Chapter 36 - 1386 to 1397: The de Gael King
13 thousand Brits muster around the harbor of Scarborough. On July 23rd, 1386, they board the Fleet of York and set sail for the most northern island of Iceland. They will be reinforced by several thousand more eventually, but Loup III is anxious to send too many as winter nears.
They arrive in Vestisland in September and defeat the minuscule Icelandic defense of only 700 men, then the army splits into two, with 6 thousand led by the Duke of York, the Duke of Meath, and Commander Oscytel (who happens to be son of Jerkera) moving to besiege the main fort in Austislan, while the rest, led by Loup III and Commander Wigerich, remain in Vestisland. Meanwhile, 7 thousand more troops from Britannia land in Færeyar as reserves in case of Norwegian intervention.
In June of the next year, as the sieges continue in Iceland, the Infidels in the east have managed to wrest back control of Jerusalem. The Holy Lands were only in Christian hands for a short time...
The two sieges end at nearly the same time in August of 1387. Still, Norge has done nothing to stop the invasion.
Finally, a massive fleet of 262 Norwegian ships is spotted headed for Iceland. The reserve troops are loaded onto the fleet and sent to reinforce the two in Iceland.
It is a fairly small army from Norge, less than 6 thousand, and they are defeated quickly. The 2 thousand survivors flee foolishly to Austisland where they meet the other half of the army. As this is happening, the final holdings in Iceland fall. Now the entire island is controlled by the Brits.
Soon after the failed invasion, Danmark answers Norge's plea for help. A fleet of 60 ships lands 6 thousand Danish troops in Vestisland in April of 1388. The reserve army had embarked after the victory over the Norwegians, so all that was left was the 6 thousand man army led by Loup.
It is a bloodier battle than the first, with over a thousand Brits dead or out of action. The remaining Danes, like their imbecilic friends the Norwegians, flee to Austisland. The result is quite synonymous.
Duke of Awesome reaches manhood in August. He is considered by all who know him to be the epitome of diplomatic skill. Despite his tendency to be shy, not a single acquaintance or friend (he has no enemies) has a thing to say against him. He is betrothed to a 10 year old princess of France.
Several more attacks from Norge are repulsed until 1390, when King Kolbein finally surrenders.
Britannia, the Empire of Islands, controls all Islands in the north Atlantic, Norge has been thrown back to its mainland borders, and Emperor Loup grants his son Sæweald the Duchy of Iceland.
Duke of Awesome and Princess Valence of France are married in March of 1392. She is as talented, if not more talented, than her new husband in diplomacy. A rumor that becomes a common joke spreads throughout the realm that she could lift her husband over her head.
Strangely enough, the Queen of France, who the King married after the death of his first wife, is Radekza de Gael, the great granddaughter of Emperor Loup II, and granddaughter of the first Radekza.
In December of 1392, terrible news arrives in Norfolk from Iceland. Prince and heir of Britannia, Sæweald, has died of Consumption. The new heir to the Empire is his 5 year old son Eadric, the new Duke of Iceland.
Within weeks of Sæweald's death, his brother Beorhthelm dies after a long period of illness.
In October of the next year, Scipia comes of age. She is well trained the ways of diplomacy, and she is betrothed matrilineally to a young prince of Byzantium.
In June of 1396, Prince Stingrex, brother of Emperor Loup, declares war on the King of Danmark, and sets sail for invasion with thousands of men in tow. Discreetly, Loup sends financial aid to his brother.
However, in August, Loup changes his mind and fully comes to his brother's aid. He declares support for his brother and sends the Britannic standing army of 5 thousand to Danmark. In recent years, Danmark has seen a reunion of west and east, although that reunion was through conquest. The Duke of Skane, who had declared independence, and won it, several decades ago, conquered and usurped the Danish throne in 1374. At the moment, the Danes are in the middle of a civil war, and the King's forces are in ruination.
The war is short and victorious. Several small battles and fallen holdings later and the King of Danmark is dethrone, captured while trying to escape his besieged capital of Helsingborg.
Stingrex now stands as the Anglo Saxon, de Gael King of Denmark!
NOTE:
-By 'thousands of men in tow' I meant thousand... Singular... The dope only brought about 1700 troops with him to conquer Danmark.
-It is nice how Island was renamed to Iceland and Danmark to Denmark upon anglicizing.
-Once the Queen of Aquitaine dies, that will be 3 de Gaels on European thrones!
-I will be gone for a few days to an area with very little internet. That means don't expect an update before Monday. I was also packing while writing and editing, so I apologize for any mistakes!
