Albion: 1066 AD Ironman AAR

[Vesimir]

The purveyor of rare maps and scrolls has returned...

In the year of our Lord one thousand and sixty six the folk of England had betrayed the trust put in them by the Pope and the Christian world as shaped by Charlemagne. Without the phantom of a sword hanging 'bove their necks the Anglo-Saxons had decided to elect their own king instead of the one dictated by their brethren in faith. William, the second of his name to rule the duchy of Normandy, was forced to wage war against Harold, the second of his name to rule England, Godwineson in order to restore stability and the rule of the Cross and the Church to Britannia. Anointed by the Pope to become king of England, William the Second would soon be known as the Conqueror. With the help of mercenaries from Flanders and many levies gathered under the cause to abolish the false king Harold, William would divide his army into two equal parts counting around a three thousand and a half men each and travel across the Channel to England. His life thus far was that of a knight and a gallant sworn to the kings of France by the legacy of his ancestor, Rollo. During his absence his first and second son, Robert and Richard, would be educated in warfare and melee combat. His third son, William, would become a diplomat while his first daughter, Cecilia, would become versed in intrigue. The second daughter, Constance, was to be educated by her mother, Mathilde van Vlaanderen, in the art of stewardship. The third daughter, Agathe, was as of that fateful year when the Invasion began too young to be educated.
William the Second would lead the armies of Normandy with Robert de Conteville as the second in command, leading the second army personally. As the knights and levies of the Norman realm sailed across the Channel towards the baronies of Lewes and Dover through the borough o' Hastings the firstborn son, Robert, would be betrothed to Ingegerd Haraldsdatter, the princess of Norway and the second daughter of Harald Hardrada which means a ruler authoritative and stern. Meanwhile, his younger brother Richard would be betrothed to Isabel de Montfort. As for William, his asexual demeanor warranted no betrothal. As for the daughters, only Constance was betrothed. To Guy, son of Geoffroy, d'Ivrea, the count of Macon in Burgundy.
The alliance signed between the realms of Norway and Normandy over the future marriage of the firstborn son and secondborn daughter attacked the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of England in the tenth month of the year of our Lord one thousand and sixty six. The Kingdom of God looked on at the map as the ships o' the two realms set sail. The alliance already established between the kingdom o' the Isles between Britain and Ireland was to join arms with the Norwegians.​

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Greetings! As always I will try to update as often as possible, you can expect everything and nothing and not a World Conquest as I always play on Ironman and the game can be surprising quite often. Other than that I dislike unrealistic alternative histories. All comments will be answered prior to the next update. As a manner of explaining the AAR, it might be image heavy yet expect more writing, including updates that don't have much to do with the game other than being based on it. As for the updates, probably around a three B6 pages written in TNR.12. Thank you for your perusal and Happy New Year!

 

[Nikolai]

Looking forward to this!

 

[Vesimir]

Nikolai - Thank you, I hope you will enjoy it!

 

[Vesimir]

One thousand and sixty six Anno Domini
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Hardrada promised to invade the north of England and to conquer and keep York together with their allies from Scotlands western isles. The barony of Lewes as well as the entire county of Sussex fell to the army led by William. As it did, the route to Dover was opened to the army led by Robert. Afterwards the second army marched through the lands of the Bishop of Canterbury towards the bishopric of Kingston where they would await messengers from the main army which marched onwards to Surrey and its main fortifications in the barony of Chertsey. The messengers were sent on the fourteenth of the eleventh month of the year of our Lord one thousand and sixty seven and had arrived on the next day. Robert made his report and the riders began their journey back to the siege camps where the Conqueror planned his campaign. However the siege did not end by the eleventh of the first month of the year of our Lord one thousand and sixty eight. That is when scouts positioned near the borough of Rochester rode and informed the army gathered in Kingston of the Anglo-Saxon armies approaching from Essex, the borough of Maldon to be precise. Roberts decision was to move from Kingston and march beside the forests north of Lewes towards the borough of Guildford from where he would send messengers to the siege camp 'round Chertsey. During that time Robert, the son of William, gathered with his peers and siblings in the castle o' the county of Maine. The feast lasted for a few days during which all the folk whom remained in Normandy prayed for the safe return of William and for his mission to succeed. Yet the mission proved to be a difficult one.
The scouts sent from Chertsey after the two armies regrouped reported back after speaking to the Anglo-Saxon turncoats and peasants from the county of Kent. Harold Godwinessons army was equal to that of Williams. Which could only mean that the Norwegians were not met or defeated. On the fourth month of that exact year Chertsey fell. Williams decision was to march towards Canterbury and reclaim the county o' Kent. Yet as they marched the front guard of the two armies, the scouts and messengers, reported that the Anglo-Saxons were headed north after Dover fell to them. Their army had split, one marched the way they had arrived while the second passed Williams encampents by a few miles. Both of Williams armies followed as quick as they could. Alas, the borough of Southwark stood in their way and behind it the river Thames. As the main Anglo-Saxon turncoat, Copsige of Bernicia, attested, behind the river the Norman army would find London, the capital of England. William decided not to chase the Anglo-Saxon army and instead lay siege to the capital. Robert de Conteville awaited their success nearby, on the fields west of London. It was the fifth month when William laid siege to the capital o' the kingdom. Another event of that month was the beginning of the education of his youngest daughter, Agathe, whom was chosen to become a diplomat. London fell on the eigth o' the eleventh month of the your of our Lord one thousand and sixty eight and as the Norman army pillaged the town Sussex fell to the Anglo-Saxons whom have returned from the north only to evade Williams army and instead focus on reclaiming their fortifications and keeps.
As they crossed the river Thames and regrouped near the borough of Southwark the Anglo-Saxon armies laid siege to Chertsey. Copsige of Bernicia reported that Harold the Second himself was leading the siege of the baronys keep. That is when William decided to strike with both of his armies. On the fourth of the last month of the year of our Lord one thousand and sixty eight the Anglo-Saxon and Norman armies clashed in the county of Surrey. The battle would last for all of the last month o' the year and as the Norman forces found out, only half o' the Anglo-Saxon army was attempting to siege the keep.​

