Rise of Rurik

A cavalry army ran swaggeringly from the far south to the north. Lying in front of this army was a very narrow rammed earth wall and even a deep trench under the wall.

Obviously this wall has not been maintained for a long time, but now it still poses a serious obstacle to the cavalry troops.

It is certainly possible but not necessary to dig out the soil to fill the trench and create a large slope for the cavalry to pass directly.

Looking at this wall, a young Frank nobleman named Liudolf pulled the reins back and forth in circles.

"Sir," the servant suggested, "As long as the trench is filled up, our war horses will directly scrape over the wall. It will not be able to stop us."

"Stupid! I don't have time to linger here. Let's go! The whole army goes east to Schleswig." Then he muttered, "I hope there are still our defenders there."

In this cavalry team, an old man with a gray beard wearing a black robe and a white beard rode a simple carriage closely following the young nobleman and his five hundred cavalry.

The old man is none other than Eskil, the "Northern Saint" who has experienced ups and downs in recent years. .

He holds a gold-plated cross in the shape of a wooden staff, and a gold-plated cross inlaid with rubies is hung outside his black robe.

A nobleman, a saint, one young and one old, they know very well that after crossing this wall, they will reach the Danish world, and they also know that today's Denmark has changed dramatically.

Now, the time is spring of 839 AD.

This year, Rurik of Rus's successfully completed the king's ceremony in Uppsala, north of Lake Mälaren. The ceremony marked the birth of a powerful Rus' kingdom, and a large-scale campaign against Götaland and Denmark. The offensive strategic plan was put into effect.

In the vast land south of the Baltic Sea, the situation is becoming increasingly chaotic. For example, the civil war between the three Frankish princes over the power of the king fully unfolded with the death of the late king Louis the Pious, and the civil war became increasingly bloody.

King Horik of Denmark, who was defeated by the Rus' army the previous year, almost lost his pants. Reality forced him to get military support from Frank, so he betrayed Odin again and began to believe in God again.

For such a person who jumps repeatedly, no one can believe that this person can be pious.

Frankish Prince Ludwig never asked this person to be pious, he only asked the Danes in the north not to cause trouble to him during this special period. For Ludwig, the trouble was not just that he and his fourth brother Charles teamed up to seek an explanation from the armies of Lothair, the eldest brother who was the king of the Franks and "cut down the vassal". There are also many unstable nobles in his own fief. Some people with special status are best transferred to distant places, while his cronies are transferred to the front lines of the civil war.

King Horik of Denmark was demoted to earl, and he was legally a vassal of Ludwig. However, for this vassal, Frank troops were needed to go to Denmark and stare at this man with swords and axes to intimidate him from moving again. A rebellious mind. Who was the commander of the Frankish army? The prince named the young Count Liudov to take his personal army to the north, and his fief and family were temporarily monitored by Prince Ludwig!

Count Liudov had nowhere to talk about his anguish. Thanks to the prince's communication with the Archbishop of Reims, Eskil, who had suffered a severe mental shock and had gone into seclusion, was forced to come out again. Liudov confided his distress to Eskil, but received this reply: "Maybe this is an opportunity for you. You are a Saxon! I shouldn't think about these things, but you are a Saxon."

Eskil really didn't say much, or he just wanted to be "The Riddler".

Liudov was not a fool, because Eskil himself was a Saxon, and everyone was the same.

Considering his ancestry, Liudov suddenly realized that he felt that his current trip to Denmark might be an opportunity.

From the Reims Cathedral, to the Detmold (Dortmold) monastery (in Liudov's fief), then through the ruins of Bremen, and then through the still intact Hamburg Castle. After all, the saint still could not give up his obsession with entering Denmark to spread the gospel. The situation in the north was now chaotic and complicated. Although there were many crises, the war gave the missionaries great opportunities.

Robert, Count of Hamburg, entertained the army, which was in desperate need of the border.

He arranged a banquet, and considering that the visitor turned out to be Vidukind's great-grandson, Count Ludolf of the West, the banquet had to be grand.

What's more, Eskil, who originally announced that he would never come to the north again, came again this time, and Robert felt that there would be big events in the future.

The priests were all ascetics, and it was enough to give them black bread and water. Eskil himself did not force the count to provide any additional food.

Therefore, Liu Doufu was the only one who was given a grand banquet by the Count of Hamburg.

After the war, Hamburg absorbed some refugees from Bremen. As the Count of Bremen himself died in battle, his descendants also died in Norman (Viking) attacks. The Count of Bremen is currently vacant, and Ludwig, who is busy with the civil war, has no energy to appoint a new one.

As an elder, Robert poured the wine into a silver cup and pushed it to Liudof himself.

"You...respect me so much?!"

