The de Toulouse Household And Court
Felip de Toulouse is the Family’s new patriarch with the death of his father Guihem. He is by no means a young man and is already very set in his ways as far as ruling goes. He was at the forefront of his father’s campaigns in both the crusades and against other foes, serving as the Duke’s marshal for many years and proving himself as a solid tactician and powerful warrior. He was rewarded generously with tracts of land in Catalonia when Guihem launched his attacks against the Muslim occupiers there and he continues to manage them from his seat in Toulouse. He is an unexceptional administrator and his mind, while not remarkable, possesses a certain cunning that has enabled him to survive well enough in court intrigues. Personality wise, Felip is a no nonsense man devoted to getting things done by whatever means are necessary. He never forgets a grudge and looks on nearly all but his closest confidants with suspicion and haughtiness. Serving women have also learned to fear his amorous attentions but as of yet he is without acknowledged bastards.
Margarita Jimenez is Felip’s wife of over twenty years and stands in the court as a skilled but not spectacular woman. She is the older sister of the current King of Castille and her marriage was planned by her parents to ensure the point that Castilian interest would be given significant sway in the Toulousian court. Although she does not participate directly with the day to day running of the duchy, she has been well educated and continues to give advice to her husband when he deigns to listen to her. She is known in the court as a woman of her word and generally a pleasant individual to hold a conversation with as well as one of the only persons that Duke Felip feels at least a little at ease around.
Aimeric de Toulouse is the oldest son of Felip and Margarita as well as the current Count of Barcelona. Though he has inherited his father’s suspicious nature and proud attitude, he is more of a schemer than his father and his military prowess suffers for it. Still, he seems quite capable in his own right and it will be interesting to see how holding a powerful fief like Barcelona molds his personality further.
Oton de Toulouse has followed his father’s footsteps in becoming a man of the battlefield. His tactics and strategy are really second to none and it is only a matter of time before Felip takes advantage of his son’s abilities by proclaiming him the nation’s marshal. While he has yet to see large scale battle personally, he has mastered the logistics and planning aspects of warfare to a high degree in his studies and experience as a squire. His personality is defined by both his sense of justice and fairness in war as well as his devotion to keeping his own emotions under check both on the battlefield and in court.
Arnaud de Toulouse is the third eldest of the Duke’s children and he is not very likely to inherit much besides good looks. This is certainly for the best considering that his cruelty and selfish nature have earned him very few admirers among the power circles at court. Even though he is quite skillful in many of the aspects needed for a decent ruler, he is likely to be tucked into a small insignificant county should one become available.
Alfonso de Toulouse takes after his mother in looks more than any of the other children of the Duke. The same cannot be said of the child’s mannerisms and he is quite the handful for many of the caretakers in the castle. He is currently fostering with his brother Aimeric in his court in Barcelona.
Now to get into the lands directly held by Felip as he ascends to the title of Toulouse…..
Toulouse itself is a rich land that is currently undergoing hardship due to crop failure. It is very well developed and serves as a suitable capital for the expanding de Toulouse powerbase.
Lleida is a march county on the border of the Toulouse duchy and the remaining Muslim territories in Catalonia. The resident population looks on their Occitan cousins as liberators sent from God and the entire area has prospered in the wake of its inclusion into the de Toulouse demesne.
Empuries has had a troubled past few years as a dysentery outbreak has brought all development and normal activity to a stop. The economy has suffered mightily as a result and it is hoped that the land and its people will soon recover to being able to pay taxes once more.
Research in Toulouse has kept pace with its neighbors and the various masters of craft are constantly seeking to update their designs to be more efficient.
The treasury of Toulouse is in good shape with coin and payment in kind constantly arriving from the distant corners of the realm. Taxes on both merchants and the minor nobility are considered higher than normal, but the two groups tolerate the extra expense due to the support the de Toulouse family has shown in constructing court houses and post stations to help the two groups in their business.
Lastly, the laws of Toulouse have not changed in the half century since Guihem first took over his title. A very balanced set of policies holds sway over the subjects in Toulouse and they are not likely to change unless something drastic were to occur.
