Chapter 39 - 1430 to 1441: The Britannic Civil War
15 years of easy living has altered Emperor Eadric from the charitable, ambitious youth of his early years, to a man inspired by greed.
He has also become something of a perfectionist, hating anything out of place or order in his Empire, and it is this new habit that creates his hate for the ducal borders of Britannia. Determined to set them straight, he begins a radical series of revocations, grants, retractions, and transfers.
In April of 1431, King Stingrex de Gael of Denmark dies. He has no sons, so his daughter, 32 year old Wulfhild, inherits the Kingdom. Unfortunately, her children are of her husband's dynasty of Aba.
By this time, Eadric's new campaign of reorganization has brought forth much of the anger that had dissipated from the 15 years of peace, and several powerful vassals begin banding together, specifically the dukes of Deheubarth and of Connacht, and the Duchess of Albany. When, in May, he revokes King BPM of Brittany's Duchy of Galloway, the King reluctantly accepts the loss of his Scottish holdings. Soon thereafter, King BPM passes away, leaving the Kingdom to son Æthelræd.
Another year passes, and pressure continues to build like steam under a lid. On February 17, 1432, a lone figure adorn in a black robe with its hood covering its face slips unnoticed into the stairwell that leads to the upper floors of Castle Thetford. The foolish Eadric knows nothing about the extent of his vassals' anger and puts forth little in the way of security. The guards are in the courtyard drinking their way through the left over wine from the night's feast, and the hooded person creeps unopposed through the shadowy halls towards the bedchambers of the Emperor. With no one in his way, he quietly opens the door, approaches the Emperor and his sleeping wife, and swiftly slits his prey's throat. He leaves before the Empress awakes.
At the age of 10, Saxon ascends to the throne of Britannia upon the murder of his father.
Although it is unclear who was behind the assassination, the primary culprit is Duke Donn of Deheubarth, a bitter rival of the dead Emperor. The death of the greedy Eadric does nothing to ease the tension between vassals and Emperor, though.
In June of 1432, the thing which all rulers dread arrives in the form of an ultimatum from the Duchess of Albany. She, along with 5 other dukes from around the Empire, demand their independence. Saxon, under the guidance of his regent Duke Arncytel of Iceland rejects the preposterous demands. Thus starts the Britannic Civil War.
The rebels consist of mostly of counties gained during the past de Gael conquests of the islands: Most of Scotland, half of Ireland, and nearly all of Wales. Surprisingly the King of Brittany chooses to remain with the Empire.
As many troops as can be mustered are sent to Norfolk to rally with the standing army. The situation does not bode well for Britannia; Saxon's military advisers estimate that the rebels could raise over 30 thousand troops, quite enough to challenge the loyalists.
Envoys are sent to all allies with pleas for assistance. No help arrives.
The troops are fully organized into two armies of 16 thousand in August. In the rest of the Empire, over 10 thousand rebels enter loyal Scotland, and 22 thousand enter Ireland. Choosing to deal with the lesser of the two threats, the armies march north.
Men sympathetic to the cause begin arriving in Norfolk from all over Europe, willing to fight for the Empire. There are 5 thousand new fighters total, and they are sent to Leicester to take the county.
The army of Duke Cynewulf of Hwicce arrives in Scotland in November and engages the 11 thousand rebels in Teviotdale. The southern army, led by Werestan of The Isles, is still several weeks away.
Werestan and his men arrive just in time in December to prevent disaster. 14 thousand loyalist troops are dead or wounded and only 8 thousand rebels. Werestan's army pursues the remaining enemies into Lothian as Cynewulf licks his wounds.
Hearing of the loss of so many men to the North, Regent Arncytel is outraged by Cynewulf's recklessness and removes him from leadership. In his stead is Eadmær, Bishop of St Albans, Bedford. Additionally, the 5 thousand volunteers are sent to join the shattered men under Eadmær.
Werestan's army is split into two, Werestan leading half to besiege Atholl while Earl Cedig of Northampton sets siege to the Rebel capital of Gowrie.
