In the 3rd and 4th centuries AD, the Germanic tribes of Central Europe often broke through the borders of the Roman Empire and marched straight into Rome to raid the local people. By the 8th century AD, retribution had finally arrived, and it was the turn of the Germanic people themselves to be "plundered". They hated it, but the robbers from the sea were their close cousins, the Scandinavians who lived in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.

When these industrious Nordic sailors tasted the sweetness of robbery and the joy of pirate life, Pandora's box was opened, and no one could stop them. They often landed suddenly in a small Frankish or Frisian village near the river, and the plague gods descended from heaven, broke the peace, killed all the men, plundered the women, and then galloped away. By the time the king's army arrived at the scene, the robbers had already flown away, and saw only piles of smoke-emitting ruins.

In the chaotic years following Charlemagne's death, Vikings became more frequent and more aggressive. Their pirate fleets patronized all the coastal nations of Europe, and their sailors built a series of small independent states along the coasts of the Netherlands, France, England, and Germany. They even sailed to Italy to try their luck. These Norsemen are exceptionally intelligent. They soon learned to speak the language of the conquered peoples, abandoning the uncivilized customs of the early Vikings (who were also pirates) who were dirty and brutal in appearance.

In the early 10th century, a Viking named Rollo repeatedly invaded the French coast. The king of France at that time was cowardly and incompetent and could not defend himself against these fierce robbers from the north. So, he came up with a way to bribe them to "be good citizens". He promised to give them Normandy if they promised not to harass the rest of his possessions again. Rollo agreed to the deal and settled down as the "Grand Duke of Normandy".

However, Rollo's passion for conquest continued into the blood of his children and grandchildren. Facing the narrow Channel, less than an hour's sail away, was the white rock walls and turquoise fields of the English coast as far as they could see. How many difficult years poor England has gone through! It was first a colony of the Roman Empire for 200 years. After the Romans left, it was conquered by two Germanic tribes, the Anglos and the Saxons, from Schleswig in northern Europe. Subsequently, the Danes came across the sea and conquered most of England and established the Kingdom of Cnut. By the 11th century, after a long struggle, the Danes were finally driven out, and a Saxon became king, who was called Edward the Confessor. He was in poor health, did not seem to have long to live, and had no descendants to inherit the throne. Such a situation was of course very favorable to the ambitious Normandy Grand Duke Rollo, who was bleeding pirate blood, and he quietly gathered his strength and waited for the opportunity to attack.

In 1066, Edward died, and the throne of England was succeeded by Harold, Prince of Wessex. The Archduke of Normandy led his army across the sea and began the war of conquest of England. He defeated Harold at the Battle of Hastings and proclaimed himself king of England.

Previously, in 800 AD, a Germanic chieftain had become a great Roman emperor. Now, in 1085, nine years ago, the son of a Viking was recognized as King of England. Facts and events in history are so interesting that they are far better than absurd myths.

Now, let's talk about the general situation in Europe. Most Europeans today live a miserable life, with business in ruins, agriculture in ruins, and prophecies circulating about the imminent end of the world. People were terrified and flocked to the monastery to become monks. For the safest way to meet the Last Judgment is, of course, to serve God faithfully when the time comes.

In a very distant time, the Germanic tribes left the mountains of Central Asia and migrated westward. With their numbers, they forced their way through the doors of the Roman Empire, advancing with impunity, destroying the vast Western Roman Empire. The Eastern Romans were able to survive the rabbits because they were far away from the great migration of the Germanic peoples. However, it was only in the turbulent years after the fall of Western Rome (the sixth and seventh centuries were the real dark ages in European history) that the Germanic people were patiently taught by the missionaries to convert to Christianity and recognize the Bishop of Rome as the Pope, the spiritual leader of the world. By the 9th century, Charlemagne, with his great personal talent, revived the glorious traditions of the Roman Empire and incorporated much of Western Europe into a unified state. By the 10th century, however, the painstakingly organized empire had collapsed in the struggle for power of Charlemagne's descendants. The western half of it became a separate kingdom - France, and the eastern half of it was called the Holy Roman Empire of the Germanic peoples, and the rulers of the countries within its territory claimed to be the direct heirs of Caesar and Augustus in order to gain rightful dominance.

