Bluetooth's Dream: A Denmark AAR

[Halocon720]

Harald Bluetooth; King of Danes and Norwegians. The first Christian Norseman and last Danish Viking. It is said that he once had a hope to unite the
peoples of the northlands into a great empire, one of peace and prosperity.
He did not live to see this dream fulfilled, but perhaps the Estrids can fulfill it.

BLUETOOTH'S DREAM: THE SAGA OF HOUSE ESTRID

--​

This is my first AAR for any game, so it probably will not be very good. Anyway, a backstory: I started a game as Harald Svendsson Estrid, Duke of Jylland, in 1066, with the hope that it would be less turbulent than my previous forays as Scotland and that I would not become king. Apparently, people liked Harald so much that they founded factions in his name and tried to get him on the throne of Denmark. Also, note that the only pictures I have are from around the 1130s and afterward, since I didn't think of making an AAR out of my game until recently. I'll begin the narrative tomorrow, when I have the chance and when I can get screenshots.

 

[Dovahkiing]

Looks interesting! Looking forward to this!

 

[Mich333]

Can't wait to for the first update!

 

[guillec87]

subbed, I like playing as the Danes

 

[Halocon720]

ONE: Jylland without Jylland​

In Anno Domini 1066, as the Normans under the Bastard and the Norwegians under Hardrade cleaved England as meat, there was a simple duke known as Harald Svendsson, of House Estrid. Harald was a legitimized bastard son of King Svend, with more than a dozen half-brothers and sisters, and the ruler of the Duchy of Jylland. The Duke controlled the two counties of Slesvig and Holstein, but not Jylland itself; that belonged to the king. So, early in his life, Harald usually watched things, pitching into the conquest of Lybæk from the Germans with his personal troops. However, things began to change as soon as his father died.

Spoiler

After the passing of Svend, Harald's half-brother Knud took power. Knud was, for all intents and purposes, a good ruler.Though not much was gained during his rule, Denmark was at peace. In England, however, William the Conqueror was dead, and Harald Hardrade had replaced him on the throne of England. Soon, the dukes would rise to put the crown on an Englishman's head, and England would be lost to Norway except for Cornwall.

One day, news came to Harald that shocked him to his core.

--

A courier rode up to the imposing fortress in Slesvig and trotted his horse past the guards, then entered the keep of the castle where Duke Harald was residing. The young man raced upstairs and knocked four times.

"Enter."

A gruff, bored voice came from within. The courier stepped into the ducal chambers.

"Greetings, Your Majesty."
"'Your Majesty?' What is this nonsense? I am but a duke!"
"Not anymore, my liege."
"Wait. My brother, Knud, is-"
"Yes, Your Excellency. He was murdered."
"Murdered! Who perpetrated this hideous crime?!"
"One Margrete af Munso, sire."
"Margrete af Munso. I believe I've heard the name, but I cannot remember where. Could you fetch my wife? I must speak to her."

Harald's wife's name was Margrete. She was a noblewoman of a minor house.
House af Munso.

 

[guillec87]

hahaha, it's like reading MacBeth again

 

[Halocon720]

hahaha, it's like reading MacBeth again

Yeah, I didn't realize who Margrete af Munso was until years and years later. I looked at her character and I thought, "Wait. WHAT?"