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After the victory the Norman army united and marched towards Southwark as the scouts suggested that the other half o' the Anglo-Saxon army was camping nearby the forests south of Kingston. And that is where William rode together with his knights and levies. During that time Harold attempted to escape to London which proved to be pillaged and occupied which made him retreat even further and to the north of England. As Williams host reached the bishopric o' Kingston he had met the second half o' the Anglo-Saxon army and no one else but Morcar of the house Hwicce, the second in command of the Anglo-Saxon monarchy whom was married to the sister of Harold Godwinesson, Gytha.​

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The battle o' Kingston ended on the thirty first of the first month of the year of our Lord one thousand and sixty nine. Marching north after the retreating host of Morcar, earl of Northumbria, Williams army met around a two thousand men trying to retake the capital of England. On the eighteenth o' the second month of the year of our Lord one thousand and sixty nine the Norman host decimated the forces left to retake London and none escaped. The melee that ensued there was not remembered as it was not a true battle yet in plain terms, a regular slaughter. All were killed in the melee that ensued during the battle. Thus the Norman army split once more and the half that the gallant duke commanded marched on the town of Berkhamsted, north of London, while the other remained in the capitals vicinity. Both awaited the return of the Anglo-Saxon host. However as the siege ended and Berkhamsted fell, the Anglo-Saxons were yet to be seen. Thus Williams host marched on Bedanford while Roberts on Cambridge. During the siege of Cambridge, the earl of East Anglia, Leofwine Godwinesson was captured by Roberts forces. Yet during the siege of Bedanford, king Harolds concubine and former wife Eadgifu was captured as was her youngest child, Eadburg.​

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This is how the Norman Conquest of the kingdom of England came to an end. Noble in their victory, the Normans had taken only the southern half of England while the Anglo-Saxon nobility remained in the North. As for the Norwegians, they were defeated by the Anglo-Saxons after taking control of all of Northumbria. William the Conquerors host marched north to meet them and establish peace between Harald Hardrada and the kingdom of England. Afterwards, Ingegerd, the second daughter of Harald the Fourth of Norway, would be married to Robert whom by that time proved to be a brilliant strategist.​

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Apart from being too invested in the game and missing one screenshot commemorating a full slaughter everything went right. Next update tommorow!

 

[Nikolai]

Victory came in the end!

 

[Vesimir]

Nikolai - To give an honest opinion I would describe the bookmark as fairly easy if the player knows what he/she is doing. The biggest problem as the house of Normandy is dealing with rebellions.

