Table of Contents
Extras
Dramatis personae, 1106
Av Åsane family tree, 1121
Rest of the World update, c. 1125
ACT I: 1066 - 1140
Prologue: Summer, 1066
Chapter 1
- August 1066 - September 1066
- Spring 1067 - November 1069
Chapter 2
- Summer 1080 - May 1081
- June 1083
- Winter, 1090 - Spring, 1106
Chapter 3
February, 1106 - June, 1106
- November, 1111 - May, 1112
- April 1113 - Spring, 1115
- September, 1115 - October, 1115
- May, 1117 - December, 1117
- April, 1123 - June, 1123
Chapter 4
- May, 1125
- June, 1129 - September, 1130
- October, 1134 - November, 1137
- December, 1137 - January, 1140
January, 1140
ACT II: 1140 -
Prologue: January, 1140 - December, 1140
I thought I'd give narrative AARs a shot, playing from a familiar part of the world, while starting out small-scale. So here's the start of a Bergenhus AAR. Bergenhus is a county on the west coast of Norway, naturally situated to be the seat of the (as of 1066 still unformed) Duchy of Vestlandet. The Ruler Designer DLC was used to make a fictitious dynasty.
A few notes on language and terms:
I intend to use some Norwegian "flavour terms" along the way. The most important of these are:
- Jarl and Lendmann (plural: Lendmenn).
Most noble titles in Norway during the early and high middle ages were inherited from the Viking age, and thus tended to have meanings relatively unlike their more continental counterparts.
Jarl has the same etymology as the English "Earl", but whereas in the game these both translate to Count-level power, the actual powers of 11th-century jarls and earls were more akin to Dukes. Jarls were expressly "second only to the King" until the rank was formally replaced with Duke ("Hertug", from German), in OTL around the 13th century. So keep that in mind when Jarls and Jarldoms are referenced.
A Lendmann manages a len, but the title represents varying degrees of power - from the equivalent of minor barons to fullblown counts.
- Hird
A professional, standing army under the command of one person. Besides the King, only Jarls had the right to retain a hird. "Kongshirden" describes the King's hird.
- Various terms and names for countries or territories:
Anglerland = England
Eirann = Ireland
Frankerland: France
Gardariket = Rus lands, particularly Kiev (Konugard) and Novgorod (Holmgard)
Jorsal = Jerusalem, so Jorsalfarer (Crusader) is essentially "One who travels to Jerusalem"
Langabardaland = Essentially Italy, but morphed to mean Lombardy
Miklagard = Constantinople
Norvasund = Strait of Gibraltar
Serkland = Catch-all term for the Middle East. Basically "Land of the people who wear only undershirts" (I am not making this up)
If the flavouring starts feeling conceited I'll just drop it, but that would be embarrassing given this is my actual cultural heritage we're dealing with.
With the formalities out of the way, on with the AAR:
Prologue
-- Akershus festning, Kingdom of Norway
Summer of 1066
The keep of Akershus Fortress
King Harald Hardråde looked preoccupied. The tall norseman was debating with the Saxon lord who had arrived earlier in the year. They spoke quietly, but animatedly. “We'll land in Jorvik – York to you. And you can absolutely guarantee the allegiances of ...”
Prince Magnus lost track as his father uttered a string of Saxon names. As Steward of Norway, it was his duty to inform the King that one of his minor vassals had died without leaving an heir, and present him with a list of potential candidates for elevation. However, interrupting his father... He would get that look again. He knew it. The one that was usually accompanied by his being reminded of how his younger brother Olaf was considered more capable, and had been named the heir. It made him feel every bit the pudgy, scorned boy he had been at ten, even now.
He stepped forward tentatively, hoping to be noticed. Tostig Godwinson, the Saxon lord, took notice, and gestured to the King.
“Yes, Magnus?”
“Ah … your Lendmann Brynjulf of Bergenhus has died. He left no heir – Bergenhus needs a new one. I have assembled a list –“
Harald waved his hand, cutting Magnus off. “Brynjulf. Where was he from?”
“A-Aurland, father. The barons of Aurland are now extinct in the male line.”
“Never liked him. Simpering fool. I won't have any need of your list – I know just the man. Are av Åsane.”
“Åsane? Isn't that …”
“A backwater, yes. The current Lendmann, however, has served with distinction in my Kongshird. I'll see him elevated before we launch the invasion - his time governing that backwater is at an end.”
Magnus bowed. “Your word is –“
The King gave him a stern look, and turned away. “I know my word is law, boy. Leave us, and make the arrangements. I have a war to plan, and I want the men from Bergen to be lead by Are av Åsane."
