Chapter 3
The Life and Legacy of Rognhildr II.
- Year 913 AD (High Chieftess Rognhildr, Age 21)
Toki II's sister, Rognhildr, unexpectedly thrust into the position of High Chieftess of Nordreyjar. She inherits not only all of Toki II's titles and responsibilities, but also some unfinished wars in Norway to defend her cousin's claim to the throne from those who would see him deposed.
- Year 914 AD (High Chieftess Rognhildr, Age 22)
In May, during the confusion of the civil war, High Chieftess Rognhildr usurps the territory of Naumandal from Jarl Suni in the name of one of her vassals with claims to the title, strengthening her own position on the mainland.
- Year 915 AD (High Chieftess Rognhildr, Age 23)
While her armies continue to fight in the Norwegian Civil War, High Chieftess Rognhildr gives birth to her first child and heir, Toki early in June.
- Year 916 AD (High Chieftess Rognhildr, Age 24)
In September of 916, the Civil War rages on, the weakened state of Norway gives the High Chieftess the idea to put her mother on the throne instead of her cousin. After discussing it briefly with her mother, Princess Rognhildr, daughter of King Haraldr Fairhair, the High Chieftess puts her plan into motion.
- Year 917 AD (High Chieftess Rognhildr, Age 25)
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| Some Day All This Will Be Yours |
During the successful siege of Bergenhus in Hordaland in May, High Chieftess Rognhildr's army manages to capture Prince Faste, King Inge's heir, which swiftly turns Princess Rognhildr's claim to the throne in her favor. That same month, High Chieftess Rognhildr gives birth to her second son, Tyrsormr.
- Year 919 AD (High Chieftess Rognhildr, Age 27)
High Chieftess Rognhildr discovers a plot to kill her son, Toki, in November. The plot originates from the King of Jylland, Oddr the Pious, but due to his position there is little the High Chieftess can do to end the plot. She can only remain vigilant against any action taken against her young heir.
- Year 920 AD (High Chieftess Rognhildr, Age 28)
In July of the following year there is a peasant revolt in Caithness due to Chieftess Rognhildr's long-standing attempts to convert the local populous from Catholicism to belief in the Old Gods of Norse. This is an annoying road bump in her attempts to push her mother's claim on the throne of Norway. Through all this turmoil, High Chieftess Rognhildr is pregnant with her third son, Sigurd, born in December.
- Year 921 AD (High Chieftess Rognhildr, Age 29)
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| Rebels in the Colonies! |
In July, after pushing the rebels out of Caithness, King Inge is finally ready to abdicate the throne of Norway to the High Chieftess's mother, also named Rognhildr. Long live Queen Rognhildr I! This effectively makes Chieftess Rognhildr the new heir to the Kingdom of Norway. In November, the High Chieftess declares her intent to hold a great blot in honor of their successes. Not long after her the conclusion of the blot does High Chieftess Rognhildr receive word that Prince Inge is making a move for the throne in December.
- Year 922 AD (High Chieftess Rognhildr, Age 30)
In December, young Toki dies in a suspicious accident. Grief stricken, High Chieftess Rognhildr suspects the King of Jylland because of his plot three years earlier, but without sufficient evidence is powerless to act against him. She vows to look into the matter, but no evidence is ever found.
- Year 924 AD (High Chieftess Rognhildr, Age 32)
A new rebellion arises in December led by Jarl Suni to put Prince Edmund on the throne.
- Year 925 AD (High Chieftess Rognhildr, Age 33)
In January, word reaches Norway that lands west of Iceland have been discovered when Norse ships were blown off course. Curiousity clutches the nation, but Chieftess Rognhildr is bound to protect her inheritance and keeps her attention focused on the uprising. In February, the Chancellor of Nordreyjar reports he has managed to fabricate a claim on the territory of Nordland. High Chieftess Rognhildr decides to press that claim during the confusion of the war and turns her military attention to Nordland.
- Year 926 AD (High Chieftess Rognhildr, Age 34)
In October of 926, High Chieftess Rognhildr gives birth to her first daughter, Rognhildr.
- Year 927 AD (High Chieftess Rognhildr, Age 35)
In October, Prince Edmund and his forces admit defeat, but Prince Inge continues the war in his name.
- Year 929 AD (High Chieftess Rognhildr, Age 37)
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| Don't Mind if I Do! |
Prince Inge agrees to White Peace in August. The decision frustrates the High Chieftess, and she vents her frustration that September by continuing her efforts in Nordland, mounting a full invasion while they are weakened from the civil war.
- Year 930 AD (High Chieftess Rognhildr, Age 38)
Unfortunately, High Chieftess Rognhildr's claim on Nordland is lost when the territory falls to another in May. Her efforts were in vain and she is further frustrated with her situation.
- Year 931 AD (High Chieftess Rognhildr, Age 39)
In January of 931, the Kingdom of Skotland is plunged into civil war and Chieftess Rognhildr sets sail for conquest during the upheaval. Though she is only a Norse woman, she has the thirst for glory of a Norse man.
