• We have updated our Community Code of Conduct. Please read through the new rules for the forum that are an integral part of Paradox Interactive’s User Agreement.
Sure why not, In fact i'll make the whole update a check up on the world. Its been a while since we started after all and its getting to the point where getting a look at the big picture would be nice. These sorts of things will become more commonplace in EU where there's less to talk about in Austria proper.

Intermission # 1 Calm before the Storm

S2HIt2N.jpg
The Year is 956 AD. The current points of Interest in the world are Britain, The ongoing recontista in Spain, The Middle East, Scandinavia and Eastern Europe.

The First Area we will cover is Britain

Gh6lKxG.jpg
Britain is Dominated by four Major players, The boy king Uhtred of Scotland, King Finbarr of Ireland, The Welsh Usurper Cwlfyn of Britanny and Beornwulf of Northumberland. With the exception of Britanny the Four Kings have their dynasty spread throughout their own realms and England and often fight over the smaller Saxon duchies. Northumberland is the Strongest power in Britain by far followed by the recently fuedalized Scottish. Meanwhile the Bretons have made up for a weaker and divided realm by allying themselves with the last of the Karlings in Burgundy. Ireland however have approached Martin for an Alliance and now intends to reunite the emerald Isle. Viking presence is almost nonexistent however southern England is controlled by a Patchwork of French, Germany, Welsh and Anglo-Saxon states. The Anglo-Saxons still have the majority but the French and Celts could swing things their way. Perhaps Albion may be restored and the Saxons expelled back into the Ocean.

ZeNWZzU.png

Next is Scandinavia. Oh boy has this been fun to watch. Widukind defeated Charlemagne and reformed Saxony. However strong resistance from the Franks and Germans (Me Cough Cough) forced them to look elsewhere for expansions. The French eventually proceeded to Kick the Saxons out of Germany and they fled to their subjugated holdings in Norway, Denmark and Finland, Yes Finland. Aside from a few scattered Norse States and Sweden, Scandinavia is ruled entirely by Saxons and has begun to adopt the culture.

Speaking of Sweden, The Norse have only just taken it back. Ragnar Lodbrok and his son after him united the Kingdom and terrorized Europe but their successors left a weak state that was conquered by the Finnish before the Saxon Invasions. The Finnish were then overthrown by a powerful Estonian warlord, then the finnish seized the Kingdom back and finally were overthrown by the Norse again. nobody has adopted the worship of Jesus Christ in Scandinavia, yet.​

eDrgjvt.jpg

Next is Eastern Europe. The Belojevic united Ruthenia at the start of the campaign, and they did this very quickly. They then proceeded to conquer Poland, Pomerania, Large parts of Crimea, Rus and Lithuania and have begun Russifing Russia Proper.

Bohemia was also quite the Player in Eastern Europe, and united Pannonia, Bulgaria and Pomerania very briefly until Gavelkind and the Belojevic's came for them and promptly demoted them back into a Minor Kingdom so weak that to make the pain stop the King converted to Catholicism, was overthrown by his vassals and his son was reinstated by the Teutonic Order and Holy Rome and officially incorporated into the Holy Roman Empire.

The Teutons and Saxons have also been busy in Lithuannia as well, though the Teutons were driven out by a bad war, the Saxons managed to colonize Prussia but are about to be driven out by the Russian count of Scalovia.

Also the Byzantines have begun to Christianize most of the lands around Eastern Europe. Basically, they have reached Mongolia at this point so the Slavics are surrounded by Abrahamic religions on all sides now, If the AI cant reform in time they will die before Roman Fury, either German or Greek.​

Ou1CqxA.jpg

Last but not least is the Middle East. The Abbassid Caliphate exploded dramatically after losing an Invasion for Armenia. A decadence revolt burned the corruption out of the Empire while Persia, Egypt, and Mesopotamia all broke free. However not learning from the predecessor Caliphate's failures the new Sami Caliphate declared a war against Byzantium and it went about as well as expected. The Sultan of Africa shares the same Dynasty with Egypt and Together they form a Powerful bloc in opposition to the Umayyads in the West and Caliphates in the East.

Now we have the Fadilids who didn't declare war on Byzantium, and instead are now dieing a slow decadent death as well. The Scars of the old Abbassid Caliphate still have left marks on the Middle east, all the Local lords are Bedouin from Cairo to Khiva. The Shia's have managed to successfully find a state in the Fertile cresent and are now the most powerful Islamic Sultante by far currently and are now threatening the Holy Land. Their only competition are the Muhallabids and Byzantines.

