,*APT] #ae #aihcaihc ,PEOPLE 3 ,AU?OR 3 ,FR$Y ,P]LMAN ,TEXT 3 ,! ,*UR*'S PROJECT ( REHABILITAT+ ! ,ROMAN ,LEVIA?AN ON ITS WE/-,EURASIAN HOME-GR\NDS SUCCE$S -- BUT ONLY = AN 9/ANT1 A FLEET+ 9/ANT :I* GIVES RISE TO LA/+ ILLUSIONS4 ,*>LEMAGNE'S NEO-,ROMAN ,EMPIRE 9 ,FRANKI% G>B IS NEI!R A REHABILITAT$ ,F\R? NOR A NEW ,FIF? ,BEA/4 ,IT IS NO MORE ?AN ! LA/ DEA?-RATTLE ( ! MORIBUND ,ROMAN WORM1 A SUDD5 BUR/ ( FLAME AMONG ! C9D]S ( A BURNT-\T FIRE4 ,! /5* EMANAT+ FROM ! UNBURI$ DECOMPOS+ C>CASS WILL CONT9UE TO ATTACK WE/]N NO/RILS1 BUT ! >TIFICE WILL NEV] AGA9 BE SET 9 MOTION4 ,MUSLIMS1 ,BYZANT9ES1 ,TURNKS & ,MONGOLS SEEK+ A ,LEVIA?ANIC NAME = ! ,WE/ WILL CONT9UE TO REF] TO ,EUROPEANS AS 0,FRANKS0 BECAUSE !RE WAS A ,FRANKI% ,LEVIA?AN ONCE UPON A TIME1 NOT BECAUSE !RE CONT9UES TO BE ONE4 ,WE/]N ,EURASIA WILL BE TREAT$ LIKE A S+LE 5TITY ) A CONT9U\S /ORY BECAUSE TRA9$ FALSIFI]S WILL HAVE A MONOPOLY ON ! ,WE/'S RECORD KEEP+4 ,! ,ROMAN ,CA?OLIC *RONICL]S ( ! HEAV5LY & E>?LY ,LEVIA?AN >E S*OOL$ TO SEE UNITY & CONT9UITY :]E !RE IS NONE1 TO SEE :AT !Y'RE LOOK+ =1 NOT :AT !Y'RE LOOK+ AT4 ,!Y TELL ( ! ,E>?LY ,CITY EV5 :5 CITIES DISAPPE> FROM ! ,WE/1 :5 !RE IS NO ,LEVIA?ANIC UNITY NOR CONT9UITY BUT ONLY DISMEMB]M5T & DECOMPOSITION4 ,! C5TURIES ( MILITANCY1 PREP>ATION & PROPAG&A YIELD ! ,*UR* NO ,E>?LY ,CITY4 ,?E ,*UR*'S *OS5 *AMPION1 ! ,FRANKI% ,ROMAN ,EMPIRE1 IS LIKE ANCI5T ,PYRRHUS1 ! K+ ( ,EPIRUS1 :O W5T FROM VICTORY TO VICTORY UNTIL HE WAS TOTALLY RU9$4 ,! ,*UR*'S SCRIBES WILL NEV]!LESS DEPICT EV]-GREAT] TRIUMPHS ( !IR CAUSE4 ,!Y >E TRA9$ NOT TO RECOGNIZE DEFEAT4 ,SELF-DEF9$ AS ,CA?OLIC1 NAMELY ALL-EMBRAC+1 ! ,WE/]N ,*UR* SEEKS TOTAL A DOM9ION SO VA/1 ?AT EV]Y COLLAPSE ( ITS REAL EMPIRE SEEMS M9OR & EPHEM]AL1 EV5 ! COLLAPSE ( ITS LA/ EMPIRE4 ,LIKE MILITANTS ( LAT] DAYS1 ,CA?OLIC MILITANTS SEEK 5DS SO BROAD ?AT VIRTUALLY ANY MEANS SEEM 9/RUM5TAL4 ,!IR DAILY PRACTICE DEG5]ATES 9TO AN UNPR9CIPL$ P[]-S]V+ OPPORTUNISM ?AT IS EV]-READY TO SME> ! PREVI\S DAY'S GOALS & P]PETRATE ATROCITIES AGA9/ ! PREVI\S DAY'S ALLIES4 ,9 ! EYES ( SU* OPPORTUNI/S ,EMP]OR ,*>LEMAGNE WAS GREAT & ,HOLY ,ROMAN ,EMP]OR ,OTTO IS GREAT]4 ,BUT IF ,*>LEMAGNE WAS B>ELY MORE ?AN ! *IEFTAN ( A GANG ( M>AUD]S1 ,OTTO IS NEI!R ,HOLY NOR ,ROMAN NOR AN ,EMP]OR4 ,! ,*UR* CANNOT ACCEPT ! FALL ( ! ,ROMAN ,EMPIRE BECAUSE IT SEES ! ,EMPIRE AS ! ,WORLD & ITSELF AS ! ,EMPIRE'S S\L4 ,! 