Luca Baxt
     

I, the Rom known as Luca Emil Baxt, who was born of the great Nobility of the Roma Court do testify in this document the sordid past which has brought me so far from the homelands of my youth to this new shore.

I am told that I was born in the year 1227 on the outskirts of Kiev. Soon after I began to walk my Clan moved north to the area around Moscow. This was an attempt to put some distance between ourselves and the Mongolian Imperialists who were now roaming into our territories. By the time I had gained 12 years the Mongols had conquered most of southern Russia and were fast taking over the rest of the country.

In 1246 I was travelling through the lands south of Kiev with a few close friends when I happened upon a Catholic friar named Friar John of Pian de Carpine who was on a mission to the East to the court of Guyuk the son of the great Oggedai Khan. When we came upon him he was parting ways with his companion a Bohemian monk called Stephan who could travel no further. I left my friends to travel east and to assist in this great adventure. I didn’t return home until late the next year but when I did I found that my father had died, and my disloyal friends had declared me dead. They claimed that I had drowned in the Volga on that day that I had left them.

At that time I stood up to claim the leadership of my clan from those usurpers (the families of my former friends). Unfortunately they had time to prepare themselves, and by that time they had convinced everyone including themselves that I was dead. After being away adventuring in the Orient I had changed enough in appearance and in bearing that truly it was little surprise that I was not recognized.

Having already travelled extensively to the South and East I now turned my eyes to the Northwest. Here I met up with some Varangian travelling to Denmark and beyond.

(Years later)

Almost 20 years have passed since I was robbed of my birthright. I find myself having travelled the world over and having met several very interesting personages. I still travel with those of my adopted western homeland, though I do on occasion make a voyage to the East… sometimes as far the courts of the great Khans. I have made my own fortune though I do still miss being among my brethren the Rom.

Map of 13th Century Europe

Copyright 2009 Luca Baxt/John Land, map is open domain.