Chapter 1159 Knights of Etichenstein and Knights of Bleidenstadt
In the quiet winter, come to the Hessen Mountains of Ingau, at the foot of the Taunus Mountains.
The dignified Earl of Ingo, relying on the support of the two last loyal knights and a batch of food from the Normans, hibernated quietly in the remote manor at the foot of the mountain like a hibernating bear.
Only two knights were willing to continue to be loyal to this lord. For their own benefit, the other vassals had all pledged their allegiance to Ludwig, the more powerful Duke of Bavaria and King of East Francia, and summoned their own retinues to join the army of the Eastern King. , in order to gain greater benefits in the new year's war.
There was once a powerful old nobleman, but now he is so depressed that he can only lick his face and go to get some food from the barbarians.
The family can no longer live in luxury, but those servants and a few attendants who never leave are touching. For those people, the old noble can only provide the same food as himself.
On such a painful day, some servants died quietly on a snowy night. The helpless people endured the wind and snow and buried the dead at the foot of the mountain.
The hazy sky accompanied the desolate scene, and the unexpected death of a horse directly broke the old nobleman's guard.
Robert didn't cry, but it was because he had been unable to see the sun these days. Everyone was hiding in a barely warm house and suffering, relying on oatmeal to survive, and he had to consider saving on firewood.
Wearing coarse robes and furry hats covering their entire heads, there is a brazier on the floor of the house, where the dignified earl and his family are warming themselves.
The prerequisite for Robert's release by Ludwig was that he handed over a ransom and exchanged a batch of gold and silver utensils from his home for ransom. In this way, Ludwig used Poxia Donkey to publicize "active release" to the outside world, and he took this The purchase of precious metals has also slightly eased its military spending.
As a price, almost all military strength was lost, the family's century-old wealth suffered a huge loss, and even the old manor was sold.
Living in seclusion under the Taunus Mountains is not a long-term solution, because the remaining funds have been exhausted, and if you continue to stay here, you may live worse than a slave in the future.
"Nantes, Tours. What can your brother give us? Can it be a fief?" He stared at the flames slightly dully as he was warming up the fire, wondering if he could throw some wood blocks into it.
His wife was fed up with such miserable days and clung to her husband, scolding Ludwig for his tyranny and arrogance.
Adelaide, the daughter of the old Earl of Tours. Although remarrying Robert, who was next to her, was an expedient measure at the time, now she sees her husband in desolation and her son in hardship. Her heart is bleeding.
"Ludwig was unfair to us, and Lothair was just as arrogant. Maybe Charlie can do it."
"Charlie..." Robert sighed: "Your brother is here, Charlie, because my father-in-law opposed Lothair. Your family lost Alsace, and I went to Tours...your brother."
"At least because I am her sister, we must be given a territory to live on. Besides, didn't the Norman in Nassau say that he will give us enough money when spring comes?"
"Do you really believe them?" Robert couldn't help but look at his wife's haggard face.
"Otherwise? Staying here would be more painful than killing me."
Thinking of an unpredictable future, Robert made the sign of the cross on his chest: "Be patient. In the spring, our family will go to Nassau, and we will wait there. Those Normans have converted to God and should keep their promise." "
Because together with the servants and the last remaining soldiers, the whole family only had enough food left to last until spring.
These people don't know how to farm at all, and they never want to open up wasteland under the mountains. They lack the ability to rely on their own efforts, so they are poor nobles.
Engaging in agricultural production to save oneself, this kind of thing made other nobles laugh out loud when they learned about it.
Especially his wife Adelaide. As a peasant woman, it is better to go to a monastery and become a monk. Because her sister is the queen of King Lothair! She has the same status. The worst is, she will go to Burgundy to join her ex-husband's family and join her to give birth to a child before her.
's son.
Although this kind of thing, the current husband Robert is even more unwilling to do it.
Where is the sisterhood today? At least my brother-in-law Lothair wants to punish his family to death. It seems that his brother-in-law is more vicious than the Norman pirates. Even those Normans are willing to
Italy and the rebellious Saxon nobles drank and talked happily.
Spring came earlier in the Hesse Mountains. The towering Taunus Mountains quickly shed their snow caps. The melting snow caused the streams to flow violently. The land was first muddy and then quickly dried under the continuous scorching sun.
When they noticed the buds protruding from the pine forest, preparations for leaving the "Yamshita Villa" had already begun.
First, two messengers rode horses and rushed to the two villages in the nearby mountains to convey the count's order to the local knight lords.
The two lords, the knight eti (today's Inderstein) and the knight bleidenstadt (today's Taunustein), knew very well that the earl and his family had to leave, and what would they do if the earl left.
Knights came from different directions, and even the Knight of Bredenstad brought the local monastery bishop to meet him in person.
"My lord, the distinguished guest you are expecting has arrived." The attendant nervously reported the situation to the downcast earl.
