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Snaake

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Chapter 15: Great Allies and New Conquests

ch15ss1.jpg


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.


ch15ss2.jpg


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.


ch15ss3.jpg


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.


ch15ss4.jpg


We go through the usual motions. All this is so familiar already.


ch15ss5.jpg


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.


ch15ss6.jpg


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.


ch15ss7.jpg


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.


ch15ss8.jpg


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.


ch15ss9.jpg


I guess it's just become a triple-Grigor.


ch15ss10.jpg


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.


ch15ss11.jpg


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.


ch15ss12.jpg


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.


ch15ss13.jpg


The three of us cruch the meagre defences the Irish have left in Morgannwg.


ch15ss14.jpg


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!


ch15ss15.jpg


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.


ch15ss16.jpg


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.


ch15ss17.jpg


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.


ch15ss18.jpg


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.


ch15ss19.jpg


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.


ch15ss20.jpg


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.
 

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I guess it's just become a triple-Grigor.

I'm so proud that one of my rulers gave his name to a one of the most cowardly acts of diplomacy yet to grace CK ;)

Another great update.
 

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Chapter 16: In which France goes crusading, and a grandson is born

ch16ss1.jpg


Well, now that i'm somewhat more openly rebellious, I was bound to make some new enemies, I guess.


ch16ss2.jpg


Oh yes, I forgot to introduce this little fellow before. The son of the previous Count of Auxerre and my 2nd wife Sybille, this 12-year-old is considered chaste and honest, but despite that is denounced by the church as a heretic. He also has one full sister, who is living in Morgannwg and squandering the education we're offering her.


ch16ss4.jpg


Well, at least he's not claiming it's due to long service; He is an impressively skilled marshal, and my own son, so I think he's earned his reward.


ch16ss5.jpg


I send him off to train in the army.

I also send word to de Breteuil, noting that this sort of thing may also be a blessing in disguise.


ch16ss6.jpg

(those two enemy provinces on the right are already owned by France)

Despite not even being the most powerful lord in France anymore, the King of France has gone on crusade. Successfully.
Who would have guessed.


ch16ss7.jpg


As a comparison, here is his realm in France proper.


ch16ss8.jpg


Hm, it seems the HRE has fallen apart again, and worse than before this time.


ch16ss9.jpg


I have my younger son raised by the nannies and educated in court, as he shows some promise as a merchant.

The years pass by quietly, as I attempt to repay my substantial debt. Besides, I lack the prestige to fabricate... erm, acquire new claims in Wales, Argyll is a long way off (and thus expensive to war with), and the other counties I have claims on are vassals of England.


ch16ss10.jpg


Bah, nevermind that after all, we've been at peace for 3 years now. I itch for some battle once again, while i'm still fit enough to fight.
Me and Cai lead an expedition towards Argyll, the plan being to make landfall in Strathclyde and then attack via land.


ch16ss11.jpg


Since I last checked, Argyll had pledged allegiance to the Duke of the Western Isles.
It matters not, as we can attack them one by one, and even combined their numbers would not match ours.


ch16ss12.jpg


Not to mention our skill in both planning and leading battles.
We kill nearly 10 of their men for each one of ours that falls,
Despite casualties being relatively small on both sides.


ch16ss13.jpg


With Argyll conquered, the expedition continues on a punitive raid to the Western Isles themselves, and as i've already paid for the transportation of my troops, I refuse the peace offer the duke sends me. He doesn't even offer any tribute.

I'll let England handle that regiment from the Western Isles that's attempting to retake Argyll.


ch16ss14.jpg


The English apparently turned back before they got to Argyll, but I sieged the duke's fort in the Western Isles faster than he did mine in Argyll anyway.


ch16ss15.jpg


He is broke and I can't demand tribute, and while I could use this just as a chance to gain fame and reknown, I know for a fact these claims are false and he only has them because of my 14 years of being excommunicated. I force him to recognise me and my descendants as the rightful Counts of Morgannwg.


ch16ss16.jpg


After signing the peace treaty, I am nearly immediately told that the populace of Argyll is pleased with this new era of peace and prosperity. Welcome to Morgannwg. I didn't say it was the Land of Plenty for nothing.


ch16ss17.jpg


There's not even enough crap to go on the fields. Some would say that's a bad thing, but at least the countryside doesn't smell so much.


ch16ss18.jpg


Cousin Efe dies, leaving only me and Iestyn alive from our generation. Having and raising all those children must have tired her out.


ch16ss19.jpg


Yes, we're broke, but since Morgannwg wasn't making much money anyway, I guess repaying our debt faster isn't such a bad thing.


ch16ss20.jpg


As a finishing note, Remember when the King of France was amazingly successful in his crusade?

