Protosebastos Smelgar, in pensive mood, reflected on times past, and on the Knights gone from the Realms, to Glory or otherwise.

It was important to remember those who had shaped the world, so he decided to commit his recollections to writing.

QUOTE:

To the Crowned Heads of the Realms

Your Majesties:

Whilst memory suffices, I think it a good thing to record for posterity a record of the great Knights of the Past who have now Died, and something of their Deeds. No doubt there will be disagreement with my recollections and thoughts; some of it no doubt justified, some perhaps less so, but that is to be expected.

My approach is nation by nation, but only for those nations for which powerful Knights have now passed on. Thus certain young nations are not represented in this first edition.

I have called the work The Book of the Thousand Knights and One Knight, in anticipation of future expansion.

I start with the Danes.

They were for many years led by their King Maleus. He was a mighty warrior in person, and even more so when leading an army. He was the Mastermind who led all the North to Success in the moment of their greatest Peril.

The Danish Queen, Ish Lachesis was separated from her husband only by his death. It was not always so: in her youth, Ish was a captive, taken from her home by Maleus, in one of his many Viking raids. But that tale is elsewhere recounted. I had the Honour to entertain both Ish and Maleus for some Months at my City.

The great allies of the Danes were the Norwegians; for many years they were the mightiest group of warriors in the realms.

They were known as the Magnificent Seven; all now are gone to dust.

Ragnar Lodbrok was for many years their King. He stood by Maleus the Dane in their darkest hour.

Standing with him were: Soeren, Isolde, Olaf, Lady Whisky, Sigurd Haakonson and most mighty of all Ubba Terrosson. Mighty warriors all, and both Sigurd and Ubba also were later King.

I turn now to the Swedes.

Their Queen was Prisca Halsborn, a woman of great wisdom and skilled at arms; she is regarded as the mother of that Nation.

The knight Bor Gellirson was one of her mightiest warriors, and later a Chancellor; he fought with axes in both hands.

Queen Prisca was succeeded by the King Dietrich den Uxi - known as the Ox. He built Sweden into a mighty nation, ruling for over twenty years, one of the longest reigns in the realms.

Living on the northern extremity of the British Isles, the Scots have nonetheless been full participants in the affairs of Europe, both those of the Heart and of War.

Beansbeard was their King. He was mighty in Turneys, and with Bagpipes, and it is said that he was also a prodigious lover.

The Irish occupy the Western part of the British Isles, and they have counted many renowned Kings, Queens and Warriors amongst their nation, and at least one renowned Lover.

Their first King was Pimpy MacC. He unified their nation, and brought it to the brink of greatness, whereupon it would be guided by another...

Later, Ireland was to be ruled by the Queen Molly. Her deeds were seen by many as controversial, and it was a great trouble to me personally to attempt to reconcile my personal affection with my duty to my Nation. But I will say that her loyalty and dedication to Ireland was beyond question.

The great warrior of Ireland was Brian Boru. He never stood back from a fight: neither in Duel, nor at Turney, nor in War.

And the great Lover? He was a Frenchmen in point of fact. He had excellent taste, and fell in love with greatest and most beautiful Lady in all the Realms; he was lucky enough to find that his love was requited and he was wise and humble enough to leave France to be with her. His name was Robert of Rossidhe.

The English have been for much of our history the most powerful of the British nations.

Much of that power comes from their ruler Gregory I. Certainly the most controversial Knight of the Realms, he has been called a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma. Many, including myself, have had conflict with him, and in many cases, those conflict have lasted for years. But he also dedicated many long hours over long years to the service of his nation and to the prosperity of its Knights.

And that was not all; for at one time Gregory was also Pope. He said Deus Vult! and many in Europe answered the call, joining the strong Vatican army as it marched north; even we Romans sent a Regiment over the vast distance. Whilst history records that that venture foundered on Nordic steel, even its initiation was a great achievement.

If Gregory was the hand that guided the British nation, then Argorian de Wolfe was the mailed fist that led her armies in War. Felt by many to be the finest Duelist that has yet lived, he was also the English King for many years. And he was for several years a Knight of the Order of the Temple; loyal to the Order even to the Extent of bearing arms against the nation of his birth.

Argorian's companion and wife was the Lady Lilith. The English nation turned to her as their Queen in their darkest time.

The Burgundians hold a key region in central Europe.

Their Grand Duke was Florian de Fecamp. The great alliance known as Sacrum Imperium Romanum was substantially of his devising; though only latterly did he hold the title of Emperor. He played a key role in many of the great affairs of the world: the overthrow of the Usurper Ronin of Jerusalem (in which he was the key diplomatic leader of the Western part of that effort), the Northern Crusade, the destruction of the Hungarian Nemesis and the defeat of the Mordvin-Pecheneg incursion amongst others.

