The Reign of Emperor Sampo 1091 - 1130
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One Morning (22nd Rabi’al-awaal 484, 20 May 1091)
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Prince Sampo, Heir to the Crowns of Carpathia, Hungary, Poland and Wallachia
“It was the morning of the 22nd day of Rabi’al-awaal. I remember it quite vividly. I was being taught about Allah the Allmighty by my teacher, when mother and the Steward burst into the room.
She told me that my half-brother, the Emperor, would join Allah and the Steward informed me that ‘I’ be Emperor. I was told i had still much to learn and until that day mother and the council would reign in my name.
Then I remember turning back to the scrolls my tutor had brought, trying to understand the arabic words written so carefully praising the Divine.”
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The Civil Wars: My Brothers Wars (20th May 1091 - 22nd March 1092)
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Emperor Sampo of Carpathia, King of Hungary, Poland and Wallachia, Duke of Pest, Lesser Poland and Tuscany
“The first few years of my reign, I know now, were a chaotic mess of factions and pretenders to my throne risen already in the reign of my brother. For those brief five years he had been Emperor his council and regent had failed to legitimize his rule.
Our uncle Toivo, Duke of Verona had risen, claiming the crown of Hungary for himself. His ally the Caliph thankfully never supplied him with troops though he supported him.
The pretender Väimö laid claim to the Kingdom of Wallachia. In Exile he had gathered thousands of men to fulfill his pretensions.
Another uncle of mine, King Lalli of Pommerania remained loyal, but he did not forfeit his claim to the throne. So it happened that an overwhelming amount of Dukes supported his claim and had risen in open rebellion.
By the event of my succesion, the government changed dramtically. I learend later that my Mother the Queen Regent and the Steward were out for power in those few years and established a new council. A loyal council it should be, for as my mother would later reveal to me, she knew that the old council was a nest of traitors. She herself had initiated my half-brothers demise and knew that a councillor could be bribed quite easily.”
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When i took over pretty much any duke in the Empire hated me. The councillors hated me and a 38 intrigue spymaster with -77 opinion is suicide. Also the King of Pommerania started out too powerful. So i imprisoned him to stop him from revolting, giving me time to win the Civil Wars and then dealing with his family later.
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“Of the wars that were fought I was marginally informed at the time. From the records i know the witch Morgana, the old councils Spymaster had been send to command the southern army. The new council hoped, that she would find death in battle. But instead she won great battles for the Empire.”
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“My uncle Toivo had been already beaten in the field, Väimö was ravaging the eastern countryside of Wallachia, but those ‘threats’ was easily taken care of. The rich treasures i had been left with were used to set an reward for these mens heads. When the news reached Pest, that the Wallachian Pretender had died and his men were leaving and that thte Duke of Verona was dead and that the Caliphs troops had been disbanded whilst already in Anatolia the council the regent and even i were relieved. Though the biggest threat still battled on.
In the end the grand faction was taken care of easily. Two Armies were out in the field fighting for me, both numbering up to twenty-thousand men. The rebels never accomplished to unite their troops. The biggest force they formed amounted three-thousand-eight-hundred men, that found their demise at the battle of Ezergotm.
On 6 Rabi’al-awaal 485 (22nd March 1092) the rebellous dukes singed a white peace. Laying down arms and acknowledging my legitimate rule. My proper coronation was held on that day, each of them swearing fealty to me and renewing the oaths that had broken. They had believed that they would be going as free men. But on orders of the Regent they were imprisoned and stripped of their titles. Redistributing them to more loyal Counts in the Realm.”
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So i spam Assasinated Toivo of Verona and Väimö, which took 4 and 2 attempts respectively amount in 1500 gold lost. But better than fighting possibly 20k wallachian troops and 55k arab troops from the Caliphate. The rebellous dukes were marked as traitors so i all of them ans revoked their titles, accidently i imprisioned on duke that had not rebelled taking -40 tyranny. But since i kept the slavic revolt going i amounted in a net +10 opinion (-40 tyranny, +50 def vs foreigner). Also i revoked all duchies (tyranny less revocations as muslim yeah) that had an opinion less than 20 and reassigned new dukes. I gave away all holdings in lesser poland and tuscany and kept Pest and Verona (inherited from Toivo). Only two Dukes (Brunswick and Bosnia) revolted against the revocation of their titles.
