Chapter IV - Sardinia
Jarl Bjorn decided to raid Croatia in order to gather money for his next conquests. Raiding was successfull, and lost of wealth was taken.
After recruiting new soliders, Bjorn finally decided to continue his conquest. He sailed to Sardinia. The Island was ruled by Berber conquerors. Bjorn decided to attack it to prevent Italy from taking it and threatering Gallura. He also wanted to strenghten his position in western Mediterranean Sea. He planned to conquer this island for few years, but only now he had enought resources to take it and keep it.
Bjorn called his allies to war. The Emir of Fez accepted it, and also called Bjorn to war against a Berber sheikh of Ziz in southern Morocco.
The conquest has not started well. Italy was attacking Sardinia at the same time, and Duke of Bavaria was helping them. Bavarian army defeated Bjorn’s warriors at Logudoro.
Bjorn retreated to Corsica. His ally, Chief Bard of Lofotr, arrived with his longships. Bjorn sailed back to Sardinia. Soon after, Chief Bard called him to war as well. The second attack ended with Bjorn’s defeat in Battle of Samassi.
During the campaing, Bjorn fell sick. Luckly, his wife was a renowned physician, so the Jarl quickly recovered from his sickness.
Emir Ali won his war, and sailed to join Bjorn in third attempt to attack Sardinia. Bjorn also decided to hire mercenaries with gold from raids. The army landed in Sassari. Soon after, the city was taken. Bjorn marched southwards. He meet Sardinian army at Tortoli. The battle ended in victory for Ragusa.
Tortoli fell to Bjorn’s army. He marched back to Sasari. In two battales, Sardinians and their allies were defeated, and Sardina was finally in the hands of Bjorn.
Berber resistance still existed however, with the Count of Cagliari rebelling again the attempt to revoke his county. The Emir of Tunis, who previously tried to take Gallura, also invaded Sardinia.
The revolt in Cagliari was quickly crushed, and Berber nobles were banished from the island.
The Tunisian army was defeated in Battle of Tortoli. Bjorn pursued his enemies all the way to Corsica.
However, a tragedy soon fell on Bjorn. Arnbjorn, his youngest son and only child of his beloved Guthela, died from battle injuries. Bjorn did not take this well. With help of his wife, he tried to manage this loss.
Soon after, Tunisian army retreated and the war ended. Bjorn decided to divide his lands between his sons and grandsons. Toke was granted Logudoro. Kol, two years old son of Arnbjorn, was granted Arborea. Cagliari and Tortoli was granted to Sigtrygg, who was later going to became Jarl of Sardinia after Bjorn’s death. Tjudmund, Tryggve’s son and second in line to Ragusa, was given Zachlumia and Cetinia, to make sure they will stay under Tyrggve’s rule after succession.
Bjorn planned to spend some time with his wife in his castle at Ragusa, but soon after one attempt to take Sardinia was defeated, another of vassals of Sultanate of Africa also attempted to take the island. Bjorn called his ally, the Emir of Fez, to war and also hired mercenaries. Army gathered at Gallura, and marched south, to meet invading Berber armies at Oristano. The battle ended in Norse victory, thanks to superior leadership of Jarl Bjorn.
During the battle, a terrible news reached Bjorn. His beloved wife, Guthela, has died.
After conquering Sardinia, Bjorn managed to establish strong presence in the region. No longer was he ruler over isolated viking havens. Instead, he ruled over proper country. His military experience allowed him to control conquered territories easily.
Finally, the war in Sardinia has ended. Bjorn managed to earn a lot of wealth from ransoms and from besieging cities in Sicilia and Africa. He used this wealth to strenghten his rule over Sardinia, by declaring himself a Jarl.
After end of the war, Bjorn decided to call a hunt. He invited his grandson, Tjudmund, and together they hunted down many animals.
He also spend time with his son Tryggve, teaching him how to become better warrior and better ruler, and also talked about his late wife Guthela.
Bjorn didn’t want to sit in his castle doing nothing, so he sailed away to raid Umayyad coast. The raid was very successfull, with Baleares gettinng completly looted by Viking raiders. This loot was used to improve fortifications in Ragusa. The successfull raids made Jarl Bjorn of Ragusa famous across all of Mediterranean.
Bjorn’s deeds gave him place among the most important Norse leaders. His realm of Ragusa became an important player in Mediterranean region. His hard work has paid off. Now, it's time to defend his new country.