5TIRE APP>ATUS ( ! ,*UR* CONT9UES TO ACT AS A VA/ BUREAUCRACY ADM9I/]+ A WORLD-EMBRAC+ ,LEVIA?AN DUR+ ALL ! C5TURIES :5 NO ,LEVIA?AN /IRS 9 ! ,WE/4 ,*>LEMAGNE'S EPHEM]AL ,FRANKI% ,EMPIRE S]VES ! ,*UR* AS CONFIRMATION ?AT ! ,BEA/ DOES MOVE1 BUT A CLOSE LOOK REVEALS ?AT ?IS ,BEA/ IS NOT ONLY EPHEM]AL BUT ALSO ILLUSORY4 ,IT IS NOT A FUNCTION+ MA*9E4 ,IT IS A COMPOSITE MADE UP ( PIECES ?AT COME FROM DIFF]5T MA*9ES1 & ! PIECES DON'T ME% TOGE!R1 !Y >E LIKE PR[S ( %IPS COMB9$ ) CLOCK SPR+S4 ,CLOCKS WILL S]VE A PURPOSE ON %IPS1 BUT A M\ND ( PR[S & CLOCK SPR+S WILL NOT YIELD EI!R A %IP OR A CLOCK4 ,ANO!R SUGGE/IVE METAPHOR W\LD BE A N]V\S SY/EM EXI/+ AP>T FROM A BODY4 ,! ,*UR* TRA9S & DEPLOYS A VA/ BUREAUCRACY FULLY CAPABLE ( S]V+ AS ADM9I/RATION & POLICE ( ! ,ROMAN ,EMP]OR & HIS PROV9CIAL GOV]NORS & TAX F>M]S 9 ! TIME ( ,OCTAVIAN ,AUGU/US4 ,BUT 9 ! TIME ( ,FRANKI% M>AUD]S1 ?IS COLOSSAL BUREACUCRACY DANGLES 9 A VOID1 & NO AM\NT ( ANO9T+ WAT] CAN GLUE SU* A BUREAUCRACY TO SU* AN >MY & MAKE IT A FUNCTION+ ,LEVIA?AN4 ,! ,FRANKS >E /ILL ,FREE ,M5 :O PROVE !IR WOR? BY !IR PR[ESS1 & ! ONLY LOYALTY !Y HONOR IS LOYALTY TO ! BRO!RS & COMRADES :O HELP !M GET BOOTY4 ,LOYALTY TO AN ,EMP]OR1 DEVOTION TO ! ORD]LY FUNCTION+ ( ! ,IMP]IAL MA*9E1 >E AS ALI5 TO !M AS FEALTY IS TO ! ,ROMAN ,POPES4 ,! ,FRANKS W]E GLAD 5\< TO TREAT ! V]Y L& AS W> BOOTY1 BUT ?IS HAS NOT TURN$ !M 9TO (FICIALS ( A T]RITORIAL ,/ATE4 ,ON ! CONTR>Y1 ! ,FRANKS HAVE TURN$ L&S 9TO ATTRIBUTES ( P]SONS4 ,?US ,LO?>+IA1 = EXAMPLE1 IS NEI!R A COLONY NOR A PROV9CE1 SU* AS ,GAUL WAS 9 ,ROMAN DAYS4 ,LO?>+IA IS ! SUM ( ,LO?>'S HOLD+S 9 ANY GIV5 YE>1 & IT CAN *ANGE FROM ONE YE> TO ! NEXT1 LIKE ,LO?>'S CLO!S4 ,?IS IS TRUE NOT ONLY ( ,LO?> BUT ALSO ( HIS SWORN COMPANIONS-9->MS1 HIS VASSALS4 ,EA* VASSAL IS REW>D$ ) BOOTY 9 ! =M ( L&S OV] :I* HE IS ,LORD1 & HE 9 TURN REW>DS LESS] VASSALS ) L>GE P>CELS ( HIS L&S4 ,! P>CELS1 CALL$ ,MANORS1 >E NOT FISCAL & ADM9I/RATIVE UNITS ( A T]RITORIAL ,/ATE4 ,! (FICIALS DEPLOY$ TO ALL !SE 0P>I%ES0 BY ! ,*UR* (FICIATE 9 A VACUUM4 ,! ,LORD ( ! MANOR S]VES AS LIEGE-LORD1 BE HE NE> OR DI/ANT1 & IF HIS LIEGE-LORD IS AT W> ) HIS NEI AGA9/ HIS NEIS >E NOT R>E4 ,?AT'S :Y ! WALLS ( ! ,LORD'S LODG+ >E ?REE FEET ?ICK1 :Y !RE IS A MOAT BE=E ! 5TRANCE1 :Y ! ,LORD & HIS RETA9]S MOVE AB\T 9 HEAVY >MOR LUGG+ TREE-L5G? SPE>S4 ,9 SU* A CONTEXT1 TRA9$ ADM9I/RATORS ( T]RITORIAL UNITS >E EXOTICS FROM A DIFF]5T WORLD4 ,! ,FRANKI% ,LORDS >E /ILL FAMILI> ONLY ) ! P]SONAL RELATIONS ( !IR VANQUI%$ COMMUNITY1 :]EAS ! ,*UR*M5 >E TRA9$ TO ?9K ! HI]>*IC RELATIONS ( ! ,ROMAN ,EMPIRE >E ! ONLY POSSIBLE COMMUNITY4 ,! ,LORD & ! ,PRIE/ >E NOT ONLY EXOTIC TO EA* O!R4 ,!Y >E ALSO 9COMPATIBLE4 ,! WORLD ( EA* EXCLUDES ! O!R4 ,! ,LORD IS PROBABLY GRATEFUL TO ! ,PRIE/ = PACIFY+ ! CULTIVATORS ( ! L& ) /ORIES ( ! EVILS ( ?IS WORLD & ! GLORIES ( ! NEXT4 ,! ,LORD IS GRATEFUL BECAUSE HE IS F$1 NOT BY ! L&1 BUT