| Brynja II | |
|---|---|
| |
| Brynja II | |
| Queen of Álengiamark | |
| Reign | 13th May, 1591 - 7th March, 1632 |
| Predecessor | Thorey IV |
| Successor | Elin VI |
| Born | 13th? November, 1574 Gránhorn, Nanticokeland Fylk, Álengiamark |
| Died | 7th March, 1632 Norsjóvath, Nanticokeland Álengiamark |
| Spouse | Guðni Sverrirsson |
| Full name | |
| Brynja Grétarsdottír | |
| House | Eiriksdottír |
| Father | Grétar Þórarinnsson |
| Mother | Hrafnhildur Jóhannsdottír |
Brynja II was queen of Álengiamark for over forty years during the late 16th/early 17th centuries. The Álengsk crown at this point in time was merely a title and 'not worth the gold it was made from'. It is probably emblematic of the state of the crown that Brynja never left Nanticokeland during the entirety of her reign. In fact she is only recorded having left her family's earldom once; to visit her predecessor's court in Atsayonmark in 1589.
The Queen did squeeze certain privelages from the incoherent state though. A petition to the new Mayor of the Palace, Óskar Þórðursson (who was not of the same calibre of administrators who preceeded, or indeed followed him) managed to ensure a yearly pension was granted without much thought, allowing Brynja to assume the trappings of royalty without the power to go with it. The granting of a pension set a precedent for future queens until Herridr I's comprehensive reorganisation of the country.
For much of her reign Álengiamark was peaceful and prosperous. Co-operation with the Iberian naval powers allowed Álengsk merchants access to the markets Portugal and Leon were busy carving out in Tawantinland and Africa but disorganisation prevented the merchants from really making any headway of their own. Nahigavik and Kristjanaborg were much better harbours than Vinland's Fjallasay when it came to oceanic trade but the severe division of Álengiamark prevented any meaningful trade policy to emerge and hence Vinland continued to dominate Leifian trade routes. Internal conflict mainly revolved around the continuing reconversion of Quiripiland to Catholicism. This was of course driven by the church and the mayors of the independent cities. Mostly Álengiamark vented its frustrations elsewhere as its earls found a ready supply of work defending the tribal nations west of the Mississippi from Mexic raids.
Brynja's reign was of course overshadowed by the First Mexic-Leifian War (1622-1632). Mexica quickly overran Leifia west of the Mississippi whilst a grand coalition of Eastern Leifian states opposed them, rebuffing attacks across the river and shutting down attempts to circumvent it. Álengsk forces usually operated alongside a general alliance of the other Catholic nations and Aniyunwiya, in direct opposition to the Vinlandic force which operated with the Lutheran nations. In general, command of this coalition was given to the Álengsk-Aniyunwiyan lord Franchim Lapawinsson, an appointment which annoyed the Álengsk lords but was accepted seeing as for the most part the coalition was operating on Aniyunwiyan soil. The Álengsk forces, armed with the latest European tactics and armaments accquitted themselves well. Indeed, after the core of the Vinlandic army was destroyed vanquishing the Mexic army at Kahoka in July 1623, Álengiamark effectively became Leifia's premier military power. Álengsk diplomacy was instrumental in convincing Portugal to join the war too and Portuguese naval power ensured the Gulf and the Mississippi River remained firmly in the coalition's grasp.
All this of course had nothing to do with Brynja or her impotent attempts to direct policy. During the war years the Althing operated more or less on the say-so of Steinar Ingisson, Lord of Reyrvatnstadh and Reynir Óskarsson, the new Mayor of the Palace (and much more politically astute than his father). In peace-time it had barely met at all. Óskarsson's cajoling of the Althing would in time reinvigorate the chamber but for the moment it maintained Álengiamark's ability to supply arms and men to the war, as well as deal with the economic fallout of war.
Brynja died in 1632. She would be succeeded by Elin of Langaeyjar who, whilst equally as politically impotent, was at least engaged with the day to day fabric of Álengsk society.
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