The VikINg League

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The Civil War - part one: Decision Time

Folkvarthr had ordered a final attack against the Apache tribe, to protect the gold mines in the area, dispite the truce. Many believed that the Prince was suffering from an unclear head because of his age. It took until September 1518 for Folkvarthr to draw his last breath. His son Liulfr had come of age by the time, and expected to be elected Prince of Vinland and Overlord of the Viking League, as was the custom.
The day after Folkvarthr's burial boat was pushed off the shore, the alþing was held.

*The option 'Insubordination' simply means that Liulfr gets to be crowned, Magnus IX of Eikland disagrees and all other member jarls consider their positions towards the antagonists.
*The option 'Try to appease him' is shown and is simply a very costly bribe, as Vinland will be forced to take out a loan to pay for it.
*The option 'Crown him instead' will allow the jarl of Eikland, Magnus IX to become Prince and Overlord. Eikland will take over important territories and the new Vinlandic vassal will only keep hold of the cores it has built up in the years.
*The option 'Reinstate the old elective process will allow a noble republic with elections every eight years, as was customary before the Innuit crisis and Wermund II

What path would Liulfr take ...

It was a rethorical question. I think we all know the answer...

Edit: The question is not weather to go into civil war or not, it's what side we are on. PLaying devil's advocate here, but Eikland does have a point, and it seems like it's everyone teaming up against Vinland.

For Victory, you need to control the enemy capital and have a 50% war score.

The Civil War - part Two: The set-up

After Magnus of Eikland left the Alþing, Liulfur sent emmisaries to his camp to order him to join the Alðing, that would be recommenced the next day. As was to be expected, Magnus had left during the night. Liulfur was Prince of Vinland, but his position as overlord of the Viking League was all but certain.
Unfortunately Liulfur lacked the diplomatic qualities of his predecessors. Fortunately there was nothing wrong with his military leadership, he would need it.
The Icelandic position was something to be debated later on, Eikland managed to convince the other members of the League to join the rebellion.

At the dawn of the Civil War, these were the stances:
In Eikland Magnus had a few thuosand men, altogether some 10000, at his disposal. They were spread out, and if taken out early, Liulfur had a good chance of cripling the Eikland war effort:

Markland had about half the size of Eikland's army, and Fljótland an army of a comparible size.

Vestmanna was militarily speaking the strongest rebel with at least 13000 men. Defending skræling borders there were armies of 4000 and 5000 men

Liulfur's battle plan was more bold than ingenious. Since the country's stability was at an all-time low, there was no time for a stand-off or a cautious aproach, all armies were given strict orders (together with the news that there was actually a war going on).


The red stars are where the main armies were based at the start of the war.
The orders are lined out in red, splitting up mostly means that a small devision sieges the larger settlements of an area, while the main army chases possible enemies.
The smaller green stars are settlements that will take a siege.

The key of Liulfur the Djarflig's plan (the Bold) was to rout any enemies from one third of Eikland's territory. Southern Eikland could only be reached from three, easily defendable areas (encircled in green). While small siege regiments would try to take control, the Vinland cavalry would control these passages, taking a more defensive stance there. Liulfur the Darflig would take his personal army of 9000 men (mostly cavalry) to grab a hold on Eikland's capital.

In the far north, the home army was to take on Markland, and detach smaller siege parties to take control of Markland.
Fljótland would probably send help to the south, but by the time it shuold be able to reach any region of significance, southern Eikland should be sealed off.

Vestmanna's largest armies were in the north-west, so it would take a while to reach Eikland. Most probably they would attack the Apacheland offensive, in the south. This was probably a weak spot in the plan, as Vestmanna could easily take on the small Vinland forces there.
Another possible weak spot could be Fljótland. They had a decent amount of resources, was hard to reach and could thus concentrate all their might into one attack, where they wanted to. If they all-out attacked the Markland offensive àfter having detached one or two siege parties, the whole northern Vinland border could be exposed.

Mattabesta said:

bring them all under vínland!!!
also it'S Alþingi Þ not Ð Þ is a th sound bu ð is sgesaer
gae. too weird to explain.

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I know, but I got used to using alt+0240 and hadn't noticed.
THanks!

The Civil War - part Three: Skræling opportunists.


Liulfur's war cabinet wasn't that terrible, but wasn't much to speak of either. His own military abilities are more worth mentioning.


As the war plan unfolded onto the field, it seemed like everything was going according to plan.


By the end of August, Eikbær fell and without help Magnus IX would be forced to give in to Liulfur the Djarflig's demand before Christmas.

His hopes of any relief were virtually smashed when strongest ally Baldur of Vestmanna found himself in a wasp's nest, being attacked by Sioux, Soshone and Ute. Since September there had been talks of a peace with Vinland, in order to avert the skræling danger. Liulfur wiped the sponge over Baldur's past and immediately declared war on Sioux, which was sieging the Vestmanna capital.
In return Baldur pledged neutrality in the civil war.

Enewald said:

Oijoi, what kind of peace did you do with that nation?
In civil wars when duchies try to gain independence, the game should allow one to annex it.

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I know, but the natives were tearing them to peaces, which was bad for the whole league. Vestmanna was of no good to anybody, nor Liulfur, nor Magnus IX. After the civil war, they will be vassal to the new (or old) overlord.