Chapter 15: Great Allies and New Conquests
I attack Deheubarth, with England and Flanders behind me. They're allied with the Count of Frisia over there, so he declares war on me, and in turn is proclaimed an enemy of both England and Flanders as well. Me attacking Deheubarth for Ystrad Tywi really escalated into a quite large local war on both sides of the English channel. Not that the other side has any chance of victory, we outnumber them over 5 to 1.
I assemble my personal regiment in Gwent and march to Brycheiniog for a rendezvous with Cai, who's been sent ahead to found the regiment there.
I also note that Morgannwg has been granted to a vassal count instead of being held by Connacht personally. Interesting.
Deheubarth really has no chance. They haven't even mobilised fully.
Then again, i'd still outnumber them, and England has sent 6000 men to join me. I'm also amused by the fact that they don't seem to have grasped the idea of cavalry at all.
We go through the usual motions. All this is so familiar already.
Hm. I'm already in debt, so it wouldn't really be sensible for me to sail to Frisia to vassalise him.
I take the money, it'll pay off a quarter of said debt.
Apparently Frisia has been listening to the news of my war with Robert de Normandie, since he offered the same money to several lords. Oh well, it's their debt. I'm tempted to name the maneuver after myself or something, but I don't want to be remembered for what might be thought of as bribery and cowardice. I think i'll just call this a double-Grigor, since he didn't even use any land in multiple peace deals.
That Aberteifi boy falls in love with Ascelin. If it were up to me, I might be kind and wed them once they're of age, but it's not, is it.
I take Ystrad Tywi from Deheubarth, and offer to leave it at that.
It's a bit of a stretch, as he's not completely beaten, but surprisingly he accepts.
I guess it's just become a triple-Grigor.
With Deheubarth dealt with, my armies still at near full strength and fresh, I turn an eye towards Morgannwg.
They are my ancestral lands, and they stick out like a sore thumb in the middle of my glorious duchy.
Clearly Connacht didn't pay any attention to what happened with Frisia though. It's me, England and Flanders against him.
I guess I shouldn't really expect any more from half-birds.
Cousin Iestyn joins us as captain of the newly formed Ystrad Tywi regiment.
He's not much of a soldier, but I appreciate his company.
Lancasters troops haven't actually reached the fighting yet, but he rode ahead. I get a bit excited with all the wine and victories, and talk to him about my distrust and hatred of these norman kings. I guess I was lucky that he agreed with me. Hopefully, I will still have time to strengthen my position before the king learns of our rebellious intentions. He is only a boy, after all.
The three of us cruch the meagre defences the Irish have left in Morgannwg.
What?! My wife having an affair with my son, her stepson! This is an outrage, a sin! I refuse to believe it is true, but nevertheless confront my wife about it. I cannot tolerate slander like this!
Arddyn has just come of marrying age. Her marriage to Cai should quiet any rumours with due haste. It grieves me that this joyous occasion was marred by those scandalous rumours.
Nevertheless, my realm is doing quite well. Instead of needing 4 years to pay off our debt, now the estimated time is only 2 years,
despite taking more loans to finance my armies for the new conquests.
I refrained from disbanding Cai's regiment, as i'm still at war with Connacht, and they have a shipful of soldiers sailing my way, i'm told.
At the same time, England is sailing towards Connacht, so I doubt we'll be in danger from them for long.
The Count of Sligo, apparently a vassal of Connacht, is just as clueless as his master, and declares war on my. This changes nothing.
Connacht had already called up the Sligo regiment and sent it to retake Morgannwg. The fools.
It's a pity Maelienydd have already vassalised themselves to Deheubarth, but I guess I wasn't a very appealing prospect as a lord for a while there.
I guess I can still go hunting with him for a bit, now that my duchy is doing so well again.
Ah, falconry, how i've missed thee.
Finally recognising his foolishness, Connacht offers a white peace, allowing me to keep Morgannwg.
Not having the funds to sail to Ireland, or any claims on him, I accept, and hope England does too.
I have no desire to see more of Ireland bow to the English, it would make my Celtic unification more... challenging.
I end this part of my tale with a listing of my advisors. Agathe has been married to one of Iestyns sons to keep her in my court. My chancellor, marshal and steward are my eldest daughter, eldest son and his wife respectively, and I have reinstated Steffen as my diocese bishop. I believe he is the 3rd Llancarfan to serve in said position. Hopefully many more will in the future, as I sent a couple of Steffens nephews (he never married) to be educated as priests.
What next? Well, I don't really remember, so I guess you'll just have to wait.