In October of 1433, another rebel army, this time nearly 13 thousand strong, approaches Eadmær's army from the east. It is a close victory again, with 7 thousand more Brits out of action.
In February of 1434, to take advantage of the chaos in the Empire, a coalition of vassals led by Cedig of Northampton demands a decrease of crown authority in England! Cedig threatens to join the Civil War with the Rebels if their demands are not met. With little choice, Saxon and Arncytel accept the conditions and crown authority lowers in England.
Another large rebel army of 10 thousand mercenaries attack Atholl in June. This time it is an easy victory, and Duke Guthfrith of Gwynedd is captured.
The rest of the mercenary army heads south and chases Eadmær's troops into York where they are defeated. The survivors flee to Derby, followed closely by the rebels. As they are defeated, Eadmær is captured.
In Scotland, yet another band of mercenaries land to fight for the rebels. It appears the Duchess has been stockpiling gold for just this purpose. As the tide turns in the war and word of the defeat in York reaches Werestan, he orders his army to leave Scotland and head for Ireland, where the Rebels have made significant gains.
In June of 1435, Emperor Saxon reaches majority. Never before has an Emperor come to power in such turbulent and trying times.
Despite the early victories, the massive losses have put Britannia at a disadvantage, and all that remains are 12 thousand loyalist troops against a rebel army of 17 thousand mercenaries. Saxon orders more levies raised, but very few are left.
During the rest of the year, the holdings lost in Ireland are retaken, and the army begins a trek through England to rally and recruit troops. By March of 1436, the army is back at 15 thousand men. Knowing that 15 thousand men would not be enough to subdue the rest of the rebels, Saxon hires a band of 10 thousand Breton mercenaries. They are sent to pacify Wales.
In the temporary lack of battles, Saxon marries Princess Agnes of the Holy Roman Empire. Although she is not the most desirable woman around, the marriage means an alliance with the Holy Roman Emperor, who answers Saxon's call to arms. Although he sends no military aid, he provides enough gold for Saxon to hire another mercenary band of 14 thousand. They are sent Scotland.
The Rebel army is spotted several days away from the 14 thousand mercenaries in March of 1436. The 10 thousand mercenaries in Wales are ordered to intercept, but they are too late. The 14 thousand are first defeated, then, as the survivors flee before the enemy, the 10 thousand mercenaries are defeated.
With his mercenary armies in shambles, Saxon orders Werestan to take his 17 thousand troops to meet the remaining rebels in battle. They reach them in July, and it is the rebels' first crushing defeat.
Werestan and his troops march to the enemy capital where they defeat the last of the rebel armies.
The war continues for several more years as the rebels stubbornly resist. Finally, on January 25th, 1441, the rebels surrender. 9 years of bloody civil war nearly tore the Empire in two, and the living conditions throughout the lands has suffered; the economies in Scotland, Wales, and Ireland have all been decimated; and hundreds of thousands of men have lost their lives through battle, disease, or freezing weather.
As the surviving troops return to their homes, and the 6 rebel dukes are transported to the dungeons of Norfolk, Emperor Saxon calls together all vassals of England for a special session of Council. He acknowledges his father's greed that caused the Civil War, but he says that is not the only thing to blame. For years the vassals have been slowly growing more discontent as each de Gael emperor took them more and more for granted, and the Council of Britannia became something only used to decide things which had little to do with the people of the Empire. The Council, says Saxon, is not enough for this sprawling nation, and he intends to expand it to include all sectors of the Empire. No longer will only the Emperor's Council and the 5 chosen be allowed Councilor status, but all landed men will be allowed to put forth propositions or state their people's grievances. In this, Saxon hopes to prevent any other buildup to disaster.
And so is born, on April 24th of 1441, the Parliament of Britannia.
NOTE:
-This is by far the longest chapter I've ever done, but I had a lot of fun with the war!
-I kinda wish the AI was a bit better; for the first year or so of the war, the 22K rebel army that could have done quite a bit of damaged stayed in one county despite horrific attrition until only 12K remained.
-Let me know if the build up, the actual war, and the outcome are realistic, I did try to make it so.
-Next chapter will be a short epilogue.