BY ITS CULTIVATORS4 ,! PEASANTS FE$ ! ,LORD & ALL HIS COMPANIONS1 !IR FAMILIES & ?I] HORSES4 ,! PEASANTS BUILD ! MOAT AS WELL AS ! ?ICK WALLS4 ,!Y GR9D ! ,LORD'S :EAT & C>RY HIS WAT]4 ,ON OCCASION !Y >E EV5 RECRUIT$ TO FIS4 ,! PEASANTS1 :E!R !IR ANCE/ORS W]E ,FRANKS1 ,LAT9S1 ,CELTS1 ,LEVANT9ES OR ,AFRICANS1 >E NO LONG] FREE4 ,SOME RESI/$1 SOME TRI$ TO FLEE1 BUT ALL ! LIEGE-LORD'S VASSALS GANG$ UP AGA9/ !M4 ,!Y >E P>T ( ! MANOR4 ,!Y COME ) ! P>CEL A VASSAL RECEIVES AS BOOTY4 ,!Y HAVE BE5 R$UC$ TO S]FS4 ,IT IS AMONG ! S]FS ?AT ! PRIE/S DO !IR (FICIAT+4 ,TO ! ,PRIE/S1 ! ,S]FS >E EQUAL TO ! ,LORDS 9 ! EYES ( ,GOD1 !Y >E ALL CITIZ5S ( ! ,EMPIRE1 AS !Y W]E TO ,ROMAN ,EMP]OR ,C>ACALLA1 & !RE=E ALL >E EQUALLY B\ND TO PAY A HEAD TAX1 A TI! OR T5? ( ALL !IR PRODUCE4 ,?IS TI! IS S5T TO ,ROME & FROM ,ROME IT FILT]S D[N ! HI]>*Y 9 A PROP]LY ,LEVIA?ANIC MANN]1 SUPPORT+ ! ADM9I/RATIVE APP>ATUS ( ! 9EXI/5T ,EMPIRE4 ,BUT ! TI! IS SO MU* FOOD ?AT DOESN'T REA* ! ,LORD'S TABLE4 ,! ,LORD HATES TO SEE ! TI! LEAVE ?IS MANOR1 & HE WILL SOON TRY TO CONTROL NOT ONLY ! TI! BUT ALSO ! ,PRIE/ ON HIS MANOR4 ,HE WANTS ! PEASANT'S SURPLUS PRODUCT ON HIS TABLE1 NOT ON ! P>ASITICAL ,POPE'S4 ,SU* AN ATTITUDE C\LD NOT BE AT GREAT] V>IANCE ) ! ,PRIE/'S1 :OSE ,ROMAN TRA9+ PR$ISPOSES HIM TO WANT TO GA!R ALL SURPLUS PRODUCE & S5D IT TO ! C5T]1 FROM :]E IT W\LD FILT] D[N 9 A PROP]LY ,LEVIA?ANIC MANN]4 ,9 PRACTICE1 ,LORD & ,PRIE/ ACCOMMODATE TO EA* O!R1 BUT DUR+ ALL ! G5]ATIONS ?AT !Y COEXI/1 EA* ( !M DRAWS A L9E HE WILL NOT CROSS4 ,!Y REMA9 ANTI!TICAL4 ,EA* REMA9S A COMPON5T ( A DIFF]5T 5TITY4 "9 "9 "9 ,BOOKS WILL BE WRITT5 TO TELL READ]S ?AT ,LEVIA?ANIC 0MODES ( PRODUCTION0 RISE 9 ! ,WE/ :5 0PRODUCTIVE =CES RIP510 ?AT ! MANORS ( ! ,LORDS 0DEVELOP 9TO0 T]RITORIAL M]CANTILE ,/ATES1 ) ,*UR*M5 S]V+ AS 0MIDWIVES40 ,MANY ( !SE BOOKS WILL BE LIKE 0BE=E0 & 0AFT]0 PICTURES ) AN ELABORATE >GUM5T ?AT DEMON/RATES H[ ! E>LI] /RUCTURE 0DEVELOP$ 9TO0 ! LAT] ONE4 ,WRITT5 BY DIALECTICIANS ADEPT AT %[+ H[ ?+S DEVELOP 9TO !IR OPPOSITES1 MANY ( ! >GUM5TS WILL BE CONV9C+ & SOME POSITIVELY ELEGANT1 BUT !Y WILL TELL READ]S EV]Y?+ EXCEPT ! FACT ?AT ! E>LI] /RUCTURES W]E BURN$ D[N4 ,! FACT IS ?AT ! ,WE/ 9H]IT$ ,ROME'S 0PRODUCTIVE =CES10 AMONG ! WORLD'S 0RIPE/10 & LET !M ROT4 ,! FACT IS ?AT ! MANOR WILL /AY A MANOR LONG] ?AN ANY ,EGYPTIAN DYNA/Y LA/$ & WILL NEV] DEVELOP 9TO A T]RITORIAL ,/ATE1 A PROP] ,LEVIA?AN4 ,! FACT IS ?AT ! ,*UR* IS NOT ! 0MIDWIFE40 ,! ,*UR* IS COMMITT$ TO ,OCTAVIAN'S ,ROME1 NOT TO ! T]RITORIAL COMM]CIAL ,/ATES ( ! LAT] ,WE/2 ,*>LEMAGNE'S ,EMPIRE COMES AS CLOSE AS ! ,*UR* WILL GET TO ITS GOAL4 ,! ,LEVIA?ANIC =MS COME FROM \TSID]S4 ,!Y >E NOT ADOPT$ BY FLEXIBLE ,*RI/IAN ,WE/]N]S1 :O WILL EXI/ ONLY 9 LAT] /ORIES4 ,!Y >E VIOL5TLY IMPOS$ ON ! RU9S ( ! DISMEMB]$ ,FRANKI% ,CA?OLIC ,EMPIRE4 ,& ! 