Unfortunately, however, the power of the kings of France never extended beyond the castles of their royal residences, and the emperors of the Holy Roman Empire were often openly challenged by powerful vassals for their own benefit. Their titles are all in name only.

To add insult to the suffering of the people, the Western European triangle has been challenged by vicious enemies from three directions: to the south are the dangerous Muhammads, who occupy Spain; The West Coast was often harassed by Vikings; To the east, with the exception of a small stretch of the Carpathian Mountains, which could hold back the invaders' horses, the military defences were useless and left to the ravages of the Huns, Hungarians, Slavs, and Tatars.

The image of the Roman era has become a distant past, and people can only recall in their dreams about the "good days" from which they will never return. Now the situation facing Europe is, "fight or die"! Naturally, people prefer to take up arms. Due to environmental persecution, post-1000 AD Europe became a barracks of people shouting for strong leaders. But the king and the emperor were too far away to solve the urgent need. The inhabitants of the frontier (in fact, most of Europe in 1000 AD) had to save themselves, and they willingly obeyed the king's representatives, the governors he had appointed to administer the region, and only they had the ability to protect their subjects from foreign enemies.

Soon, central Europe was dotted with large and small principalities and princely states, each ruled by a duke, count, baron, or bishop, depending on the situation. These dukes, counts, and barons all swore allegiance to the king of the "feudal" (feudum), which is also the origin of the word feudal, and returned the king's fiefdom by serving faithfully in times of war and paying taxes in peacetime. However, in those days of inaccessible transportation and poor communication, it was difficult for the authority of the emperor and the king to reach all corners of their possessions quickly, so these administrators appointed by His Majesty enjoyed a great degree of independence. In fact, they usurped most of the power that belonged to the king in the lands that belonged to them.

As a former Jianghu woman, Hu Xi has a strong sense of observation and adaptability. In fact, for the Eastern Roman Empire, the original island was also a remote and barbaric place far from the center of the empire, and it was very likely to be robbed by the descendants of the Vikings. It is a place of sunshine and smiles, but due to its special location, it has been a battleground for fleets in the Mediterranean since ancient times. 2,000 years ago, the island's natives were defeated by the Greeks, conquered by countries such as Egypt and Persia, and Cyprus was incorporated into the Roman Empire after the Roman Empire became stronger. After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, Cyprus first belonged to Byzantium and now to Queen Ruth, who was loyal to the Eastern Roman Byzantine Empire in contrast to the surrounding polities. But the empire can only rely on it, not shelter.

Now, Huxi wants to build a peaceful homeland, and in order to prevent theft, it is impossible to fence an island with the Great Wall; In addition, we cannot refuse commercial and trade exchanges and impose a sea ban. Here, the Chinese manor is too little defensive; Here, China's walls are too big to be built. Thousands of miles away, Wang Mumu told her the concept of a castle, a strong castle pirate could not break through, and it was enough to take care of herself and the acquaintances around her. Wang Mumu also drew a few drawings for Huxi, and named these designs Edinburgh Castle, Lissals Castle, Hohenzollern Castle, Chambord Castle, Swan Castle, Amboise Castle, Larnaca Castle, Limassol Castle, Kyrenia Ancient Castle, Paphos Castle, which are some standing on the top of the rock, overlooking the flat ground, spectacular beauty, noble and luxurious, pointed to the blue sky, solid and heavy, the closest to a fairy tale.

The island now has cement and craftsmen transferred from Cochin, so under the supervision of Huxi, a series of majestic castles have been erected, and most of the newly built castles on the island are on the mountains or facing the sea behind the mountains. The castle's walls are as high as a dozen storeys and most of them are located on major sea routes, so it is also an important supply station for passing ships. Moreover, the newly built castle is not only near the sea, but also backs the mountain, which is easy to defend and difficult to attack. Behind the hill is a vast plain, where there is no danger to defend, and it is all up to the castle.

