The Siwards - A Family Story

Well, Wales would be easier to conquer but more costly on the prestige side (which seems to be quite low with the Siwards)...

and England... The Conqueror seems to be immortal ... and he has already shown to me that I'm not his match in army strength :wacko:

Part VIII: 1094 – 1096 The Rising of the Whelps


Shortly after his marriage and in gratitude for his good fortune in the past Waltheof founded the Bishopric of Chester (October 10th), further strengthening his standing with the church.

But his marriage to the Norman princess did not fulfill the hopes he had put into it, to the contrary:
William the Conqueror did not develop any warm feelings for his Saxon vassal / neighbor, so it did not improve the security of his realm
Walheof’s sons disliked their new stepmother and feared that Waltheof would prefer any offspring from his new wife to them and it alienated him to Estmond Leofricson, Waltheof’s most important vassal. Earl estmond disliked the Norman alliance and thought it a betrayal to the Saxon cause.

The disharmony in the family became very obvious when his sons and daughters-in –law did not attend to Waltheof’s court at Christmas and in April the worst fears of the young Siwards were increased, when it became clear that Queen Elise was pregnant.

The following months everything were uneasy but quiet except for several messengers travelling between Derby, Durham, Powys and Northumberland.


On July 4th, 1095 the illusion of peace ended. Earl Estmond declared himself rightful King of Northumberland basing his claims on the king list initiated by Waltheof himself, which named his uncle Morcar as king from 1068-1070.
While Waltheof raised his army to subdue the rebellious earl news reached him, that his son Eadric had risen in Powys to support the claim of Earl Estmond.


Waltheof changed his plans to march against Derby and ordered his faithful marshal Eadric de Cherlton to march with the men of York against Estmond instead. He would take care of his unruly son.
All four levies met in August:


Eadric de Cherlton met with Estmond Leofricson and defeated him in a pitched battle.


Waltheof met his son Eadric in Powys commanding an army three times larger than his son. But it showed Waltheof was no match for the strategic knowledge of his son.


The men of Powys defeated the army of Gwynedd utterly and forced them to retreat.


Eadric followed his fleeing father and defeated him again near Harlech, this time forcing his stepmother and her newborn son Osbert to flee with her husband to Hereford.
Waltheof had learned that he could not overcome his son, so he ordered his levy of Northampton to cut off his supply lines from Powys. He himself wanted to support the siege of Derby.

Meanwhile Eadric Siward’s men acted in unseen brutality in Gwynedd terrorizing the populace, plundering and gaining their leader the nickname “the Barbarian” this way.


In October Waltheof received the message that his son Saebert had joined the rebels and was marching towards York where Aethelfrith, Waltheof’s last remaining (and still loyal) son prepared himself for a siege.

On November 10th, Waltheof was leading an assault on the gates of Derby City, when a part of the town wall collapsed and buried the King. It took his men almost an hour to free him and carry the severely wounded man of the field.


Nine days later Derby was captured and Earl Estmond had to surrender. Two more days later, seeing that there is no hope for his rebellion Eadric threw himself at the mercy of his father.
Although he confirmed both Earls in their respective counties he put both of them under house arrest until further notice.
Taking no notice of his injuries Waltheof ordered his army north to Durham.
The armies clashed in mid December.


For a short time it seemed that Saebert could take the victory, when his father was wounded during a skirmish, but the marshal turned the tide very easily and the royal forces remained finally victorious in January 1096.


From this moment it was only a question of time, when the rebellion would finally collapse and in mid April Saebert admitted defeat.


Like his co-rebels he was confirmed as Earl but put under house arrest.


In May Queen Elise, who had not left the side of her husband since she had to leave Harlech gave birth to a healthy girl. She was given the name Godgifu.
But Waltheof’s health was weakened and it was deteriorating even further. He became weaker as the weeks passed and finally it was clear, that he was going to die.

He ordered his sons and his other vassals to Harlech and here at the gathering of his nobles he named his eldest son as his chosen successor.

