Bistum Greifenhausen

Bistum Greifenhausen is a theocratic dictatorshipin eastern Hasperia. Greifenhausen was founded by the survivors of an expedition of refugees led by The Blue Griffons, a order seeking the holy land in the far east. A divine storm led them to crash into the eastern coast of Morgenland. The leader Balthasar I decided that it was God's will, and it was widely accepted among the expeditions members that they had indeed found the holy land. Here they founded Greifenhausen, home to the holiest site of the Balthasarian Church.

History of Greifenhausen

Reign of Balthasar I

The founding of Greifenhausen and the exodus by the first Balthasarians from Faendal.

The history of Greifenhausen, Schonen and the Balthasarian church begins with the first Balthasar. He was born as a commoner in Ordensburg, Faendal. Few details are known from the time before the exodus to the holy land. Known is that Balthasar was a talented preacher and gained a modest following of people in the city. Religious persecution in the zeloustown forced Balthasar and his followers to leave Ordensburg, Faendal. They set sail with three merchant ships, Greif, Geld and Henrietta, towards Vineta, Lonian League. During the voyage, Balthasar had a dream in which god ordered him to sail beyond the lands of the Lonian League. The first believers sailed further east, to what Balthasar called Gods land. There they would prosper and all be near God. The ships was struck by a grand storm east of what is now the coast of Schonen. This Balthasar took as a sign that God had chosen this land for the Balthasarians. Balthasar lead his people inland and founded the holy city of Greifenhausen.

During his reign the new city took form and Balthasar styled himself Bishop of Greifenhausen. The Lonian League built the great Morgenland Valley road during this time.

Ends with Balthasars death at Bad Erquell, Silvetia.

Reign of Balthasar II

Balthasar II was the successor of Balthasar I, after his death in Silvetia. Not much happened during his reign and few documents exist from this period. Wieck is said to have been established, but documents suggest that this first happened during the reign of Balthasar III.

What we know is that Balthasar II followed in the footsteps of Balthasar I and died during a visit to Dal, Dal. The locals of this mountain kingdom took this as a sign and now follow a perverted version of the Balthasarian faith. They belive that Balthasar II was the chosen one and that during the reign of Balthasar IIIIIII the world will reform and only Dal will stand after Gods wrathful purge.

Ends with Balthasars death at Dal, Dal.

Reign of Balthasar III

During the reign of Balthasar III its said that the harbour at Wieck was built. The reign saw movement of people west of the river Aader and south towards the river Himm. The time period was peaceful and not much of note happened. It ended when Balthasar III during a travel had to stay overnight at a farmers house. The farmer, who was a heretic, planned to murder Balthasar III during the night. Accounts from the night tell of a large flare across the night sky and how the fields lit up as it were day. When day came, people tell of how the farm was replaced with an enormus rock. Historian Dieter Ordensburger tell of how the people on the southern side of the large rock found a cave. In the cave Balthasar IIIs skull was burning with holy fire. Ordenburger tell that the people could hear God,he told them of the farmers betrayal.

Ends with an event known as "Gods Gift". This event leads to the monastery of Balthasars Rock being built and the death of Balthasar III at Balthasars Rock, Greifenhausen.

Reign of Balthasar IIII

Balthasar IIII ordered that the monastery of Balthasars Rock should be built a top of the rock. To reach the top, the pious would need to walk the neverending stair. At the very top they could then taste the holiest and purest of snow. Balthasar spent his reign with visiting the farmers of the land.

Ends with Balthasars sudden death on the west bank of the Aader, now the village of Kirchdorf.

Reign of Balthasar IIIII

Balthasar IIIII built a grand palace in Greifenhausen, much to the anger of the people. It said that Balthasar IIIII was a greedy and ambitious man. He saw the foundation of Kapellenburg and westward expansion of Greifenhausen. This led to an elevation of the Greifenhausen Bishop to Archbishop. Accounts from the era tell that God indirectly punished Balthasar IIIII by sanctifing the ground of Kapellenburg by killing the Archbishop. More neutral accounts suggest that sickness might have been the cause of his sudden demise.

Ends with Balthasars sanctification of Kapellenburg.

Reign of Balthasar IIIIII

Balthasar IIIIII, more commonly known as Balthasar the Wallbuilder, saw the foundation of Baldisruh to the south where the river Himm begins it life. The Silvetian Freedom war also happened during his reign, during which elite soldiers from the order of The Blue Griffons were sent to Bad Erzquell to protect the holy remains of Balthasar I. The remains were temporarily moved to Baldisruh and gave the, by Greifenhausian standards, magnificient castle and town its name.

Balthasar the Wallbuilder also saw the first and second expansion of the town of Greifenhausen. He also ordered the settlement of the plains between Aader and Himm to the southwest. Lesser known is his work with fortifying the western border.

Ends with Balthasars sanctification of Garantinople.