Liber Iudicum - a story of SAARdinia

MrDgcr: Thanks! I was starting to run low on screenshots, so I had to play some more. There should be enough screenshots for at least a few more updates. Torcotore is getting old, and I imagine he has a decade or thereabouts before he passes on and Antoniotto inherits.


Stefania and I continue to have a happy marriage, despite her unfortunate and prolonged illness.



When His Holiness Victor III was elected in August 1090, he brought the Archbishopric of Tuscany under Papal control. He then made Pietro Mazzabarba Archbishop of Tuscany.



The new Archbishop of Tuscany happens to be a rival of my friend (illegible)¹. I think it’s only reasonable that an enemy of one of my friends should also be an enemy of mine.



My wife’s brother Bernat recently came to live at court.



I have heard that he was in a foul mood because his lover left him, but I have yet to hear who his former lover was.



It’s unfortunate that he hasn’t married yet.

I have decided that Filomena will be educated in a convent.

Filomena before her education




My son Ramon Berenguer has completed his education.



It seems that he favors scheming and intrigue over diplomatic negotiations or business enterprises.



I suppose there is a place for such work at most courts, though I certainly prefer diplomacy or even battle over the use of poison or hired killers. If nothing else, I suppose it’s good to have people with such skills around to guard against those who are not as principled.



Ramon Berenguer has been acting very strange lately.





I regret having to cede authority over investiture to the Pope, though considering my last brush with Papal authority I would prefer to be on the good side of His Holiness.



I have heard that some people question whether I have a true claim to Cagliari, which is absolute nonsense. I ruled Cagliari for almost 30 years before I took Arborea and gave Cagliari to my eldest son, I’m not about to give it up just because Antoniotto thinks I’m too old to rule, or whatever nonsense he chooses to believe.




The doctors say that Stefania has taken a turn for the worse. Prayers continue to be said for her speedy recovery. I hate to think of what my life would be like without my beloved wife at my side.



I thought I might send Filomena to the court of my ally, Count Severo of Ancona, to improve our relations. When I sent a letter asking if he would accept her, Count Severo quickly answered that he would be honored to raise my daughter like one of his own.

Filomena shortly after her arrival in Ancona, mid-September 1092






Adelia has been short-tempered and irritable lately.



Ramon Berenguer seems to think that he deserves a place on my council more than Froizza. She may be a woman, but she hasn't been acting strange lately and she certainly seems to be doing a good job. At last report, Ramon Berenguer was living at the court of Duke Serlo of Calabria.

Duke Serlo I of Calabria, late November 1092



¹: This is my clever way of saying I don't know exactly who he was a rival of, since I didn't really have any good screenshots and I didn't bother to take notes. Oops.

My grandson Berto, Lorenzo and Froizza’s son, died recently at the age of three years and four months. We were unable to determine his cause of death, though Ramon Berenguer claimed that Berto was plotting to kill him.



Why would a child be plotting to kill his uncle?

On a happier note, King Roger of Sicily, or armies fighting in his name, took Jerusalem from the Mohammedans in January 1092. The Pope has given thanks for the aid God and the saints gave to the brave souls who took up the cross and returned Jerusalem to its rightful Christian rule.

King Roger Borsa of Sicily, March 1093




Agapito’s wife Muriella has decided to retire to a convent for a short time. Since Muriella is my Steward, I had been wondering who I might find to replace her when Agapito volunteered to temporarily take over her duties. I hope he is able to keep everything in order until Muriella returns.



(Agapito became Pragmatic)



(Agapito "befriended" Anastasia of Orvieto when he was being fostered at either the Papal or Tuscan court - she’s married to the bastard brother of the Count of Saluzzo.)



Stefania has fallen ill yet again.



Emmanuele has shown some skill with figures and various petty intrigues, including but not limited to stealing treats from the kitchen.



I think this means he is best suited for a suitable education at court, in order to prepare him for a career as a diplomat, spy master, or steward.



My son Azzone, the Chancellor of Sardinia, thinks that his services should be rewarded.





It seems like he could negotiate the leaves off a tree, and not everyone has that kind of skill, so I think it's only reasonable that I should reward him.







Agapito has been helping his wife carry out her official duties.



I recently learned of a very astute Aragonese princess. I wonder if Ramon Berenguer would act less strange if he had a wife to occupy his time?



I also thought it might be a good idea to strengthen our alliance with the Count of Ancona, so I sent a letter that proposed that Count Severo's sister Emma marry Ramon Berenguer.



