1444-1447 - The Castilian War (Part I)
The end of 1444 was a buzz of activity as the people of Aragon prepared for a war with Castile. Three nobles of the realm were appointed as generals by His Majesty, Alfons V de Trastámara, King of Aragon and Naples. Lino Adrià María de Agramunt, Felipé de Alvaro, and Jaume Cristòfor were all entrusted with positions within the army command, although de Agramunt would be the first to catch the brave king’s eye. He would be placed in command of the Segon Exèrcit Principal, the second army that would consist of 8,000 infantry and 4,000 cavalry after a recruitment effort was completed. For now it only consisted of 3,000 infantry, placed under the command of the new general by the king himself, while the king led an army of 10,000 infantry and 5,000 cavalry. Leonardo de Abruzzi, a merchant from Naples, was permitted by the king to lead the Aragonese navy.
Even though the future war was on everyone’s minds, matters of diplomacy and trade were still of importance. Grandmaster Erik Inge sent the small Aragonese trade fleet to operate in the waters outside Tunis, where valuable goods could be conned out of the foolish heathen locals and shipped to Europe for practically nothing.
Alfons V himself dealt with diplomatic affairs. He sent spies to Castile, England, and Genoa, believing they were Aragon’s biggest rivals and that an eye should be kept on them at all times. As for potential allies, the recently hired Joseph von Thun was sent to the French court to secure an alliance while his colleague offered friendship to Navarra. Both accepted the offers. To further secure ties to these nations, the king arranged royal marriages with them both.
Portugal was another matter. At first Alfons V extended a similar offer of friendship, which the Portuguese agreed too. A month later, a Portuguese envoy arrived to arrange a potential marriage between the two royal families, but this was not to happen. Before the envoy had arrived, Alfons V learned that the Portuguese had broken his trust by allying with the Castilians. Not only that, but they had broken their alliance with England. This made them suspect in the king’s eyes. He would not sully his royal line with the blood of traitors.
Diplomat Joseph von Thun was given the most important and secretive of missions, one not revealed even to fellows members of the court. King Alfons V instructed him to sneak into the archives in Murcia and forge a few documents that linked the province to the Aragonese royal line. The plan was to use these claims as justification for war. Joseph von Thun left in the dark of night, ready to commit himself to a year’s worth of effort to ensure his new home would grow stronger.
While von Thun operated in secrecy in Murcia, his colleague was sent to Navarra to improve relations with their king. The hope was that Navarra would one day see the wisdom of accepting Aragonese protection from Castile. Navarra did have an alliance with France as well, but the French were not as interested in the Basque country.
After the new regiments were recruited, the treasury began to feel the strain. The kingdom was barely able to make a profit. Some questioned whether all of these funds were actually going towards the army. The fact that the palace was being refurbished at the time did not go unnoticed. The king chose not the comment on the matter.
As the possibility of war became more real with Castile, others in court looked towards the other potential targets that were considered. Tunis had allied itself with the Ottomans, a formidable foe, while Provence had sought out the Austrians for protection. War with either of those two would not have been that easy either.
In July of 1445, a succession war broke out between Brandenburg and Brunswick over the throne of Anhalt. The king and many within court laughed at this. Alfons V even commented that the only thing the crown of Anhalt was good for was as a wall ornament.
In August, Joseph von Thun was discovered by the Castilians and he was forced into hiding. The king was incredibly irate at this, since it jeopardized his potential war. Aragon’s neighbours would not think too highly of him if he went to war over false claims. For many days after, the king was heard saying that he’d punish von Thun dearly for getting caught, but the diplomat did not return.
October brought news of an independence war in the north. Sweden grew tired of Danish oppression and decided to fight its way free. The king did not think too much of this, although he did consult several of his court on the state of Naples afterwards.
Steward Arturo de Valencia had been doing the rounds for the last year, ensuring that the local officials were doing their job. The bureaucracy of the kingdom flowed much more smoothly with his guidance, ensuring stability for the nation. While travelling the kingdom during his duties, he made note of the significant Catalan population. They seemed to form a significant portion of the kingdom. He presented the potential idea to the king that the Catalan people might need better representation at court. Alfons V took this into consideration, but did not act on it for the moment.
Near the end of the year, Joseph von Thun finally returned from Murcia. The king’s anger had simmered down, but he was still ready to punish the man for his failure. However, when the diplomat ran into court waving the document the king needed, that opinion changed. Joseph von Thun may have failed to fabricate a claim on the province of Murcia, but during his time in Castile he had found actual proof that Alfons’ bloodline had a legitimate claim on part of the region. They could declare war with just cause.
