A Tale of an Irish Free State: By Blood and Gold (DW 5.2)

Table of Contents​

Avindian said:

Good luck! Ireland is quite tricky in EU3, but if you can pull it off it's very rewarding.

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Hey,welcome to the ARR, I really liked your Hohenzollerns AAR, sadly my computer cant run CK II.

Any lurkers out there dont be afraid to comment. As a hard core lurker in the AAR forums I found [thread=670460]this thread[/thread] to be very informitive on what one can post in an AAR when your not sure wht to say


As promised the first update is below. Will upadate the Table of contents ASAP.

Today I write about the War of the Six Kings. A war in which I, Niall McDermott, High Stewerd of Leinster, was a part of. I served the King of Leinster, Art MacMurrough-Kavanagh. He was a good king to say the least. Sadly this war would see the Death of him.

To tell this tale I must explain what caused this war. For many years the Nobles of England had called for England to secure its western and Northern Flank. At this time however the Nobles were increasingly looking at the island of Ireland mainly due to its isolated position and weak divided countries situated there.

This eventually led to England declaring war on Connaught (a small nation which is no longer present). Furthermore England called its ally Portugal to help her. Tyrone knowing that Connaught could not win a war against the combined might of England and Portugal, and therefore declared war on Connaught as well. The armies of Connaught went east to the undefended English province of Meath. Tyrone slipped behind and besieged Connaught. The armies of Connaught turned to break the siege at home but were taken in the rear by the English who had arrived to defend its province. The armies of Connaught were destroyed completely and soon its homeland was under the siege of the combined might of England, Portugal and Tyrone.



The garrison and city surrendered to Tyrone as they were the first to besiege the city. Tyrone suddenly became the most powerful Irish state. The King of Munster could not abide the sudden shift in power on the Island. On April 1st, 1401 Anno Domini Munster declared war upon Tyrone. They marched their forces north and engaged Tyrone in Connaught. England and Portugal went home, their war against Connaught was over.
My King Art MacMurrough-Kavanagh heeded the advice of one of his Esteemed Lords, Fionn “the Black Fitz” Fitzgerald, which was to go to war against both Tyrone and Munster as at that very time they would be spending their strength against each other. King Art MacMurrough-Kavanagh may have been swayed by Fionns recent tour in the Balkens as part of the Crusade of Niclopolis or perhaps he wanted one strong Irish state to resist the English. Whatever the case he mustered his army and he minted coins to buy himself a mercenary company of mostly infantry, mostly from the lands of the Holy Roman Empire. They were the dregs of the English Campaign some said. Others pointed towards them being here so some lesser noble could seize the Throne. It didn’t matter now. Now they were a part of King Art MacMurrough-Kavanaghs fine great host.



The day he rode out from the castle I begged him to give the command to someone else. He refused stating “If we lose this war, I no more deserve to live than some of this mercenary scum”. He laughed then. He always had a great deep thunderous laugh. Those were his last words to me. He galloped from the Keep surrounded by his men, The Black Fitz and other lords of the realm.

I stayed in Lenister overseeing finances and court affairs as was my duty. The castellan was Sean MacMurrough-Kavangh, an illegitimate bastard brother of the King. He had charge of protecting the Heir to the Throne. A babe of 5. A letter arrived from The Black Fitzgerald.



This was not good news for the realm. Yes we have clearly won this war and soon would control all of free Ireland but without a King we would be stuck in Regency for 9 long years. Furthermore no one could confirm how the King had died. His body was not returned to Leinster it was instead brought to Crough Patrick, a holy mountain and burned at its summit by The Black Fitz. Only he and his men and attended the service the rest were at their respective siege lines.



Soon Tyrone and Munster fell and were integrated into Lenister. After this these provinces demanded there old rights back (+1 decentralisation) which we obliged happily.





The immediate aftermath of the war was chaos. England sent an ambassador to us (added to sphere) and Brittany our cultural kin Guaranteed our independence, which we were happy to see. Now we were the only nation on the island which England wanted to conquer and as long as Englands Noble demand that England secure its flank we were bound to see war again soon.#

The Regency council was headed by was Sean MacMurrough-Kavangh and myself. Wardenship of west and North of the Shannon had to be given to The Black Fitz (Tyrone and Connught) and South and East of the Shannon to Desmong Kavangh (Munster and Leinster), an Uncle to King Art MacMurrough-Kavanagh.