Although in Wang Mumu's view, Huxi was exporting the things of the Spring and Autumn Warring States that have now turned the pages in Chinese mainland, which is a complete feudal system, but it is clear that this was a very necessary and effective form of government in the local area at that time. We, the lords of the westward islands, can live in tall and sturdy stone castles perched on steep rock walls or surrounded by deep moats. The castle was located in a place where the fiefdom dependents could see, giving them a great sense of security and confidence at all times. When danger came, subjects could take refuge within the strong walls of the lord's castle. This is why the inhabitants always choose to live as close to the castle as possible, and most European cities originated close to the feudal castle for the same reason.

Okay, let's talk about Huxi's hardware construction on the island, and then let's talk about the software construction of Huxi on the island.

Now, the most reliable force in Hu Xi's hands is the 2,000 women's army and 4,000 grenadiers brought by Hu Dong at that time, as well as 230 air forces, 100 navy, and 20 management personnel, a total of 6,350 people. But these people are just like themselves, here, there is a language barrier. Huxi positioned them as the pillars of the national defense force, the field army, and the country, and they were low-key in peacetime, and they did not have to show off the mountains and rivers. The police force is the former black cat corps of the black cat sergeant Weiwei cat and black spider Iijima Ai are respectively the chief and deputy chief of the police department, because Hu Xi is not very clear about the concept of "police", thinking, I can't think of myself as dim, I want people to show it, so, after drawing up a draft and sending it to Wang Mumu for approval, she created a police title system on the island. Police personnel who have passed the training and assessment standards are awarded the title of "knight", and this "knight" is also awarded as a title to military personnel and other government workers. Hu Xi pointed out to the "knights" on the island that we knights are not only professional policemen in the peacekeeping society, a people's soldier who defends the homeland and the country, but also a civil servant of the times. You will serve as judges in the community, adjudicating criminal cases, and dealing with civil disputes. You are the head of the police in charge of law and order, arresting thieves and protecting the wandering hawkers. You also have to take care of the dams and maintain the public facilities. You are to sponsor troubadours who go from village to village and let them recite to the illiterate inhabitants in praise of the virtues of our new government. In addition, you must protect the compulsory education system, the military service law, the marriage law, the state of fiscal and tax expenditures, and the marriage, death, birth, and population migration in the corresponding areas.

This "knight" of Huxi and the "chivalry" that followed it led to the emergence of a kind of mutual support and common interests on the island, so as to closely unite and cooperate. This system and spirit provided the chaotic society of the time with something that was so much needed - a set of clear rules of conduct. It somewhat softened the barbaric customs of the era, making life slightly easier and more refined than the Dark Ages that preceded it.

However, it is not easy to educate the rough islanders. The Cypriots spent most of their time fighting against the Muslims, the Huns, or the Vikings. As Christians, they are also to repent of their depravity, and they swear every morning to goodness, promising God to act benevolently and forgiving. But before the sun could set, they put their promise behind them and killed all the intruders and captives in one fell swoop. The implementation of the knightly system in Huxi was slow but unremitting. Finally, in this vast ocean, a criterion for adapting measures to local conditions has been solidified.

These chivalric codes or chivalry vary from stage to stage in their birth and development, but they all emphasize "service" and "devotion to duty". On the island, "service" is regarded as a very noble and beautiful virtue. There is nothing disgraceful about being a servant, as long as you are a good servant who is diligent and unrelenting in your work. As for loyalty, in an age where many duties must be faithfully performed in order to maintain a normal life, it certainly becomes the most important virtue of knights.

Therefore, a young knight will swear that he will always be a faithful servant of the Mumu Group, and at the same time will serve his Queen Ruth faithfully throughout his life. In addition, he promised to give generously to those who were poorer than himself. He vowed to behave modestly, speak appropriately, and never boast of his exploits. He will be friends with all the suffering masses, with the exception of those who harm the interests of the island, who are the sinister enemies he should kill at first sight.

