Kriegsritter Johannes Braun – Imperial Knight
Copyright© 2026 by Vonalt
Chapter 15: Castle Dole in the County of Burgundy
The journey from Aachen to Dole, the center of government in the County of Burgundy, took them seventeen days to complete. By then, Johannes and his men had become seasoned travelers through their journeys between Aachen, Rome, and Paris. Johannes and the Frangipani shared their experiences with the new retainers, for whom the journey was an entirely new experience. Long hours were spent in the saddle, while the nights were spent camping in the forested lands alongside the road, staying at the estates of lords loyal to the Emperor, or lodging at bishoprics hoping to impress the Imperial Protector of His Holiness, Pope Adrian IV.
As he had been told at court in Aachen, the ancient town of Dole was located upon limestone cliffs alongside the Doubs River. On the opposite bank of the river lay the territory of the Kingdom of France, while on this side lay the newly acquired territory of the Holy Roman Empire—the lands known as the County of Burgundy.
The town itself was a fortified community built upon a limestone hill overlooking the river. It was easily defended and offered excellent protection of the river crossing and the trade routes that connected the western kingdoms with the Alps, the northern Italian lands, and the Rhine Valley. These trade routes carried salt, wine, and other valuable goods.
Once they arrived, Johannes could immediately see why this land was so highly contested. From the castle on the limestone hill, river traffic could be secured and control over the region maintained. The town’s strategic location would make it a center of commerce, not to mention an important hub for the salt trade from the nearby salt mines. The taxes and tolls the town could generate would greatly increase the treasury of whichever ruler controlled it, while also enriching the person placed in charge. Johannes realized that he was soon going to become a wealthy man, provided he did what the Emperor requested.
After making his first assessment, Johannes ordered his men to secure the castle and remove any squatters from the grounds. He had been right; there were indeed squatters living in the castle—locals who believed they were entitled to reside there. After all, Countess Beatrice had left the castle to live at the Imperial Palace in Aachen.
It took the threat of the sword point and the promise of twenty lashes with the whip to induce them to move on. The castle was a strategic marvel, but the locals had treated it more like a stable than a fortress. It would need a thorough cleaning before it could be properly occupied.
As the bailli, Johannes could have ordered the townspeople to clean the castle, but instead, he offered them a reasonable wage for their labor. By willingly paying them for their work, Johannes gained two things. First, he earned a reputation as a lord who paid those willing to work. Second, he gained the respect of the locals by demonstrating that, as an official, he would treat them with respect and fairness.
Johannes was surprised by the thoroughness of the cleaning the castle received. The rugs and textiles hanging from the walls were taken outside, swept, and beaten to remove the dirt and dust. They were then left to hang in the sun, giving them a fresh smell. The stone floors were swept and scrubbed to remove the dirt that had accumulated. The hearths were swept, and the buildup of smoky deposits was scraped from the hearths. The bedding was removed from the castle. The ticking was smoked to remove any bugs and then restuffed with fresh straw. By the time the locals had finished, they had earned the wages Johannes was willing to pay them—and, more importantly, the respect of their new lord.
The men-at-arms had established regular patrols throughout the county. Johannes wanted those who lived under his authority to feel safe and not fear that the bailli would fail to take his responsibilities seriously. He also wanted those traveling through the County of Burgundy to do so safely, without having to worry about bandits and brigands. In return for their safety, they paid a reasonable toll for traveling on secure roads, as well as a fair tariff on wine, salt, and other goods that passed through the county under the protection of his patrols.
Johannes and his men-at-arms weren’t the only ones keeping busy. Father Denis took charge of the local church after removing the lazy drunkard who had claimed to be the community’s priest. He once again held Mass on a regular schedule, heard confessions twice a week, and visited the sick in the community. When possible, he secured food and aid for those unable to care for themselves, often with the help of Johannes.
