War: chapter One
The First War under Francisco Febo II
Re-establishing the North Shores
1450-1454
Autumn of 1450
London was a busy city, as usual. So different from the quiet Iruña, the English ambassador in the Navarran court thought. John of York was some lowly son of a noble family with the mission of taking care of the business of that small, unimportant kingdom.
"Small, yes. Unimportant, certainly not!" He'd passed warnings to King Henry that Navarra, with their French-but-absolutely-naturalized-and-totally-crazy dynasty, were up to something.
And, two weeks ago, he received the answer. He was called upon the presence of the King Francisco Febo, second of that name. Even when he first set foot on the throne chamber, he knew that something was amiss. The courtiers, the best scientist, artist, writers, traders and philosophers, were not holding their usual arguments about the hottest topics of the moment. The silent was ominous.
York bowed in the front of the wooden throne of the King and Queen. Even princess Leonor was there, an offspring as daring and brilliant as her father. She was asked by every kingdom around the continent.
And every King around the continent made fun about the fact that it had no ornament, no gold or silver. Even the crown over the head of the King was simple.
But York knew better. The "simple crown" was the masterpiece of one of the best silver artist of all time. The wooden throne, another masterpiece made out of the best oak tree from the North. He dared put his eyes onto the King, and knew that a disaster was upon him.
"Ambassador, you already know that our offer to your King was refused. Even wen we offered him a pay worth more than 10.000 ducats."
"Yes, my lord, but you must understand that Labourd has been part of England for more than two hundred years."
The King nodded.
"I know, it's about honour. Theirs and ours."
He stood more firmly.
"I don't like were are you going, my lord."
"I don't like it, either. But go to London and inform your King that, from this moment on and by decision of the Council, Navarra is at war with England."
There was something about those words that made York know that there was nothing that diplomacy could do at this point.
"Chancellor Azpilkueta shall provide you with the documents crediting this."
York bowed once more.
"Yes, my lord."
He retired. Almost five years on Iruña were about to end.
Later, alone with the old chancellor, York tried to understand the situation.
"You already know that Portugal and Bohemia are allies of England, don't you?"
"We perfectly do, ambassador."
"Am I going to keep my house there?"
Chancellor Azpilkueta smiled.
"Even you, with all the time that you had to understand us, think about us like some kind of barbarians? Of course you will keep it. An even your lover."
York felt his jaw drop.
"As long as there was no consummation, nobody makes too much noise about those things."
"Why don't marry her? She is, young, the only daughter of one of the foremost families of the Kingdom. Her dowry alone would make her worthy of a Duke, at least."
York felt himself blush. Yes, she was incredible. Cultivated, beautiful, rich and powerful. She spoke many languages, including English. Anything that his family could throw at him to marry would look stupid when compared to her.
Chancellor Azpilkueta smiled. Englishmen were so naive, when it came to love.
"Don't worry. I had, in fact, a letter from her to add to the letter for your King Henry. Von voyage, ambassador."
October, 23th
And here he was, walking the streets of London scouted by some ten knights. Nobody knows officially, but wild rumours of a new war were growing louder and louder.
Entering the presence of Henry V was a completely different experience. The chamber was not as clean as the Navarran one. The courtiers are more of a militaristic entourage. And, of course, the throne and the crown were ostentatious pieces of gold and silver.
York bowed deeply.
"My King, I carry dire news. The Kingdom of Navarra..."
"That bastard King dared declare war on me!"
"Not exactly, your Highness"
Again he could perceive the difference. The Kings of Navarra never asked for anything but the acceptance of their authority. An authority, in fact, much bigger and accepted than their English counterparts'. A way to excerpt power that make then fearsome, on a way.
"The Council of the Kingdom of Navarra decided that, after the last refusal, they are going to recover the lands of Labourd through force."
"That's exactly the same thing!"
King Henry's uproar made everyone on the chamber tremble.
"I already sent for my Portuguese and Bohemian allies, even Meissen will join me soon! We will crush that upstart King and his pitiful armies!"