The Abyssinians are holding the Line in the South and have formed a powerful state themselves. The Nestorians are also still alive, secluded on Socatra praying someone doesn't kill them. The Byzantines are pretty typical, They have decided not to finish up their dejure borders and instead have headed north into the Steppe after conquering Wallachia​

na3qybS.png

As Requested the Religious Map. Catholicism is doing well thanks to the Brave efforts of the Anniona Dynasty to stop the Moors in Spain and Christianize Germany and Pannonia. Orthodox is spreading like a Cancer over into Mongolia but there is still hope for the Saxons, Norse and Russians to see the error of their ways and Embrace Catholicism instead of becoming pawns of the Blurple Emperor.

IqsWvZO.png

Culturally, the Germans and Saxons have begun to flee Germany proper and leave for Scandinavia and the Balkans. French, Greek and Bedouin are the dominant cultures by far. Saxon is weak but has the potential to return and i'm rooting for them to root themselves in Scandinavia. The Dutch, Lombards and Spanish cultures that aren't Andalusian are effectively gone and the Middle eastern cultures that are left are soon the Follow.​

XKXVdzG.png

And Finally the best part, Independent Realms!. The Holy Roman Empire, Umayyad Caliphate of Spain and Eastern Roman Empire are the big players in Europe. The Karling successor states still fight for scraps of Charlemagne's empire in between defending against and attacking the Umayyads in Spain. The Pagans are in their own little world right now until they begin to convert. The Muslims in the east however are weak and divided, A perfect time for a Good Crusade don't you think?
 
Last edited:
  • 1
Reactions:
Wow, Spain is almost completely united. Also surprising to see the Vikings kicked out of the British Isles so soon; they usually last a little longer. I hope one of the Pagan faiths manage to reform. It'll make things more interesting later on, especially in EU4.
 
Actually Spain is united, In the Charlemagne start Paradox has made it so Barcelona is part of Francia not Hispania. I suspect this is why the Andalusians are having so much difficulty taking Barcelona since every time the French seize the duchy of Navarra the Umayyads take it right back.

Chapter 7: The investiture Crisis

oB4cC3O.jpg

With religious zeal in europe meeting a boiling point and the old Anniona controlled Papacy falling out of Favor thanks to religious reforms in the Empire tensions had begun to mount between the Emperor in Austria and the Pope in Rome. The war was waged first in the college of Cardinals where the French had previously dominated. To the Papacy itself. With the Emperor away on Campaign in East Francia tensions would continue to mount.

YfssLOf.png

Worse still Emperor Martin had other, more domestic Issues he himself needed to take care of. The Warrior King often went on long campaigns and left his Wife and several trusted members of house Anniona to run the realm while he was afield. Queen Walburga however had a drab and boring life secluded in the Capital. Construction and Development left her confined in the safety of Wein, and there in the Keep she took to Wine, and other unsightly behaviors to pass the time while her Husband was away in the North with their firstborn, Giselbert.

mJv6XS3.png

Martin was blissfully unaware of the brewing problems back in the Empire. He was busy establishing a new Province of the Empire, Called Germany after the Homeland of many of his people who had since moved onto richer pastures in the Adriatic.

7QKtetP.png

However news had begun to reach the War camps from far away Austria. Martin had been faithful to his wife even on Campaign and while the Emperor had many Nicknames soldiers often began to mock his lack of a Camp Follower, Concubine or Mistress of any kind while on Campaign. Because of this they began to call him Martin the Monk, and this would be the name Martin would be remembered by, first for his lack of contact with his wife, but also the brewing conflict regarding the Papacy.

STe56EY.png

With Germany finally Pacified Martin set to return to Austria and bring Peace back to the Church and the Empire, At any means possible. Word has spread the Papacy had given a rebellious Italian adventurer support to rise up and seize the Title of Emperor, An Anti-King. In response Martin appointed a new governor to Germany, an ambitious man whom had followed him on Campaign for years by the name of Radbot the Warrior Poet of Lombardy.​

g4OC4nX.png

Then the Emperor Marched for Home. Angering Martin the Murder, the Monk, the Monster was not the wisest thing the Holy Father could have done. The Emperor in his fury considered a war to destroy the Papacy itself, and reform the Church as a whole. Such heresy however quickly was deterred by an Ambitious Priest and close relative of the Emperor Alberich Anniona who proposed a different Alternative.

Bdhx7y5.png

In the Past the Pope in Rome had knelt to the Roman Emperor, Was Martin not Emperor of Rome?. Martin's response was crude but effective, He named Alberich true Pope in rome and led a war for his installment, and the Ensuing slaughter would be all he would need to legitimize the action.

ks8qTXR.png

Alberich, Now Eugenius IV quickly assumed his position as the Emperor's Dog. He banned religious violence against Sodomites and Sexual Deviants almost immediately. Then enacted sweeping Taxation reform and development of Monasteries and Cathedrals in Italy. The result would be to ease the tension between Rome and the Emperor. However such reforms came at a cost, the Pope while still elected by the College would bow not only to god, but to the Emperor of Rome as well.

