Iacopo I Boboni-Orsini
The story of the Orsini family begins with Iacopo Boboni-Orsini in 1067. The son of Bobone, he was also the brother to Pietro Boboni-Orsini, whose line later obtained dominance of Papal Politics. Being a second son, he didn't inherit his father's rich lands in Roma, but his father provided for him a good theological education. He is fluent in Latin, Italian, and German.
He is the Count of Orvieto, a rather poor county bordering the main Papal holdings around Roma. Though studying to be a Bishop, the Pope needed a man to guard the less prioritized Papal lands, and so Iacopo was gifted the county in December of 1066. Having been celibate all his life, he decided to marry Giovanna Sfondrati, a merchant's daughter, which gave a considerable dowry.
To end off this brief summary of Iacopo's life before his reign, we will add this quote commonly attributed to him:
"The greatest sin is not of death, of the carnal ways, or even heresy. The greatest sin is a man lusting for power, rather than having it thrust upon himself."- Iacopo I
Italy in 1067
Italy, as it dawned in 1067, was in a fragile balance. In the north laid an assortment of republics and bishops (including Antipope Cadalous I of Parma), bound only by their allegiance to Germany (or more aptly, Italian duchies pledged to Germany. In the middle lay the Papal lands. And finally to the south lay the Norman Duchy of Apulia, the Greek Comes of Napoli, and the Lombard Prince of Salerno.
The year of 1067
Unfortunately, the first actual records of his reign pop up in May, in a short anecdote describing his looks and personality:
"He [Iacopo] was plump of body, but sharp in mind. The Count [Iacopo] was short in stature [as well]. [Well] educated, a sense of inner greatness, [and] with skill in governance."
We also see that Giovanna was already with child by this time, but historians have no idea for how many months.
Also pertaining to the situation of Italy at the time was the conquest of Capua by Robert Guiscard and his Normans. Though the Count of Capua, Richard, was Norman, he was one of the few in vassalage to Apulia at the time. Iacopo spoke before the Roman senate to address the Norman expansion:
"Nobles of Roma, I come before you today to address the issue of Norman expansion. As many of you know, Capua has been conquered by them. Being the only state separating Apulia from Roma [and] my lands, the Normans now border us. Having already forced his holiness to give him his title, he has expanded across the lands of the Greeks [Byzantines] in the South. After this, and attacking Napoli and Salerno, [he] would much rather fight his holiness the Roman Empire [H.R.E.]. I suggest we be ready for a fight at any time."
Due to the increased threat from Apulia, the senate sent a man to lead the armies of Orvieto should war come. His name was Cataldo di Orvieto, and after being appointed leader of the army he started right away at the task of improving Iacopo's armies. He also aided his counterpart in Roma when he could.
Also, in August, Iacopo completed a great literary work, known as "The Divine Right of the Monarch". His book was one of the first to highlight a King's divine right to rule, as granted by god. In can still be found in the Papal library. He made only five copies, distributed to three senators and the current Pope, as well as one to keep for himself. After the printing press was invented, seven new copies were made, but all but the one currently held in the Papal library has been destroyed.
However, soon Giovanna was infected with some kind of ailment lost to history, and there were fears she'd miscarriage or die. Iacopo constantly prayed and stayed by his wife. He is known to have said this when asked why he was doing this:
"I am a son of Adam, she a daughter of Eve. We are bonded by marriage, but also something more. She took my virginity from me, and I took it from her. We know each other in a way no other can. For this I must never lose my faith in her life, and more importantly if she does succumb to the pains of childbirth, her soul's place in heaven."
The year ended with Iacopo in his state of mourning.
