Historical Notes by Chapter (incomplete)
Intro
* So, the lands which are today part of Germany were, in the 1200s, part of the Holy Roman Empire. The basics of the social structure during this time incorporated a politico-economic system of relationships between liege lords and enfeoffed vassals. These noble individuals would have ruling power over the lands and small kingdoms within the Empire. It was basically feudalism. In German, the system is variously referred to as Lehnswesen, Feudalwesen or Benefizialwesen. (Stieber, Joachim. W. [1978]. Pope Eugenius IV, the Council of Basel and the Secular Ecclesiastical Authorities in the Empire, E.J. Brill, Leiden, p. 124.)
* I decided to give Hungary a father in this story but implied that her mother had either died in childbirth or simply when Elizaveta was very young. In the world of Ancient Hetalia, Magyar is said to be a male relative of Hungary who more or less raised her - much like Germania or Rome raised their sons/grandsons. (See: wiki/List_of_minor_characters_in_Hetalia:_Axis_Powers)
* Historical fun fact because I mentioned the Alps! Did you know people used to cross the Alps Mountains blindfolded? Centuries ago, people believed the Alps were home to demons and evil spirits; therefore, while crossing alpine passes, many blindfolded themselves to avoid looking at what they believed was a hell's anteroom.
Prologue
* Young Gilbert is a page-boy. In medieval times, a page was an attendant to a knight, i.e. an apprentice squire. Upon reaching seven years old, a boy would be sent to the castle of another noble family. A young boy served as a page for about seven years, running messages, serving, cleaning clothing and weapons, and learning the basics of combat. It was seen as a form of education in return for labor. They received no other reimbursement besides clothing, accommodation, and food.
* Pages received training in horse-riding, hunting, hawking, and hand-to-hand combat. The training also included reading and writing, learning to play instruments, and even practicing chess. (Tuchman, Barbara W. A Distant Mirror - the Calamitous 13th Century. p. 52 & 62.)
* As a young lady of noble class, Elizaveta would have been part of a small minority of women who were educated privately, learning the basics of reading and writing, religious teachings, music, poetry, embroidery, and the various duties of wives and mothers. (Rosalie Gilbert 2015). Women's education was a hotly debated subject during the 13th and 14th centuries however, and the speech her father gave her about the role of women is actually a paraphrased version of "De Educatione Liberorum" written in 1440 by Matteo Veggio.
* Irunya is the suggested name for Ukraine. (See: wiki/List_of_Hetalia:_Axis_Powers_characters) She is one of Elizaveta's servant women (a lady-in-waiting could be described as a female personal assistant at a court, royal or feudal, attending on a queen, princess, or high-ranking noblewoman. It is a generic term for women whose relative rank, title, and official functions varied. [Nadine Akkerman: The Politics of Female Households: Ladies-In-Waiting Across Early Modern Europe (2013)] Although, in this case, Irunya is probably closer to that of a slave or servant, especially because from 1100-1500 CE, the European slave trade sold both Slavic and Baltic slaves [among other ethnic groups][Christian Slaves, Muslim Masters:White Slavery in the Mediterranean, the Barbary Coast and Italy, 1500-1800]. Howerver, how Irunya ended up in Elizaveta's castle is not disclosed.)
* During the 13th century, the Teutonic Knights were, for the most part, occupied with what is known as the 'Prussian Crusades'. This means that the Teutonic Order mostly seized lands across the Baltic States, Poland, and Northern Germany. However, their power and influence spanned across the European continent and they had connections all over the place.
The Knights were also 'invited' for various defense and/or crusade purposes by rulers throughout Europe and generally not asked to come back; such is the case with King Andrew of Hungary in 1211. However, many popes, princes, kings, and nobles sought their aid.
The Servant and Her Mistress
* Marriages were the ultimate political alliances; therefore, it was not uncommon to see people from Italian kingdoms mingling with people from German kingdoms or people from France gettin' together with someone from Scotland, or... whatever.
* The Kingdom of Lombardy, where Romulus (Rome) is from, was a real kingdom in Italy. Politics in Italy were shaky during the 13th and 14th centuries, so Romulus would have sought to secure his power by further allying himself with the Holy Roman Empire. Plus, as you should know from Hetalia, the Holy Roman Empire was always seeking to secure its ties to Italy.
* Geheimrat was the title of the highest advising officials at the Imperial, royal or principal courts of the Holy Roman Empire. The English-language equivalent is the Privy Council (also High Council or Royal Council). The first notable Geheimer Rat (High Councilor) was Nicholas Remy (1530-1616).
