hungarians and their attempts to take our lands. Pushing as far south as Iasi, which Mikhail took for the motherland. His brother-in-law, Kurtisia of Pole conquered the Bulgars and the land around Sarkel. He also invaded the lands of Georgia, expanding our mighty empire. Valdimir was also remembered for being a great modernizer, as well as a wise man. He died of old age and the throne passed to his brother, the great general, Mikhail.

[Tsar Alexsandr]

From the record of Archbishop Alexsei, Patriarch of Russia.

And so the throne passed to the second son of Vsevolod, Mikhail. Mikhail ruled for but a few years, but much happened during his short reign. To the south of our lands, the Byzantines were under siege by the Saracens. Mikhail railed the sons of the mother church, boarding his Black Sea fleet, he set sail for Constantinople early in his reign. By the time he arrived it was too late. The Saracens had achieved their goal in their Jihad against the great city. Mikhail, seeing this, laid siege to the city. Despite the strength of the infidel, the might of the Grand Duke's army was too much for them. And so, the mighty heathen army was destroyed, and Mikhail took the city his father failed too. But having captured Constantinople, which we called Tsargrad, city of the Tsars, he built a church, to honor our lord. He then returned the city to the grateful Byzantines, forfeiting the greatest city in the world for the sake of our alliance. And so it was that Mikhail was known as the Honorable. Mikhail died on the return home, and so, his body was sent to the Byzantines who erected a memorial for our great prince, Mikhail, Savior of Constantinople. Hero of the faith.

Mikhail was well known for his many victories. Early in life against the rebellious Russian princes. The re-capture of Kiev, the city Vsevolod once ruled. And under his brother, the defense of the lands around Kiev and Iasi.

He was also known as being a governor concerned with the well-being of his subjects. A just man. Valiant in battle, but merciful as well. He was well known to release the captured enemy, as when he was off the battlefield, he was chivalrous. But in battle, he was a mighty and skilled opponent. Not a man who would carry a grudge, nor would he add further humiliation upon a humbled foe. He was a modest man, often engaged in the field. Even during his reign, he did not rest from his military campaigns. And so, he further added to the greatness of Russia.

Passing from this life, Mikhail left a great legacy. That of his strategies in battle, his chivalry to all, and his faith. And so he became a hero in the lands of Russia and also in the lands of the Byzantines.

[Tsar Alexsandr]

From the record of Archbishop Alexsei, Patriarch of Russia.

Chort, the third son of Vsevolod inherited the throne after Mikhail's reign ended. Chort was nothing like his brothers. While Valdimir and Mikhail were noble, beneficent rulers, Chort was greedy, perverted, and cruel. A curse upon our nation! The degenerate Chort kept a mistress, and rumors spread that his indulgences were not merely with women outside of his marriage, but men as well. Chort, the defiled creature, had been sent to the Anatolian frontier by Valdimir, and there he reigned, in sin and debauchery. Chort, was greatly feared however, by friend and foe alike. A veritable scourge upon the earth.

Chort bolstered the defenses in Georgia and Armenia, and thus fortified the realms of the Orthodox churches faithful in Anatolia. For this, the Armenians and Georgians were grateful. The Grand Duke Chort declared war upon the Latin Crusaders, and also upon the Jihadists. In the Holy Lands, the Grand Duke killed the King of the Danes, a Crusader. Chort was on the frontier when the Golden Horde emerged upon the landscape of the Holy Lands. He negotiated an alliance so what he could bolster his forces with the allied army of the Mongols to drive back a Jihad meant for Constantinople. (And so Chort, devil that he was, did also save the great city.) And so Chort rode alongside the Mongolian horde in his war against the Jihad.

Under Chort our realm expanded in Anatolia, due to his conquests, and he also bolstered the region. Despite his many vices, he was a firm ruler. Competent in battle. He rarely engaged in battle without an unfair advantage. However, his conquests speak for themselves. That of Edessa and Mosul. Diplomatically, he was able to avoid choosing sides between two allies, the Egyptians and the Mongolian Empire. By playing them against each other, perhaps he strengthened our frontier in that part of the world.

