It's the elective law I have set to simulate the Witan. That and my kings like to die after a few years.
An alternate English history - Harold is victorius
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Part 7
Harold set about rewarding his family and giving them titles and lands all over England and Wales. He made his brother Eadwald Earl of East Anglia and his other brother Eadbert Earl of Salisbury. He made his twin brother, Ulf Count of Glamorgan and his son Louis Count of Somerset. Harold and his family where recognized by the Saxons as the rightful heir being Godwin’s grandson.
In December of 1100, Alain, Duke of Brittany who was a longtime ally of the English came to Harold for help in Spain against the Muslims. Harold agreed to send men and material to Spain if Alain would become his vassal. Brittany became part of England and Harold sailed to Spain to join the Crusades. By August Harold had arrived in Spain after marching across France from Normandy. The Muslims where no match for the English, Saxon and Basque knights and where easily defeated. Harold was now in possession on Salamanca, Coimbra and Braganza. The victory came at a price however as Harold was severely wounded and ill from his wounds. He would be returned to England in May 1103 and would cling to life for several months.
The Witan would meet at this time to determine his successor and it would be determined that Harold's brother Ulf would rule as regent and if Harold died he would become king. During this time the Archbishop of Northumbria, Filippo was elected pope and Ulf would give Northumbria to his nephew Estmond. He also made his Aldwulf ap Llywarch, Harold's marshal Duke of Salamanca as a reward for his brilliant service in Spain as well as saving and accompanying his master back home. Ulf would also make his nephew Aethelmaer Duke of Coimbra also a veteran of the Crusades. Ulf was regent until January 1104 when Harold made a miraculous recovery and resumed his duties as King.
During Harold’s reign the court took on a very Norse flavor as Harold, his son and most of his brothers all took Norwegian or Swedish wives. His son Eirik married a Swedish princess whose father was a pagan and mother was a Cuman, needless to say she was not very well received by the Saxon nobility. Eirik had met his wife during his travels to Sweden and Norway and fell in love with the beautiful exotic Swede. They would also travel to Kiev, Crimea and Greece to meet the Roman emperor. Upon his return he was made Earl of Wessex and Sussex and was named his father’s successor.
Harold continued securing more lands in Spain gaining the ancient city of Alacer do Sal in October 1015, Galloway in Scotland in December 1016 and Faro in November 1018. The Muslims this time would be easily defeated and would win a devastating battle in Viscaya where 7100 English, Saxon, Norse and Basque men would die. As a result of this defeat Harold would sue for peace with the Muslims a day after Christmas in 1118. The surviving soldiers would bring something horrible back with them from Spain, plague. Disease would run through the court and southern England attacking manly the children, ill and elderly. Harold caught the plague and would die on August 25, 1120; he would be buried at Waltham Holy Cross in Essex where his father also lay. His son Eirik was crowned king at Westminster Abbey on September 2, 1120.
Eirik, King of England
England, 1120
English holdings in Spain, 1120
Harold set about rewarding his family and giving them titles and lands all over England and Wales. He made his brother Eadwald Earl of East Anglia and his other brother Eadbert Earl of Salisbury. He made his twin brother, Ulf Count of Glamorgan and his son Louis Count of Somerset. Harold and his family where recognized by the Saxons as the rightful heir being Godwin’s grandson.
In December of 1100, Alain, Duke of Brittany who was a longtime ally of the English came to Harold for help in Spain against the Muslims. Harold agreed to send men and material to Spain if Alain would become his vassal. Brittany became part of England and Harold sailed to Spain to join the Crusades. By August Harold had arrived in Spain after marching across France from Normandy. The Muslims where no match for the English, Saxon and Basque knights and where easily defeated. Harold was now in possession on Salamanca, Coimbra and Braganza. The victory came at a price however as Harold was severely wounded and ill from his wounds. He would be returned to England in May 1103 and would cling to life for several months.
