A King is Crowned!

It is a momentous day.

All that I have worked toward in the court of my father has come to fruition. He was a good man, and did much for our people, bringing them peace, prosperity, and the beginnings of expansion. It was he who sent me north to found the city of Prague, by the shores of Lake Macha, or as they call it in the local dialect, Máchovo jezero. I have learned but a few words in their tongue, but no matter - they will soon be learning Carolingian as well. Now that my brother Carloman has passed, they will remember our father for one thing - that Pippin "the Short" was MY father.

As I ascend the highest hill in my capital of Aachen, the sun strikes the jewelled crown of my mother Bertrada. She has never been the same since father died, but she did do her best to keep peace between me and Carloman, even through the episode of my marriage and subsequent divorce from Desiderata of Lombardy. And while she doesn't approve of my new wife Hildegard - so what if she is only 14 now? - she does look proud to see her son's coronation today.

Speaking of Hildegard, she really does look lovely today - waiting for me in the first row of the chapel at the summit. All decked out in the latest Frankish fashions, as is her wont. She even convinced me to wear more jewels than I otherwise would - I find these ceremonial clothes so contrived and constraining. Give me a good blue cloak and our simple linen garb any day - much better for waging war. But today I have my gold sword and all the finery, and it IS fitting.

Our priests are a disorganized lot, but I have been able to whip them into shape - they even cleaned up today for my special occasion. Today, I am a King. And they will ordain me with the traditional rights fitting to one of my station.

But this is just a stepping stone. My vision is so much bigger. All the lands up to the Baltic sea - through the Saxon forests, the Frankish jungles of the south, and beyond the hills - they will be ours. My people are destined to rule over these lands and more - and I will be the one who takes them there.

And in a dream, I saw a much grander coronation in a far away land, in a massive stone structure the likes of which I have never seen. And the highest of the high priests of some foreign religion will once again crown me, but that time, as Emperor.

As I take Queen Hildegard's Hand and descend to the palace, the Carolingian dynasty has begun, and after a night of attempts to extend the dynasty I will send for my scouting parties to start their forays into new lands. If they can find one to settle a new community, they will have my blessing.

There is much work to be done, tonight, and in many years to come.