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The Civil Wars: My Wars (23rd March 1092 - 18th October 1093)
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Emperor Sampo of Carpathia, King of Hungary, Poland and Wallachia, Duke of Pest and Verona
“When the troops were fighting Brunswick and Bosnia, the council already had turned to another matter. The faction had supported by uncle Lalli, who had been imprisoned. The Queen Regent decreed, that his line had forfeited our support and had betrayed the lord the allmighty and should meet justice, as she called it. So it came that my cousins, Lallis sons were imprisoned and together with his father executed. On that day i became King of Pommerania. ”
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I myself do not like to play with King-vassals (also they’re unhistorical. No Kings in ERE or HRE except Bohemia (later)). Since only Emirate (duchies) revocation is legal i could not revoke Pommerania, which had grown too powerful. I used right to exterminate family members if need be and destroyed his line inheritind the Kingdom. I gave away his duke and county titles and kept the Kingdom.
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Emperor Sampo of Carpathia, King of Hungary, Pommerania, Poland and Wallachia, Duke of Pest and Verona
“Before my coronation, the Sons of Kavela still my vassals rebelled. This band of fierce suomenusko holy warrios, a legacy of my pagan ancestors, wanted to end the reign of allahs chosen. Only after settling the three great wars, the council could spare troops to vanquish the Sons. My vassals levy had been disbanded, the mercenaries had been payed off and my personal retinue was taking on the task of winning the wars of the later rebellions. First the men marched on Bosnia, the nearest target just south of the Tonava or Danubius as the romans called it. When i heard of their victory it filled me with joy. I was the rightful sovereign of these lands. The troops marched on vanquishing the pagans at the coast of the black sea. Seven-thousand were sent to besiege the sons holdings in the forest of Russia, while thirteen-thousand were heading to Brunswick.”
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“On the 26th Jumada ath-Taniya 486 (30 July 1093) i fell sick. Severe fever had made me bedridden. I was cooking from the inside i recall one physician say. For over 2 months they feared for my life. My reign had been short, my brothers reign had been short. The Empire would not survive another succession they wagered. Finally on 6th day of Ramadan (18th October 1093) I recovered. During my illness the last rebellions had been finally been subdued and the realm was at peace again. ”
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The Regency (19th October 1093 - 8th June 1098)
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Emperor Sampo of Carpathia, King of Hungary, Pommerania, Poland and Wallachia, Duke of Pest and Verona
“With the Civil Wars finally over. The realm at peace, the council turned to the last task at hand. Land was needed for my cousins and few male members of the muslim branch of the family. A Holy war was called in the month of Rajab 487 (August 1094) against the Kingdom of Navarra. The Regent had choosen the mountainous regions of the duchy of upper burgundy to be the seat of my cousins.”
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Holy War for Upper Burgundy 14th August 1094 to 20th March 1095
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“The council wanted to follow the islamic laws, by I choose another path. My victories had shown that I was to rule supreme. The Regency was still in place, but i realized at the age of twelve, that I was the figure the centuries should tell of. I had heard tales of my ancestors. Of the great frankish kings that had reigned over half my empire and once beaten back islam in France. Tales of Rome and the origins of Islam had been taught to me. But I had realized, that the way of Ibadi was new. Islam was new. I asked my tutors were it had came from. I wanted to live in the pure original way fulfilling allahs word. The tutors told me about Judaism. But they also told me the prophet had brought us back to the true faith.
I knew no one would accept it, but i arranged for a new tutor. A jewish tutor from Poland. Openly he was supposed to teach me in the art of war, but secretly i questioned him about the jewish faith.”
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Playing a muslim has its advantage (free duchy revocations, family imprisonment/execution) but it also has decadence. Since my character early on gained the proud trait and i don’t really enjoy playing a muslim character i hope to change my religion. Turning the Empire jewish would balance religions. Islam as a whole is quite huge. Romuva and Norse were eaten by our Suomenusko players. Catholicism is on the decline since we established the ibadi Sultanate.