Around the above basic spirit, the knights also developed a complex set of etiquette regarding manners and manners. The Knights of the Sycault strive to adopt the requirements of Harvard University as their own code of conduct. , as the troubadours of the island and the storytellers of the hotel teahouse recount. These knights expected themselves to be as smart, brave, kind, wise, loyal, humble, and urbane as Queen Ruth. No matter how simple or even ragged his clothes are, whether he is shy or not, and his stomach is empty, he always has a dignified attitude, elegant speech, restrained behavior, good work, enthusiastic service, and maintains the reputation of a knight.

At that time, Harvard University's Sycault University was transformed into a great school for the cultivation of a knightly order of grace, and politeness was the lubricant that kept the social machine functioning. Chivalry means being humble and courteous, showing the world how to dress, how to dine elegantly, how to politely invite ladies to dance, and hundreds of other etiquettes of everyday life. These things all help to make life more interesting and pleasant......

In the current Sai Island, Hu Xi, the founder of the new knightly title on the island, became the head of the Sai Island Knights and the first grand knight.

In the present medieval island, in fact, ordinary people live a simple life, and few special things happen in the ordinary years. Even if he is a free citizen, he can come and go as he pleases, and he rarely lives beyond the neighborhood where he lives. Of course, there are very few books to read, and apart from a small number of manuscripts circulating in a very small area, there are no printed books at all. Everywhere, there are always small groups of diligent monks who teach people to read, write, and learn simple arithmetic. As for science, history, and geography, they have long since been buried under the ruins of ancient Greece and Rome, and they have long since disappeared into oblivion.

Much of what people know about a bygone era comes from the stories and legends they hear about every day. The current Cypriots have never read a single textbook on Roman history. In fact, they appear so ignorant about many things that they do not even have the minimum knowledge that future generations of third-graders should know. But for the Roman Empire, it seems to modern readers to be an empty term, but to them it is a living reality. They feel its presence with their skin and mind. They willingly acknowledged the Pope as their spiritual leader, because the Pope lived in the city of Rome and represented the great idea of the Roman Empire. When Charlemagne and later Otto the Great revived the dream of a "world empire" and created the Holy Roman Empire, people felt joy and gratitude because they thought the world was supposed to be like this.

However, the fact that there were two different heirs to the Roman tradition pushed the now devout and obedient Cypriots into an awkward dilemma. The theory that underpinned the political system of the Middle Ages was clear and simple, that is, the rulers of the secular world (the emperor) were responsible for the material interests of their subjects, while the rulers of the spiritual world (the pope) were responsible for their souls.

However, when it comes to practical implementation, the system has exposed many insurmountable problems. The emperor always tried to meddle in the affairs of the church, and the pope constantly instructed the emperor on how to run his country. Then, they began to use very rude language to warn each other not to meddle. In this way, the two sides will inevitably have to fight.

What can ordinary people do in such a situation? A good Christian is one who is both loyal to the pope and obedient to the king. But the Pope and the Emperor became enemies. As a responsible citizen and a devout believer, which side should he be on?

It's hard to give the right answer. Sometimes, the emperor happened to be an energetic political strongman with plenty of money to organize a powerful army, and he could have crossed the Alps to march on Rome, encircling the papal palace and finally forcing His Majesty to obey the instructions of the empire, or else suffer the consequences.

But more often than not, the pope is stronger. Thus, the emperor or king who dared to disobey the will of the church, along with all his innocent citizens, would be excommunicated and excommunicated. This meant that all churches in the territory would be closed, no one could be baptized, no priest would give a dying confession to the dying, and hell would be a given. In a word, half of the functions of the government in the Middle Ages were abolished.