A move such as this however would have lasting consequences on Greek-German Relations. Previously Europe had promised to Protect the pope should the greeks tried to conquer rome. With Rome conquered by a German state the Greeks felt a sense of Outrage, Rome was their city by right and now was held by the Barbarians that sacked and destroyed their Brethren in Ages Past. Furthermore the Germans and Italians in Italy had become resentful of the Byzantine trade posts along Italy and Croatia and demanded the land taken. Eugenius had an Idea to delay the inevitable conflict and Further the faith as a whole, though it is widely controversial and argued about to this day.​

OpJXvfY.png

Of course, Why let a European Powder keg get in the way of a good crusade?​
 
Very exciting stuff recently, keep it up.
Good luck in the crusade, and all the gest elsewhere.

P.S sorry for no posts recently, you have being posting thick and fast, and most times when it is morning before education for me, thus leaving me little available response time.
 
Now you control the Papacy. The Holy Roman Empire is even more holy...
 
Very exciting stuff recently, keep it up.
Good luck in the crusade, and all the gest elsewhere.

P.S sorry for no posts recently, you have being posting thick and fast, and most times when it is morning before education for me, thus leaving me little available response time.

Hey don't worry about it, So long as People are Enjoying the AAR as much As I am writing it its fine by me :D

Now you control the Papacy. The Holy Roman Empire is even more holy...

Were technically now Roman too. So Two out of three on the checklist, Next up, Empire!

Chapter 8: The Crusade for Jerusalem
ZqGcARg.jpg

The Crowd of Rome were willed with a Fervor not seen for Decades. Years of religious conflict in Europe, Investiture troubles, The Split from Byzantine Orthodoxy and of course Formation of a Second Western Roman Empire had grown it to a fever pitch. Now Jerusalem and the Holy Land where Jesus lived and died had fallen under the sway of Egyptian Heathens. God fearing Miaphysite Christians were expelled or killed and The Emperor in Constantinople grew tired of the Truce between Germanic and Greek states in the Balkans.

Christianity had died in Spain, and now was dying in the Levant Jesus' own homeland. There was only one thing Eugenius could do. He would call a new Crusade, this not not to defend the faith but to unify it, Liberate Jerusalem and pray that through some Miracle the lords of Europe would answer the call.

ArGiqvw.png

Grandmaster Fillip of the Knights of Saint John was the first to Answer the call. Engenius had planned to make Filip leader of the crusade but in his zeal he had gathered large numbers of Peasants and Knights from the Latin world.

Known as the Knight's Crusade Fillip had marched through Friendly Imperial Territory where they were provided for but once they crossed into Greece pillaging and looting became commonplace. Worse still Fillip had died during the Journey. His successor Tibault negotiated with the Greeks to end the Pillaging in Europe proper and the Byzantine Emperor provided the Knight's with transports to the holy land. The Knights reached Jerusalem, but the Heathen had been ready for them on the shores of Arsuf and they were quickly thrown back into the Sea.

7yKWqh0.jpg

The Next Group of Crusaders were led by none other than Imperial Prince Giselbert, whom had been waiting for an opportunity to test his skills on the field in battle. He cared less for the religious significance of the Crusade, and more to the end of furthering House Anniona, and Securing a valuable Levantine ally for himself when he took the throne.

ZvprQqv.png

in Giselbert's Retinue was none other than the Bastard of Belgrade, one of the Empire's top field commanders. Viktor Belgrade wished to Join the Crusade for Similar reasons, mainly he wished the Pope to legitimize him as trueborn, Though many suspect he also had joined the Crusaders because of a recent argument with the Emperor. Several other members of House Anniona of lesser important also Joined Giselbert's Retinue though none were as skilled or knowledgeable than Giselbert himself or Vicktor von Belgrade.​

vOFXbXW.png

Leading the British Detachment was Briog of Wales. A peasant whom had revolted against his lord and declared himself count of Glamoragan. A learned and competent man in battle Briog unable to have a child with his wife and fast approaching old age left for the Holy land and commanded with Crusader Fleet in supplying the Crusading armies as well as assisting in the defense of Coastal settlements and camps.​
Jz8jcHC.png

Next was the Papal Legate for the Crusade, Borso the Brute. Nobody is quite sure Borso had Joined the faith but quickly fell into Favor with Pope Eugenius for his Martial skill. Something Eugenius rightly expected the Anniona's would respect enough not to seize control of the crusade out from under the Papacy.​
syICYn0.png


EhMyrcG.png

When Roman Reinforcement arrived by Ship Giselbert relived the starving Crusaders at Arsuf, some of whom had resorted to Cannibalism during the siege while others had fasted till they were naught but bone. The Austrian army seized the region and marched on Jerusalem itself.​

7aM6JOU.png

The Siege of Jerusalem was quick, severely outnumbered the Garrison bravely resisted but were all Slain. However Viktor von Belgrade had died in the siege from a stray arrow which resulted his detachment of troops razing most of the city to the ground. Giselbert's own troops were more orderly, and rounded up the Muslim Population of the city and expelled them into the desert. With Jerusalem theirs the Crusade was over.

