A final round of Saxon fixes and additions

[Sleight of Hand]

In recent patches we've had some new Saxon characters added, and many existing ones improved/fleshed-out a bit. This is great, but I still think we can improve the setup a little. The main reason for doing this is to give the Saxons a bit of a leg-up in terms of having a nobility consisting of more than two or three main families, which is currently the case and a disadvantage compared to in other kingdoms with greater dynasty variety.

Note: this post is in conjunction with this post (already reported) on the Godwin dynasty and may reference changes made there.

First of all, I think we can safely add Eadnoth the Constable and his son, Harding. This will allow us to have a Saxon ruler of Devon in 1066. William and Harald will inherit any lands they conquer during their respective invasions, thereby uprooting the ruling Saxons, but if Harold Godwinson wins (a rarity for the AI) then it should help the native rulers breed and expand a little bit, which I think is a desirable outcome -- particularly if the player wins as Harold.

The following IDs are all free in 1.07b.

saxon.txt

16450 = {
	name="Eadnoth"
	dynasty=100032 # of Bristol
	religion="catholic"
	culture="saxon"
	add_trait="fortune_builder"
	1026.1.1 = {
		birth="1026.1.1"
	}
	1066.10.14={
		employer=161281 # Kadoc of Cornwall
	}
	1069.1.1 = {
		death="1069.1.1"
	}
}

Eadnoth's birth date is fictional as I can find no accurate sources for it, but that's true for almost all Saxon nobles. I've made his death date 1069 because Wikipedia says he died sometime in 1068, in one of the Cornish raids by Harold Godwinson's elder sons, but we don't know when. With this fact in mind, I've made Kacoc his employer once he loses his lands after the Conquest.

16451 = {
	name="Harding"
	dynasty=100032 # of Bristol
	religion="catholic"
	culture="saxon"
	add_trait="thrifty_clerk"
	father=16450
	1048.1.1 = {
		birth="1048.1.1"
	}
	1066.10.14={
		employer=6806 # William de Crepon
	}
	1125.1.1 = {
		death="1125.1.1"
	}
}

I've used an existing dynasty, of Bristol, as that is what Harding was known as. No other historical characters use it, so it's fine. As Harding was sheriff of Bristol, I've made William de Crepon (the first Norman earl) his employer after the Conquest.

c_devon.txt

1066.1.1={
	liege="k_england"
}
1066.1.5={
	[COLOR="#FF8C00"]holder=16450 # Eadnoth the Constable[/COLOR]
}
1066.10.14={
	holder=41260 #Baldwin de Brionne (lord of Okehampton)
}

# the same as normal from here

The title history is easy because Baldwin de Brionne becomes count of Devon straight after the Conquest, and so we can just replace Harold with Eadnoth. This will give Harding a claim after his father dies (which is fine) but he will remain unlanded. He was only sheriff of Bristol and therefore not of count-tier rank in game terms.

Finally for these guys, I think they're the ancestors of the current de Gloucester (358) family, but the family tree is quite complicated and so I don't know if it's worth adding the missing characters and linking them up. There is a page of relevant information here, though, if anyone is interested. I do know that a couple of them are already in the game as earls of Hereford under King Stephen. If we can link up the family tree without any gaps then I suppose I could add Harding's son, Robert. I'm not too sure how things go after him, though.

Now, onto Siward of Northumbria...

danish.txt (should be moved there)

196 = {
	name="[COLOR="#FF8C00"]Sigurd[/COLOR]"
	# AKA: Siward 'Grossus'
	dynasty=745
	martial=7
	diplomacy=7
	intrigue=7
	stewardship=7
	religion="catholic"
	culture="[COLOR="#FF8C00"]danish[/COLOR]"
	add_trait="brave"
	add_trait="tough_soldier"
	1010.1.2={
		birth="1010.1.2"
	}
	1046.1.2={
		add_spouse=193
	}
	1055.1.2={
		death="1055.1.2"
	}
}

Most sources state that Siward was certainly Scandinavian and probably Danish; one of the new generation of Norse jarls who came over to rule England on Cnut's behalf after the Danish Conquest. He was rivals with his two powerful Saxon contemporaries: Leofwine of Mercia and Godwine of Wessex.

Now, historically Siward had an older son who died some years before the game starts; I know Paradox doesn't really like us adding dead characters but I thought I'd suggest him so he has the complete set of brothers. He should have his titles, too. This will also give his second son Waltheof his historical claims on Northumbria.

