#Friedrich Albrecht Von Rotbart

[lepreuxchevalier]

My latest retouch of the second illustration of some "Schwarze Reiter” that I have officially designed to feature the faction iconography of “Hohenrotbart Des Königreich Middenland" or "House Rotbart of The Kingdom of Middenland," one of the most iconic and essential factions of my "homebrew" low-fantasy setting. Both this artwork and it's associated faction iconography were officially designed for a "homebrew" low-fantasy setting of my original conception with technology and material culture roughly equivalent to European History during the compounded advents of The Italian Renaissance, The Protestant Reformation, and The Discovery of America. Where formations of heavily armoured and mounted, aristocratic and noble knights in either suits of full plate armour or heavy coats of chainmail fight alongside professional regiments of pikemen and matchlock musketeers. Where medieval-style stone castles are gradually being outsourced in favour of lavish country estates and devoted military fortifications, or “bastions,” due to the technological advancements being made in gunpowder-based, siege artillery. And where fledgling nation-states in the form of both kingdoms and empires look beyond the great oceans and the frontiers of “The Known World” in search of exotic riches and territory.

In context to the canon lore of my "homebrew" low-fantasy setting, “Hohenrotbart Des Königreich Middenland" or "House Rotbart of The Kingdom of Middenland" is loosely inspired by Medieval and Renaissance Prussia under The Theocracy of The Teutonic Knights as well as Ducal Prussia during the 16th and 17th centuries. “Friedrich I, Der erster und herrschend König von Middenland und Der Gründungschef von Hohenrotbart," with his legislative decree to formally convert to “The Luxembourgian Reformation” on behalf of both his dynastic household and his hereditary subjects being highly analogous to "Albrecht von Preußen's" or "Albert von Brandenburg-Ansbach's" formal secularization of “The Monastic State of The Teutonic Knights” or “Der Deutschordenstaat” to The Lutheran, East Prussian Duchy as it's last effective grandmaster and it's first duke in the early 16th century. Designated in my "homebrew" low-fantasy setting as “Shwarze Reiter” or “Black Riders,” the constituent “Bruderschaften” or “chapters” of “Die Schwarzen Reiter” as the elite, pseudo-monastic, martial fraternities of aristocratic and noble heavy cavalry paying direct homage and military service to the legal persons of "Hohenrotbart Des Königreich Middenland” as opposed to the feudal, private interests of the aristocratic and noble “great houses” of “junker” princeps and magnates. Each “Brüderschaft” or “chapter” is led under the personal command and the direct supervision by “Ein Großmeister” or “a grandmaster,” who are each personally and individually appointed for life from “legitimate issues” or “dynastic scions” of the aristocratic and noble "great houses" of “junker” princeps and magnates to serve the royal, state interests of “Hohenrotbart Des Königreich Middenland” over those of any princely “great house” of “junker” aristocracy and nobility. “Die Könige von Middenland” as the hereditary, dynastic patriarchs of "Hohenrotbart" are, by tradition, the more-or-less hereditary holders of the appointed office of “Der Hochmeister Der Schwarzen Reiter” or “The Supreme Grandmaster of All Schwarzen Reiter” as a tradition meant to "engender" or otherwise "rationalize" their position of military authority as the lawful, legitimate, and undisputed commanders-in-chief of all constituent “Bruderschaften” or "chapters" of "Die Schwarzen Reiter" in Das Königreich Middenland. To reinforce both the professional loyalties and the direct homage of the constituent "Bruderschaften" of "Der Schwarzen Reiter" to the persons of “Hohenrotbart Des Königreich Middenland” as the traditional and more-or-less hereditary holders of the appointed office of “Der Hochmeister Der Schwarzen Reiter.” Both the personal livelihoods and the unit upkeep costs of the constituent “Brüderschaften” or "chapters" of "Der Schwarzen Reiter" were funded through a combination of the quarterly land tax generated by “the demesne” or “the crownlands” under the direct administration of "Hohenrotbart Des Königreich Middenland" and their civil administrators, through any tariffs imposed on the commerce and the industry of Der König von Middenland’s charter companies and the local trade guilds, as well as through any tithes and benefices generated by the religious services of, donations to, and property owned by The Conservative Church of The New Gods in joint partnership with "Hohenrotbart Des Königreich Middenland" over the sovereign and legitimate rulership, the state administration, and the systematic, mass conversion of the autochthonous, apostate Albic tribes religiously subscribed to the druidic, cult worship of “Erdøk” or ”The Great Forest” geographically situated directly beyond the easternmost fronters of “Das Selbst Kaiserreich Der Menschheit” or “The Empire of Mankind Proper.”

Alongside "Hohenbiermann Der Markgrafschaft Brannenborg," "Hohenrotbart Des Königreich Middenland" collectively forms "Die Sudkreuzritterstaaten," "Die Teutogenstaaten," or "Die Sudentscheidenstaaten." Essentially a "Teutogen" or "Southern Austere" cultural and linguistic bloc born of the subsequent and complimentary events of "The Southern Crusades" and "The Sudsiedlung." "The Southern Crusades" essentially being the religious warfare and the territorial conquests formally preached and prosecuted against the autochthonous, apostate, Albic tribes religiously subscribed to the druidic, cult worship of "Erdøk," "The Great Forest," or "The Great Bastion" geographically situated directly beyond the easternmost frontiers of "Des Zweiten Kaiserreich der Menschheit" or "The Empire of Mankind Secundus." While "The Sudsiedlung" generally denotes the gradual and effective resettlement of culturally and ethnically "Austere" or "Northern Imperial" settlers and immigrants hailing from "Das Selbst Kaiserreich der Menschheit" or "The Empire of Mankind Proper" alongside the synonymous, systematic, and complimentary mass conversion of the indigenous, apostate, Albic tribes back into the fold of The Conservative Church of The New Gods officially seated within The Holy Sept of Romulus and their thorough and effective assimilation into the "Austere" or "Northern Imperial" culture and language of their feudal and ecclesiastical lords and masters using the religious services and the church schools officially sponsored by a culturally and ethnically "Austere" or "Northern Imperial" Conservative Clergy with their traditional monopolies over knowledge, learning, and education in general. The cultural assimilation of the autochthonous, apostate, Albic tribes of Des Königreich Middenland and Der Markgrafschaft Brannenborg being a synonymous and complimentary necessity with their systematic, mass conversion back into the fold of The Conservative Church of The New Gods, as there were essentially no literate and formally educated indigenous Albic Clergy who could effectively and efficiently preach and proselytize the Conservative Liturgy of The Holy Canons of The New Gods to the pious masses in "Die Sudkreuzritterstaaten, "Die Teutogenstaaten," or "Die Sudentscheidenstaaten." With any autochthonous, apostate, Albic tribes who had both violently resisted and openly protested against both the legislative marginalization of their religious liberties and their synonymous, systematic, and complimentary mass conversion and cultural assimilation into the culture, religion, and language of their "Austere" or "Northern Imperial" feudal and ecclesiastical overlords facing mass genocide at the hands of the fledgling, yet brutally efficient and effective professional armies paying direct homage and military service to "Hohenrotbart Des Königreich Middenland" and "Hohenbiermann Der Markgrafscaft Brannenborg," or those of the feudal, aristocratic levies of knightly retinues and pike-and-shotte infantry regiments paying direct homage and military service to the aristocratic and noble "great houses" of "junker" princeps and magnates in either Das Königreich Middenland or Die Markgrafschaft Brannenborg. "Hohenrotbart Des Königreich Middenland," in particular, was born out of Bishop-Prince Friedrich Albrecht Von Rotbart's "Midlands Crusade" formally preached and prosecuted on behalf of "Archpatriarch Vexillarius IV, 299th and Reigning Bishop of Romulus and Current Head of The Conservative Church of The New Gods" against the autochthonous, apostate, Albic tribes geographically situated directly beyond the southernmost frontiers of "Des Zweiten Kaiserreich der Menschheit" or "The Empire of Mankind Secundus." With "The Midlands Crusade" finally concluding, in stunning and overwhelming triumph, in favour of Bishop-Prince Friedrich Albrecht Von Rotbart and the conquering, crusading host of "The Midlands Crusade" at the climactic "Battle of The Godswoods."

With the stunning and final conclusion of "The Midlands Crusade" formally and officially preached and prosecuted against the indigenous, apostate, Albic tribes religiously subscribed to the druidic, cult worship of "Erdøk" or "The Great Forest" by Friedrich I's far more prestigious, prolific, and illustrious older brother Friedrich Albrecht Von Rotbart, "Bishop-Prince of Elchingen," "ecclesiastical, invested Kurfürst Des Selbst Kaiserreich der Menschheit," and above all "Archpatriarchal Legate" or "Pontifical Representative" to "Vexillarius IV, 299th and Reigning Bishop of Romulus and Current Head of The Conservative Church of The New Gods" for "The Midlands Crusade" with the stunning and overwhelming victory for the sanctioned host of The Conservative Church of The New Gods at the climactic "Battle of The Godswoods." "The Godswoods" as the holiest shrine and the sacred grove to the autochthonous, apostate, Albic tribes geographically situated directly beyond the southernmost frontiers of "Das Selbst Kaiserreich der Menschheit" or "The Empire of Mankind Proper" was subsequently and consequently desecrated and demolished by the conquering, crusading knights of "The Midlands Crusade." With it's constituent lands being formally consecrated as the site of the new basilica town of Marienburg, where Friedrich Albrecht Von Rotbart would be invested, with The Bishop of Romulus' explicit blessing, the awesome and prestigious ecclesiastical office of "Bishop-Patriarch of Marienburg" in order to facilitate the systematic, mass conversion of the indigenous, apostate, Albic tribes back into the fold of The Conservative Church of The New Gods officially seated within The Holy Sept of Romulus. By sheer virtue of his fraternal ties to both "The Archpatriarchal Legate" or "The Pontifical Representative" to Vexillarius IV for "The Midlands Crusade" as well as the seminal and founding "Bishop-Patriarch of Marienburg," Friedrich Von Rotbart was naturally prioritized over all other prospective candidates for his formal coronation and anointment as "Friedrich I, Der ester und herrschend König von Middenland und Der Gründungschef von Hohenrotbart" as The Former Kingdom of The Midland's first hereditary monarch and dynastic household since the extinction of the legitimate, male bloodline of The Late House Bartholemew almost an entire century ago. Using the awesome power, prestige, and authority inherently tied to the venerable and prestigious ecclesiastical office of Bishop-Patriarch of Marienburg, Friedrich Albrecht Von Rotbart would use his ecclesiastical office within The Conservative Church of The New Gods to leverage the unanimous political and religious support of all the high ranking ecclesiastical and monastic offices of Conservative Clergy within Das Königreich Middenland.