Within a month of arriving in Dole, Johannes had the walled town operating as a proper hub of commerce. Even those who traveled the county roads found little to complain about. It was at this time that Johannes received two missives: one from Louis, King of France, and the other from Rome.
The letter from Louis acknowledged Johannes as the bailli of the County of Burgundy and informed him that he could expect an official visit from a representative of the French court. The second letter, from Oddone Frangipani, had been sent to him at the Emperor’s court and then redirected to Dole. In his letter to Johannes, Oddone expressed of how much he missed both Johannes and Marcus, while also delivering a warning: Pope Adrian had formed an alliance with the Byzantine Emperor, Manuel I Komnenos, in a plot to drive William I of Sicily from the Italian peninsula.
Adrian intended to establish two lords loyal to him in the territory, while Manuel I was maneuvering to extend Byzantine influence over the southern part of the peninsula.
Uncertain whether Emperor Frederick was aware of this intelligence, Johannes quickly composed a missive of his own to the Emperor, advising him that Louis was warming to Johannes and that Pope Adrian IV had conspired with an enemy of the Holy Roman Empire in an attempt to secure control of the southern part of the Italian peninsula.
Once the letter was written, Johannes folded it and sealed it inside a waxed linen envelope. He then dispatched the missive to the Imperial Court with one of the Aachen men-at-arms, who had volunteered to deliver it personally to Emperor Frederick.
Johannes and his retainers had now been in Dole for several months, and Johannes had established a regular schedule for conducting the affairs of the county.
Monday was the day he met with Marcus, Father Denis, and the local town leaders to hear about issues concerning the town. They would discuss each matter and then work together to find a solution.
Tuesday was reserved for representatives from communities throughout the county to come to the castle and present any issues concerning their towns or villages. As with the local town leaders, Johannes would listen to their concerns before deciding how best to address them.
Wednesday was court day. Any criminal activity would be brought before Johannes for judgment and punishment. Serious crimes were rare, with most cases involving petty offenses for which Johannes would impose small fines or, when necessary, floggings. Civil cases were handled in the afternoon. Johannes would hear the arguments of both parties and attempt to reach a fair judgment.
Thursday was reserved for official Imperial business. Whether it was a request from the Imperial Court, a report that needed to be submitted, or some other matter requiring his attention, Johannes set aside Thursdays for his official Imperial duties.
Friday was devoted to church-related matters. Johannes and Father Denis would discuss tithes and whatg was needed to maintain the local church. It was also the day Johannes could travel to Besançon when he needed to meet with Archbishop Humbert. When he made the journey, Johannes would stay overnight at the Archbishop’s estate before returning to Dole Castle the following day. He was always accompanied by Marcus and several of his most trusted Frangipani retainers.
While on the road, he was always conscious of the threat that someone might attempt to harm him. The warnings he had received in Rome, followed by those at the Court of Frederick, remained fresh in his mind. The threatening manner of Henry, Duke of Bavaria, at court had convinced Johannes that there were of evil behind those threats. He wasn’t about to risk some mercenary getting lucky and putting an arrow between his ribs.
Sunday came, there would be church and the week would reset and begin again. The routine was predictable. Administering the county was boring, though every so often, something would occur that disrupted the routine Johannes had established.
The French delegation had finally arrived. It consisted of a Count DuBois, Sir Pequinot, and his old trusted friend from the French Court, Count Thierry. Greeting each in the traditional Frencg manner, Johannes was surprised when Thierry whispered in his ear, “Remember my warning about the French Court.”
The French delegation of Count DuBois and Sir Pequinot spent several days trying to persuade Johannes to switch his loyalties to the French King. They argued that an alliance with the French Crown would assure him of an aristocratic title, perhaps as a count or even a duke. Combined with his title as Protector of the Holy See, such a position would grant him additional status at the court of King Louis. His experience and knowledge of Rome and its politics would also make him a valuable and influential figure at the French court.
