Good to see Brittany is still independent. When queen Matilda dies things may become interesting for the Normans in the north of Italy.
Furor Normannicus
- Thread starter unmerged(109735)
- Start date
-
We have updated our Community Code of Conduct. Please read through the new rules for the forum that are an integral part of Paradox Interactive’s User Agreement.
I think the muslims have done well though.
True
But if it were to be realistic (which it isn't), the following mass conversions to Islam would lead to the loss of taxation and give room for an ethnic threeway bash.
democratickid: Thank you, good Sir; really, you are too kind. And yes, I’m quite content with the world; it’s (still) reasonable.
Saithis: Hello and welcome aboard; glad to have you, and thanks for stopping by to comment.
But then Heinrich von Nordheim really is a darling, isn’t he?
phargle: Just felt a bit mischievous when writing about Ireland. Any Irish readers, please don’t take offence.
And this game’s nuttiness is still only slight. The only thing that’s odd is Venice inheriting a third of France and becoming a kingdom, everything else is fine. But then I’m of course only thirtyfive years into the game.
To avoid any misconceptions about Islam pushing into Europe – there are no Muslims at all in southern Russia, unlike so many games. Hungary does therefore not yet have had any running-in with Muslims whatsoever.
Enewald: Northern Italy would be fine, but I want to aim for a compact realm, and right now the papal lands would bottleneck the Norman realm. But I can promise that Bohemond has got plans for the north…
Jalex: Well, Naples holds on to a few pretty wealthy counties and it has taken over the well-developed Muslim lands (numerous libaries, and Kairwan has even got a university). These institutions are helpful for cultural advances, so Naples is definitely no slacker compared to the other realms. For want of a ledger in CK I can unfortunately only give you this vague assessment.
And Bohemond has kept most of the rich counties to himself, so his income is quite good. And then I have cheated, though I don’t consider what I’ve done cheating. As soon as Bohemond got himself control over the east-west traffic in the Mediterranean and began to tax it, I decided to simulate thisrevenue by cheating me into 1000 pounds of silver every ten years. I did this first in 1090, and again in 1100, and intend to do repeat every ten years for as long as I control sea trade in the Mediterranean.
Bohemond himself does currently have a treasury of 73 pounds of silver. For the sake of simplicity I will lump all others into groups. Bankrupt (less than 20 pounds silver in the treasury) are Seljuks, Hammadids and Fatimids, the Byzantin Empire , the emirate of Cyrenaika and the kingdoms of Norway, Scotland and Hungary. Doing well (20 to 150 pounds of silver) are the Papacy, the principalities of Serbia, Peloponessos and Lykia, the emirates of Medina, Jerusalem and Sevilla, the duchies of Swabia and Brittany, and the kingdoms of Denmark, France and Poland, and King Peter von Franken and the al-Murabituns. Prosperous (151 to 500 pounds of silver) are the duchy of Carinthia and the kingdoms of Germany, Croatia and Portugal. Beyond this scale are Castille (550 pounds), Sweden (700 pounds), England (3700 pounds) and fabulously wealthy Venice (6700 pounds).
AlexanderPrimus: Hello there! Good to have you join us. And even though I am glad that you liked the last update I still have to say that it is very atypical of the entire AAR. It’s just a bit of history book inserted into the narrative.
And I would just love to have Heinrich von Nordheim – trouble is, he lives somewhere in the Alps and is both bedridden and lazy. Little chance of him coming to Italy.
Eams: I see that we are of one mind of Yolanda’s childhood. As she was for a time Serlo’s ward I have actually thought about showing lil’ Yolanda torturing animals, but then I couldn’t fit the scene organically into any chapter and relegated the idea to something that has happened off-camera.
And you’re of course also right about Prince Alexios being blinder than a blind man in a dark cellar not to realize what’s going on with all his brothers and sons dying. But then the game engine gave me results of completely successful (i.e. untraced) murders, and I do once again follow the the game’s events, as I am wont to do. So Yolanda has pulled the double assassination off most successfully. I suppose that I don’t have to tell you that the two trusted retainers of Prince Alexios who allegedly discovered the infant murder were bought by Yolanda and responsible for both deaths themselves.