It seems he's just as bad at holding onto his lands in Egypt as he was in France.


So... we have reached the year of our Lord 1090, and Morgannwg is larger than ever. What does the future hold? More conquests? Or more likely, more debt and scrounging for prestige? Keep reading, as we near the end of the 11th century!
 

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Boom! Headshot!

... I mean 4 updates in 3 days. I'm really impressing myself here.

And it's not over! I'm promising at least one more update today or tomorrow, but in all likelyhood, there'll be more. I've got less than 80 screenshots to go through (some updates have only been composed from an initial amount of 25 or less, while this last one was filtered from almost 50), so I should actually get to play the game some more today or tomorrow as well!

I'll likely be doing Europewatch (if there's anything interesting), peoplewatch and updating the family tree once I reach 1100. Any requests/suggestions? The Gardman-Aghanias, the Godwinsons and the Dongolas are probably in for a peek at least, if I can find them, and i'll also keep a lookout for any oddities such as a Republic of Poland or something.

edit:
Enewald: Expanding your realm gets soooo much easier when you're a tier higher than your designated conquest, as you effectively only need one claim in their realm to vassalise a whole duchy. Or hey, maybe they'd be foolish enough to place a heathen as a vassal. :cool:

I only recently noticed how tricky acquiring claims can be, as this game is on hard difficulty, and with those 4 provinces in Wales, i've now run out of inherited claims.
 

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Chapter 17: Vassals Galore

ch17ss1.jpg


First things first, the peasants in Gwent have finally learned how to domesticate chickens, so we don't have to rely solely on game and imports from England anymore.

I order a banquet with nothing but poultry dishes.


ch17ss2.jpg


Ah. The de Breteuil boy gets depressed. Hm.

*wonders what to do*

Moving on...


ch17ss3.jpg


Gruffydd wants to retire at the ripe old age of 33, but it turns out he really intended to commit suicide and was just asking for my permission.


ch17ss4.jpg


The fine art of raising birds is spreading all over.


ch17ss5.jpg


In AD 1093, the state debt has been repaid. As efficiency is somewhat lessened by me holding all 5 provinces personally, I decide that cousin Iestyn, and thus the other male line of the dynasty, should have their own lands. I now have a vassal, and as part of the agreement with Iestyn, I loosen my ruling law from royal prerogative to feudal contract.

Morgannwg has a vassal!


ch17ss6.jpg


After giving away one county to be ruled by Iestyn, I make plans to acquire a new one.


ch17ss7.jpg


I assemble my troops, and as a result the peasants complain about famine. I am a merciful ruler, and use some state funds to help them.


ch17ss8.jpg


Predictably, Deheubarth declares war when their vassal, Maelienydd, gets attacked by me.

We outnumber them several times over, even though I have not even mobilised the full extent of my forces.The battle goes on uneventfully.


ch17ss9.jpg


Except for this. Ouch. He really should have worn his codpiece.


ch17ss10.jpg


Nnnng. I send her to the church.

I hear those are the sort of things to say at times like these.


ch17ss11.jpg


Soon enough, Maelienydd falls. I am merciful, and do not force the count into poverty.


ch17ss12.jpg


As that battle and siege were over so quickly, we also move on Ceredigion, the capital and only remaining province of the Duke of Deheubarth.

They offer little challenge either. In the end, I let Deheubarth off with a white peace, mainly because he's broke and I can't extract any construction funds from him.


ch17ss13.jpg


Now that I have 5 provinces again, I decide it's time to stop being the laughingstock of the Christian world and give my eldest son and heir some land of his own to rule. I grant him our ancestral lands, the County of Morgannwg.


ch17ss14.jpg


With my finances still strong, I build a forestry!


ch17ss15.jpg


After Cai left to rule his own county, I appointed Llywelyn Aberteifi as my marshal.
I'd hardly call a few months years, or defecting to another county faithful, but whatever.


ch17ss16.jpg


Actually being a ruler in his own right doesn't seem to agree with cousin Iestyn: he's had a minor stroke or something resulting in a lisp.
Then again, he is 50 years old already.


ch17ss17.jpg


France is really not doing too well.


ch17ss18.jpg


But I see Drogo has managed to grab one province in Egypt as well.
It has great natural resources. Such as sand.


ch17ss19.jpg


At the well-preserved age of 53, i've fallen in love with my wife.
It truly is a blessing.


