Chapter 10
At the beginning of the second century after the conquest the Jarl of Gondor stood as the foremost of the old Stark family's vassals. Harthacnut Knytlinga 1st Jarl of Gondor was a rare figure in Westeros history. Born a son of a lowly farmer and middle child of eight. His rise to power and title are still considered remarkable to this day and even more during his lifetime. He was an inventor, soldier, reformer and a statesman.
His military victories and campaigns are still study in the military academy he founded. He also made plenty of reforms that still stand to this day.
Harthacnut left a legacy that has cast a shadow over his descendants. But his biggest legacies was the city of Gondor and the Knytlinga reforms.
Excerpts from Rise of the Jarl by William Hamilton
The Knytlinga Reforms were the start of changes that turned the North from a thinly populated backwater region producing mostly raw material to mass producer of finished goods and breadbasket.
Before House Knytlinga the North under the Starks were the poorest and considered primitive by the rest of Westeros. Despite thousands of years of Stark rule the North never became a major power like the Stormlands, Reach or Iron lands. The Northern armies rarely ever went south and navy power was nonexistent after Brandon the Burner.
The Stark kings and later Lords after the Conquest of Aegon never improved or introduced major changes to the North.
That were later come back to haunt them after the Third Blackfyre rebellion.
Excerpts from The Crisis of the Third Century by Harry Snowden
The Meat Inspection Act and Poultry inspection act of 200AC was the first ever law that placed standards and rules on meat Products.
1) Mandatory inspection of livestock before slaughter.
2) Mandatory postmortem inspection of every carcass
3) Sanitary standards established for slaughterhouses and meat processing plants
4) monitoring and inspection of slaughter and processing operations
For the first time ever meat had to be label accurately and inspect to be safe for human consumption. This act was passed after a series of deaths from tainted meat. The most famous was when half of a village called Redhorn died after eating beef during a local festival. The tainted meat were traced to livestocks brough from a farmer…. The infamous Ronald of Green Stone. Who knew full well his cattle were sick and a danger to consume.
The public outcry was so large that the Jarl had to take action and announce the act. As for Ronald of Green Stone he was arrested after a three day manhunt and become the first man to be trial by a public jury. He was sentenced to death by beheading and his assets were seized to pay reparations to his victims or their families.
The Agriculture Act of 202 AC required the inspecting of agricultural products and registering of where it came from.
Also passed into law was the boiling of water for human consumption. While this will confused many as why were the Jarl ordered this. It soon proved its worth as waterborne illnesses fell almost overnight.
Excerpts from The Knytlinga Health reforms by Allen Thompson
The opening of the first Medical school in Westeros 204 AC began a revolution that changed the medical practice forever.
Before this Maesters had a monopoly on medical science and practice. But these men were mostly for the nobles and rarely treated the small folks if ever.
For the small folks, local healers and wood witches were the ones they saw along with home remedies.
When Jarl Harthacnut founded the Gondor Medical School he filled it with books and teachers from Essos. As he knew the Maesters were never shared their knowledge or books to what they later saw as rivals in several years after the school was founded.
As a matter of fact twice in 215 and 218 AC they petition the king to closed down the school.
But the Targaryen King were deny their request and even invited the Jarl to establish the first public hospital in the capital.
The year after the medical school was established the first ever hospital( Arnor Hospital) was opened in Gondor followed by clinics throughout the Jarldom in the following months.
Over the following years the residents of the Jarldom of Gondor were experience an improvement in health and a decrease in deaths. The reputation of Gondor medical services quickly became renown in a short period. That commoners from all corners of the North were flock Gondor to receive treatment.
Since the hospital was free and open to all people. It was initially shunned by the Northern nobility until 209 AC when the plague hit the North and led to many maesters becoming sick or dying.
The field of medical research were also go through a change. In 208 AC Doctor Gerris of Braavos will write the first book on the theory of germs. After he noticed how patients in cleaner environments develop less infections often than those in dirtier settings.
Because of this and the Jarl orders. It became standard practice to wash hands and medical tools. Surgery has become safer and more common because of this. And as the medical school study the human body, new operations and new techniques to operate are developed over the next few years.