0MIDWIVES0 :O 9ITIATE ! AVAT>S ( ! LAT] ,WE/]N ,LEVIA?AN >E 5EMIES ( ! ,FRANKS1 ( ,ROME1 ( ! ,*UR*1 OR ALL ?REE4 ,! GRAV$IGG]S ( ,CA?OLICISM'S ONLY REAL ,WE/]N ,EMPIRE1 ,*>LEMAGNE'S1 >E SET 9 MOTION BY ,*>LEMAGNE'S [N >MIES ( ,FREE ,M5 :O TE/ !IR FRE$OM & !IR MANHOOD BY TURN+ EV]YONE ON ,EUROPE'S FR+ES 9TO AN 9VET]ATE 5EMY ( ,FRANKS4 ,BUT BY ATTACK+ ! ,MUSLIMS S\? ( !M & !N TURN+ NOR? AGA9/ NEIE NO LONG] TANGL+ ) WEAK] COMMUNITIES4 ,!Y >E TANGL+ ) PEOPLES AS HEAVILY >MOR$ ) ,LEVIA?ANIC TRAITS AS ! ,FRANKS !MSELVES4 ,! ,MUSLIMS ( ,SPA9 >E ! WE/]NMO/ PROV9CE ( ,EURASIA'S MO/ P[]FUL ,LEVIA?AN ?IS SIDE ( ,*9A4 ,! ,DANES1 ,SLAVS1 & ,AV> ,HUNS ( ! NOR!RN WOODL&S1 AL?\< NOT AS >MOR$ AS ! ,MUSLIMS1 HAVE LONG BE5 US+ ,LEVIA?ANIC WEAPONS TO TRY TO PRES]VE :AT REMA9S ( !IR COMMUNITIES4 ,:5 ALL ( !SE PEOPLES RETALIATE AGA9/ ! ,FRANKS1 ! ,EMPIRE ( ! ,WE/ COLLAPSES = GOOD4 "9 "9 "9 ,SC&9AVIANS -- !IR DESC5DANTS WILL BE KN[N 9 ! ,WE/ AS ,VIK+S1 ,NOR?M51 ,NORMANS -- >E ! FIR/ TO RETALIATE AGA9/ ,FRANKI% VIOL5CE4 ,DANES ALREADY TOOK UP >MS TO DEF5D !IR ,SAXON NEIE BUILD+ A FLEET AGA9/ ,*>LEMAGNE'S ,*RI/IANS4 ,?IS FLEET IS FOLL[$ BY NUM]\S L>G] FLEETS1 NO LONG] DEF5SIVE ONES4 ,! NOR!RN]S ORGANIZE VA/ MILIT>Y UND]TAK+S AGA9/ ! DIS9TEGRAT+ ,FRANKI% ,EMPIRE4 ,!Y BEG9 BY RAID+ ! ,EMPIRE'S \T] FR+ES3 ,FRISIA1 ,5GL&1 ,IREL&4 ,! ,VIK+S TAKE !IR ,/EPPE HORSES ) !M ON !IR L>GE %IPS1 T]RORIZE ALL ( ,EUROPE1 SACK & DE/ROY ,FRANKI% /RONIS4 ,!Y >RIVE AS ,CONQUI/ADORES ( VA/ PORTIONS ( ! ,C>OL+IAN ,EMPIRE1 DISMEMB]]S ( ! LA/ ,ROMAN ,EMPIRE ( ! ,WE/4 ,VIK+S 9VADE P>TS ( ,GAUL1 ,APULIA 9 ,ITALY1 ALL ( ,SICILY1 ALL ( ,5GL&4 ,ADOPT+ ,FRANKI% LANGUAGES1 AVAIL+ !MSELVES ( ,ROMAN BUREAUCRATS1 !Y IMPOSE !MSELVES AS RUL]S1 UND]M9E ! P[] ( MANOR LORDS1 & !N LAUN* A REVAMP$ ,ROMAN ,FRANKDOM 9TO M>ITIME PLUND]+ EXP$ITIONS1 9TO VA/ COMM]CIAL UND]TAK+S ( SEABORNE PIRACY & CONQUE/4 ,! NOR!RN]S :O >E PROVOK$ BY ! ,ROMAN ,CA?OLIC 9VAD]S ( ,SAXONY 9TO SU* A VA/ & LONG-LA/+ RESPONSE >E AS FAMILI> ) ,LEVIA?ANIC WAYS AS ! ,FRANKS !MSELVES4 ,! FACT ?AT ,VIK+S >E NOT EXPLICITLY NAM$ 9 ! RECORDS ( ,LEVIA?ANS PRIOR TO ,*>LEMAGNE'S SUGGE/S ?AT !Y HAVE NOT WANT$ TO TANGLE ) ! ,LEVIA?ANS UNTIL !Y HAD TO4 ,VIK+S MAY HAVE BE5 AMONG ! NOR!RN]S :O W>R$ AGA9/ ! ,ROMAN ,EMPIRE'S 5CLOSURE ( S\?WE/]N ,EURASIA4 ,UNLIKE ,FRANKS & ,GO?S1 ! ,SC&9AVIANS DID NOT PURSUE ! W> = TW5TY G5]ATIONS1 & !Y W]E NOT AMONG ! DISMEMB]]S ( ! REAL ,ROMAN ,EMPIRE4 ,!Y RETURN$ TO ! FA/NESS ( !IR