1069 - 1071: The Rebuilding
It was time to repay Polotsk's debts and to strengthen its lands. And it was important to let Rogvolod get experience in ruling his own lands. After some consideration, Prince Vseslav sent his son to rule the county of Jacwiez, south of Polotsk, on the border with Galitzia and Poland. Of course, Rogvolod took his wife Ingrid and his children with him, so it was time to find a new Marshal and Chancellor. It was not difficult, as the court of Polotsk was already large, with new people drawn to it by the Prince's recent successes. Vseslav's choice of Chancellor was Iurii, a 28-year old monk. Iurii was quite skeptical and always questioned the authority of higher religious figures, but his oratory skill was unsurpassed in the Principality, and Vseslav could see no better choice. As for the post of Marshal, Vseslav's second son, Roman, had just reached maturity, having been educated at a monastery. Roman, though not as skilled as his older brother Rogvolod, nonetheless was quite militant. Though it was said that Roman should receive a county of his own, Vseslav decided to keep him at the court; this was sealed by giving Roman the hand of Dobrodjaja, the realm's Spymaster. This had finally put an end to the persistent rumors that Dobrodjaja was secretly a mistress of Prince Vseslav.
Dobrodjaja, the deceitful suspicious Spymaster of Polotsk
Throughout 1070, the strengthening of Polotsk continued. The great forests were tamed and used to bring wealth, and the sodden marshes of Lithuania were drained to make room for farms and settlements. Many more children were born in the realm, to Vseslav as well to his sons Rogvolod and Roman. It looked to be a time of peace, but peace always comes to an end.
1071 - 1073: The Yatviagian War
For some years now, the Prince of Galich had been fighting the Pechenegs to the south, and many of his vassals were becoming restless. Furthermore, his neighbors, encouraged by his dwindling strength, eyed his lands greedily. Finally, the pagan tribe of Yatviagians invaded the county of Podlasie, one of Galich's vassals. Prince Vseslav watched like a hawk while fighting erupted on his southwestern border. The forces of Galich were depleted, but the Yatviagian pagans also suffered many losses. Roman, the Prince's son and Marshal, urged his father to take advantage of the situation. And Vseslav agreed.
A call went out to the people, and soon the forces of Polotsk assembled in Sudovia. Marching west, they easily crushed the remnants of the Yatviagian high chief's horde and laid siege to his stronghold. A few months later the high chief was on the run as his lands were added to Polotsk. His vassals, the chiefs of Galindia and Scalovia, quickly abandoned him, but it did not save them. In a major campaign, Galindia fell to Polotsk's forces, its chief Klukis surrendering himself and his family and taking residence at the Prince's court. Scalovia resisted for longer, but could not withstand the Prince's assault. Thus on November 7th, 1073, the Yatviagian lands were added to Polotsk.
1074 - 1077: The New Developments
Once again, the realm was at peace, and Vseslav's many sons were fast approaching adulthood. His third son, Davyd, was not one of his favorites. Sick and cruel, Davyd was bitter that he was not in line to inherit Polotsk. He had to be kept close enough where he could be watched. In January 1074, Davyd was given the county of West Dvina to rule as his father's vassals. This, however, did not seem to make Davyd any happier. Soon, word came that he took a 45-year old woman as his wife; and it was said that things happened in their bedchamber of which none dared speak.
Not all news were bad though. Throughout the realm, new technologies spread like wildfire. Soon many people in the lands of Polotsk were learning to use short and long bows, and to use terrain both defensively and offensively. Two-field system was taking hold in the countryside, allowing peasants to produce greater crop yields. Trade was developing, as boats sailed the Dvina River every year, and business contracts were written; Vseslav supported the burghers in their commercial ventures. The Prince also acted as patron of the arts, sponsoring chronicles, musicians, and painters of icons; by his order, a grand library was commissioned in the city of Polotsk.
Vseslav's fourth son, Svyatoslav, soon finished his service in the army, and was considered by all to be a tough soldier. In June of 1077 he was given the county of Minsk by his father. Vseslav's fifth son Gleb also reached maturity at that time, having become a skilled diplomat. He was made the count of Yatvyagi.
Throughout all this, Vseslav did not forget his love of intrigue. Having inherited a small village in the south, he did not waste time in laying claim to the county of Terebovl. However, Terebovl was a vassal of Izyaslav of Kiev, ruled by one of his sons, so taking it would have to come later when Polotsk would be stronger. At this time another nearby ruler was discovered plotting against Polotsk - Duke Stanislaw of Krakow. Through successful intrigue, Vseslav managed to convince many that Stanislaw was a coward.