So now Lenister is four times as powerful. But we grew quick. Others would feel threatened by this. And worst of all we were stuck in a long regency. Only time would tell if the English would return in force.

Word count: 861

Stansellnater said:

lol @ the arrow to the knee.

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Welcome. Yea I had no intention of my King Dieing, but then he did so when I wrote it I thought I'd momentarily resurect the popurlar skyrim meme. At least hes not some guard in skyrim telling some Dovakin they used to be an adventure though.

Avindian said:

Good luck with trying to get England out of Meath; you will need some powerful friends, that's for sure!

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Yea. High infamy and England hasnt really stepped on anyones toes yet. Might be hard that.

Hughrocks123 said:

Great job annexing the other independent states. Am guessing your going to be sitting around a lot so that infamy shouldn't be a problem.

Great Narrative too, lets hope some Irish patriots take Meath for you.

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Welcome. The problem with Infamy is that AI countries dont like high Infamy countries, ie the player .
Thanks, I wasnt sure how to write the AAR but I dont think a gameplay AAR would be as fun to write. If only me king didnt have such a complicated name though.

ATBKING said:

It makes me happy to say that to take down England, Scotland is going to be your best friend. Rely on them. Strike early, and take down those dreadful ENGLISH!!!!

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Welcome. England needs to war either the Scots or france for me to have a hope.





I am also playing a Paple State game and Ireland formed in the 1470s. Heres a screenie of it some time later. Its falling apart. though.

It looks like I have to be 1475 to consider myself a EU III head.

The regency began in 1404 anno dominie. The first year of the regency was quite internationally, with only a peasant’s war erupting in Lithuania. Munster had two revolts (did someone fund these?). Each were crushed easily and construction of an expanded navy of cogs began. I bestowed the task of securing royal marriages abroad to my son Niall II McDermott during this time. After this year war exhaustion was falling and the peasants were content.





To celebrate the man who unified the Irish states I commissioned a new bridge to be built in Waterford and named it “Art MacMurrough-Kavanagh Bridge”.



The Black Fitz and his supporters named The Black Fitz as the man who unified the Island at the bridges opening. Afterall he said “It was I who counselled him to go to war and it was I who commanded our armies after his Death” The smallfolke didn’t like that. They loved their King who had ruled here for many years. They began pelting rotten vegetables and stones towards The Black Fitz. There were riots in the city for two weeks after this. This gave Sean MacMurrough-Kavangh and myself good reason to banish The Black Fitz to North of the Shannon for his own safety and not to lessen his influence at court of course.

1405 would see the opening of Hansentanic trading outpost. It was also then that I realised that the 1400s would be remembered as the regency decade, not only in Ireland but the world over. England, France, Castille, Austria and Portugal all had Regency councils. I remarked this occurrence as very odd.





The current regency situation would not last however. Henry VI Lancaster took his throne in 1406. Much to my dismay. Desmond Kavangh was urging me to send assassins as a coronation gift. Perhaps I should have done so. It may have saved us all some of the horry to come.

1407-1409 saw some changes in government policy. Firstly a permanent mint was implemented in order to pay for an esteemed statesman(gov tech +12) from Galway city in Connaught. He was of the Forth Star and therefore deserved his reputation. Furthermore a “friends with England” Policy was introduced.

This was headed up by Sean MacMurrough-Kavangh. He threw lavish party after lavish party with all kind of rich and powerful Englishmen. The Heir to the Throne attended and he and Henry Lancaster VI soon became fast friends despite the three year difference in age. While Sean MacMurrough-Kavangh was doing this good work I was busy trying to fund these parties. At 19.2 duckets a piece the country was shedding its money fast. Alas It was all for naught.
Henry VI Lancaster, the King of England issued a declaration of war on the 4th April 1410. This coincided with a revolution in Connaught. This was possibly funded by the English. The King in waiting begged Sean MacMurrough-Kavangh to let him take the field as his friend Henry Lancaster was sure to do. We couldn’t allow it though. The risk to be left without a Heir was to Great. Instead Desmond Kavangh led the army and I rode with him to provide council. God knows he will need it if he hopes to defeat the English. The Heir was left under the care of Sean MacMurrough-Kavangh.



