Shaddam I
Ah, Shaddam...
There is really no way to describe Shaddam other than people hated him.
No. I mean they hated him. Within months his vassals were agitating to replace him, and that agitation rapidly became, well we shall see...
First, a look at his sons. The eldest of his twin born sons, and heir, was Guilhèm. He was not incapable but was largely unremarkable.
Next, was his second son, and namesake, Shaddam the Younger. While not much more adept at politics, his brave determination to overcome a weak physique had given him skill at arms and a mind sharp at enumeration made him a more desirable heir, and only the quirk of being the second born twin kept him from that honor.
Last, Xavier, another unremarkable young man.
And so, we turn to the Chronicle:
A1157.6 Count Hasimir of Melgueil sent his son, Jordan Corrino, to be the Duke’s ward.
A1157.7 Count Andros sent Irulan Corrino to be the Duke’s ward. Shaddam’s son Guilhèm left Barcelona of his own and traveled to Navarra and the Lord Mayor there openly advocated that Shaddam be replaced by his son.
A1157.12 The Lord Mayor Estes Corrino of Navarra was fired from the Duke’s Council. In anger he raised his standards in revolt against his liege and lord
Shaddam I, Duke of Barcelona, to replace his lord with his son and heir Guilhèm Corrino who took command of forces arrayed in the field against his father.
(Player’s Note: I was reviewing the “Council of Haters”, trying to get positive opinion advisors, even if their scores weren’t as good as those they replaced... I inadvertently removed the Lord Mayor of Navarra as Steward, the added negative malus from being fired from the Council shoved him over the edge to trigger his revolt. It was to be the first in a line of oafish mistakes that should have, by rights, led to a complete collapse of the regime and dynasty.
As a further note, I appear to have been so busy during this period that, while I managed to take notes, screenshots are few and far between.)
A1158.1 The rebel Lord Mayor Estes Corrino called the Counts Fondil and Ugues of Viscaya to join his fight. His Supreme Holiness, Pope Marcellus III excommunicated Duke Shaddam I of Barcelona at the request of the Count Frederick of Foix after careful consideration and prayerful guidance.
(Player’s Note: And I officially could not exit the spiral of doom.)
A1158.2 Hasimir Corrino, Count of Melgueil, joined Estes Corrino in his revolt. Count Frederick Corrino of Foix declared his pledge to join Estes, as did Frederick Corrino of Néjara.
The army of Barcelona brought the siege of Orange to a successful conclusion, and was then ordered to march to Navarra.
A1158.3 Andros Corrino, Count of Urgell, joined the revolt. Countess Marguerita of Lleida joined the revolt. Count Péire-Arnaut Corrino of Albarracin declared for the revolt, and called his ally Duke Elrood of Flanders to come aid in the fight against Duke Shaddam.
(Player’s Note: Nearly every landed family member had turned on me at this point.)
A1158.6 Countess Mabila of Carcasonne joined the revolt.
A1158.6 The siege of Tudela in Navarra was won by Duke Shaddam. The Lord called his servant, Pope Marcellus III to join him in the Kingdom of Heaven. Pope Formosus II was raised in his place.
A1158.12 Orange was recaptured by soldiers of Venaissin after a short siege.
A1159.3 The Barony of Toulouse was captured from the Duke by a rebel force, as was Perpinyà in Rosello. Wandra Corrino, daughter of Duke Shaddam, was wed matrilineally to Máel-Máedoc mac Flann.
(Note: this is one of the few domestic notices for some time in the chronicle. The severe disruption of the growing revolt seems to have disrupted all manner of activity. Also note, the subtle change from calling Shaddam the Duke, to just Duke. There had to be considerable political pressure on the clergy as they recorded the chronicle with an excommunicated liege as the object of the narrative.)
A1159.8 Pamplona won through siege by Duke Shaddam.
A1159.9 The revolt invested Laveur after their successful siege.
A1159.10 Cuaxà fell to the revolt.
A1159.11 His Highness, the King of France, declared a Holy War for Marrakech.
A1159.12 Leyre won through siege by Duke Shaddam.
A1160.2 Muret was captured by the revolt after a siege.
A1160.5 Cotlliure is held by the rebellion against Duke Shaddam. Castelnaudary has similarly fallen.
(Note: The D Version adds a key note here “Duke Shaddam was gripped in a fit, and raged in tongues such that it troubled all who heard. The Lord is testing Shaddam, bringing forth his faith to return to Grace by trial of torment.” It is believed now that he was considered possessed, and the clergy became more fearful of God’s Will towards him. Given other instances, his uncle Raphael for instance, it is clear there was some undefined instability in family genes.)
A1160.9 Pope Formosus II has decreed that the excommunication of Shaddam, Duke of Barcelona, is lifted and he is returned to the bosom of the Church. Talfalla won through siege by Duke Shaddam.
(Player’s Note: I purchased freedom from the excommunication, I needed a return of diplomacy and to get rid of the relations hit.)
A1161.1 The Lord God has rewarded France with victory in their holy war for Marrakech. Narbonne fell to the revolt after a siege. Duke Shaddam rode with the cavalry in the center at Leyre and his charge broke the enemy in victory, but Shaddam was struck a great blow and was maimed.
A1161.3 Shaddam had pursued the enemy from Leyre and routed them again at Aire.
A1161.4 Shaddam had pursued the enemy from Aire and defeated them again at Roquefort.
(Player’s Note: the main enemy force is defeated, and maybe things are reduced to cleanup.)
A1161.5 The city of Béziers has fallen to the revolt after a siege.