197 = {
	name="Asbjørn"
	dynasty=745
	religion="catholic"
	culture="danish"
	add_trait="skilled_tactician"
	add_trait="wroth"
	add_trait="brave"
	father=196
	1032.1.2={
		birth="1032.1.2"
	}
	1054.1.2={
		death="1054.1.2"
	}
}

197 is a free ID.

Obviously working out which counties/duchies best represent which Anglo-Saxon earldoms can be difficult, and doing full title history would involve a lot of research and adding a number of dead characters, but we can avoid these issues by (as I suggested in the Godwin thread) representing Mercia as Hereford/Lancaster and Northumbria as Northumberland/York.

Thankfully, the of Bamburgh (744) family are in the game and were the historical earls of Northumbria, so we can add them.

Northumbria

d_northumberland.txt & d_york.txt

[COLOR="#FF8C00"]800.1.1={[/COLOR]
	liege="k_england"
	#law = agnatic_succession
	#law = succ_primogeniture
}
[COLOR="#FF8C00"]980.1.1={
	holder=186 #Waltheof of Bamburgh
}
1001.1.2={
	holder=188 #Uhtred the Bold
}
1016.1.1={
	holder=102517 #Eiríkr Hákonarson
}
1024.1.1={
	holder=196 #Siward Grossus
}
1055.1.2={
	holder=124 #Tostig Godwinson
}[/COLOR]
1066.1.1={
	holder=5660 #Morcar of Hwicce
}

# the same as normal from here

c_lincoln.txt, c_york.txt & c_westmorland.txt

[COLOR="#FF8C00"]800.1.1={
	liege="d_york"
}
980.1.1={
	holder=186 #Waltheof of Bamburgh
}
1001.1.2={
	holder=188 #Uhtred the Bold
}
1016.1.1={
	holder=102517 #Eiríkr Hákonarson
}
1024.1.1={
	holder=196 #Siward Grossus
}
1055.1.2={
	holder=124 #Tostig Godwinson
}[/COLOR]
1066.1.1={
	holder=5660 #Morcar of Hwicce
}

# the same as normal from here

c_northumberland.txt

[COLOR="#FF8C00"]800.1.1={
	liege="d_northumberland"
}
980.1.1={
	holder=186 #Waltheof of Bamburgh
}
1001.1.2={
	holder=188 #Uhtred the Bold
}
1016.1.1={
	holder=192 #Ealdred of Bamburgh
}
1039.1.1={
	holder=190 #Eadulf of Bamburgh
}
1041.1.1={
	holder=191 #Osulf of Bamburgh
}[/COLOR]
1067.3.1={
	holder=85018 #Gospatric
}

c_teviotdale.txt

[COLOR="#FF8C00"]800.1.1={
	liege="d_northumberland"
}
980.1.1={
	holder=186 #Waltheof of Bamburgh
}
1001.1.2={
	holder=188 #Uhtred the Bold
}
1016.1.1={
	liege="d_lothian"
	holder=82002 #Cospatric
}
1050.1.1={
	holder=82001 #Eadulf 'Rus
}
1087.1.2={
	holder = 963
}[/COLOR]

# the same as normal from here

Durham's a bishopric so should be fine as it is.

Mercia

d_lancaster.txt & d_hereford.txt

[COLOR="#FF8C00"]800.1.1={
	liege="k_england"
	#law = agnatic_succession
	#law = succ_primogeniture
}
1030.1.1={
	holder=5640 #Leofric of Hwicce
}
1057.10.30={
	holder=5642 #Ælfgar of Hwicce
}
1062.1.1={
	holder=5644 #Eadwine of Hwicce
}
1071.1.1={
	holder=0 # Eadwine's lands confiscated by William
}[/COLOR]

# the same as normal from here

Note: It's important to change the last date to 1071 because it's the year Eadwine dies, so it may actually be bugged at the moment because he is currently set to hold Lancaster until 1072. I've given him Hereford as his second duchy as outlined in the Godwin thread linked to above.

c_chester.txt, c_leicester.txt, c_derby.txt, c_warwick.txt, c_lancaster.txt & c_gloucester

[COLOR="#FF8C00"]800.1.1={
	liege="d_lancaster"
}
1030.1.1={
	holder=5640 #Leofric of Hwicce
}
1057.10.30={
	holder=5642 #Ælfgar of Hwicce
}
1062.1.1={
	holder=5644 #Eadwine of Hwicce
}[/COLOR]