York kept a prudential silence.
"Take this useless scum out of my presence!"
Four guards arrested York.
"Do we throw him into a cell?"
"No. Put him back with his worthless family."
Two hours later, he was safe inside the stronghold of his family, drinking some wine. Gascon wine. Not the best, but it was enough. His father Anthony and elder brother Arthur were on front of him, surprisingly calm.
"That's all?"
"Yes, father. I am sorry to fail so miserably. I tried to warm the King..."
"We know. I am talking about if there was no other personal business. Business about a certain Ximena of Amaiur."
John choked.
"What? How could you possibly know?"
"My son, she told us."
Arthur talked for the first time.
"Is she some old harpy?"
"What? Of course not! She is one of the most beautiful women I had the luck of ever set my eyes on!"
The younger son saw the amused looks of his relatives, and knew that Ximena had told then everything.
"Little brother, then I understand you less and less. Why, for heavens sake, didn't you told us about her?"
Anthony took the parchment laying over the table and handed it to John. He immediately recognized the handwriting of Ximena. He started reading and felt flustered, flattered and surprised, all in one. She was offering not just a ridiculously high amount of money, but trading rights and lands on some of her family's holdings overseas, trading rights...
"She..."
"She is practically trying to buy your hand. I don't know what you give women, but I could use some of it, little brother. Is she able to offer that?"
"Of course. She's head of her family. She has alliances with every major merchant, noble and freemen guild. Oh, my god. I never understand it until now"
"Why so pale?"
"Do you know what I said her when we first met? A zer neska panpoxa. That's basque for such a beautiful girl. She could have had me hanged!"
"Instead, you caught her heart. That's the spirit, my son. It's a pity that all those lands an wealth are about to be lost. The Portuguese will take them."
"I highly doubt it, father."
"What? Do you really think that Navarra has the slightest chance, fighting alone against the combined might of England, Bohemia and Portugal?"
"Not only do I think that, but I pray that they will restrain themselves to Labourd. I spoke many times with chancellor Azpilkueta. He thinks that the true target of the King is to secure a northern shore for the Kingdom comparable of the one that Sancho III had. That means taking Gascogne from us."
His father and brother looked at him, amazed. Was really that man the same stupid boy that they practically exiled to Iruña?
"By the way, should I understand that you would approve of my marriage with that woman?"
"Let me put it on plain words: if this war goes as you think, you better marry her and hand the family that dowry."
The war raged on. Much to almost everyone's surprise, Navarran troops easily overrun English positions on the continent. They even got the support of Dauphine, and they bough Portugal out of the war.
Then, the incredible happened.
30th of November, 1452
"John! Where are you, my son?"
John was discussing some details of the new improvements in the York holdings on English soil when his father stormed the room.
"The Gascons! They defected to Navarra! Thousands of persons crowded the street of Bordeaux, welcoming their new overlord, three days ago!
"That manipulative bastard of Azpilkueta..."-John muttered.
"The chancellor?"
"The same. The people of Iruña say that he could convince Satan himself to pledge loyalty to heavens."
Later on, Bohemia and Meissen left the war.
"You were right, son. Even if it cost money and legitimacy, Navarra is winning this war."
"But the King is too stubborn to see that. We could lose our hard earned continental holdings, one by one."
The face of Anthony of York darkened.
"It won't be a problem much longer. The King is dying."
September, 1454
It was a dark day for England. The heir, Elizabeth of Lancaster, was too young. The country was revolting, and even London was sacked. Inside their well defended stronghold, the York reached an agreement with the Regency Council. The next time a Navarran ambassador show up asking for Labourd, they will give it. With one condition.
When the response arrived, John of York felt like he could be the happiest man of the world. Then, he was called at the presence of the Regency Council and his happiness shattered. But this time, he was the one utterly surprised. The only thing that they said to him was:
"Secure an alliance with Navarra, ambassador."
And so he parted back to Iruña.
John of York married Ximena of Amaiur the 7th day of October, Anno Domini 1454.