What's next in the tale of Morgannwg? Nobody knows!
 
Last edited:

Snaake

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Well, that was it for now. I've edited all the remaining screenshots as well, but there were too few in order to make one more update.

So I guess i'll have to play a few years forward. The horror! This is the moment i've been waiting for :D
 

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Wow, weekend-update-overflow! :eek: And you're actually doing quite well!;) Also great to see France and the HRE suffer endlessly... :D
 

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This sounds funny. I will be reading, if I dont faint from overfeeding in updates
 

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So I guess i'll have to play a few years forward. The horror! This is the moment i've been waiting for :D

I know the feeling! You have about 123942364987 screenshots waiting to be edited and you're left feeling "I only want to play!"

Great updates btw.
 

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Murmurandus, Johan11, Vesimir: Yea, that last weekend did have 5 updates in 3 days... Doubt i'll be repeating the feat in a while. I'm not promising any sort of actual schedule, but updates are more likely to appear on weekends.

Glad you're liking it so far.

Enewald: ...

Iain: I've only played to 1100 now and don't have any spare pictures after the next update, because...

This week, i'll be having the Turn of the Century Triple Special!

... In which I take a look at the current situation in Europe, have a peek at some interesting persons, and review my sprawling dynasty.
 

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Chapter 18: Disease, Public Works and Royal (?) Marriages

ch18ss1.jpg


This seems familiar. I have no idea where this unnamed disease is lurking though...


ch18ss2.jpg


The Aberteifis continue to pester me. I have decided Steffen will be my diocese bishop until he gets to retire.
Thus, when Fragan subsequently says he wants to move elsewhere, I wish him a nice trip.


ch18ss3.jpg


You remember France, they weren't doing too well? Now they're doing even worse, it seems. I refuse to raise my regiment, though.


ch18ss4.jpg


I marry Mad Dog... I mean Madog Morgan to a certain Karoline, currently living in Aargau.
Totally coincidental, I wasn't going through counties alphabetically or anything.

Who is this Karoline, you say?

ch18ss5.jpg


Why, a Knytling of course! She's related to the King of Denmark, I think.


ch18ss6.jpg


The daughter of a (not "the") Knud Knytling, nonetheless.


ch18ss7.jpg


I grieve for you Steffen, and pray that I will find a wife for your nephew, lest the Llancarfans end with him.


ch18ss8.jpg


I appoint Madog as my new diocese bishop, but honestly I listen more to his wifes advice.


ch18ss9.jpg


Oh, that's where the disease is. Ystrad Tywi. And it's dysentery. No wonder Deheubarth gave it to me so easily!

Too much crap, too little crap... there's never just enough of it.


ch18ss10.jpg


Besides building that quarantine hospital (phew - it smells something awful over there),
I also have my chaplain distribute some alms to the poor to alleviate their situation.


ch18ss11.jpg


Seferus, the younger brother of Madog, has also graduated, and returned from Rome (not necessarily in that order, i've lost track).
By the time he's 18, both brothers have gotten their wives pregnant. Pious indeed.


ch18ss12.jpg


Yea, so here's Madog. I keep him as diocese since I don't want to stress Seferus any more.

I guess he's worrying about the whole wife-sex-babies thing. When he gets over it, I think it might be his turn as chaplain.


ch18ss13.jpg


And here's Svanhild, Seferus' wife. She's the oldest of the two couples, and my spymaster.
I rarely see her, but I take it as a sign that she's bloody good at her job.


ch18ss14.jpg


Where are those miracle workers when you need them? Llywarch is the last of the Llancarfans (note the amazing application of alliteration).
One of Iestyns granddaughters in my court has recently come of age, but since Llywarch is Iestyns nephew, I feel they're too closely related to produce healthy issue.
Hence, she gets some Breton in Cornwall.


ch18ss15.jpg


I have no idea how, but someone from Maelienydd has gained favour with the King of Germany and been named Count of Kärnten.
It seems he wants a good, young Welsh wife, so he asks for my permission to marry Cerie.