The Witan would meet at this time to determine his successor and it would be determined that Harold's brother Ulf would rule as regent and if Harold died he would become king. During this time the Archbishop of Northumbria, Filippo was elected pope and Ulf would give Northumbria to his nephew Estmond. He also made his Aldwulf ap Llywarch, Harold's marshal Duke of Salamanca as a reward for his brilliant service in Spain as well as saving and accompanying his master back home. Ulf would also make his nephew Aethelmaer Duke of Coimbra also a veteran of the Crusades. Ulf was regent until January 1104 when Harold made a miraculous recovery and resumed his duties as King.
During Harold’s reign the court took on a very Norse flavor as Harold, his son and most of his brothers all took Norwegian or Swedish wives. His son Eirik married a Swedish princess whose father was a pagan and mother was a Cuman, needless to say she was not very well received by the Saxon nobility. Eirik had met his wife during his travels to Sweden and Norway and fell in love with the beautiful exotic Swede. They would also travel to Kiev, Crimea and Greece to meet the Roman emperor. Upon his return he was made Earl of Wessex and Sussex and was named his father’s successor.
Harold continued securing more lands in Spain gaining the ancient city of Alacer do Sal in October 1015, Galloway in Scotland in December 1016 and Faro in November 1018. The Muslims this time would be easily defeated and would win a devastating battle in Viscaya where 7100 English, Saxon, Norse and Basque men would die. As a result of this defeat Harold would sue for peace with the Muslims a day after Christmas in 1118. The surviving soldiers would bring something horrible back with them from Spain, plague. Disease would run through the court and southern England attacking manly the children, ill and elderly. Harold caught the plague and would die on August 25, 1120; he would be buried at Waltham Holy Cross in Essex where his father also lay. His son Eirik was crowned king at Westminster Abbey on September 2, 1120.
Eirik, King of England
England, 1120
English holdings in Spain, 1120
Ahh the old Iberian Crusade eh? Although, bad luck about the plague, Eriks death and all that sort of caper.
The Godwinsons are doing a good job of holding on to their possessions and their crown, I wonder if they'll change the law to make it more certain, though if they dominate the titles, it probably won'tbe necessary.
JimboIX said:
That is my intent. I've thought about changing the laws but I'll just stack the deck instead.
Part 8
Eirik Haroldeson
Born 1091 Died 1131
King of England & Wales 1020-1031
Born 1091 Died 1131
King of England & Wales 1020-1031
Eirik ascended to the throne after his father, Harold died suddenly of the plague brought back from Spain. The plague would continue to ravage the court and England throughout Eirik’s reign. He was a proud, brave man but unfortunately was born with little natural ability. His true strength lay in his ability to manage others and his friendship with the talented Knytling clan from Denmark. His reign was marked by a long war with the Spanish Moors.
Eirik was made Earl of Wessex now becoming the hereditary title to the first born son of the king by his father in 1108. Soon after his appointment to Earl of Wessex Eirik would meet an exceptional woman from Dalarna in central Sweden named Ingrid. Ingrid was born in the forests of central Sweden to a tribal chieftain named Olaf and his second wife, Cilen the Cuman from the north coast of the Black Sea. Ingrid spoke many languages and had traveled throughout the east with her mother and studied at universities in Georgia and Constantinople. During her marriage she passed this wisdom on to her husband and children. She died of the plague in 1122. Eirik would marry her sister Margareta a year later and keep a mistress, Agnes Knytling of Denmark. Margareta would commit suicide in 1125 and the plague would take Agnes on March 9 1126. Eirik would have three sons from Ingrid, one from Agnes and four daughters by Ingrid as well. His first born also named Eirik would be made Earl of Wessex on November 21, 1126 his election to the throne ensured. His eldest daughter, Maria would be married to Pedro I King of Castille in 1128.
