The House Of Mathrafal: A Welsh Adventure

**Scott1964** · 16-02-2012 21:34

Chapter 1 (September 15,1066 to January 3, 1072)

In 1066 Gwynedd is a large duchy to the west of England. In real life Gwynedd was a kingdom of several Welsh successor states which emerged in the 5th century post-Roman Britain in the Early Middle Ages, Gwynedd would later evolve into a principality during the High Middle Ages. Gwynedd is led by Duke Bleddyn (Bleddyn ap Cynfyn) In real life he was Prince of the Welsh Kingdoms of Gwynedd and of Powys (He died in 1075).

As the result of several marriages to several people in very high places. I have a few alliances.

In December 1068 my wife gets pregnant.

We named her Helen

The Pope has asked me to help in a play production

In November 1069 we go to war with Gwent.

My Spymaster is hard at work

Plot #1

We have a nice comfy cell in my dungeon.

Plot #2

She slips away, but she will be back.

His cell is waiting for him at the bottom of my dungeon

Thanks for reading. More to follow.

**Tanzhang (譚張)** · 17-02-2012 04:32

Another Gwynedd AAR! We're taking over the forums we are!

Hard luck with losing your Chaplain and Constance, hopefully you can find a suitable replacement for the former.

**Scott1964** · 17-02-2012 04:54

Chapter 2 (January 3, 1072 to July 10, 1083)

Norway stomped England out of existence during this time. Various independent dukes sprung up, like Oxford, Bedford, and Norfolk, only to be absorbed back into Norway. Gywnedd did not see any addition territory added. But my spymaster is hard at work fabricating claims. Several plots were uncovered including one of the family's sons. My heir's wife died during this time and he remarried. Death was also in the immediate family with Duchess Morien dying. The first ever Summer Fair was held during this time of peace.

The Pope sent some money to help in our non-involvement in some conflicts.

A merchant stops by

The son's wife dies

And gets remarried

Plots and more plots
1074

1082

The Summer Fair of 1083

A claim on Gwent

My wife dies

I get remarried

My health gets worse

Thanks for reading

**Tanzhang (譚張)** · 17-02-2012 05:03

A claim on Gent

I think you mean Gwent, right?

**Scott1964** · 17-02-2012 05:21

Originally Posted by Tanzhang (譚張)

I think you mean Gwent, right?

Yes

**Scott1964** · 18-02-2012 02:00

Chapter 3 (July 10, 1083 to January 17, 1091)

England was absent from the Continent for quite some time. My father in law the King of Norway was the almighty ruler of both lands. But that will change in the near future. Other interesting items of historical noteture were the claim of my rightful land of Powys. We held another Summer Fair in 1084, which would be the last for quite sometime. We aided quite a few wars with my father in law as we watched from the sidelines. My Marshall keeps asking me why we do not go forth and fight. The answer is simple, we can not raise an army that big to even put a dent in the garrisons. Someday in the future, the Mathrafal family will be the most powerful in the English Isles. My heir also died and I had to look into my family and decide if I want one of my sons to be still imprisoned.

The heir to the House Mathrafal dies

Some good news

The Glamorgan claim on Powys

The Deheubarth claim on Powys

Wars
Lappland (September 19, 1084 to November 13, 1085)

King Hugue The Cruel (August 13, 1085 to March 23, 1086)

Pruthenians (May 21, 1086 to December 15, 1086)

July 1088

England
England is formed again with the death of the King Harald of Norway. My Brother in law just happens to be the new King.

Thanks for reading and the comments.

**Scott1964** · 19-02-2012 05:00

Chapter 4 (January 17 1091 to April 22, 1098)
This was a time of turmoil within the Duchy of Gwynedd and the British Isles. First King Harald of Norway died and left the Kingdom of England all by itself. Then Duke Bleddyn I died and left his grandson Llywelyn I to take over the reins of the Gywnedd Duchy. All along various English subjects revolted and were put down and the very heir to the Mathrafal Family rebelled and was imprisoned.

King Boleslaw the Bold dies

The Pope calls for as crusade for Jaffa

A plot is uncovered

The British Isles in turmoil

The end of the English crisis

Hunydd’s marriage to Countess Sunniva

Our pressing of the Claim of Glamorgan

I get a nickname

The end is near

Introducing my successor

Glamorgan is mine

The heir to the Gwynedd family is plotting against me

Am I impotent?