* If you are wondering why I chose the name Kitty, I don't entirely know myself. I guess the inspiration for the name came from Alexandre Dumas' The Three Musketeers because Kitty was also the name of the handmaid to Milady de Winter in that novel... and if you think about it (especially later on), the story here is vaguely similar to The Three Musketeers in certain aspects.
Also, Hetalia has a special relationship with cats... so Kitty seemed fitting as an alias!:3
* It's purposely difficult to pinpoint an exact location for this story's setting. Because it is a 'fairytale' I suppose it doesn't have any real location. Although, Duna is Hungarain for Danube, which implies that that is the river which runs near the kingdom. In German, the Danube is called Donau and in Italian it's Danubio.
Molten Eyes and a Smile Made for War
* The description of the carriage is probably a bit exaggerated. Medieval carriages were a tad different than the fancy 19th-century carriages we think of on the streets of London. These carriages were typically a four-wheeled wagon type with a rounded top ('tilt') similar in appearance to the Conestoga Wagon (think Oregon Trail, Americans). They were made of wood and iron and were usually covered by plain leather if you were non-royalty. (Julian Munby, 'From Carriage to Coach: What Happened?', in Robert Bork and Andrea Kann [eds] The art, science, and technology of medieval travel [Ashgate, 2008], pp. 41-53)
* Holsteiner is a breed of horse originating in the Schleswig-Holstein region of northern Germany tracing back to the 13th century. (Chris Hector. "Journey Through Holstein". Horse Magazine)
The Forest's Edge
* The vast majority of headwear for horses in the 10th-13th centuries was a simple leather bridle. Keep in mind that this leather was especially resistant to cutting and tearing, so it would have kept the horses strapped tightly in their place. [ medievalhorsesandclothing (.com) about_horses/horse_ (2012)]
FLASHBACK - NEW RECRUITS
*During the rule of Grand Master Hermann von Salza (1209-1239) the Order shifted from being mainly a hospice brotherhood for pilgrims to primarily a military order; it was during this period that the Teutonic Knights' activities extended across the Mediterranean region and from Spain all the way to Livonia.
*There are multiple instances of French knights fighting alongside the Teutonic Knights during the 13th century, such as in the Battle of Legnica (James Chambers. The Devil's Horsemen: The Mongol Invasion of Europe. Atheneum. New York. 1979.) and in parts of Greece where a number of French and Italian crusader states were established.
*So, with this cross-continental domain, it becomes possible to have Spanish and French noblemen entering into the Order of the Teutonic Knights.
Into the Forest
* Many regions in Europe often had both serfs and slaves simultaneously. The implications held for both a serf and a slave are blurry at some points; slaves worked full-time for their masters and operated under a negative incentive structure [Engerman, Stanley. "Slavery, Serfdom, and Other Forms of Coerced Labour: Similarities and Differences". Serfdom and Slavery: Studies in Legal Bondage. London: Addison Wesley Longman Limited. pp. 31–32.]. Slaves were employed in heavy labor as well as in domestic contexts [IV:3, XXIII:6; XXXIII:50-52; LXX:30]; serfs owned plots of their own land, which was essentially a form of "payment" that the lord offered in exchange for service. [Bush, Michael (1996). "Introduction". Serfdom and Slavery: Studies in Legal Bondage. London: Addison Wesley Longman Limited. p. 3.]. Both could be used as field laborers. Elizaveta chose the most common means of labor which she was likely to have done given her current social position.
*The slave trade was thrivent in Europe more so before 1000 CE, but undoubtedly still existed after that era as it was difficult to regulate. Laws discouraged slaves from being white and Christian, so most were non-European, but again, this did not mean white Christians were never sold into slavery. The Crusader states also inherited many slaves and, interestingly enough, many crusaders' wives were captured and sold into slavery. [Christopher Tyerman, God's War, A new History of the Crusades, p. 230.]