It's one Aberteifi less, and he seems like a decent Welsh chap, so I agree.


ch18ss16.jpg


You remember Fychan, my son with Sybille, right? I encourage him to stand his ground, but then marry him to one of Hugues Capets daughters to stop him from womanising all around the court.

I think it was Hugues who lost the French crown to his uncles descendants, the de Bourgognes. The current King, Guy, is thus his first cousin twice removed, and Eudes Borel de Bourgogne, Sybilles first husband, was Hugues' first cousin once removed, the uncle of the King.

I have close ties with France. We share a common enemy.

I also just realised that Eudes wasn't just any uncle, he was King Guys fathers next oldest brother, which puts Eudes' descendants next in the line of succession for the throne of France under primogeniture laws, should Guys line and those of his siblings end. Currently this means Almodis, my stepdaughter, would become Queen, and after her, her descendants with Aunger de Breteuil, her husband

Speaking of which...

ch18ss17.jpg


I first became friends with William FitzOsbern de Breteuil, the Count of Gloucester. I have known and enjoyed the company of his son, Roger, all his life. I hope Carles, Rogers son, who has now been granted the lands previously held by his grandfather, will also be a close friend of the Morgans. He sends one of his daughters to be educated at my court, so the ties between our two families now span 4 generations.


ch18ss18.jpg


To celebrate the coming of age of my children and the children and grandchildren from the Gwrgant branch,
their graduations and marriages, and the overall prosperity and glory of my realm, I order a series of public works to be built.

May they take good care of these lands, and it of them.


ch18ss19.jpg


As the 11th century draws to a close, another prodigy is discovered, and I proclaim her the 1st Prodigy Aberteifi.


ch18ss20.jpg


I wonder, if you can venture a guess as to the identity of this Harold?


And so the century has ended. These past 30 years have brought my realm great prosperity and expansion.
What the new century holds for Morgannwg, remains to be seen.
 

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The more Knýtlings the better!;):D
 

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TCTS Part 1: A History of Europe: The End of the 11th Century

The latter half of the 11th century saw several upheavals in the large kingdoms and empires of the time. William the Bastard, Duke of Normandy, claimed the English throne for himself, the Empire of Byzantium was in constant danger of collapse and invasion from the Seljuk Turks, the Holy Roman Empire hadn't had a crowned, universally accepted emperor since 1056, and royal power in France had disintegrated as several duchies ruled themselves and the de Bourgognes claimed the royal title from their cousins the Capets, using military might.

Between 1075-1080, France was already fracturing and nearly all its Dukes, except Anjou, Valois and Burgundy, had proclaimed their independence. Ca. 1080 Henri de Bourgogne, the Duke of Burgundy, declared war on his liege Hugues de Capet, fought a successful campaign, and claimed the title King of France for himself, but died soon after from wounds received during said campaign. During the next 20 years, Hugues' son Charles would wage two prolonged campaigns, attempting to regain the Kingship; First as Duke of Anjou and after the humiliations in the first campaign, as Count of Orleans and Ile de France.

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Henri

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Hugues Capet

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The Capets' second attempt to regain the Kingdom of France

He nearly prevailed on both times, but was unable to hold his gains in a prolonged war, and was mortally wounded during the second campaign. Charles' son Silvester inherited a war with the de Bourgognes while he was a mere toddler.

1ss2d.jpg

Charles Capet

By the end of the century, the Capets had lost all their previous holdings, and the King of a much diminished France was Henri de Bourgognes grandson, Guy. He was also still at war with the errant Counts of Vermandois and Auxerre, the Duchy of Toulouse, as well as with two small muslim realms and mutual allies, the Sultanate of Qarakhnid and the Kingdom of Assassin, due to his holdings in Egypt. Officially there still existed a crusade for Alexandria, but it's momentum had petered out. France had lost most of it's initial conquests, but still held on to Alexandria, Cairo, and some lands around the latter.

1ss2.jpg

France and western Germany in AD 1100

Brittany had maintained it's independence from both France and Norman England, and upon inheriting the Duchy from his mother, the only child Alan 'Fergant' Kerne had declared Brittany a Kingdom in its own right. The de Thouars family had acquired the title of Duke of Champagne and ceded before the de Bourgognes came into power, as had Flanders, Aquitania and Toulouse, which had been an ally of England for most of the 1090s. The counts in Provence had sworn fealty to the powerful Duke of Barcelona. Anjou and Valois had refused to aknowledge the new royal line, and while Anjou managed to maintain its freedom for the time being, Valois was integrated into King Guys personal lands. Thus the only ducal vassal loyal to the crown of France was Orleans, which Guy had granted to the talented but blind Louis de Nevers.