Victory is mine

Thanks for reading.

**Tanzhang (譚張)** · 19-02-2012 06:06

Llywelyn, eh?. with a name like that he must be Great!

Surely his ambition must be to become exalted among men, no?

**Scott1964** · 20-02-2012 06:16

Originally Posted by Tanzhang (譚張)

Llywelyn, eh?. with a name like that he must be Great!

Surely his ambition must be to become exalted among men, no?

Nope, a son or heir

**Scott1964** · 20-02-2012 06:28

Chapter 5 (April 22, 1098 to April 28, 1112)
An Heir is Produced

This was a time of peaceful existence within the House of Mathrafal. War raged on in England with various revolting vassal of the King. Gwynedd stood on the sidelines and watched. Civil war was leading to the lowering of crown authority. Despite persistent rumors Llywelyn is able to produce an heir to the House of Mathrafal. But the time was not always as peaceful as death showed its ugly face in the family and a rival duke laid claim to Powys and then proceeded to press the claim. Small pox and typhoid made their appearances. A new vassal is gained.

From the Diary of Llyelyn
3 August 1098.
I have spoken with the doctor. My wife is pregnant with our first child. I am so happy. No more rumors about me being impotent.

3 February 1099.
I am so happy and so is Elvira, a son is born and we named him Cadwgan.

2 August 1100
Elvira is pregnant again. We are overjoyed. Cadwgan has a sibling to play with.

12 April 1101
Myself and Elvira welcomed a girl, Melisant into this world.

1 May 1107
I so miss Elvira. For days she has been very ill. Now she is gone. I feel very empty.

5 May 1107
Ah my sweet Berchte, we shall be tied forever in Holy Matrimony.

25 August 1105
My marshal Gruffydd comes across a knight in ragged armor as he was moving through our lands and was arrested. I implored Gruffydd to release him.

English Civil War of 1100

A March 1104 Claim and the pressing.

We gained land for the House of Mathrafal
Ducal War Over Dyfed (May 1109 to April 1110)

A destitute Noble wanders into our lands

Ohhh a plot

And finally I have received a nickname.

Thanks for reading.

**Scott1964** · 21-02-2012 19:37

Chapter 6 (April 28, 1112 to March 11, 1123)
Expansion Into the Known

The following is an excerpt from a history book on a shelf within Oxford University in the year 1722.
In January of 1113 Pope Valentine II introduced The Holy Order of St Johns.
Later in January of 1118 a new Christian Order by the name of The Knights Templar was set up to protect pilgrim son their way to the Holy Land.

The House of Mathrafal experienced a time of prosperity and a time of sadness. Vassals were kept inline and buildings were being constructed everywhere. More troops were being recruited and trained. Welshmen were also keeping their on eye to the east with the turmoil in England. King Torston of England was trying to keep his subjects in line. Welshmen were also getting the itch to expand. The expansion would come later in the period. But first sadness was felt in the lands of Mathrafal. Duke Llywelyn dies unexpectedly on October 5, 1113 at the age of 56.

Cadwgan is then thrust into the stage and will officially take control of the Duchy of Gwynedd.

Duke Cadwgan marries Jadranka Trprimirovic

They will produce children thus far.

Cadwgan’s rein was not always smooth. A plot was uncovered in late April 1120.
The plotter, Elystan, was plotting to kill Cadwgan. He would later escape to Ulster.

His efficient spymaster, Alwyn de Caernarfon, will be assassinated, as the culprit was not uncovered.

The House of Mathrafal went to war and claimed the county of Desmond on the Irish Isles.

Happiness comes back to the family as sister Melisant marries William de Normandy in December 1121.

Duke Cadwgan proposed a new law and it was ratified by all in late August 1121.

All the hard work of the House of Mathrafal has come together. On March 11th 1123 Cadwgan created the title of King and was crowned the King of Wales.

Thanks for reading.

**Scott1964** · 23-02-2012 22:37

Chapter 7 ( March 11, 1123 to July 8, 1137)
Expansion into the Emerald Isles

The Kingdom of Wales expanded onto the Emerald Isles with a claim on Duchy of Munster and will later add Ulster. The times were highlighted by two wars, religious upheaval, children coming of age, a marriage, and a Grand Tournament to write home about. King Cadwgan I is poised to take Wales upwards in the English Isles.