General_BT: Yes, the Venetian inheritance was really something. I usually pause the game every few months to take a good look around the world, and you will understand my surprise at suddenly seeing a third of France being Venetian! This new kingdom is at least here fot he time being, and as to its fate, well, wait and see.
The impending death of forceful Mathilda of Canossa would be a great chance for Peter von Franken, as young Ciuccio is goint to be a very inept king. Unfortunately, his own ineptitude is matched by Peter’s.
And bringing Heinrich von Nordheim south should be difficult. He would make for a delightful charactr for a comical AAR of his own, though: “The Life and Deeds of St. Heinrich”. :rofl:
Eöl: Bohemond does sure love Muslim-bashing – but not for religious reasons, merely to take their riches and lands. And as Iberia is a bit too far away, I can’t see him involve himself there anytime soon; he didn’t when his late wife asked him to, after all. As far as he’s concerned, Hussayn ibn Abbad can swallow the penisula whole.
kadvael56: Well, nothing much has been happening in western Europe since the Norman conquest of England – if one discounts Venice’s inroad into these parts. Britanny is going to be around for some more.
And yes, I’m quite content with the world; it’s (still) reasonable.Saithis: Hello and welcome aboard; glad to have you, and thanks for stopping by to comment.
But then Heinrich von Nordheim really is a darling, isn’t he?
phargle: Just felt a bit mischievous when writing about Ireland. Any Irish readers, please don’t take offence.
And this game’s nuttiness is still only slight. The only thing that’s odd is Venice inheriting a third of France and becoming a kingdom, everything else is fine. But then I’m of course only thirtyfive years into the game.
To avoid any misconceptions about Islam pushing into Europe – there are no Muslims at all in southern Russia, unlike so many games. Hungary does therefore not yet have had any running-in with Muslims whatsoever.
Enewald: Northern Italy would be fine, but I want to aim for a compact realm, and right now the papal lands would bottleneck the Norman realm. But I can promise that Bohemond has got plans for the north…
Jalex: Well, Naples holds on to a few pretty wealthy counties and it has taken over the well-developed Muslim lands (numerous libaries, and Kairwan has even got a university). These institutions are helpful for cultural advances, so Naples is definitely no slacker compared to the other realms. For want of a ledger in CK I can unfortunately only give you this vague assessment.
And Bohemond has kept most of the rich counties to himself, so his income is quite good. And then I have cheated, though I don’t consider what I’ve done cheating. As soon as Bohemond got himself control over the east-west traffic in the Mediterranean and began to tax it, I decided to simulate thisrevenue by cheating me into 1000 pounds of silver every ten years. I did this first in 1090, and again in 1100, and intend to do repeat every ten years for as long as I control sea trade in the Mediterranean.
Bohemond himself does currently have a treasury of 73 pounds of silver. For the sake of simplicity I will lump all others into groups. Bankrupt (less than 20 pounds silver in the treasury) are Seljuks, Hammadids and Fatimids, the Byzantin Empire , the emirate of Cyrenaika and the kingdoms of Norway, Scotland and Hungary. Doing well (20 to 150 pounds of silver) are the Papacy, the principalities of Serbia, Peloponessos and Lykia, the emirates of Medina, Jerusalem and Sevilla, the duchies of Swabia and Brittany, and the kingdoms of Denmark, France and Poland, and King Peter von Franken and the al-Murabituns. Prosperous (151 to 500 pounds of silver) are the duchy of Carinthia and the kingdoms of Germany, Croatia and Portugal. Beyond this scale are Castille (550 pounds), Sweden (700 pounds), England (3700 pounds) and fabulously wealthy Venice (6700 pounds).
AlexanderPrimus: Hello there! Good to have you join us. And even though I am glad that you liked the last update I still have to say that it is very atypical of the entire AAR. It’s just a bit of history book inserted into the narrative.
And I would just love to have Heinrich von Nordheim – trouble is, he lives somewhere in the Alps and is both bedridden and lazy. Little chance of him coming to Italy.
Eams: I see that we are of one mind of Yolanda’s childhood. As she was for a time Serlo’s ward I have actually thought about showing lil’ Yolanda torturing animals, but then I couldn’t fit the scene organically into any chapter and relegated the idea to something that has happened off-camera.