Before war was officially declared, Alfons V brought his court before him and stated that he had reconsidered his position on alliances. While most of his court had originally suggested that alliances with France and Portugal were optimal, Alfons V no longer wanted to be Portugal’s friend while they were allies of Castile. He instead stated that he would force the Portuguese to break their alliance like the traitors they were by forcing them to come to Castile’s defence. Before then, Aragon would need more trustworthy allies. Some had suggested the Pope, although others believed he would be of no use in a war with Castile. It would be a suggestion by General Lino Adrià María de Agramunt that would catch the king’s ear. The noble suggested an alliance with Venice, a strong naval power in the Mediterranean. The king greatly liked this idea and announced his intentions to ally the Italian nation. The Venetians were even willing to accept, forging a bond of friendship between the two nations, one that would be tested immediately. With both Venice and France assuring Alfons V that they would back him up against Castile, the king declared war on Aragon’s greatest threat. Portugal even sent another offering of marriage in an attempt to smooth relations, but it was too late. Both Portugal and Burgundy came to Castile’s defence. Aragon was at war. ((I essentially used my veto to override the alliance with Portugal and choose Venice instead.))
Alfons V, with his army stationed in Valencia, marched immediately for the enemy fort in Toledo, with General Lino Adrià María de Agramunt protecting his flank. When a Castilian force of roughly 12 regiments was spotted guarding Toledo, Alfons called a halt and ordered the siege of Cuenca instead. de Agramunt was sent on to claim Murcia in the meantime.
The navy was not ignored. Under the leadership of Leonardo de Abruzzi, they engaged a Castilian fleet trying to blockade Valencia. The new admiral proved his mettle soon enough, sending the entire Castilian fleet to the bottom of the sea with only one galley lost. Another galley and two more barques were put under construction to supplement the navy and further the admiral’s successes.
Cuenca fell in mid-February, but by then more Castilian troops had appeared in Toledo, now numbering over 22 regiments. French troops were doddering around in southern France while Burgundy besieged Paris freely. At least Admiral de Abruzzi continued to achieve success at sea. A Castilian trade fleet was caught in the Gulf of Lion, with two ships sunk and the rest forced to retreat.
By the end of February, the Castilian army made a run at the king’s forces in Cuenca. General Lino Adrià María de Agramunt abandoned his siege of Murcia and immediately marched north to aid his king. As he arrived on the battlefield, a Portuguese army appeared in La Mancha on the way to aid their Castilian allies. The Portuguese traitors greatly boosted the odds against Alfons V. That did not stop the king from making the Castilians and Portuguese pay for every inch of ground in blood. After over a month of fighting, Alfons V was forced to call a retreat. He could not hold the position with the enemy having such overwhelming numbers. The Aragonese army fled to Roussillon to recover. At least on the positive side, the French had made an appearance on the border. 23 regiments were marching into Pirineo on their way to combat the Castilian threat. It was said that Bishop Fernando de Vascona blessed the French troops as they passed through his bishopric.
The French were quick to launch an assault on the Castilian and Portuguese force in Cuenca, even with smaller numbers. Alfons V did not want to lose this advantage of French assistance. He marched the entire Aragonese army in its battered state back across the kingdom to aid his allies. Before he could even arrive, much to his surprise, the French forced the enemy to retreat. The king liked to boast that it was the sight of Aragonese troops on the horizon that had scared them off.
Despite the war going on, trade was of vital importance to Aragon. Grandmaster Erik Inge provided backing for a major Aragonese trading company, promising them a long-term investment if they continued to bring in valuable trade goods to Aragonese ports. The deal quickly paid off and was expected to last for another ten years.
While the French handled Cuenca, the entire Aragonese army went straight for the fort in Toledo. Once Alfons V was sure that the area was safe from enemy forces, he ordered General de Agramunt south to take Murcia. They needed to claim the province if they wanted any hope of making the Castilians yield.
Up north, France was not faring so well. Burgundy had occupied several provinces and was threatening both Paris and Poitou. A Venetian army had surprisingly showed up in the north to defend the French land while France focused farther south. In even more surprising news, a Venetian army attempted a naval invasion of Porto with only a few thousand men. They faced a devastating loss, but none could doubt their bravery. When told the news, the king couldn’t help but laugh at their bravado. He had made an excellent choice in allies.
Murcia finally fell at the end of August and de Agramunt decided to march on west to Jaen. The southern provinces of Castile were not defended by forts, leaving them open to attack. At sea, de Abruzzi added another success to his list as he caught the Castilian trade fleet he had sent fleeing earlier as they attempted to escape from the recently occupied ports of Murcia. The admiral was then ordered to blockade the Straits of Gibraltar to keep any enemy navies from entering the Mediterranean and threatening Aragon directly.
Diplomat Joseph von Thun was sent on a diplomatic mission to France to improve cooperation with Aragon’s ally. They needed to coordinate their moves to ensure success. The two powers had to work together.
In September, the French fleet left Castile, heading back to France to deal with the Burgundian threat. Alfons V did not begrudge them this choice, although he would have preferred assistance against Castile. The fact that Naples was following France displeased him greatly though. When French troops passed through Pirineo heading north this time, Bishop Fernando de Vascona was noticeably absent.
