Part 1
550 A.D.
A loose union of towns and villages on the Baltic banded together under a Duke. A Grand Duke, to be precise. Their capital was centred on Riga, a good port built on a river that led right into the heart of the Rus’.
550 - 620 A.D.
During these years a great deal of land was brought under Riga’s control. Lithuania, as Riga’s Empire had become known, had three centres of power. There was Riga, obviously, seat of the Grand Duke, the only major port and the biggest financial centre on the Baltic. Then there was Minsk, surrounded by excellent farmlands and pastures suitable for husbandry. And lastly, there was Konugard. Built in the Southern part of the Rus’, it was dangerously close to the openly hostile Khazars, where the fragile hold that Judaism had over the locals was threatened by Lithuania’s pagan ways.
630 A.D.
Around this time contact was established between the League of Greek City-States and Lithuania. The relations were amicable, and the two prospered from it. But whilst this took place the Khazars began mounting strong raids against Konugard.
650 A.D.
Contact between Lithuania and Rome was cautious at first, as Lithuanians were Non-Romanitas. However, Rome recognised the importance of maintaining good relations with what was effectively frontier between them and barbarian migrations.
660 A.D.
Following the period of forward-thinking and political freedom brought about by contact with the two socially-liberal nations the Grand Duke decided to cement his authority with power. Over the following two decades there was near-anarchy as the Grand Duke used the military to destroy his political opponents and establish central rule.
750 A.D.
The Frankish migration into Gaul presented an opportunity for Lithuania. The Romans were determined to fight for control of Gaul but they were severely weakened by it. Siding with the Franks would lead to Rome’s destruction, and leave hegemony over Europe to Greece and Lithuania. However, siding with Rome would establish excellent relations between the two ‘Great Powers’.
However, the Grand Duke knew both options had risks and so created a third option. He gave Rome backing but did not get directly involved in the conflict. This meant that the Romans had a better chance of success but if defeated then Lithuanian relations with the Franks would still be reasonable.
790 A.D.
The Franco-Roman War ended as something of a draw. The Roman province of Hispania had broken away and formed the Kingdom of Spain. However, they still remained close with their former master and had a strong dislike of the Franks. The Franks successfully took Gaul, but Rome wasn’t too weakened and remained a major power. This left the Franks politically isolated.
820 A.D.
The start of the 9th Century saw a massive political and cultural upheaval across Europe. Christianity had spread across Greece, Italia, Spain and Francia. Monarchs had converted, strengthening bonds between the four nations (even with the Franks). The Greeks had even gone so far as to organise the religion with a Main Church at Athens. However, Christianity was still far from Lithuania and the politics of Europe were not high on the list of the Grand Duke’s interests as the Khazar war was still raging, with attacks against Konugard taking place daily.
840 A.D.
In central Europe a new peoples were settling. Germania had long been devoid of organised states but in response to the large empires surrounding them numerous towns had banded together and formed a new German nation, and Lithuanian relations with them were quite reasonable.
850 A.D.
The 850s saw Lithuania develop the countryside quite heavily, making use of their land as best they could. Whole armies of serfs dotted the landscape, working the land not because they were told too, but because they knew it was for the greater good. This utilitarianism brought about a strong national spirit.
However, the Khazars were watching. Attacking these workforces would destroy Lithuania, but any attempt to defend the workforces would result in Konugard being lost. The Grand Duke knew something had to be done, but any move he made would be a dangerous gamble. If the Khazars struck, it would break Lithuania’s back.