Things happened a bit suddenly. Although he was in despair, Robert hurriedly asked: "Is everyone here?"
"They are all here." The attendant who was half-kneeling and saluting quickly stood up, "Both knights are here."
"Huh? They still come together?"
"And...Father Weinbach of Bredenstad Abbey."
"He? And they? That's fine. Tell them to wait a moment, I have to sort things out. I! I am a count after all!"
Just like the Robert family wanted to put on their best clothes, he decisively put on his own armor and spent some time on it.
Then when he appeared again, the two knights saw this gentleman and felt that he was about to ride into the battlefield.
The two knights half-knelt and saluted, declaring their continued loyalty to the earl with this great salute.
For a moment, Robert, who had been silent all winter, felt a sore nose.
"Gilbert von Etikenstein, Ballard von Bredenstad. Get up quickly! And you." At this turn, Robert nodded slightly and said, "Father Weinbach."
These two knights were actually successors, and their father had died on the banks of the Elbe River.
The eldest son automatically inherits the title. As for how the knight's territory will be run, the two young nobles seriously lack ideas.
The young man in full temper wanted to avenge his father who died in the war, but something embarrassing happened. His lord made peace with the Normans, who were supposed to be enemies. On the other hand, King Ludwig of the East made his lord miserable.
s reason.
Are the Normans really villains? The two knights who have never been on the battlefield don't know for sure. They only know that Nassau has a new master, a group of Normans have converted to God, and they heard that the lives of the locals have improved immediately.
After converting to God and being friendly to farmers, the life of the local monastery also improved. Letters from the local priest were sent to Bredenstad Monastery. The priest believed the description of his friend Father Conrad and also believed Father Bachber of Koblenz Monastery.
unique description.
Who could have high hopes for the Normans? But they saw that the people of Coblenz and Nassau were greedy after the conversion of the Norman troops. Famine did not occur, and the monasteries were not looted. On the contrary, the priests of the two monasteries
life has been improved.
All they got were some positive descriptions, which had a great impact on the minds of the three nobles. Those statements that were unfavorable to the Normans were indeed true, but the Normans entrenched in Nassau and Coblenz were afraid that
It's alien.
It is possible to get in touch with them, because the two knights and Father Weinbach must re-find their positions after the count leaves.
They spent the whole winter studying to figure out where they should go.
Taking advantage of the impending visit to the count, they wanted to explain their position again.
The servants cleaned the reception hall, but as soon as they entered the place, everyone shook off the mud from their boots, and they still faced the bleak wooden house.
March is already quite warm in the Ingau area, but only the Hessen mountainous area is still too cool.
With the towering Taunus Mountain at its back and hidden in the mountains and dense forests, this is a good place for seclusion, but it is a prison for ambitious people.
Two young knights brought the wooden stool, and they
Instinctively, he was so in awe of Robert that he even stuttered when he spoke.
As for the wise man, he wore a high bishop's hat inlaid with gems, held a gold-plated cross in his arms, and sat quietly in a black robe.
Robert took the lead to relieve the embarrassment: "I have thought about it a lot. Your fathers are real warriors. God ordained that I should not die, but I survived by luck. So, do you hate those Normans?"
The two knights looked at each other. Only Gilbert of Etikenstein spoke first: "Hate! How not to hate! But... even now, I don't know who to hate."
"Me too." Ballard sighed softly: "The Earl was also ordered to go north to fight, and my father has the obligation to follow you. There is even the Baron of Nassau. Maybe all this was a conspiracy from the beginning! It was Ludwig
My lord...he is persecuting us all." When he said this, Knight Ballard also risked his life.
"You! You are young and energetic! How dare you criticize the noble king!?" Robert asked with a deliberately sullen face.
"Isn't it? The Baron of Nassau is now mixed with the Normans, and their lives have become better. And Liudolf of Westphalia has now become the Duke of Saxony."
"Good boy." Liu Duofu, who squinted his eyes, was slightly surprised: "You actually know so much?"
Ballard, a young man who spoke enthusiastically, became more and more angry as he thought about it: "Everyone knows this, how could I not know? Maybe we didn't need to fight the Normans in the first place. It was Ludwig who ordered us to go north and fight them bloodyly.
.I! Never want to fight for that man again. I don’t want to die without honor.”
The boy was very arrogant, but he was helping Robert vent his anger. He asked again: "Maybe that's it! Sigh. So, what do you two think about your future?"
"This..." Ballard suddenly hesitated.
"What about you?" Robert looked at Gilbert again.
"I...I plan to..."
At this moment, Robert had already guessed the attitude of the two vassals, and a greater sense of desolation arose spontaneously. He still wanted to persist: "The Norman nobles will buy the Leingau, or in other words, Nassau."