Two weeks later on September 25, 1096 Waltheof Siward King of Northumbria and Gwynedd died at Harlech Castle.


The reign of Aethelfrith II. had started.



PS
Please excuse that my narrative style is even worse than usual...
but I had to create a "Farewell-Book" for a retiring colleague the last four days and I'm slightly exhausted... The colleague who wanted to do it initially fell from a ladder and I had to start from scratch...

Interlude II: Europe 1096 - After the Death of Waltheof of Northumbria



The British Isles

In Ireland Leinster , Munster, Connacht and Ulster are the only remaining realms.
Norway has lost its control over the Orkneys, who became independent and lost Caithness to Scotland.
Northumbria has broken free from England and seems well established.


France and the Iberean Penninsula

King Philippe of France died 1081 at the gates of Alexandria. His son and succesor King Thomas never reached adulthood and died under suspicious circumstances to be succeded by his uncle Hugues II.. Since then all Pairs of France have broken free and even the few remaining counts are losing loyalty fast.

On the Iberian Penninsula Berenguer of Barcelona is on a conquering spree. Leon has in alliance with Navarra conquered Castille.
In the south Sevilla is still established as the major power, while Toledo is still shaken by the onslaught of Barcelona.


Scandinavia and the Baltics

Norway has lost some of this southeastern provinces to Sweden but has compensated the loss with some minor counties to the North and near the Oder River.
Denmark has lost his control over the Duchy of Slesvig but since the Duke is also the crown prince of Denmark the split is probably only temporary.
The Prince of Polotsk has lost all his home provinces and rules his exile in Finnland.


The Russian Principalities

The Russian Principalities have continued success against the pagans although some minor counts and princes have separated from the big four Kiev, Cherson, Pereyaslavl and Nowgorod.


Central Europe

Emperor Heinrich IV. is now excommunicated as it is his historical duty. Nonetheless he could reestablish some control in Northern Italy and Carinthia and he conquered the major part of Mecklenburg.
Together with Bohemia and Hungary he also conquered some polish provinces. The Poles compensated themselves with some pagan provinces to the northeast.
Mathilde of Toscana has made her country a regional power whjich struggles with Apulia over the supremacy over Italy.


Byzantine Empire and the Levante

The Fatimid Caliphate is in ruins. A series of Crusader states were created in Egypt instead.
The Byzantine Empire fares only a little better it has lost many of its former provinces. They became independent or were lost to the Seldjuk Turks, who are still pressing forward.

The Siward Family in 1096/97


Simplified Family Tree (draft)

Rabid Bogling said:

Jesus.. Aethelfrith and Saebert are clones of Waltheof!

Click to expand...

Upps...

that is because Waltheof is not Waltheof but Aethelfrith... I have to change that when I'm back home.
Saebert on the other hand seems really to be cloned out of his elder brother.

Enewald said:

Oi oi, the turks have been lucky!
And a big chernigov!

Click to expand...

I just hope that I do not get too many north-european sheikdoms in the game... as the crusade is going against the turks and they don't seem to be on the losing end...

Book II: Aethelfrith II.

Part I: 1096 – 1099 The Conqueror

When Aethelfrith II. succeeded Waltheof to the Northumbrian throne in September 1096, he seemed well prepared for the task lying ahead.
His father had installed him as Earl of Durham ten years ago, so he was no stranger to ruling a country.
Aethelfrith had always maintained a stable - not always a good – relation to his father. The arranged marriage between himself and Godgifu Leofricson, which had started as a political alliance had turned into a partnership full of love (several letters from Aethelfrith and Godgifu can now be found in the museums at Durham, York and Harlech).


He had voiced concerns against the marriage of Waltheof with Elise de Normandie, fearing that it would give the ruling Norman dynasty of England a new foothold in Northumbria.
Aethelfrith was first involved in the conspiracy against his father which led to the Rising of the Whelps, but when his brothers and the Earl of Derby actually rose against King Waltheof Aethelfrith stayed loyal to his father and defended Durham against his brother Saebert.