Although having won the unanimous religious support and the political backing of the ecclesiastical and the monastic clergy of The Conservative Church of The New Gods in Das Königreich Middenland. Friedrich I's coronation as "Der ester und herrschend König von Middenland und Der Gründungschef von Hohenrotbart" was generally and initially received with both icy anticipation and subtle dread, in equal measure, by the newly established aristocratic and noble "great houses" of "junker" princeps and magnates who formed from the cream, core, and bulk of the conquering, crusading knights originally involved in Friedrich Albrecht Von Rotbart's "Midlands Crusade." Many of whom personally felt that they were better suited towards, or otherwise felt that they were more entitled to the formal and official coronation for the hereditary, dynastic title of "Der erster und herrschend König von Middenland" due to the equal degree of suspicion and skepticism they generally held in regards to Friedrich Von Rotbart in most part due to his minor aristocratic and noble birth within the "Austere" or "Northern Imperial" cultural and linguistic hemisphere of "Des Zweiten Kaiserreich der Menschheit" or "The Empire of Mankind Secundus," as well as his professional background as a mercenary captain to pike-and-shotte infantry, as opposed to aristocratic and noble heavy cavalry due to the historical precedence of the militaristic traditions and ideology of professional chivalry. To placate the residual and looming suspicion, skepticism, and subtle dread initially and generally expressed by Das Königreich Middenland's greater and lesser dynastic houses of "junker" aristocrats and nobles, while also further "entrenching" or otherwise "reinforcing" their feudal homage and their hereditary, dynastic loyalties to "Hohenrotbart Des Königreich Middenland." Friedrich I, with Bishop-Patriarch Friedrich Albrecht Von Rotbart's explicit blessing, would award hereditary, dynastic enfeoffment over Das Königreich Middenland's most arable and lucrative lands, titles, and estates which had not been previously claimed as the legal property of The Conservative Church of The New Gods to the greater and lesser dynastic houses of "junker" aristocrats and nobles. Later on into the decades of his long, prolific, and illustrious reign as "Der erster und herrschend König von Middenland und Der Gründungschef von Hohenrotbart," Friedrich I would decree state legislation to award Das Königreich Middenland's greater and lesser dynastic houses of "junker" aristocrats and nobles the exclusive, feudal privilege for state appointments as judges and magistrates for the new, secular, "royal" law courts officially established by Friedrich I since the aftermath of "The Midlands Crusade" with his formal coronation as "Der ester und herrschend König von Middenland und Der Gründungschef von Hohenrotbart." The voluminous bodies of secular law codes, traditions, and customs governing the provincial jurisdiction of Friedrich I's "royal" law courts essentially being derivative works of those of "Die Freie Reichsstädte" or "The Imperial Free Cities" within the "Austere" or "Northern Imperial" cultural and linguistic hemisphere of "Des Zweiten Kaiserreich der Menschheit" or "The Empire of Mankind Secundus." With the exception of the provincial jurisdiction of the episcopal diocese of The Archbishopric of Marienburg, which was governed directly by the canon law courts answerable only to The Archpatriarch officially seated within The Holy Sept of Romulus.

In direct cooperation and in joint partnership with his far more prestigious, prolific, and illustrious older brother Bishop-Patriarch Friedrich Albrecht Von Rotbart. "Friedrich I, Der erster und herrschend König von Middenland und Der Gründungschef von Hohenrotbart" worked in direct cooperation and in joint partnership with both the ecclesiastical and the monastic clergy of The Conservative Church of The New Gods over the sovereign and legitimate rulership, the state administration, and the systematic, mass conversion of Das Königreich Middenland's autochthonous, apostate, Albic tribes back into the fold of The Conservative Church of The New Gods officially seated within The Holy Sept of Romulus. With any indigenous, Albic tribes who had both violently resisted and openly protested against the legislative marginalization of their religious liberties in order to encourage their systematic, mass conversion back into the fold of The Conservative Church of The New Gods facing mass genocide at the hands of either the fledgling, yet brutally efficient and effective professional army paying direct homage and military service to "Hohenrotbart Des Königreich Middenland," or those of the feudal, aristocratic levies of knightly retinues and pike-and-shotte infantry regiments paying direct homage and military service to Das Königreich Middenland's aristocratic and noble "great houses" of "junker" princeps and magnates. The systematic, mass conversion efforts to bring the autochthonous, apostate, Albic tribes back into the fold of The Conservative Church of The New Gods was facilitated exclusively by a culturally and ethnically "Austere" or "Northern Imperial" Conservative Clergy, who had maintained their traditional monopoly over knowledge, learning, and education in general. As there were no literate or formally educated "autochthonous" or "indigenous" Albic Clergy who could effectively and efficiently preach and proselytize the Conservative Liturgy of The Holy Canons of The New Gods in Das Königreich Middenland, the systematic, mass conversion of Das Königreich Middenland's indigenous, apostate Albic tribes came with their synonymous, complimentary, and thorough cultural assimilation into the culture and language of their culturally and ethnically "Austere" or "Northern Imperial" feudal and ecclesiastical lords and masters using the religious services and the church schools officially sponsored by a culturally and ethnically "Austere" or "Northern Imperial" Conservative Clergy.

In order to "revitalize" or otherwise "encourage" the growth of Das Königreich Middenland's internal economy, industrial base, and cultural and scholastic activity. Friedrich I's first and most enduring policy as "Der ester und herrschend König von Middenland und Der Gründungschef von Hohenrotbart" was to encourage both the mass immigration and the thorough and effective resettlement of skilled, educated, and moneyed commoners hailing from his native "Austere" or "Northern Imperial" cultural and linguistic hemisphere within "Das Selbst Kaiserreich der Menschheit" or "The Empire of Mankind Proper." Using the allure and the promise to permanently resettle, in free hold, within the newly established castles and fortified cities of Das Königreich Middenland, as well as the most lucrative and arable rural estates of their attached countryside. Friedrich I hopes to stimulate the growth of both the rising class of urban "burghers" or "bourgeoisie, merchants, professionals, and artisans," as well as the rising class of rural "kollmers" or "country gentlemen." In order to relieve the societal tension caused by the cultural and religious differences between the more-than-significant influx of culturally "Austere" or "Northern Imperial" settlers and immigrants with the indigenous, apostate Albic tribes. Friedrich I as "Der ester und herrschend König von Middenland und Der Gründungschef von Hohenrotbart," in direct partnership with the ecclesiastical clergy of The Conservative Church of The New Gods in Das Königreich Middenland, officially decreed state legislation to offer church-sponsored dowries to any autochthonous Albic families who had both openly and formally converted back into the fold of The Conservative Church of The New Gods in return for marrying off their daughters to any male settlers and immigrants hailing from the "Austere" or "Northern Imperial" cultural and linguistic hemisphere of "Des Zweiten Kaiserreich der Menschheit" or "The Empire of Mankind Secundus." By officially endorsing both a political and a religious campaign to encourage intermarriage between the daughters of any indigenous Albic families who had both openly and formally converted back into the fold of The Conservative Church of The New Gods with male settlers and immigrants hailing from the "Austere" or "Northern Imperial" cultural and linguistic hemisphere of "Des Zweiten Kaiserreich der Menschheit" or "The Empire of Mankind Secundus" using dowries officially sponsored by the ecclesiastical clergy of The Conservative Church of The New Gods in Das Königreich Middenland. Friedrich I hopes to "stimulate" or otherwise "encourage" the rate and the efficiency of the systematic, mass conversion of Das Königreich Middenland's indigenous, apostate, Albic tribes while also placating any political and social instability agitated by the cultural and the religious friction between the more-than-significant influx of "Austere" or "Northern Imperial" settlers and immigrants with the Albic natives.

With the untimely passing away of Bishop-Patriarch Friedrich Albrecht Von Rotbart as Friedrich I's far more prestigious, prolific, and illustrious older brother, "The Archpatriarchal Legate" or "The Pontifical Representative" to Vexillarius IV for "The Midlands Crusade," and the seminal and founding "Bishop-Patriarch of Marienburg" formally invested during the stunning conclusion and aftermath of "The Midlands Crusade" with the official consecration of the site of the basilica town of Marienburg over the lands of the former "Godswoods" as the holiest shrine and the sacred grove of the autochthonous, apostate, Albic tribes of "The Former Kingdom of The Midlands" since before it's untimely and final collapse with the extinction of the legitimate, male bloodline of "The Late House Bartholemew" and the subsequent and consequent political feuding and warring between The Former Kingdom of The Midlands' aristocratic and noble "great houses" of feudal princeps and magnates over the issue of legitimate succession to the extinct, legitimate male bloodline of The Late House Bartholemew. The venerable and ailing Archpatriarch Vexillarius IV as "The 299th and Reigning Bishop of Romulus and The Current Head of The Conservative Church of The New Gods" formally and officially invested in, with his explicit blessing, "Wolfgang Amadeus Von Holswig-Schlestien, Bishop-Prince of Griffenheim and ecclesiastical, invested, Kurfürst Des Selbst Kaiserreich Der Menschheit" as the lawful and legitimate successor to the late Friedrich Albrecht Von Rotbart for the venerable and prestigious ecclesiastical office of "Bishop-Patriarch of Marienburg." Unlike Bishop-Patriarch Friedrich Albrecht Von Rotbart as his immediate predecessor and the seminal and founding Bishop-Patriarch of Marienburg, this new Bishop-Patriarch of Marienburg was particularly hellbent on both maximizing and prioritizing the spiritual, cultural, and moral power, authority, and influence of The Conservative Church of The New Gods formally seated within The Holy Sept of Romulus as the historic capital, civilizational kernel, and titular namesake of The Cosmopolitan, Classical Romulan Republic and "The Empire of Mankind Primus" at the expense of marginalizing the secular, worldly, and temporal power, authority, and influence of "Hohenrotbart Des Königreich Middenland" to a purely nominal level, in order to improve the rate and the efficiency of the systematic, mass conversion of Das Königreich Middenland's autochthonous, apostate Albic tribes religiously subscribed to the druidic, cult worship of "Erdøk" or "The Great Forest" geographically situated directly beyond the easternmost frontiers of "Das Zweiten Kaiserreich Der Menschheit" or "The Empire of Mankind Secundus," which he deemed as being facilitated "reluctantly" or otherwise "inadequately." Stating at one point during his brief and untimely tenure as The Second Bishop-Patriarch of Marienburg that "The Midlands Crusade was formally and officially preached and prosecuted against the autochthonous, apostate, Albic tribes in the name of The Canon Pantheon of The New Gods, not in the name of the selfish and conceited ambitions of prospective monarchs and aristocrats. And it was through their sheer grace and divinity that The Midlands Crusade had finally concluded, in stunning and overwhelming triumph, in favour of the sanctioned host of The Conservative Church."

