Jewel of the Two Rivers
The Most Awkward Party
The doors of the grand hall of Reggio Calabria were opened by a pair of servants. Drogo marched in, jovially starting to speak:
“Dear Roger, I really appreciate the invitati...”
Then, the King’s voice trailed off as his brain processed Roger, sitting in a seat of honour. As he was born. Fortunately, the table covered some of the more private parts, but Drogo was pretty certain that the Duke had not bothered with pants.
Quick gaze over the other guests made Drogo realize that he was actually the only one with the pants. Or any other form of clothing. Duchess Brunisseda, sitting next to Roger, naked as a baby. Well, a baby with an ample bosom. Rest of the vassals, also naked.
Roger then stood up. Unfortunately, confirming Drogo’s pants theory. He made a bow and beckoned Drogo to a seat next to him.
What in the name of all that is holy?
The King, feeling like there was no other way, agreed, walked across the grand hall full of people and very lacking of any clothing, showing utmost interest in the ceiling in progress. Then, he carefully sat on the edge of the seat, as far away from Roger as possible. Only to realize that this brings him uncomfortably close to Countess Constance, also naked as a baby, but very wrinkled baby. Drogo moved him to the center of the seat.
The only person in the room wearing any clothes is Drogo
Then, the King thought “Fuck it,” and decided to ignore the situation and try to act normally.
Instead, he turned to Roger: “So, how was your pilgrimage?”
Roger looked surprised. “How did you know, my liege?”
“And you met a naked lady with very convincing... arguments,” Drogo ignored the question and continued.
“Why, yes,” Roger beamed. Brunisseda looked a bit more reserved.
The night continued under light theological debate of benefits of Adamite fate versus the Catholic one and heavy drinking, for Drogo had developed a theory that if he drank himself to stupor, he would not remember anything from this night. He was wrong, of course. No amount of booze could get the dong of Roger out of his head.
In the end, he won the debate though. As he half-drunkenly described to Brunisseda the fine silken fabric she had bought for Sibyl and what fine dress it would make, he made the Duchess realize that being naked kind of excluded all the fashion. Suddenly, the woman stood up, still naked and told Roger:
“This is enough! I shall go on and put on my dress and you will put on some pants and tomorrow, you shall go to the marketplace and find me a similar fabric!”
It was obvious who wore the pants in this household. Would have worn pants if they were not Adamites, that is. Shocked Duke, knowing full well when to argue and when not, just nodded and went to change.
Rest of the guests followed suit. Some with relief, some with disappointment. But the rest of the evening went much less awkwardly for Drogo, who had successfully found the weak link in Roger’s fortification and assaulted it successfully. The King still continued to test the theory that drinking enough will make him forget the night. He got a major hangover and a vivid memory he carried through his life instead.
Royal Matters
In March 1163, Drogo held yet another grand feast in Palermo. Again, the entire Kingdom arrived, and again, it was a resounding success. Most importantly, Drogo and Duke Lambert of Kufa found several common points after several pints and became good friends. It is always good for your steward to also be your friend.
Much better feast
In June 1163, Drogo went on a pilgrimage again. This time, the target was Santiago. There is just a certain amount of times one can walk to Jerusalem- and Drogo wanted to see how the Italian-owned Santiago was doing. Not bad, it turned out. No grand cathedral or anything like that, but plenty of people who would rob every last penny of the pilgrim on relics and booze and other stuff. Same as everywhere. Nothing much else happened.
Visiting the Italian Santiago
After that, Drogo became a paragon of virtue, known for his dedication to faith. Also meaning that his martial skills increased a bit.
September 1163 saw Drogo’s fascination in divine right finally pay off. It turned out that his right is really divine and that pleased the King immensely. Next fascination- hoardings.
Drogo, ruling by divine right!
The end of the year saw the civil war of Taldlids finally coming to an end. Yahya IV became the new Sultan, khm, Amir al-Umara of the land, still called Tadlid grand emirate. The new al-Umara did not like half-measures though. Few years later, he had stripped Laweye of his holdings in Marrakesh, imprisoned him and in 1167, executed the former Sultan, making certain Laweye could not press his claim again.
In July 1164, Alison became of age. Second child of Yefemia and Drogo, the princess had grown up well, known for her beauty (but not for her brains) far and wide. Drogo married him to Gegel Darod, an intelligent Coptic noble from the south.
They grow up so fast...
Mikulas, the husband of Muriella, Drogo’s sister, died in October. Not that good choice of marriage, he was a count in Bohemia, then, he was a landless adventurer, adopting Mandean faith and fighting against Bohemond in Scottish crusade and finally, he was King of Bohemia for the last 4 years of his life. At least, in the end, he died a King. Unfortunately, since the succession of Bohemia means the throne goes to the eldest, his sons did not become Kings.