Excerpts from The History of Arnor Hospital and Gondor Medical School by Alaric Stockton
The foundation of the first standing army in Westeros began in Gondor. When Jarl Harthacnut I of Gondor established the Knytlinga Military school. He created the school to trained officers to his new army in 202 AC as the levies of Gondor were reformed into the first standing military in Westeros.
The school was revolutionary as it accept applicants from all classes. Meritocracy will be the rule instead of Noble ties or bloodline.
Requirements for acceptance at the time were:
Being between 18-25 yrs old
In excellent physical condition
Having no criminal record
Served two years as an enlisted
Can read and write
Pass the examination
If you pass you become a cadet for a training program of five years. Over which cadets will study and learned subjects while at the same time going through physical training. If a cadet failed a year three times they will be expelled from the school and name removed from records.
The first class of cadets graduated in 206AC with eighty members. The first cadet of the class was Adolphus Vasa later Baron of Svolder and one of the greatest cavalry commanders that the Gondor military ever had.
This first class were all take part in the first conflict the new Gondor military will take part in late 207.
Excerpts from The officers of the Jarl's Army by John Jones
The military we all now know and familiar with was built from the old levies of Gondor. When Harthacnut decided the old system of levies were no longer work for him. He found the old way of raising troops and arming them to be inefficient.
So he disbanded his levies and recruit men for a new armed force. It will be hardened veterans of his earlier campaigns who were formed the core of this force.
On 203 AC the 1st battalion was raised with five hundred men. A hundred archers and four hundred infantry. Battalions are split into five companies of a hundred, each with two fifty man platoons and that split into five ten man squads.
Two more were raised in the same years along with a cavalry squadron organized as the infantry but platoons are called troops instead. With a Corp of engineers of 250 men who were manned the siege engines and building fortifications. Also created was the Corp of logistics with 250 men also to supply and maintain the new force.
The volunteers were signed a contract of twelve years service to join and something rarely ever done they were paid wages on a monthly period for their service.
Six more battalions were raised, four infantry and two cavalry. But they were to be kept in reserve with just six years of service, a third of the pay and just drill ten days out of every month.
While active units are kept in garrisons and patrolling the borders of the Jarldom.
The Jarl also created a rank system for his new army.
The men are divided into two classes Enlisted which made up most of the rank and Officers who led them.
Officer ranks
Major: who commands a battalion
Captain: commands the companies
Lieutenant: the platoons
Junior Lieutenant( Cavalry version is Cornet): the most junior officer rank and the rank a cadet is commission to on graduating.
Enlist ranks
First Sergeant: senior NCO(noncommissioned officer) in the battalion
Staff sergeant: senior NCO in a company
Platoon Sergeant: senior NCO in platoon
Sergeant: squad leader
Corporal: fireteam leader in squad with two in each one
Private: lowest rank and nickname the grunts
A new invention at the time were the name or dog tag that had the soldier's name and service number stamped into them to identify fallen soldiers.
The tags prove their usefulness in the conflict in 207 AC to count dead and alert families of their loss.
The uniforms for the new army were also be revolutionary.
The old BDU of the old levies will undergo a major change.
The field jacket were become a new shade of dark grey with green collars, four pockets on the front, shoulder straps are added, two pockets on the inside and a belt to wear over it. The trousers are the same color, six pockets, a belt to hold it up and like the jacket are form fitting. The boots worn are the famous jackboots with hobnail soles.
When not in battle they worn field caps with visor. During the colder weather the men are issued double-breasted greatcoat with dark green collar and shoulder-straps with gloves.
While the cavalry had the same uniform their were black with red collars and the boots that reach the knees
There also a dress uniform for parades and formal events.
The infantry are equipped with Chainmail with plate armor wore over, iron helmet with cheek plates and padding. While armed with long swords, daggers, axes and javelins with a standard rectangle shield.
Archers wore chainmail with helmets and armed with long bows plus a short and dagger as side weapons.
The cavalry are divided into heavy and light. Heavy cavalry wears plate armour and ride heavier horses. Light cavalry wears chainmail with cuirasses and helmets that are open face with their horses light but faster.