King Roger's brother Bohemond may have died several years ago, but Bohemond's daughter looks like she could also be a good match. Well, at least if financial acumen, intrigue, or fervent religious belief are not among the qualities that you are looking for.



Severo of Ancona agrees to marry his sister to Ramon Berenguer. At the wedding, we also learn that Emma is a half-sister of the Duke of Gwynedd, which is apparently a small duchy somewhere in Britannia.




Merigo has been wanting to take up the Cross and fight the heathens, but he's still thankfully some years away from that. It seems spending his early years at a monastery and the last several years learning tactics, strategy, and all of the other essentials of military command has had some effect on him.

DumBMan: Thank you very much! After seeing your request, I included such a map in this update. Right now I'm planning on writing about the state of "the world" when Torcotore dies, and then maybe every 25 years or so after that. We'll see how that goes.


Okay, so I probably should have included this screenshot in the last update.




I’m not sure why Lorenzo thinks he would be a better spymaster than his wife Froizza, but to keep him somewhat happy I allow him to take her place as my spy master, even if he does happen to be slightly less skilled than his wife.





Agapito and Muriella’s daughter Flandina is old enough to begin her education, and it is decided that she will receive an ecclesiastical education at a convent.





Her older sister Matilda, in contrast, will be educated by the officials of the court.



She seems to have inherited some of her mother’s skill with figures, though of course a child isn’t going to have very much skill with finances or business.




My beloved Stefania died less than two weeks before Christmas after a long illness. May she rest in peace.



I wish I could think of more to write, but I would hate for my tears to smear the ink.

Ramon Berenguer has claimed that he can hear the voices of angels. Sometimes he seems to be talking to them, if his recent habit of talking to thin air is any indication. He has been spending a lot more time at prayer and in confession lately, so if nothing else that’s a good thing.





Adelia da Cardano has requested permission to retire from my service. She never served as one of my advisors, but since most of my children, or their wives, are more capable and younger, I saw no reason for her to continue in my service.





I have decided to charter a tile factory, in order to allow buildings to be constructed faster and for increased revenues.


Corsica is currently part of the Kingdom of Sicily, despite being part of the de jure Duchy of Sardinia.

The island of Sardinia itself is currently the entirety of the Duchy's territory.



Azzone’s daughter Antonia shall be educated at court. Perhaps she will have her father’s skill with diplomacy.



Agapito and Muriella had an argument the other day, but Agapito’s decision to buy an expensive gift seems to have made amends.



Since Antoniotto and Agapito were so close when they were younger, I decided that relations between Antoniotto and I might be improved if one of Agapito’s children were fostered at Antoniotto’s court.



I chose Emmanuele because he was the oldest of Agapito's children, and because he’s Agapito’s only son thus far.



The first time I suggested it to Antoniotto he refused, but my persistence must have persuaded him that it was a good idea.

Council and Crusade

DumBMan: All will be revealed soon. Thank you for your comments!






I have no idea who this Barnaba Taparelli is. If I wasn’t satisfied with Costante’s long years of loyal service as my court chaplain, I might be inclined to replace him, but I happen to be satisfied with Costante, and furthermore Barnaba is fairly old. Having to find a replacement chaplain could be slightly inconvenient.



My brother-in-law Bernat no longer has a valid claim on the title of Margrave of Provence. I believe Antoniotto’s claim on Provence from Stefania is still valid.



His Holiness Victor III has called for every true Christian to take up the cross and take Alexandria from the Muslims, who have ruled it since 641.



Flandina and Matilda have been squabbling lately.



I decided to help the fishermen when I learned that they had a bad harvest.



Lorenzo and Froizza’s daughter Bona has died at the age of one year and two weeks.





It has been decided that Lorenzo and Froizza’s son Tommaso will be educated in tactics, strategy, and everything else he will need to know to become a skilled military commander.



The tile factory has been completed.



I’m not sure why Count Severo of Ancona is suddenly my rival. Was he offended by something Filomena said? I do hope no harm comes to her as a result of his suddenly disliking me. This will probably also affect our alliance.





I’m not sure who this Clemente Maggi is, but since he has consumption I’ve been trying to keep him away from me anyway.



Ramon Berenguer’s wife Emma has fallen ill. Thankfully, she doesn’t seem to have contracted consumption or any other severe illnesses.





I don’t know why Ramon Berenguer thinks he would make a better steward than Muriella. Even if her being a woman prevented her from being my steward, Agapito is much better at figures than Ramon Berenguer has shown himself to be.



Ramon Berenguer has been short-tempered and irritable lately.