FJORDS1 SEP>AT$ FROM ,LEVIA?ANIC >MIES BY ICY SEAS1 & NURTUR$ !IR LANGUAGE1 MY?OLOGY & ANCI5T WAYS -- UP TO A PO9T4 ,!Y DID NOT BECOME RECONCIL$ TO ! BEA/LY 5CLOSURE ( ! WORLD'S W>M HALF4 ,& !Y DID BREAK ?R\<4 ,B,UT UNLIKE ! ,FRANKS1 !Y DID IT )\T /ORM+ ,ROME'S WALLS4 ,!Y F\ND A PA? TO ! ,M$IT]RANEAN :I* BYPASS$ ! ,ROMAN ,EMPIRE & ALL ITS LEGIONS1 A PA? FROM ! ,BALTIC TO ! ,BLACK ,SEA ALONG ! RIV]S ?AT TRAV]SE ,RUSSIA4 ,IT IS NOT KN[N H[ LONG ! ,SC&9AVIANS W]E FAMILI> ) ?IS PA?1 NOR IF !Y W]E AMONG ! 0,SCY?IANS0 ) :OM ! ,GREEKS TRAD$ ON ! ,BLACK ,SEA'S %ORES4 ,BY ! TIME ,FRANKI% >MIES FIRS TANGLE ) ,VIK+S1 ! \TPO/S ALONG ! ,SC&9AVIANS' EA/]N PA? >E ALREADY COMM]CIAL EMPIRES 5GAG$ 9 TRADE & POLITICS ) ! ,BYZANT9E ,EMPIRE4 ,AT A TIME :5 !RE >E NEI!R CITIES NOR TRADE 9 ! ,FRANKI% ,WE/1 ,VIK+S :O CALL !MSELVES ,RUS1 :OM ! ,BYZANT9ES CALL ,V>ANGIANS1 DISPAT* COMM]CIAL FLEETS FROM ! CITIES ( ,NOVGOROD & ,KIEV4 ,LIKE ! ,PHO5ICIANS & !IR ,>AB SUCCESSORS1 LIKE ! ,OTTAWAS ( ANO!R TIME & PLACE1 !SE ,SC&9AVIANS TRY TO COMP5SATE = ! LOSS ( HALF ! WORLD BY TURN+ !MSELVES 9TO 9T]M$I>IES :O C>RY OBJECTS BETWE5 ! 5CLOS$ L&S & !IR HOMEL&4 ,JU/ AS !Y BYPASS$ ,ROME TO REA* ! ,MIDDLE ,SEA1 !Y BYPASS ,BYZANTIUM TO REA* ! ,LEVANT & EX*ANGE !IR FURS1 TEAS & HONEY = ,MUSLIM SILKS1 SPICES & SILV]4 ,!Y DO ?IS ON !IR [N1 )\T ,*RI/IAN 9T]M$I>IES4 ,:5 !Y DO HAVE REC\RSE TO ,BYZANT9E SCRIBES & ICONS1 !Y DO SO 9 ORD] TO APPE> BE=E ! ,MUSLIM M]*ANTS AS ! ,?IRD ,ROME1 NOT AS A PROV9CE ( ,BYZANTIUM4 ,UND\BT$LY HOP+ TO 5HANCE !IR [N LIVES & WAYS BY !IR C>RY+1 9 TIME !Y CEASE TO BE :AT !Y W]E & BECOME :AT !Y DO4 ,! ,SC&9AVIAN ,RUS BECOME RUL]S ( ! FIR/ ,RUSSIAN ,/ATE1 A WAT]-BORNE COMM]CIAL EMPIRE1 AN OCTOPUS2 !Y BECOME C>RI]S ( ,LEVIA?ANIC T5TACLES TO P>TS ( ,EURASIA REA*$ BY NO PREVI\S ,LEVIA?AN4 ,BY TANGL+ ) ,VIK+S1 ! ,FRANKS DIG A GRAVE = !IR [N ,EMPIRE ( S]FS1 MANOR LORDS & FEALTY RELATIONS4 ,! ,SC&9AVIANS NOR? ( ,SAXONY WILL NOT BECOME S]FS OR VASSALS ( A LIEGE-LORD2 9 FACT1 !Y WILL NOT LEAVE ,FRANKI% 9/ITUTIONS MU* SPACE 9 :I* TO DEVELOP4 ,MANY ( ! ,WE/'S MAJOR TRANS=MATIONS COME TO IT NEI!R FROM ! 9N] DYNAMICS ( ! FEUDAL ,LORD'S MANOR NOR FROM ! ,PAPAL ,SEE BUT FROM ,SC&9AVIA1 JU/ LIKE ,MUSLIM SILV]1 :I* ! ,NOR?M5 MONOPOLIZE 9 ,WE/]N ,EUROPE = SEV]AL G5]ATIONS4 "9 "9 "9 ,VIK+S >E NOT ! ONLY PEOPLE :OSE IRE ! M>AUD+ ,ROMAN ,CA?OLIC ,FRANKS PROVOKE4 ,! ,POPE-ANO9T$ LATT]-DAY ,ROMANS ALSO TANGLE ) ,SLAVS1 ,MAGY>S & ,MUSLIMS1 EV5 ?