Over in Anatolia, the Ottomans made gains. The heathens of the east were growing and could one day be a big threat to Aragon’s Mediterranean empire.
Jaen fell in October, so General de Agramunt moved on to Cordoba, which fell just as easily. The Castilians seemed to have backed off for now, which worried the general greatly. What were they up to?
A Castilian force of roughly 14 regiments was spotted in Soria in November heading for Aragon. With Alfons V bogged down sieging Toledo, de Agramunt marched towards home. Before he could get back though, the Castilian force surrounded the capital and put it to siege. The court escaped by ship beforehand, seeking shelter on the Baleares where the generous Esteban Iglesia y Maig gave them sanctuary. The Castilians could not reach them there.
With not enough men to uproot the Castilian siege army, General de Agramunt prepared to besiege La Mancha. Then word arrived of yet another Castilian army heading in from the north. de Agramunt moved to intercept, but the army stopped in Soria. He did not have the numbers to force a battle, so he would have to wait for them to make the move or the king to finish taking Toledo.
At the start of 1447, the Pope passed away, to be replaced by a French cardinal. This was met with much fanfare in Aragon, who rejoiced that their ally held the Papacy. The mood was further heightened when the new Pope recommended Bishop Fernando de Vascona for a place in the College of Cardinals. He had heard of how the bishop had blessed the French soldiers earlier and thought highly of the man. Aragon now had a representative in the Holy See.
The French army made a move to push Burgundy out of Poitou. They had the numbers, but a larger Burgundian force was on the way to reinforce. Despite having the advantage in numbers, the Burgundians had fresher troops. The tired French soldiers were forced to retreat with the hope of achieving victory another day.
In mid-January, the fortress in Toledo fell to the king’s forces, opening the entire region to Aragon and giving the army the opportunity to deal with the nearby threat. Alfons V moved up to Madrid, hoping to lure in the nearby Castilian and Portuguese forces. The Castilian army besieging Valencia instead responded to the threat, abandoning their siege and heading west. Instead of only two armies heading for Madrid, the king now had twice that number heading his way. There was no time to retreat either. General de Agramunt, in a valiant attempt to save his king, marched north as fast as he could. Despite his arrival, there was little he could do. The Aragonese army fought valiantly, with every Aragonese man who fell taking an enemy down with him. The 1:1 odds favoured the enemy though. After Alfons V was unhorsed during the chaos and knocked unconscious, General de Agramunt slung his king over a saddle of a horse and called the retreat. They could not win this battle.
With the war effort not going as well as hoped, Esteban Iglesia y Maig recommended a bright man by the name of Enric Gil de Biedma from his home province to be hired by the court to organize the war effort. The man had an excellent record of military service, but more importantly knew how to make an army function. It was hoped that his efforts could bolster morale. With the king incapacitated, Marshal Jaume Cristòfor hired the man in his stead for the war effort.
On the first of May in 1447, King Alfons V succumbed to his wounds inflicted during the battle of Madrid. General Lino Adrià María de Agramunt was at his side as he passed away and vowed he would avenge the king’s death by bringing victory against Castile. The Castilians would pay dearly.
With the king dead, his brother Joan II de Trastámara ascended to the throne. His heir was his son, the aptly named Alfons de Trastámara. It would now be Joan II who would lead Aragon either to greatness or disaster.
Presenting His Majesty, Joan II de Trastámara, King of Aragon and Naples ((Diligent, Content, Craven))
We greet our subjects with much sorrow, for we have lost our beloved brother. But we must continue on in his memory. A peace must be settled with Castile, if not now then when the war is more decided. At the moment we hold several Castilian provinces, including their capital of Toledo. France is faring far worse, with Burgundy now in control of central France. The French army is strong though and may be able to turn the odds in time, for the fort in Poitou continues to hold out. Castile will not settle a favourable peace yet, due to their military victories against us and Burgundy’s successful campaign in France. We will let our court interpret how the war should be handled as they will.
As for the state of the kingdom, it could be better. The population grows weary of war and is restless. At least relations with our allies have improved. Despite several setbacks, we have managed to stabilize the economy. Perhaps this is in party due to the less men we need to pay in the army. Speaking of our armed forces, they are depleted but no regiment has capitulated in entirety yet. The navy is strong and maintains a presence in the Straits of Gibraltar for now. We also congratulate Cardinal Fernando de Vascona on his recent appointment. The people of Aragon rejoice that we have a representative in the Holy See who can speak for us before Pope Innocentius VIII.
We shall not waste more of your time, what with a war raging on. For now the current ministers will resume their roles until the war ends. Any advice on how to win this war would be appreciated. We shall be visiting our friend Esteban Iglesia y Maig in the Baleares for the continuation of the war, where the Castilians cannot reach our royal person. Luck be with those brave men who fight the dastardly Castilians and traitorous Portuguese.