End of Leon
The Price of Freedom is Norman Invasion
In July 1306, the Leonese war of independence was finally over. Kaiser Leopold was forced to recognize Leon as independent state and King Guichard de Captet had finally managed something his predecessors had been trying to do for so long- he was free. In addition, Holy Roman Empire lost all it’s lands west of Burgundy. What is left of France, Iberia and even some holdings in Africa were now officially part of Leon.
Of course, the new Leon was much smaller then original, for Normans had their time to make things more their way. Still, it was something Normans had been waiting for a long time. The first one to actually take advantage of the new Leonese independence was not Sayer, but King Robert of Castille, who attacked King Guichard, claiming Duchy of Toledo in July.
Sayer was next- in September 1307, Roman Empire declared war on King Guichard, claiming the Duchy of Leon. The target was actually deemed unimportant enough that only one Norman main army plus local vassals were used for the conquest. Rightfully so- Capets were exhausted from their war with Germans. Plus, the power of the Capets was not what it used to be on their peak. Without countering much resistance, Sayer won the war in January 1307. Duchy of Leon was Norman.
In March, Robert of Castille also won the war and Guichard was forced to give up the Duchy of Toledo. The same day, Sayer usurped both the Duchy of Leon and Kingdom of Leon. Clemenza, former Duchess of Asturias, was now granted both Duchy and Kingdom of Leon. Asturias had been Norman Duchy since 1241, still conquered in Turquetil’s time. Clemenza was the granddaughter of the first Norman Duke.
Leon torn into small pieces
With that, Leon ceased to exist. Country was divided into series of Duchies, with former King Guichard, now Duke of Badajoz, being the most powerful of the rulers. Rest were Bourbon and Auvergne. Basically, one could say that with that war, the French nation ceased to exist. Normans had finally won.
Picking up the Pieces
Of course, with the fall of Leon, the wars were far from over. Norman lords descended like vultures upon the remains of the former Kings of Leon. Queen Maud of Aquitaine attacked Bourbon, King William of France attacked Guichard himself, claiming Paris and Sayer took on Auvergne. None of the remnants were able to fight back and in March 1208, Auvergne fell to Sayer’s troops. Bourbon had already been conquered by Maud and Guichard had weaseled out of the war with William, becoming Cathar. Fall of Auvergne and Bourbon still left out free counties that had to be picked up, but overall, only holdings of Badajoz remained.
In quick series of wars, Normans destroyed the freshly liberated Kingdom in just two years.
Norman gains from Leon. Sayer's gains are outlined in red while vassals have their gains shown in blue
Other Wars
Of course, the Leonese war was not the only one fought by Normans in the time period. Several other wars were fought while Leon was destroyed. First one was fought in Summer of 1306. Normans expanded north from Crimea, conquering county of Chortitsa, currently rebelling from the Golden Horde. It was the first conquest Normans made to the lands of Rus.
In September 1306, alongside with Leon, Normans also attacked Prince Vojtech of Bohemia, currently ruling county of Anhalt and rebelling against Moravia, current rulers of Brandenburg. Also, Silesia, the last independent Duchy of Poland, was attacked (rest belonging to Golden Horde). Both wars offered no surprises, though Danish came to the aid of Vojtech, resulting in biggest battle of the war: 20 000 Danish versus 30 000 Normans outside Stendal in March 1307. Silesia was conquered, while Vojtech ended his rebellion, thus invalidating the war.
Anhalt and Silesia, plus the biggest battle in this campaign
Time of Troubles
Kaiser of the Holy Roman Empire and King of Denmark were the only strong independent rulers left in Europe. Plus, to some extent, Golden Horde- they held the lands in Poland and Russia, after all. In spring 1308, all of them were in disarray.
Kaiser Leopold IV had died in summer 1307. His successor and son, Gebhard II was soon facing not one, but two wars of succession. First was for Dietmar, a 52-year old man who was a grandson to Kaiser Leopold II the Great, on whose time Holy Roman Empire reached further then never before. Second was Gebhard’s uncle, Prince Michael. Result- Imperial lands were few in between and most of the Empire was engulfed in rebellion.
Poor Gebhard, with two civil wars, there will be a new Kaiser soon
In Denmark, King Johann the Old also died back in 1306, at impressive age of 83. His son Ture took the throne, soon to be overthrown by his nephew Valdemar I, who died suspiciously, leaving his 1-year daughter in Maren I to rule. Now, Johann, Duke of Polotsk and son of Ture, grandson of Johann, took up arms and most of the Denmark with him.
Old king died in 1306 and by 1308, Maren was the third ruler after him.
As for Golden Horde, one claimant war and one war for independence. Plus, Norway, currently undergoing civil war, demanding elective monarchy. Basically, Europe was either Norman on in turmoil. Norman forces gathered near the borders of Germany, preparing to take full advantage of the situation...
Europe in flames- no other nation left where there is no civil war or two