\< ! ,VIK+S >E =MIDABLE 5\< TO DISMEMB] ! ,KNIE NO BETT] AGA9/ ! O!RS ?AN AGA9/ ! ,VIK+S4 ,MO/ ,SLAVS LIVE 9 AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITIES F> FROM ,LEVIA?ANS AT ! TIME ( ,*>LEMAGNE1 BUT ! ,SLAVS ATTACK$ BY ! ,FRANKI% M>AUD]S DO NOT4 ,AFT] COMPLET+ !IR DEVA/ATION ( ,SAXONY1 ! ,FRANKS TURN AGA9/ ,LI?UANIANS1 NOR!RN ,SRBI OR ,SORBS 7LAT] CALL$ ,W5DS71 & ,MORAVIANS4 ,LI?UANIANS & ,SORBS GIVE ! ,CA?OLICS A LOT ( TR\BLE LAT]4 ,MORAVIANS DO SO RIE COMMUNITIES ( CULTIVATORS LONG FAMILI> ) ,LEVIA?ANIC RELATIONS4 ,IT IS NOT KN[N IF SOME ( !IR ANCE/ORS W]E AMONG ! ,SCY?IANS :O TRAD$ ) ! ,GREEKS OR IF LAT] ANCE/ORS TOOK P>T 9 ! LONG W> AGA9/ ! ,ROMAN ,EMPIRE4 ,IT IS KN[N ?AT ALREADY AT ! TIME ( ! ,FRANK ,CLODOVE*1 ! ,MORAVIANS HAD =M$ A DEF5SIVE ALLIANCE SIMIL> TO ?AT ( ! ANCI5T ,GUTI & ALL !IR SUCCESSORS4 ,M\NT$ ,AV> ,HUNS AT W> ) ,BYZANTIUM HAD TRI$ TO R$UCE ! AGRICULTURAL ,MORAVIANS 9TO P]MAN5T FOOD SUPPLI]S1 & ! ,MORAVIANS HAD DEF5D$ !MSELVES FROM SU* A R$UCTION BY RALLY+ !IR =CES BEH9D A /RONGMAN4 ,*>LEMAGNE'S ,FRANKS EXT]M9ATE ! ,AV>S4 ,LESS VIOL5T PEOPLE W\LD HAVE =M$ A LA/+ ALLIANCE ) ! GRATEFUL ,MORAVIANS4 ,BUT ! ,KNIAUD]S PROCE$ TO TREAT ! ,MORAVIANS AS ! ,AV>S HAD4 ,MORAVIAN CULTIVATORS WILL NOT BE AGR>IAN ZEKS TO ,FRANKS ANY MORE WILL+LY ?AN TO ,AV>S1 & !Y AGA9 HAVE REC\RSE TO !IR DEF5SIVE LEAGUE1 ?IS TIME BEH9D A /RONGMAN CALL$ ,MOYMIR4 ,! ,FRANKI% ?REAT DOES NOT REC$E1 & ! ,MORAVIANS REMA9 LEAGU$4 ,MOYMIR'S SON ,RA/ISLAV WELCOMES ,S]BIAN PRELATES ,CYRIL & ,ME?ODIUS TO ,MORAVIA TO HELP ORGANIZE A MORE P]MAN5T DEF5SIVE E/ABLI%M5T ) SCRIBES & ) RECORDS WRITT5 9 ,CYRILS [N ALPHABET1 A PROP] ,LEVIA?AN LIKE ?OSE ) :I* S\!RN ,SLAVS & ,BULG>S DEF5D !MSELVES FROM ,BYZANT9E RECRUIT]S & TRIBUTE-SEEK]S4 ,9CREAS+LY 5ME%$ BY ,LEVIA?ANIC RELATIONS ( !IR [N MAK+1 UNWITT+LY LOS+ :AT !Y'RE 9T5D+ TO DEF5D1 ! ,MORAVIANS SUCCE$ 9 REPULS+ AT LEA/ TWO MAJOR >MIES ( ,FRANKI% 9VAD]S & 9 EXP&+ !IR DEF5SIVE LEAGUE OV] REGIONS LAT] CALL$ ,SLOVAKIA1 ,BOHEMIA1 NOR!RN ,HUNG>Y & S\!RN ,POL&4 ,MORE ,CYRILLIC BUREAUCRATS >RIVE FROM ,S]BIA TO HELP ADM9I/] ?IS ,/ATE1 BUT ,S]BIA IS F> & ! PRELATES DO NOT >RIVE QUICKLY 5\<1 SO ! NEXT ,MORAVIAN /RONGMAN1 ,SVIATOPLUK1 9VITES ,LAT9 PRELATES TO FILL ! ADM9I/RATIVE PO/S4 ,) ITS BUREAUCRACY REVAMP$1 ,MORAVIA HOLDS (F YET MORE ,FRANKI% 9VASION =CES1 BUT COLLAPSES 9 ! FACE ( M\NT$ ,AV>S1 NAMELY ,MAGY> ,HUNS PROVOK$ BY ,BYZANT9ES AS WELL AS ,FRANKS4 ,! REVAMP+ ( ! ,MORAVIAN BUREAUCRACY WILL BE DESCRIB$ BY ,ROME'S SCRIBES AS A DE$ ( ! ,ROMAN ,*UR*1 AN ACCOMPLI%M5T CALL$ 0! ,CONV]SION ( ! ,MORAVIANS40 ,! MILITANT *UR* M>*ES FROM VICTORY TO VICTORY1 LIKE ,PYRRHUS2 EV]Y VICTORY BR+S IT CLOS] TO ITS ,DOOM4 ,! ,MORAVIAN ,LEVIA?AN1 ) ITS POPULATION ( CULTIVATORS :O %>E A COMMON LANGUAGE & TRADITIONS1 ITS C5TRALIZ$ MILIT>Y ORGANIZATION & ITS BUREAUCRACY ( ECCLESIA/ICAL CL]KS1 MAY HAVE AFF9ITIES ) ! E>LY ,ROMAN ,RES-,PUBLICA4 ,IT HAS NO AFF9ITIES AT ALL ) ! ,ROMAN OR ,FRANKI% ,EMPIRES4 ,IT IS A PRECURSOR ( :AT WE WILL CALL A 0NATION /ATE10 AN E>LY GRAV$IGG] ( EV]Y?