Comitatus Holsatiae - County of Holstein - Grafschaft Holstein

**Reimu Hakurei** · August 02, 2012, 09:24 AM

Comitatus Holsatiae - Grafschaft Holstein - County of Holstein

After the Migration Period of the Early Middle Ages, Holstein was a borderland between Nordalbingia (part of Old Saxony) at the coast of North Sea, the land of the Slavic Wagrians belonging to the Obotrites at the coast of the Baltic Sea and the land of the Danes in Jutland.

With the conquest of Old Saxony by Charlemagne ca. 800, he granted land north of the Eider River to the Danes by the Treaty of Heiligen signed in 811. The rest of Holstein was given to Obotrites, namely the Wagrians, and their Saxon population was deported to various areas of the empire. After 814 the Saxons were restored to Western Holstein. the Wagrians were pushed out of the Limes Saxoniae - the new border running from the Elbe river near Boizenburg northwards along the Bille river to the mouth of the Schwentine at the Kiel Fjord and the Baltic Sea.

The new county of Holstein was established in 1111; it was first a fief of the Duchy of Saxony, then of the Duchy of Saxe-Lauenburg, and finally of the Prince-Bishopric of Lübeck. With the establishment of the new territorial unit, expansion to the East began and the Wagrians were finally defeated in 1138.

The County of Holstein was ruled by the House of Schaumburg; the first count was Adolf I, Count of Holstein. Holstein was occupied by Denmark after the Battle of Stellau (1201), but was reconquered by the Count of Schauenburg and his allies in the Battle of Bornhöved (1227).

In 1370, Stefan von Holstein, a knight of Hungarian origins inherited the County of Holstein, due to his marriage to the only daughter of the last count who died sonless.

**Rhapture** · August 02, 2012, 11:14 AM

Count I Friedrich of Mecklenburg arrives to see Count Stefan I. With his arrives a small party including his eldest son.

**Reimu Hakurei** · August 02, 2012, 05:46 PM

Right on time. Count Stefan arrives a few minutes later after the visitors come.
Therefore, he is the one opening the door for them.
- Come on in, mein gute Freunden. What brings you to my humble residence?

**Rhapture** · August 02, 2012, 08:16 PM

Friedrich bows and greets the man.

"Ah thank you Count Stefan. As you are my closest neighbor, I thought we might discuss various topics that might benefit us both."

**Reimu Hakurei** · August 03, 2012, 03:14 AM

"Indeed. This region of Holstein looks rather underdeveloped. The peasants here don't even speak German, but something different*..."
"Anyway, how is your county? I heard that the Emperor is enacting new laws..." he says.

* probably Danish or Frisian?

**Rhapture** · August 03, 2012, 07:41 AM

"As I am a faithful servant of the emperor I will obey his laws. I was more concerned with countries outside of the empire. Specifically Denmark. I was thinking we could get some kind of Baltic alliance started to protect our local interests against their recent aggression."

**Reimu Hakurei** · August 03, 2012, 08:28 AM

"The Danes can be dangerous indeed. We should take Schleswig from them. Or better yet - fully make them part of our empire. After all, are they true Christians? They converted only to avoid becoming part of the Reich. Preventing the inevitable, huh?" - he asked.

**Rhapture** · August 03, 2012, 08:53 PM

King Vladamer finally has reconquered most of his historic territories, but his control over the straits leading out of the Baltic, could be a huge economic block for us. Although I trust the Emperor to be behind us, I do not see a large war being fought just for a few Baltic provinces, especially with Norway , and possibly Sweden behind Vladamir. That is why I am suggesting a local alliance between us, perhaps even inviting a few other Counts to join us , so that we will not be bullied by the tyrant to our North."

**Reimu Hakurei** · August 04, 2012, 03:37 AM

- I don't know... maybe the Reich is meant to include those northern territories as well... - Stefan replied.

**Rhapture** · August 04, 2012, 07:35 AM

"Of course, those might be incorporated into the Empire at some point, but for now, I believe it wise to protect our common interests. And with such an alliance to back them, perhaps a few more merchants might be willing to open up shops on the Baltic, bringing much need money to our provinces."

**M. Laveur** · August 06, 2012, 05:36 PM

A letter from Hamburg arrives to the count's Castle. It reads the following,

Your Highness, Count Stefan I of Holstein,

I, Oswald Fuchs, a humble trader from the Free and Henseatic City of Hamburg, request, if it please your Highness, authorization for a charter to trade my goods between Hamburg and the County of Holstein, or, should your Highness see it fit that I shall pay for it, please do send me list of requirements to acquire such rights. I urge you to please consider this request, as it shall most certainly benefit both me and the people under your Highness' rule.

I eagerly await your response,

God Bless You.

Oswald Fuchs

**M. Laveur** · August 06, 2012, 06:21 PM

A reply arrives,

Your Highness, Count Stefan I of Holstein,

I humbly thank you for your acceptance of me request. Please accept this gift as proof of my good faith and ever lasting thankfulness for your generousity.

With the messenger came a thick red and white cape made of fox pelts, soft and thick, cut and sown with high quality.