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CHAPTERS
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A Dream to be Formed (in this post)
The Dream and it's Consequences - Part I -
The Dream and it's Consequences - Part II -
INTRODUCTION
CHAPTERS
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A Dream to be Formed (in this post)
The Dream and it's Consequences - Part I -
The Dream and it's Consequences - Part II -
INTRODUCTION
First of all, I have to make an apology to you all. My English is not perfect as I'd like it to be, and I make many errors, from used terms to grammatical so I just hope that you can bear the errors and have anyway a nice reading of the AAR that I'm going to write week by week. I've been looking to many AAR's and I enjoyed many of them and wrote one in an Italian forum always regarding the Este family, but now I wanted to try it out in English and share this new adventure with everyone.
The objective of the original AAR made in Italian, was "to boldly go where no Italian gone before in Medieval times" literally conquering and smashing most kingdoms and have a vast control on many territories. Despite the hard objective (got thanks to the Crovan chronicles while laughing at the Crovan's adventures) I managed to have control of many of the Kingdoms of Europe, including Italy, Germany, France and England. Many of these , as the one of Germany, came without notice and in the end the game began to be too complicated to control and awfully slow. By the end of the 14th century, the family controlled almost the 60% of known Europe.
What was the point on going on at the time ? The family reached its peak and what did I got from it ? Was all that warmongering good for my game ? The answer was.. NO.
Despite the fun I had as completing my first campaign in CK I felt empty. The family lost its main objective and stretched too far away becoming something different.
Here, now I'd like to repeat the game and be true to the basic objective... making Italy a Kingdom of its own that could strech through north Africa thanks to the Crusades, but... that's all.
And now, after this long and tedious introduction I'm going to give you some historical information regarding the Este family. Please note that this information has been taken from the Italian Wikipedia. If you want to have some more information about the Este, please go here.
- HISTORICAL INFORMATION -
The Este dynasty were a family originating from the city of Este (near Padova or Padua) that at the time (before year 1000) was an important exchange and market zone. The first and most important member of the family from wich we can make the dynasty start is Alberto Azzo II d'Este (996-1097) who was specifically granted his noble title by the Emperor himself.
During the years, the Este family achieved to control many territories from Milan itself to the western territories of Liguria, an Italian region that in CK is in west of Genoa, and some territories near Genoa itself.
The Este were also important because thanks to them the great houses of Hannover and Brunswick were able to be formed later in the years.
Many of the territories that fell under control of the Este were Lombardy, western Liguria, the cities of Ferrara, Mantova and Verona and Reggio.
Later in the years, while the wars between the Emperor and the Pope were eating literally Italy and the Comuni, the Este lost many of their territories but remained as Dukes of Modena and Reggio when the Pope refused to grant Ferrara to them as their domain and got it back in the Papal State demenses (late 16th century).
In the end, the Este, now known as Asburgo-Este from the beginning of the 19th century, were annexed by Kingdom of Sardinia in 1860 during the Italian wars of independence that formed after 1861 the Kingdom of Italy thanks to the efforts of the Savoia family.
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THE ESTE FAMILY
A quest for Italy
AZZO ESTE, Duke of Lombardy, Count of Pavia and Lombardy
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THE ESTE FAMILY
A quest for Italy
AZZO ESTE, Duke of Lombardy, Count of Pavia and Lombardy
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It has been quiet a time since Italy had peace. Wars betweens local nobles , barbarians and various conquerors erupted in all the penisula. In the far north, where the Duchy of Lombardy lies, the Holy Roman Empire controls everything trying to keep the vassals toghether despite the differences between regions and nobles alike.
We have desired for so much peace, that we keep looking to the past trying not to remember our actual situation. Fragmented, devided, hating each other, the Italian is slowly forgetting where it is coming from. Rome with its mighty armies, an Empire that controlled the known world and that as impossible as it could be... it falled leaving chaos and war to the penisula.
But we are the Este, we rule Milan and a part of the north. It is my duty, my sworn duty, to recreate a united kingdom that can cut away the wretched and hated Holy Roman Empire. They have controlled, bossed and shattered us too much... we need someone to create a new power, a new way that will lead all the others to follow.
Will I be successful ? Will be my heirs follow my step ? Mighty God only knows what lies on the path of our family. May God bless us all.