He was supported by many strong Knights; among them Daggi von Hohenfels and Merovinger, called by many the Merovingian, and Siegfried.

And finally, the Burgundian Knight Hoern: known to be an experimenter with mechanisms and devices, he was also rumoured to possess special powers...

The great allies of the Burgundians were the Saxons.

Their King was Alrik vom Greifenstein and he was also the Emperor of the Sacrum Imperium Romanum for the majority of its existence. He was a war-like man, a great warrior and general. Called by some Alrik the Mad, in fact his approach was to hold steadfast to a position, expected his opponents to blink first, which usually they did. I myself had the privilege to study him at close quarters during the joint defence of Italy against the Mordvin-Pecheneg menace. Alrik's paramount achievement was not that however, but rather the final defeat of the Hungarian marauders that plagued the early years of our age. That campaign involved expeditionary operations far into Africa, where the nefarious Hungarians had secreted themselves. Alrik also played a key role leading the military forces of the West against the Usurper Ronin of Jerusalem.

Alrik's greatest battle companion was the warrior Kraft Hatzfeldt, whose record in battle remains unequaled. Whilst Alrik was at times hated by his enemies; Kraft always retained the respect and admiration of all. The Knight Tagolf served Saxony in many significant ways.

I know little of the early Hungarians, but the mention of their name still strikes terror into the hearts of those old enough to recall the peril faced by Europe at the coming of their horsed warrior.s

Their War Minister was called Gabor Kiraly. He it was who started their campaign of destruction, by the invasion of an otherwise unremarkable Polish shire. And it was he who had the conduct of the War, both of operations and of what passed for diplomacy in the Hungarian lexicon.

The Hungarian King was called Ditmir Shkelqim; he was a mighty warrior but under the domination of the War Minister.

Another interesting Hungarian was the female warrior Vasdrova Virradora; her sabre was lightning fast and wielded with skill.

After they were defeated by an alliance of Bavaria, Burgundy, Italy, Poland, Prussia, Saxony and Swabia (the alliance which later became the Sacrum Imperium Romanum), most of the strong Hungarian Knights left the lands. Whilst the menace was removed, the martial society of the Realms was much the poorer for their untimely passing.

The Polish were the first to feel the cut of Hungarian steel. Whilst they are in modern times a strong nation, it was not always so.

Their king at the time of the attack was the knight known as Hawk and their Chancellor was Wladyslaw Leszczynski who later served as their King. Angud, also King for a time, was one of their strongest Knights.

The first to stand with the Polish were the Prussians. Their King was Athanaric; later he stood down from the throne and became a mentor to the Prussian Queen Diedre de Almhuin, who late in life became the ruler of the Khazars. Another famous Prussian Knight was the Chancellor Wulfgar Ohne Land.

Though never formally members of the Sacrum Imperium Romanum, the Swabians often fought alongside that alliance, both against the Hungarians and at other times. Their King during the Hungarian threat was Konrad of Staufen. Later, the great knight Romeias ascended to the throne, and built Swabia into a glorious realm, albeit a small one. He later joined the Order of the Temple. Finally the Knight Rupert of Salzburg began life as a Swabian and ended as a Pole: he alone in all the realms mastered the mysterious art known as marketing.

To the East live the Lithuanians, a nation of strong Knights and frequent attenders at Turneys. Their second and greatest King was the Grand Duke Sharkus Kobrietis, who came to the throne after his predecessor (and brother) had led their nation to defeat against Moscow. Later he was lost to the Realms, but his son now rules.

Further East still, the former realm of the the Muscovites, wild warriors but strong in the Orthodox faith. Their Chancellor, Khael was the model of a ruler's right hand man, though perhaps his inclination was more to the sinister than to to the dexter. He led an army that seemed to threaten the Roman Empire for a brief period.

South of Moscow were the fierce warriors in the tribes known as Mordvins and Pechenegs. I consider them together, for indeed they were rarely separated across many years.

Their great leader was the Pecheneg King Black Jack, mighty in all aspects of War, he was the general who led their forces in their war against us Romans, also in the invasion of Italy and at many other times as a mercenary for hire.

His wife and constant companion was the lady Johanna, certainly the greatest female warrior of her generation. They were joined by Abdul and the Nameless Knight.

Several Mordvins are notable: Nikolaj Temnikow, known as the Juggernaut after he defeated a Roman army single handed; Hafelja his wife; Mortrag Huntington their King during the Great Eastern war; Keiga von Rabenstein their chancellor and Freidrich of Launstein: he who by diplomatic insults prolonged the Great Eastern War for more than a year after all others were ready to quit the field.