7QM9Phe.png

While the Welsh, Knights, and French fought bravely in the Crusade Giselbert had quickly secured the Area and became the dominant force in the Kingdom. In a famous letter sent back to the Capital Giselbert had told his father "In the Glory of Alexander and the Genius of Caesar we have retaken Jerusalem for our house, Should the Papacy defy me I shall cross the Tiber and Name myself Emperor in Rome"

The Pope, wise enough to avoid a coming conflict named Emperor Martin the King of Jerusalem. To further appease the Emperor the Pope also negoitated the Knights Hospitalier to swear fealty to the Emperor.

With Jerusalem in Anniona hands however there became a new matter, To who shall the Kingdom of Jerusalem Fall. The Emperor had enough difficulty keeping the Various German and Italians dukes in the Empire in check let alone ones hundreds of Miles away. The King instead opted to stage a Tournament for the Hand of his Daughter and the Kingdom of God. He who defeated all the other contestants Anselberga's hand in Marriage, and a Kingdom befitting thier new status.

soOuAbJ.png

Anselberga had come with her brother to the Holy land, not out of any religious conviction but to escape the Anniona court. With her she brought several close friends whom she prefered over the Suitors that tried to win her during the crusade. Anselberga had become known as "The Desert Cactus" after she had turned away yet another Knight who proclaimed to her in view of most of the army that she looked more beautiful than a desert flower. Needless to say nobody wanted to Marry her for her personality,

RLFsIRi.png

The Winner of the Tournament was the unlikely, Moody Rutger. The Tournament at Mirabel was an odd occassion where the most competent knights had either been killed or injured in the crusade itself, were members of the Templar or Tuetonic Order and thus sworn to celibacy and a few remaining knights that through a quirk with matches all eliminated eachother before Rutger entered his first Joust in the Tournament.

lV1aMRq.png
Nonetheless the Giselbert named him King of Jerusalem. Papal Legate Borso married Rutger to Anselberga, and the Higher nobility, whom had other business elsewhere in the world began to leave not a day after the wedding feast.

Catholicism had won the day, but new forces had begun stirring which threatened to turn this victory into just a brief moment of Triumph.

wFABRga.png


 
Last edited:
A successful Crusade for Jerusalem, but at the price of the return of Jihads. How is the Middle East holding up? Are they united or torn apart?
 
Still going strong, In fact they have started supporting Anti Anniona revolts now so I'm going to need to deal with them eventually.
 
  • 1
Reactions:
Not done yet, More Austria coming to you! Sorry about the late update.

Chapter 9: Clash of the Titans
iTL8SlK.png

While the crusade had delayed the Inevitable, it remained just that Inevitable. Eventually Tensions boiled over in Italy. A minor land dispute between a Byzantine commander and a lord in southern italy quickly escalated into armed conflict, When Byzantine soldiers crossed into Italian land and laid siege to the fortifications in the south the Dukes of Italy demanded action. Kaiser Martin responded with an ultimatum to the Emperor, to remove all Greek soldiers from southern Italy. The Emperor sent his refusal shortly thereafter and Martin had no choice but to go to war.

sGlZZG0.png

The Byzantines proved to be no pushovers however, they quickly mobilized their full force while the Imperial army was still gathering at Osterreich and Zagreb. Several smaller detachments in the Balkans were found and eliminated or otherwise hunted down by Byzantine Cavalry, the likes of which outclasses anything The Reich could produce.

In Italy however the Germans held the home field advantage and quickly fought to push the Byzantines into the Sea. Even with some of the finest generals from the crusade, and more men through the use of the Italian mercenary companies the Byzantines and their advantage in technology and their fearsome Cataphracts caused heavy causalities and forever damaged the myth of German Invincibility.​

pp1KxTj.png

However, Finer generals also led to a finer military strategy, Imperial soldiers simply refused to Engage the Greek armies in the difficult terrain of Italy unless that had a vastly superior numerical advantage. Even with Naval superiority the Byzantines could do nothing if thier troops were enricled and butched to the last man and eventually had to cede the islands of Sicily and Malta to the Kaiser.​

SXIrTF3.png

Of course this was the Byzantine Empire after all, and what they could not do with the sword they attempted to do with Subterfuge but through the brave efforts of Duke Michael of Carinthia a kidnapping attempt on the Emperor was foiled and with it, the war ended in German victory and dominance of the west. Sadly however Martin was wounded in the attempt and would spend nearly years in pain before succumbing to an infection and dying shortly after.​

Zbf3kom.png

The War with the Greeks had exposed glaring flaws in the Military organization system of the Empire. To become a world power the Reich needed to reform, and better raise troops for both foreign and domestic endevours. A New system would need to be developed and Giselbert quickly set this to be the Primary purpose of his reign. The result would be the Electorate of the Reichstag.