"My Lord ? Are you still writing ?"
"No... no I don't what's the matter chancellor Marco ?" Azzo looked at the figure that was approaching. Marco Gonzaga was a good chancellor even if it was fat as a pig sweating at every move.
"I've been looking around for a wedding as you've request my Lord. Since the ... sad departure of your previous wife, God may bless her, I have tried to find a new one that could... stay with you" the voice of the chanchellor was disturbing and squeaking like a old fat rat.
"And I think" Azzo placed the pen down on the table after cleaning it with a sleeve "that you've found a proper one ?"
"Yes my Lord, a courtier of the Pope has...accepted and granted a meeting with you."
"Young at least ?"
"Yes my Lord"
"Good then, arrange for the meeting with this young woman and now Marco... if you have nothing else , please leave me"
the chanchellor stood on the door a little bit changing the weight from one feet to another, sweating, then decided to leave the room and Azzo alone.
"Damn Gonzaga, last time the chick was an old woman, I need a young one to have heirs... that can manage the upcoming struggle, how may I fight alone surrounded by trecherous bastards ?"
Time passed, and Azzo married the young woman.
The time passed slowly, nothing was happening in the realm besides some raw nerve between the northerer nobles that seemed to be plotting something against the Empire. Rumors were fast to move especially in a territory where secrets were known by everyone and told by everyone. The Duchy of Lombardy is a strange place.
Perhaps it was for this that while in a tournament the Count of Monfalcone erupted in an insult to Azzo that was jousting as everybody else. He talked about his short height , the fact that he married twice and that the Emperor himself was thinking of him as a traitor... anyway and nontheless Azzo got a grudge from this Count.
War was in the air, a righteous claim to the territory of Monfalcone was found in the old libraries in Milan. Azzo was looking to start a war against that tiny little insignificant territory, when something broke up his plans. How could something get between him and the righteous revenge that he wanted to unleash with his armies ?
A simple word.... war.
"What in the known world is this THING!!" Azzo shouted hitting the table with rage. "How is possible that the Duchy of Florence is splitting from the Holy Roman Empire ? Is the old hog insane perhaps ?! Does she think that her armies can whistand the ones of the Empire ?"
"My Lord please calm down there's nothing to be enra..." the chanchellor tried to mediate , fearing Azzo's reactions.
"Stay at your place Marco or I'll make you calm in one way or another!"
the chanchellor simply closed his mouth while sweating more than ever
"First God sends me the blessing of two childs thanks to my new wife, and then he decides that some of the local Counts can be of my liking and then... and then this!" the piece of paper with the help request by Heinrich the Emperor was being crush in the fist of Azzo "Even my son Hueges can understand what this is all about dammit! We'll have to delay our revenge... prepare the army."
And then... the first great war in northern Italy started. Regiments from Lombardy and Pavia joined the armed forces of the Emperor that engaged a terrible and long lasting war against the Duchy of Florence.
A long... really long war. Charesty and poverty strikes the land while the soldiers faces the horrors of war. Perhaps as a revenge for all the words of Azzo, God took away the two newborns leaving just another one that struggled to survive in the terrible events that were coming.
The fights in north/central Italy lasted for 5 years and in the end, Florence was victorious. Azzo was concerned about the matter. If this was a good thing, meaning that the Imperial armies were not so might as he thought, it was also a bad thing, meaning that the reunion of Italy would have been tougher. His son Fulco in the meantime was getting older and more capable to run a territory by his own in the far north of the Duchy... maybe also the new born bastard would have the qualities of an Este, even if the possibilities to join the throne would be thin as air.
And then... one day... after a new declaration of war by the Emperor, while Azzo kept the grudge against Monfalcone talking and inspiring his sons. He died.
Records tell that Azzo died in a battle leading his army , ambushed cowardly by the enemy and falling in the river nearby.
The truth is, that after the ambush he had some ... pleasures with a local peasant and ... died in the process.
"At least" as Marco Gonzaga will know the truth some days later "he died with a smile."
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Azzo gave his dream of a reunified Italy to his son Fulco that now is the rightful heir and ruler of the Duchy. Will Fulco lead the family to victory or will it ignore his fathers dreams ?
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