Aethelfrith II. Coronatin 1096​

Aethilfrith’s coronation took place on Christmas 1096, shortly after the birth of his daughter Elfrida. Aethelfrith II. was not crowned at Durham Cathedral like his father but at York Minster.

York Minster​

He also decided that his court and main residence would remain at Durham castle until his son Egbert would come of age and would follow his father as Earl of Durham.

Aethelfrith II. old and new residence at Durham​

Paradox as it may sound the Rising of the Whelps supported Aethelfrith II. smooth succession to the throne and the unproblematic establishment of the new regime. His brothers Eadric and Saebert (and the Earl of Derby) were not able to raise any substantial troops as they were still recovering from the losses they sustained during the uprising. The Bishop of Chester was a personal friend of Aethelfrith II. and the Bishop of Glamorgan had opposed Waltheof for personal reasons.
Apart from its location Aethelfrith did not change much of his father’s court. he made the chaplain of his father his own. He kept his sister in law Bledwyn as mistress of the wardrobe (it seems she was more loyal to Aethelfrith than to her husband Eadric – as many of her reports to Aethelfrith of Eadric’s doings and plans have survived till today). He even kept his (still pregnant) stepmother Elise de Normandie in her position of chancellor (some historians argue, this was to keep her busy and under observation).
He only changed his marshal, when he replaced Eadric de Cherlton, who had remained faithful to his father throughout his reign, with Elfwine Leofricson a cousin of his wife (a younger son of Morcar Leofricson).

But the situation should not stay so peaceful for long.
In March 1097 Elise de Normandie fled the Northumbrian court with her children and took refuge with her grandfather in London. In April she gave birth to Waltheof’s son, whom she named Uhtred.


In England the situation had changed drastically. King William’s meeting with Pope Gregor VII. in 1092 at Canossa had been quite successful. He had been absolved and welcomed back in the Christian community by promising a just and peaceful reign… and after paying enormous sums of money.
William had since then not deposed one of his vassals, he had not waged war against anybody and his treasury had now recovered from his payments to the church.

On October 15th, 1097 Pope Gregor VII. closed his eyes forever. After a short conclave the curia elected Bishop Durante of Siena as his successor. He chose the name Urban II.


Three days later everything had changed for Aethelfrith II. of Northumbria.
In the name of his grandchildren Osbert and Uhtred, William the Conqueror had declared war on Northumbria and Estmond of Derby , believing in the strength of the Saxon cause, had declared war on England in retaliation. To make a bad situation worse, Malcolm III. promised to support William and declared war on Northumbria.
The surprised Aethelfrith raised almost his entire troops at once. He only kept a small reserve in Chester, Glamorgan and Powys. He knew, he commandeered a greater force than his father so many years ago but his main adversary was now operating from a much larger personal demesne.
But Aethelfrith II. was sure the same strategy his father had pursued in the past was now essential for the survival of his realm and his family:
1. Get Scotland out of the picture
2. Get hold on King William’s personal estates

Aethelfrith divided his army into three columns: the eastern column (which also included the levy of York) was to conquer King William’s holdings in Shrewsbury and to support the Earl of Derby. The western column was to take care of the royal demesne in the West and the northern column was to convince Malcolm III. to make peace.

The war started quite successful for Northumbria. In Shrewsbury and Norfolk the Northumbrian armies defeated the English divisions and the Scots were defeated near Berwick. By the end of the Year Norfolk and Shrewsbury were under Northumbrian control, the Welsh army on its way to Derby, the western army on its way to York which was under siege and the northern army had (again) defeated the Scots near Edinburgh.

In January Northumbria’s first war goal was reached, when Malcolm III. - tired off seeing his troops lose to Northumbrian soldiers - offered a white peace. Aethelfrith II. accepted at once. Now he was able to throw his army south into the struggle with England. York had fallen into English hands while the army which was send to relief the siege was bound fighting another English division near Lincoln.


In April Aethelfrith II. made a public vow that he would join the crusade to free Antiocheia should his kingdom survive the English invasion.