And you’re of course also right about Prince Alexios being blinder than a blind man in a dark cellar not to realize what’s going on with all his brothers and sons dying. But then the game engine gave me results of completely successful (i.e. untraced) murders, and I do once again follow the the game’s events, as I am wont to do. So Yolanda has pulled the double assassination off most successfully. I suppose that I don’t have to tell you that the two trusted retainers of Prince Alexios who allegedly discovered the infant murder were bought by Yolanda and responsible for both deaths themselves.
General_BT: Yes, the Venetian inheritance was really something. I usually pause the game every few months to take a good look around the world, and you will understand my surprise at suddenly seeing a third of France being Venetian! This new kingdom is at least here fot he time being, and as to its fate, well, wait and see.
The impending death of forceful Mathilda of Canossa would be a great chance for Peter von Franken, as young Ciuccio is goint to be a very inept king. Unfortunately, his own ineptitude is matched by Peter’s.
And bringing Heinrich von Nordheim south should be difficult. He would make for a delightful charactr for a comical AAR of his own, though: “The Life and Deeds of St. Heinrich”. :rofl:
Eöl: Bohemond does sure love Muslim-bashing – but not for religious reasons, merely to take their riches and lands. And as Iberia is a bit too far away, I can’t see him involve himself there anytime soon; he didn’t when his late wife asked him to, after all. As far as he’s concerned, Hussayn ibn Abbad can swallow the penisula whole.
kadvael56: Well, nothing much has been happening in western Europe since the Norman conquest of England – if one discounts Venice’s inroad into these parts. Britanny is going to be around for some more.
Ooh, but you could have him visit Italy for health reasons, like Nietzsche, or something.
Hmnnn…A weak France and a strong Muslim Spain could be a very interesting combination in the long run.
Excursion Two: The Norman Kingdom At The Dawn Of the Twelfth Century
This first map above shows the development of the Norman realm from King Bohemond’s ascension to the throne in 1080 right up to the beginning of the 12th century.
This map shows the royal demesne and the lands of the immediate vassals of the crown. King Bohemond himself holds the hereditary core territories of the Norman realm in Apulia and the wealthy eastern half of Sicily with the large cities of Messina and Siracusa and Palermo, his favourite residence. He has recently also acquired extensive holdings in western North Africa and he does also retain a foothold on both the north Italian and the east African frontiers.
The King’s principal vassal is of course his son, crown prince Herman, Duke of Sicily; the prince’s holdings are spread out from western Sicily to North Africa and are marked out in pink. The vassal who holds the largest tracts of land is Duke Serlo of Leptis Magna, Regent of Africa; his lands sit astride the center of North Africa and are marked in blue. The Duke is approaching sixty and still without child, so his extensive lands will most probably fall to Duke Arsenio of Calabria, whose own lands in southern Italy are marked in purple. This will create a powerful double duchy and a potentially dangerous situation for King Bohemond, as Duke Arsenio is the son of Abelard de Hauteville, more than forty years ago cheated out of inheriting the lordship over the Italian Normans by Robert Guiscard. Another great baron with a claim on the Norman throne, though much less dangerous, is King Bohemond’s drunkard brother Duke Roger Borsa of Campania. Duke Roger’s holdings, coloured green, are extensive, but deliberately scatterd by the King from Italy to Africa and thus difficult to rule and oversee. As Duke Roger Borsa has no legitimate sons his lands seem bound to one day devolve back upon Bohemond or Bohemond’s successor.
The least pwerful of the dukes of the house of Hauteville is Mauger de Hauteville, Duke of Benevento, whose landlocked Italian lands are marked in yellow. The one great baron of the realm who is neither Norman nor Hauteville is the King’s brother-in-law Renaud de Joigny, Duke of the Marches; his holdings are coloured light blue. Pious Duke Renaud is an influential man, and he has managed to further secure his influence by marrying his daughter to the crown prince. One of Duke Renaud’s neighbours is the King’s bastard son Silvester; his county of Siena is marked in red. The final – and poorest – great vassal of the King is the Count Philippe, lord of the impoverished African county of Senoussi, coloured orange.
This map shows each county’s single religion with the most adherents. Catholicism is marked in white, Orthodoxy in brown and Islam in green; areas outside Norman control are not filled in solidly.