"Friedrich I, Der erster und herrschend König von Middenland und Der Gründungschef von Hohenrotbart," in direct response to this seemingly existential threat to his sovereign and legitimate rule posed by this new Bishop-Patriarch of Marienburg and his clerical and lay administration, formally decreed state legislation as "Der erster und herrschend König von Middenland und Der Gründungschef von Hohenrotbart" to officially convert to "The Luxembourgian Reformation" to the religious establishment of, and the institutions of organized religion within The Conservative Church of The New Gods officially seated within The Holy Sept of Romulus as the historic capital, the civilizational kernel, and the titular namesake of both The Cosmopolitan, Classical Romulan Republic and "The Empire of Mankind Primus" during "The Civilized World's" historic epoch of "Classical Antiquity" on behalf of both his dynastic household and his hereditary subjects. Karl Von Luxembourg essentially being a learned church doctor of theology at "Die Universität Wörtzburch" in "Das Herzogtum Solingen," a prestigious graduate of "The Imperial Academy" at "Nymphenburg," and the official head and former heir apparent to "Hohenluxembourg Des Königreich Schönbrunn," the only hereditary monarchy within "Das Selbst Kaiserreich der Menshheit" or "The Empire of Mankind Proper" who is best known for his written thesis openly condemning the corruption, the abuses, and the worldly excesses of both the ecclesiastical and the monastic clergy of The Conservative Church of The New Gods and the appeal for a general, sweeping, and universal theological reformation of the religious establishment of, and the institutions of organized religion within The Conservative Church of The New Gods officially seated within The Holy Sept of Romulus. In the process of enacting his legislative decree to become the first hereditary, dynastic ruler in both the recorded histories and the geographic enormity of The Known World to officially convert to Karl Von Luxembourg's general, sweeping, and universal theological reformation to The Conservative Church of The New Gods. Friedrich I would subsequently, consequently, and formally "assume supreme authority over matters of religion” as “The First Supreme Head of The Reformed Church of The New Gods in Das Königreich Middenland," thus endowing himself with state investiture over new bishops and abbots for "The Reformed Church of The New Gods in Das Königreich Middenland." Including state investiture over the venerable and prestigious ecclesiastical office of Bishop-Patriarch of Marienburg since the historic consecration and founding of the basilica town of Marienburg over the site of the former "Godswoods" in the aftermath of Friedrich Albrecht Von Rotbart's "Midlands Crusade," with his formal investiture as the seminal and founding "Bishop-Patriarch of Marienburg" charged with the systematic, mass conversion of the indigenous, apostate, Albic tribes religiously subscribed to the druidic, cult worship of "Erdøk" or "The Great Forest." Friedrich I's formal assumption of supreme authority over matters of religion through his legislative decree to officially convert to "The Luxembourgian Reformation" on behalf of both his dynastic household and his hereditary subjects would naturally culminate in the systematic persecution, the legislative marginalization, and the confiscation of the lands, estates, and treasuries of any ecclesiastical and monastic clergy of The Conservative Church of The New Gods who had both openly and stubbornly refused to submit before, and openly protested against Friedrich I's formal renunciation of his spiritual, cultural, and moral ties of fealty to “The Archpatriarchs” or “The Bishops of Romulus” as “The Anointed, Acolytic, and Universal Heads of The Conservative Church of The New Gods.”

Friedrich I's first official policy as "The First Supreme Head of The Reformed Church of The New Gods in Das Königreich Middenland" was to decriminalize both the vernacular translations and the private ownership of "The Holy Canons of The New Gods" in direct accordance with Karl Von Luxembourg's theological tenets of "sola scriptura" or "salvation by scripture alone," and "sola fide" or "salvation by faith alone," which had always been traditionally codified in "Classical Cosmopolitan" or "Ecclesiastical Cosmopolitan" as the liturgical language of The Conservative Church of The New Gods since the original composition, codification, and canonization of the most widely attested and popular oral mythologies of The Cosmopolitan and The Mycenean Pantheons into the canon theology of The Faith of The New Gods traditionally attributed to the theological reforms officially decreed under the reign of The Cosmopolitan, Classical Romulan Imperator of Mankind "Cassadorian the Great." While both the private ownership and the strict interpretation of The Holy Canons of The New Gods had remained the exclusive, legal reserve of the ecclesiastical and the monastic clergy of The Conservative Church of The New Gods since it's original institutionalization under The Cosmopolitan, Classical Romulan Imperator of Mankind "Demetrius Superbus" as an "administrative organ" or an "administrative body" within the civil magistracy of The Cosmopolitan, Classical Romulan "Empire of Mankind Primus," as well as the exclusive, feudal privilege of the hereditary, dynastic, greater and lesser houses of feudal aristocracy and nobility as both the "traditional" and the "preferential" source for aspiring and prospective clergymen. With Friedrich I's legislative decree to decriminalize both the vernacular translations and the private ownership of The Holy Canons of The New Gods opening both it's reading and it's strict interpretation to all social classes outside the ecclesiastical and the monastic clergy of The Reformed Church of The New Gods in Das Königreich Middenland as well as the greater and lesser dynastic houses of "junker" aristocracy and nobility.

In order to effectively "bolster" or otherwise "reinforce" his legislative decree to open both the private ownership and the strict interpretation of the vernacular translations of The Holy Canons of The New Gods to all social classes outside the ecclesiastical and monastic clergy and the feudal aristocracy and nobility. Friedrich I had actively campaigned to proliferate both the spread and the growth of mass literacy within Das Königreich Middenland using the religious support and the political backing of any professional printers, missionaries, and church schools personally sympathetic to Karl Von Luxembourg and his general, sweeping, and universal reformation to the religious establishment of, and institutions of organized religion within The Conservative Church of The New Gods officially seated within The Holy Sept of Romulus as the historic capital, civilizational kernel, and titular namesake of The Cosmopolitan, Classical Romulan Republic and "The Empire of Mankind Primus." With Friedrich I's formal issuance of the deed of foundation for "The Collegium Fridericium" or "Die Universität Königsberg" serving as both the earliest and the greatest centre for the ideological proliferation of Karl Von Luxembourg's general, sweeping, and universal theological reformation of The Conservative Church of The New Gods, as well as a religious, material, and intellectual cultural monument quite literally "set in stone" devoted in homage to his enduring legacy and infamy as the first hereditary, dynastic ruler in both the recorded histories and the geographic enormity of "The Known World" to formally renounce his spiritual, cultural, and moral ties of fealty to The Holy Sept in Romulus, and in the process formally assuming supreme authority over matters of religion within his sovereign realm as "The First Supreme Head of The Reformed Church of The New Gods in Das Königreich Middenland." With "The Collegium Fridericium" or "Die Universität Königsberg" essentially serving as a mighty bastion and stronghold of religious and intellectual cultural education explicitly founded with the intent of producing prospective bishops and abbots formally schooled and educated in the intellectual framework and methodology of renaissance humanism most popular within the scholastic and academic communities and circles native to the "Frivolous" or "Southern Imperial" states of "L'Impero dell'Umanità Secundo" or "The Empire of Mankind Secundus" and charged with the clerical maintenance and administration of religious orthodoxy within "The Reformed Church of The New Gods in Das Königreich Middenland," as well as literate and formally educated missionaries and preachers charged with the mission of preaching and proselytizing the theological reforms of Karl Von Luxembourg throughout and beyond the established frontiers of Das Königreich Middenland.

[lepreuxchevalier]

Some illustrations of pike-and-shotte infantry that I have officially designed for “Hohenrotbart,” the reigning, dynastic household of “Das Königreich Middenland” or “The Kingdom of Middenland” in my medieval fantasy setting. Both this series of illustrations, as well as their associated faction iconography, were officially designed for a low-fantasy setting of my original conception with technology and material culture equivalent to the late medieval and renaissance periods of European history. Where formations of heavily armoured and mounted, aristocratic knights in either suits of full plate armour or heavy coats of chainmail fight alongside professional armies of pikemen and matchlock musketeers. Where medieval-style stone castles are gradually being outsourced in favour of both lavish, sumptuous country estates and devoted military fortifications, or “bastions,” due to the technological advancements being made in gunpowder-based, siege artillery. And where fledgling nation-states, most notably in the form of kingdoms and empires, look beyond the great oceans and the frontiers of “The Known World” in search of even greater wealth and territory.