FLASHBACK - The Inseparable Knights
* Dames like Elizaveta are rare gems. Although cross-dressing has been practiced throughout much of recorded history and in many societies (There are examples in Greek, Norse, and Hindu mythology) [Rainbow Reader, Fort Wayne, Indiana] many women warriors will remain in obscurity until the end of time. But they were there! There have always been instances of women hidden beneath the helmet. Here is a great webpage I recommend everyone visit that gives tons of excellent examples of medieval women who are known for their bravery (although many might not be in your history textbook). The Medieval Chronical (.com) SEPTOCT01/Female%20Knights (.html)
* Truth be told, training to be a knight was not all fun and games. However, one must keep in mind that the medieval page was little more than a child, so it wasn't wholly militaristic either. Just like today, children learn best through play. The knighthood training began in earnest at the age of seven when all their games and sports were geared towards learning skills related to horsemanship, the two-handed sword, battle axe, mace, dagger and lance. Obviously dangerous weapons were not used by young boys! Great emphasis was placed on physical fitness and strength. A page would start to acquire the skills required of a Knight by practicing skills through climbing, swimming, throwing stones, javelins, archery and wrestling. Sword play was practiced using wooden swords and shields. Fighting on piggyback introduced the young knights to the balance and skills required in mounted combat. Thus, rough-and-tumble games like in this chapter and in chapters to come were not uncommon. M. LordsAndLadies (.org) /KnightHood-Training (.htm)
* The "evil albino" stereotype may have its roots in Neolithic Eastern Europe, where some cultures depicted Death as a pallid woman with light hair. Fear of vampires and other legendary undead with a deathly pallor, especially in European folklore, could also have contributed to albino bias. [The Language of the Goddess, Marija Gimbutas, 1989, page 198]
A Matter of Time
* "Chapeau" is a French term signifying a hat or other covering for the head. In mainland European heraldry, it is used as a mark of ecclesiastical dignity. The chapeau is also sometimes used as a mark of secular dignity, such as a cap, or coronet, worn by dukes, etc. A chapeau is flat, very narrow atop, but with a broad brim, adorned with interlaced strings. The hat was given the name by Innocent IV in 1250. [Source: The Guardian (July, 2007)]
* Medieval hunting was divided into two different types of hunts. 'At Force' Hunting and hunts were the most strenuous forms of Medieval hunting. The 'At Force' hunts were designed for fit, young and very active men. They would often break into teams and chase their prey to near exhaustion or would corner the animal just before the 'kill'. The 'Bow and Stable' Hunts were the less strenuous forms of hunting. This type of hunt was generally conducted on horseback and would drive the prey into an enclosed space where the huntsmen could kill the animal at close range. [Source: Medieval-Life-And-Times (.info) / Medieval-Life/Hunting-History (.htm) ] Their methods were pretty effective, whether they were hunting wild boars, deer, or two young girls.
Preparations
*A battlement in defensive architecture, such as that of city walls or castles, comprises a parapet (i.e. a defensive low wall between chest-height and head-height), in which rectangular gaps or indentations occur at intervals to allow for the discharge of arrows or other missiles from within the defenses. [Balestracci, D. (1989). "I materiali da costruzione nel castello medievale". Archeologia Medievale(XVI): pp. 227–242.]
Breaking Bad
* A dust explosion is the rapid combustion of fine particles which can occur where any powdered combustible material is present in high enough concentrations. In simple terms, fire needs oxygen to burn, so the more surface area the fuel source has, the faster the fire will ignite. When you have a dense block of wood, the fire cannot reach the particles at the center of the block right away, but if that piece of wood is shredded into a million dust-like particles, it often ignites so rapidly that it creates a fireball-like explosion. This was more of a science note than a history note I guess. There are more informative videos about this topic via Mythbusters and Youtube... but please DO NOT try to recreate this scenario at home unless your door is being chopped down with an ax.
But even then I would really just recommend calling the authorities.
FLASHBACK - A Test of Strength
* The children's mentor, Sir Frederick, is inspired by Frederick the Great, King of Prussia from 1740 to 1786. There were goods and bads to this historical figure... he was an excellent strategist and an advocate for Enlightenment, but he was also kind of a racist. And once he forced his subjects to eat vegetables by threatening to cut off their ears and noses if they didn't plant potatoes. Talk about strict parenting! Eat your vegetables, kids!
* Landmeister: The Order was divided in three national chapters, Prussia, Livland and the territory of the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation. The highest officer of each chapter was the Landmeister (country master). They were elected by the regional chapters. The Grandmaster was the highest ranking individual in the Teutonic Order, but eventually the Landmeister was given the ability to create a power of their own.
FLASHBACK - For Her Own Good
* Yay! More about marriage! So in this story, Elizaveta's father wanted her to get married at the age of 14; but for Romana, the proper marrying age was 16. What? Well, during this time period, many noble-born or royal women could and often did marry at a young age, but it usually depended on when the girl hit puberty.
There are many instances or very young girls being betrothed and married under the age of 10 years old. This did not necessarily mean that the marriage was consummated (they didn't have sex). It is more common for a young woman to have been married early, though not to have had her first child until she was much older.
In Italy the average age for marriage was 17; in France it is 16 years old (Source: "Medieval Households" by David Herlihy, Harvard University Press, 1985).
