The Saxon Kingdoms of the Seaxe
Saxon peoples have settled a large section of the western part of the continent and over the years have formed several kingdoms. These kingdoms are largely united by culture and language but are constantly in sway as kings rise and fall and alliances falter. Three of these kingdoms are controlled by members of the House of Seaxe. The Kingdom of Seaxe was once the predominant kingdom in the Saxon lands. Godric the Seaxe united the western clans under his banner bringing strength, stability and prosperity to his people. Godric and his wife Hild had five sons. Stories and rumor surround the eldest. Some say he was stillborn or died shortly after he drew his first breath. Others say he survived but was born horribly deformed and hidden away in a tower of Godcaister his entire life. Godric and his eldest son and heir apparent, Aethelhelm died while hunting boar in the year 1046 CR. None of Godric’s three other sons had the support of a majority of the nobles. War broke out among the brothers until they decided to split the kingdom into thirds resulting in the kingdoms of Seaxe, NorSeaxe, and Seaxeweald.
Seaxe
Aethelric, the next in line of succession was an irresponsible youth giving who lived in the shadow of his older brother and never took his princely duties seriously. Although he had the most legitimate claim to Godric’s throne, he lacked the support of most of the nobles, especially the more hawkish ones. He kept the Seaxe name and standard and he and his wife Mildred only brought one child to term, a son they named Aethelhelm. The boy was never very strong and suffered ailments throughout his life. He was arranged to marry Gytha from a wealthy Seaxe family and they had a son Aedelfried early in their marriage. Two daughters followed- Aedeldryd and Aelfgifu. Aedelfried claimed the throne when his father died in 1093 CR and died himself shortly after, just days before he was to wed. The throne fell to his sister Aedeldryd, known as Aedeldryd the Merciless and her husband Beorthric. They were harsh rulers imposing crippling taxes on the people and never allowing the princess Aelfgifu to wed. They gave birth to two children, a daughter Aedelflead and many years later a son Aedelberht who died when he fell from a tower window as a child. Aedeflead, now a woman in her 30’s is the Queen of the Seaxe and rules with her consort and cousin Gunnstan.
Norseaxe
Adelstan, Godric’s second son at the time of his death, was considered by many Seaxe nobles as the legitimate heir. He was a scholarly youth and married into a prominent family, but his crop of red hair in a family of dark haired brothers fueled rumors of his mother’s infidelity and hence his illegitimacy. He had enough support to carve out the northern kingdom Norseaxe and Adelstan and his wife Wilburgh had three children. A daughter Frithstan, and son Heafstan, and another daughter Leofstan. Heafstan assumed the throne when his father died in 1086 CR and he and his wife Agatha had twin sons, Hunstan who died from a fever his fifth winter, and Sunustan who grew to adulthood and married Hilda. Sunustan and Hilda had two sons, Grimstan and Gunnstan while Heafstan was still on the throne. Hilda died giving birth to Gunnstan and Heafstan died a year later. Sunustan assumed the throne and remarried to a merchant’s daughter named Leofflead, known as Leofflead the Fair. Within a year of their marriage she gave birth to a son Gythstan. As the boy grew it was clear he was their favorite and tensions grew amid the family. When Gythstan turned 16 an attempt was make on his life and Grimstan and Gunnstan were implicated in the attempt. Grimstan was sent to the Iron Tower and his fate remains unknown. Gunnstan fled the kingdom and went south to join his cousin Aedeflead in Seaxe.
Seaxeweald
Aethelweald, the youngest son of King Godric the Seaxe, was a charismatic warrior and arguably the best suited to keep Godric’s kingdom unified. He also had the weakest claim to the throne and the least desire to tear Seaxe apart through what would certainly be years of civil war if the brothers determined who should be the rightful heir on the battlefield. Aethelweald was given the southern kingdom. After impressing her father in battle, he married Neith, a Stygian princess and molded an alliance with the Stygians on his southern border. Aethelweald and Neith had two daughters, Siflead the Fleet and Wealdleof the Fierce, but no sons. Siflead was married to Readwald the Red and gave birth to Bealdweald the Strong, who is in his 60s and still sits on the throne of Seaxeweald. He is married to Wulfrun and has two grown sons, Wulfric and Aethelwulf.
Naming Traditions
Feminine names
Masculine names
The Old Gods
Bhumi (f) (Earth, Mother) healing, birth and grow
Jala (m) (Water, Traveler) journey, diplomacy
Agna (m) (Fire, Blacksmith) destroyer/creator, war
Marut (f) (Air,Singer) arts, wisdom, love
Akash (Aether, faceless) death, magic
Many Seaxe still worship the Old Gods, or a mixture of the old and new. Temples are built to the gods in cities and towns, many families have house shrines to all, or a specific deity. Foreign influence through travel and trade in the larger cities have introduced other gods. For the most part these other beliefs are tolerated by most Seaxe.
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