I attack Deheubarth, with England and Flanders behind me. They're allied with the Count of Frisia over there, so he declares war on me, and in turn is proclaimed an enemy of both England and Flanders as well. Me attacking Deheubarth for Ystrad Tywi really escalated into a quite large local war on both sides of the English channel. Not that the other side has any chance of victory, we outnumber them over 5 to 1.
I assemble my personal regiment in Gwent and march to Brycheiniog for a rendezvous with Cai, who's been sent ahead to found the regiment there.
I also note that Morgannwg has been granted to a vassal count instead of being held by Connacht personally. Interesting.
Deheubarth really has no chance. They haven't even mobilised fully.
Then again, i'd still outnumber them, and England has sent 6000 men to join me. I'm also amused by the fact that they don't seem to have grasped the idea of cavalry at all.
We go through the usual motions. All this is so familiar already.
Hm. I'm already in debt, so it wouldn't really be sensible for me to sail to Frisia to vassalise him.
I take the money, it'll pay off a quarter of said debt.
Apparently Frisia has been listening to the news of my war with Robert de Normandie, since he offered the same money to several lords. Oh well, it's their debt. I'm tempted to name the maneuver after myself or something, but I don't want to be remembered for what might be thought of as bribery and cowardice. I think i'll just call this a double-Grigor, since he didn't even use any land in multiple peace deals.
That Aberteifi boy falls in love with Ascelin. If it were up to me, I might be kind and wed them once they're of age, but it's not, is it.
I take Ystrad Tywi from Deheubarth, and offer to leave it at that.
It's a bit of a stretch, as he's not completely beaten, but surprisingly he accepts.
I guess it's just become a triple-Grigor.
With Deheubarth dealt with, my armies still at near full strength and fresh, I turn an eye towards Morgannwg.
They are my ancestral lands, and they stick out like a sore thumb in the middle of my glorious duchy.
Clearly Connacht didn't pay any attention to what happened with Frisia though. It's me, England and Flanders against him.
I guess I shouldn't really expect any more from half-birds.
Cousin Iestyn joins us as captain of the newly formed Ystrad Tywi regiment.
He's not much of a soldier, but I appreciate his company.
Lancasters troops haven't actually reached the fighting yet, but he rode ahead. I get a bit excited with all the wine and victories, and talk to him about my distrust and hatred of these norman kings. I guess I was lucky that he agreed with me. Hopefully, I will still have time to strengthen my position before the king learns of our rebellious intentions. He is only a boy, after all.
The three of us cruch the meagre defences the Irish have left in Morgannwg.
What?! My wife having an affair with my son, her stepson! This is an outrage, a sin! I refuse to believe it is true, but nevertheless confront my wife about it. I cannot tolerate slander like this!
Arddyn has just come of marrying age. Her marriage to Cai should quiet any rumours with due haste. It grieves me that this joyous occasion was marred by those scandalous rumours.
Nevertheless, my realm is doing quite well. Instead of needing 4 years to pay off our debt, now the estimated time is only 2 years,
despite taking more loans to finance my armies for the new conquests.
I refrained from disbanding Cai's regiment, as i'm still at war with Connacht, and they have a shipful of soldiers sailing my way, i'm told.
At the same time, England is sailing towards Connacht, so I doubt we'll be in danger from them for long.
The Count of Sligo, apparently a vassal of Connacht, is just as clueless as his master, and declares war on my. This changes nothing.
Connacht had already called up the Sligo regiment and sent it to retake Morgannwg. The fools.
It's a pity Maelienydd have already vassalised themselves to Deheubarth, but I guess I wasn't a very appealing prospect as a lord for a while there.
I guess I can still go hunting with him for a bit, now that my duchy is doing so well again.
Ah, falconry, how i've missed thee.
Finally recognising his foolishness, Connacht offers a white peace, allowing me to keep Morgannwg.
Not having the funds to sail to Ireland, or any claims on him, I accept, and hope England does too.
I have no desire to see more of Ireland bow to the English, it would make my Celtic unification more... challenging.
I end this part of my tale with a listing of my advisors. Agathe has been married to one of Iestyns sons to keep her in my court. My chancellor, marshal and steward are my eldest daughter, eldest son and his wife respectively, and I have reinstated Steffen as my diocese bishop. I believe he is the 3rd Llancarfan to serve in said position. Hopefully many more will in the future, as I sent a couple of Steffens nephews (he never married) to be educated as priests.
What next? Well, I don't really remember, so I guess you'll just have to wait.