To make matters worse, the pope also exempted people from the oath of allegiance to their monarch, encouraging them to rise up against their "apostate" masters. But if people really follow the instructions of His Holiness the Pope and are caught by the king nearby, they will be gallows waiting for them. It's not something to be played around with, either.

In fact, as soon as the confrontation between the pope and the emperor takes place, the situation for ordinary people will become quite difficult. And the most unfortunate were those who lived in the second half of the 11th century AD. King Henry IV of Germany and Pope Gregory VII fought two deadly battles, which did not solve any problems and plunged Europe into chaos for 50 years.

In the mid-11th century, there was a fierce reform movement within the church. At that time, the way in which the pope was elected was still very irregular. For the Holy Roman Emperor, of course, he wanted to send a clergyman who was easy to get along with and had a good impression of the Empire to the throne of the Holy See. Therefore, whenever the pope was elected, the emperors always came to Rome in person and used their influence to benefit their friends.

In 1059, by order of Pope Nicholas II, a College of Cardinals was formed, composed of bishops and deacons from the dioceses of Rome. This group of high-profile church leaders was given the absolute power to elect the future pope.

In 1073, the Cardinal Conference elected a new Pope, Gregory VII. Born Hilbrand, he was born into a very ordinary family in the Tuscany region. He has extraordinary ambition and exuberant energy. Gregory was convinced that the transcendent power of the pope should be built on the solidity of conviction and courage as granite. In his view, the Pope should not only be the absolute head of the Christian Church, but also the supreme appellate judge in all secular matters. Since the Pope could elevate ordinary Germanic princes to the high position of emperor and enjoy dignity they never dreamed of, he certainly had the right to depose them at will. He could veto any law made by a duke, king, or emperor, but if anyone dared to hold a papal edict to chance, he had to be careful, for the punishment that would follow would be swift and merciless.

Gregory sent ambassadors to all the courts of Europe to inform the monarchs of his new decree and to ask them to pay due attention to its contents. William the Conqueror promised to be obedient. But Henry IV, who had been fighting with his vassals since he was 6 years old, was a rebellious man by nature, and he had no intention of bending to bend to the will of the Pope. Henry convened a synod of bishops of the diocese of Germany, accused Gregory of all the crimes under the sun, and finally deposed the pope in the name of the Synod of Worms.

Gregory's response was to excommunicate Henry IV and call on the German princes to expel the immoral and unworthy king. The Germanic aristocracy, who were happy to get rid of Henry and replace him, demanded that the Pope himself come to Augsburg to choose a new king for them.

Gregory left Rome and went north to punish his opponents. Henry IV was certainly not an idiot, and he knew his prospect precarious. At this moment, the king's only way out is to make peace with the pope at all costs. It was a harsh winter, and Henry hurried across the Alps to Canossa Castle, where the Pope had stopped for a short rest. For three days, from 25 to 28 January 1077, Henry pretended to be a devout repentant and dressed in tattered monk's clothes (but with a warm sweater hidden under the rags) and waited respectfully at the gates of the castle, asking for forgiveness from His Majesty the Pope. Three days later, Gregory finally allowed him to enter the castle and pardoned him personally.

But Henry's confession didn't last long. When the crisis of dethronement passed and he returned to Germany safely, he reverted to his old ways and continued to do his own thing. The Pope again excommunicated Henry, who again convened a meeting of the German Bishops' Conference and deposed Gregory. This time, however, when Henry had gone through the Alps with all his might, he had led with a large army. The Germanic army besieged the city of Rome, and Gregory was forced to abdicate and eventually die in the penal colony of Salerno. The first bloody conflict between the pope and the king failed to resolve anything. As soon as Henry returned to Germany, the battle between them began.

In this atmosphere of theocratic chaos throughout Europe, the independence of the island of Cyprus has laid down a heavy burden on the minds of the ordinary freemen. They only need to take care of the one-third of an acre of land in front of them, and the run-in of other superstructures is the responsibility of the wise Queen Ruth and her custodian. Who called her the head of the Knights of the Sai Island and the number one knight of the island?