Laima of Šembeļi

Laima of Šembeļi
Regent of Ravumo
Regency	819 - 825
Chief council of the warlord-queen
Reign	825 -843
Born	801? Šembeļi domain, Siluan confederation
Died	843(843-00-00) (aged 41–42) Taga
Burial	Ravumo
Religion	Kuvo

Laima of Šembeļi was the Regent of Ravumo and later the chief council to warlord-queen Gabija in the years 819-843

Background

Aima the Red served as the warlord-queen of the Siluan confederation of tribes from 800-819. Her rule saw the resumption of her grandmother's military campaigns to the north and west of the confederation's territory and while visiting the northern front in 819 she suddenly died. The cause of Aima's death remains unknown, but later writers and historians have devised numerous theories. Theories concerning Aima's death include assassination by disgruntled soldiers or tribal leaders, an unrecorded sickness or congenital condition, and death in a unrecorded battle. Regardless of the reason of her death, the loss of the confederation's leader seemed to have come as a great surprise to not only the tribal leaders but also the general populace. Aima's death also ended the northern and western military campaigns for a time.

The death of Aima left her eight year old daughter, Gabija, as the apparent successor to the position of warlord-queen as the process of nomination and approval of successors would not become the norm until after 1000. Laws and customs of the time stated that a woman could not assume leadership of a tribe or the confederation until she reached the age of majority at fourteen. The same laws and customs also dictated that in the event that a successor was below the age of majority, that a regent would act in her stead until which time she reached the age of fourteen. Traditionally, the regent would be a trusted relative, advisor, or a close ally amongst the tribal leaders. In a highly unusual (and still widely discussed) decision, a young cavalry officer from the frontier domain of Šembeļi was chosen to act as regent for the young Gabija and oversee the domain of Ravumo.

The selection of Laima as the regent of was unusual for three primary reasons, though these offer only broad understanding of the complex socioeconomics of the time. Laima' age, social status, and ethnicity are the reasons most commonly pointed to when discussing the unusual circumstance of her elevation to regent of Ravumo.

Her age was one unusual factor, as the study and comparison of contempory and later records indicate that she was likely eighteen years old when she was chosen to act as regent. From what is known of the customs of the time, an older woman with both military and political experience was typically chosen as regent. This was most likely because the percieved wisdom and experience of these elder women was highly revered and held great weight in contemporary Siluan society. Choosing a woman with such little percieved wisdom and experience would have likely seemed highly unusual and was in fact one of the chief complaints that would lead to the later plot to assassinate Laima in 822.

The social status of Laima was another peculiarity and as probably among the most concrete historical likelihoods concerning Laima. Regents among the Siluan and related tribes were typically chosen from the upper layers of society and it was reiterated in multiple Siluan and non-Siluan sources that Laima was in fact from the lowest social strata. To be from the lowest rank of society and also hold military command likely meant that Laima had managed to greatly impress and/or gain the favor of a prominent tribal leader. While a woman of low birth achieving great acclaim and prestige through battle was not entirely unheard of, it was not commonplace and the elevation of a commoner to a position of high leadership was unheard of.