-One or Two updates a week
-It to end once CK2 is out, though i may do it over in the CK2 forums
-The Orsinis being King of Serbia or of Italy (two most realistic ones)
-Other than that, a hopefully vibrant new writAAR
The story of the Orsini family begins with Iacopo Boboni-Orsini in 1067. The son of Bobone, he was also the brother to Pietro Boboni-Orsini, whose line later obtained dominance of Papal Politics. Being a second son, he didn't inherit his father's rich lands in Roma, but his father provided for him a good theological education. He is fluent in Latin, Italian, and German.
He is the Count of Orvieto, a rather poor county bordering the main Papal holdings around Roma. Though studying to be a Bishop, the Pope needed a man to guard the less prioritized Papal lands, and so Iacopo was gifted the county in December of 1066. Having been celibate all his life, he decided to marry Giovanna Sfondrati, a merchant's daughter, which gave a considerable dowry.
To end off this brief summary of Iacopo's life before his reign, we will add this quote commonly attributed to him:
"The greatest sin is not of death, of the carnal ways, or even heresy. The greatest sin is a man lusting for power, rather than having it thrust upon himself."- Iacopo I
Italy in 1067
Italy, as it dawned in 1067, was in a fragile balance. In the north laid an assortment of republics and bishops (including Antipope Cadalous I of Parma), bound only by their allegiance to Germany (or more aptly, Italian duchies pledged to Germany. In the middle lay the Papal lands. And finally to the south lay the Norman Duchy of Apulia, the Greek Comes of Napoli, and the Lombard Prince of Salerno.
The year of 1067
Unfortunately, the first actual records of his reign pop up in May, in a short anecdote describing his looks and personality:
"He [Iacopo] was plump of body, but sharp in mind. The Count [Iacopo] was short in stature [as well]. [Well] educated, a sense of inner greatness, [and] with skill in governance."
We also see that Giovanna was already with child by this time, but historians have no idea for how many months.
Also pertaining to the situation of Italy at the time was the conquest of Capua by Robert Guiscard and his Normans. Though the Count of Capua, Richard, was Norman, he was one of the few in vassalage to Apulia at the time. Iacopo spoke before the Roman senate to address the Norman expansion:
"Nobles of Roma, I come before you today to address the issue of Norman expansion. As many of you know, Capua has been conquered by them. Being the only state separating Apulia from Roma [and] my lands, the Normans now border us. Having already forced his holiness to give him his title, he has expanded across the lands of the Greeks [Byzantines] in the South. After this, and attacking Napoli and Salerno, [he] would much rather fight his holiness the Roman Empire [H.R.E.]. I suggest we be ready for a fight at any time."
Due to the increased threat from Apulia, the senate sent a man to lead the armies of Orvieto should war come. His name was Cataldo di Orvieto, and after being appointed leader of the army he started right away at the task of improving Iacopo's armies. He also aided his counterpart in Roma when he could.
Also, in August, Iacopo completed a great literary work, known as "The Divine Right of the Monarch". His book was one of the first to highlight a King's divine right to rule, as granted by god. In can still be found in the Papal library. He made only five copies, distributed to three senators and the current Pope, as well as one to keep for himself. After the printing press was invented, seven new copies were made, but all but the one currently held in the Papal library has been destroyed.
However, soon Giovanna was infected with some kind of ailment lost to history, and there were fears she'd miscarriage or die. Iacopo constantly prayed and stayed by his wife. He is known to have said this when asked why he was doing this:
"I am a son of Adam, she a daughter of Eve. We are bonded by marriage, but also something more. She took my virginity from me, and I took it from her. We know each other in a way no other can. For this I must never lose my faith in her life, and more importantly if she does succumb to the pains of childbirth, her soul's place in heaven."
The year ended with Iacopo in his state of mourning.
***
Hello, I'm SunTzu72. You may have briefly read my Capuan AAR, which was lost to a computer crash on the second day. What you can expect from this AAR:-One or Two updates a week
-It to end once CK2 is out, though i may do it over in the CK2 forums
-The Orsinis being King of Serbia or of Italy (two most realistic ones)
-Other than that, a hopefully vibrant new writAAR
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