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First Byzantine Wars 19th April 1095 - 17th July 1097
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Emperor Sampo of Carpathia, King of Hungary, Pommerania, Poland and Wallachia, Duke of Pest and Verona
“To the south the great arab Empire was falling apart. Civil Wars and pretenders were ravagin the countryside. The Ruling Gaspadale Dynasty seemed incapabale to hold on to their european holdings of the former byztantine lands.
Exploiting the current situation the council declared War for Bulgaria.”
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Bulgarian War
Holy War for Dyrrachion
Holy War for Vidin
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19th April 1095 to 13th March 1096
19th April 1095 to 18th December 1095
19th April 1095 to 13th March 1096
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“With the news that the Bulgarian campaign had been successful it was decided to further use the current set of affairs in the arab Empire.”
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Peloponnesian War
HW for Achaia
HW for Athens
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3rd April 1096 to 17th July 1097
3rd April 1096 to 30th April 1097
3rd April 1096 to 17th July 1097
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“In secrecy I had turned my back on the ibadi religion. When the day came closer that I would reign free of a regent I could no longer hide it. On the 1st of June 1098 I openly proclaimed the conversion of this Empire to the oldest of Abrahams religions, Judaism.
Most dukes followed in this conversion, they had gained rank and titles through me recently. The people of the Empire would follow eventually, being currently split between Sunni and Ibadi Islam and the still most numberous following catholicism and its heresies”
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Early Years (9th June 1098 - 4th November 1107)
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“Finally the day had come. I was Emperor. Freed of a Regency.
When i finally was introduced to all the details that happend in the empire I was appaled by the many local revolts going on. Setting out to appease the realm and consolidating my demense were my first steps i would take as monarch.”
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Even though Revolts give you +50 opinion i had to end them to have tournaments, passover and feats.
Since my current demense in Pest and Verona were too far apart and the County of Pest has the Pest technology i used my conversion to Judaism to gain control over more local lands. I demanded conversion of all vassals that would and revoked the infidel titles of those that would not. Gaining the Lands of Pecs and Slavonia i gave away Verona.
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Emperor Sampo of Carpathia, King of Hungary, Pommerania, Poland, Italy and Wallachia, Duke of Pest, Pecs and Slavonia
“On the 15th of February 1099 Sohvi, daughter of King Aatos of Bohemia joined me in holy matrimony. Binding the houses of Karlajainen and of Fürth further together.”
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“By January 1100 my Realm was finally appeased. Between then and March the first Tournament was held in honor of my name. A great spectacle it was attracting knights from far and wide.
On the 4th of April 1100 the first passover was celebrated marking the beginning of a great future for jewish Carpathia.”
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“On the 28th June of 1098 i had added King of Italy to my many titles, but great parts of this kingdom was still controlled by christian infidels and the greatest target christianity and catholicism had still to offer: the papacy in rome.
When the passover celebrations of 1100 were over I declared War for all of Italy. Bringing those lands to their rightful owner.”
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Italian War
HW for Capua
HW for Genoa
HW for Modena
HW for Pisa
HW for Rome
HW for Spoleto
HW for Susa
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16th April 1100 to 26th June 1101
16th April 1100 to 4th May 1101
16th April 1100 to 23rd June 1100
16th April 1100 to 21st October 1100
16th April 1100 to 9th December 1100
4th May 1101 to 26th June 1101
16th April 1100 to 23rd January 1101
16th April 1100 to 17th May 1100
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“The arab Empire still struggled in the south and after the dynastic change that happened when Musa of the pempton dynasty proclaimed himself Caliph anewed rebellions started the western border of the empire became weak and open for conquest.
On the 27th of April 1102 i declared the Second Byzantine War against the Caliphate and its rebellious vassals.”
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Second Byzantine War
HW for Adrianople
HW for Constantinople
HW for Epirus
HW for Korvuna
HW for Moesia
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27th April 1102 to 20th June 1103
27th April 1102 to 27th November 1102
27th April 1102 to 20th June 1103
27th April 1102 to 7th December 1102
27th April 1102 to 19th June 1102
27th April 1102 to 3rd September 1102
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“During the Campaign sadly my first wife of three years Sohvi passed away after a short period of illness on the 26th July 1102.
My father-in-law Aatso of Bohemia offered Sohvis twinsisters hand in marriage to prolong our families connections.