Meanwhile the Welsh contingent lifted the siege of Derby (Only for a short time – the besiegers returned after the Northumbrian forces left), marched towards Northampton, which they freed from English occupation after a short siege, just to turn their attention to the royal demesne at Kent.
In York the army from the North was joined by the victors of Lincoln, defeated another English levy and prepared to free the town from English occupation.

After the successful liberation of York and occupation of Kent Aethelfrith II. had to confront King William’s main army in Essex.
Both armies gathered near London in late November. It did not bode well for Aethelfrith, that the Norman levy was considerably larger than the Saxon’s and he was still facing The Conqueror while Aethelfrith tactical abilities were only slightly better than his father’s.


The battle was fought with great brutality and on December 5th it was clear... the Saxons had lost it.


While he was retreating to Suffolk Aethelfrith received the message that his brother Eadric who had gathered the last reserves in Wales had been defeated by an English force near Harlech.

Aethelfrith remembered the gambit of his father and offered King William his submission under the English crown for a granting of lands in Shrewsbury.
This time King William refused.

On January 7th, 1099 Derby was lost and integrated into William’s demesne. Athelfrith’s scouts also discovered that fresh reserves from Normandy had arrived in England.

The desperate King of Northumbria ordered his troops to Derby and offered William an improved peace proposal:
Aethelfrith would submit under the rule of William of England. He would renounce his title as King of Northumbria and be content with the title of Duke of Gwynedd.
Aethelfrith would renounce his claims on the duchies Somerset, Oxford, Bedford, Lancaster and Norfolk (but not on Northumberland or the king title) all held by the Conqueror himself.
Aethelfrith would not publicly claim his rights for the English crown or rise in open revolt as long as King William lived.
Aethelfrith would be compensated for his submission with the county of Kent.

On January 12th, 1099 William the Conqueror, King of England agreed adding only the more symbolic conditions that Aethelfrith had to take the Cross of Edward the Confessor out of his coat of arms and that his shield supporter representing the Saxon horse had to be replaced by the English lion.


Again Northumbria ceased to exist.

I lost Derby... actually Estmond Leofricson lost Derby.

I tried the "Waltheof-trick" again (which was once rejected) and in the second try I wanted to regain Derby but did not pay too much attention (obviously) when I proposed... I was a little surprised when suddenly Kent was in my demesne.

William is 72 in 1099 and I think, I don't spoil to much when I say he won't see the end of the next udpdate.

Interlude III: Europe 1100


Since just 4 years have passed since the last interlude, I just throw in the picture to show that only a few changes have taken place:
- Spain has still a christian /muslim stalemate.
- Byzantium is regaining some provinces (as the turks are busy fighting off crusaders).
- New Russian principalities have broken free.

Part II: 1099 – 1104 A Game of Lieges

The reintegration of Northumbria into his kingdom was William’s last great deed. He died eight months later in London.
Originally he had intended to divide his realm between his two eldest sons, with Robert keeping the Normandy and William gaining England. But his difficulties with Northumbria had taught William the lesson that an English monarch, if he wanted to keep England needed the forces of Normandy too. So Robert inherited the kingdom undivided.


Aethelfrith couldn’t draw any advantage out of the change on English throne. William had attacked him when his treasury had been almost empty and keeping his entire military force under arms for one and a half years had toppled the Northumbrian finances into utter chaos. Although Aethelfrith could handle finances better his late father it would take him years to come out of debts.

King Robert himself had a difficult start in England. Even before his coronation, which was scheduled for Christmas, William’s old advisor Lanfranc of Salisbury, who was unwilling to part with the power he had tried to force Robert to acknowledge his position by raising an army against him. This time he had gambled to high. Robert raised his forces, renewed the alliance with Scotland, crushed the ambitious bishop and forced him into exile.