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Louis the Blind

There is some argument about the reason for the decline of royal authority in France under the rule of Hugues Capet, the prevailing arguments being his sickly nature and inept rule: according to contemporary sources, he was club-footed and had acquired a lisp already before he was deposed. However, there is little argument as to why Guy de Bourgogne was so unpopular, and unable to reassert his rule over the errant dukes, as he had been excommunicated for heresy. Indeed, probably the only reason the Duke of Orleans remained loyal to the crown was likely as he had also been excommunicated, and wanted the protection of a more powerful lord.

1ss2a.jpg

Guy de Bourgogne, the King of France

It is unknown where Guy had acquired his heretic learnings, although many scholars mention his cousin Charles de Bourgogne, who had been Count of Auxerre at one time, was a known heretic, but had repented of his ways after being excommunicated and mortally wounded, dying at the age of 19. Some have theorised whether there was some link to Charles' stepfather Cadwgan ap Meurig Morgan, the ascendant Duke of Morgannwg, as he had been excommunicated, until being allowed to rejoin the church after 16 years. This is not a widely accepted theory though, as sources state Charles had heretic leanings even as a child, before his widowed mother Sybille de Nevers, the aunt of the Duke of Orleans, had married the (also widowed) Welsh Duke. In any case, Duke of Morgannwg was most likely excommunicated due to pressure on the Pope from William the Conqueror, to give him a pretense to attack the independent Welsh lord.

1ss2f.jpg

Charles de Bourgogne

The von Franken dynasty, ruling the Holy Roman empire, had also had it's share of trouble towards the end of the 11th century. The last monarch to have been crowned Emperor of the Romans had been Heinrich III, who had died in 1056. His son Heinrich IV had several personal failings as a monarch, and despite being elected King of the Romans, had a long feud with the Papacy, and so was never crowned Romanorum Imperator before his death in 1078. His son Dietmar was only marginally more capable, and by 1100, had not even been elected as King of the Romans, as several western princes of the Holy Roman Empire refused to accept him as their liege. Swabia, Saxony, Luxembourg, Lower Lorraine and Holland were all practically independent, and Dietmar held no power south of the Geneva-Padua line. He still retained the eastern portions of the Empire though.


1ss3.jpg

The Byzantine Empire and surroundings

With the Princes of Athens, Crete, Dyrrachion and Karvuna ignoring his demands, and having lost Constantinople to the similarly disobedient Prince of Samos, the Eastern Roman Empire wasn't doing well either. The 12-year-old emperor, Leon Lapardas, held his court in Crimea while vassals of the Seljuk Sultan ruled over the former Principalities of Charsianon and Armenia minor, and the Emir of Aleppo held lands up to the coast of the Sea of Marmara. Elsewhere on the Muslim-Orthodox Border, Georgia was slowly losing lands to the various heathens surrounding it, whilst the Armenian Counts of Karin, Ani and Suenik had managed to remain independent through intricate diplomatic maneuvering.

1ss4.jpg

The lands of the Teutonic Order

Whilst the pagan tribes were still strong in the south, they were having more difficulties on the Baltic coast. The fledgling Order of Teutonic Knights had warred against several of its neighbours, but had so far succeeded only in gaining control of some catholic Wends west of their initial base in Marienburg. Norway had control over the northern tip of Scotland and the Faroes, but had also begun to express interest in the Finnish pagan lands east of Scandinavia, as had the Danes and Swedes: Denmark had established a forward base in Åland, Österbotten was ruled by an autonomous Swedish count, and both Finland Proper and Nyland were controlled by Norway. The Duke of Slesvig also considered the Count of Cyreneica his vassal, but had refused to aknowledge the King of Denmark as his liege.