+ ,FRANKI%1 ,ROMAN1 ,CA?OLIC & ,IMP]IAL4 ,?OSE :O HAIL 0! CONV]SION ( ! ,MORAVIANS0 CONV5I5TLY =GET :AT !IR 9/ITUTION /&S =4 ,IF IT HAD BE5 ! AIM ( ! ,ROMAN ,*UR* TO S]VE AS ! BUREAUCRACY ( ANY?+ O!R ?AN A REHABILITAT$ & ALL-EMBRAC+ ,ROMAN ,EMPIRE1 IT C\LD HAVE GONE TO ,BYZANTIUM1 :I* AT LEA/ HAD MEMORIES ( EMPIRE AS WELL AS IMP]IAL PRET5SIONS4 ,TO BOA/ ( BE+ ! TAIL ?AT WAGS ! DOG TAKES GALL4 ,TO BOA/ ( BE+ ,SVIATOPLUK'S TAIL TAKES ! H>D5$ CYNICISM ( ! PROPAG&I/1 ! PUBLIC LI>4 ,IT IS TRUE ?AT ! COMMUNITIES ( ,MORAVIAN CULTIVATORS GA9 NO?+ FROM ! ,CA?OLIC BUREAUCRATS :O ADM9I/] !IR 9ITIALLY DEF5SIVE LEAGUE4 ,H[EV]1 ,MORAVIANS HAPP5 TO BE AMONG ! FEW :O ACTUALLY READ ! ,BOOK ( ! ,CA?OLIC CL]KS & CALL ! LIES ( ! ,CA?OLIC E/ABLI%M5T4 ,IT IS TRUE ?AT ! ,MORAVIAN ,/ATE LA/S = ONLY A G5]ATION BE=E IT IS RU9$ BY ANGRY ,MAGY> ,HUNS4 ,BUT ?IS ,/ATE IS IMM$IATELY FOLL[$ BY A LONG L9E ( SUCCESSORS4 ,IT IS ALREADY ! PROTOTYPE ( ! ,LEVIA?ANIC =M ?AT WILL SWEEP LIEGE-LORDS & MANORS FROM ! FIELD4 ,:ILE !IR ,EMPIRE FALLS TO PIECES1 ,FRANKI% M>AUD]S NEV]!LESS GO ON ATTACK+ ,SC&9AVIANS1 ,SLAVS & ,MAGY>S4 ,! ATTACK$ CONT9UE TO RETORT 9 K9D1 BUT !Y DO SOME?+ ELSE BESIDES4 ,!Y =M !MSELVES1 9 V]Y QUICK SUCCESSION1 9TO ,MORAVIAN-/YLE DEF5SIVE ,LEVIA?ANS ADM9I/]$ = !IR RESPECTIVE /RONGM5 BY BUREAUCRATS TRA9$ BY ! ,ROMAN ,*UR*4 ,! ,MORAVIANS' K9 & NEIOLD ,BLUETOO?4 ,MAGY> ,HUNS GA!R 9 A ,HUNG>IAN ,LEVIA?AN HEAD$ BY ,>PAD4 ,COMMUNITIES ( FREE CULTIVATORS ( FIELDS1 ,POL5YI 9 ,SLAVIC1 BECOME 5CAS$ 9 A ,PIA/ ,DYNA/Y HEAD$ BY ,MIEZKO4 ,! PROLIF]ATION GOES ON & ON4 ,EUROPE'S GEOGRAPHY IS BE+ LAUN*$4 ,FRANKI% ,CA?OLICS DO NOT PUT AN 5D TO ,VIK+ OR ,MAGY> RAIDS4 ,SC&9AVIAN RUL]S CURB ! ,VIK+S4 ,HUNG>IAN RUL]S CURB ! ,MAGY> RAID]S4 ,EA* ( ! 9DIG5\S ,LEVIA?ANS LAT] CALL$ NATION-/ATES DOES TO ITS HUMAN CONT5TS :AT NEI!R ,ROMANS NOR ,FRANKS C\LD DO TO !M3 DOME/ICATES !M4 ,BUT ! =MS ( ! DOME/ICATION >E NEI!R ,ROMAN NOR ,FRANKI%4 ,! B\ND>IES ( !SE ,/ATES >E ! LIMITS BEYOND :I* LIEGE-LORDS & MANORS CANNOT SPREAD4 ,EA* ( !SE ,LEVIA?ANS S]VES ONLY ITS [N 5DS4 ,! ONLY ,EMPIRE TO :I* !Y >E LOYAL IS !IR [N4 ,!Y CAN BE TURN$ TO PROV9CES ( ANO!R EMPIRE ONLY BY BE+ DE/ROY$1 S9CE !Y W]E CON/ITUT$ AS DEF5SES AGA9/ PROV9CIALIZATION BY ,FRANKDOM OR ,ROME & ?IS REMA9S !IR C5TRAL AIM4 ,!Y RECOGNIZE ! SUPREMACY ( ! ,POPE ONLY SO LONG AS ! ,PAPAL ,SEE REMA9S A SUPREME TRA+ GR\ND ( BUREAUCRATS :OSE FIR/ LOYALTY IS TO ! NATIONAL RUL]1 :OSE FIR/ DEVOTION IS TO ! CAUSE ( G5OCIDAL CAMPAIGNS AGA9/ O!R ,CA?OLIC NATION-/ATES OR EV5 AGA9/ ! REMA9S ( ,FRANKDOM ITSELF4 ,!SE NATIONS >E ,CA?OLIC ONLY SO LONG AS ! ,CA?OLICS >E NATIONAL4 ,LAT] ON1 :5 BUREAUCRATS WILL BE TRA9$ AT HOME & ,ROME'S S]VICES >E NO LONG] NE$$1 ! DEP? ( ALL ! 