Meanwhile the Siward family had to bear the loss of some of its members. In October the infant Osbert died, who had been William’s excuse to attack Northumbria and in January 1100 Aethelfrith lost his beloved wife Godgifu.
His advisors convinced him that it was necessary for him to remarry as fast as possible. The outstanding dowry would be very beneficial for the ducal treasury, his children needed a new mother and the court a new duchess.
The advisors even provided a potential bride: Emma de Conteville, daughter of the Count of Avranches, who was known for her kind and pious nature. The marriage took place in late February.

Just a month later Aethelfrith himself had to deal with an unruly bishop.


Ennio Berkeley, Bishop of Glamorgan tried to use the sad situation of the Siward treasure to gain independence, but he thought wrong.
Aethelfrith was not willing to let Glamorgan go. He was able to lend some money and raise a small army to subdue the rebellion of Glamorgan.
Normally the Siwards reinvested the unruly bishops after their defeat but when Bishop Ennio learned in June that a Norman army was approaching to integrate Glamorgan into the Royal demesne he preferred to offer Glamorgan to its previous owner and to retire into a monastery.


Aethelfrith accepted the peace offer and replaced Bishop Ennio with his chaplain Elfweard.

Although Aethelfrith befriended some members of the Royal family (especially Robert’s nephew Simon, Earl of Westmoreland) but never came to good terms with Robert himself.
The situation did not get better when Robert announced on August 1st, 1101 that he intended to join the second crusade and that he expected his nobles to join him.


When King Robert approached the Duke for military or financial support Aethelfrith refused outright. He pointed out that he had sworn to go on crusade only if Northumbria would survive, but God had decided otherwise.

The same month - after just six month of matrimony - Duchess Emma died. Although she lived in Gwynedd only for a short time she had been very popular among the people for her pious and caring nature. Soon a small cult developed around the chapel where she was buried and just a short time later Lady Emma was beatified... revered by many peasants as a saint.
In the following months the relation between king and duke deteriorated further and further while messengers from the king ordered the duke to send his troops to the holy land and the duke refusing such an action.

In late September Aethelfrith - fearing an attack from the king anytime soon - signed an alliance with Duke Etienne-Henri de Champagne, who had himself broken free from his liege some years ago, but no attack happened, no army was raised against him.


In December Aethelfrith provided Malcolm III. with a very special Christmas gift, when he offered him to become his vassal.
Malcolm III. could not resist the temptation. Two times he had tried to incorporate Northumbria into his kingdom with military strength and two times he had been defeated. Now Northumbria, a great part of Wales and counties in the South of England where offered to him on a silver platter without raising a single sword.


Malcolm III. could enjoy his new position as the most powerful monarch of the British Isles only for four months. He died April 24th, 1102 – peaceful and content.

The next one and a half years where quite peaceful.
Malcolm III. successor, his son Duncan II. Did not renew the Scottish-English alliance and intended a peaceful reign.


Aethelfrith concentrated to reorganize his finances, develop or strengthen connections of his family and to improve his estates, which still had not fully recovered from the plundering by William’s troops. He also reconciled with his brother Eadric (both preparing for a future independent Northumbria).


The peaceful times ended when history repeated itself.
On November 14th, 1103 Duncan II. declared his participation in the second crusade. Like Robert of England he expected his lords to join him.
Aethelfrith prepared for a conflict with his liege as he had still no intentions to see the holy land... but nothing happened.


In February 1104 Aethelfrith arranged the marriage of his eldest son Egbert with Aniko, daughter of King Tador of Deheubarth and as he always had intended installed him as Earl of Durham moving his own court to Conwy.


In April the feared requests from Duncan II. started. Aethelfrith declined each time and the conflict with his king escalated more and more. When Duncan II. threatened to involve Pope Urban II. if the Duke of Gwynedd would not oblige, Aethelfrith refused his participation and support for a final time even in the danger of excommunication and declared the independence of Northumbria and Gwynedd from the Scottish realm.
Duncan II. and Urban II. seemed to be perplexed by the reaction. No army was raised, no one was excommunicated.


After four lieges in five years Northumbria was back on the map and Aethelfrith II. was back on its throne.


PS
Sorry, if this update is quite dull... playing these years was much funnier than it sounds in my description.