In context to the canon lore of my low-fantasy world, “Hohenrotbart” or “House Rotbart” is the newly crowned and anointed hereditary, dynastic household to “Das Königreich Middenland” or “The Kingdom of Middenland” following the stunning conclusion of “The Midlands Crusade” officially preached and prosecuted by Friedrich-Albrecht Von Rotbart as Bishop-Prince of Elchingen, one of the three ecclesiastical, invested “Kurfürsten des Selbst Kaiserreich der Menscheit” or “Prince-Electors of The Empire of Mankind Proper,” and Archpatriarchal Legate to Vexillarius IV for “The Midlands Crusade.” The apointed title of “Archpatriarchal Legate” essentially denoting the official, church-sanctioned representatives to the person of “The Reigning Bishop of Romulus” and “The Current Head of The Conservative Church of The New Gods” in either foreign affairs or in “errantry wars” and “crusades” officially preached and prosecuted against the enemies of The Conservative Faith. The historic, church-sanctioned consecration of The Basilica of Marienburg over the site of the former “Godswoods” marks both the official conclusion of The Midlands Crusade and the foundation of the new “Königreich Middenland” over the bulk of the remnants of “The Former Kingdom of The Midlands.” In terms of it’s historical, cultural, and religious sources of inspiration, “Das Königreich Middenland” under the hereditary, dynastic rule of “Hohenrotbart” as “Die Könige von Middenland” draws heavy influences from medieval and renaissance Prussia under “The Monastic State of The Teutonic Knights” or “Deutschordenstaat,” as well as Ducal Prussia during the 16th and 17th centuries.” With Friedrich I’s legislative decree to officially convert to Karl Von Luxembourg’s general, sweeping, and international reformation to The Conservative Church of The New Gods on behalf of both his dynastic house and his hereditary subjects being highly analogous to the secularization of “The Monastic State of The Teutonic Knights” or “Deutschordenstaat” to The Lutheran, East Prussian Duchy during the early 16th century.

Under the hereditary, dynastic rule of Friedrich I as “Der erster und herrschend König von Middenland” und “Der Gründungschef von Hohenrotbart” or “The Founding Head of House Rotbart,” as the kingdom’s first reigning, hereditary, monarch and dynastic household since the untimely extinction of legitimate, male bloodline of “The Late House Bartholemew” and the subsequent collapse of “The Former Kingdom of The Midlands” over a century and a half ago. “Das Königreich Middenland,” as it has been termed since the official, church-sanctioned consecration of The Basilica of Marienburg over the site of the former “Godswoods” at the conclusion of “The Midlands Crusade,” with the subsequent investiture of Friedrich-Albrecht Von Rotbart as the first “Bishop-Patriarch of Marienburg” has officially become the first culture and state in both the recorded history, and the enormity of “The Known World” to renounce The Conservative Faith of The New Gods based on the old, Classical Romulan rite and liturgy originally formalized and decreed under The Classical Romulan Imperator “Cassadorian the Great” in favour of “The Luxembourgian Reforms” as officially preached and published by Karl Von Luxembourg, a learned doctor of theology based at Die Universität Wörtzburch as well as the leading and titular “Great Reformer” to The Conservative Church of The New Gods, with Friedrich I’s legislative decree to officially convert to The Luxembourgian Reformation on behalf of both his dynastic house and his hereditary subjects.

Long before Friedrich I’s formal coronation and anointment as “Der erster und herrschend König von Middenland” und “Der Gründungschef von Hohenrotbart.” Friedrich Von Rotbart was originally a minor aristocrat and mercenary captain of a pike-and-shotte infantry company known as “Die Bande Des Falke” or “The Band of The Hawk” operating within both the “Austere” and the “Frivolous” cultural and linguistic hemispheres of The Empire of Mankind. With the advent of the official, church-sanctioned preaching and prosecution of “The Midlands Crusade” under his more prestigious, prolific, and illustrious older brother Friedrich-Albrecht Von Rotbart as Bishop-Prince of Elchingen, one of the three ecclesiastical, invested “Kurfürsten des Selbst Kaiserreich der Menscheit” or “Prince-Electors of The Empire of Mankind Proper,” and Archpatriarchal Legate to Vexillarius IV for “The Midlands Crusade.” Friedrich Von Rotbart and his “Die Bande Des Falke” flocked to the banner of The Midlands Crusade officially preached and prosecuted against the apostate, Albic tribes religiously subscribed to the druidic worship of “Erdøk,” a strange, nature-worshipping faith that long predated the rise of organized worship in both The Canon Pantheons of The Old and The New Gods and remained prevalent within the confines of “The Great Bastion” or “The Great Forest of Erdøk” situated directly east of The Empire of Mankind. “Erdøk” as a unique form of religious worship had begun to spread in prominence within The Former Kingdom of The Midlands long before the untimely extinction of the legitimate, male bloodline of The Late House Bartholemew and the subsequent collapse of The Former Kingdom of The Mildands over a century and a half ago. Although both Friedrich Von Rotbart and his Bande Des Falke only fought in The Midlands Crusade as minor belligerents, despite having allegedly fought and served with such distinction so as to earn both the respect and the commendation of their fellow crusaders and the church authorities officially involved in the crusade. Friedrich Von Rotbart through his sheer hereditary ties to The Archpatriarchal Legate to Vexillarius IV for The Midlands Crusade and The First Bishop-Patriarch of Marienburg was prioritized over all other prospective candidates for the coronation and the anointment as “Der erster und herrschend König von Middenland” und “Der Gründungschef von Hohenrotbart.”

In joint partnership with his older brother Friedrich-Albrecht Von Rotbart as the first Bishop-Patriarch of Marienburg over the rulership and administration of the new “Königreich Middenland.” Friedrich I, in conjunction with the clergy of The Conservative Church of The New Gods, facilitated the systematic, mass conversion of the autochthonous “Albic” tribes of The Former Kingdom of The Midlands back into the fold of The Conservative Faith under the formal leadership of “The Bishop of Romulus” or “The Archpatriarch” officially seated in The Holy Sept of the old, Classical Romulan capital and titular namesake of “The Empire of Mankind Primus” that had once dominated the overwhelming majority of “The Known World” during the long forgotten epoch of “Classical Antiquity.” Alongside the gradual, eventual conversion, and occasional pacification through force of arms and military might, of the indigenous “Albic” tribes of The Former Kingdom of The Midlands. “Das Königreich Middenland” throughout the long, prolific, and illustrious reign of Friedrich I as “Der erster und herrschend König von Middenland” und “Der Gründungschef von Hohenrotbart” has been thoroughly and effectively resettled by colonists and settlers hailing from Friedrich I’s native “Austere” or “Northern Imperial” cultural and linguistic hemisphere within The Empire of Mankind. Most notably into the newly established, fortified towns and cities founded either directly under the official, state administration of Der erster und herrschend König von Middenland, himself, or by the newly established baronial magnates of “Junker” aristocracy in direct homage to Hohenrotbart as “Die Könige von Middenland.” In addition to the thorough and effective resettlement of culturally and ethnically “Austere” or “Northern Imperial” colonists and settlers into the newly established, fortified towns and cities, as well as the most arable rural estates of their surrounding countryside. The autochthonous Albic tribes have been gradually assimilated into both the Northern Imperial culture and ethnicity through a combination of church-sponsored dowries in order to promote intermarriage between male colonists and settlers hailing from the “Austere” or “Northern Imperial” cultural and linguistic hemisphere of The Empire of Mankind with the Albic natives. As well as the proliferation of both the oral and written “Austere” or “Northern Imperial” language and culture through the religious services and church schools officially sponsored by the culturally and ethnically “Austere” or “Northern Imperial” Conservative clergy. Although having been gradually, albeit thoroughly, transformed into a culturally “Austere” or “Northern Imperial” nation-state situated uniquely without the southernmost frontiers and beyond the official jurisdiction of The Empire of Mankind.” Thanks in full to the long, prolific, and illustrious reign of Friedrich I in conjunction with the culturally and ethnically Northern Imperial Conservative clergy over the rulership, administration, and systematic, mass conversion of the Albic tribes indigenous to “Das Königreich Middenland.” Das Königreich Middenland, based uniquely without the established frontiers and beyond the official jurisdiction of The Empire of Mankind, alongside neighbouring “Markgrafschaft Brannenborg” as the newest, most recent, constituent member state of, and historic, territorial addition to the lands of The Empire of Mankind Proper, and one oddly and uniquely situated within the southernmost frontiers of The Empire, have come to collectively form a “Teutogen” or “Southern Austere” cultural and linguistic bloc within the confines of “The Civilized World Proper” that is uniquely characterized by both it’s shared cultural heritage as the crusader states born of the complimentary events of “The Southern Crusades” and the subsequent “Sudsiedlung,” as well as their common heritage as the earliest religious converts to The “Reformed” Faith of The New Gods based on the theological reforms of Karl Von Luxembourg with his scriptural emphasis on both the vernacular translation and the strict, universal interpretation of The Holy Canons of The New Gods by all social classes outside the clergy and the feudal aristocracy.

“Das Königreich Middenland,” with it’s complimentary policies of rampant, obsessive-compulsive military fortification, most notably in the form of stone castles and city walls, with the thorough, effective, state-mandated militarization of Das Königreich Middenland were both born of the equally stubborn and violent resistance put up by the indigenous Albic tribes, who had deeply resented both their systematic, mass conversion back into the fold of The Conservative Church of The New Gods as well as the systematic persecution and marginalization of their religious liberties that came synonymously with the “Austere” or “Northern Imperial” cultural and ethnic assimilation efforts that characterized both “Die Markgrafschaft Brannenborg” since the official, hereditary, and dynastic enfeoffment of the great Imperial general Friedrich Biermann as “Der erster und herrschend Markgraf der Sudetenmark” und “Der Gründungschef von Hohenbiermann” shortly after the illegitimate successor the the last Batholemew King of The Midlands originally pawned, and later permanently transferred hereditary control over the lands of the former “Sudetenmark” to The Imperial Household based in “Der Reichstadt” or “The Imperial Demesne.” As well as “Das Königreich Middenland” since the final conclusion of “The Midlands Crusade” with the church-sanctioned consecration of The Basilica of Marienburg by Bishop-Prince Friedrich-Albrecht Von Rotbart over the site of the former “Godswoods,” and the subsequent coronation and anointment of his younger brother Friedrich Von Rotbart as “Friedrich I, Der erster und herrschend König von Middenland” und “Der Gründungschef von Hohenrotbart.” Das Königreich Middenland, since the official coronation and anointment of Friedrich I as Der erster und herrschend König von Middenland und Der Gründungschef von Hohenrotbart, has been distinctly characterized by it’s complimentary policies of rampant, obsessive-compulsive military fortification, most notably in the form of medieval-style stone castles and city walls, and it’s thorough, effective, state-mandated militarization to such a degree, that it has already become the single, most prominent, military superpower within the church-prescribed confines of “The Known World,” and perhaps beyond. Despite it’s official status as the newest, constituent member amongst the established powers within The Civilized World. Das Königreich Middenland under the hereditary, dynastic rule of Friedrich I as it’s first and reigning king has come to possess one of the single largest, most skilled, most disciplined, and most professional fighting forces throughout the breadth and the enormity of The Known World. And one whose numeric size and professional level of quality and discipline are both highly disproportionate to it’s initial and base economic and industrial yield and value. Under the personal stewardship and the direct supervision of Friedrich I as a former captain of pike-and-shotte infantry before his expressed invitation and personal involvement in The Midlands Crusade at the behest of his older brother as Archpatriarchal Legate. The professional, pike-and-shotte infantry regiments in domestic, royal, military service to Hohenrotbart as “Die Könige von Middenland” have come to unquestionably represent the most skilled, disciplined, and professional pike-and-shotte infantry armies south of Margrabia Mazowsza.

