Mathias Hakonan

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THL Mathias Hakonson
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Preferred title: Not specified Their Pronouns: Not specified Resides: Unknown Status: Active Awards: Visit the Caid Order of Precedence
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THL Mathias Hakonson (also known as Mathias Silvaneus Azotus Hakonan) received a Lux Caidis for Bardic Arts on 01/20/2018 from TRM Athanaric II and Sigriðr II.

Persona

   "Harp or Halbard, battlefield or ballad.... That man is an Artist."

~King Edric IV upon the Caidan victory at Prado Hill, A.S XL

A Norwegian mercenary and Skald born in Nidaros in September of 1153 A.D., Mathias spent much of his early life upon the North Sea. His maternal grandfather was a Jarl of the Norse-Irish city of Cork , Arnrunr Olavson. From here, Irish wool, honey, leather and fur hides produced by the family were taken to the markets of Birka and Kiev. Wine, vinegar and the occasional spice, silk or perfume oil from Constantinople came back to Norway, along with the wool and honey bound for market at home.

The sea-borne life moved with the seasons. Wintering every year at Nidaros, Mathias delved into music and poetry of local Skalds, and at a young age began to compose his own. Spring was spent in Ireland tending to familial affairs, training in combat and defending against raids. Mid-summer heralded the gathering of goods for sale and the return to sea-borne trade. By the time of first frost, Mathias was back in Nidaros to pore over books of music and poetry brought from France, Rome and Constantinople by other merchants. Access to the new works coming out of Notre Dame proved invaluable in his studies, and his compositions soon reflected this sophisticated influence.

In 1171, peace and stability were broken in Cork. Jarl Arnrunr was killed during the Anglo-Norman invasion of Ireland directed by King Henry II. While a life at sea is never far from violence, the ensuing battles were far larger than the raids and skirmishes Mathias had partaken in before. For the next seven years he would stay in Ireland, embroiled in conflict. By the time his son Olav was born in 1177, Mathias had tasted both victory and defeat in the field, and the tide of invasion was deepening. Seeking to keep his family safe amidst the strife, he sold his last remaining lands around Cork to lords serving Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair, an Irish King, and took his Norse cousins back to Norway. His Irish wife chose to remain in Cork, so he granted a divorce-payment along with a farmstead and cottage to her, a small part of the lands first held by his grandfather.

Yet even then he found no peace in Ireland; the encroaching Normans and English were all too eager to take his ship and his life, as there was a sizable bounty for his death or capture. In 1179 he left Ireland and came to the shores of Caid. A common stop on his family's trading route, Caid was now his home.

In A.S. 29, Mathias enlisted in the Caidan Army. He served honorably under many Crowns of the Realm and enriched his love of music and poetry, indeed all the arts, as Caid is known the world over as a center for learning and refined craft. In A.S. 42 under King Edric IV, Mathias fought in many decisive battles; most notably the Caidan victories at Prado Hill, Potrero Valley and Highland Plains. It was upon Prado Hill that Mathias distinguished himself by cleaving through several Pikes that had come within striking distance of His Majesty. Gaining favor through this valorous action, his skills as a Bard also gained Royal notice, and he was appointed as Royal Bard. During the glorious reign of Edric IV, Mathias expanded his studies of music and poetry under Royal patronage, and his skills and knowledge doubled. Her Majesty Faizeh became especially entranced by his Muse and spared no expense in his name.

After the peaceful end of Edric IV's reign, Mathias joined a Varangian Guard unit departing for Constantinople. All his life had he dreamt of seeing the great Miklagarðr, "City of Thrones". It was there in the East Roman Empire that he became enamored of the Eastern Muse and began to study and perform the music of those peculiar harps and lutes. Poetry and music soon took up most of his time, and to his fellow mercenaries' disdain he was often requested to perform in Royal Courts.

Political and religious tensions within the Varangian Guard soon reared their heads, and Mathias chose to leave his position among them. Though now devoted to art and music, his military exploits were by no means finished. His son Olav was now of age and sought to make a new life abroad with his father. With Byzantine gold in his purse and a Grecian Lute on his back, Mathias turned westward in A.S 49.

First he returned to Ireland to settle the question of inheritance of the farmstead there. Olav left his inherited holdings to his mother and half-sister, choosing the sword over the plow. Though young, Olav had seen his share of combat in border skirmishes and raids of the Anglo-Norman incursions in Ireland. His reputation among the Normans lead them to dub him "Mykldyr", The Beast. The fact they chose to use a name in his Norse tongue as opposed to their own dialect speaks volumes regarding his impression upon the stubborn Normans.

Mathias and Olav returned to Nidaros and the original farmsteads of his Father's family. Here they commissioned a new longship and hired a crew, joined by the notable Sightsman (and rumored half-brother to Mathias) Seamus Clear~eyes. In the spring of 1191 they set sail for Iberia, lured by the prospect of gold and glory.

For the next three years they helped secure Caidan trade routes across the channel. Winters were spent inland, where Mathias continued to find patronage from Caidan nobles to further the study of his arts. Her Excellency Faizeh continued to provide invaluable support during this time.

After raiding the coast of Moorish Spain in support of the Reconquista, they settled along the Frankish rivers near Paris for the winter of A.S 51. Tales of a great King in Caid soon reached their ears. This new Emperor needed skilled men at arms and had a fondness for music, and it was said he spared no expense on either of them. With this lure they were again enticed to serve The Crown and Court of Caid.

Mathias found that there was easy gold to be made along the way by protecting caravans bound for Kiev and other cities of Rus. The three joined House Romani, long time friends from the market towns around Constantinople, and they traveled by river next to the caravan of Roma. Wagons heavy with silks, spices and glass ornaments, they headed once more for Caid.

The ship Hronslítr came to be known as Floating Wagon among their gypsy brethren, and provided swift protection and control of local waterways. Mathias also found a warm welcome in many Courts and Revels they attended and was often called to perform for Noble and Commoner alike. The abilities of his crew were no less valuable, as a clever and dependable Berzerker and wise and strong Sightsman are a rare find indeed these days.

His reputation as an Artist continued to grow and in A.S. 52 Mathias was appointed Queen's Guard and Gladius Musicorum, Sword of Music, to Their Majesties Tahira and Alexander. In this role he was able to both enhance his Arts in Court and gather vital news of what wheels drove the politics of the moment. His connections to trade-routes from Constantinople proved quite valuable, and the spice and silk continued to flow from the Great City of Thrones.

These connections not only traded goods, but information as well. With eyes and ears in both East and West, Mathias and his crew were able to give King Alexander early warning of the impending invasion of Rome. With this timely news, Alexander was able to both find a suitable Heir to the Crown of Caid and prepare His Legion to defend the Homeland. There are rumors that Mathias, Seamus and Olav had each assassinated certain high-ranking enemies of Rome to gain information and delay their attack. So far these rumors remain unproven.

When not serving at Court, Mathias and his crew can be found following the Romani Caravan, sharing the joy in the Muse up and down the coasts of our fair Caid, neither Harp nor Halbard rusted yet....

Awards

• Order of Athena, 12/15/2018
• Lux Caidis, 01/20/2018
• Signum Regni, TRM Alexander and Tahira, 01/06/2018
• Order of Apollo-Angels, 09/09/2017
• Queen's Champion-Arts & Sciences, HRM Tahira, 08/12/2017
• Chanson (formerly L'Honneur de la Chanson), 07/16/2017
• Signum Regni, TRM Edric IV and Faizah, 06/02/2007
• Harp Argent for Music, 05/12/2007

As of 06/14/2018, no name or device has been registered.