In the end, Johannes thanked them for the offer from the French court but declined. He explained that his loyalties lay with Emperor Frederick Barbarossa and that his honor would not allow him to betray his loyalty to his Emperor.
In a surprise move, as the French delegation prepared to leave for Paris to report the results of their negotiations with Johannes, Count Thierry asked to remain with Johannes at Dole Castle. He explained that he had nothing holding him to the court of King Louis VII. Instead, he wished to spend his remaining years with friends and enjoy a less demanding life.
He explained that many older knights chose to spend their remaining years at a monastery, living as monks. His remaining years, however, would be spent as a knight—not loyal to a monarch, but to a fellow knight who had befriended him, listened to his war stories, and laughed at his jokes.
The Count’s decision to stay surprised everyone, and Johannes greeted Thierry’s announcement with a promise that he would always have friends eager to hear his war stories. He would always be welcome at the tables of the castle, and his mug would be kept filled with wine and ale.
Count DuBois and the French knight Pequinot left Dole uncertain about how they would be received when they returned to the court of King Louis of France. They had come to Dole using the friendship between Count Thierry and Johannes as a means of gaining access to him. Now they were leaving without an alliance and, worse, without a fellow member of their delegation, who had chosen to remain behind and shift his loyalty from the French Crown to a fellow knight from another realm.
Neither man was certain how the news would be received at court. Their mission had been a failure.
After the French delegation left, things returned to their regular schedule. Johannes resumed his duties, and everyday life returned to the County of Burgundy. The only difference was that Count Thierry—or simply Thierry, as he preferred—now worked with the men-at-arms to improve their skills. His assistance was valuable, and everyone, including Johannes, appreciated it. The retainers became better soldiers and more disciplined. Marcus and Johannes spent less time drilling the retinue and could devote more time to their administrative responsibilities.
When the retainers went on patrol along the county’s roads, they were often accompanied by Thierry. He soon became well known to the locals and was especially well liked when on patrol. The locals enjoyed it when he stopped at the inns for meals and drinks, he sometimes would tell tales of his experiences on the Crusades.
In his weekly summaries, which Johannes sent to the Aachen Palace, he reported the arrival of the French delegation and listed those who comprised it. He reported that Count Thierry had decided to remain at Dole Castle, where he was sharing his knowledge and skills with the castle’s retainers, much to Johannes’s appreciation. This, he noted, had freed up valuable time, allowing him to attend to his other duties. As a reward for his service, Johannes had requested permission to make Thierry his vassal and, in turn, Thierry would owe fealty to theT Imperial Crown.
Several weeks later, the Emperor’s response arrived in a missive addressed to Johannes. It read, in part: The Imperial Crown welcomes Count Thierry to the Holy Roman Empire. His reputation is well known, and to know that he intends to spend his days there is most welcome news. Queen Beatrice and I accept his fealty and, as such, offer him the protection and friendship of the Imperial Crown. It is hoped that he may visit the Aachen Palace, and such a visit would be most appreciated.
Winter was around the corner, and the castle already cold and damp only grew worse, as all stone buildings did. Johannes and the retainers who had grown up in the northern parts of the Holy Roman Empire simply accepted the cold as part of life in the northern climate. Marcus and the retainers who had grown up in the Mediterranean climate of Rome complained the most. The November winds would blow, and Marcus would shiver and complain bitterly about the cold, which he claimed he could feel all the way to his bones.
Johannes had recently appointed one of the castle’s servants as steward, and acquiring wood for the castle’s hearths and kitchen was only one of his responsibilities. Johannes was willing to pay extra for good firewood, and once word got out, many peasants from the outlying areas began cutting wood and bringing it to the castle in hopes of making additional money to help them through the winter. Green wood was immediately rejected, and only well-seasoned wood was accepted, mostly oak. Birch and pine were accepted only as tinder to start the denser, heavier oak burning. The steward knew his trade, and Johannes was glad he had appointed the man to the position.