Although born out of his inherent distrust for the baronial magnates of “Junker” nobility who had recently carved out lands, estates, titles for themselves as the bulk and core of the heavily armoured and mounted, aristocratic knights who had originally fought and participated in The Midlands Crusade. The same class of Junker nobles and aristocrats who had received reluctantly, and with icy anticipation, the formal coronation and anointment of Friedrich I as their liege lord and sovereign, due to his personal background as a minor aristocrat from the “Austere” or “Northern Imperial” cultural and linguistic hemisphere of The Empire of Mankind. As well as his professional background as a mercenary captain of pike-and-shotte infantry, as opposed to aristocratic heavy cavalry as the traditionally most prestigious form of military service due to the historical precedence of the feudal, aristocratic traditions of professional chivalry. The heavily armoured and mounted, aristocratic knights compelled into domestic, royal, military service to Hohenrotbart as “Die Könige von Middenland” likewise parallel the professional, pike-and-shotte infantry regiments hailing from Das Königreich Middenland in terms of their unique, pseudo-monastic culture of strict, military discipline, professionalism, and skill at arms. Organized into distinct orders of elite, secular, martial fraternities known as “Bruderschaften” or “Brotherhoods.” Each “Bruderschaft” was placed under the personal command and direct supervision of “Ein Großmeister,” or “A Grandmaster,” who were individually appointed for life from members of Das Königreich Middenland’s great houses of Junker nobility to serve the royal, state interests of Hohenrotbart as Die Könige von Middenland over the feudal, private interests of any single, great house of Junker aristocracy. “Die Shwartzen Rieterren” or “The Black Riders,” termed for the distinct and signature colour of their armour, were elite, heavily armoured cavalrymen drawn from the second sons of Junker nobles and aristocrats in order to tie the feudal, dynastic homage of Das Königreich Middenland’s greater and lesser houses of Junker aristocracy to the persons of Der König von Middenland and all his hereditary, dynastic successors. To further assure the loyalties of both “Die Schwartzen Rieterren” and their respective “Großmeister” individually charged with the military command and direct supervision of their respective “Bruderschaft.” “Die Bruderschaften” were made completely and fully dependent on a combination of the national, state budget generated by both regular taxation of Das Königreich Middenland’s crownlands and any tariffs officially levied and imposed on Der König von Middenland’s charter companies and the local trade guilds, as well as tithes generated by both the religious services of, and donations to The Conservative Church of The New Gods in joint partnership with Friedrich I over the rulership, administration, and systematic, mass conversion of the autochthonous Albic tribes of Das Königreich Middenland, in order to effectively finance both their livelihoods and their upkeep costs as the national, professional, state-funded heavy cavalry army in direct service to The Kings of Middenland. Both “Die Großmeister” and all “Die Shwartzen Rieterren” under their respective command and direct supervision were expected to legally forfeit any landed titles, estates, and incomes in their possession, regardless of the nature of their obligatory or voluntary enrollment into their respective “Brudershaft.” While “Die Großmeister” could be immediately and unceremoniously stripped of their command and office should they show any signs of insubordination to the persons of “Der König von Middenland” or any of his official, state-sanctioned representatives. This unique, pseudo-monastic, military culture of strict, military discipline, professionalism, and skill at arms has come both characterize and engender the heavily armoured and mounted, aristocratic knights serving Die Könige von Middenland as “Shwartzen Rieterren” as some of the most feared and respected professional heavy cavalry in The Known World. “Die Shwartzen Rieterren” as Der König von Middenland’s domestic, royal, professional heavy cavalry army have come to collectively earn both a reputation, as well as a significant degree of notoriety for themselves, as some of the few heavy cavalrymen throughout the breadth and enormity of The Known World to truly impress and unnerve, in equal measure, the heavily armoured and mounted, aristocratic knights hailing from neighbouring “Le Royaume d’Aquitaine.” Who pridefully, arrogantly, and vaingloriously boast themselves to be the single greatest, most skilled, most disciplined, and most professional heavy cavalrymen throughout the breadth and the enormity of The Known World, and perhaps beyond.

With the passing away of Bishop-Patriarch Friedrich-Albrecht Von Rotbart as The Archpatriarchal Legate to Vexillarius IV for The Midlands Crusade and the first, official Bishop-Patriarch of Marienburg. The elderly Archpatriarch Vexillarius IV as the 299th and reigning Bishop of Romulus and the current Head of The Conservative Church of The New Gods formally invested in Wolfgang Amadeus Von Holswig-Schlestien, Bishop-Prince of Griffenheim and one of the three ecclesiastical, invested “Kurfürsten des Selbst Kaiserreich der Menscheit” or “Prince-Electors of The Empire of Mankind Proper,” as Friedrich-Albrecht Von Rotbart’s official, church-sanctioned successor as the new Bishop-Patriarch of Marienburg. Both this new Bishop-Patriarch of Marienburg, as well as all of his clerical and lay followers, proved seemingly antithetical to both the secular, royal interests of Hohenrotbart as Die Könige von Middenland in particular, and the national, state interests of Das Königreich Middenland at large. Stating at one point that “The Midlands Crusade was officially preached and prosecuted in the name of The Canon Pantheon of The New Gods, not in the name of the selfish and conceited interests of prospective monarchs and aristocrats. And it was by their sheer grace that The Midlands Crusade had concluded, in overwhelming triumph, for the forces of The Conservative Church.” With this new Bishop-Patriarch of Marienburg hellbent on prioritizing The Conservative Church of The New Gods’ exclusive domination over the rulership, administration, and systematic, mass conversion of the indigenous Albic tribes of Das Königreich Middenland at the expense of marginalizing the secular, royal power and authority of Die Könige von Middenland to an almost purely nominal role. Friedrich I consequently passed state legislation as “Der erster und herrschend König von Middenland” und “Der Gründungschef von Hohenrotbart” to become the first hereditary, dynastic ruler in both the recorded history, and the enormity of “The Known World” to officially convert to The “Reformed” Faith of The New Gods based on the theological reforms of Karl Von Luxembourg, a learned doctor of theology based at Die Universität Wörtzburch in Das Herzogtum Solingen, one of the leading centres of church-sanctioned, academic research on both The Canon Theology of The New Gods and Cosmopolitan, Classical Romulan Civil Law and Jurisprudence throughout the breadth and the entirety of The Civilized World, on behalf of both his dynastic house and his hereditary subjects. With Friedrich I’s official conversion to “The Luxembourgian Reformation” on behalf of both Hohenrotbart and Das Königreich Middenland, Friedrich I had finally assumed supreme authority over matters of religion in his kingdom. Consequently making himself the effective and virtual “Supreme Head of The Reformed Church of The New Gods in Das Königreich Middenland.” From that point on, Friedrich I as “The Supreme Head of The Reformed Church of The New Gods in Middenland” was given full control over the state investiture of new bishops and abbots within Das Königreich Middenland, including exclusive investiture over the venerable and prestigious ecclesiastical office of “Bishop-Patriarch of Marienburg” since it’s official establishment by his late older brother Friedrich-Albrecht Von Rotbart at the final conclusion of The Midlands Crusade. Friedrich I, as the hereditary, dynastic monarch of the first major culture and state in both the recorded history and the enormity of The Known World to officially convert to “The Luxembourgian Reforms,” likewise encouraged both the spread and the growth of mass literacy in Das Königreich Middenland by proliferating the vernacular translations of The Holy Canons of The New Gods printed in the “Austere” or “Northern Imperial” language using printers, church schools, and missionaries sympathetic to Karl Von Luxembourg’s theological reforms. In addition to the proliferation of both the vernacular translations of The Holy Canons of The New Gods and other religious literature and pamphlets printed in the “Austere” or “Northern Imperial” language, Friedrich I had simultaneously decreed state legislation as “Der erster und herrschend König von Middenland” und “Der Gründungschef von Hohenrotbart,” as well as clerical legislation as “The Supreme Head of The Reformed Church of The New Gods in Das Königreich Middenland,” to decriminalize both the ownership and the vernacular translations of The Holy Canons of The New Gods in Das Königreich Middenland. Thus officially opening both the reading and the strict, universal interpretation of The Holy Canons of The New Gods to all social classes outside of the clergy and the feudal aristocracy.

[lepreuxchevalier]

My second illustration of pike-and-shotte infantry that I have officially designed for Hohenrotbart, the ruling dynasty of Das Königreich Middenland in my medieval fantasy world. Both this artwork and it’s associated faction iconography were officially designed for a low-fantasy setting of my original conception with technology and material culture roughly equivalent to the late medieval and renaissance periods. Where formations of heavily armoured and mounted, aristocratic knights in either suits of full plate armour or heavy coats of chainmail fight alongside professional armies of pikemen and matchlock musketeers. Where medieval-style stone castles are gradually being outsourced in favour of both lavish, sumptuous country estates and devoted military fortifications, or “bastions,” due to the technological advancements made in gunpowder-based, siege artillery. And where fledgling nation-states, most notably in the form of kingdoms and empires, look beyond the great oceans and the frontiers of “The Known World” in search of even greater wealth and territory.