"Why not?" Robert smiled and sat back in his seat: "I know your identity very well! Although I am a Frank, my family and the people in my territory are all Saxons. And you! The title of Duke of Saxony It should belong to your family. But...King Louis, who has gone to heaven, has completely confiscated your father's title. You can only be a count now, of course this is only temporary."

Robert's face was calm when he spoke, but Liu Doufu's feet were already sweating after hearing this.

"How...how dare I covet the title of Duke?"

"No! Maybe you can. You are a descendant of Widukind. Many Saxons identify with you. Some people in my territory heard that you were coming and planned to pay homage to you. For example, the cheering crowd you saw when you entered the city."

"Those people? Aren't they cheering for the saint of the north?"

"Not entirely. You are a descendant of Vidukind, and you are their leader. And I am just a simple Earl of Hamburg."

Robert, Count of Hamburg, devalued his own identity. Of course, it was not that this old guy had masochistic tendencies. It was entirely because of his current situation that he had an ax hanging above his head.

He hoped to know all the orders Ludwig gave Liudov, and it was rare for Liudov, who respected him greatly, to tell them all.

Going to the north, monitoring Horik, stationing... Liudov explained everything.

Now Robert was covered in cold sweat after hearing this, and he couldn't help but ask the young man: "You were ordered to see Horik. Do you know how Horik failed?"

"I probably encountered the Lord's punishment."

"Absurd, did that wooden head of Eskil tell you?"

"It's a group of pirates." Liudov answered casually.

"They are pirates, but not all. They are not even Danes, they are Swedes and Russians. This is a powerful enemy that has emerged in recent years. You live in the south, and I have learned a lot of information in the north. I'm afraid these things, No one knows better than Eskil. You should ask him about the horrors of the Rus."

Now, Liudof felt that Robert's excessive nervousness was boring. How could it enhance other people's prestige in this way?

"I have five hundred cavalry under my command. These are my elite."

"Oh, cavalry. The dead Earl of Bremen also had cavalry, and they were all killed in the battle! I dare say that they died at the hands of the Rus. Those Rus were Normans, but they were by no means simple Normans. When you cross the Schleswig Wall, beware of Horik, but also beware of the Rus, who may launch an attack."

"Okay. Your teachings are very useful to me."

At this moment, Liu Doufu looked happy, but from Robert's point of view, he really wanted to slap this kid several times. No matter what, I also hope that this kid can become my backer when he grows up, so that the family can be in the Earl of Hamburg.

Continue to live a stable life.

Liudov was asked to be wary of Ross and Horik because he was afraid that he would suddenly lose power. To encourage him to establish power in the Danish world, it was also the instructions of the Earl of Hamburg.

"Charlemagne was too harsh and caused your ancestors to rebel. However, the king's suppression was too terrifying. Many Saxons crossed the wall and went to Denmark. You... you can establish your own power there. Remember, you are not a Frank. The Danes have nothing to do with you. There are many Saxons who depend on others, and their ancestors followed your ancestors. You are the real Duke of Saxony. Think about it, when our Prince Ludwig won the civil war and gained the kingship, Is it possible that he can also serve as the Duke of Saxony? Looking ahead, you will be able to restore your title as you have the power."

There were only two nobles in the house, and even the waiters deliberately avoided them.

Compared to Eskil's Riddler behavior and Earl Robert's straightforward words, Liudov suddenly became enlightened.

He even felt that Robert was more like his father, so in this secret place, he reciprocated the love with good words: "Okay! If I restore the title of Duke of Saxony, I will give you a lot of gold and silver. Your family will be Friends of my family, we can marry and do a lot of things together.”

"Oh! That's great."

The young man was very smart, and Count Robert of Hamburg was delighted with the possibility of a return on his political investment. Although he was not completely convinced that Liudov could really restore his dukedom, Prince Ludwig, who concurrently held the dukedom of Saxony and did not adjust the title of earl of Bremen and the noble title of Alemany region in his territory, must only be a temporary one. The stage was too busy with the civil war to take care of it. The war will eventually end. After the war, Ludwig still wants to restore the neglected noble system. By then, the nobles who have made meritorious service during the civil war will be rewarded.

Therefore, Liudov left his fiefdom of Westminster and went to the north to stare at the Normans. He could not establish meritorious service in the civil war, but he also had the opportunity to establish meritorious service in the north.

This is a rare boy! A down-and-out nobleman, his bloodline naturally has strong appeal.

Therefore, Robert spent a lot of money so that Liudolf's army received unexpected supplies in Hamburg. Robert took out a lot of his inventory and even gave some horses as a gift for emergencies.

Liudov kept such good intentions in mind.