General_BT - Shrewed? Me? Just because I changed to a weaker liege and used Englands own ally to protect me? I swear that was never intended and pure coincidence

demokratickid - I try my best... and now that William is removed from the picture I think my chances are much better.

Enewald - The Siwards have a miserable "prestige management". They only own half of Wales and have no further claims there (nor enough prestige to create one). I was lucky enough the Normans didn't create the Kingdom of Wales for themselves when they had the chance (I guess conquering me drained their resources).

Part III: 1104 – 1111 Years of Consolidation and Preparation

Aethelfrith II. first concern after reestablishing the Northumbrian throne was to find an adequate alliance partner.
Duncan II. had renewed the Scottish-English alliance feeling duped by the Northumbrian monarch, so beeing reconquered was a possible threat for Northumbria.
Aethelfrith II. alliance with Champagne had ended a few months ago and Northumbria's old friend Leinster had allied with Gwent.
Luckily the King of Ulster, Rechtabra O’Neill was in dire need of a potent partner to maintain the brittle balance in Ireland.
Since the forming of the four major kingdoms of Ireland over the last decades, the O’Brien Kings of Munster had publicly expressed their goal: to become high kings of Ireland and to unite the emerald isle under their rule.
A goal the other kings tried to prevent (for obvious reasons).

Since Donnchad of Munster had allied himself with King Havard of Norway and the other kings had allied themselves with the remaining Welsh kings, Rechtabra would have preferred one of the major powers of the British Isles. England and Scotland had already refused his request. All that remained was Northumbria.


The alliance was signed on October 3rd, 1104 at Harlech Castle, where the negotiations had taken place.

In December, although he new that a Norman marriage was no guarantee for peace, Aethelfrith married his second son Aethelhere (against his expressed wish) to a granddaughter of King Robert. Yolanda de Normandie was the daughter of Robert’s eldest son Serlo, Count of Evreux. In contrast to the marriage of his eldest son Aethelfrith did not install his son as earl in one of the counties in his personal demesne but kept him in office as steward of the realm.

In February the following year King Robert thought the situation on the Isles stable enough to finally fulfill his vow to go on crusade. He left England with an impressive force on February 7th,1105.

Meanwhile Aethelfrith had managed to reorganize his finances.
He had no debts left, there where no signs of plundering left on the countryside from the last conflicts and even a small amount of gold could be found in the treasury.
But before Northumbria could look into a bright future a dark cloud fell on the court.
Shortly after the death of blessed Lady Emma Aethelfrith had remarried again. This time he had married Constance Fitzpatrick, a young lady from the court of Humbert de Beaumont, the Norman Duke of Northumberland.

It seemed that it was Duchess/Queen Constance’s target that a future offspring of Aethelfrith and herself should follow his father.
She soon alienated the elder sons and daughters with her behaviour. She was the driving force behind the Norman marriage of Aethelhere (some rumors speak of a poisoned wedding meal). Her open disputes with Aethelfrith’s eldest daughter Ellylw where legendary. Both women new each other since Ellylw’s time as fosterling at the court of (Norman) Northumberland.
It was the queen who drove the young women out of office.

On April 8th,1105 Queen Constance was found stabbed in her quarters and rumors soon spread that her last visitor was Lady Ellylw.
Aethelfrith II. not only refused to sentence his daughter on mere hearsay, he also reinstalled her as his chancellor again, which caused some unrest and whispering among the courtiers and the clergy and left a slight stain on his reputation.
Queen Constance was buried in a very simple ceremony and no further investigations concerning her death where made.

To stop the rumors and suspicions at his court Aethelfrith II. chose a well established method - let them think about someting else:
He had filled the treasury enough for a short military campaign and on August 3rd, 1105 he declared war on Egenulph, freshly installed Earl of Derby.
Robert of England and Duncan II. of Scotland declared their support for Derby the very next day, but as Aethelfrith had hoped, Duncan II. could be bribed into peace just a few weeks later.