In context to the canon lore of my low-fantasy world, “Hohenrotbart” or “House Rotbart” is the newly crowned and anointed reigning, dynastic household of “Das Königreich Middenland” or “The Kingdom of Middenland.” A fantasy kingdom taking historical, cultural, and religious sources of inspiration from both medieval and renaissance Prussia under “The Monastic State of The Teutonic Knights” or “Deutschordenstaat,” as well as The Post-Teutonic, Lutheran, East Prussian Duchy during the 16th and 17th centuries. Under the hereditary, dynastic rule of Friedrich I as “Der erster und herrschend König von Middenland” und “Der Gründungschef von Hohenrotbart” or “The Founding Head of House Rotbart.” Das Königreich Middenland has become the first hereditary, dynastic state, in both the recorded history and the enormity of “The Known World” to officially renounce The “Conservative” Faith of The New Gods based on the old, Classical Romulan rite and liturgy originally formalized and decreed under The Classical Romulan Imperator “Cassadorian the Great,” to “The Luxembourgian Reformation” as officially preached and published by Karl Von Luxembourg, a learned doctor of theology based at Die Universität Wörtzburch in Das Herzogtum Solingen, one of the leading centres of church-sanctioned, academic research on both The Canon Theology of The New Gods and Cosmopolitan, Classical Romulan Civil Law and Jurisprudence throughout the breadth and the enormity of “The Known World.” As well as both the official head and the former heir apparent to Hohenluxembourg des Königreich Schönbrunn. The only official monarchy within established frontiers of The Empire of Mankind Proper besides “the hereditary state” and “the dynastic house” of The Emperor-Elect, himself.

Long before Friedrich I’s legislative decree to become the first hereditary, dynastic ruler in both the recorded history and the enormity of The Known World to officially convert to “The Luxembourgian Reforms” on behalf of both his dynastic house and his hereditary subjects. Friedrich Von Rotbart was originally a minor aristocrat and a mercenary captain of a pike-and-shotte infantry company known as “Die Bande Des Falke,” or “The Band of The Hawk,” before his expressed invitation to and personal involvement in “The Midlands Crusade” officially preached and prosecuted by his more prolific, prestigious, and illustrious older brother Friedrich-Albrecht Von Rotbart, Bishop-Prince of Elchingen, one of the three ecclesiastical, invested “Kurfürsten des Selbst Kaiserreich der Menscheit” or “Prince-Electors of The Empire of Mankind Proper,” and Archpatriarchal Legate to Vexillarius IV for “The Midlands Crusade.” The appointed title of “Archpatriarchal Legate” denoting the official, church-sanctioned representatives to the person of “The Reigning Bishop of Romulus” and “The Current Head of The Conservative Church of The New Gods” in either diplomatic affairs or in “errantry wars” or “crusades” officially preached and prosecuted against the sanctioned enemies of The Conservative Faith. Following the stunning conclusion of The Midlands Crusade with the climactic “Battle of The Godswoods” with the subsequent, church-sanctioned consecration of The Basilica of Marienburg over the site of the former “Godswoods.” Friedrich Von Rotbart was formally crowned and anointed as “Friedrich I, Der erster und herrschend König von Middenland” und “Der Gründungschef von Hohenrotbart” as The Former Kingdom of The Midlands first reigning, hereditary monarch and dynastic house since the extinction of legitimate, male bloodline of The Late House Bartholemew and subsequent collapse of The Former Kingdom of The Midlands over a century and a half before.

Under the long, prolific, and illustrious reign of Friedrich I as “Der erster und herrschend König von Middenland” und “Der Gründungschef von Hohenrotbart,” in joint partnership with The Conservative Church of The New Gods over the rulership, administration, and systematic, mass conversion of the autochthonous “Albic” tribes of Das Königreich Middenland. The constituent lands of The Former Kingdom of The Midlands have been gradually, albeit thoroughly brought back into the fold of The Conservative Church of The New Gods after over a century and a half of religious indoctrination under the influence of the hut shamans from “Erdøk” or “The Great Forest” directly east of The Empire of Mankind. The new kingdom had been thoroughly and effectively resettled with colonists and settlers hailing from Friedrich I’s native “Austere” or “Northern Imperial” cultural and linguistic hemisphere of The Empire of Mankind. Most notably into the newly established, fortified towns and cities founded either directly under the state administration of Friedrich I as Der erster und herrschend König von Middenland, or by the newly established baronial magnates of “Junker” aristocracy in direct homage to Hohenrotbart as “Die Könige von Middenland.” In addition to the thorough and effective resettlement of culturally and ethnically “Austere” or “Northern Imperial” colonists and settlers into both the newly established, fortified towns and cities of Das Königreich Middenland, as well as the most arable rural estates based on their surrounding countryside. The systematic, mass conversion of the autochthonous Albic tribes came synonymously with their cultural and ethnic assimilation. Most notably through a combination of dowries officially sponsored by The Conservative Church of The New Gods in order to promote intermarriage with male colonists and settlers hailing from the “Austere” or “Northern Imperial” cultural and linguistic hemisphere of The Empire of Mankind, as well as encouraging both the spread and the proliferation of the oral and written “Austere” or “Northern Imperial” language and culture through the religious services and church schools of the culturally and ethnically Northern Imperial Conservative clergy.

In addition to it’s thorough and effective transformation into a culturally “Austere” or “Northern Imperial” nation-state based uniquely without the southernmost frontiers and beyond the official jurisdiction of The Empire of Mankind Proper, as well as being the first major culture and state in both the recorded history and the enormity of The Known World to officially convert to “The Luxembourgian Reformation” as officially preached and published by Karl Von Luxembourg at Die Universität Wörtzburch. Das Königreich Middenland is also uniquely characterized amongst the fledgling nation-states of The Civilized World for it’s exclusive culture of strict, military discipline, professionalism, and skill at arms. Of all the nascent, growing, professional militaries in The Civilized World Proper, Das Königreich Middenland both proudly and staunchly boasts the most skilled, disciplined, and professional pike-and-shotte infantry regiments south of Margrabia Mazowsza, as well as one of the largest, most brutally efficient, and most potent professional fighting forces throughout the breadth and the enormity of The Known World. Despite it’s meagre initial and base economic and industrial yield and value, as well as it’s relatively sparse demographic size. A demographic that had only finally, and eventually developed a culturally “Austere” or “Northern Imperial” character uniquely outside the southernmost frontiers and beyond the official jurisdiction of The Empire of Mankind Proper. Thanks in full to the long, prolific, and illustrious reign of Friedrich I as “Der erster und herrschend König von Middenland” und “Der Gründungschef von Hohenrotbart.” Both Das Königreich Middenland’s unique culture of strict, military discipline, professionalism, and skill at arms, as well as Friedrich I’s complimentary policies of rampant, obsessive-compulsive military fortification, most notably in the form of stone castles and city walls, with the thorough and effective, state-mandated militarization of Das Königreich Middenland are as much a consequence of The Kingdom of Middenland’s violent birth in the mass genocides and systematic persecutions during, and in the wake of Bishop-Prince Friedrich-Albrecht Von Rotbart’s “Midlands Crusade” officially preached and prosecuted against the druidic, tree worshipping heathens religiously subscribed to “Erdøk.” As much as it is a product of both the personal stewardship and the direct supervision of Friedrich I with his hard earned, worldly experience acquired as a former mercenary captain of pike-and-shotte infantry. Friedrich I as Der erster und herrschend König von Middenland und Der Gründungschef von Hohenrotbart, in conjunction with his older brother Friedrich-Albrecht Von Rotbart as the first and reigning Bishop-Patriarch of Marienburg over the rulership, administration, and systematic, mass conversion of the Albic tribes indigenous to Das Königreich Middenland, have always been very heavily reliant on employing a combination of military might and force of arms as a blunt tool in the gradual pacification, subjugation, and annexation of the Albic tribes indigenous to Das Königreich Middenland, who had largely remained religiously subscribed to the druidic worship of Erdøk in the aftermath of The Midlands Crusade with the official founding of Das Königreich Middenland during the church-sanctioned consecration of The Basilica of Marienburg over the sight of the former “Godswoods.”

In addition to the lingering resistance from the autochthonous Albic tribes of Das Königreich Middenland, the formal coronation and anointment of Friedrich I as “Der erster und herrschend König von Middenland” und “Der Gründungschef von Hohenrotbart” was received reluctantly, and with icy anticipation, by the baronial magnates of “Junker” nobility who had recently established themselves in Das Königreich Middenland as the bulk and core of the heavily armoured and mounted, aristocratic knights who had originally fought and participated in The Midlands Crusade. That same class of hereditary, dynastic, landed Junker aristocracy and nobility who had generally questioned both the political legitimacy and the authority of Friedrich I as “Der erster und herrschend König von Middenland” und “Der Gründungschef von Hohenrotbart” due to his personal background as a minor noble from the “Austere” or “Northern Imperial” cultural and linguistic hemisphere within The Empire of Mankind, as well as his professional background as a mercenary captain of pike-and-shotte infantry, as opposed to aristocratic heavy cavalry as the traditionally most prestigious form of military service due to the historic precedence of the feudal, aristocratic traditions of professional chivalry. In order to assure both the loyalty and the compliance of the great houses of Junker nobility, Friedrich I had awarded this newly established class of landed Junker nobles and aristocrats with hereditary, dynastic enfeoffment to the most arable lands and estates in Das Königreich Middenland that had not been previously claimed as the official property of The Conservative Church of The New Gods, while also compelling the second sons of Junker nobles and aristocrats into military service as professional, heavily armoured cavalry known as “Schwartzen Rieterren” or “Black Riders,” for the distinct, and signature colour of their armour. Both the greater and the lesser houses of Junker nobles and aristocrats were also granted the exclusive, legal privilege by Friedrich I for official appointments as judges to run and operate the secular, provincial, “royal” law courts officially established by Friedrich I shortly after the conclusion of The Midlands Crusade with the subsequent consecration of The Archbishopric of Marienburg over the site of the former “Godswoods.” 

