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| Heraldry | ||||||
 Azure, a Demi-man Maintaining a Hammer and tongs. (Pending) | ||||||
| Badge | ||||||
 Smiðrs variation of the Horned Dwarf (unofficial badge) |
History
AS.55 - first reached Avacal and fought for the shires during the battle of Quad war In July.
AS.57 - Granted Award of Arms by their Majesty’s Elias Silver and Kiera the Shadowed April 17th.
AS.59 - Oath sworn to Duke Rorik Gunnarsson, and taken into service as a squire in the presence of the crown of Avacal and Crown of Glen Aban at the Surley Duke Tavern.
“I Dróttinn Haraldr VatnAkr Sá Stríð Smiðr swear upon my oath ring loyalty & service unto Hertogi Rorik Gunnarsson; twice claimant the crown of An Tir, 1st prince of Avacal & 9th in precedence to the Griffon throne. I swear my house to war under his twin drakkar banner, to uphold his honor, reputation & family as mine own until the val-kyrja claim me or he release me from his service. In fielty I gift this mace; untoward I bring dishonour unto his name may it find its home upon my brow and my soul in helhiem. May those in witness validate my oath and bind me to it in accordance with our laws.“
Personae
10th century Danish/Norman Adventurer and Blacksmith, Temporarily a Member of the Varangian Guard.
The Saga of Dróttinn Haraldr VatnAkr Sá Stríð Smiðr.
928 - Smiðrs great grandfather Haraldr the Hammer, formerly a blacksmith, returns to Denmark to convince his family to come to Normandy. Haraldr received farmland for his loyalties having served Rollo count of Rouen from before 911 till the counts abdication in 928. Some of the family moves to Normandy while maintaining relations with relatives staying in Danish lands
946 - Smiðrs Danish family fights for Jarl Rikard in Normandy under the banner of king Harold of Denmark, alongside their Norman kin.
962 - Haraldr fights for Jarl Rikard against Theobald 1st, Count of Blois. Haraldr Hammer dies in the fighting aged 60, his son Edwars The Broad, Smiðrs grandfather assumes his estates aged 16.
981 Smiðr’s father Druward is born in Normandy
996 - Richard I, of Rouen dies of natural causes his Heir Richard the II is elevated. Druward leaves his father’s estates to live with family in Denmark as a distant relatives Ward aged 15.
1000 - Danish Vikings renew raids on England. Druward takes part in minor Vikings, selling plunder in Normandy under Richard II sanctions, taking advantage to visit his father’s estate. Ethelred attacks Normandy on the cotentin peninsula, Druward fights alongside Edwars in the Norman Calvary, repelling the English & returning to Denmark there after and continued Viking.
1021 - Smidr is born In Ribe Denmark under the given name Haraldr Edwars dies aged 75 his estate fallen into disrepair having dowered his daughters under loans due to poor harvests. Druward is called back to Normandy to swear vassalage to Richard II & assume his father’s estates, leaving Smiðr and his first wife in Denmark under care of family. Druward is forced to settle his father’s debts to avoid forfeiting the estate, leaving him near impoverished, sending word to his immediate family to remain in Denmark while he rebuilds the estates prosperity.
1023 - Druward briefly visits Denmark to see his family.
1024 - Smiðrs brother Thorold is born sometime after Yuletide.
1027 - Druward briefly visits Denmark to see his family again.
1028 - Smiðrs youngest brother Néel is born before Christian Easter.
1031 - Smiðr begins working his Danish family’s forge, making war gear when not maintaining farming tools.
1035 - Druward calls for his family to join him amidst pressures from his danish kin, Smiðrs mother and brothers leave for Normandy. Smiðr refuses and makes claim to travel to Miklegard to seek fame and fortune leaving his mother to deliver this news. William the bastard assumes Dukedom of Normandy
1039 - Smiðr arrives in Kiev, obtains temporary contract and forges war gear for Yaroslav to pay for his voyage to Constantinople, Aged 18. Druward manages to remain out of the worst of the Norman anarchy, being too poor to be dragged into the power struggles.
1040 - Smiðr joins the Varangian guard and befriends a member of Harald Haldrada’s outer circle; improving his war gear for favors. Smiðr gets baptized for political reasons.
1041 - Harald is arrested and imprisoned by Micheal V. Situation in Constantinople becomes uneasy, Smiðr joins plans to leave Constantinople with Haldradas men when possible. Druward names his second son Thorold, aged 17, heir to his estate in Smiðrs absence having never truly known his firstborn and believing him unlikely to return
1042 - Harald haldrada escapes prison and blinds the emperor, forced to escape Constantinople by Empress Zöe; Smiðrs connection helps him leave with the rest of Haldradas men for Kiev. Harald having not known Smiðr demands payment for his place on his ship. Smiðr renews contract with yaroslav in order to pay Harald upon reaching Kiev
1044 - Smiðr finish’s forging Harald a byrnie from looted sword steel and presents the payment during Haralds wedding to Ellisif. Claiming the gift well worth the exchange for his life and that no blade would pierce it.
1045 - Harald pressures Smiðr into his service as a jomviking and war smith, Leaving for Sweden from Novgorod. Harold plots to usurp King Magnus of Norway and Denmark with his exiled danish nephew Sweyn and the aid of king Anund of Sweden. Harald and his allies begin by raiding the eastern lands of Denmark, Smiðr grows uneasy with raiding his former homeland.
1046 - Harald and Magnus agree to co-rule Norway Smiðr enjoys the brief peace. William the bastard is usurped by rebellion lead by Guy of burgundy and flees to king Henry’s of France’s court.
1047 - William the bastard regains control over the Dutchy of Normandy, sparking near constant fighting Druward affirms vassalage to William the bastard, his present sons answering future calls to arms having renewed prosperity.
King Magnus dies after naming Harald king of Norway and Sweyn king of Denmark, Harald plots to overthrow Sweyn.
1048 - king Harald begins near yearly attacks on Denmark. Smiðr disillusioned with Haralds rule ends his contracts and leaves to see his danish family in Ribe Druward dies in his bed and Thorold assumes his Estate aged 24.
1049 - Smiðr joins defensive guard around Ribe, his male Danish family fights for king Swyen against Harald in a pitched battle. Only one returns and assumes the estate.
1051 - Thorold’s son is born, named John de Valtierville after French fashion and the town near the family estate.
1054 - War In Normandy mostly concludes Thorold and Néel surviving.
1062 - Smiðrs remaining Danish male relative dies in the battle of Niså. On hearing word Smiðr makes ready to leave for Normandy, there was nothing left for him in Denmark, the estate passing to an even more distant relation.
1063 - Smiðr arrives at the family estate near Valtierville. Thorold and Néel initially meet him with suspicion due to language gaps, later coming to agreement. Smiðr acknowledges Thorolds right to the estate and John as his heir, vowing to serve the families interests. In exchange Smiðr learns Norman Frankish alongside his nephew John’s lessons at the town church. The priest is initially distraught by Smiðrs inclusion until he realizes Smiðr served Christendom in Byzantium.
1064 - The Priest of Valtierville convinces Smiðr to be formally re-baptized for familial political reasons, having no obtainable proof of the baptism in 1040.
- to be continued.
Awards
Award of Arms; Apr 27, 2024 (AS LVIII)