Mikulas, the Mandean adventurer, finally a King
In May 1165, Anselm of Seville died due to schemings of Duke Robert II of Algiers. His son, Anselm II took over- and this was one good Hauteville. Proficient in both diplomacy and intrigue, he would certainly make a fine councillor one day.
Oh dear, oh dear
In January 1166, Ildebrando and Hermine, twins, became of age. Both were just fine, but nothing special. Both got married to another Hauteville.
The twins, growing up
Royal Marriage
In July 1166, Sibyl became of age. She had turned into a fine woman indeed. Mostly known for her diplomatic skills, but she was competent elsewhere as well. Her beauty was the stuff of legends. Her wit was sharp. Her ability in warfare was without question as well. As was her appetite.
A fine bride indeed. She was shipped to Palermo and married to King Drogo. The King abandoned his campaign and travelled back to Sicily in order to make it happen- and this resulted in the grandest of celebrations Palermo had seen.
Sibyl, the new Queen
Jewel of the Two Rivers
In July 1165, Drogo went to war again. This time, the target was something special- the Duchy of Bagdad. Including the city of Bagdad, one of the most finest cities in the world. Known as a center of learning and a hub of trade and commerce, it was the center of the Islamic world for centuries, until Abbasids managed to get them vassalized by Seljuks. The city was still magnificent.
Let the conquest begin!
The war was not. Sieges, minor battles, mostly with rebels deciding it is a fine time to rebel against Lambert of Kufa. Until a year into the war, in August 1166, finally Seljuks troops were spotted. Quite a number of them as well, reaching to almost 20 000.
Drogo was away for the wedding though. The honor of leading Normans to battle fell on Duke Anfoi of Gabes, the trusted marshal of Drogo. And to be honest, a bit better general then Drogo- and one who has a knack for fighting the infidels. A more suitable man for the battle.
The Seljuks had split their troops into two. Smaller army, 7000 attacked the Normans first. Confident in their supremacy, they came without holding back. Only to find out that numerical superiority means a lot less then they thought.
Anfroi, leading the Norman armies, bearing the blunt of the initial charge
Normans almost culled the 7000 of the first army when the other arrived. Then, for the measure, they culled this one too. In the end, this was the bloodiest battle Normans fought in. Almost 2000 soldiers died and also, Geraud d’Audley, one of the knights of Drogo. On the other hand, 9000 of enemy, half their army, lie dead on the battlefield.
When reinforcements stepped in, not much was left of the first wave
It was the levies, true, that bore the blunt of it. But it was the knights that made the difference. Though the enemy actually had 17 and Normans only 14, the Norman knights were responsible for murdering over 2000 enemies, as opposed to measly 300 Seljuk ones managed to kill.
Geraud, a causality of the war. And Norman knights, showing off.
A glorious victory for the Normans indeed.
The war continued. In February 1167, Drogo became a strategist, meaning being even better at warfare- and again, better leader then Anfoi.
The King, also a Strategist
By the spring, the war was won. If Drogo pressed his claims, the Seljuk sultan would see no choice but to accept. But the Seljuk army was approaching and Drogo wanted just one more glorious victory.
In May 1167, the King, once again personally controlling his armies, attacked the Seljuks, who had pulled back to mountains in the province of Tazar and held a defensive position there. Just, with their supplies getting low and the same fate happening to treasury of Alp II, while the Normans were fully supplied and the money of Drogo seemed to be limitless.
Drogo pushed on, breaking the enemy ranks, forcing them to pull back and in the end, won the day once again. 1000 Normans perished that day, including two knights. But the Normans came out on top, with the enemy army in retreat, and another 6000 killed.
Drogo, leading the charge
Seljuks were given two lessons and that was enough.
The next day, Drogo signed the peace. Drogo now had control over the richest Duchy in the land between two rivers. The first thing he did was robbed Caliph of his title- and granted it to his son, Tancred. Already 9 years old- what best time to give a freshly conquered Duchy to your son, right?
Tancred, the new Duke of Baghdad*
Tancred did not get all of it though. Just 4 counties and a title of the Duke. The best part, Drogo kept to himself. The city of Baghdad and it’s famous House of Wisdom. A library encompassing all knowledge of mankind. The thing that made Bagdad legendary amongst the scholars. Works of Muslim scientist and ancient texts of Greeks and Romans- all there. Even Drogo was amazed as he walked through the library, seeing thousands and thousands of books.
*Actual county of Baghdad not included
The knowledge and the scientists, who were not pushed out, but welcomed to stay and continue the work, really helped the King to become more knowledgeable and wise.
The most learned King
After the war, Drogo finished the wooing of his fresh wife. Sybil and the King found each other, despite the age difference. Here’s to hoping the marriage will be happier then the past two.
Hope this one lasts till death does them apart