Desmond Kavangh complained a lot on our way to Connaught to defeat the rebles. He complained of Brittany declining to defend us and of how the war subsidies from France and Burgundy were coming in twelve instalments and not when he needed it most. But most of all he complained of how his old bones were tired and frail. The Journey was not a fun one. I told him we were lucky to get subsidies at all. He eventually complained so much that I actually wrote a letter to King Stuart III of Scotland requesting a loan from him. Which I got with an outrageous interest of 7%.





The rebels were easily defeated. But it was a hollow victory. 10,000 Englishmen had besieged Leinster. And there in that keep was our Heir to the Throne. We couldn’t let Lenister fall. I found creditors amongst the nobles in the realm and managed to squeeze two more loans from them. This allowed Desmond Kavangh to hire 6,000 mercenaries. So his host was now 12,000 strong. It was big enough to defeat the Englishmen at Lenister and save our Heir. But we had three loans…. which would cripple our economy and another host has landed at Ulster 15,000 and led by Henry VI Lancaster.


We force marched South and broke the English below the walls of Leinsters Capital, The Grand city of Waterford, with minimal complaining from Desmond Kavangh. This may have been because The Black Fitz had joined us just after the rebels were defeated. No one wanted to look weak before of him. Queer tales had reached our ears of the strange tortures The Black Fitz did to criminals. Tortures that only the Heathen scum could come up with. Perhaps I should have looked into his role in the crusade. Perhaps he deserved his dark name. Perhaps if I had been wiser.



At the Black Fitz urging we pursued the broken host north to Meath. There they were defeated again and went North again to Ulster and the 15,000 strong English army stationed there. When they arrived they took over the siege lines and Henry VI led his host towards us. Our host was tired and demoralized after the recent fighting so we turned south and headed for Leinster. There Henry caught us and we fell back again this time to Connaught. We hoped to board our fleet of cogs there. But they were engaged by the Portuguese who had joined the fray. We were trapped, but not defeated. Desmond Kavangh organised us into battle lines. Even I donned a coat of mail. Desmond Kavangh led the vanguard and The Black Fitz had the main battle line. However it was not to be Desmond Kavangh charged the oncoming English but his valiant efforts was countered by a charge of the finest English Knights led by Henry VI. It is said Desmond Kavanagh slew two enemy Knights before taking a lance through the heart. Our host, seeing our proud commander fall routed.



The battle was lost and I was taken captive along with a thousand more Irishmen. Chains would bind my feet until the 1st January 1412. On that day, the Heir to the Throne assumed his seat. All hail the King, All hail Donnchad MacMurrough-Kavanagh. May he rule justly and righteously. May the weak fear him and strong love him. He is our King. He is Donn the Shrewd.

Word count; 1,135

videonfan said:

The suspense!What is going to happen?
Although I believe you must recount the words.Because,according to the chinese,a picture is worth more that a thousand words

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Read on for the answer to the suspense.

And yea I am not going to count the pictures

Hughrocks123 said:

Hope England doesn't tear you apart too bad.

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I can only smile at that comment. Who says I am going to lose this war?

I awoke to Sir Harry “the strangler” Hormund standing above me. He was the heir to Earldom of Calais. At the moment though, Calais was no true Earldom. It was by far too small. Still this was a great man who stood before me. He is a veteran of the hundred year’s war. Built with heavy shoulders and muscular arms, this one knew how to swing his mace which he had dubbed “Storm Cleaver”. Why he was called the Strangler I never knew. I did know however that his prowess as a battlefield commanded was noted throughout France.
The English Army

Soon he was showing me the English army around us. All 35,000 of them. A great host. He made it clear to me that there was no way of me winning this war. Afterwards he showed me the other irish captives. He handed terms for Peace and said “if you don’t get your King to agree to these terms, I will cover these ‘men’s’”.He snears. “ hair with tar and set the them alight. You don’t want to know what I’ll do to those who’ll survive”. I knew he would do it. It was in his eyes. He was famed for his hard methods, which always got result. It shames me to say he instilled a fear within me.