# the same as normal from here

East Anglia

d_norfolk.txt

[COLOR="#FF8C00"]800.1.1={
	liege="k_england"
	#law = agnatic_succession
	#law = succ_primogeniture
}
1045.1.1={
	holder=161425 #Bjørn Estridssen
}
1049.1.1={
	holder=122 #Harold Godwinsson
}
1053.1.1={
	holder=5642 #Ælfgar of Hwicce
}
1057.1.1={
	holder=132 #Gyrth Godwinsson
}
1066.10.14={
	holder=0
}[/COLOR]

c_suffolk.txt & c_essex.txt

[COLOR="#FF8C00"]800.1.1={
	liege="d_norfolk"
}
1045.1.1={
	holder=161425 #Bjørn Estridssen
}
1049.1.1={
	holder=122 #Harold Godwinsson
}
1053.1.1={
	holder=5642 #Ælfgar of Hwicce
}
1057.1.1={
	holder=132 #Gyrth Godwinsson
}
1066.10.14={
	liege="k_england"
}[/COLOR]

# the same as normal from here

Kent

d_canterbury.txt

[COLOR="#FF8C00"]800.1.1={
	liege="k_england"
	#law = agnatic_succession
	#law = succ_primogeniture
}
1020.1.1={
	holder=120 #Godwine of Wessex
}
1053.4.15={
	holder=130 #Leofwine of Kent
}
1066.10.14={
	holder=0
}[/COLOR]

c_kent.txt, c_surrey.txt & c_sussex.txt

[COLOR="#FF8C00"]800.1.1={
	liege="d_canterbury"
}
1020.1.1={
	holder=120 #Godwine of Wessex
}
1053.4.15={
	holder=130 #Leofwine of Kent
}
1066.10.14={
	liege="k_england"
}[/COLOR]

# the same as normal from here

Wessex

d_somerset.txt

[COLOR="#FF8C00"]800.1.1={
	liege="k_england"
	#law = agnatic_succession
	#law = succ_primogeniture
}
1020.1.1={
	holder=120 #Godwine of Wessex
}
1043.1.1={
	holder=128 #Sveyn Godwinson
}
1052.9.29={
	holder=122 #Harold Godwinson
}
1066.10.14={
	holder=0
}[/COLOR]

c_somerset.txt, c_dorset.txt & c_winchester.txt

[COLOR="#FF8C00"]800.1.1={
	liege="d_somerset"
	#law = agnatic_succession
	#law = succ_primogeniture
}
1020.1.1={
	holder=120 #Godwine of Wessex
}
1043.1.1={
	holder=128 #Sveyn Godwinson
}
1052.9.29={
	holder=122 #Harold Godwinson
}
1066.10.14={
	liege="k_england"
	holder=140 #William the Conqueror
}[/COLOR]

# the same as normal from here

That should do it.

As you can see, I've only added two new living characters -- this is just to tidy up England's title history. There are vassals you could add in Lancaster/Hereford, but I know Paradox don't really want a load of new vassals before 1066 so I've just added Devon and added the existing duchies' title history.

Note: I'm using d_somerset to represent Wessex -- this is advantageous as it represents the West Saxon heartlands and also constitutes Godwine's, Sveyn's and later Harold's powerbase. It also means Hacon (Sveyn's son) will automatically get a claim on Somerset, which in 1066 is held by King Harold in his role as earl of Wessex.

From Wikipedia:

'In 1043 Sweyn was raised to an earldom which included Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Somerset.[1][2] He signed his first Royal charter in 1044.[3] He was later exiled from the Kingdom, and died on return from a pilgrimage to the Holy Land.'

Let me know if there are any errors or oversights.

 

[Theddude]

Nice stuff! The Saxons are some of my favorites, even though they don't tend to survive too often. Here's hoping to see this in 1.08!

 

[Voy]

Title history pre-1066 is very interesting. Well done, SoH.

 

[Sleight of Hand]

Thanks for your kind words, guys.

I've updated the main post with Wessex and attached a small test mod to this post. The only files changed are saxon.txt and a number of title history files. I've loaded up a few times to check and everything looks fine both on and after 1066. Still, if you find any glaring errors then please let me know.

The aim of this submission is of course to provide England with some title history and make it look like the world didn't begin when Harold took the throne. For simplicity's sake I haven't included any West Saxon kings as earls of Wessex (dukes of Somerset), but the northern earldoms should be accurate as far back as the existing characters go.

Thanks.