When Europe began to lift up its head from the sleep of the Dark Ages, the Lord Rio de Tønder was already an old man in his early 60s. He had the wisdom to see that conflict was coming, that efficiency and economy were the way forward, but he had neither the energy nor the knowledge to bring about the changes he knew would be needed. He only knew that the rising power of the Lord of Copenhagen was one that he would rather aid than fight. So when Copenhagen came to Tønder with an offer to make Tønder his vassal, Rio spent little time in deliberation. He accepted. The conditions seemed light: he must send 50 troops to fight in Copenhagen's wars. Rio died the next year, having begun a meager improvement project on the family's holdings.
When Rio's son, Eliaz, took on the role of Lord of Tønder, there was a sea change. Eliaz had fostered with the new Lord of Neumünster when they were boys, and the two young men were fast friends. They formed an informal alliance, both as vassals to the elder statesman in Copenhagen. Both undertook a program of rapid development within their fiefs. Advances were made in administration, metallurgy, military command, etc... When Copenhagen called the young men to war, Tønder did not hesitate. He raised 50 militia and marched to Nykobing Falster to besiege the recalcitrant lord of the island. But relations between Copenhagen and Neumünster cooled during this time. Tønder and Neumünster met with Copenhagen to work out a plan to best organize the lands owed to the ancient and childless Danish King. Tønder and Neumünster felt that their geographic position, ambition, and strength would naturally lead to their sharing the Jutland peninsula while Copenhagen built up in the isles and coasts in the east of Denmark. The plans of Copenhagen did not align with theirs. The old man was more ambitious even than they had anticipated, wishing to subject the entire nation to his will and to leave the young men with titles, but no land of their own beyond their own small holdings. Tønder was prepared to be patient, but his more fiery friend from Neumünster was much more hostile to the rising power of Copenhagen.
With the seizing of Svenborg by Copenhagen and Svenborg's stubborn refusal by its inactive lord to allow the western lords to pass his lands, Tønder and Neumünster found themselves unable to aid Copenhagen in his eastern campaign. They set about cooperating to subdue the wild lands and weaker lords in the west, while Copenhagen pushed on in the east. Tønder moved north into Jutland, subjugating Kolding and Esbjerg, beginning his march to consolidate Jutland while his fast friend, Neumünster, pushed south into territory claimed by the German king. Eliaz was a steady campaigner, given to the slow and sure method of the siege rather than the dynamic slashing attacks of the assault. So he slowly ground his way north. Copenhagen recognized the efforts of the two friends by offering them Viscount titles. In doing so, however, Copenhagen seized the title of Duke of Jutland, a title that both young men felt was within their western sphere of influence. Tønder and Neumünster felt their faith in the newly-styled Duke of Jutland shaken. Each time he gave something, he also took something. And what he took always seemed much more than what he gave. He made no secret of his pretensions to the Throne of Denmark. What sort of king would he make?
By the time Eliaz was a middle-aged man, he had subdued the entire peninsula of Jutland. Political control of his territories was tenuous, but the future seemed bright. What is more, the Duke of Jutland signed a treaty offering him the lands of Odense and Svenborg in exchange for the lands of Helsingborg, a vassal of his as a result of being made Viscount of Svenborg. The Duke wanted Tønder's support to be made King of Denmark. It was a time to be cautious...