The world according to Wales

The quest for THE BOOK.

The conflicts of this period of time.
The Duchy of Munster

The County of Ulster

The House of Mathrafal immortalized

A Grand Tournament is held in Wales

First Place

Second place

The heir to the Mathrafal House and his marriage.

King Cadwgan gets a nickname.

The daughter is a little wild.

Pagans

Thanks for reading.

**Scott1964** · 24-02-2012 19:59

Chapter 8 (July 8, 1137 to June 14, 1164)

It was a time of turmoil within the Mahtrafal House. Death, rumors, plotting, assassinations, wars, and revolts all were prominent throughout this time. The Kingdom of Wales saw expansion in the Emerald Isles and on mainland. King Cadwgan continues to reign despite being in his late 60’s and has outlived his two previous wives.

Prince Awst come of age. He will be the instigator of the most trouble within the Mathrafal House.

Queen Jadranka dies

Wife #2

The Welsh claim on Hereford (September 1146 to May 1147)

Prince Aneurin comes of age.

The Welsh-Ossayian Ducal War over Ormond (August 1149 to February 1150)

Rumors

Revolt of 1153

The Plot to Kill Prince Fychan

Morgana dies

My heir gets a new title

Queen Gisele dies

3rd Wife

Prince Aneurin dies, more than likely assassinated.

Another daughter comes of age

Thanks for reading

**Scott1964** · 26-02-2012 04:35

Chapter 9 (June 14, 1164 to January 4, 1187)

The House of Mathrafal and the Kingdom of Wales experienced a time of prosperity and turmoil. King Cadwgan led his Welsh subjects to advances in culture and more land to settle. Traitors of the Welsh people, a revolt, and death twice mired the Mathrafal house. King Cadwgan would reign from October 5, 1113 to December 9, 1176. He would be succeeded by Llywelyn. King Llywelyn’s reign will be cut short as he would die on November 14, 1177. King Cadwgan II is the current ruler in a time of turmoil. A war and unruly vassals are a headache as well as land in France.

The Traitor Prince Awst dies

The Plot to kill a Queen

Wife #4

An assassination

A vassal gets a new county from King Jon I of England

The deaths of King Cadwgan I and King Llewelyn I

An attempted kidnapping

Paybacks are a bitch

Cadwgan II claim a title from King Jon I of England

Civil War of 1182

Two traitorous kin

A new law

Thanks for reading.

**Scott1964** · 28-02-2012 19:25

Chapter 10 (January 4, 1187 to October 28, 1205)

The House of Mathrafal and the lands of Wales saw a time of turmoil. King Cadwgan II was in the middle as vassals and family members fought to gain control of the dynasty. Wales saw more land come under the flag with the creation of the Kingdom of Ireland. Wales and England traded titles for the Duchy of Gloucester. First in 1188, Jon of England took it and then vassal Duke Budic of Gloucester took it back in 1199. The Mathrafal dynasty saw some death within this time. First Prince Brwt was imprisoned for a led revolt in 1188 and died in prison shortly thereafter. Princess Matilda then dies in 1197. And one last death, Prince Cedwyn dies in prison in 1199. More intrigue for the House of Mathrafal. Queen Nichola made public King Cawgan’s affairs. The first every prison escape happened in 1195, Marchell de Ardfert escaped from Cadwgan’s dungeon. Several vassals decided to make waves within the Kingdom and were defeated. At the end of the time frame a new king will be in power.

Glamorgan War ended with the imprisonment of Count Gudmund

Tyrconnell and Tyrone Ducal Wars ended in 1197 and 1198

Tyrconnell Independence War in 1202

Munster Revolt ended in 1203.

Children coming of age. Prince Jirik in 1198. Princess Viola in 1200. Princes Margaret in 1202.

Prima Noctae of 1202

Earl Hugh is doing some very nasty stuff. Remember the name Earl Hugh.

King Cadwgan’s spymaster is assassinated.

A decision was made in September 1204 on whether or not to create the Kingdom of Ireland. After conferring with the counsel within the Kings court, The Kingdom of Ireland was created and bestowed on King Cadwgan II “the Drunkard”

King Cadwgan’s last day.

The new King of Wales and King of Ireland.

Thanks for reading.