The baron bought this area. The baron can now call himself a count, but I will give up here. I destroyed the family's foundation with my own hands! They promised me a huge sum of money and took me to Tours by ship. I will leave the East forever.
Kingdom, what are you doing? I advise you two to follow me! When I make a comeback, you two will no longer be knights. If I become an earl again in the West, you will definitely be a baron!"
There was a moment when the two young people were really moved.
However, they had reached a consensus before coming - not to leave.
The two exchanged glances and suddenly half-knelt down.
Ballard was the first to speak: "Sir, please forgive us. Here are the tombs of our ancestors, our relatives are all here, as well as our farmland and vineyards. I...don't want to give it up."
Gilbert also had the same attitude: "Sir, please forgive me. I won't leave."
"I spoke with great pride just now. Now I have no ambition!" Robert had already expected such a result. He clenched his fist and banged his thigh, and then lamented: "That's okay! At least you have your own land, your own wife and children.
, as well as servants, retinues, and farmers. And I, the noble Earl, need support from both of you this winter. Perhaps in your eyes, this Earl is just like a burden."
"Don't dare! We don't dare!" Ballard hurriedly denied.
"Forget it! I still want to thank you two for the food you gave me. This is your homeland, and I understand that you don't want to leave. I have to leave! If I leave, I won't be able to give you any more good gifts.
.So...whose vassal are you going to be again? You should know that I am no longer worthy of your allegiance."
By saying this, Roald was criticizing the betrayal of the two men with sarcastic words.
To be fair, the two of them did intend to betray. From another perspective, the other knights had already betrayed. It is rare for the two of them to persist until now.
Facing the two silent people, Robert didn't bother to sigh: "So be it. I will leave the Villa and go to Nassau. You can join the Baron of Nassau, even if this Baron is a woman, she
Your husband is a pure Norman. He is a Norman nobleman, but you are not the murderer of your father. Even the nobleman is about the same age as you, understands Latin and has converted to God. The most important thing is that he is against Lothair.
.Nassau has been your neighbor since ancient times. If you go to Nassau, your life will be the same as before, or even better."
"It seems that's the only way it can be." Following the count's words, young Ballard explained that he had already planned it, and so did Gilbert.
If the two knights are loyal to Nassau, then the control range of the black fox living in Nassau village will include the entire southern Hessian mountainous area.
The two knights did not take the initiative to leave Robert. If the count did not take the initiative to leave, the two would always live as vassals. Because this place is a mountainous area, transportation is blocked and there is not much external contact. The two knights control a small and huge population.
The settlements in these two mountain valleys in the mountainous area make the scope of the knight territory theoretically extremely large.
Although the territory is large, the vast mountains and forests are actually no-man's land. Villagers have to be wary of leopards, wild boars and bears. In contrast, the legends of the Normans are nothing.
So what if the knight defected to Ludwig, who had a large garrison in the Eastern Plains? My father and some of his retinue soldiers died in the war for that guy's brutality, should we continue to bleed for him? Especially in the past summer and autumn of 841, Ludwig
Xi fought a "defeated battle" in Kaiserslautern with no results. Although he declared victory, why did thousands of soldiers die in the battle?
Should the farmers in the valley continue to bleed for him?
Two knights and a priest, after his family left, he still needed these three to do something for him.
Robert is willing to be an introducer and take two knights to Nassau, so that they can be loyal to the real Baron Sophia Nassau as knights and serve as her knights. In this way, the two are not loyal to the Normans. In legal terms, they are not loyal to the Normans.
No problem at all.
In addition, the knights had been neighbors with the Nassau family since ancient times and were loyal to the nobles of the Nassau family. There was no psychological grudge between the knights.
Regarding the mountain village where I live, in principle it belongs to the Knights of Bredenstad, or the Taunustein area in a broader sense. The mountain village is at least a settlement, and its property rights were transferred to the monastery and managed by Father Weinbach.
.
He still has a group of servants and retinues, and Robert will no longer force these people. Those retinues and servants who are willing to stay will be given to the two knights, and even the last horse as a gift. The Robert family intends to leave lightly, as long as
Just keep the hundreds of pounds of silver promised by the Normans.
Could it be said that the Normans would not cause trouble during the voyage? Going to Tours by sea is indeed a feat.
Robert was also worried, but thinking of his past glory...
In the past, my family had a huge fiefdom in Leingau-Worms. Now, Worms is completely under the jurisdiction of the bishop. The plain area of Leingau was completely occupied by Ludwig, leaving only a part of the mountainous area to maintain.
With the dignity of the so-called Count of Laingau.
Even if it sells land, what Nassau can buy can only control the inaccessible mountainous areas of Leingau. Rich places such as Wiesbaden, Mainz, and Frankfurt are all in Ludwig's hands.
There is nothing left to lose!
Robert, who would rather believe in the promise of the "Fox Brothers" instructed by King Rurik of Rus, finally began to immigrate with his family.