Chapter 18: The Breakup ( Aug. - Dec. 1082 )
In March, Roussel received word that the Seljuk Sultan Alp Arslan ‘the Glorious’ had declared war on Vahram for his remaining territories in Cilicia. Vahram’s army was totally destroyed in a battle that spring, leaving him totally defenseless as the Danishmends occupied his remaining keeps. By early August, he surrendered Cilicia and was left with an extremely isolated realm centered on the great city of Antioch.
Roussel had decided that several laws in the duchy needed to change before his sons could inherit. First, he wished to further centralize the realm so Anfroi could control more territory directly. Second, Roussel wanted to change the inheritance away from gavelkind. Unfortunately, several of Roussel’s vassals were totally opposed to these changes since they wanted to keep the realm as decentralized and weak as possible.
Most of them changed their minds when Roussel provided a not insignificant sum of money, but two remained unconvinced. Mayor Aubrey was open to negotiating, so Roussel began personally lobbying the man for his support. The second opponent, Mayor Philotheos, had been a vassal of Nikephoros and hated Roussel with a passion. Unfortunately for him, Roussel was not amused by his antics, and the Normans did not like him either.
Good news arrived in early November as the Seljuk realm experienced a major revolt. A coalition of the Sultan’s vassals believed he was ruling as a tyrant and wished to depose him in favor of one of his weaker sons. Alp Arslan was one of the greatest military minds of the eastern world, so Roussel suspected he would win, but it might take some time.
Roussel was going over some papers in his chambers when Mechthild stormed in. Roussel initially smiled, expecting to take a break with his lover. However, her face was very red and looked as if she had been crying. As the duke rose and took her in his arms, she shoved him away.
“It is over, my lord! My husband confronted me about Herman, our son,” she cried out.
“Well, did he believe the boy is his?” Roussel demanded.
“He did, but I can not be with you anymore! He is still suspicious, and I do not want my dalliance to become known!” Mechthild cried. Roussel tried to console her, but she pushed him away and ran from the room, still greatly upset.
“Damn it all! That woman worries too much, and her accursed husband should mind his own business!” Roussel fumed. He picked up his chair and smashed it against the wall, venting his anger. A servant came running to investigate the commotion, and Roussel cursed the man for his trouble. That night, he proved unable to sleep and was consumed by worrying about his wife, lover, former lover, and numerous children. The romances were becoming too entangled, and Roussel found himself sneaking around his own keep to keep the peace.
Mayor Aubrey continued to reject Roussel’s attempts at flattery and persuasion, ignoring a letter that the duke had written to him. However, one of Roussel’s courtiers set the plan to kill Mayor Philotheos in motion by poisoning the mayor at a banquet. The plan went off without a hitch, leaving Roussel one step closer to consolidating his power over the duchy. However, nothing could lift the duke’s spirits, and he continued to be consumed by stress…
I'm glad the bad seeds of their relationship are being made clear. It's bad enough Robert is older but a bastard, then add on that Anfroi is outshining him in their father's eyes...
