de Haro-ing Adventures

IamWhoa

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• Jun 20, 2009

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• #81

de Haro-ing Adventures
Chapter XXI: 1294 to 1296
Wherein our heroes are dethroned.​

The Cortes Generales met once more. The proponents of a new dynasty, known as the Andalusians for their largely southern origins, managed to toppled the divided supporters of the de Haro. They elected a man known as Somhairle of Mar. The Mar dynasty in Spain had its roots in King Fernando Borgoña's reign. A Scottish nobleman, originally intent on saving the weak Christian states of Spain, had risen to such favor within Fernando's court that he was appointed a marcher lord on the border. Since then, the descendants of him had risen to take on several county titles throughout Andalusia. The reign of Sancho de Haro was fruitful for the Mar, and through a series of inheritances acquired the ducal title of Murcia. With it, Somhairle managed to acquire the legitimacy needed to stand for election. He was, however, over sixty-five years old when he was crowned. An age of great wisdom, perhaps, but declining wit. He was by all accounts fit for the job, though he may have cursed what he was tasked to fix.

It is Duke Miguel of Tripoli from which the story continues. There were other de Haro rulers at this time, some of much greater standing. These were men such as Duke Francisco of Tangiers and Duke Antonio of Tolouse (grandsons of King Juan through Ramiro de Haro). As well was Duke Tello of Galicia (brother of King Juan), who precipitated the rebellion against Pedro. In the coming years, Miguel will be the obvious choice of continuation.

​

Miguel was the son of Manuel de Haro, one of the sons of King Juan. Manuel was appointed Duke of Tripoli after Juan's success in the Levant. After his death, his son Miguel took the reigns of power. Interestingly, evidence seems to point to King Juan attempting to reinherit Tripoli. The means to would have included none less than the assassination of young Miguel. How or why the plan was abandoned is still unknown.

In Tripoli, the terrible bubonic plague had blanketed the land. Even Miguel's own son Enrique was taken by the storm.

Back in Spain, the civil war carried on from Pedro's death. Conditions had degenerated to such a degree that many to the north were making plans for a crusade, fearing that an invasion from the fierce tribes of Africa could topple the unsound structure of the Leónese monarchy. Not only were fears abound, but also international warfare. Various lords and counts within Spain, through their web of loyalties and lineages, had drawn the king of Bohemia into the conflict. Spain became the flash-point for grumbling rivalries and religious feuds.

Despite it all, Somhairle would forever be the shining jewel of his descendants. He died two years and eighteen days after becoming king. Though he appears to have honestly worked at pacifying the kingdom, his reign was perhaps among the most disastrous of the era, and much of it was simply beyond the powers of the king at that time.

The Cortes reassembled, and the deliberations went on for several weeks. The Andalusians were splintered, and the de Haro supporting 'Sanchos,' as they styled themselves, presented a unified front.

Miguel payed no mind of matters outside his dusty realm. Instead of make the journey to Spain to participate, he sent a representative. Miguel had forgotten about him before he returned, and was stricken with surprise at the Cortes's choice: himself. His own indifference would be one of the great ironic devices for Spanish playwrights to come.

 

Enewald

Enewald Enewald Enewald

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• Jun 21, 2009

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• #82

But is the fella willing to return?
Or move the court across the Mediterranean to Tripoli?

 

IamWhoa

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• Jun 23, 2009

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• #83

Enewald: No one can refuse the Generales!

This is sort of winding down. In a few more years its smooth sailing, and that's a bore (this has already been a lot more smooth than I would have wanted). There will be a conclusion to both narratives, though.

 

IamWhoa

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• Jun 23, 2009

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• #84

de Haro-ing Adventures
Chapter XXII: 1298-1324
Wherein the Spanish Enlightenment gets underway.​

While Miguel returned to Spain and set about reuniting León, the croaking wooden skiffs of the Almohads poured across the straits. Though the Berber invasion sparked a panic amongst those who dwelt on the weakening Spanish position, Miguel—by their arrival—was already well off to meet them. The rebellion which had plagued León was silenced at the Battle of Munera, where the rebels suffered over four-thousand casualties to Miguel's thousand. Almohad chances were slim.

It was not to be of the proportions of Roland, as many claimed afterward, but rather a small engagement. It was not even led by Miguel, but a relative by the name of Ramiro. The battle of around 8000 belligerents paled to that of Munera. The Berbers were soundly beaten.

By the turn of the century, León was stabilized and Spain was finally removed from the bloody hands of international intrigue. Miguel immediately overhauled the code of laws, which had degenerated in the face of repeated meddling by the rebellious nobility. Aristocratic dues were increased, and on an annual basis they were expected to stay in León for two weeks. He codified three central tenants of kingly duty: fair taxation, defense and the ratification of laws, which were to be categorized and trimmed of archaic elements. He then turned and declared prohibition to the Cortes Generales. The elective model had lasted for 78 years. The old chamber was then converted into a royal theater.

The breadth of his efforts became known as the Miguel Leyes. The final drafts of his laws were of such high rhetorical and analytical style that they continue to define the boundaries of arguments for executive authority, centralized military leadership and progressive taxation.

The historical impact on Spain by Miguel's reign was condensed almost entirely within his first two years of rule. The next twenty-four were spent abroad with mixed results. He led invasions throughout southern France from 1313 to 1315 in an attempt to unite the Occitan leadership and, he hoped, establish some sort of legitimate puppet kingdom there. He ultimately failed, mostly due to the reality of politics in Toulouse and Gascony. Despite, he left a strong presence that his successor would greatly utilize. In 1322 he amassed an 18000 strong army and sailed for Jerusalem. While hoping to land and rest in Cyrpus, the Spanish fleet was hounded by a band of Turkish pirates. The surviving pirates were driven off, their leader killed and his head raised to the top of a mast. The crusaders then seized Famagusta, which they promptly blamed for the hostilities.

