das
Regeneration In Process
Chapter Thirty Two.
Kagan Solomon II (OOC: there is no reliable Khazar ruler list, so I will just make them up and claim that theyre different because of the different Byzantine rulers, to whom the Khazars often were connected) was probably eccentric, yet definitely a capable ruler. Ofcourse, he did live in a time of great opportunity for the Khazars, but far from all rulers could have exploited it as well.
The Magyar migration through Khazaria, back in mid-9th century, had shaken up much of the easternmost Europe. There were, at the time, at least eight Slavic tribal unions in the area, already forming primitive city-states. Along their way, Magyars defeated one of those, and this led to a series of mini-wars to fill in the power vacuum between the tribes. Three powerful near-kingdoms were formed by the local Slavs: Drevlia, Vyatchia and Severiya.
The Khazars were shaken up as well, the Khazar dragon was waking up. Khazaria was a very interesting state at the time. Judaism was the official religion, but others were tolerated. It had a province system and a standing, professional army. It exploited the river trade-ways and the local agriculture. The Kagan might have at first been elected by the tribal chieftains, Begs, but now, the dynastic succession was established and each Kagan ruled by a heavenly mandate of the Eluim (OOC: Eluim - one of the names for the Jewish god) - something no doubt inspired by Chinese example, as Khazars once lived in Mongolia. Recently, it was also expanding, but the eight Slavic unions were allied against the Khazars. The three new unions, albeit each was much stronger then any of the old ones, were now at war with each other.
Yet instead of taking on them one by one, something that easily could have provoked the others to ally, Solomon II sided with the Drevlians in 915. The Khazar army marched into Vyatchian territory, but by 917, it was driven back by a series of costly forest ambushes. Solomon II was not dismayed, though, and personally led the second one. Solomon II secretly allied with the Severiyans, who then concentrated on attacking Vyatchia. Drevlians too sent in forces, and Vyatchians came under attacks, no matter how disorganized, from three directions. By 921, Vyatchia was carved up... by the Khazars and the Drevlians, as Solomon II cared little for the Severiyans. Drevlians then exhausted themselves in brutal wars against Severiyans, winning in the end.
Solomon II cared very little for following his treaties and alliances. It is presumed that it was the Byzantine blood in him. The Khazars backstabbed Drevlia, and in 922, won the crucial battle at Kiiv. Khazar war against the ever-rebellious Slavs continued for many long years, but the final result was the Khazar conquer of numerous lands east of Vistula and Dniestr, including an outlet to the Baltic Sea.
Solomons internal policy was sound, though sometimes it might seem rather odd and irrational. To improve the internal trade, Solomon invited Byzantine Greeks to settle in Khazar territory, he also encouraged the study of Latin and Greece - presumably to improve education. His most eccentric act, ofcourse, was his revamping of the provincial system, bringing no real change in administration apart from the constant redrawing of the borders. That particular act was immortalized by a Greek merchant, Nikomed, to whom modern history owes a lot of its knowledge of the Dark Age Khazaria, as back then there were no serious chronicles in Khazaria. Solomon also adopted the Roman title of Caesar - Kezar (OOC: it is interesting to note just how many titles were inspired by Caesar - for example, Kaiser and Tsar).
Kagan Solomon II (OOC: there is no reliable Khazar ruler list, so I will just make them up and claim that theyre different because of the different Byzantine rulers, to whom the Khazars often were connected) was probably eccentric, yet definitely a capable ruler. Ofcourse, he did live in a time of great opportunity for the Khazars, but far from all rulers could have exploited it as well.
The Magyar migration through Khazaria, back in mid-9th century, had shaken up much of the easternmost Europe. There were, at the time, at least eight Slavic tribal unions in the area, already forming primitive city-states. Along their way, Magyars defeated one of those, and this led to a series of mini-wars to fill in the power vacuum between the tribes. Three powerful near-kingdoms were formed by the local Slavs: Drevlia, Vyatchia and Severiya.
The Khazars were shaken up as well, the Khazar dragon was waking up. Khazaria was a very interesting state at the time. Judaism was the official religion, but others were tolerated. It had a province system and a standing, professional army. It exploited the river trade-ways and the local agriculture. The Kagan might have at first been elected by the tribal chieftains, Begs, but now, the dynastic succession was established and each Kagan ruled by a heavenly mandate of the Eluim (OOC: Eluim - one of the names for the Jewish god) - something no doubt inspired by Chinese example, as Khazars once lived in Mongolia. Recently, it was also expanding, but the eight Slavic unions were allied against the Khazars. The three new unions, albeit each was much stronger then any of the old ones, were now at war with each other.
Yet instead of taking on them one by one, something that easily could have provoked the others to ally, Solomon II sided with the Drevlians in 915. The Khazar army marched into Vyatchian territory, but by 917, it was driven back by a series of costly forest ambushes. Solomon II was not dismayed, though, and personally led the second one. Solomon II secretly allied with the Severiyans, who then concentrated on attacking Vyatchia. Drevlians too sent in forces, and Vyatchians came under attacks, no matter how disorganized, from three directions. By 921, Vyatchia was carved up... by the Khazars and the Drevlians, as Solomon II cared little for the Severiyans. Drevlians then exhausted themselves in brutal wars against Severiyans, winning in the end.
Solomon II cared very little for following his treaties and alliances. It is presumed that it was the Byzantine blood in him. The Khazars backstabbed Drevlia, and in 922, won the crucial battle at Kiiv. Khazar war against the ever-rebellious Slavs continued for many long years, but the final result was the Khazar conquer of numerous lands east of Vistula and Dniestr, including an outlet to the Baltic Sea.
Solomons internal policy was sound, though sometimes it might seem rather odd and irrational. To improve the internal trade, Solomon invited Byzantine Greeks to settle in Khazar territory, he also encouraged the study of Latin and Greece - presumably to improve education. His most eccentric act, ofcourse, was his revamping of the provincial system, bringing no real change in administration apart from the constant redrawing of the borders. That particular act was immortalized by a Greek merchant, Nikomed, to whom modern history owes a lot of its knowledge of the Dark Age Khazaria, as back then there were no serious chronicles in Khazaria. Solomon also adopted the Roman title of Caesar - Kezar (OOC: it is interesting to note just how many titles were inspired by Caesar - for example, Kaiser and Tsar).
. oh.. and i fixed the 'change' into possibility ( I hope i spelled that right).