Both are armed with lances, swords, axes, maces and shields
Excerpts from The organization and uniforms of the Jarl's army.
With all new changes and economic expansion. The food industry begin changing starting with the opening of Jarl's restaurant. Several people had followed suit and created their own restaurant. With Northern Burgers, Ned's pizza, North Fried Chicken (NFC) and First Men Sandwiches as examples.
Along with this and the opening of the first supermarket under the Jarl. As food became more plentiful from the opening of the sunset sea. The diet of an average Northerner changed as Southern food imports fill the North.
Excerpts from Birth of fast food by Haakon Grey
As the Jarl centralized his lands he slowly strip away the powers of nobles under his control. His own tax collectors gather the taxes, his standing army replaced the levies of old, his growing bureaucracy were sideline the Barons of the Jarldom. They longer had power to trial the small folks or raise levies anymore.
Law enforcement
Punishment of commoners by them was banned and the Jarl declared them not above the new laws and for them to obey the laws like any commoner.
The barons naturally resisted the cut to their ancient rights and powers but with a standing army behind the Jarl they quickly now. Even Lord Stark who was disturbed at what the jarl was doing couldn't do anything to help them.
The Jarl were later integrated them into his government by giving the Barons positions in his administration.
Despite the loss of power, the houses of Barons soon began to grow rich as they invest in trade and collect tolls on trade through their estates.
Excerpts from barons of Gondor by Luke Percy
207 AC report to Lord Stark
Jarldom of Gondor
Capital: Gondor
Population 39,700 with 11,000 in the capital alone
Revenue: estimate at 5,000 gold dragons a year
Debt: none
Ruler: Jarl Harthacnut Knytlinga
Military: Gondor Army
My Lord the upstart's lands are becoming some of the most productive and rich in the North at an alarming rate. Their harvests are bigger than most of North together, finished goods are rolling out of their factories daily, the Jarl's foundries and steelworks are producing large quantities of metal. He also mass producing arms and armor on a scale I never seen.
The Jarl also has an army of a few thousands, well trained and equipped.
He also pass reforms and even stripped his own vassals of several rights. The upstart centralized his fief and is rapidly becoming wealthy… even beginning to match the coffers of House Manderly.
He has established good ties to his neighbors with House Fisher benefiting the most from their relationship.
I fear milord if you don't get the finances of Winterfell in order and copy some of his economic reforms. House Stark will fall behind Gondor and her allies.
Maintaining a permanent military force directly under Winterfell control will also be advised as the Jarl has his own.
Civil war breaks out in the Iron islands!
The islands of Great Wyk, Old Wyk and Orkmont had begun a revolt against Greyjoy rule. While their recent for revolting is unknown at the moment we do know the leader of anti-Greyjoy forces is Arthur Goodbrother of Hammerhorn. Cadet branches of House Goodbrother are following the main branch.
Heavy fighting is reported on the revolting islands with House Farwynd of Great Wyk and Merlyn joining the revolt while House Sparr remaining loyal to the Greyjoy faction. House Orkmont and Tawney had secure the island of Orkmont for the anti-Greyjoy faction with Old Wyk seeing fighting with the rebelling House Drumm against Loyalist House Stonehouse.
The islands of Harlaw, Blacktyde and Saltcliff are staying loyal to Pyke.
The rebels had also won with a naval victory off Great Wyk. More will be reported as we get more information from the Islands later on- Front page of Raven news
So I tried something new this chapter and a time skip of seven has happened. Harthacnut pretty much changed things and settling the foundation for his House to grow on once he is gone. Along with establishing ties to several major families later and hints to the future.
House Stark will be attempting to regain the control they had on the North but currently it's not as firm as thru were like.
Harthacnut also has changed these seven years and it's a mixed bag. Not going to say much but he has been enjoying the perks of being a noble little too much.
House Stark and the North are going to be experiencing a rough 200s as the years come. The Iron islands are currently in a civil war that yes Harthacnut played a big part in causing and going to profit off.
Next chapter is going to be from Lord Goodbrother and Lord Greyjoy povs.