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Northern Europe

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Northern Italy

Moving back to warmer lands, Italy was divided between the recently declared Kingdom of Sicily and the Duchy of Toscany being the major power centers. Sicily held all of of the mainland southeast of Rome, and all of the island of Sicily except for the western province of Trapani. Trapani, Nice, Orvieto and Rome were held by the Papal State, which was at war with the Kingdom of Hammadid, and had already conquered Tell Atlas. The Hammadids had attempted to attack the Papal State, but were beaten back soon after making landfall just north of Rome. Besides the Republic of Pisa, the Archbishopric of Ferrara and the Bishopric of Parma, most of Northern Italy as well as the island of Sardinia was ruled by Matelda di Canossa, the Duchess of Toscana. Her armies had also asserted her rule over large parts of the African and Mauretanian coast, from Tripolitania to Snassen. It has already been mentioned that the de Hautevilles had driven the muslim sheiks out of Sicily, but besides these conquests, the Duke of Lower Lorraine also financed an expedition to Algeria, and the Republic of Venice had decided to take control of the trade port of Tunis and the coast south of it.

1ss7.jpg

The African coast

On the eastern coast of Spain, the Duchy of Barcelona remained strong, with a second powerbase on the coast of Burgundy in Provence. On the heathen side, Serbian muslims, former freed slaves but now nobles who had ruled over Mallorca, had expanded to the shores of Valencia in Denia, and had also gained Almansa. Bordering them to the west, and with lands stretching across nearly all of northern Spain, was the Kingdom of Castille and León, ruled by Alfonso 'El Bravo' Jimenez. The Duke of Aquitaine had also been busy in Andalusia, ruling a stretch of land from the coast of Malaga to Silves, and had proclaimed himself the Duke of Sevilla as well. The rest of Spain was divided between petty Sheikdoms, but the Reconquista was well underway.

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Spain

Lastly, we come to our own British Isles. England had been mostly quiet since the Norman Conquest, with some minor uprisings and disputes with the Irish lords, who remained fractured. The main points of interest where Scotland, where the greatest duke, Lothian, had refused to aknowledge the king as his liege, and Wales, where Cadwgan ap Meurig Morgan had expanded from the minor County of Morgannwg to rule over most of Southern Wales, as well as personal lands in Argyll, Scotland. He had, however, been noticed by William the Conqueror, and had since reluctantly paid homage to the King of England. Some of his letters have survived however, and they indicate he was actively plotting against the de Normandies at this time.

1ss9.jpg

Scotland

Taking a look at the religions practiced in Europe, not much had changed after the Great Schism between the Orthodox and Catholic churches almost 50 years prior. Christianity was now the majority religion in Sicily due to the attentions of the de Hautevilles and the Pope himself, and missionaries had accompanied Venetian traders to Tunis and Kairwan to it's southwest, converting the populace there. In Spain and elsewhere in Africa, the vast majority of the locals remained muslims.

1ss10.jpg

The prevalent religions in the western Mediterranean

Paganism was still the norm in Finland and parts of Sweden, as well as most of the Baltic coast. The teutonic order stood as a beacon of hope, especially for the catholic Prussians in Sambia, who lived under the rule of pagan chiefs to the north.

1ss11.jpg

The prevalent religions around the southern Baltic Sea

Inheritance laws varied widely throughout the middle ages, and throughout Europe at any given time. According to remaining historical documents, the only major realms using pure salic primogeniture at the time were the Kings of Croatia and Hungary, as well as Toscany. The latter is especially interesting as the duchy was ruled by a duchess at the time. By far the most common, even in the vast pagan and muslim lands of Rus, Khazaria and the Middle East, was some form or other of semisalic primogeniture, but Aquitania, Brittany, and the de Bourgogne Kings in France, as well as the Castilian Duchies of Castille and León had instated at least some kind of cognatic primogeniture. The crowns of Norway, Poland, some smaller muslim kingdoms and sultanates, and the Duchy of Morgannwg went to the strongest son or grandson, and grandsons from female lines were also eligible in the Kingdom of Sicily and the Irish Duchies of Leinster and Munster. Besides the various Bishoprics, Republics and the Papal State, the Kingdom of Sweden continued to use elective law, in addition to some Hungarian, Polish and Byzantine Princes.
 
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Snaake

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Phew. I doubt i'll do another overview like this before 1200 ;)

Was quite a lot more work to write, work out what had happened in France after I noticed the King wasn't a Capet anymore (had a few saves interspersed in the 1080-1100 era to check, luckily :p), and especially to hone the writing to maintain a similar style throughout.

I've been thinking my theoretical future AAR would be more historybook, maybe like Eron12:s "Of Loyalty and Glory: The Descendants of Charlemagne", but i've just realised that while there's a lot less work to do with pictures etc., the writing takes a lot more work :D

Part 2 will be lighter in style and effort (probably), but i'm exceptionally busy the whole weekend, so I have no idea when it'll be up.