The south of Italy, once predominantly Orthodox, is by now mostly Catholic. This is a direct result of the many religiously fueled insurrections of the Orthodox Christians during King Bohemond’s first decade and the Norman king’s very brutal retaliation. The same fate has befallen the Muslims of Sicily who were also greatly reduced in number because of them joining the Orthodox rebellion. Africa with its almost completely Muslim population does still adhere in its majority to Islam, but the harsh policies of King Bohemond have led to Catholicism making a few inroads here as well. This is not so much due to any pressure to convert but due to more and more mosques being closed – it is a standing order of King Bohemond that any Muslim preacher doing so much as alluding against the Norman rule is to be hanged and any mosque where even the least anti-Norman preaching takes place is to be razed to the ground.
This map shows all areas of trouble or unrest in the Norman realm at the very dawn of the 12th century. The areas marked in red have to deal with more or less open insurrection against Norman rule, mostly religiously fueled. The area marked in yellow, corresponding to Duke Roger Borsa’s county of Salerno, has currently to contend with a dangerous epidemic.
Above is a breakdown of the dynasty as of January 1st 1101. The most glorious Hauteville ever is King Bohemond himself, followed by his father King Robert who is in turn followed by Duke Serlo. There is a huge gap in glory between Serlo and the next most glorious living Hautevilles – Bohemond’s two adult sons who are almost equal in glory. The least glorious living and title-holding Hauteville is Duke Roger Borsa.
If you look at the failiy’s trait and cancel out opposing ones you see that the Hautevilles are first and foremost Energetic and Selfish (9 each) and then Cruel and Valorous (5 each). Other traits to be found with slightly increased frequency in the dynasty are Arbitrary, Vengeful, Wise and Trusting (3 each). Not single known Hauteville is either a Coward, Lazy, Modest or Indulgent, and neither the Chaste nor the Lustful trait is present among them. Concerning their aptitudes, the Hautevilles are first and foremost warriors, and very good ones at that (11 Martial educational traits, 4 of them Brilliant Strategist, 0 Misguided Warrior). A few feel drawn towards politics and commerce, and they are only middingly competent at it (12 Diplomacy/intrigue/Stewardship educational traits altogether, 2 of them of the best type and 4 of the worst type). The few Hautevilles who feel drawn to the Church do all cling to their family’s martial tradition (5 ecclesiastical educational traits, all of them Martial Cleric).
So the Hautevilles are a family of energetic, selfish, valorous and cruel warriors. The purest and most extreme specimen of this character type seems to be Princess Yolanda de Hauteville, even though she is a woman and thus no warrior.
Above you see the three most glorious and famous Hautevilles ever – Bohemond, Rbert Guiscard and Serlo. Note the increase of chivalry from Bohemond over Robert to Serlo.
And now, to close the overview over the Hautevilles, their complete family trees. We start out with an overview over the sons of old Tancrede de Hauteville:
Note how the two eldest Hauteville brothers left no children, and how the youngest, Roger, left only daughters. Please do also note how Abelard, the son of Humphrey, was betrayed by Robert Guiscard of his inheritance. Other than the line of Humphrey, Serlo, whose father was also elder than Robert, has no claim on the kingship as his father wanted to have no part of his brothers’ Italian adventures and Serlo came only to Italy in 1061, well after Robert Guiscard had established himself.
Let’s take a closer look at the main line, the royal line of the Hautevilles:
Bohemond’s succession is well secured, with one bastard son, two legitimate sons and a grandson by the oldest legitimat son and crown prince, Herman, Duke of Sicily. The King’s oldest daughter, Matilda, is married to the Prince of Serbia but has unfortunately as yet failed to give her husband sons. Bohemond’s oldest sister Mathilde is married to powerful Duke Renaud of the Marches; his own line is detailed below, in a genealogical tree of his own. The King’s brother, Duke Roger Borsa, has failed to beget a legitimate son, meaning that the King does currently stand to inherit his brother’s lands; Roger Borsa has a bastard son, though, Roger, whom he made Count of Naples. The fourth child of Robert Guiscard, Emma, died very young, but not without giving birth to a son and a daughter. The son, Osmond Grimaldi, does currently rule over Pisa, and the daughter, Emma, is married to the Count of Arborea on Sardinia.
