This is a follow-up to scenario Birka.
Sigtuna, 1187
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After Birka was abandoned in the year 1007, the new trading center moved to the city-state Sigtuna, the old Episcopal see in Sweden. During the next nearly 200 years Sigtuna was the intermediary for the trading between Russia and Western Europe, and therefore the city was often visited by Russian merchants. The city was also after a while made the new capital. Between the years 1160 and 1190 the Swedes and the Russians fought over the sovereignty of Finland. This led eventually to an attack on the political important Sigtuna in august 1187, when the Swedes were weakened by civil wars. Joined Baltic fleets advanced through the lake Mälaren and moored south of Sigtuna (in Sigtunafjärden).
After a quick march up through the landscape, the Russians met King Erik Knutsson's army at the narrow passage Almarestäket, just north of Sigtuna, and defeated Knutsson's army in a bloody battle.
The Baltic forces then begin pressing through Sigtuna's damaged northern port, and after a hard fight the city defenses fell. The castle Stäket was looted and, among other invaluable treasures, the famous Bronze Gates were taken as spoils home to the Russians' capital Novgorod. Sweden's spiritual leader arch bishop Johannes was probably killed at this time. The National Mint, located here, was also pillaged. The devastation of Sigtuna (the whole attack is often referred to as "The Sigtuna March"), fastened the decision to move the administrative center to a safer place among the islets and isles in Mälaren. Hence Stockholm was founded and became the new capital, and is still so in our days.
According to a legend the burghers in Sigtuna launched a hollowed stock after Sigtuna was burnt down, filled with gold and silver, and decided that where the stock floats onto land, a new city shall be built, thence the name Stockholm (stock-islet).
In this scenario you take the role of the attacking Russians (The Novgorod Realm).
Attacker: Baltic Vikings* (You)
Defender: King Erik Knutsson
*= This is at the end of the Viking era.
General
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This scenario is on a normal difficult level, but requires some patience. You can look at the replay (Sigtuna), where one of the goals was to sustain as light casualties as possible.
Ulf V Norlinger
ulf.norlinger@bredband.net
2004-02-01