Under the Electorate the Empire would be 'easternized' and reformed to better compete with the Byzantine Empire and defense against the Muslim states in Spain and in the Middle East.

First, All Members of the Reichstag would be subject to the Emperor, Then Papal Authority, then to their Overlords and then to their own rules of law.

The Empire would be divided into Electors. Electors would be Chosen, by the Emperor to administer large sections of the Empire and be given leave to tax and command the Levies of these regions. Upon death the Emperor retains the right to appoint a New Elector to the position.

The Existing Kingdoms in the Empire (As Well as the Papacy) will be reformed to Electors in Permanency, That is to say, until otherwise demanded the Title of Elector shall pass according to the agreed Upon succession law of the Kingdom.

Electors will have a Say and vote in the New Imperial Diet as well as the power to vote a new Kaiser should the main line of house Anniona die out.

The New reforms were quickly put into a vote during the Diet of Venezia, and the Lords of Rome quickly approved the new System.​

StWN3Lk.png

The new system took generations to establish. With the Reichstag a large development Campaign in Osterreich had also been introduced to further strengthen House Anniona. The development Campaign was also centered on Emulating the Greeks in the east, as Giselbert had intended to make Vienna the focus of the Western world, instead of Rome. When the reforms began to bear fruit and the empire recovered Giselbert returned to Africa at the head of a new Warhost, This time with intent to secure the rich trading posts in Libya and Egypt for the Catholic Faith.

n8aIo62.jpg

Meanwhile in the East the Byzantine Empire had fallen into Decline. With prosperity returning to Italy and Germany and alternate trade routes with the Spanish Moors and Holy Land the empire became less dependent on Byzantine trade. With the lack of funds to maintain as powerful a standing army, and with a smaller army came a new threat to Rome.

vyCRSbs.png

Meanwhile the Crusades for Africa continued, and Giselbert quickly adopted the Moniker, "The Holy" for his reclaimation of Cairo and the Libyan coastline. Trade however was not enough. As any good commander in the Empire knew to make the peace in the Levant last, the very heart of Islam needed to be ripped out. So they did so.​

kqxh2hB.png

Mecca and Medina, the Homeland of Islam had fallen under Imperial Control. Giselbert did not waste time and quickly set the land to be administered and converted. Pope Eugenius quickly volunteered the best of the Catholic faith to travel to Arabia and spread the word of the lord.

Muslims on Hajj to the holy cities were required to pay a hefty tax (though this was revoked when violence between crusaders and Muslim Pilgrims began to break out in the camps around Mecca). The great Mosque in Mecca, as well as the Kaaba were converted to places of Christian worship and while the Muslim population was tolerated, they quickly found less and less places to worship publicly in the Crusader held cities.​

UxNf3by.png

Amidst the war, and conquest the Crown Prince, Martin came of age. Martin had shown promise of a warrior but has Giselbert became more focused on expanded the Realm the boy was left behind and never quite found a tutor to connect with. The Boy however was still the Crown Prince, and his father was healthy so there was still time to refine his talent. So long as Giselbert lived the Empire would be stable.

Of course, that didn't happen.​

Ot5FdIm.png

 
Last edited:
Well, at least the new Emperor isn't going to suffer a regency. Nice to see the establishment of Viceroyalties. I find them greatly helpful when playing as a large empire.
 
How very exciting. Keep up this conquest spree and you'll have the world before you know it.

Well done in Africa and Silcy, all the best to future campaigns.
 
Aint no stopping this Conquest Train.

Chapter 10: Twelve Angry Men
8BooeSI.png
Meanwhile in the rest of the world the Eastern Roman Empire had folded to the new Shia menace in Persia and lost control over Armenia. Through Local resistance and generally unforable terrain the Muslim advance into the Caucuses and Anatolia was stopped, for now.

Meanwhile the Umayyad, ever the opportunists took back their birthright and reclaimed the Caliphate from the weakening Sunni states of the Levant.

x5i7IbR.png

With one Empire one again on the Rise, and Another in Decline we are left with the Third Empire, Austria. Now under the rule of the unchallenged and young Martin II. Martin while not considered to be talented, at anything really wasn't given too much opportunity to lead the empire into ruin as a confederation of Lords in the Austrian Homeland of Croatia and Panniona revolted against the Electorate system established by his Giselbert. With the Empire at war, the more competant generals that had survived Giselberts invasions of Africa quickly took command of the war from the Young Kaiser.

