Vig began the council by delivering a summary of the entire war.
He did not blame any of the nobles present. Instead, he placed responsibility squarely on Ubbe, accusing him of betraying Nils for personal ambition and appointing cowardly, incompetent favorites to guard southern Denmark. That decision had allowed the Frankish army to sweep in unchecked, dragging the entire Viking world into turmoil.
"After years of hardship, Denmark is sparsely populated and greatly weakened. If the Franks invade again, everyone here will be forced to help once more. What does the King of Denmark think of this?"
Ubbe was dead, and the throne had passed to his eldest son, Snosa.
The young king and his three younger siblings were currently living in Gothenburg. By mentioning the child king, Vig was in fact addressing the two senior figures acting in his place: Halfdan and Little Erik.
Feeling the weight of the nobles' stares, both men remained silent.
After a long pause, Vig spoke again.
He proposed rebuilding the Danevirke defensive line. Each ruler would contribute manpower and funds to form a permanent garrison army dedicated to defending southern Denmark.
"The defensive line stretches about twenty miles—thirty kilometers. There are three sections suitable for large-scale military deployment. These critical segments total roughly three miles and require at least four thousand soldiers to hold.
"In peacetime, this force will farm and raise livestock on the northern plains to sustain itself. When the Franks attack, they must hold long enough for reinforcements to arrive."
The hall erupted in protest.
The Nordic nobles had already suffered heavy losses in the war and gained little loot. Now they were being asked to invest even more manpower just to maintain defenses. To many of them, it felt like endless expense without reward.
After several minutes of argument, Vig produced a compensation plan.
"The war has shattered the political order of Denmark. Aside from three surviving noble houses—such as those in Esbjerg—most lands now lie vacant. Let us distribute these territories according to wartime merit. The more land you receive, the greater your obligations."
Vig demanded suzerainty over Zealand, making its lord Favell a vassal of Britain. This would give him control of the Øresund Strait, ensuring safe trade routes between Britain, Scandinavia, and Eastern Europe.
He also set his sights on two Baltic islands—Bornholm and Gotland—to serve as staging points for British merchant ships.
Gotland nominally belonged to Sweden. Vig offered Halfdan two knarr ships and one hundred sets of captured armor in exchange for the island.
For over a decade, several settlements on Gotland had never recognized Halfdan's authority anyway. He happily sold the troublesome territory and left Vig to deal with its stubborn inhabitants.
"Fair warning," Halfdan said.
"The Goths on that island are difficult people."
"I understand," Vig replied.
"I'll handle them."
When discussion turned to the remaining Danish lands, enthusiasm remained low.
Northern Denmark was devastated. Central and southern regions had become wastelands. Settling there would require enormous investment of labor and resources—while still exposing settlers to the risk of the next Frankish invasion. The return simply wasn't worth the cost.
After prolonged hesitation:
Halfdan chose Skagen, the northernmost point, close to Gothenburg and easier to manage
Little Erik claimed Funen
Other nobles selected territories for their second sons or illegitimate heirs—but planned to invest minimal resources for now, intending to observe conditions for several years before committing
The next two hours focused on the composition and funding of the garrison army.
Final contributions were agreed upon:
Vig: 30% of total military expenses, plus 300 sets of captured armor
Little Erik: 10% of expenses, plus 300 conscripted farmers
Halfdan: unable to contribute funds, but committed 400 conscripted farmers
At the end of the meeting, Vig drafted a formal agreement. The nobles signed or pressed their seals onto the document.
In the absence of King Snosa, they assumed responsibility for defending Denmark—and divided most of its territory among themselves, leaving the young king with only the battered city of Aalborg.
"Finally finished."
Vig stepped outside the longhouse and took a deep breath of fresh air. After hours inside, the stale atmosphere had dulled his thinking.
Then he noticed an envoy standing nearby—the representative of Louis the Younger.
He walked over.
"Has your king changed his mind?"
The envoy shook his head.
"We cannot provide even a single warhorse. This is not only His Majesty's will—Carloman, Charles the Fat, and Gunnar all share the same position.
"To end this conflict quickly, His Majesty has raised the ransom to 4,500 pounds. That is his final offer. There will be no better terms."
Vig's patience had run out. He accepted.
Over six months of fighting in Denmark—including two major battles and Leif's raid on the enemy supply convoy—he had captured 430 warhorses, enough to offset battlefield losses and those lost during sea transport.
With the matter settled, Vig boarded his flagship and sailed to Bornholm.
After circling the island, the fleet landed at a fishing village on the western coast. Vig dispatched soldiers across the island to formally proclaim his rule.
Bornholm's central and northern regions consisted mostly of hills, while the southern coast featured flatter terrain. The total population was only about 1,800, living by farming, herding, and fishing.
The locals, intimidated by the massive fleet, reluctantly accepted his authority.
Escorted by the royal guard, Vig rode across his new territory. He was particularly struck by the fine white beaches and abundant sunshine along the southern shore.
"Beautiful scenery," he remarked.
"A perfect place for a holiday retreat."
After completing the inspection, Vig sailed north to Gotland.
This island—3,145 square kilometers in area—was roughly five times larger than Bornholm. It supported a population of about 6,000.
According to tradition, centuries earlier, some inhabitants had migrated across the sea to the European mainland and settled along the Danube River.
Over time, those migrant Goths grew powerful and eventually split into two branches:
Visigoths (West Goths)
Ostrogoths (East Goths)
In the 5th century, the Visigoths revolted and famously sacked Rome, later founding a kingdom in southern Gaul and the Iberian Peninsula.
Toward the end of that century, the Ostrogoths conquered Italy and established their own kingdom—the height of Gothic power.
But decades later, the Byzantine emperor sent generals Belisarius and Narses, who destroyed the Ostrogothic kingdom.
Another century passed. Internal strife weakened the Visigothic kingdom. In a desperate power struggle, one faction invited Moorish forces from North Africa to intervene—only to lose control. The Moors seized the opportunity and ultimately destroyed the Visigothic state as well.
After listening to this history, Frode fell into thoughtful silence as he walked beside his father along the shoreline.
After a long pause, Vig pointed north toward the fishing village of Visby and outlined his future plans.
He intended to establish a Baltic Fleet stationed at Visby on Gotland—
to control the Baltic Sea,
to intervene in Scandinavian and Eastern European affairs when necessary,
and to deliver decisive punishment to nobles or tribal leaders who defaulted on debts.
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