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The Glorious Reign of King Wladyslaw II
part 1 (covers first 20 years)
King Wladyslaw II began his reign in the year 1098, here is what was the condition of a state:
http://www.totalwar.org/patrons/stor...1098astate.jpg
There was enough money to develop and the king realized that.
http://www.totalwar.org/patrons/stor...M1098bking.jpg
Although he was not the best field commander and wasnt well educated, he viewed himself better than the others, and that confidence, that secret pride, was his driving force.
AD 1098
There were lands to the north where the pagan peoples lived. Warrior Tribes of the Prussians and the Pomeranians. King saw them as a threat, and also the alliance made with the Pope, who wanted the pagans to be Christianized, these were the reasons why the king started thinking about war.
AD 1099
A unit of horse archers was first called from Moldavia to Poland, and was then sent to Pomerania to harass the pagans.
http://www.totalwar.org/patrons/stor...9excursion.jpg
AD 1100
The King himself led the army to conquer Pomerania.
http://www.totalwar.org/patrons/stor...00conquest.jpg
It was a good victory, none of the enemies was left alive.
But the situation in Pomerania was very unstable, and so the King had to stay there for a couple of years to strengthen his rule over that region.
AD 1106
Reports from Moldavia reacher his majesty king Wladyslaw II, that Kiev had been taken by the Prince of Novgorod.
http://www.totalwar.org/patrons/stor...ievnovking.jpg
The Novgorodian Prince was a ruler to be feared by his enemies and respected by his allies, his forces were strong, too strong...
There was also a pagan army in Volhynia, commanded by quite a remarkable general. The King had decided to send an emissary to Duke of Volhynia, to discuss our relations and also the threat presented by the Novgorodians, who were continuously attacking Volhynia, even before they arrival to Kiev.
http://www.totalwar.org/patrons/stor...ckedbynovg.jpg
Unfortunately the pagan ruler was too confident in his own abilities, and the emissary had to leave few years after with nothing.
AD 1108
The Prussians were another threat to our country, constantly raiding our border lands they had to be dealt with. Their ruler was, however, not an easy opponent.
http://www.totalwar.org/patrons/stor...8prussians.jpg
First attack took place in 1108 and was led by a proud prince Henryk, who convinced his royal brother to make this attack. Henryk wasnt unfortunately commander good enough to win the battle. He returned beaten and severely wounded with very few men.
AD 1109
That irritated his majesty king Wladyslaw II so much,
that he ordered his careless brother to attack the next year again, but this time under command of 16 year old prince Konrad. That expedition was also a failure, prince Henryk was killed and prince Konrad was wounded.
AD 1111
But eventhough the previous attempts to conquer Prussia were failures, the pagans had been weakened, and their undoing was only a matter of time. And so it happened in the year of the Lord 1111. The young prince Henry was appointed for a commander, as he seemed quite a promising general.
http://www.totalwar.org/patrons/stor...kesprussia.jpg
The battle was won, and the province was taken. Our kingdom was getting stronger.
AD 1113
King once again sent an emissary to Volhynia this time demanding a tribute. The pagan dog refused and offended His Majesty. To avenge the offense, prince Konrad was sent, with an army of mercenaries from Moldavia.
http://www.totalwar.org/patrons/stor...ervolhynia.jpg
The battle was quick and bloody, a defeat, but the pagans dogs bled more
AD 1114
The Conqueror of Prussia, prince Henry had taken Volhynia Prince Konrad who was also fighting in this battle had been killed, and now prince Henry was the second one to the throne. The first was weak prince Casimir stationing in Moldavia, only two years younger from His Majesty the King.
http://www.totalwar.org/patrons/stor...esvolhynia.jpg
AD 1115
Kiev belonged to Novgorod since 1106, but they didnt manage to conquer Lithuania. Influenced by his younger brother prince Henry, the king had decided to send an expedition to Lithuania. But as prince Henry had to stay in Volhynia to keep there order, the command was given to a mercenary general. The army itself was composed only of mercenaries.
The Lithuanians withdrew to Livonia, but at the same time prince of Novgorod sent an army to take the province for him. This started a long war with the Novgorod.
http://www.totalwar.org/patrons/stor...nlithuania.jpg
AD 1117
Our country was strong and was developing, slowly but surely conquering new territories. The Novgorod which appeared a major threat just a few years ago, now was weakened by its struggle in Ryazan and Volga, where they were fighting large rebellions. This was a good time to ensure our place in the east. In this year two polish armies attacked Novgorod's lands. One was commanded by prince Henry, and took Lithuania.
http://www.totalwar.org/patrons/stor...slithuania.jpg
The other one attacked Kiev, and was led by the Crown Prince Casimir.
http://www.totalwar.org/patrons/stor...rtakeskiev.jpg
AD 1118
The first twenty years of king Wladyslaw II's reign had passed. Country was strong militarily, economy wasnt to well developed (salt mines in Pomerania, basic farms).
Since 1106 the king often used mercenaries, so there wasnt enough money for everything, but Poland and Silesia had been developed quite well.
http://www.totalwar.org/patrons/stor...1118poland.jpg
end of part 1
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I'll post what happened next when i finish my reign.
Regards,
EC