Chapter 22 - 1231 to 1239: Enemy to the North
There is much grumbling among the vassals after the announcement of Primogeniture succession. No longer will the vassals have a say in the passing of the crown, and no longer will any house but de Gael sit on the throne. The main dissenters are the dukes and duchesses of Wessex, Kent, York, Gwynedd, and Essex. They quickly form together a faction with the goal of forcing the abolition of many of the policies of England, thereby lowering the crown authority. For the moment, the faction is no threat.
England's main problem is Scotland. In 1232, independent Irish rulers cease to exist. The islands are now split between England in the south and Scotland in the north.
King Æthelstan develops a different strategy to conquer the island: instead of focusing on ousting the Scottish from Ireland, bring the war to their mainland. A few months previous, Chancellor DKM managed to fabricate a claim on the county of Galloway. It is with this claim that Æthelstan plans to declare war. Unfortunately, Scotland has powerful allies, including France, Brittany, and Norge. England is allied with Jerusalem and the Byzantine Empire, both of which, such distances away, will be of little help.
In order to game more allies, he marries his second oldest son, Leofheah, to a princess of Danmark. Then, he betroths his oldest daughter, Beorhtgifu, to the 13 year old King Jon of Norge, hoping that the King will choose England in the coming war. Lastly, Æthelstan marries his brother, Eadberht, to a princess of Sweden, forging yet another alliance.
In May, Æthelstan announces that his wife is pregnant with their 8th child. In October, a daughter is born. She is given the name ZZZ.
In January of 1233, Norge and Sweden go to war. Seizing the opportunity while Norge is distracted, and before Sweden has the chance to call for England's aid, Æthelstan declares war on Scotland for the county of Galloway. Jerusalem of England's Danish ally accepts the call to arms. Scotland's allies, however, seem unwilling to intervene.
The levies are raised, 25 thousand in all, and sent to central England to organize. To the north, 5 thousand Scottish men have set siege to Teviotdale. In Ireland, nearly 10 thousand have entered the English south. The army is split in two, Æthelstan himself leading one to Ireland, while Duke Eadfrith leads the other to the northern border.
They each engage their adversaries at roughly the same time, May of 1233. The battle to the north is a glorious victory for the English, the army barely losing 8 hundred men to the enemy's 5 thousand. The Irish battle, while still a victory, leaves 3 thousand English men dead or out of action.
Duke Eadfrith moves his army to siege Galloway while Æthelstan pursues the crippled enemy army. It is not until August that the army is finally tracked down and destroyed. The army of Æthelstan orders the victorious army to make their way to Northern Ireland, intending to block Scotland's access to the Island.
In March of 1234, Beorhtgifu reaches womanhood, and she is married to King Jon of Norge. The alliance is officially forged. However, King Jon has no desire to enter into the war against Scotland, and the war is going far too well for Æthelstan to press him.
The first siege in Galloway ends, on its capital's Castle Dunragit. However, the war continues.
As the last resistance in Galloway falls in September of 1234, King Angus IV of Scotland accepts the peace agreement. He hands over Galloway. Now, England has direct access to the north of Ireland and to the Isle of Man. The first conquest of Æthelstan III is over. Galloway is granted to his son and heir Æthelstan IV.
In March of 1236, Ryudraga reaches maturity. She is married to Raynaud von Rheinfelden, a former German Commander. He is well known throughout the Holy Roman Empire after winning first place in several tournaments in Europe. Upon arrival in England, he is made a Commander.
In April of 1237, Binhilde is again pregnant. By the end of the year, a son is born to Æthelstan and his wife Binhilde. They name him Must Love Cats.
In June, Duke DKM dies at the age of 57. In his lifetime, he sired 5 children (though not all from his wife). His eldest, Fychan, inherits the Duchy of Gwynedd.
In 1238, the new Chancellor Oswulf of Northumbria, who took over after the death of DKM, sends word that he put together a strong claim for Æthelstan on the Scottish controlled county of Kildare, in Ireland.
As the year turns to 1239, word reaches England that a man from Normandy, named Gèrard, is gathering men for an attack, intent on conquering part of England for himself...
NOTE:
-The Swedish King is called Faste the Chaste, a pretty funny name!
-Sorry, my finger sometimes hits the F11 while taking a screenshot (I use steam for screenshots), that is why one of the images has a big ole
Screenshot Taken thing in the middle of it.
-I've been having a few crashes lately. I had one literally a week before the end of December, so I had to replay from July... Once again, I don't think it affected the AAR.