Total Lore Overview of the Principality of Sturgia in Mount & Blade: Bannerlord

The Principality of Sturgia is a kingdom in Mount&Blade II: Bannerlord. It is ruled by Prince Raganvad, and occupies the snowy northernmost mountain territories of the continent of Calradia.
The principality's history began when Nordic traders and adventurers migrated from the northeast territories seeking land and wealth, and eventually formed diplomatic and marriage alliances with the native tribes of the Sturgian region, merging the two cultures together into something new, with a violent, warlike but also mercantile mentality.
Heavily armoured infantry bearing thick shields to form a shieldwall is the core of Sturgian military, although cavalry and archer units are also employed prominently. When travelling through snowy regions on the overworld map, Sturgians move 10% less slowly than other factions.
200 years later, in Mount & Blade: Warband, the Sturgian empire has lost much of its eastern lands to the Khuzait Khanate, but also taken a significant portion of Vlandian and Battanian territory. The remaining Sturgian lands experienced a cultural split, with the Nords living in the west and the Vaegirs in the east.

[@HenryKobyla1407]

I knew they were more based on the keivan rus. You can tell from the architecture of their castles and the style of armor they wear. It’s Vikingish, but not quite.

[@Dare_To_Game]

Yeah, nobody quite understands the keivan rus.

[@marciwyrd8905]

Well, there was a viking who sailed down a river into Kievan Rus territory (I forgot his name), so it makes sense that the sturgians would be a mix of the two.

[@shasotaualfa]

They actually take inspiration from either Kievan Rus, or other Slavic nation mixed in with Nordic bois... To be more exact, Nords are just Mercenaries of sorts for Sturgians.

[@mr.t758]

People who just assume Sturgia was basically Vikings are disappointing. Hope they play more like a Rus than a Nord.

[@jakemarsh8967]

I appreciate you distinguishing that the Kievan Rus are not the Norse, sure they have Norse ancestors and their name derives from the Finnish word for the Swedes but they are their own distinct people. Much like how the Metis are their own people, although being a mix of settlers and native tribespeople.

[@Dare_To_Game]

Yeah, and i think in this game, the Sturgians are clearly inspired by the Keivan Rus.

[@stargatefan10]

Now I know everything I need to know,lol. This was great, you should do them all.

[@Dare_To_Game]

I Did!

[@rjjr3449]

Playin a sturgia game on hardest difficulty, game got tough around 400 days, started my first keep in krakov south of varcheg, kept the peace for a bit until i built up around 1.5m dinars for a war chest, then when sturgia and khuzait went to war, started my rebellion by taking varcheg and marched north to revyl, took the whole northwestern island pretty easily and bought peace. By the next war ive bought out olek and he took the last city and 2 castles on the easternmost part of sturgia with him when he defected along with castle dinar of the khuzait, i figured he would keep the eastern front protected so the 450k price tag was worth it, this left the old prince baseless and meaningless. Big mistake, cuz the entire continent waged wars after war with me and i was stretched too thin, managed to have some decent clans with me but nearly not enough nobles. Ive bought plenty of peace and my funds now is less than 200k, not enough to even sway a tier 3 clan to join me. 9 of my nobles are imprisoned and im left to defend with my own army, 3 companion armies and a single noble protecting the eastern front. I do have a garrison of 120 battanian champs and 200 sturgian vets in reserve while i run around with my 100 cavalry trying to catch as many enemies as i can. One time theres 23 total nobles in one of my prison, but they keep coming. The onslaught continues. . .

[@jamesmerkus5034]

RJ jR nice story

[@Fuzzypizzas]

The keivan rus had vikings of their own also they have norse descriptions in some stuff so I believe they can be norse as well

[@SnarkyJohnny]

Some guy on TH-cam: “I don’t know how Vaegirs come from Sturgia?” Me: It’s called fucking. Sturgians fight and marry women and men from the steppes and archery becomes more prominent.

[@Lexi-vl5eh]

Very cool. I totally thought these guys were vikings this whole time. Love this type of video, really gets into the meat of the faction. Thanks!

[@Dare_To_Game]

More to come!

[@carinasmirnoff1780]

Excellent video, great work in this one. Can't wait to see more.

[@Dare_To_Game]

More to come!

[@roilad866]

Me: wow, that is very cool and informative video!
Also me: is he just kill chickens, and nobody in the city cares? :)

[@Dare_To_Game]

This isn't skyrim. Nobody in Bannerlord cares about the chickens.

[@user-Erimej]

Kievan Rus' being also ancestral predisuccessor of what would be eventually become Russia

[@marloyorkrodriguez9975]

I am currently doing a playthrough of a saxon-ish sturgian character so yeah kind of made my characters name sound more saxon-y

[@big_scrubb4748]

Do Battania next!

[@Kyle-ql9km]

I like to imagine sturgia fell apart due to cultural conflict. Idk, it feels like there is a big difference between the eastern and western clans

[@Drescher1984]

I would disagree to a point, the Russ part is a name the Arabs gave Viking traders, that then later began to settle down along the river, that led to Konstantinopel. They then married the locals, that consists of Slave's and Türks. They then later became modern Russia.

[@damjan4435]

All i need to know is where they are, our weapons shall do the rest

[@raritica8409]

2:40 and Russia!?

[@thesmilyguyguy9799]

:)

[@Dare_To_Game]

:)

[@thesmilyguyguy9799]

@@Dare_To_Game (-=

[@tristanverbiest94]

Hello guys.👍

[@Dare_To_Game]

Hello 👋