0CONV]SIONS0 WILL BE EXPOS$ BY OV]NIIS & ,B]L91 NEI!R ( !M WILL SEEK ANO9TM5T FROM ,PONTIFEX ,MAXIMUS1 & NEI!R WILL REALIZE ! DREAM4 ,*>LEMAGNE'S ,EMPIRE IS NOT A BEG9N+ BUT AN 5D4 "9 "9 "9 ,ROME'S SCRIBES DO NOT SEEK ,FRANKDOM'S NOR!RN DEBACLES AS DEFEATS1 BUT !Y DO RECOGNIZE !IR ,EMPIRE'S S\!RN ADV5TURES AS LESS ?AN VICTORIES4 ,ALREADY 9 ,*>LEMAGNE'S [N LIFETIME1 ! PR\D ,FRANKS DELIB]ATELY SEEK ! 5MITY ( BO? ( ! ,LEVIA?ANS WE/ ( ,*9A4 ,IT IS PROBABLY ONLY !IR IGNORANCE ( ! EXI/5CE ( ! ,F> ,EA/]N ,LEVIA?AN ?AT KEEPS ! ,FRANKS FROM TRY+ !IR SWORDS & SPE>S AGA9/ ?AT ADV]S>Y AS WELL4 ,! ,FRANKS TRY TO SUBJUGATE ,BYZANTIUM'S LA/ \TPO/ 9 ! ,WE/1 COMM]CIAL ,V5ICE1 & !Y CROSS ! ,PYR5EES TO *ASE ,SPANI% ,MUSLIMS4 ,! ,CA?OLIC ,EMPIRE'S ANTIPA?Y TO ,V5ICE COMES TO IT FROM ,FRANKI%1 ,ROMAN AS WELL AS ,*RI/IAN S\RCES4 ,! REC5TLY & 9COMPLETELY ,LEVIA?ANIZ$ ,FRANKS /ILL CONSID] TRADE TO BE SOME?+ ONE DOES TO ONE'S 5EMIES1 & ! ECCLESIA/ICAL ?\E OLD ,ROME'S ANTIPA?Y TO ANY TYPE ( ,OCTOPUS ) FREELY-MOV+ T5TACLES1 BE IT ,ETRUSCAN OR ,C>?AGIAN4 ,! ,ROMAN ANTIPA?Y IS SUPPLEM5T$ BY ! ,BOOK'S DESCRIPTION ( ,*RI/'S TREATM5T ( ! MONEY-*>G]S4 ,WE/]N]S CONSID] TRADE DEMEAN+ TO ,*RI/IANS4 ,!Y CALL IT S9FUL4 ,! FEW EA/]N SPICES & CLO?S !Y USE COME TO !M FROM ,JEWS1 :OS EXI/5CE 9 ! ,WE/ IS NOT PUBLICLY ACKN[L$G$2 ! 9VISIBLE ,JEWS >E CONSID]$ =EIGN]S1 EV5 ?\< ! ,JEWS HAVE BE5 9 ,GAUL & ,ITALY LONG] ?AN ,GO?S4 ,! ,V5ETIANS >E ,*RI/IANS & ALSO HEIRS TO ! M]CANTILE TRADITIONS ( ,ADRIATIC ,GREEKS4 ,EV] S9CE ! R$UCTION ( !IR ,BYZANT9E METROPOLIS BY ! >MIES ( ,ISLAM1 !IR [N CITY HAS BE5 TURN+ 9TO AN 9DEP5D5T OCTOPUS1 OR AT LEA/ 9TO A T5TACLE ( ! ,ISLAMIC OCTOPUS4 ,! RELATION ( ,V5ICE TO ,>ABIC M]CANTILE C5T]S 9 ! ,LEVANT PROBABLY RESEMBLES ! RELATION ( ANCI5T ,GREEKS TO ,PHO5ICIANS4 ,! ,V5ETIANS1 LIKE ! ,RUSSIAN ,VIK+S :O F9D !IR WAY TO ! ,LEVANT FROM ! ,BLACK ,SEA1 >E APPR5TICES TO ! ,MUSLIMS4 ,!Y DELIV] TIMB] TO ! ONCE-=E/$ ,LEVANT1 AS WELL AS 5SLAV$ HUMAN BE+S :O >E NOT ALWAYS 0HEA!NS40 ,!Y TAKE FROM ! ,LEVANT LUXURIES1 SOME ( :I* ORIG9ATE 9 DI/ANT ,9DIA & ,*9A4 ,! ,V5ETIANS RESPOND TO ! ,FRANKI% ?REAT BY TAK+ TO ! SEA1 & ! NOTORI\SLY UNSEAWOR?Y ,KNIATUS ( ! ,FRANKI% ,KNI*I/,LIBR>Y4ORG4 ,*RONOLOGY 3 ,NOVEMB] #c1 #aihb 3 ,*APT] #ae -- ,PUBLICATION4 FILE G5]AT$ FROM 3 HTTP3_/_/REVOLTLIB4COM_/