I decide that Froizza can be my spymaster once again.



Flavia will be educated by the officials of the court so that she might become skilled in diplomacy, stewardship, or intrigue.



Ramon Berenguer seems to be in a better mood lately. He seems to be convinced that his wife being sick is his fault, so he's been spending more time confessing his sins and "talking to angels." At least, that's what he claims to be doing in empty rooms if anyone asks him why he's standing in a room and talking to himself.

A plague on your House?

Supreme Leader: I was pleasantly surprised by several of the character's stats. I'm not off to Alexandria immediately - I'm a few years ahead in game of where I am in the AAR, so it will be a few updates before we might see a Sardinian expedition to Alexandria.




Agapito and Muriella have been spending a lot of time together lately.


Emma has recovered from her illness.





A woman who claimed to be able to cure the sick offered to cure Clemente. He refused her offer and seems to have recovered from his consumption.







Bianca Morosini has requested permission to retire. I gave my assent, of course, because she’s getting old and my son Azzone, currently serving as my chancellor, is still fairly young.



The Count of Urbino




I decide to befriend the Duke of Lower Lorraine, who happens to be a friend of my friend the Count of Urbino.




In news from the Holy Land, we learn that an order of knights calling themselves the Hospitalers has been granted Acre by King Robert of England.



Merigo contracted some kind of illness shortly before his sixteenth birthday. Prayers will be said for his swift recovery.

Merigo circa October 1098



Emma has fallen ill again.


Costante came to me in confidence and told me that Ramon Berenguer had confessed to killing Berto by smothering him with a pillow. According to Costante, Ramon Berenguer also said that he had been told that Berto was plotting to kill him. I decide to send Ramon to a monastery in order to prevent him from harming anyone else.







It is decided that Azzone’s daughter Felicia will be educated in a convent.


Emma decided to beg for charity from a healer who offered to cure her ailment, but she doesn’t seem to have improved.

Merigo had been competing with another young man for the favors of the younger ladies of the court, but he has been acting more generous lately.



Emma has recovered from her latest illness.



Since Merigo has come of age, I have decided to find him a wife. The daughter of King Roger of Sicily would be a nice match, though I have to confess I’m not certain if he’ll agree to the match or not.





King Roger of Sicily has agreed to my proposal, so Merigo and Princess Aline shall be married.



Filomena has come of age and returned from Ancona. I shouldn’t be surprised by how strongly she resembles her mother, and I suppose it’s time I find her a husband.





His Holiness Victor III has passed away after 9 years as Pope. The conclave elected Archbishop Rolando of Iceland, who took the name of Gregory VII.





King Olaf of Norway is still very influential at the Papal court, if the rumors are true.

I propose to King Roger of Sicily that Filomena marry his nephew Mauger, who is a son of King Roger’s late brother Bohemond.





Matilda has been prominent among the girls her age at court of late.





Costante’s rival Barnaba Taparelli has died of old age. I’ve been told that some of the more isolated villages he visited in Arborea have begun to venerate him as if he’s been beatified by the Church.







King Roger has declined my proposal to marry Filomena to his nephew Mauger. I decide to propose that Filomena marry Mauger’s brother Hugh, who is currently serving as King Roger’s Marshal.



This time King Roger accepts my proposal, and I decide to levy a duty in order to pay for the dowry and preparations for the marriage.

Wanted: Better Chapter Titles






Count Gaston of Carcassone, Montpellier, and Gabiyaha requests an alliance, and I accept. I’m not entirely sure why Count Severo of Ancona decided to end our alliance, but perhaps it was something Filomena said or did.







Merigo has finished his education and become a brilliant strategist. I decide to make him my Marshal.



Merigo and Aline’s daughter Giuditta (born March 11, 1100) has fallen ill.



Costante has ably served as my court chaplain for almost 27 years.



After a few months, Giuditta has recovered from her sickness.



Merigo found a large deer while he was hunting and decided that it would make a great trophy.



Lorenzo is claiming that he would be a better spy master than his wife again.



I tell him, yet again, that his wife is unfortunately more skilled than he his. Perhaps it’s due to her being the eldest daughter of the Consul of Pisa, as opposed to Lorenzo’s being the third son of a comparatively minor ruler.



Clemente did have a claim to Durham, which is apparently in northern England, but nobody is taking his claim seriously anymore. I have to say that I’m not sure if anyone at my court ever did take his claims seriously, though.



For the umpteenth time, Lorenzo claims he would be better than his wife and I tell him that I am satisfied with her service.



