Ch.213Syria (5)

King Giorgi III of Georgia died in Tbilisi.

Accordingly, his legitimate heir Tamar ascended to the throne as Georgia’s first queen.

“A woman ruling the country? That’s impossible.”

“Indeed. Even with the late king’s strict orders, a woman ruling the country is unacceptable.”

The nobles raised their voices in opposition to Queen Tamar’s ascension.

This was understandable since Georgia had never before been ruled by a queen.

Consequently, there was significant resistance against Queen Tamar.

As a result, the teenage girl had to find ways to suppress the nobles’ opposition.

“This is serious, Aunt.”

In response to Tamar’s words, her aunt Rusudan, the eldest daughter of Demetrios I who had been the 6th and 8th monarch, nodded.

“Don’t worry, Your Majesty. I will resolve this issue.”

“You, Aunt?”

“Yes. I support Your Majesty. If we expel those who oppose you and find a husband from a neighboring royal family, we can establish a foundation for your rule.”

“I don’t think the nobles will be satisfied with just that, Aunt.”

“Then we’ll need to share some privileges with them.”

“…”

Tamar’s expression was grim.

This was because once privileges were conceded, the nobles would certainly become more arrogant.

She didn’t want to appear weak to the nobles from the beginning.

However, in her position without proper support, she lacked the military power to overcome the current crisis.

“I know Your Majesty doesn’t want to share privileges. Then take the husband I recommend.”

“Who would that be?”

“Yuri Bogolyubsky of the Rurik dynasty.”

“A Rus person…”

For the Georgian kingdom, which was called the defender of Christianity by the Byzantine Empire, the Rus people were mere barbarians.

From Tamar’s perspective, marrying such a barbarian was certainly not appealing.

Moreover, Tamar was well aware of the rumors about Yuri Bogolyubsky.

“Besides, Yuri is known for his debauchery and violence.”

“But he is an experienced soldier with excellent military skills. To protect Your Majesty’s life from the nobles right now, we need the experienced warrior Yuri.”

At her aunt’s words, Tamar gritted her teeth.

She lamented her situation, unable to even choose her own husband.

“I’d like to discuss this matter later, Aunt.”

Rusudan nodded at this.

But her expression remained worried.

“You must decide quickly, Your Majesty. Otherwise, the nobles might try to take away your God-given rights.”

“…I understand.”

After Rusudan bowed and left the room, Tamar let out a long sigh.

“Shouldn’t a queen at least have the right to choose her own husband?”

Tamar said this while looking outside.

* * *

After arriving near the Caucasus Mountains, I ordered the establishment of a camp.

I also instructed that envoys be sent to the Kingdom of Georgia as soon as day broke.

At the same time, I called for Muqali separately.

“You called for me, Khagan?”

“Yes. Come here and sit down.”

I led Muqali to the warm campfire.

Muqali bowed before taking a seat in front of me.

Crack, crackle.

The playful sound of the campfire tickled our ears.

As the surroundings grew quieter, I handed Muqali some fermented mare’s milk.

“Would you like a drink?”

“I accept with gratitude.”

Muqali received the mare’s milk from me, bowed, and then took a sip.

“I made it from the milk of the mares I’ve been riding all the way here. So it should be quite tasty.”

“The mare’s milk tastes good.”

Then Muqali returned the mare’s milk to me.

I took a sip of the mare’s milk he handed back.

“You will become the king who leads the Ulus-Kuman territory.”

“…”

“You’re not surprised.”

“I vaguely sensed it when Gur Khagan sent me to you instead of sending me to Lord Temujin.”

I nodded at this.

Since he had already figured it out, it was time to get to the point.

“Your role will be to guard the steppe road connecting the Central Plains and the Byzantine Empire. In the process, you must continuously expand territory by attacking Slavic lands.”

Muqali nodded calmly, as if he had anticipated this role.

“What I can give you is 10,000 cavalry composed of various ethnicities.”

After the conquest of the Cumans, I planned to transfer the multi-ethnic cavalry unit to Muqali.

I intended to have him use these forces to continue the conquest of the Slavs and Cumans while simultaneously attacking Eastern Europe.

It would be difficult to accomplish all this with just 10,000 soldiers.

So I asked Muqali if he could manage it.

“Can you do it?”

“I can.”

I silently looked at Muqali.

Muqali bowed and began to share his thoughts.

“The Cumans are nomads like us. If we recruit them and share the spoils obtained from attacking Slavic countries, they will follow our orders.”

“You’ll use the conquered Cumans as mercenaries?”

“Yes, Gur Khagan.”

“That’s a good approach. However, to use such a method, you’ll need to establish some legitimacy.”

Temujin and I were rulers of the steppe.