However, the following examples are exceptions:
Bianca of Savoy, Duchess of Milan was married aged 13yo (1350), and aged 14yo when she gave birth to her eldest son, Giangaleazzo (1351).
Agnes of France was 12yo when, widowed, she was married to Andronicus Comnenus, Byzantine Emperor (1182).
St Elizabeth of Portugal was aged 12yo when she was married to King Denis of Portugal and gave birth to three children shortly thereafter.
Caterina Sforza was betrothed aged 9yo, married aged 14yo, and gave birth aged 15yo.
The consensus is that young women of middle or low status married and gave birth at a much later because they did not need to marry for dynastic reasons, girls were often employed in service for a "fixed" term before being paid out and released from service, and in some cases, a "fee" was required to be paid upon the marriage.
"Church law forbade child marriage and allowed young brides and grooms to repudiate the marriage once they reached the age of puberty, which was officially set at 12 for girls and 14 for boys". (d'Outremer, Melisende. 'Women of History: Medieval Marriage & Childbirth'. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 July 2015.)
Bedtime Stories
*The bergfried is a tall tower typically found in medieval castles in German-speaking countries.
*The story is a take-off of an old, German-based fable called The Four Skillful Brothers. There are several different versions of the story and I know I changed my version just a tad to fit with the time period. I read it and it reminded me of these guys!
A Little Birdie Told Me
*The undercroft of a castle was traditionally a cellar or storage room, often vaulted. They were most popular in England and Scotland during the 13th and 14th centuries, but were also found in Germany, like at the imperial fortress in Cochem. It's not likely they would have had many scrolls, however. Undercrofts were mainly used as places to store food and weapons. (International, American. 'Castle Life - Rooms in a Medieval Castle') and (Gravett, Christopher. Castles and Fortifications from Around the World. Globe Pequot Press, 2007).
*This has to do with Pierre: Messenger pigeons have been used since ancient times for communication across long distances. They were used in Ancient Egypt, during the Olympics, and yes, also during the Crusades. Pigeon post was the world's fastest communication system for all the centuries of the Dark and Middle Ages, and remained so until Samuel Morse's invention of the telegraph in 1844 and Guglielmo Marconi's invention of the radio in 1895. (Woodbury, Sarah. 'Messenger Pigeons in the Middle Ages'. Sarah Woodbury, 25 Jan. 2013).
Cards on the Table
* In the 13th century the castle kitchen was still generally of timber, with a central hearth or several fireplaces where meat could be spitted or stewed in a cauldron. Utensils were washed in a scullery outside. Poultry and animals for slaughter were trussed and tethered nearby. Temporary extra kitchens were set up for feasts. In the bailey near the kitchen the castle garden was usually planted with fruit trees and vines at one end, and plots of herbs and flowers - roses, lilies, heliotropes, violets, poppies, daffodils, iris, gladiola. There might also be a fishpond, stocked with trout and pike.
Bonus Chapter
* So, during this scene the first thing one might envision is a formal, 18th-century-style cotilllion; however, that image of a couple's social dance is actually a little inaccurate...
Couple dances did not become popular in Germany until the latter half of the High Middle Ages. The first appearance in literature of a couple dance appears in 1023 from the German poet Ruodieb with a basic motif of a boy wooing a girl, and the girl repulsing his advances. (Folk Dance of Europe. Nigel Allenby Jaffé. 1990. Fold Dance Enterprises. pages 148, 149.)
At the end of the 13th century, which would be the period this story is set in, nobles and wealthy patricians danced as couples in procession in a slow, dignified manner in a circle. Lower classes (i.e. the farmers, peasants, etc.) were known for dancing in a more spritely fashion to upbeat music. Upper-middle class individuals, which I consider our little trio of knights to be in this case, combined the two styles, beginning with a slow procession and picking up towards the end, known as a 'fore and after' dance procession.
Illustrations from the 1400s also clearly show couples embracing each other with one arm and holding their partner's hand with the other. (Folk Dance of Europe. Nigel Allenby Jaffé. 1990. Fold Dance Enterprises. pages 155, 156.)
Also, the reason I chose to set this scene in the spring is because:
1) Love is in the air!
2) Walpurgis Night is a traditional Germanic festival set on the night of April 30th, which traces back to the 8th century abbess, Saint Walpurga, although it does not appear in English literary records until the 1800s. This would be a day of celebrations, festivities and feasts. (Collins English Dictionary Millennium Edition. 1998.) I decided it was the perfect night for a dance.
(Variants of Walpurgis Night are also observed in the Netherlands, Czech Republic, Sweden, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and Finland, although in the United States it is generally correlated with paganism and/or satanism).