Before long I was surrounded by a mix a men at arms and Knights led by Sir John Hormund, Sir Harrys first natural son. They escorted me south to leinster under a peace banner and that of King Henry VI in order to convince King Donnchad MacMurrough-Kavanagh. We crossed the Shannon at Athlone and when we touched down on the south bank of the Shannon we were set upon by “brigands”. An arrow found Sir Johns throat straight away sevral others died and many more were injured but before a proper defence could be mounted our attackers fled into the woods. I recognised the gGait of their leader though. He was Eoin “Greatspear” Moor. A great warrior, more Known for his skill in raiding and pillaging his enemies than holding a battle line though. He was raised to lordship by Sean MacMurrough-Kavangh after the war of the six Kings and given lands in Ulster.

The men around me weren’t happy that there leader had died. They blamed me. They blinded me in my left eye and tore my right ear off. They smashed my teeth in and tore the skin from my back. This incident was the one which caused the peasants to dub me “the Beautiful”.

The rest of the trip was quite uneventful. Soon I was discussing peace terms with King Donn the Shwerd. The English wanted to outright annex us. King Donn made a counter propersul. And soon my escourt and I were heading back to the English camps. I made seven such trips. In the end a peace was made. England would seize Ulster and Leinster would become a vassel to the King of England. As a gesture of goodwill Leinster would give England 60 duckets.



All hail Duke Donnachad “the shwerd” MacMurrough-Kavangh. The Duke now set about putting his country to rights. First thing he did was declare that Leinster should always have 150 duckets in reserve for unexpected wars. Secondly he maintained the full mint in order to have enough money to pay back the numerous loans taken out during the war and rebuild the army.


Thirdly he declared that every man between the ages of 16-30 had to spend one hour after mass on a Sunday practicing his skills with a bow (military drill +1 moral NI taken).



All this effort on his part soon led to the sickness of the young Duke. More power was given to Aristocracy during his sickness.


In 1415 Sean MacMurrough-Kavangh travelled to Scottland to pay off his first loan. There he was placed under house arrest for espionage. The common belief held both in Leinster and England is that Scotland wants to weaken England. Still only three loans left to go.

The Black Fitz began in 1415 to insist we sign an alliance with the English. The Duke, Donn the Shrewd said “tell me Fitz what do I have to gain from this alliance?”. The Black Fitz said he would gain protection and the chance to win prestige in combat. The Duke laughed and said “if I wanted prestige I’d declare independence, if you want prestige join the English war against the Teutonic order”. Which the Black Fitz promptly did. Meanwhile the Duke was working hard to undermine his relationship with henry VI. He insulted the King at every turn. During this time however English nobles were still in favour of taking direct control of Ireland.


A few quite years past. The Black Fitz was off leading an army of Englishmen in Europe. At home not must changed except the Portuguese letting us access there COT. Later that same Year Eoin “Greatspear” Moor led a revolution in tyrone. He was eager to get his seat back. It was quickly crushed however by Sir Harry “the strangler” Hormund who afterwards was named Lord Protector of Ireland.


The King took a fever in 1419 but other nobels and myself were there to take over for a time.


In 1422 the English finally managed to end their war with the Teutonic Order. Gaining three provinces. The Black Fitz for his efforts during the war was raised to lordship and given Warmia as his seat.


All was quite at home. The next loan hadn’t to be paid back until 1425. But rumours had reached Duke Donn the Shrewd of vast lands empty of all civilised life to the West. Perhaps he should be looking there to help him defeat the English and once more proclaim himself King.


Word count: 979

Any ideas on how to play a vassel?

ATBKING said:

...... gain as much money as you can. break your alliance and wait for England to get into a war they cant win. thats your best bet right now. your next bet is the Navarra plan, where you just play it out, colonize Canada and alot of other territory, and once your strong enough fight back..Either way it takes Time and patients.

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Sounds boring :-(