Scandinavian leftovers

7

The seventeen pirates were incarcerated when they attempted loot some houses. This happened two weeks after the end of the snowstorm. There was warm weather at the moment. Too warm for the time of the year. There were around 11.200 Frisian construction workers on their way to Norway to construct roads and towns. This was a deal that was made with the authorities of the Gaulish province Belgica. The Frisians were auxiliary soldiers in the Roman army. The messenger of Norway maintained that Rome's interest would be respected once the industry blooms. In January, the troops arrived and began building. The troops didn't wear any military outfits. This was forbidden by the Norse elite. They were aided by 30.000 natives who were coerced by the elite to assist them. These were peasants who were blackmailed with the kidnapping of their loved ones. This made them more than willing to co-operate. When the Scandian nobles noticed what happened, they forced thousands of their own people to construct two new cities, one would serve as the new capital. 

While all this work was going on, mid February, many severed heads were found at the houses of Scandian families. This also occurred many times in Norway. This caused a lot of hysteria among the people. 

At this time, Yu, was weaving some silk in her room, in Verita's palace. Yu heard that Finnish raiders murdered many people throughout Scandinavia by beheading and some victims were divided in pieces and spread all across the country. She became frightened. She remembered that was in a palace. But still, the whole news upset her. When she asked where the Rhaetian was, the palace guard made plain unto her that they are not permitted to share the whereabouts of a diplomat. The news messages increased until April. At this time, many Norse people began moving into the towns that were constructed. Many of the immigrants to those towns began to build their own houses within the established city walls. Around a half million moved into cities by then. Another 200.000 left towards the new 'capital' in the Great bay region. Only the city wall and several buildings were finished. The immigrants, nevertheless, pushed and demanded entrance into the space between the city walls. Together some 700.000 people moved into the urban regions. This was in accordance to the plan of the elites. Another 50.000 left towards the land of the Goths to live among them. There were still 450.000 Norse people that remained in tiny villages. The majority of the population now resided in the south. Most places of Norway became uninhabited by humans in this manner. In May, 100.000 people, left for the far north, where the northern lights were visible. It was a very cold place, yet they felt safer over there. They would rather live of haunting and fishing on whales than remaining on fertile, but dangerous farms. The elites send several gangs that massacred around 75.000 of the inhabitants that remained in the mountainous regions. The deaths were blamed on the Finnish raiders. Of the 275.000 people living in the mountainous regions only 5000 remained, while the others forced themselves in the recently build coastal settlements. Jehuda town received an additional 14.000 people that demanded refuge in the city. The fear pressuring upon the people drove many to madness and suicide. 

In June, there were agents of the elites that stirred up young men to join militias and to fight for their country. All militia groups were controlled opposition. Around 60.000 men from both Scandia and Norway went on campaign to the north. They went to Lapland, where the former 100.000 Norse people fled too. The agents of the elite stirred the agitated young men and convinced them that the Finnish people were in Lapland and they were ready to invade. Blinded by pain and hate, the militia massacred all 100.000 people. And after that, they began killing one another. Only 600 of them survived. When the news reached the Scandians of the big loss, they mourned for weeks. Yet, this motivated them more to invest in the well being of their society. In August, there was no news anymore of invading Finnish people. At this time, 85.000 men had died in warfare, besides the 100.000 civilian victims, and another 400.000 were made slaves. Scandinavia at this time, had a reduced population 2,75 million people. Due to a shortage of food supply within a month another 200.000 died and they were burried quickly to preven diseases from speading. In Oktober 65 AD, the population became 2,55 million. At this time, the elites had enough of all the misery and they wanted to have stability. The fear traumatised the people a lot. 

At this time, the Rhaetian (he was not aware of the intentions of the elite!) came up with a plan to distract the people from all the misery. What he did was importing much counterfeit silk into Jehuda town. He also requested many fake Denarii coins, which appeared like real silver, but were not. The fake Denarii coins were 25000 in total. He then spread this to many people throughout Scandinavia and he told them to sell the fake silk everywhere. In Spring 66 AD, the commerce with Greater Germany increased. The news of much silk in Scandinavia had drawn the interest of Germanic traders. Also, the fake Denarii which appeared as real, was used to pay off deals with Sarmartian countries across the Baltic Sea. The rumour of the wealth, made it easier for the elite to increase the amount of coinage in circulation. This boosted the domestic economy. By the end of summer 66 AD most people had forgotten about the whole Finnish invasion. Many were so obsessed with material gain and status. It was at this time, that the new governments in the two new capitals were established. The people were too distracted by fear )and later by relief from fear through materialism) to figure out the scheme of their rulers. The Rhaetian, at this time, had requested for many Alpine Romans from the provinces Rhaetia and Noricum, and northern Italy (also called Gallia Cisalpina), to migrate to Norway in order to work in the new established towns. 

Furthermore, the Roman state was too distracted with the scandals by Emperor Nero and the state's persecution of Christians to even notice that some districts within their empire became depopulated. The immigrants were only permitted to live in the Fjords and Southwestern shore of Norway. The others were employed in the south of Scandia. The Rhaetian, without his intention, was ruling the affairs of Scandinavia and he wasn't even aware of it. At this time, the Rhaetian received the style 'King of Scandinavia' from the elites. Some of the elite were from Egyptian origin when many Egyptians migrated to Scandinavia during the Bronze age. So, he could easily be seen as 'one of them'.  The practical government remained with the chieftains and nobles, while the Rhaetian mainly focused on the trade with Gaul and Britain. The Scandinavians accepted the whole transformation without any resistance. They were used to have Egyptian-Norse elites, so that another coloured man became a leader didn't bother them much. They had relief and they had prosperity. That's what mattered unto them. 

The minister of finances in Britain heard about the Rhaetian's new position as head of state of the Scandinavian confederacy. Immediately, in 67 AD, he send an envoy to make a treaty with the Rhaetian. The Roman authorities in Britain saw an opportunity to benefit from the new situation in northern Europe. Nevertheless, they understood also that the new situation was quite fragile and vulnerable. The Roman Empire itself had enormous problems in the Eastern frontier. The province of Judea revolted and several Jewish states were founded. The victory by the Jews led to social unrest in northern Gaul and also in parts of Spain.