The basic concept of this AAR is that I'm planning to play a variety of counts throughout Europe, changing each time my ruler dies, and attempting to have as little impact on the game as possible. I am starting with Crusader Kings 2, version 1.06b, but the plan is to convert the games and play EU3, and eventually Vicky 2, and report on how the world develops over time.
Since my own actions will not be interesting to report and it's difficult to summarize everything going on in the world at once, my AAR will consist of chapters covering the development of particular regions. It will be more or less sequential, but the events covered in different chapters will overlap in time. Although it's mostly an exercise in seeing what the A.I. does when left to its own devices, I'll try not to make it too dry.
CHAPTER ONE: THE RISE AND FALL OF NORMAN ENGLAND 1066-1085
William the Bastard’s conquest of England began. auspiciously enough, with the capture of his rival’s son, Edmund. When the news of Edmund’s death in prison reached them, Harold and his children were livid, but their anger was no match for the superior Norman cavalry. After more than three years of bitter fighting, Harold himself was taken into custody.
Magnanimous in victory, William took a few prized titles for himself and his Norman compatriots, but left the Saxon nobility in England largely intact. Harold’s family members were permitted to retain their lands and titles, after swearing fealty to William…except for King. But though Harold was offered the opportunity to return to his estates as Duke of Bedford and Cornwall, he stubbornly resisted, and remained in prison.
William had only a few short months to enjoy his newly created royalty. The powerful family of Hwicce still ruled in the north of England, and William fell in battle with Eadwin the Just, Duke of Lancaster and Hereford. Eadwin and his brother Morcar, the Duke of Northumberland would remain independent in the north, flouting Robert’s authority, much as they had ignored his father’s. Robert was infuriated by their defiance, but despite earning the epithet ‘the cruel’ during his fierce campaign, he was unable to subdue the northern dukes.
Harold died in prison in 1074, but managed to strike at his enemy’s son from the grave. Shortly before his capture, he had arranged for his daughter Gyta to marry Philippe Capet, the King of France. It is suspected that she persuaded her husband to invade Normandy, just as her brother Godwin was rising in rebellion in the west of England. But Godwin’s own family was as divided as the land of England. His uncle Gyth, the Duke of Norfolk stood with him, but his brother Magnus, Earl of Somerset remained loyal to Robert, as did his cousin Skuli, the Count of Kent. After besieging Somerset and capturing his brother, Godwin committed the shocking crime of fratricide, having Magnus executed in 1082.
Whether motivated by anger over her brother’s death or some other motive, Gyta failed to persuade her husband to cross the Channel and place him on the throne. Instead, Philippe made peace with Robert after securing the lands of Normandy for himself. His hands freed to concentrate on Godwin, Robert defeated him easily. In a surprising show of mercy, he allowed Godwin to retain his titles but forced him to acknowledge his rule.
Much like his father, Robert had little opportunity to enjoy the fruits of his victory. Only a few years after squelching the rebellion, he passed into a coma at the age of 29, from which he never awoke. His twelve-year old son, Robert II. was proclaimed King in May of 1083.
For a time, young Robert’s regents were able to maintain control, even forcing old Duke Gyth to accept the boy’s titular authority. But before long, Godwin was again in open rebellion, this time plotting with some of the counts along the aptly named Saxon Shore. And this time, Godwin would not fail. He was proclaimed King of England in April of 1085. It had taken him ten years longer than he had hoped to regain his father’s title, but he had done it, at last.
The House of Godwin rightfully ruled England once again, and the lands were at peace after nearly twenty years of intermittent warfare. The Norman tide had risen and fallen again. All was as it should be.
Or was it? Dark rumors circulated about Godwin. He was reputed to have sold his soul to the devil to gain the throne, and it was said that sometimes the devil took possession of him and spoke through him. The land remained divided, with the of Hwicce family still in power in the north, and many Norman nobles still in positions of power in England, including Robert II, who remained Duke of Oxford and Kent.
England in 1085:
Since my own actions will not be interesting to report and it's difficult to summarize everything going on in the world at once, my AAR will consist of chapters covering the development of particular regions. It will be more or less sequential, but the events covered in different chapters will overlap in time. Although it's mostly an exercise in seeing what the A.I. does when left to its own devices, I'll try not to make it too dry.
CHAPTER ONE: THE RISE AND FALL OF NORMAN ENGLAND 1066-1085
William the Bastard’s conquest of England began. auspiciously enough, with the capture of his rival’s son, Edmund. When the news of Edmund’s death in prison reached them, Harold and his children were livid, but their anger was no match for the superior Norman cavalry. After more than three years of bitter fighting, Harold himself was taken into custody.
Magnanimous in victory, William took a few prized titles for himself and his Norman compatriots, but left the Saxon nobility in England largely intact. Harold’s family members were permitted to retain their lands and titles, after swearing fealty to William…except for King. But though Harold was offered the opportunity to return to his estates as Duke of Bedford and Cornwall, he stubbornly resisted, and remained in prison.
William had only a few short months to enjoy his newly created royalty. The powerful family of Hwicce still ruled in the north of England, and William fell in battle with Eadwin the Just, Duke of Lancaster and Hereford. Eadwin and his brother Morcar, the Duke of Northumberland would remain independent in the north, flouting Robert’s authority, much as they had ignored his father’s. Robert was infuriated by their defiance, but despite earning the epithet ‘the cruel’ during his fierce campaign, he was unable to subdue the northern dukes.
Harold died in prison in 1074, but managed to strike at his enemy’s son from the grave. Shortly before his capture, he had arranged for his daughter Gyta to marry Philippe Capet, the King of France. It is suspected that she persuaded her husband to invade Normandy, just as her brother Godwin was rising in rebellion in the west of England. But Godwin’s own family was as divided as the land of England. His uncle Gyth, the Duke of Norfolk stood with him, but his brother Magnus, Earl of Somerset remained loyal to Robert, as did his cousin Skuli, the Count of Kent. After besieging Somerset and capturing his brother, Godwin committed the shocking crime of fratricide, having Magnus executed in 1082.
Whether motivated by anger over her brother’s death or some other motive, Gyta failed to persuade her husband to cross the Channel and place him on the throne. Instead, Philippe made peace with Robert after securing the lands of Normandy for himself. His hands freed to concentrate on Godwin, Robert defeated him easily. In a surprising show of mercy, he allowed Godwin to retain his titles but forced him to acknowledge his rule.
Much like his father, Robert had little opportunity to enjoy the fruits of his victory. Only a few years after squelching the rebellion, he passed into a coma at the age of 29, from which he never awoke. His twelve-year old son, Robert II. was proclaimed King in May of 1083.
For a time, young Robert’s regents were able to maintain control, even forcing old Duke Gyth to accept the boy’s titular authority. But before long, Godwin was again in open rebellion, this time plotting with some of the counts along the aptly named Saxon Shore. And this time, Godwin would not fail. He was proclaimed King of England in April of 1085. It had taken him ten years longer than he had hoped to regain his father’s title, but he had done it, at last.
The House of Godwin rightfully ruled England once again, and the lands were at peace after nearly twenty years of intermittent warfare. The Norman tide had risen and fallen again. All was as it should be.
Or was it? Dark rumors circulated about Godwin. He was reputed to have sold his soul to the devil to gain the throne, and it was said that sometimes the devil took possession of him and spoke through him. The land remained divided, with the of Hwicce family still in power in the north, and many Norman nobles still in positions of power in England, including Robert II, who remained Duke of Oxford and Kent.
England in 1085:
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