In August of 1323, Miguel stormed the mainland and took Acre. Tyre fell just days later. “The Lion” then advanced on Jerusalem and put its walls to an intense and thoroughly bloody siege. A month and four days before victory was realized, his camp came under attack in the night. His tent went up in flames while he slept, and his body was not seen again. The ashes in the area of his tent were carefully collected into pots, which were then housed in Jerusalem for several months. After that, the pots were stolen and have been lost to history.

 

Last edited: Jun 23, 2009

Enewald

Enewald Enewald Enewald

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• Jun 23, 2009

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• #85

oh dear, dying like that!
I hope that Jerusalem shall be christian for a while for now.

 

IamWhoa

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• Jun 25, 2009

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• #86

Enewald: It will indeed!

So we've reached the end. Slightly arbitrary, but for its own good. Thanks to those that stuck through it. It was nice to just mess around, which was the purpose of the different "narrators". I rather liked writing the narrative poetry and would like to try something like that for an AAR, maybe.

 

IamWhoa

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• Jun 25, 2009

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• #87

de Haro-ing Adventures
XXIII: 1325 to 1350
Wherein the Eagle is usurped by the Lion.

​

King Luis was the first son and heir to Miguel. And while he quickly prepared himself to take up reigns of the crusade, the Spanish army itself was mired in one of the bloodier battles of the crusades. Led by Ramiro Borgonha, the crusaders pursued the enemy deep into the desert. The enemy in this case were the Turks of Rum, lead by Sultan Seyfullah. The battle took place south of Damascus, at a village known as Al-Mafraq. Around twenty-thousand crusaders and Turks faced off. By the end of the day, almost half of those were left for dead on the dusty fields. The crusaders had won, but at an enormous cost, and for control of a region which was much beyond the goals of the king. The surviving crusaders, numbering less than 3000, were forced to fortify and await Luis. The king himself had learned of the great battle just before he set out, and at once summoned another ten-thousand to go with him.

The Turks did not come out of Al-Mafraq any better. Their position was so utterly crippled that they agreed to cede the coastal provinces after some negotiation by Ramiro Borhonha. The crusade was not at end, however, and Luis spent three years expanding crusader territory. The north of Aleppo and Antioch, as well as the far south of Negev and Darum, each led by petty lords of both Muslim and Christian bearings, came under the sovereignty of Luis.

The pope declared the return of the Kingdom of Jerusalem. Luis went to Rome in August of 1328, where he received the title. Smaller border wars went on for another two years until the kingdom's hold on the Levant was finally solidified.

As was noted before, King Miguel left a strong Spanish position in the southern regions of France. Luis meant to expand upon his gains there and complete the goal of a Spanish monarchy in Occitania. Whether by the sheer influence of ambition or mere confidence in the Spanish army, Luis attacked the English holdings in Aquitaine. They had control of only one city, Bordeaux. King Geraud of the France, himself a brilliant leader, capitalized on the war and attacked England as well. Relative to Spain, the war was uneventful, despite the French invasion of England, and the famed Burning of London. There was only Bordeaux, and outside its stubborn walls erupted one of the largest battles in history. Eighty-eight thousand men clashed on the fields, and 35000 were left dead upon them. Luis led the combined French and Spanish forces, which numbered roughly 50000. The English numbered 38000.

The battle was won by the Spanish and French, and on July 15, 1342, the city was officially surrendered to León. Following five more years of political wrangling with the Occitan nobility, Luis was recognized as King of Aquitainia.

On July 4, 1350, Luis was again in Rome. This time, he was raised to the status of Emperor. The Holy Spanish Empire was born and the Age of the Lion (as put by later Spanish writers) began. That is where the story ends, for the tale of the Empire, from this point, is one of unending success and boundless fame; of unending invention and prosperity; and of shining basilicas and observatories.

…​

“But why stop there, exactly?” the daughter asked. The grandfather rested his head against the tree. He brought himself forward to answer.

“Because, you see,”--he pointed to rising columns of smoke in the distance, in the direction of Edinburgh-- “It's all their damn fault! If the Spanish Empire had honored the alliance with our king like they promised, no Egyptian Sultan would have never made it through Gibraltar.”

The mother stood, agitated. “Let's go.”

Most of the time she walked ahead, but allowed them to catch up to check on her daughter. The daughter walked sullenly, as if robbed by her grandfather of the conclusion.

“For you only,” he whispered, lightly tugging on her round ear. When the girl looked up at him, he chuckled and said: “As the de Haros escaped from the clutches of Forget, so can we escape our greatest fear.” He gestured back toward Edinburgh.

“What's that from?” she asked.

“My dream,” he said. “At least I think so.”

They came to a rising hill, topped by a lonesome ash. The mother waited there. When at last the daughter and grandfather reached her, they descended down into the world beyond.

THE END​

 

Deamon

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• Jun 25, 2009

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• #88

A nice AAR that was sir! And your maps are some of the best on these forums (I like their style)

 

Enewald

Enewald Enewald Enewald

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• Jun 25, 2009

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• #89

Muslim in Edinburgh? Rofl. :rofl:
Loved the ending nearly as much as loved the whole AAR!
But this is an ending too good to stop here.

I beg you to proceed.