On February 17th, 1076, Vseslav felt he had enough power to proclaim himself Prince of Podlasia. This did not sit well with many Polish nobles, and may have been one reason for the enmity of Stanislaw of Krakow. Nonetheless, Vseslav was officially invested with the title, thus bringing it to Orthodoxy. This soon prompted a response from the Catholics. The Pope sent an outrageous demand to Vseslav, a letter demanding the revoking of lay investiture. Needless to say, the letter was sent back to the Pope in the form of little pieces stuffed into the severed head of the Papal messenger. Soon thereafter it was heard that the Pope had excommunicated Vseslav, though of course those who held to the true Orthodox faith only laughed at this.
1077 - 1081: The Livonian Wars
Peace was not to last. In late 1077, Izyaslav of Kiev sent an army to invade the tribe of Livonia, north of Polotsk. Vseslav was livid. Once again, Izyaslav was trying to snatch pagan lands right on the border of Polotsk - and for what other reason than to encircle Polotsk? But matters were not so simple. Shortly thereafter, the Livonian tribe was attacked by the Prince of Pskov, and even their pagan neighbors, the Estonian tribe. Surprised, Vseslav waited and watched, but this was a mistake - his enemies were already spreading rumors about his cowardice, and his esteem suffered in the eyes of many.
Finally Vseslav could wait no longer. The pagan Lettigalians invaded the county of West Dvina, ruled by his son Davyd. Though Vseslav had no love for Davyd, he had to come to his son's aid or risk unrest in his realm. In late June of 1078, Vseslav's army passed through West Dvina, and a month later it was in the Lettigalian lands. By the end of the year, the Lettigalians acknowledged Vseslav's rule. The first half of 1079 was spent subjugating the chief of the Zemigalians. At this time, Vseslav's advisors urged him to claim the title of King of Livonia, to enhance his dynasty's prestige. But Vseslav refused. It was the fate of his family to rule the lands of Rus, and no other royal title would come first.
His northwestern border secured for now, Vseslav waited for new developments in Livonia.
New developments came soon enough. In October, the King of Poland himself set sail against the Livonians. The rest of 1079 and all of 1080 saw Polish forces taking Livonia and Reval. Though this left Izyaslav of Kiev empty-handed, Vseslav had even less enthusiasm for seeing the Poles to his north as well as to his south. And worse was yet to come. In October of 1081, German knights were given Reval by the King of Poland, founding the Teutonic Order. Vseslav could only watch helplessly as the knights sailed the Baltic to their new lands.
1081 - 1082: The End of the Sorcerer
The year 1079 brought a great blow to Vseslav. His firstborn son Rogvolod, the count of Jacwiez, died from an illness. It was said that Rogvolod, ever the tough warrior, fought his illness to the end, but finally death claimed him. Vseslav was devastated by his loss, and Rogvolod's son Alexei, still a young boy, also took his father's death heavily and with much stress.
Other events within Polotsk were less grim. Vseslav's fifth son Gleb, the count of Yatvyagi, brought his father great joy when his diplomatic skills gained him the hand of none other than Zoe Ducaena, niece of the late Roman Emperor Constantine Ducas and cousin of the current Emperor Michael. Gleb and Zoe had their firstborn, Matfei, on May 11th of 1081. Greek monks soon arrived in the lands of Polotsk, bringing with them new learning and teaching Vseslav's people the principles of Ascetism and honoring the holy Relics.
But the worries of the recent years, especially his son's death, left their mark on Vseslav. On the cold night of January 19th-20th, 1082, wolves in the forests of Polotsk howled especially loudly, frightening many. In the morning, the Prince's servants entered his room only to find him lying on the floor dead, with a wolfskin over his head. None could say what caused the Prince's death, but it was whispered that his magic, coupled with his many worries, had finally shattered his soul. So ended the reign of Vseslav the Sorcerer, at the age of 52.
And so it was that Vseslav's grandson Alexei, a stressed boy of thirteen, inherited the vast lands of his grandfather, becoming Prince of Polotsk and Podlasia, Count of Polotsk, Jacwiez, Aukshayts, Zhmud, Scalovia, Sudovia, Orsha, Zemigalians, Lettigalians and Galindia, as well as overlord of the counties ruled by his many uncles. What will the future hold?
The lands of Polotsk at the ascension of Prince Alexei the Child; note the Teutonic Order and Polish lands in the north