LXIX. The child king’s prospects improve
The first years of the regency have been marked by danger but
despite the setbacks the kingdom remains strong, controlling most of the Italian peninsula south of Firenze, Sicily, a sizeable chunk of Libya and Egypt, and Jerusalem with the Holy Sepulchre. What is needed is peace for consolidating the legitimacy of the dynasty on the throne. As a pacifying concession to the nobles in the wake of the suppressed revolts in Greece and the Levant, in 1373 the council suspends the royal prerogatives introduced by Alexios during the Protectorate and reinstates the feudal contract: in this way, at least, the child king Isaakios can trust the loyalty of all other magnates.
After another devastating Khwarizmian raid into Monferrato, chancellor Ioannes Forgach realizes the need to break also the diplomatic isolation to which the kingdom has been subject since the time of the quarrel between Alexios and Abelard. Hence,
a treaty of alliance is concluded in November 1374 with the envoys of Doge Adelfo Mastropiero.
Until 1375 the regency council meets regularly and governs in harmony, but with the death of chancellor Ioannes Forgach (whose role in the transition of power has nonetheless been crucial)
the king’s uncle and marshal Alexios puts himself at the head of all state affairs, faithfully serving the monarchy until Isaakios becomes of age in 1379. Alexios deserves the standing, as during this second part of the regency period obtains the oath of allegiance to the child king from Ottavio of Orbetello (in central Italy) and devises with determination and ability the next direction in which the Hauteville dominion would expand: Egypt.
Egypt has defied the Khwarizmian attacks, but remains (as the whole Near Levant) a patchwork of independent entities available for absorption: the largest of them is the Principality of Homs, still ruled by the successor of Boghos, while the most distinguished continues to be the rump of the Kingdom of Jerusalem ruled by Enzio de Lusignan. On them the new diplomatic policy is launched, with the aim of forging marriage bonds and offer protection against the Muslim threats. So, in 1378 Alexios himself marries Delinda, sister of Enzio, while contacts are established with Prince Smbat of Homs to arrange a wedding between his gifted sister Ardai and the future king Isaakios.
- - - -
But even Alexios could do nothing against the real terror of the period, that is the Black Death. Around mid-1370s the bubonic variant of the plague begins to subside, only to be replaced by the more lethal pneumonic infection.
Towns and hamlets are depopulated, domestic animals and crops abandoned and as a consequence poverty and famine strike the people, regardless of any aid coming from charitable rulers such as the Hautevilles. Also, popular reaction to the Black Death brings a decline of religious authority and devotion, as many believe that the plague represents the punishment of God for the sins of humanity: parents abandon their ill children, any sense of solidarity is lost and even the priests strive to preserve their discipline and faith in the Good News. Hell has arrived on earth…
Rumours from distant lands – Scotland from the House of Dunkeld to that of Aed
In these same years an astounding Scottish tragedy consummates, being the apex and extinction of the ruling dynasty of Dunkeld. In 1368 the last great king of the House of Dunkeld, Ruadrì, has taken over the English crown from the Angevins with the assistance of his Welsh ally, Yann of Dyfed. But just three years later the Scottish-Welsh partnership breaks down because of various disputes and turns into open rivalry. The strengths of the two contenders are uneven and Ruadrì quickly progresses to annex Powys. After two more years of warfare, the Scottish troops occupy also Dyfed and Gwynedd and King Yann is forced to give up his native lands while the Scottish ruler claims the predominance over the whole Wales.
But King Ruadrì will not press that claim: after almost 40 years of rule he is aged and worn out, and above all has given up the hopes of legitimate offspring.
Ruadrì dies childless in 1376, and with him the Dunkeld line comes to an end. With the great king’s death, the situation becomes confused, as the line of succession is disputed (even Isaakios of the Two Sicilies has a distant claim on the crown as great-grandson of Princess Finnguala of Scotland!). With the decisive support of a group of Scottish nobles, Aed of Mar manages to elevate his son (Eochaid II) to the royal status. The child, a mere figurehead, dies of plague 1379 and at this point his controversial father assumes the throne as Aed II.
His direct reign would last another ten years, unfortunately characterised by the increasing power of the noble clans and general turmoil. Upon Aed’s death in 1389 his younger son would ascend as Alexander II, but only to survive for three years and leave the crown to Aed’s brother Duncan III. With such premises it becomes clear that the new ruling dynasty of Mar has not the authority of the old one, and must still secure the loyalty of its subjects.
In the meantime, Scotland engages in a deadly conflict with France, also embroiled in its own internal disorders against the rule of King Henry II. The war opened in 1386 lasts just some years, during which both contenders have to face each-other but also fight their own internal opponents. Only the 1392’s ascension of
Duncan III adds a spin to the Scottish side, with the campaign resuming vigorously and the Scots winning decisive battles on the French soil while Henry II is struggling to deal with the upheaval of his disgruntled vassals (much more numerous and powerful of the Duncan’s ones, evidently). Finally broken down by his many foes, in May 1393 Henry II is forced to accept harsh peace conditions that give to Duncan III considerable territorial gains (Shrewsbury in England, and Paris, Nantes, Evreux, Boulogne Tourraine in France) and sanction the Capetian renounce to the English crown, previously claimed by the French dynasty from the Angevins. Inevitably,
the brilliant victory against the French will increase Duncan’s legitimacy at home, while the defeat costs Henry II Capet his throne, as shortly after he is ousted by Amedeo de Lorraine, who seizes the crown and inaugurates a new ruling dynasty.
Domains of Duncan III in 1393