The war started very positive for Aethelfrith II.:


On September 2nd, a Northumbrian army defeated an English division in Essex and for the first time could lay siege to London.
Two days later Derby fell into Northumbrian hands (almost without battle as Earl Egenulph had been kind enough to send his troops to the holy land as support for King Robert) and was added to the demesne of Aethelfrith II.
But the next morning English forces defeated a Northumbrian levy first at Salisbury and two weeks later in Surrey.


After the successful storming of London on October 8th, Aethelfrith II. offered Robert a white peace, which the King of England declined.
Three weeks later the Northumbrians conquered Norfolk but still Robert refused a white peace. When Aethelfrith’s forces where defeated by fresh forces from Normandy in Essex (who then started to besiege London themselves), he offered to pay war indemnities for peace.
On November 13th, 1105 Robert accepted.


On November 14th, Aethelfrith installed his son Aethelhere as Earl of Derby and on November 15th, he married Joana, eldest daughter of Count Gaston de Carcasonne.

On a more peaceful note: the year 1105 presented Aethelfrith II. with his first grandsons: Walcher (August 13th) from Egbert and Edward (November 15th) from Aethelhere.

Having depleted his treasury in the short campaign Aethelfrith now concentrated on the improvement of his realm and internal policy.
In 1106 his main target was to improve trade and to minimize smuggling.


His efforts culminated in the arrest of a large number of smugglers in October.

The year 1107 had a much darker note. Queen Joana died in February of a miscarriage and Esperanza Lainez, the young lady who followed her as queen shared her fate in October.
In April Athelstan, Aethelfrith’s third son, was married to Isabel of Atholl, a daughter of Duchess Isabel of York and in December Aethelfrith himself was married again, this time to Stefania di Simiano a ward of Bishop Anselm of Lucca.

1108 was a wonderful uneventful year. The realm was in peace, the harvests where good and the chests and coffers in the treasury where filling very fast, thanks to the talents of King Aethelfrith himself and his wife Queen Stefania, who had taken the position of steward.

1109 started as beautiful as 1108 but in summer shadows of doubt where cast on the honor and fidelity of Queen Stefania. It became known that she regularly separated herself from the court in the company of varying young men. To prevent this from happening ever again she was put under close watch by her husband. But he loosened her confinement a few months later when he himself fell in love with Aethelhild de Breteuil, the daughter of Saebert de Breteuil, Earl of Hereford (she became later the mother of his bastard-son Harold).
The de Breteuil family is a rare example of a Norman dynasty, which became saxonised.
The lax moral of the Northumbrian court was heavily criticized by Aethelfrith’s more religious son Aethlehere, who even pondered to depose his father, whom he addressed as >>ruler of the new Sodom and Gomorrah<<.

1110 was another year of great joy and festivities in Northumbria. The records show that its time at peace and the internal policy of its ruler had made it the richest (British) kingdom of that time. Aethelfrith II. had more money in his treasury than all other rulers of Britain together. He also had the highest income of all British monarchs, thanks to a very effective administration and his continued efforts to stay at peace.
When the royal chapel of Conway was finished in May, many nobles a commons gathered and prayed for a peaceful future.

The King had other things on his mind. Preserved letters of Aethelfrith II. show, that he himself was only waiting for chance to strike against the Normans.
His treasury was filled, the army at full strength. All he needed and prayed for was something that distracted King Robert of England long enough that he could not make use of his superiority in manpower.
In December his prayers where answered: Robert, King of England declared war on Bavor, King of Bohemia (for no apparent reason – the historians are still puzzled today) and set his entire force in motion to conquer Bohemia.

Aethelfrith waited some months to see if this was some kind of hoax or joke and then, on June 2nd, 1111 he declared war on Earl Tancred of Lancaster, a member of the royal family, who ruled the land, which divided the northern and the Welsh part of Northumbria.
As expected Duke William (Rufus) of Bedford and Lancaster (as liege and father of Tancred) and King Robert declared war on Northumbria in return.


Duncan II. decided – in a moment of wisdom – not to participate in this war.

The struggle for England had entered a new phase.