JMCTqhf.png

Mostly consisting of Elderly Lords, the Confederation demanded that with the new Electorate system in place that all Members of house Anniona should be elidgable to inherit the throne. However due to disagreements within the confederation the oldest and more powerful members of the confederation quickly changed the focus of the faction from elective to seniority succession, likely because they had more to gain through such a law rather than risking an election.

lNoUmII.jpg

A War plan was quickly Established by the Loyalists. The Electorate of Italy would suppress any rising independence revolts in Italy meanwhile the Loyal Kings of Bohemia, Germany and Lords of Austria would commit their levies and hold the Danube. When the Army was assembled they would strike south into the Pannionan Fields and trap the Rebels in the southeast and prevent them from gaining more support. Once the Rebels exposed themselves to Imperial armies they would be promptly dealt with.​

Ic5snAK.png

The Plan worked without a hitch and the Rebels were forced to Commit everything in Pecs. The Battle was relatively even but Imperial forces quickly arrived and tipped the Balance and the battle quickly turned into a slaughter.​

zapTC7e.png

And now young skywalker, You will die... Mwuhahahaha
Suffice to say a defeat like this ended the war almost immediately and the Old men quickly remembered thier mortality and begged the Kaiser for their lives.

tFI5r9Y.png

There was no use executing men so old, So Martin allowed them to live the rest of their days within Jail, after of course the Archduke of Austria was forced to cede over his Title to the Emperor, and the Loyal Duke of Carinthia was given the newly reformed Electorate of Austria.​

jKx4e4x.png

The Holy Father had beseeched the Kaiser for Mercy for the Rebels, for they were old men and did not have many days yet left in this world. The Kaiser's response was to respectfully decline but move the prisoners from the Dungeon to House Arrest, albeit a heavily guarded house arrest.
XbpBVGf.png

Of course, It wouldn't be Europe if one Powerful State was trying to upset the Status Quo​

4M2A8y4.jpg

The Imperial Response was further invasions of Egypt, this time to Seize the rich ports of Alexandria. The Muslim's still weak from Giselbert's own wars quickly folded. The Umayyads however were undettered and made great gains in France.

The Holy Father had his own plans to secure the Christian Faith. Whether through judgement or Assurance the Pope seemed unworried about the potential loss of Aquitaine and declared a new great war of conquest, On the opposite side of Europe...​

Prs0TCL.png
 
Love that event comment in your last pic, made me laugh.

Anyhow well suppressed for that revolt, and good luck and maintaining a unified realm.
 
You have to love the stupidity of the Pope's AI sometimes.
 
Once you finish fighting the Muslims, you should take Sweden and create an independent Anniona King there that will spread Catholicism.
 
Once you finish fighting the Muslims, you should take Sweden and create an independent Anniona King there that will spread Catholicism.

Oh Uhh well, I'll let this update speak for itself.


Chapter 11: Half a World Away
4a6de91e22ef00797dc4388b75b4c2c2.jpg
With the Papal announcement the Catholic world once again mobilized for war. This time to the frozen north of Legend where dragons and giant serpents lurked in the mountains, Sea Serpents ventured from the Fjords to destroy unwary travelers. Magical forces would grind entire warhosts down to dust and Pagan Warlords would use foul magics to augment their soldiers with superhuman abilities.

Pope Eugenius wished to put an end to this Heathenry and spread the word of the lord. With his Kinsmen in Austria successful in the Holy Land, why not expand Northwards. Though the question still remains, What was wrong with rechristening Spain... Nevertheless the Crusaders rallied in Rome, and Paris and set to march North, for Norse land. Though this crusade was not nearly as organized as the Previous ones headed by the Karlings or Anniona dynasties.​

tQ9qCGD.png

In particular one General, Michele of Pisa decided, why wait to begin christanizing the world. General Michele encircled the great and eteran city of Ulm in Northern Austria and formally demand that all Jews, Pagans and Heathens within the city be brought forward to swear fealty to the Pope in Rome or be sent to hell. When the Lord of Ulm refused and threatened to call on the Kaiser for protection count Michele razed the city to the ground. He then sent a Letter to the Kaiser detailing the city of Ulm's corruption and scandal.

Needless to say the Emperor was not amused and Michele's head was brought to him before the young Crusader had left the borders of the Empire.​

k9aMZNz.png

Meanwhile the Slavic Minorities throughout the Empire were beginning to formally accept Imperial rule for the first time. The first would be the Serbs who began to see the benefits of Imperial protection. Especially with the Byzantine Empire quickly falling into decline.​

5JHD7hP.jpg

In France Martin had announced a full recall of the Crusading armies in Egypt. While some land managed to be taken the Kingdom would have to be saved for another time as the threat of Aquitaine falling to the Moor was a much greater issue than some useless desert across the sea.

The Knights of Osterreich were the first to arrive near Provence. Though footsoldiers quickly reinforced their number, When the Emperor was confident he informed his Generals that they could begin the counter assault to retake the Occitan Coastline.​

zJMJUHk.png
The Umayyad refused to cede the territory without blood. They Moors quickly gathered their forces and moved to respond. At Narbonne the Tuetonic Order led a glorious charge against the Moors. While outnumbered the Knights had conviction and rode out without fear of death or capture. The Andalusian troops under Umayyad employ quickly scattered, unprepared for this new Tactic.