Based on the advice of this old friend, he had already planned his actions after climbing over the border wall into Denmark!

The army finally saw the border wall, and the cavalry held high the Frankish "Three Lions Battle Flag", the cross flag, and even improvised a very special flag.

It was a huge piece of plain white linen, on which the word "SAKSON" spelled out in Roman letters was scrawled with a piece of burnt charcoal.

The cavalry arrived in the town of Schleswig. Although it had experienced war, due to its important geographical location, it was the only land exit from the border wall and could also take advantage of the convenience of sea transportation. Not only are the border troops who were relocated here by the Earl of Hamburg for the second time to garrison, but there are also a group of Saxons who believe in God.

With the approval of the Earl of Hamburg, Liudoff no longer had to hide many things.

He directly raised the Saxon flag in Schleswig, and ordered his soldiers (most of whom were also Saxons) to shout to the people in a Saxon dialect that was different from Frankish: "I am a descendant of Widukind!"

Widukind? ! Widukind who led the people against Charlemagne? !

Even though that was fifty years ago, the Saxon nation dare not forget its great hero!

Because Saxony did not actively convert, they were miserable losers who had to give up Odin's faith in order to avoid being punished. Times have changed, and the large number of Saxons who fled to Denmark refused to give up their respect for Odin even after they were defeated. Now even Denmark is in chaos. In Denmark, people who believe in Odin are leaving one after another, and crosses have been erected in every village in Jutland. People of Saxon descent who live in Jutland are unwilling to leave, and they have to convert in the end.

In order to live a stable life, the Saxons gave up a lot, but they dare not forget any of the heroes who led the people to resist tyranny. The names and achievements of heroes who were too ancient became blurred. They especially remembered that the last hero was Vidukind, even though this hero was eventually recruited.

Liudov's appearance was like a miracle!

He must be Widukind's grandson! The Saxon he spoke was absolutely true! He is a leader worthy of everyone’s trust!

Look! Even the Northern Saint Eskil is back!

Horik ruled the Jutland Peninsula. This man was the great-grandson of the Danish hero Godfrey (self-proclaimed), but what did this have to do with the visiting Saxons? It was this man's strong landing that caused civil strife in Denmark. It must have been this reason that made the Russians in the north find it profitable to launch a sneak attack in 838.

Horik's repeated leaps in faith made it impossible for the residents to trust him anymore. They miraculously welcomed the grandson of the great hero. The entire Saxon people of Schleswig stood up, regardless of men, women, old or young, and joined this army. Run to the north.

Liu Doufu never expected this scene, nor did he expect that the Count of Hamburg was right. His bloodline naturally has a strong appeal in the Danish world!

The Saxons who fled Jutland in the past lived in the southern part of the peninsula, and some small tribes rowed long boats to far away places. In the past, because everyone believed in Odin, the local Danish tribes had no objection to these outsiders. Now Denmark has been divided into two parts due to the war. The Saxon residents have built their own villages. They have built monasteries in the villages and secretly kept the sacred tree altars. Now that the situation in Jutland has become clear, they have demolished the sacred tree altars and transformed themselves into pious churches. Believers of God.

Since Horik, who was severely weakened, controlled the Robard tribe in the north of the peninsula, his management of the Danish and Saxon villages in the south has been weak.

He received military support from the Franks and stabilized the situation after the defeat. Although he lost a lot of Danish population (fleeing to Zealand), cross flags are now flying in every village in Jutland. Objectively, this man has completed some of the unity and stability.

"The Transgressor" Horik has a very flexible attitude towards faith. Odin's Hall of Valor is a temptation, but God's Paradise is also a temptation? Moreover, who knows the world after death?

For the power of this life and the power of future generations, the most important thing is to be able to control the power over Denmark. Now that I have lost the military strength to challenge Frank, I can just follow whatever the Frank Kingdom believes.

Horik used forceful means in the Robard tribe under his control, and then borrowed the momentum of the Frankish kingdom to forcefully promote the faith of God.

Those people who refused to convert were executed. After killing a few people, the conversion of the entire Robard tribe was completed.

Seeing that Horik was attacking internally like this, the tribe who didn't want to leave Jutland to become pirates and didn't want to die, had no choice but to dismantle the stone ship altar and choose to convert to God.

In fact, in the summer of 839, large-scale "concentrated baptisms" were still going on in Jutland, and those responsible for baptizing were young priests sent in advance by the Bishop of Reims.

Now the northern sage Eskil has returned, and he and the ambitious Liudov have joined forces to do such a thing.

The cavalry blatantly used the banner of Widukind to attract Saxon villages to surrender. Those who had not yet been baptized were baptized by Eskil himself.

He is the grandson of the great hero Vidukind! He will decide for all Saxons! Only he can be our true supporter!