 

[Vesimir]

Thus the south of the kingdom of England was partitioned between the nobles whom have gathered in William the Conquerors court. In the chronological order the ones awarded for their deeds of valour were Alan de Penthievre whom was awarded the counties of Cornwall and Dorset. Raoul de Tosny was awarded Somerset and Gloucester. Richard de Clare the castle o' Winchester together with the Hampshire and the county of Devon. Drogo de Brevere the Isle of Wight. As for Roger de Beaumont the barony of Oxford and Berkshire. William de Warenne was awarded Wiltshire together with its circle of standing stones known as Stonehenge. Ivo de Taillebois was awarded Sussex and Surrey. William de Crepon was awarded the county and duchy of Kent. And the last of them, Walter Giffard, was awarded all of East Anglia.
As he was named the Conqueror, William the First of his name, king of England established the house of Normandy as a house of warriors for a time eternal. The prisoners taken during the Conquest were not forgotten and Leofwine was ransomed for a kingly sum. As for Eadgifu, she and her newborn daughter were recruited into Williams court in order for the new king of England to learn more of his subjects.
In the year of our Lord one thousand and seventy the true king of England decided to wage war once more. Having gathered his levies and knights he declared war on Brittany and their staunch ally, the duke of Champagne.
The war began with the battle of Chartres nearby the barony of Dreux. There the Breton army lost almost all of their forces. William gave chase to the army of the duke of Champagne in order to retake the county of Penthievre for Alan, count of Cornwall, whom had an ancestral claim to the title. After a minor skirmish in which most of the dukes army escaped from Normandy into the kingdom of France, William led his host to siege the county he desired to acquire for his vassal.​

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After stationing two batallions to siege the county of Rennes which stood on the way to the county of Penthievre, William and the core of his host returned to Normandy in order to defeat the remaining forces of the French duchy. Once again the battle proved to be insignificant as the Norman victory was not decisive. Yet on the next month the army of the duke of Champagne returned to be routed in full. In the time it took to defeat the armies of both dukes the castles in Brittany fell.

Thus the war was finished. Upon the eighth month of the year of our Lord one thousand and seventy two the entire house of Penthievre joined Williams court as did the house of Rennes upon being captured in battle and siege. Peace was signed and the county desired by the earl of Cornwall was gained in the truce.
However Williams host did not disband. They marched eastwards to conquer Chartres, the county east of Le Mans and Sable, a territory held by Robert, Williams son, from the duke of Champagne. The new king of England was aware that Philippe, the king of France, would rise to defend his vassal yet it did not stay his hand. Messengers from the county of Rouen arrived as the English host marched into Chartres. The French were laying siege to Rouen itself and so the host marched eastwards and afterwards to the north in order to defeat the enemy.​

After the battle during which the commander of the French host, Raoul de Vexin-Amiens, was maimed and captured to later on die from his wounds, the army marched south once more, not to lay siege to Chartres yet to defend Normandy from the ally of the king of France, the duke of Barcelona whom aligned with the French. Yet the Catalonian army proved to be evasive which led William to march with his army northwards to defend Rouen once more. After the second battle at Rouen the English host laid siege to the castle of Dreux in Chartres. During the siege the battles of Harcourt, Langeais and Evreux would take place. Each one was a victory for the English.

The blackguard, Odo de Conteville, was slain by Catalonian knights during the war. Other than him, no distinguished nobles had been slain although a few had been wounded. The war ended on the year of our Lord one thousand and seventy five. The peace treaty took Chartres from the Duke of Champagne whom had intervened on the side of the Breton duke and made it a part of Williams personal demesne in France, expanding the borders of what was known as Normandy.

 

[Nikolai]

The French king must be increasingly worried.

 

[HistoryDude]

It's interesting that England is partitioned - we have Normandy in the South and England proper in the North.

Will England proper be conquered? Did Normandy usurp the title of England?

 

[vandevere]

Keeping an eye out for this...

 

[Revan86]

Subscribed and following.

 

[Vesimir]

Nikolai - He is and has all the right to be. Only an alliance with the Holy Roman Empire would save the French crown.

HistoryDude - Truly so. As Crusader Kings III is an alternative history video game, Normandy is not a vassal to the French crown as of the conquest. In which, as of my game, William the Conqueror gained his title, his status as a gallant o' the realm and the crown of England to which Normandy is sworn.

vandevere - Thank you and I hope you will enjoy the updates.

Revan86 - My gratitude, writing an After Action Report is always about the community that gathers 'round it.

 

[Vesimir]