In Melguile the Umayyad had attempted to cut off the flow of Imperial reinforcement but in doing so had fallen into a trap. The Imperial army in Melguile was larger than expected and once the Andulusians were repeatably harrassed and finally repelled fro the region altogether.​

2QA6LWO.png

Meanwhile the Crusade had begun to Bear Fruit. Boleslaw Belojic of Poland, in fear for his own lands supported Crusader armies on thier trip to Scandinavia. During this time the Aging king had met with Pope Eugenius himself, and after a long discussion, lasting several days. Boleslaw renounced his Pagan faith, and would Join the Holy Mother Church and advised all his Kinsmen to do the same. It has been suspected that the Holy Father had promised to support further ambitions of Boleslaw in retaking Denmark and Pomerania so long of course he did it in the name of God.​

Wq19Gip.png

And With the Belojic conversion, the King of Pomerania as well began to see the Writing on the wall. Rather than giving further effort into rebelling the foreigners overrunning his lands he Ceded a vast tract of Land in Scandinavia to the Holy Faith in exchange for his holdings in Pomerania to be spared. The Pope, Eager to declare victory accepted the deal and appointed the King of Jerusalem, one of the main military contributors to become King of Sweden and honor bound to convert the North to the Holy Mother Church.​

HgWlbKH.png

This of course raised administrative Issues as Elector Franz had a duty to the Emperor to administer Jerusalem and no close family of note to assume the new Title. Franz instead attempted to rule as Co-King-Elector. But the Emperor quickly demanded Franz to choose between his conquest in Sweden or remain the elector in Jerusalem. Franz, chose to go with the former likely because it would mean a more permanent base of Power for his family.​

099pm3K.png
Meanwhile the Electorate of Austria had been finalized as a title within the Empire, the Appropriate documents were signed and the Electors of Austria now would rule with equal powers and protections as the Electors of Italy, Jerusalem and Sicily.

Imperial troops had also been finalizing other matters during this time.
q8JOgD2.png
With Imperial Intervention the Umayyads quickly retreated from France. The Emperor's demands for peace were enforced and a Status Quo over the Pyrennes were established, at least for now.
dWqEuQ2.png

Back in the Frozen North, Boleslaw's words had found the ears of his Kin in Russia. Rather than Hatred for his Betrayal, Boleslaw's cousin King Voislav saw merit in the Catholic Faith. The World Knew, Catholics stuck with their own and with conversion, increased trade and innovation could sweep his lands and bring wealth and prosperity to Russia.

With the Failed Jihad in Aquitaine, perhaps the most Important argument for Conversion of the Pagan realms had been made, Imperial protection against those that would threaten it's brothers of the faith. After all, The Emperor Protects all his Children.​

fNayNRH.png

Though the Emperor unfortunately could not protect himself from the same calamity that had befallen all who came before him and died before seeing his fifty first year. Leaving the bright eyed, unshaven and mopey son. Giselbert the Second as Kaiser of Holy Rome, Protector of the Catholic world.​
Of course, Other forces were also Gathering, The Enemies of the Empire, while defeated, merely harnessed the Hatred and planned for the Future.

BHECfEg.png


You know Umayyads? i think were destined to do this forever, You wont kill me because of some misguided ambition for france, and i wont kill you, because your just too much fun.​
 
Last edited:
A new kingdom under the HRE, more kingdoms becoming officially under the HRE's region, Pagan kingdoms converting to Christianity... All good news for the HRE and Christianity to prosper, in this era and CK2. The Umayyads, on the other hand, seem to be shaping up as a rival for EU4. Are there any surviving Pagan kingdoms that are still powerful?
 
As of Right now? Norge, The Norse took back Norway :( The Saxons still have Finland though so there is hope. There is also Pomerania which is not long for this world.

Otherwise its mostly weaker tribal that still worship the old gods. I'll probably spit out any Crusader Kingdoms that pop into the Empire, (Along with Africa when I'm reasonably confident they can fend for themselves since I dont want them to convert as part of the Empire in EU)
 
  • 1
Reactions:
Chapter 12: He who stares into the Abyss
sxVyQZJ.png
Giselbert was a devote, if not bored Kaiser who was well loved by his people. Under Giselbert the conquests of Egypt, Jerusalem and Arabia were completed, The Red sea became a Christian lake. Declaring the Crusades completed Giselbert announced an Imperial Diet at Palermo.

At the Diet of Palermo the Crusader Lords of Africa, Egypt and Jerusalem gathered in the liberated Greek Castle of Monreale and spoke. The New Pope, Benedictus had also attended but he was of a weaker disposition and left for rome early as his health worsened.