Froizza has proposed a plan for the assassination of Count Severo of Ancona.



I decide against it on the grounds of cost and it not being honorable to hire people to kill the ruler who is fostering one of your children.





Muriella’s brother joined my court recently, shortly before he started suffering from illness.



Agapito’s daughter Flandina and Azzone’s daughter Antonia have recently become close friends.

I sort of forgot about this for a couple weeks. Oops. Anyway, in a few updates you might understand why I might have been frustrated. Let's just say that one of the characters in this update will prove to be important in the near future.





Bernard, the brother of my late wife, recently died in his sleep. I don’t like to think about how old I’m getting, but there are some times when I do feel very old.



At any rate, since Bernard never married and fathered no legitimate children, I believe that the blood of the Counts of Besalu now survives in my children and grandchildren due to my late and beloved Stefania.





Flandina, Agapito’s youngest daughter, has been particularly generous and kind lately.





Merigo has been spending more time in confession and in prayer of late.



He also seems to have decided that he dislikes his father-in-law King Roger of Sicily.



Costante has not been feeling well lately.


He has claims on Corsica, Arborea, Monferrato, and Cagliari. I believe Pisa starts with claims on Arborea and Cagliari, and Sesto inherited a claim on Corsica (and, for that matter, Cagliari) from his father Alberto.

After receiving an emissary from Sesto Obertenghi, the only son of my old rival Alberto “the Red” of Corsica and the new Consul of Pisa, I decide to attempt to improve our relations by offering one of my grandchildren to foster at the Pisan court.



After looking at the saved game, I saw that Sesto actually inherited Pisa from Gentile d'Appiano in April, but I didn't notice until about 6 months later. I saw that I had +10 relations with him, which is why I thought fostering a child there might improve relations and hopefully avoid a war with Pisa.



I decide to offer Azzone’s daughter Felicia, and Consul Sesto accepts my offer.



Apparently Costante has been suffering from stomach worms.



After her sister’s departure for a convent near Pisa, Azzone’s eldest daughter Antonia has become known among the children and maids of the court for plotting and deceit.



Merigo’s wife Princess Aline of Sicily accepted a wandering healer’s offer to cure her illness.





Unfortunately, the child she was pregnant with at the time was stillborn.



Agapito’s son Emmanuele returned to court after turning 16.



Agapito’s wife’s brother Henry decided to beg for the mercy of the wandering healer that offered to heal him.



If the rumor is true, Merigo refused the advances of a maidservant and remains completely faithful to his wife.

Costante Zeno has passed away after nearly 29 years of loyal service as my court chaplain.



My second son Agapito will replace him as court chaplain.





Tommaso, Lorenzo and Froizza’s son, has been known to be modest, truthful, and temperate.





My son and Marshal Merigo has thankfully recovered from his illness.



Henry, Agapito’s brother-in-law, decided to pray for his health instead of allowing a wandering healer to cure his illness. Henry’s prayers don’t seem to have improved his health yet.



Agapito’s daughter Matilda has become close friends with Lorenzo’s daughter Flavia.





Agapito has apparently decided to take up celibacy now that he's serving as court chaplain. I bet that his being fostered at the Papal court in his youth might have persuaded him to make this decision. On the other hand, I'm not exactly lacking for heirs - aside from Antoniotto and his sons Fresco and Pasquale, and Agapito and his son Emmanuele, I'm not exactly low on potential heirs considering my five living sons and their children.





Count Obizzo of Monferrato proposed an alliance, which I naturally accept.







Agapito's son Emmanuele has completed his education and become a skilled diplomat.



This time, when a wandering healer offers to help Henry, he throws himself upon their charity. Whatever the healer did must have worked, because he seems to be perfectly healthy now.





It is decided that Azzone’s daughter Ermenegilda will be educated at court.

Calm Before The Storm

DumBMan: Thank you!






Lorenzo's daughter Flavia has gained an unfortunate reputation as being hostile and reckless.



I propose to King Roger of Sicily that his niece Gundred marry my grandson Emmanuele, and King Roger accepts.







Emmanuele's sister Matilda finishes her education, and I propose to Duke Jordan of Sicily that she marry Bernard, his eldest grandson.



Duke Jordan accepts my proposal and Matilda departs for her new home at Palermo.



With the coming of spring, I decide to order the construction of a network of roads to connect the major cities and towns of Arborea, which will ease travel and trade and, perhaps, also aid the collection of taxes. I'm not sure that I'll live long enough to see the road network expanded to the rest of the island, but with the resources of Arborea at their disposal I don't think Antoniotto or his successors should find it too difficult to build more roads.