The marriage between Lauha and me was celebrated on the 3rd August of 1102. "
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“Part of the North lands, that are considered part of my kingdoms of Pommerania and Poland still did not swear fealty to me. To expand my jurisdiction to these lands I declared War.”
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Polish War
HW for Pommeralia
HW for Mazovia
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18th December 1103 to 16 November 1104
18th December 1103 to 3rd June 1104
18th December 1103 to 16 November 1104
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“After the successful campaign I pressed on Conquering Prussia, from various Suomenusko pagan and capturing the last holding of the norse King of Denmark.”
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Prussian War
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22nd November 1104 to 5th May 1105
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“Angered by the conquest of Rome and fearing that what had happened to the orthodox church would happen to the catholic branch of christianity as well, Pope Celestine II called for a crusade to reclaim the lost territories of Bavaria and restore christendom to these lands.
After the papacy had lost Rome the curia moved to the Bishopric of Distentis located in Grisons located in the western alps, within carpathian boundaries.
Fourty-thousand men that recently had crushed a catholic revolt near Mainz marched straight south to end this foolish endeavour. Besieged by my loyal countrymen the pope quickly called for an end to the crusade.”
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Crusade for Bavaria
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10th August 1105 to 17th November 1105
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“During the italian campaign only Ferrara had survived conquest, but with troops sitting in the alps on march to the east through northern Italy and the recent insult by the christians, I decreed that the last christian holding on the italian mainland should be taken.”
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De jure war for Ferrara
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22nd November 1105 to 21st January 1106
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“Part of the troops that conquered Ferrara were ordered north, while the rest headed further on to the east. The northern troops were heading to Baden and lay siege to these navarrese holdings.”
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Holy War for Baden
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25th August 1106 to 3rd April 1107
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Core Reign (5th November 1107)
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Emperor Sampo of Carpathia, King of Hungary, Pommerania, Poland, Italy and Wallachia, Duke of Pest, Pecs and Slavonia
“On the 6th of April 1107 my wife brought me the joyous news that she was with child. Near the end of that same year on the 5th of November 1107 my firstborn son was born. 9 years after my first wedding I had an heir of my own blood.
His name would be ‘David’ as the great King of Israel twothousand years ago. For the glory of god, Carpathia and my people I will raise this child to one day rule this realm one day as I have.”
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At this point I already had reigned for 18 years and the empire was at peace as were all my vassals so i changed four succession laws simultaneously forgetting that each one gives -20 opinion. I need revolts unless the game becomes too easy!
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“Upset by the recent succession laws and the birth of my son. The king of Bohemia Aatso, who had before been my heir presumptive initiated a sentiment for independence amongst my northern vassals. Finally on the 14 of March 1109 lead by duke Olavi of Jylland many rose in rebellion. The notable rebell vassals were the duke of Brunswick, the duke of Swabia and of course my uncle the king of Bohemia.
Unkown to me at the time the King had shortly before converted to christianity.
Many men with no hopes flocked to the banner of duke Olavi increasing the strenght of the rebellion to a total of eighty-thousand men.
I amassed my troops in Niederbayern near Landshut. From there I marched with fifty-five-thousand men to Bohemia. After squashing the infidel troops of Aatso i headed on Meissen and Weimar.
Olavi should his lack of millitaristic cunning by spreading his troops between Nassau, Weimar and Plauen allowing my army to win three easy Battles with three times superior numbers in each.
Most of the rebellious dukes were stripped of land and titles. My uncle did not fare any better he lost anything he owned before. The Kingdom remained with me, the duchy of Bohemia and its lands went to his brother.
Olavi I let go unharmed after he had renewed his oaths.”
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“In late March 1112 once again a new campaign was started to further oust the muslims out of europe. Fast victories were won in Thessalonika. The conquest of the Aegean Islands draged on over two years.”
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3rd Byzantine Campaign
HW for Thessalonika
HW for Aegean Islands
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30th March 1111 to 30th January 1114
30th March 1111 to 1st July 1111
1st July 1111 to 30th January 1114
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“On 23rd February 1112 my wife Lauha once again brought me the joyous news that she was with child. My second son Tuure, named after the primogenitor of our dynasty was born on the 25th of September 1112.
The pregnancy had left Lauha weak for months and years after. Five years she had to suffer, when on April 15 1117 God took her upon himself.”
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