- Year 932 AD (High Chieftess Rognhildr, Age 40)
The Queen of Norway releases the Duchy of Trondelag to be an independent state. This is another one of mother's messes High Chieftess Rognhildr will have to clean up once she is Queen. In the meantime, she conquers both Argyll and Lothian from Skotland by July of 932.
- Year 933 AD (High Chieftess Rognhildr, Age 41)
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| Long Live the Queen! |
In January, the Queen of Norway declares a War of Subjugation on the independent state of Trondelag from her deathbed. High Chieftess Rognhildr ascends the throne as Queen Rognhildr II and inherits this war with the crown of Norway. By February, Jarl Grimr of Akershus decides to press a claim to the crown and Norway finds itself divided by civil war again.
- Year 934 AD (Queen Rognhildr II, Age 42)
In June, the Subjugation of Norway against Trondelag ends in victory, strengthening Norway's position against Jarl Grimr. All of Queen Rognhildr II's attention now turns to the rebellion and solidifying Norway.
- Year 937 AD (Queen Rognhildr II, Age 45)
The Civil War has raged on for three long years and taken its toll on Queen Rognhildr II's family. In December, her husband, King Falki Naddodr, dies and she is deeply wounded by the loss. She recently reaffirmed her love of the man through the trials of the war.
- Year 939 AD (Queen Rognhildr II, Age 47)
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| The Skots Don't Know When to Quit |
In February, The King of Skotland declares war on Norway for the contested territory in Skotland. Fortunately, by August, Queen Rognhildr II is finally able to quell the civil war that has raged for five years. She strips Chief Hjalmar of his title for his role in the war. Norway then turns its attention to the holdings in Skotland. The defense of Norway rages on.
- Year 941 AD (Queen Rognhildr II, Age 49)
The Queen discovers a plot against her life backed by her own daughter-in-law, Sigurd's wife. It is quickly dissolved, but the Queen has residual trust issues toward her son and his wife.
- Year 942 AD (Queen Rognhildr II, Age 50)
In December, Skotland surrenders and the Kingdom of Norway is at peace finally.
- Year 943 AD (Queen Rognhildr II, Age 51)
The Kingdom of Skotland is thrust into political upheavals, no doubt in part due to the loss of the war with Norway a year earlier. Ever ambitious, Queen Rognhildr II decides its time to push farther into Skotland and declares a War of Conquest that July.
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| Year 944 AD - The Situation in Skotland |
- Year 948 AD (Queen Rognhildr II, Age 56)
Queen Rognhildr II has enjoyed moderate stability in Norway and success in her conquest of Skotland, but her efforts abroad are disturbed by Jarl Grirm once again longing for the Kingdom of Norway. Queen Rognhildr II is forced to fight a war abroad and at home.
- Year 952 AD (Queen Rognhildr II, Age 60)
Although the war in Skotland turned out to last far too long and ultimately be a bad idea, Queen Rognhildr II finally saw some success in both wars, but a new faction promoting Faste Yngling, a descendant of Haraldr Fairhair, as the King of Norway arises to complicate matters.
- Year 953 AD (Queen Rognhildr II, Age 61)
In December, after five years of struggling, Jarl Grimr the Merry surrenders and is stripped of his title. Queen Rognhildr II now turns her attention primarily to Faste Yngling in an attempt to stabilize Norway.
- Year 954 AD (Queen Rognhildr II, Age 62)
With her sons both grown men and landed nobles, Queen Rognhildr requests her grandson, Skuli Tyrsormrsson, come live with her and be educated by her. She has a chance to groom her son's heir in her old age and it fills her with great joy.
- Year 955 AD (Queen Rognhildr II, Age 63)
The War in Skotland that has raged for over a decade comes to an abrupt end when Queen Rognhildr loses her Casus Belli. Although it means the twelve years of fighting were for naught, it now means the hardened troops of Skotland can return home and crush Chief Faste.
- Year 956 AD (Queen Rognhildr II, Age 64)
In January, there is a peasant revolt in Argyll and the provinces in Skotland seem more trouble than they're worth to Queen Rognhildr. Instead she redoubles her efforts against Chief Faste and by August forces him to surrender the war and his title to the crown. By September, however, Queen Rognhildr II grows weak and infirm and is forced to rule a country from her bed.
- Year 957 AD (Queen Rognhildr II, Age 65)
The Armies of Norway finally subdue the rebels in Argyll and Norway is at peace.
Perhaps due to her Kingdom finally being unified and at peace, Queen Rognhildr II passes on, after being bedridden for four long months. She is succeeded by her son, King Tyrsormr I. The title of Jarl of Ostlandet and Chief of Telemark fall to her other surviving son, Jarl Sigurd.
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| Long live the King! |
Remember Queen Rognhildr II of Norway!
She was Jarl of Nordreyjar, Ostlandet, Trondelag, and Vestlandet!
Her reign was won of war-torn Norway, but she solidified the nation and her birthright.
May the Skalds sing her glory!
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