In addition to the wood needed to heat the castle, merchants began offering woven wool clothing, bedding, and rugs for sale to the castle. These items were considered as well, and Johannes had his steward purchase enough wool clothing and bedding to keep his men comfortable. One enterprising merchant demonstrated a brazier that used charcoal. Made of iron, it burned charcoal and could be moved wherever it was needed. It burned relatively cleanly, and once Marcus saw it demonstrated, he argued for its purchase, even if he had to pay for it himself. Extra charcoal was ordered from the collier who supplied the local blacksmith, and the brazier was placed in the great hall. The steward made sure that a sufficient supply of charcoal was kept on hand.
Over that first winter in the County of Burgundy, Johannes worked hard to maintain the schedule he had originally established when they first came to Dole Castle. Each day had its own schedule of activities, and Johannes kept to it. His retainers maintained regular patrols along the routes across the county. Each night, the patrols stayed wherever they could find a warm bed and a hot meal to sustain them through the night. Not one of the men in the employ of the Imperial Knight ever went cold or hungry if Johannes could prevent it.
With the other mountain passes blocked for the winter, many more travelers came through the County of Burgundy. Many of these were courtiers on Imperial business, and as bailli of the county, Johannes was required to host them. Remembering how he expected to be hosted—with a hot meal and a warm bed—he made sure his guests received the same. It was also a way to keep in touch with the goings-on at court. One of the things he learned from his guests was that Henry the Lion had been named Duke of Bavaria and had left the Aachen Palace. He was now at its capital, Regensburg.
December came, and a missive arrived from Aachen informing Johannes that the Emperor required the monies collected in the County of Burgundy to be transferred to the Treasury in Aachen. The Emperor would send a wagon and a troop of mounted Imperial Guards to protect the funds on their journey to Aachen. Johannes had no intention of risking the lives of his retainers by having them accompany the Imperial taxes.
One night, before the Imperial Guards and wagon arrived, Thierry announced during the evening meal that he was going to accompany them back to Aachen. He said he wanted to have an audience with the Emperor and Queen Beatrice. The news surprised Johannes, and he wasn’t prepared to lose his mentor so soon.
“Don’t worry, Johannes. I won’t be gone long. I have heard you and the others talk about the Emperor, and I want to meet the man who rules the Holy Roman Empire. I have spent time at the Court of Louis of France, and you know my impression of that court. I want to see for myself why you choose to serve this Frederick Barbarossa,” said Thierry. “I shall stay at the Imperial Court until spring, and at the first sign of spring, I will make my way back to Dole Castle.”
Three days before the winter solstice, the wagon and retinue arrived from Aachen. The men and their horses rested for several days before the wagon was loaded with the taxes destined for the Imperial Treasury. They left on December 22, the day of the winter solstice. A procession of mounted retainers formed around the wagon. Near the front rode Thierry, and as he passed Johannes and Marcus, he waved goodbye to his friends.
As the procession passed through the castle gate, Marcus asked, “When do you expect they will reach the Palace in Aachen?”
Johannes responded, “If they don’t experience bad weather, flooded rivers, or brigands, they should reach Aachen around January 19.”
Johannes laughed and said, “If he acts at the Imperial Palace as he did at the court of King Louis, he is going to anger a lot of self-important courtiers, bishops, and abbots. He has very little respect for those who hold themselves in such high regard. I think that is why he decided to come to Dole Castle, to live among those who respect him and whom he, in turn, respects. Thierry is a knight above all else and expects to be treated as such, not as some courtier.”
That winter, things continued according to the routine Johannes had established, with nothing out of the ordinary occurring. People still traveled through the county, heading south toward the Italian peninsula. Some were Imperial officials on Empire business, and Johannes never failed to be a good host. He provided them with a warm bed and a hot meal, and in the morning, they would continue their journey with a full belly. It was rare for any Church officials to stay at Dole Castle. Instead, they would stay at the bishopric in Besançon, which was a day’s ride farther north.