By the break of the year of our Lord one thousand and seventy six, William the Conqueror ruled his vast domain from his castle in Alencon still while the capital of England in London was, by the efforts of the seneschal, introduced to the norms and rules of the French culture of which the Normans were a part of. This would lead to the appearance of the English culture. Beforehand, the seneschal had overseen the colonisation of the counties of Maine and Sable by the Norman population of Normandy, expanding the duchys culturual borders. During that fateful year Cecilia, first daughter of William, married Duncan the Second of his name, king of Scotland. Her sister Agathe was betrothed to Beorhtric, son of Morcar whom was the duke of Northumbria and Mercia as he had inherited his brothers title. Now that both were dead the threat of rebellion of the Anglo-Saxons diminished. Especially with the alliance signed with the marriage of Agathe and the young duke o' Northumbria.
Shortly after the marriage of Cecilia and Duncan the king of Scotland sent messengers to London asking for the English kings help in a civil war. Donald named the Fair, the uncle of Duncan, was heralded as the rightful king of Scotland by the unruly vassals of the young king.
After the rebellion was quelled, the English host returned to England. Two years had passed in peace however at the end of the second year Beorhtric drowned. Nothing else was known of his death. In may of the year of our lord one thousand and seventy nine the peasants of Essex which was William the Conquerors demesne rose to free England from Norman rule. They failed in their quest. In the worldly events of that year, the kingdom of Hungary fell under the rule of the Premyslids, up until then the house which ruled Bohemia.
In the following year Eadburg of the house Swannehals would be married to Robert, son of Robert, son of William the first of his name.
And on the same year the conquest of the Isles and the isle of Mann was about to begin although the network of alliances could make William the Conquerors efforts at conquering nearly half of the former kingdom o' Alba futile.​

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No images this time, let us see how the fabrication of a claim on the Sudreyar region will work.

 

[HistoryDude]

William is about to attempt to expand his lands, then?

 

[Vesimir]

HistoryDude - He was about to, yes, yet the game, like always, proves to surprise.

 

[Vesimir]

Thrice the armies of the kingdom of England clashed with the alliance of the Norwegians inhabiting the Isles and thrice England was defeated through superiority in numbers. Two years had passed yet the war was not yet over. All o’ the battles that followed the declaration of war were forgotten in time. The war for the Isles ended upon the year of our Lord one thousand and eighty three. Harald, king of Norway, fourth of his name, died upon the very same year from wounds received during the war for the Isles.
On the next year the heir to the throne of England passed away from causes similar to that of Harald the Stern. Only his three sons with the princess of Norway, Ingegerd, remained as a legacy. Robert, Armand and Silvester were their names. On the year of our Lord one thousand and eighty six Duncan the second of his name, king of Scotland, died from injuries received during the war for the Isles as he was a staunch ally to the king of England. Cecilia did not return to Normandy and no news of her were ever heard in the court of the king of England. Meanwhile Duncans brother, Donald, took the throne.​

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I am sorry yet the game spun out of my control and I missed a few screenshots. You can expect an image heavy update at the next meeting.

 

[HistoryDude]

So England just lost some wars? How badly? What territory did they lose?

 

[Nikolai]

Seems like much is not going your way atm. But at least Norway is weakened and can be taken on later, presumably.

 

[Vesimir]

HistoryDude - They did not lose territories as it was an offensive war and could only end in a tribute paid to the Norwegian alliance. Yet scribes have their way of recording history.

Nikolai - France is an easy target as England, you can usually take two or three provinces before claiming Flanders. Norway on the other hand, doubtful considering what happens when William the Conqueror dies.

 

[Vesimir]

Following the death of Robert, son of William, the king of England invited his second born, Armand, to his court in order to teach the young child and prepare him for a military career. His brother, Robert the second of his name to rule Maine was educated in the fields of scholarship and theology.
In the year of our lord one thousand and eighty eight William the Conqueror laid claim to all of Brittany as he was the king of the Penthievres whom held claim to many lands within the duchy and former kingdom. The war was settled in two battles, the first of which saw the king of England becoming lame in one of his legs as of the melee that he had taken part in. The second battle was held beside the capital of the duchy and the Breton forces were obliterated. The keep at Rennes fell to the invaders a few months before the one at Vannes did as well and that is when the war ended and the peace which saw Brittany whole becoming vassal to the King of England was made.​

In the year of our lord one thousand and ninety one King Robert the first of his name had married Eadburg of the house Swannehals at his coming of age. Unfortunately the kingdom of England as established by his grandfather William the Conqueror was crumbling. The civil war led to the Anglo-Saxon northerners sailing to Normandy and laying siege to Rouen. At the same time his uncle Richard the first of his name took the crown of Britanny and established his own kingdom. Count William of Eu was proposed as the rightful ruler of England by the rebels of which the Anglo-Saxons were a part of. Fortunately the next year brought about an inconclusive ending to the rebellion and the realm was united anew. William of Eu had died.
Soon afterwards Robert pressed claim on the county of Vendome and it’s two strongholds and declared war on the king of France, Phillipe. The war was won amidst strife and rebellion on the island of Britannia. William named the Red, alleged son of king William had risen against Roberts claim to the throne wishing to establish his own dynasty. Holding all of Essex he would prove to be a foolish opponent. The Anglo-Saxons faced a similar dilemma to him.

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