Flandina has apparently been inspired by the example of her father, though chastity is a step down from celibacy if I correctly remember my lessons. Still, better to be faithful to one's spouse than to be unfaithful and adulterous.



Antoniotto has declared independence and now styles himself “King and Judge of Cagliari”. I decide that bringing him to heel can wait until next spring, and give orders to begin preparations for war.



Today we received an emissary from Consul Sesto of Pisa informing us that the Republic of Pisa is now officially at war with the Duchy of Sardinia. I wonder - does Sesto's decision to go to war with me relate to his father Alberto “the Red”, or does it relate to Pisan interests?

After Pisa's declaration of war, but before the fighting begins, Sardinia learns of the death of Pope Gregory VII.



The cardinals elect the Polish Archbishop of Modena, and the new Pope takes the name of Gelasius II.



A company of Danish mercenaries offered their services, which I am all too glad to accept. The Jutland Raiders Company by itself almost doubles the size of the army I can assemble. I would probably be able to muster more men if my son hadn't declared independence, but I'll deal with him later.



Apparently Gundred has finished her education, and is quite the scholar.



The Pisans finally landed. Without the Danes, the Pisans would outnumber me, but with the Danes our forces are roughly equal in size.





After several weeks of skirmishing, we manage to drive the Pisans back into the sea.



Unfortunately, we took more losses than the Pisans did. We lost almost a thousand men, while the Pisans only lost about eight hundred. My son Merigo also refused the advances of a camp follower left behind when the Pisans abandoned their camp, which only adds to his reputation for piety.


Agapito's brother-in-law Henry has lost any claim he might have had to his father's lands in England. Considering his position as the youngest son and being in exile without any lands or power, this isn't surprising.


Men commanded by the Bishop of Piombino landed in Arborea. Unfortunately, the Danes quickly lose their resolve, which leaves me with 700 men against the bishop's 600.


This time, the enemy takes more losses than we do, but we only have so many reserves.



Flavia has become very close to Antonia lately.




Ermenegilda and Antonia have been competing fiercely with each other lately.



Merigo's daughter Giuditta will be educated in a convent.



In spite of his friendship with my rival Count Severo of Ancona, I see no reason to be an enemy of Bishop Hartmann of Rostock, who happens to be a brother of the King of Germany.



Ancona is a lot closer to Sardinia than Rostock, which is an island somewhere off the northern coast of Germany, or so I'm told.



King Enrique of Aragon has offered an alliance, which I readily accept.

The Pisans have returned. Without the Danes I can only muster about one thousand men, while the Pisans have about half again as many.

After about three weeks of skirmishing, my army is forced to withdraw to Cagliari. After marching back to Arborea we promptly attack the Pisans, but my army is defeated after two weeks of fighting.



Merigo continues to maintain a reputation for being faithful to his wife in spite of the presence of camp followers and other desperate women.



The court is surprised when an emissary from Count Raymond of Maine, a bastard son of King Robert of England, appears with a proposal that Count Raymond's eldest son Odibrand marry Agapito's daughter Flandina.







I accept Count Raymond's proposal and Flandina departs for Maine.



Antonia has finished her education, and apparently has the makings of being a skilled negotiator.





In early April 1106, I decide to muster all available men to attack the Pisans.


Unfortunately, the Consul of Pisa and his vassal, the Bishop of Piombino, have twice as many men as I do,


and after three weeks of sporadic combat we are defeated yet again.



While my men are bleeding and dying, we receive tidings that my Aragonese ally is attacking the Moors.



I fear we have fewer than six months of food and supplies left.



If the Pisans are still laying siege when our stores are depleted, I will have to surrender Arborea.



Henry has left the court. While I regret the loss of his sword arm, I don't regret losing another mouth. Maybe we'll be able to stretch our supplies for a little while longer.



The Bishop of Rostock still has nothing to do with my rivalry with the Count of Ancona.

After mustering my troops in Arborea and a brief skirmish, we are defeated again.



I've mustered my army yet again. Merigo has been frustrated lately.


I can't say that I blame him – our situation is looking increasingly desperate, and even though he's a better soldier than I've ever been I don't think even he could figure out how to defeat more than one thousand Pisans with two hundred Sardinians.



After about two weeks, we are defeated again. We've nearly run out of food, there's still nearly a thousand Pisans outside the walls, and I don't think I can muster more than 100 men.



I fear the end is near.