On the southern shore of the Mediterranean Sea there once dwelt the Imazighen. It was a common mistake to consider them adherents of the Muslim religion, but in fact they were tolerant to all and their leaders followed a unique faith known as Phoenic.

Their great leader and King was al Sindiq. As well as ruling their nation for many years, he was the custodian of the Phoenic faith.

In war, they often were led by their War Minister Francesca Brioni. Of Italian origin, she was a convert to the Phoenic faith.

Their foreign minister was one Al Hakam Azzam; after the fall of the Imazighen he lived out his years in Sweden, and was succeeded by his son.

On the eastern shore of that same Mediterranean Sea dwelt the Syrians. They were fierce mercenaries.

The greatest Syrian warrior and their King was the Blood-Caliph Schirkuh. Rarely matched in battle,

The companions of Schirkuh included Tehalon of Derby, Rahim al Rum and Leonard da Monta. Whilst the Syrian King lived they were amongst the core of his warriors. After his untimely demise they and other emigrated to Aragon, where their heirs still serve the King.

In the middle of the Mediterranean Sea lie the Papal States, ruled from the Vatican. Somewhat strangely, given their Holy Mission, the States produced many fine warriors.

The Cardinal Camerlengo Izajah was one of the strongest. He ran the business of the Vatican during the frequent interregnums when there was no Pope.

Hadrian de Venezia was a strong Knight who ascended the Papal throne as Pope Urban I; later he retired to the nation of France.

The knight Johannes I served the Vatican all his life: first as Cardinal, then as Dean of the College of Cardinals, and latterly, until his untimely death, as Pope.

The martial Bishop Reo Lassan server at least three Popes: Urban I, Gregory I and Johannes I. With the death of Johannes, he too left the lands.

And no accounting of the Papal States can be complete without mention of Ronin of Jerusalem also known as Petrus Secundus. He usurped the Papal throne and attempted to use it as the basis for a new Roman Empire, exercising hegemony over the whole of Europe. He was associated with the Domine Carnes, a secret order of Monks rumoured to wield crooked knives under a blood red moon. He was thrown down by a grand alliance of many nations: the Sacrum Imperium Romanum in the West and the Roman Alliance in the East.


Finally, I turn to the Romans: those of the Temple and those of the City.

Protosebastos Nicetius it was who laid down the foundations of the modern Empire. His great assistant in this endeavour was the Protoasekretes Julian. Together with the Templar Grandmaster Conrad the Humble, Julian dominated the politics of the East, and frequently bestrode the world stage. Together, Conrad and Julian threw down the Apostate Pope.

For the City, several Knights stood with Nicetius and Julian: Taurus Balcanicus, Gollwitzer, Sir Humpalot and Gospodar Vozdovca were foremost amongst them.

For the Temple, the great Knights standing with Conrad were: Tankred von Tarent (who was Grandmaster for a Time); the War-mistress Maddie; Seneschal Flavioratus, his wife the Lady Adelyna, who was the first to master the Sword of the Cross; escuman the winner of many Turneys. And greatest of all, the arms-master Barty: he taught me to fight.

Postscript: several young nations are not well represented, I speak particularly of the modern Poland and of Serbia: their tale is still be completed while their Knights still have life.

I have the Honour to Remain, Your Majesties' Most Humble and Obedient Servant
Smelgar, Protosebastos of the Romans

QUOTE:


To Protosebastos Smelgar of Romans


Your work is trully magnificent. Congratulations on this.

I have learn much about history now from your book and it will be put in middle of King Hall in Istra so everyone can see about fallen ones.


Borna
King of Croatia
Knez of Arlberg and Salzburg

*
Great Protosebastos,

we thank you for your efforts. History shall never be forgotten. Let us correct some rather minor aspect for honoring Francesca Brioni of the Imazighen the way she was. She was of catholic faith. Nevertheless she recognized and supported the advantages of multi-culture. For a catholic she was kind of visionary, truely inspired, not just following false self-proclaimed prophets who religious institutions give birth to one after another for containing the power.

we remain with deep respect,
Kashif Raghib al Hamil ibn Arin Hadi al Sindiq
*

QUOTE:
To Smelgar, the forgetful Protosebastos of the Roman Empire,

Your Highness, perhaps your archives are incomplete but as I recall it, the now late Chancellor Kha'el didn't just "lead an army that seemed to threaten the Roman Empire for a brief period". He literally razed Asia Minor to the ground with only a handful of knights at his disposal.

For Allah!

Sultan Alar I