The English and the Moors first became involved during Harold Haroldeson’s reign in 1100. The English where successful in Spain against the heavily divided Moors and easily defeated them. The Spanish Moors would be united by Salah al-Amiri from the island of Mallorca. Salah would eventually threaten the Spanish monarchs of Aragon and Castille. Early in the year 1124 Pedro I would ask for help from other Christian monarchs. Eirik would answer his call for help along with his cousin Edwy, King of Norway and Gerhard, King of Germany. Eirik would leave England along with his mistress’ brothers and friends Inge, Hardeknut and Knud along with Knud Svienson of Sola all very capable men and warriors.
The English army some 15,000 strong arrived in Galicia and Faro in October 1124. The English would win a battle at Compostela and take Galicia by November 12. Eirik would be checked from further expansion in the north by a defeat at Oviedo on March 25, 1125. The second English force to the south would take Cadiz on March 5, 1125 and would crush the Moors near Sevilla on September 18. The opposing armies had fought each other to exhaustion the armies would have an uneasy truce until 1128. Eirik would reward his friends handsomely making Knud Duke of Sevilla, Inge Duke of Galicia and Hardeknut Lord of Algeciras.
Spain 1126
The second round of hostilities would not be successful for the English and result in the loss of the rich city of Sevilla. The English would be pushed back in Algeciras by June 10, losing battles at Cordoba, Sevilla and Cadiz. Eirik would arrive with reinforcements defeating the Muslims at Faro and Cadiz, retaking Cadiz but losing again at Sevilla. Facing an empty treasury and more Muslim reinforcements from North Africa Eirik would sue for peace with Mollorca on December 12 1130.
During the struggle with the Moors in Spain events where transpiring in England that would strengthen English positions in Scotland and Ireland. In early 1127 Scotland would try its hand at crusading. The Scots where not very successful and would lose Lothian to an unexpected Muslim attack. Eirik could not allow a Muslim Emir so close to his border and would drive them out by October 1127 making Gillebrigte son of Edgar the Exile the new Duke of Lothian. At this time as well the Duke of Cornwall would pass on from Cadoc to his son Cynfyn to his wife Sian to her brother Duinechaid who would inherit Ulster from his father thus bringing Northern Ireland into England. Duinechaid would be made the first Earl of Ulster by Eirik in 1128.
Eirik would enjoy only three months of peace and die soon after his return to England on March 26, 1131, He would be buried at Waltham Holy Cross and his son, Eirik would be crowned at Westminster Abbey on April 21, 1131.
England 1131
Spain 1131
Finally a king who lasted long enough to accomplish some things. The Anglo-Saxon kings of England are not becoming known for their lifespans. I guess the Norwegian blood is what did it.
All that trouble and the Christians are still having trouble in Spain. Suppose it's always a mess there, though...
Looks like your kingdom is expanding quite well, and you've gotten into Scotland. Hopefully you don't have as many kings getting killed up there as I did.
Looks like your kingdom is expanding quite well, and you've gotten into Scotland. Hopefully you don't have as many kings getting killed up there as I did.
Estonianzulu said:
You're right and he was only 40 when he died. It's only 1131 and I've had 8 kings with the longest reigns are 26 years (Harold, Eirik's father) and 11 years from Eirik. Eirik didn't last long but he was busy. He, and his son have a great court. All the Scandinavians have great stats.
RGB said:
I'm using a blank map courtesy of Gratianus and Photoshop. I'm glad you like them, I dislike the 'stock' maps in AARs. Are they easily read? I've decided to spend some more time on maps and graphics, I like eye candy.
Judas Maccabeus said:
I'm trying not to steamroll over everyone and try to use a more 'logical' method of expansion. I was successful at first but it didn't last. I was really hoping to keep Seville it's quite rich. I only expanded a little in Scotland and only when I could do it easily. Ireland came from my favorite means, marrage and death.
Edit - The family tree is getting really large and unmanageable. I'll try to clean it up and re-post the new one. Anyone have other suggestions? Maybe I'll do a text document.
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