Moimir the Kneebringer

Moimir the Kneebringer
Duke of Pavatria
Reign	964–991
Predecessor	Nuruk
Successor	Gostislav
Prince of Dulat
Reign	950/951–967
Predecessor	Nuruk
Successor	Kyrilu Vasiliiski
Born	933 Luchintsy, Pavatria
Died	991 Vysok, Pavatria
Spouse	Elena Stanislava Lyudmila Inna
Issue	Gostislav Blagoslav Boyko Pridbor Kyrilu
House	Vasiliiski
Father	Nuruk
Mother	Tomila
Religion	Solarian Catholic

Moimir I (933–991), known as the Kneebringer (Old Church Marolevic: Kолѣнодєл; Kolænodel) or the Conqueror (Old Church Marolevic: Зазрѣти; Zazræti), was Duke of Pavatria between 964 and 991. His reign was notable for his extensive subjugation of the eastern Marolevs, as well as the Kantemoshans, which earned him the moniker of Kneebringer (also sometimes interpreted as simply conqueror), a title which he relished through his life.

Born in Luchintsy in 933 as the third son of Nuruk, but the first to survive infancy, Moimir led an educated childhood being tutored by some of Pavatria's best religious clerics and philosophers. Aged 17, he inherited the princedom of Dulat, and served as one of his father's premier administrators in the region. As a prince, Moimir came to face frequent marauder raids on the coastal city from Eleanora of Caldia's Maltaire, as well as other west-venturing marauder clans. Coupled with the isolated nature of the city within the Pavatrian duchy, Moimir gained heavy first-hand military experience from a young age, often being personally involved in the defense of the city both on land and at sea. He ascended to the throne aged 29 upon his father's death in 964, and immediately implemented his policies of military expansionism across the Marolevic world.

Moimir first declared war on the fledgling states of what is now West Miersa, conquering some and forcing others to pay tribute. He later moved west and declared war on what remained of the Kingdom of Maltaire in 976, forcing the Uí Mealla clan to swear fealty to him before executing their king and exiling the rest out of Pavatria. After subduing Maltaire, he began to conquer the cities and duchies of Kantemosha and Ambrazka in 981, directly annexing most of it into the Pavatrian realm. His conquest of Kantemosha earned him admiration by other western monarchs as well as chroniclers in Arciluco. Karopophoros called him the "one ruler of the lands from the Kvasy to the Tsyr", and wrote favourably of him in his Codex Maroleviæ

He died in the city of Vysok in 991, leaving behind a military and cultural legacy that rivalled his father's. He had five children over four wives, and was succeeded by his first born Gostislav. Moimir's military campaigns, especially those against the marauders, were extremely beneficial for Pavatrian trade and its economy, especially along the coast. His legacy lived on for years in Pavatrian literature and religious liturgy, though some suggest Moimir himself was not very religious.

Early life

Moimir was born in Luchintsy in 933 as the son of Nuruk and his wife Duchess Tomila of Luchintsy. He was the third son of Nuruk but the first to not die during childbirth or infancy.

He was well nurtured by his father, who in his mid-40s was in desperate need of a legitimate heir to the throne of Pavatria, and enjoyed an educated upbringing in the hands of Pavatria's most notable religious scholars and clergymen. According to Saint Samo of Istros, Moimir learnt both Old Church Slavonic and the natively spoken Old Soravian, as well as participating in classes in the liturgical Solarian language.

Despite his religious upbringing, Moimir was noted for his lack of piety as a child, often attempting to skip prayer services or refusing to adhere to religious protocols. His relative disdain for Catholicism saw many of Nuruk's clergy and demesne accuse Moimir of heresy and attempted to have him declared illegitimate and removed from the hereditary bloodline. Nuruk refused to disinherit his only son and caused a brief schism between the monarchy and the new church in Pavatria, which was eventually solved when the clergymen who led the rebellion against the crown were found dead in Lakamore.

His father delegated his hereditary title of the Prince of Dulat to Moimir in 950 or 951, and Moimir, aged 17, began first hand experience as an administrator within the Pavatrian realm.

Reign

Prince of Dulat

Moimir's proficiency in ruling became evident from an early age. As Nuruk's oldest living child, he was the subject of great observance and importance among the Pavatrian elite. During his rule of the principality, he took great care in utilising enfoeffment to alleviate the financial burden of the crown to fortify the area. Many noble and aristocratic families of mercantile descent were granted fiefs in exchange for the maintenance of infrastructure (agreements were usually building bridges and maintaining delineated roads for horseback travel) as well as the construction and maintenance of forts.

Owing to Dulat's mercantile history and close proximity to the lucrative Maritime Guild as well as the First North Sea Empire, its coasts were subjected to frequent raids by Ejderic marauders as well as Ghaillish marauders led mainly by Eleanora of Caldia from the west. The eponymous capital city of the principality was raided twice in 952 and 955, and was severely detrimental to the Pavatrian economy. The Pavatrian navy moved to attempt to secure sea lanes between Dulat and the east to maintain its lucrative mercantile connections, but were stopped by Maltairean forces in one of the first major examples of bind and board tactics, where marauder long fadas would be bound together to create a platform by which, in essence, a land battle was fought at sea. After Dulat was plundered for the second time, Moimir introduced poliudie amongst tax-playing Dulatian merchants.