The people had such a simple attitude, and they also noticed that the young Liudov had no intention of asking for too much money from everyone, as long as the village provided enough food for the cavalry.

People are willing to pay more to support the nobles they identify with. Liudov's five hundred cavalry gave the people strong confidence and attracted the surrender of some Danish villages.

Because a civil war broke out in Denmark after Horik's landing, and in the end Horik relied on the cavalry to complete the victory.

New cavalry arrived, but Horik had lost all of his cavalry in the Battle of Godfrehagen. These Danish villages do not actually support Horik as a man, but due to the situation they cannot at least show their willingness to oppose him. A new cavalry arrived. They were completely dressed in Frankish army uniforms, and they were holding high the flag of Charlemagne's Three Lions. These alone were enough to make the Danish villages tremble.

Regardless of the relationship between these cavalrymen and the visiting Saxons, the Danes' appearance of five hundred cavalrymen is essentially the same as the Russians' large ships rushing towards them. They are both existences that the brothers dare not provoke.

At least these cavalrymen don't rob families. It is said that they are descendants of the ancient Duke of Saxony. This nobleman is really young, promising, tall and handsome, and he looks more promising than Horik's old pudgy man.

Therefore, no matter what Liudov thought, he only had 500 cavalry when he came, and now there were as many as 2,000 warriors standing behind him who brought their own food and weapons. They were Saxons and Danes. They smeared chalk mud on their round shields and made huge crosses with charcoal. They also held homemade cross flags and acted as infantry for Liudov.

This army arrived at the Robard tribe in the northernmost part of Jutland with great swagger. From Horik's perspective, he was so frightened that he thought Prince Ludwig had personally led the army!

Horik was mentally prepared to kneel down and kiss his feet. As a result, he took his own soldiers to respond, and then he noticed that this Frankish army was very strange.

The cavalry in front of them are standard Frankish cavalry. Their lances are very long, and the flags they hold high include Charlemagne's battle flag. The many infantrymen around him seemed too baffling.

A young nobleman rode forward and looked at himself from a bird's eye view.

At this moment, Horik suddenly realized: "Ah! Are you the nobleman arranged by His Royal Highness to be stationed here?!"

"Yes. Obviously, you are Horik! Horik of Durist, now Horik of Denmark. His Highness is very dissatisfied with your affairs. Now that you have returned to our camp, I hope you can take care of yourself. .”

Because Liudov had heard a lot about Horik, this guy was a typical Norman pirate, and now he was just recruited and converted for the third time. Although he is young, he is not a fool. This Horik is not trustworthy, and he must be watched carefully to avoid causing trouble.

How comfortable is Horik? The capital he built was destroyed by the young Rusian Rurik, and he almost died.

Now a young man also came. Look, this army is really coming with bad intentions.

"Your Highness has already written a letter. I know what to do. My friend, who are you? Do you want to be stationed here?"

"Here?" Liu Doufu looked at it. He noticed that the ocean was directly north of him, and there was a blurry shadow looking to the north.

To be honest, this was the first time in Liu Dou's life that he had come to such a distant place.

His bloodline is absolutely true. He is indeed a descendant of Widukind, the last Duke of Saxony in the barbarian era. He was demoted to Earl of Westerly. The core of his rule is in Dortmold. The reason why he was chosen here is because In the cemetery next to the monastery in this small town, his ancestor, Vidukind himself, is buried!

Look behind you and see the army you organized. With a strength of 2,500 men, how could this army not restore the glory of the real Duke of Saxony?

So Horik, who was demoted to an earl, was just a pirate who had been recruited. Find Shuyuan www.zhaoshuyuan.com

Liudolf rode a tall horse and declared his noble blood: "I am the grandson of the old Duke of Saxony, Widukind, and now the Earl of Westchester. All the Saxons agree with me, and many Danes also agree with me. I am the saint of the north. Skir blessed me, and His Highness Ludwig gave me a great mission! I am Liudov, and my army will be stationed in the south. I came here today to see you and tell you that I am here."

"So...that's it?!" Sure enough, a big shot came. Horik felt extremely unhappy and could only smile. "So, what can I do for you?"

"Then give me food and fodder for my horses. And tell me about the other Normans you know."

PS: Widukind was defeated in the war against Charlemagne and was recruited. He was forced to live in a monastery for the rest of his life. Although his descendants were still Frankish nobles, they temporarily lost the title of Duke of Saxony. In the generation of his great-grandson Liudolf, he was demoted to a count. . If there are no unexpected circumstances, Liudov will restore the title of Duke of Saxony, and his great-great-grandson is Otto the Great who established the "Holy Roman Empire of the German nation".

Please remember the first domain name of this book: . :