“Die Schwartzen Rieterren” were organized into distinct units of elite, secular, pseudo-monastic, martial fraternities known as “Brüderschaften” or “Brotherhoods.” With each “Brüderschaft” being placed under the personal command and direct supervision of “Ein Großmeister” or “A Grandmaster,” who were individually appointed for life from members of Das Königreich Middenland’s great houses of Junker nobility to serve the royal, state interests of Hohenrotbart as Die Könige von Middenland over the feudal, private interests of any single, great house of Junker aristocracy. These heavily armoured and mounted, aristocratic knights compelled into domestic, royal, military service to “Die Könige von Middenland” as “Schwartzen Rieterren” or “Black Riders,” likewise parallel the strict, military discipline, professionalism, and skill at arms that also uniquely characterize Der König von Middenland’s pike-and-shotte infantry regiments. Die Schwartzen Rieterren, as strictly organized into the various, pseudo-monastic orders of Die Brüderschaften compelled into domestic, royal, military service to Die Könige von  Middenland, are some of the few heavy cavalry throughout the breadth and the enormity The Known World to truly impress and unnerve, in equal measure, the heavily armoured and mounted, aristocratic knights hailing from neighboring “Le Royaume d’Aquitaine.” Who staunchly, proudly, and vaingloriously flaunt themselves to be the single greatest, most skilled, most disciplined, and most professional heavy cavalrymen across the breadth and the enormity of the known world, and perhaps beyond.

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An illustration of some pikemen and matchlock musketeers I retouched to feature the coat of arms and colour scheme I designed for Hohenrotbart, the ruling dynasty of Das Königreich Middenland in my medieval fantasy world. This artwork was originally designed for a low-fantasy setting of my original conception. Where formations of heavily armoured and mounted, aristocratic knights in either suits of full plate armour or heavy coats of chainmail fight alongside armies of professional pikemen and matchlock musketeers. Where medieval-style stone castles are gradually being outsourced in favour of both lavish country estates and devoted military fortifications, or “bastions,” due to the technological advancements made in artillery design, and where fledgling nation-states in the form of kingdoms and empires look beyond the great oceans and the frontiers of the known world in search of even greater wealth and territory. In context to the lore of my low-fantasy world, House Rotbart, or “Hohenrotbart” in the Northern Imperial Language, is the newly anointed ruling dynasty of The Kingdom of Middenland, or “Das Königreich Middenland,” following Friedrich Von Rotbart’s personal involvement in The Midlands Crusade and his subsequent coronation and anointment as first and reigning “König von Middenland” and Founding Head of Hohenrotbart by his older brother Friedrich Albrecht Von Rotbart as Archpatriarchal Legate to The Midlands Crusade and First Bishop-Patriarch of Marienburg. As a nation-state forged in the aftermath of The Midlands Crusade as officially declared and prosecuted by Friedrich Albrecht Von Rotbart as archpatriarchal legate, Das Königreich Middenland under the reign of Friedrich I has always been engendered, or otherwise principally characterized, by it’s unique culture of strict military professionalism and discipline. The pike and shotte infantry regiments fielded by and employed into the domestic military service of The Hohenrotbart Kings of Middenland are unquestionably some of the most skilled, professional, and disciplined infantry south of The Margraviate of Mazowsze. This world renowned tradition of military excellence and discipline is without question a product of the personal supervision and stewardship of Friedrich I as first and reigning König von Middenland and Founding Head of Hohenrotbart. A tradition that has most certainly benefited from Friedrich I’s years of personal and hard earned military experience as a mercenary captain of pike and shotte infantry before his express involvement in The Midlands Crusade at the request of his older brother as Archpatriarchal Legate. Much like the pikemen and musketeers in direct service to The Kings of Middenland, “die schwarzen rieterren” or “the black riders” employed into the domestic military service of The Kings of Middenland likewise reflect Das Königreich von Middenland’s world renowned culture of military professionalism and discipline. “Die Brüderschaften“ or “the brotherhoods” in which the heavily armoured and mounted, aristocratic cavalry in direct service to The Kings of Middenland are organized into are emblematic of the very origins of Das Königreich Middenland’s unique and prestigious military culture and traditions in Friedrich I’s inherent distrust for the newly established great houses of junker aristocracy, who were generally reluctant to acknowledge his coronation and anointment as the first and reigning König von Middenland and Founding Head of Hohenrotbart in the aftermath of The Midlands Crusade. Both “die großmeisterren“ or “the grandmasters” of die brüderschaften, as well as all schwarzen rieterren under their command and supervision were made completely dependent on both Das Königreich Middenland’s state treasury generated by Das Königreich Middenland’s crownlands and any tariffs imposed on both Der König von Middenland’s charter companies and the local trade gilds, as well as tithes generated by the religious services of, and donations to the state ministry of The Reformed Church of The New Gods in Middenland as the primary sources of income for both their livelihoods and upkeep costs, while also being expected to forfeit any landed titles, estates, and incomes upon their enrollment into die brüderschaften as shwarzen rieterren. Both the obligatory and voluntary enrollment of heavily armoured and mounted, aristocratic knights into die schwarzen reiterren were both legally defined and characterized by serving the royal, state interests of The Kings of Middenland in general over the feudal, private interests the great houses of junker aristocracy in particular, with any failure to do so resulting in both their expulsion from their brüderschaft as well as the imposition of legal penalties and restrictions upon the aristocratic household of their birth by the provincial, “royal” law courts in direct service to The Kings of Middenland. The oaths of fealty sworn by die shwarzen reiterren to Der König von Middenland were made visually apparent using the distinct, iconic, black armour that was issued to them upon their enrollment into their respective order, which was, in certain cases, decorated with skull fetishes and gilded ornamentations to show any distinction in rank and seniority within their respective brüderschaft. In terms of it’s historical and cultural sources of inspiration, Das Königreich Middenland is loosely inspired by medieval and early renaissance Prussia under "The Monastic State of The Teutonic Knights," or “Deutschordenstaat,“ as well as Ducal Prussia during the 16th and 17th centuries. With Friedrich I’s legislative decree of his official conversion to Karl Von Luxembourg’s reforms on behalf of his household and subjects being highly analogous to the secularization of The Monastic State of The Teutonic Knights into The Lutheran, East Prussian Duchy during the early 16th century.

[lepreuxchevalier]