The Barony of Aurland, now fading into obscurity
Extras
Dramatis personae, 1106
Av Åsane family tree, 1121
Rest of the World update, c. 1125
ACT I: 1066 - 1140
Prologue: Summer, 1066
Chapter 1
- August 1066 - September 1066
- Spring 1067 - November 1069
Chapter 2
- Summer 1080 - May 1081
- June 1083
- Winter, 1090 - Spring, 1106
Chapter 3
February, 1106 - June, 1106
- November, 1111 - May, 1112
- April 1113 - Spring, 1115
- September, 1115 - October, 1115
- May, 1117 - December, 1117
- April, 1123 - June, 1123
Chapter 4
- May, 1125
- June, 1129 - September, 1130
- October, 1134 - November, 1137
- December, 1137 - January, 1140
January, 1140
ACT II: 1140 -
Prologue: January, 1140 - December, 1140
I thought I'd give narrative AARs a shot, playing from a familiar part of the world, while starting out small-scale. So here's the start of a Bergenhus AAR. Bergenhus is a county on the west coast of Norway, naturally situated to be the seat of the (as of 1066 still unformed) Duchy of Vestlandet. The Ruler Designer DLC was used to make a fictitious dynasty.
A few notes on language and terms:
I intend to use some Norwegian "flavour terms" along the way. The most important of these are:
- Jarl and Lendmann (plural: Lendmenn).
Most noble titles in Norway during the early and high middle ages were inherited from the Viking age, and thus tended to have meanings relatively unlike their more continental counterparts.
Jarl has the same etymology as the English "Earl", but whereas in the game these both translate to Count-level power, the actual powers of 11th-century jarls and earls were more akin to Dukes. Jarls were expressly "second only to the King" until the rank was formally replaced with Duke ("Hertug", from German), in OTL around the 13th century. So keep that in mind when Jarls and Jarldoms are referenced.
A Lendmann manages a len, but the title represents varying degrees of power - from the equivalent of minor barons to fullblown counts.
- Hird
A professional, standing army under the command of one person. Besides the King, only Jarls had the right to retain a hird. "Kongshirden" describes the King's hird.
- Various terms and names for countries or territories:
Anglerland = England
Eirann = Ireland
Frankerland: France
Gardariket = Rus lands, particularly Kiev (Konugard) and Novgorod (Holmgard)
Jorsal = Jerusalem, so Jorsalfarer (Crusader) is essentially "One who travels to Jerusalem"
Langabardaland = Essentially Italy, but morphed to mean Lombardy
Miklagard = Constantinople
Norvasund = Strait of Gibraltar
Serkland = Catch-all term for the Middle East. Basically "Land of the people who wear only undershirts" (I am not making this up)
If the flavouring starts feeling conceited I'll just drop it, but that would be embarrassing given this is my actual cultural heritage we're dealing with.
With the formalities out of the way, on with the AAR:
Prologue
-- Akershus festning, Kingdom of Norway
Summer of 1066
The keep of Akershus Fortress
King Harald Hardråde looked preoccupied. The tall norseman was debating with the Saxon lord who had arrived earlier in the year. They spoke quietly, but animatedly. “We'll land in Jorvik – York to you. And you can absolutely guarantee the allegiances of ...”
Prince Magnus lost track as his father uttered a string of Saxon names. As Steward of Norway, it was his duty to inform the King that one of his minor vassals had died without leaving an heir, and present him with a list of potential candidates for elevation. However, interrupting his father... He would get that look again. He knew it. The one that was usually accompanied by his being reminded of how his younger brother Olaf was considered more capable, and had been named the heir. It made him feel every bit the pudgy, scorned boy he had been at ten, even now.
He stepped forward tentatively, hoping to be noticed. Tostig Godwinson, the Saxon lord, took notice, and gestured to the King.
“Yes, Magnus?”
“Ah … your Lendmann Brynjulf of Bergenhus has died. He left no heir – Bergenhus needs a new one. I have assembled a list –“
Harald waved his hand, cutting Magnus off. “Brynjulf. Where was he from?”
“A-Aurland, father. The barons of Aurland are now extinct in the male line.”
“Never liked him. Simpering fool. I won't have any need of your list – I know just the man. Are av Åsane.”
“Åsane? Isn't that …”
“A backwater, yes. The current Lendmann, however, has served with distinction in my Kongshird. I'll see him elevated before we launch the invasion - his time governing that backwater is at an end.”
Magnus bowed. “Your word is –“
The King gave him a stern look, and turned away. “I know my word is law, boy. Leave us, and make the arrangements. I have a war to plan, and I want the men from Bergen to be lead by Are av Åsane."
The Barony of Aurland, now fading into obscurity
Last edited: