Hemma ‘The Great’, Queen of East Francia, finally passed in 952. She had been a terror, holding the kingdom together between her Karling relatives and the warring states in the East. She undeniably left the kingdom stronger than when she took the throne, and was one of the bright lights of that fading dynasty.
Her death ended the East vs West Francia war for Ulm, but the Scotland-West Francia war for Leinster continued. However, now Scotland’s claim was directly strengthened by the armies of East Francia that were already in the field. For Ruairidh now wore two crowns, that of Scotland as well as that of Germany. (With the dynastic control of East Francia leaving the Carolingian House of Karling, the kingdom became more commonly called Germany.)
Ainmeil (Notable)
- Ruairidh Gòrdonach - King of Scotland and Germany
- Sifflæd Lockhart - Bride of King Ruairidh and Countess of Kent
- Uilleam mac Ruairidh Gòrdonach - son of King Ruairidh and Duke of Lancaster
- Dùghall mac Uilleam Gòrdonach - Tanist of Scotland & Germany, and son of Uilleam mac Mànas
- Lleuca Aberffraw - Duchess of York and daughter of Björg ‘The Just’
Cunntas (Events)
With the war with West Francia proceeding, word arrived that a concentration of German force already in the field had entered into a battle against West Francia in central France...
CKS 952.11 At Bourges, a great clash of arms where the Franks were defeated.
The conflict quickly became a series of running engagements, attempting to weaken the West Francian deployments with the German levies, while the Scottish troops siege holdings along the Channel. The pace and volume of events was greater than West Francia could manage, and Leinster was returned to Scottish control in the peace that was settled in February of 953.
In the celebration, Ruairidh’s son Uilleam was named Duke of Lancaster and was wed to Princess Fosca of Greater Moravia.
Pomerania
With the conflict with West Francia behind him, Ruairidh took stock of the lands and titles presented to him by his mother. She had, indeed, formed a land of strength in Germany - between her Karling cousins to the west and the pagan east. He and his advisors were left to admire what she had accomplished. And they determined to replicate her formula for success and establish a pace of holy wars to secure the northeastern frontier. They elected to begin first with the strongest of the pagans nearby.
First, in April of 953 Scotland joined Greater Moravia in their defense against Pomeranian aggression. This war was won in July. In December, Ruairidh moved the crown of Germany to Tanistry Succession, and before any fallout from the change could hit, in March of 954 Scotland declared a holy war for the Duchy of Weligrad.
After only some light fighting, Pomerania surrendered the duchy in February of 956. Ruairidh’s daughter Brìgdhe had suitable heir through her matrilineal marriage, so Flann mac Augaire (son of Lleuca Aberffraw) was named Duke of Mecklenburg (as the new title was called).
What to do with a problem like Lleuca?
It takes little imagination to picture the King's fury and the discussions that followed when word arrived in Circinn that Lleuca Aberffraw had launched a claim war against Niall Gòrdonach, Duke of Northumberland. (The historical play "The Vixens of York" by Harold D. Simmons, presents Björg and Lleuca quite believably. Ruairidh’s character smashes his hand on a table and declares "That bitch!" no less than six times during the production, to the amusement of the audience.) In response, first King Ruairidh laid out decrees that clearly indicated an increase in the authority of the King - seeking to limit intra-ducal wars, and add stability to the realm.
Second, while clear evidence has never been presented, the circumstances indicate that Lleuca was dealt with permanently:
CKS 956.4 Lleuca, Duchess of York, slain by deceit.
She was inherited of her son, Duke Flann mac Augaire Dál Birn of Mecklenberg who was matrilineally married to Brìgdhe Gòrdonach, thereby promising to recover York for the Gòrdonach in a generation. For the time, Flann remained a powerful and potentially disruptive element in the realm - holding two significant titles (continuing the legacy of Queen Björg - It seems unlikely that Ruairidh and the Council were unaware that Flann was Lleuca’s primary heir, but having just given him a significant title and then setting him up to inherit seems... unwise.). The instability of the resulting succession in York, however, prompted York and Northumberland to declared a white peace, and the immediate crisis was averted.
Attention Upon Wessex
After a period of quiet, attention in Scotland turned to the last meaningful power in the Isles: Wessex. Ruairidh chose to press Duke Alexander of East Anglia’s claim on Essex against King Æthelweald of Wessex in August of 957.
There was a single notable battle (The Battle of St. Pauls, December of 957), and some sieges before Essex was won in March of 959.
Byzantium
A concerning development in the region was the Eastern Roman Empire of Byzantium gaining control of Italy in early 958, via inheritance.
And it appeared further inheritance possibilities existed as well, given Karling marriages into the Empire. The Council in Scotland was quite apprehensive of having such a large neighbor. However, other concerns were to draw their attention in September of 959, at the passing of King Ruairidh.
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