Friedrich I, erster und herrschend König von Middenland und Gründungschef von Hohenrotbart. This artwork was reposted to include both an improved and expanded version of the lore of this specific character and faction in my medieval fantasy setting. Born Friedrich Von Rotbart and nicknamed “Der Eroberer von Middenland” or “Der Alte Kriegsvogel” after his involvement in The Midlands Crusade by his contemporaries, Friedrich I was crowned and anointed as the first “König von Middenland” in the wake of “The Midlands Crusade” as officially declared and prosecuted by his older brother Friedrich Albrecht Von Rotbart, Bishop-Prince of Elchingen and Archpatriarchal Legate to The Midlands Crusade. Friedrich Von Rotbart was originally a minor aristocrat and the commanding officer of a mercenary company known as “The Band of The Hawk” or “Die Bande Des Falke” from the “Northern” or “Austere” hemisphere of The Empire of Mankind before his involvement in The Midlands at the express invitation of his older brother as Bishop-Prince of Elchingen and The Bishop of Romulus’ official, church sanctioned representative in The Midlands Crusade. The main objective of The Midlands Crusade, as officially declared and prosecuted by Friedrich Albrecht Von Rotbart, was to retake the lands of The Former Kingdom of The Midlands under The Late House Bartholemew before the extinction of their dynasty and the subsequent collapse of their kingdom over a century ago. Since the extinction of The Late House Bartholemew and the resulting collapse of The Former Kingdom of The Midlands, the hut shamans from the great forest of Erdøk had exploited the social and political turmoil and unrest that resulted from the power vacuum formed by the collapse of The Kingdom of The Midlands to successfully convert the native “Albic” population to the shamanistic beliefs as practiced by the native inhabitants in the great forest of Erdøk east of The Empire of Mankind Proper. The gradual and overwhelmingly popular conversion of The Former Kingdom of The Midlands led to the further collapse of the rule of the great houses of feudal aristocracy, who had squabbled over the disputed succession of The Late House Bartholemew following the extinction of their dynasty, as well as the spiritual authority of The Conservative Church of The New Gods in the region, who, in an equally desperate and futile attempt, strove to maintain any resemblance of law and order in The Midlands following the extinction of House Bartholemew and the brutal infighting between the great houses of feudal aristocracy that resulted in it's wake. The shamanistic beliefs and practices of Erdøk appealed especially to the disenfranchised hearts and minds of the peasants and commoners of The Midlands, who were encouraged by the hut shamans spreading the word of their faith in the region to rise up in open rebellion against the rule of the feudal aristocracy, and to sack and raze all churches and monasteries erected in the name of “false prophets and gods.” The gradual collapse of aristocratic sovereignty and the spiritual authority of The Conservative Church of The New Gods in The Midlands became synonymous with the decline of economic, industrial, and cultural life in the region. With once proud cities lying depopulated and in ruins while vegetation from the reclamation of the forests of Erdøk consumed the remains of once mighty castles, lavish country estates, towering cathedral churches, and venerable, pristine monasteries razed and sacked by the peasant uprisings in the name of Erdøk. The Midlands Crusade as officially declared and prosecuted by Bishop Friedrich Albrecht Von Rotbart on behalf of Archpatriarch Vexillarius IV had attracted the attention of aristocrats and commoners alike from both the “Austere” and “Frivolous” hemispheres of The Empire of Mankind, who saw the new crusade not only as a chance to redeem their souls in the vindication of holy war, but as an opportunity to carve out lands and estates for themselves and their families in the process. Friedrich Von Rotbart as commanding officer of Die Bande Des Falke would have been content to live off of his employment as a mercenary captain in The Empire of Mankind Proper, were it not for his hereditary ties to The Archpatriarchal Legate of The Midlands Crusade, as well as his brother’s explicit offer to use his political and religious authority as Legate to have his younger brother crowned and anointed king in return for his participation in the crusade. Both Friedrich Von Rotbart and his Band of The Hawk joined The Midlands Crusade as minor belligerents, despite having both fought and served with distinction as a pike-and-shotte infantry regiment in many of the great battles fought against the tree worshipping heathens of Erdøk, thus subsequently winning both the respect and commendation of both their fellow crusaders and the church authorities involved in the crusade. Following the climactic battle of the “Godswoods” that drew The Midlands Crusade to a stunning conclusion in favour of the crusaders, Bishop Friedrich Albrecht Von Rotbart as Archpatriarchal Legate had consecrated the site of the former Godswoods as the official seat of the basilica of the Archbisphoric of Marienburg, where Friedrich Albrecht Von Rotbart would reign as first Bishop-Patriarch for the new “Königreich Middenland” and crown and anoint it’s first king with The Archpatriarch’s blessing. As promised by his older brother in return for his express involvement in The Midlands Crusade, Friedrich Von Rotbart was crowned and anointed as “Friedrich I, erster und herrschend König von Middenland” and " Gründungschef von Hohenrotbart” as the founding head of the new kingdom’s first ruling dynasty since the extinction of House Bartholemew well over a century ago. While the church authorities unanimously supported Friedrich I as the first and reigning König von Middenland, thanks in full to the prestige, authority, and influence of his brother as first and reigning Bishop-Patriarch of Marienburg, Friedrich I’s coronation as King of Middenland was initially received reluctantly, and with icy anticipation, by the newly established great houses of feudal aristocracy, or “junkers,” in the region, who generally saw his coronation and anointment as King of Middenland as questionable due to his minor aristocratic birth, as well as his professional background as a mercenary captain to pike-and-shotte infantry, as opposed to aristocratic heavy cavalry as the traditionally most prestigious form of military service. He gradually and eventually purchased the loyalty and compliance of the junker aristocracy by awarding them the most arable lands and estates in the kingdom that did not already belong to The Conservative Church of The New Gods in return for their maintenance of secular law and order in the provincial, “royal” law courts as officially established by Friedrich I, as well as their obligatory military service and those of their feudal, private, aristocratic levies in times of war. Under the leadership of his brother, The Bishop-Patriarch of Marienburg, The Conservative Church of The New Gods worked with Friedrich I in joint partnership over the rulership and administration of Das Königreich Middenland. Bishops, abbots, and cardinals formed an integral part of the administration and state bureaucracy of the new Königreich Middenland, and facilitated the mass conversion of the native inhabitants of Middenland in return for the right to collect “tithes,” or religious taxes generated in return holding their religious services for the faithful, as well as “benefices,” or rents generated from the income of tenants living on either the rural or urban property of The Conservative Church of The New Gods. Friedrich I’s most enduring policy as the first and reigning König von Middenland is essentially encouraging the mass immigration and resettlement of colonists and settlers from his native “Northern” or “Austere” cultural hemisphere of The Empire of Mankind Proper, as a means of both bolstering his attempts to tame the wild, uncultivated, and savage lands of his new Königreich Middenland into compliance with his sovereign rule using the spiritual, cultural, and moral authority and influence of The Conservative Church of The New Gods, as well as revitalizing the decimated population, economy, and industrial base of The Kingdom of Middenland following the mass genocides that took place during, and in the wake of The Midlands Crusade. Friedrich I as first and reigning König von Middenland has also encouraged the cultural and ethnic assimilation of the native “Albic” population of Middenland by encouraging intermarriage with male colonists and settlers from the northern hemisphere of The Empire of Mankind using dowries officially sponsored by The Conservative Church of The New Gods, as well as encouraging the spread of both the oral and written Northern Imperial language and culture through the religious services and church schools sponsored by the ethnic Northern Imperial clergy as part of his general policy of cementing both his sovereign rule and authority, as well as the spiritual, cultural, and moral authority of The Conservative Church of The New Gods in the region, all the while easing the cultural tensions and differences between the Northern Imperial colonists and settlers with the Albic natives. One “unique,” if not outright “brilliant” military policy pursued under the reign of Friedrich I, and perhaps one born out of his inherent distrust for the new junker aristocracy who were initially reluctant to acknowledge his coronation and anointment as King of Middenland, is the creation of “die schwarzen reiterren” or “the black riders.” Die Schwarzen Reiterren were organized into military units of elite, secular, martial fraternities knowns as “die brüderschaften” or “brotherhoods.” Each “brüderschaft” operated under the direct command and supervision of a “großmeister” or “grandmaster,“ who were personally appointed for life from members of Middenland’s great houses of feudal aristocracy, or “junkers,” to serve the sovereign interests of The Kings of Middenland over the private interests of any feudal, aristocratic lord. “Die Großmeisterren“ or "the grandmasters” could be immediately stripped of their rank and office should they show any signs of insubordination to The Kings of Middenland or their official, state sanctioned representatives, while also being expected to forfeit any previously held landed titles, estates, and incomes upon their official appointment as großmeister. To assure the loyalty and unconditional service of the various brüderschaften of schwarzen reiterren, both the livelihoods and upkeep costs of die schwarzen reiterren were funded directly out of the state treasury generated by both The Kingdom of Middenland’s crownlands and any tariffs imposed on both the king's charter companies and the local trade gilds, as well as income from the tithes generated by the religious services of, and donations to The Conservative Church of The New Gods as part of their joint partnership with The Kings of Middenland in the direct rulership and administration over the kingdom. Both die schwarzen reiterren and their großmeisterren were made visually distinct from the household knights in service to the great houses of junker aristocracy with their iconic, signature, black armour, adorned with skull fetishes and gilded ornamentations to distinguish their rank and seniority within the various units of brüderschaften. It was through the creation of die schwarzen reiterren, that Friedrich I managed to assure the loyalties of the junker nobility by compelling the second sons of junker families into military service as elite, heavily armoured cavalrymen in die brüderschaften of die shwarzen reiterren, while obligating members of the great houses of junker aristocracy into lifetime appointments as großmeisterren of die brüderschaften. Later in his reign, following the passing away of Friedrich Albrecht Von Rotbart as the first Bishop-Patriarch of Marienburg, Archpatriarch Vexillarius IV as 299th and reigning Bishop of Romulus and Current Head of The Conservative Church of The New Gods invested in Wolfgang Amadeus Von Holswig-Shlestien, Bishop-Prince of Griffenheim in The Empire of Mankind Proper, as his late brother’s successor as Bishop-Patriarch of Marienburg. The Archpatriarch’s candidate for Bishop-Patriarch to Das Königreich von Middenland proved seemingly antithetical to both the secular, royal interests of the Hohenrotbart dynasty in particular and the national, state interests of The Kingdom of Middenland at large, stating that “The Midlands Crusade was waged exclusively in the name of The Canon Pantheon of The New Gods, not in the name of the selfish and conceited interests of prospective monarchs and aristocrats, and it was through their sheer grace that the crusade had concluded in overwhelming triumph for the forces of The Conservative Church.” Triggered by the apparent conflict of interest between The King of Middenland and this new Bishop-Patriarch of Marienburg and his followers, Friedrich I as first and reigning König von Middenland and founding head of Hohenrotbart had decreed state legislation to become the first hereditary, dynastic ruler in both the history and the entirety of “The Civilized World” to officially convert to the religious reforms of Karl Von Luxembourg, a doctor of theology based in The University of Wörtzburch, as well as the leading and titular figure behind the general, sweeping, and international reformation of The “Conservative” Church of The New Gods, on behalf of both his household and subjects. It was through this legislative decree of his official conversion to “The Luxembourgian Reforms,” that Friedrich I had assumed supreme authority over matters of religion, and in the process made himself the effective and virtual Head of The Church of The New Gods in Das Königreich Middenland, thus taking full control over the investiture of new bishops and abbots within The Kingdom of Middenland, including investiture over the office of Bishop-Patriarch of Marienburg as originally established by his late older brother during the conclusion of The Midlands Crusade, all the while promoting the growth of mass literacy through the proliferation of The Holy Canons of The New Gods and other religious literature and pamphlets printed in the vernacular, Northern Imperial language using printers, missionaries, and church schools sympathetic to the religious reforms of Karl Von Luxembourg. As part of his general and sweeping policy of his assumption of supreme authority over matters of religion in Middenland, Friedrich I simultaneously decreed state legislation as the first and reigning König von Middenland and founding head of Hohenrotbart, as well as clerical legislation as “The Supreme Head of The Church of The New Gods in Middenland,“ to decriminalize both the possession and the vernacular translation of The Holy Canons of The New Gods, thus officially opening both the reading and the strict interpretation of the holy scriptures of The New Gods to all social classes outside the clergy and aristocracy. In terms of his foreign policy as the first and reigning König von Middenland, Friedrich I had successfully forged a matrilineal alliance with The Kingdom of Albion through the marriage of his youngest daughter Prinzessen Chloe Von Rotbart to Robert III, 40th and late King of Albion and former head of House Lyonheart, as part of a defensive pact made with The Kingdom of Albion against whatever pretensions and ambitions Le Royaume d’Aquitaine under the rule of Les Rois de Maison Williamson may possess. Through the dynastic union forged between Prinzessen Chloe Von Rotbart and Robert III, 40th and late King of Albion, Friedrich I would become the maternal grandfather to both Edmund IV, 41st and reigning King of Albion and current head of House Lyonheart and Princess Kaitlin Lyonheart, Duchess of Kingswood. With his eldest daughter reigning as Queen Mother of Albion. In terms of it's historical and cultural inspiration, “Das Königreich Middenland“ in my medieval fantasy world is loosely modelled after medieval and early renaissance Prussia under The Monastic State of The Teutonic Knights, as well as The Duchy of Prussia during the 16th and 17th centuries. With Friedrich I’s official conversion to Karl Von Luxembourg’s reforms on behalf of his household and his subjects being highly analogous to the secularization of “The Monastic State of The Teutonic Knights,” or “Deutschordenstaat,” to The Lutheran, East Prussian Duchy during the early 16th century.