In other words, we were kings ruling over a country.

In contrast, while Muqali was a king appointed by me, he was still lacking in legitimacy.

This was precisely what concerned me.

For Muqali to establish a new dynasty, conquer the Cumans, earn their respect, and use them as mercenaries, he needed legitimacy.

“How will you secure that legitimacy?”

“…”

Muqali couldn’t answer hastily.

Indeed, it was impossible for a mere general like him to suddenly secure legitimacy.

Especially in a foreign land.

For this, I had a plan prepared.

“Do you remember the order I gave before?”

At my sudden question, Muqali looked puzzled.

“I remember, Gur Khagan. You ordered me to gather information about the Kingdom of Georgia and its ruler before attacking them.”

“That’s right. Think about that order carefully.”

“…”

Muqali fell into deep thought.

After a long time, his eyes began to widen.

“Could it be…!”

“Have you realized?”

“Are you saying… that I should marry the Queen of Georgia to secure legitimacy?”

“Exactly.”

“But… but I’m just a general. How could I…”

I shook my head at Muqali’s words.

“You are not just a general. You are a general of the Ulus whom I have recognized, and at the same time, one of the few individuals who can establish a dynasty in the Ulus.”

As I mentioned earlier, I had only allowed my sons to establish dynasties.

Considering this, along with what Temujin had reported to me about Jamukha before he left, the royal title I was bestowing upon Muqali was an extraordinary privilege.

“So don’t worry.”

“I am grateful for Gur Khagan’s boundless grace. But wouldn’t Queen Tamar of Georgia reject my proposal?”

Muqali’s concern was valid.

As he said, while queens weren’t entirely unheard of in this era, Tamar, ascending as the first queen in Georgia, a long-standing Christian nation, was bound to face many challenges.

In actual history, she had suffered all sorts of humiliations due to pressure from the nobles.

She had her rights usurped and was forced into an unwanted marriage, causing her great pain.

But she didn’t yield.

Tamar expelled Yuri, who had tormented her and tried to interfere in state affairs, and ousted the nobles who constantly obstructed her.

Afterward, she continued to expand, securing vast territories in the Caucasus Mountains.

She had such tremendous potential.

But right now, she was just a teenage girl who hadn’t yet bloomed.

If Muqali married her now, he could become her strong ally and lead a new nation with stability.

In other words, the current Tamar desperately needed a powerful warrior to subdue the nobles who opposed her.

“No. She desperately needs your help right now.”

“…”

“It’s difficult for a queen to rule a country. She likely has no military support base and is facing opposition from the nobles.”

Muqali nodded at this.

Since I had ordered him to scout the internal situation of Georgia, he would know better than anyone.

“Marry her and form a strong alliance. Tamar will be your legitimacy, and you will be her sword.”

Muqali nodded at my words.

Then he stood up and knelt before me.

“I will follow the orders of the great Gur Khagan.”

* * *

“Queen, hear our voices!”

“If you don’t allow us to appoint ministers, we will take drastic measures!”

“To protect the country, we need a strong ruler! The Queen should take a husband to stabilize the nation!”

Tamar was growing weary of the nobles’ demands.

“I conceded privileges to appease them. But their demands are getting worse by the day, Aunt.”

Rusudan looked troubled at Tamar’s words.

This was because, as she said, the nobles’ demands were indeed growing more severe each day.

The ministerial appointment rights they were demanding would essentially make Tamar a figurehead.

If a king couldn’t appoint ministers, they couldn’t oversee state affairs themselves.

Ministers appointed by nobles would not follow the king but would instead be mindful of the nobles.

This essentially meant stripping away the king’s governance foundation.

Additionally, they were trying to interfere in her marriage under the pretext of stabilizing the state.

If the nobles interfered in her marriage, she would have to marry a royal who was essentially a puppet of the nobles.

Naturally, a royal who became her husband due to the nobles’ influence would have to act according to their demands.

Tamar couldn’t help but be angry at the nobles’ pressure, which was tightening moment by moment.

“There’s no other way, Your Majesty. If we don’t accept their demands, the nobles might bring their private armies and stage a sit-in in front of the palace.”

Tamar looked dejected.

At this rate, she was destined to lose all the family heritage and God-given rights her father had left her to the nobles.

“God… please help me.”

As a devout Christian, Tamar could only cry out to God.

Rusudan looked at the praying Tamar with pity.

At that moment, the door suddenly opened, and a servant approached.

The servant bowed and then went directly to Tamar, reporting something discreetly.

Hearing this, Tamar’s eyes widened.

“Is it true?”

“Yes, it is, Your Majesty.”

Tamar, without realizing it, shed tears and called out to God.