The Kaiser decided it best to reorganize the Southern Territories into three Independent Crusader States. Africa, Egypt and Jerusalem. Administering the Territories from Europe had begun to cause problems for the Empire and the Bureaucracy and costs associated with sending Imperial troops to assist in putting down revolts as well as the fluid loyalty of the New Crusader Nobility had made them a Liability. The Electorate approved and the Borders of the Orient were Established.

X4a9iCG.jpg

Gislbert, satisfied retired back to the Capital. The Council of Palermo had ensured Imperial Allies in the Levant without the strain on the Empire it self. The Byzantines and any hope they had of reclaiming territory in northern Africa was effectively dashed forever. Content with his gain Giselbert adopted a hobby in the form of Astrology to occupy him on the nights he could not sleep.

There was a certain attraction, Giselbert found with staring into the Abyss the lord had created. So beautiful that the Romans had named thier Gods after the great sparks in the sky that he watched more and more frequently. It was then Giselbert found something.. Peculiar.​

hjN7Kgf.png

The Stars.. Moved. Over time they would appear in different areas of the Night sky. Giselbert consulted with the only learned men in Austria that could answer his questions, The Jews and Holy Church. Both had purposed the same thing. That the Stars must circle the Earth much as the sun and the moon did. Though upon further study Giselbert began to believe quite the opposite.

SLbCgZD.png

As Giselbert watched the sky at night, during the day he reigned, with a benevolent hand previously unseen in Kaiser's of Austria. Giselbert became a well beloved ruler, both Kind and Charitable to his people and worked tirelessly to bring wealth and prosperity to the Holy Roman Empire.​

4unmTNr.png

Meanwhile Pope Benedictus' health waned further. When smoke billowed from rome it became apparent that the Holy Father had died, and quite quickly after the death of Eugenius, many saw this as a bad omen, including the college. However a new Anniona clergymen, preyed on this fear and along with several bribes had himself elected to the Holy Chair of Saint Peter as Urbanus the Third.

uaFK9y9.png

Urbanus was a Veteran of the Swedish crusade, having fought against the Germanics in the North. He was opposed to the Worship of Pagan gods in all forms. In particular Giselbert's obsession with the sky worried the New pope and he sent a letter demanding he cease his studies, that the Sky was a prison for Foul pagan demons that had corrupted the Romans before Christ's birth. Giselbert was not amused.

YTZC9io.png

The death of Pope Benedictus had indeed been an Open. Not a month after his death had word reached Rome of a new Cry for war in the East. The Shia in Mesopotamia had declared a second great conquest against the Eastern Roman Empire. News of new invasions of Southern France also began to trickle into the Empire. When the Pope asked the Kaiser for help and a return to war against the Heathen, an angry Kaiser had replied only with silence.

Giselbert had become obsessed with the sky. After nearly years of searching he had discovered the truth about the celestial bodies and how they worked. No Pagan Nonsense or Trickery was involved, the Sun was the center of the Universe and all bodies revolved around its Light. Whether this was by the divine will of god or merely a coincidence of the natural world Giselbert didn't care and Published his findings and passed a law to distribute them throughout the Empire.

xs0xs8x.png

However this had the Opposite effect. Instead of being seen as a great discovery the Clergy quickly denounced these findings as a distraction from the True threat of Muslim Invasion. That the devil had poisoned the Sky so as to cloud the Muslim advances in France and Anatolia. Benedictus fed on this and quickly declared the churches stance, Ignoring the 'discovery' entirely and declared a new war to reclaim Aquitaine from the Vile Umayyad.​

nSYv1dJ.png

The Ummayyad had been caught off Guard, for they had only made minor gains in the Kingdom and now faced the full force of the Catholic Faith. Unwilling to commit to another disastrous war after the Crusading armies had arrived, laid siege to the Umayyad held lands in Aquitaine, and put a Anniona back onto the Occitan throne in Toulouse the Caliph surrendered the region and began to fortify his Mountain fortresses at the border yet again.​

Ccro3sY.png


However the Byzantine Empire had fared much much worse.

oNYGrut.png

With the Wars settling down again into a bitter, if not uneasy peace, and the Kaiser disheartened from Astrology he had taken to holding a Celebration for the Victorious crusade.

At the Feast however many young ladies from Europe were in attendence. The Kaiserin had died from Camp fever while her Firstborn and Husband were away. Now with the war over, a new one would be fought for the Emperors bed. The Solar Controversy as it was now being called had alerted the more ambitious women of the Kaiser's disposition towards the church. The details are not known but the Kaiser took a young Lady to bed the Night of the feast, and an entirely new obsession had taken hold of the Noble Emperor.

3A9ldMu.png


One of Flesh, And Sin.
 
Oh dear, looks like things will be getting rather... interesting for our new Kaiser, especially if he is as ambitious in this new pursuit as he was for astrology.