Anglasweorc: Difference between revisions

Centuries later, following the establishment of the [[Holy Levantine Empire|Levantine Empire]] and its successor kingdoms, the [[Ænglish people]] were firmly settled in modern Anglei as part of an effort to protect the borders of those kingdoms from [[Gothica]]. The establishment of the [[Anglei#Marcher_period|Ænglish March]] in [[1042]] solidified the responsibilities of Ænglish rulers of protecting the Empire's borders. Despite this, the border remained relatively porous for the next century, as Ænglish lands were raided and Ænglish lords counter-raided as part of an overall strategy of defense against the Goths. In 1121, the third Margrave of the Ænglish - Margrave Cuthbert I - began construction of the Anglasweorc in an attempt to solidify the border and increase settled agricultural viability in the country. The "first" Anglasweorc, also called the Cuthbertweorc, included watchtowers along the March's river borders as well as a series of earthworks along land borders and a sparse variety of fortifications and hillforts. By the end of the 12th century, the first stone castles were built in Anglei, all of which were part of the Anglasweorc. While these castles were still largely linked by earthworks, the porous border of the past had been sealed. The Ænglish now controlled the Empire's northern border with [[Gothica]] and began to levy large tolls on traders coming and going through the weorc. The revenue would lead to an age of prosperity for the Ænglish that would last several centuries.

===Golden age of the Anglasweorc===

Significant efforts were made to strengthen the weorc by the end of the next century. Due to the wealth and prestige the weorc afforded the Ænglish, the Ænglish realm was elevated to a [[Anglei#Kingdom_period|Kingdom]] in [[1278]]. The first King of the Ænglish, Wilfred I, greatly invested in the weorc. The Wilfredweorc for the first time built stone walls between fortified points, and other changes to the castles along the boundary were implemented. Additional walls and fortresses were constructed on potentially weak points behind natural features, and by around 1300 nearly all of the well known routes to bypass the weorc had been sealed. The new stone walls lining the weorc were polished, leading to the Ænglish realm gaining the name "weizrik" among [[Gothic people|Goths]] - "White Kingdom". The Wilfredsweorc was built upon and largely replaced with larger, sturdier walls which soldiers could stand upon and shoot down at oncoming Goths throughout the 1360s and 1370s during the reign of Wilfred II; these additions are traditionally grouped in as part of the Wilfredsweorc, partly due to 19th century misconceptions about which Wilfred built what part of the wall.

===Decline and end of the Anglasweorc===

The Anglasweorc would continue to receive upgrades through the mid 1400s until the [[Conquest of Joanusterra]] in the 1460s, which pushed the boundaries of militarized Christendom further west. While trade would still travel through the Anglasweorc, various economic concessions and agreements made with the new crusader state of [[Yonderre]] and mandated by the [[Pope]] lead to a sharp decline in toll revenue for the weorc. While it still provided some revenue, the weorc's raison d'etre was gone as Gothic raids had slowed significantly in past centuries and now ceased altogether due to the presence of the new state to the northwest. The lack of military necessity, decreasing revenue, and socio-religious turmoil in the Ænglish realm contributed to a lack of interest in furthering the weorc's role. By 1480, most of the garrisons and toll collection points were closed by the King of the Ænglish, and all work on the wall - be it new construction or maintenance - ceased after that point. Some tolls, mostly for local traders, were still being collected by the 1520s, but the weorc's relevance had long since declined.