However, as Chort was old when he ascended to the throne, his reign was not a long one. His reign was characterized by expansion, conniving politics, fear, firm rule, and the arrival of the Golden Horde. As well as his involvement in ending the holy wars, defeating both Crusader and Jihadist. In his personal life, he was appalling, but as a ruler, he was competent. Upon his death, many people did grieve. As would be expected. But many of the common folk reveled in the tales of his far off victories. Amongst the people he governed however, the tale is more divided. That of a cunning lord, but one that was unmerciful and cruel. A tyrant living in Asia Minor, like another Xerxes! However, despite his excesses, he was still largely respected. Amongst the nobility, there were those who admired his cunning and talents, but many detested his foul personal habits. Amongst the treasurers, it was said that Chort was hoarding excessive amounts of the treasury for his own use.

Whatever he did in his personal life, God shall judge him for. But history will remember him as the man who kept our southern frontier closed, and safe. The Byzantines also were thankful for his assistance against the Turks, and the revitalization of their nation. Heavily aided by Chort and his armies.

And so passed Chort from this life, to heaven or hell, and so began a new era of the Russian Empire, as the crown left the family of Vsevolod of Kiev.

[Tsar Alexsandr]

From the record of Archbishop Alexsei, Patriarch of Russia.

Upon the death of Chort, the crown passed from the family of Vsevolod of Kiev to the family of Kurtisia of Pole. Kurtisia's son, Nikita of Pole was crowned Grand Duke of the Rus.

Nikita was a wise man. And so it was that he left Anatolia to assume his throne in Kiev. In Kiev, he built an academy. He also improved the trade in the city, increasing the bounty of that city three-fold. Nikita, having ancestry in Pole, of the Poles, decided he would be the Grand Duke to end the wars with Poland. And so, Nikita set out to conquer the Polish and bring the land under our dominion. He was aided by the sons of Valdimir and Mikhail, as well as his able general, Ivan Koslev and the grandson of Vsevolod, Zaits. Nikita's brother, Grigorii of Pole was also of great aide.

Under Nikita, our armies developed gunpowder. And so Nikita made it a point to equip our armies with bombards and later, guns for the soldiers. Under Nikita, our armies would also swell with Cossacks, and the mighty Tsars Guard would also protect important generals. Nikita defeated the Poles, and Ivan Koslev, the able general took Krakow. Under Nikita, Ivan became a good governor, wise like his lord the Grand Duke. It was during this time that the war with the Danes began. Grigorii of Pole defeated the Danes in an unprecedented battle, fielding gunpowder against the mighty Danes. In the first volleys the Danish general fell, and the directionless men were slaughtered. Grigorii and his sons pushed on along the coastline, conquering a path that would lead to Denmark itself.

Nikita had accomplished his goal of conquering Poland, and a year after that he would also conquer the citadel of Bran. Dealing a deathly blow to the Hungarians. It was during the war with the Hungarians that Nikita, from old age, passed from this world.

Nikita had fought alongside Chort in Anatolia, and he had expanded our Empire, bringing Poland into our fold. As well as cutting Hungary in half. He had also survived the plague that broke out in Kiev, and remained in the city all throughout that ordeal. Nikita was a wise ruler, and under his rule Russia grew and prospered. But alas, as he was old when he ascended the throne, he would not remain Grand Duke for long. And yet, he accomplished much during his reign. A noble man, he was just the sort of heroic figure the nation needed in the wake of the unseemly Grand Duke Chort. Chivalrous to conquered enemies, generous with his people, he was greatly loved, and did much to redress the wrong suffered under the rule of Chort.

[komnenos]

Very nice and complete history. I liked it. Thanks for your perfect information.