A1161.7 Count Jules of Alto Aragon was known to be backing a request that Duke Shaddam give up his title to the Duchy of Toulouse. Shaddam sent his Chancellor with men-at-arms to demand that Jules relinquish this unworthy position. Count Jules called out his levies and declared himself in revolt against the tyranny of Shaddam Corrino, Duke of Barcelona, requesting that his second son, Shaddam the Younger, be given rulership.
(Player’s Note: yeah, that wasn’t my best decision ever.)
A1161.8 Duke Bérenger I of Seville declared a league independence war against King Rorgues I of France.
(Player’s Note: nice to see I wasn’t the only one with problems.)
A1161.10 Soldiers of Duke Shaddam recaptured the Barony of Toulouse. Prince Mitrofan perished from severe stress.
A1161.11 Tabrina Corrino, widow of Mitrofan, matrilineally married Prince Eneko Mentzes.
A1161.12 Berta Corrino married Duke Cadwaladr of Connaught. Laveur was re-captured by Duke Shaddam.
A1162.3 The Bishopric of Albi came under control of the revolt. Muret was re-captured by Shaddam.
A1162.5 A battle at Lavaur in Toulouse at which many fell and Hector Corrino was captured. The enemy harried out of the county. Tudela was re-captured by the revolt in Navarra.
A1162.6 Zaragoza fell to Count Jules after a siege. A battle, at Vabres, where Duke Shaddam won the field and captured Count Frederick Corrino of Nájera and Bishop Raoul of Alet were taken prisoner.
A1162.8 Duke Shaddam won the field at Toulouse, capturing Bishop Aubry of St. Gaudens.
(Note: it is clear that the religious heads were favoring their local leaders and were active in the fighting, whether the Pope had lifted the excommunication or not.)
A1162.10 Bishop Aubry of St. Gaudens perish in the dungeon of Duke Shaddam. Bishop Clotaire named in his stead.
A1162.11 The revolt in France has ended, with King Rorgues I victorious over the Duke of Seville. Dukes Bérenger of Seville and Humbert of Cordoba were imprisoned. Alagon fell in siege to Count Jules.
A1162.12 The Dukes of Cordoba and Seville were released by King Rorgues I of France.
(Note: as an aside, this action by Rorgues was greatly at odds with his later behavior, and this change has been greatly discussed ever since.)
A1163.1 Duchess Aliénor of Champagne has consented to join Duke Shaddam in aid against his revolts.
(Note: the D Version includes a comment that “Duke Shaddam has been contemplative of late, and seems far less prideful.”)
A1163.3 Bishop Raoul died in the dungeon of Duke Shaddam at 63. Bishop Adrien has taken leadership of his flock. The Count of Rouergue abandoned the Duke, and declared in support of Navarra’s revolt.
(Note: the deaths of bishops in the dungeons of the Duke must have been galling to the church leaders throughout the realm.)
A1163.4 The Duke has lost Caspe to a siege.
A1163.7 Barcelona’s war for Shaddam’s claim on Venaissin ended, as the Count of Venaissin surrendered to his liege the Duke of Provence.
(Player’s Note: I had frankly forgotten I was even at war with Venaissin.)
A1163.9 Narbonne was returned to the Duke upon a successful siege.
D1163.11 Assassins attempted to take the life of the Duke. Captured and questioned, it was revealed that Count Jules Corrino of Alto Aragon was behind the plot for Shaddam’s death.
(Player’s Note: The pipsqueak King wouldn't help.)
A1164.2 Béziers was returned to the Duke upon a successful siege. Pamplona was returned to rebel control.
(Player’s Note: I said something about being in ‘cleanup’ mode earlier? The enemy reformed it’s units after two devastating battles now and we are chasing each other’s sieges with the warscore largely static between the Duke and Navarra.)
A1164.3 Toulouse fell, again, to the revolt after a siege.
D1164.5 Assassins again nearly take the life of the Duke.
A1164.6 Leyre was captured by the revolt. City taxes are returned to a normal level in Barcelona.
(Player’s Note: I requested that taxes be reduced before the revolts started to try and improve relations with the mayors. Before the revolts in 1157. It was finally agreed now. They couldn’t even agree with me enough to lower taxes. Ingrates.)
A1164.8 Tarragona fell, after a siege, to Count Jules. Albi was re-captured by Duke Shaddam.
D1164.9 Assassins again nearly take the life of the Duke.
A1164.10 Duke Shaddam wins the field at Muret.
(Note: the D Version adds, “but again an assassin attempts to take his life.”)
C1165.1 Shaddam Corrino of Duke Barcelona, Toulouse, and Navarra, and Count of Barcelona, Tarragona, Toulouse, Narbonne, and Rosello departed this life at the age of 53 after an accident.
Interlude
The D Version calls Shaddam’s death a suspicious accident. Other sources tell us a railing gave way as he strolled the wall in Toulouse. Previous reviews of the Chronicles made no references to a known plot to assassinate the duke, so his accident seemed convenient, leaving nothing but modern speculation. Clearly contemporaries to events saw and thought something much in line with that speculation, as the D Version of the Chronicles reveals. The only logical conclusion is that Jules Corrino’s plot succeeded.
Shaddam I of Barcelona was not the best example of Corrino leadership and breeding. There is not a lot else that needs to be said. He began his reign disliked, even hated. He did make weak attempts to mend relationships, but it was all ruined when he directly insulted Lord Mayor Estes Corrino, and events went beyond his limited abilities to control them.
As a soldier in the field he seems to have been admirable. He is acknowledged as a more than capable leader of calvary, and is personally credited with having been instrumental in the victories in the two most meaningful battles of the fighting. The outcome of that, unfortunately, was simply forcing the conflict to devolve into a series of sieges and scheming as the enemy worked to avoid meeting him in the field. Ultimately the conflict within the family resulted in his assassination and a passing of the reins to his eldest son Guilhèm.