Above is the house of Humphrey, the dispossessed line of the Hautevilles. It is headed by Arsenio and his two younger brohers, Henry and Godfrey. Godfrey is without land, but Henry does not only hold the county of Lecce, bt does also serve as regent for the northern French county of Guines – his minor son, who goes also by the name of Henry, has inherited this county from his grandfather. Arsenio himself, or rather his sn Massimo, might well come into possession of the southern French county of Albret – should Arsenio’s young brother-in-law die, Massimo would become heir to his grandfather’s southern Fench lands. The line of Humphrey has thus entrenced itself well in France, and even though they seem loyal enough this second powerbase of theirs, well beyond the King’s grasp is worrying Bohemond.
The house of Guillaume is smaller, as Guilaume and his son Robert did both die rather young and without many children. It’s only noteable emebers are the brothers Mauger, Duke of Benevent, and Godfrey. It bears mentioning that Duke Mauger is through his wife highly connected into France – his brothers-in-law are the powerful Duke of Champagne and the Count of Chartres. There is little chance of Mauger’s sons inheriting these extensive French lands, but his relatives are powerful potential allies nonetheless.
Renaud de Joigny, driven from his ancestral County of Sens and having fled to Italy as refugee, has founded a powerful house of his own. He is married to the King’s half-sister Mathilde, who has born him numerous children, and he is also father-in-law of the heir apparent Duke Herman of Sicily, and grandfather to Herman’s own son and heir, young Aubrey. Duke Renaud is thus exceedingly well connected in the royal house, and with his sizeable male progeny a force to reckon with.
And finally, to close the excursions, a look at the two currently most important people of this saga, Serlo and his cousin Bohemond, as they are on January 1st 1101. Something that isn’t apparent from these character portraits is that Bohemond does at that time actually have a honourable reputation – he has cooled his heels sufficiently to make all his land-grabbing and unjust wars of aggression against Italian Christians and even the Pope himself pale in the Europeans’ eyes in comparison to the damage he has dealt to the Muslims of Africa.
Last edited:
I love how one of the biggest potential threats to Bohemond's line comes from a member of his own extended family.
It would be sweeter only if it was Roger Borsa's bastard who was that threat. Does this mark the end of the excursions for now?
It would be sweeter only if it was Roger Borsa's bastard who was that threat. Does this mark the end of the excursions for now?
Nobody can attack the Hautvilles for their lack of fecundity, that’s for sure. If they go on like this, the family tree will soon be too large to map.
Christ on a Christ Christing Christ stick, it took me a long while to read all your wonderful updates, Guiscard. I must say, though, each and every were awesome. Too awesome. Far too awesome. I think I may have to murder you in a ritualistic fashion to steal your creative life-force or something. But no, really, great AAR. I would leave a more in-depth comment were it not for the fact that my mind is mush now and anything beyond praise, flaming, and venting about how much I cannot believe my roomie pooped himself is a no-no.
Oh, congratulations on your award as writer of the week!
Oh, congratulations on your award as writer of the week!
As a lrker i have enjoyed this AAR very much. Is your aim to become Lord of all Italy?
I wondered who'd get Serlo's land when he dies. And yes, a double duchy would mark a terrible threat to King Bohemond, especially one that has the potential to cut him off from (or in) his favored abode in Sicily. I imagine he may try some kind of shenanings before Serlo dies to prevent that.
I'm also very pleased to see that chivalry-glory axis. It fits the themes you've built into the story remarkably well.
That family tree must've been a bear to build.
I'm also very pleased to see that chivalry-glory axis. It fits the themes you've built into the story remarkably well.
That family tree must've been a bear to build.
Thank you for all the feedback, folks. You do know I appreciate you paying so much attention to my ramblings - so have some more:
Morsky: I guess I could come up with some reason to bring Heinrich von Nordheim to Italy, but frankly I fear that any chapter including him would be silly to the point of surrealness. He’s just too unbelievable a character.
Fulcrumvale: Yes, I am myself ibtrigued to see how things are going to develop along the Pyrenee frontier. Sevilla is strong now, and I do’t give away too much when I tell you that it’s going to become stronger still.
And the Hautevilles sure are numerous. Mapping their family took me ages. If there is ever again an update with family trees, I will probably have to limit myself only to Bohemond’s or maybe Robert Guiscard’s descendants and will certainly not map all of Tancrede’s many descendats.
Eams: Yes, that’s been it with the excursions, I’ve shown you the world and I’ve shown you the Hautevilles. Now it’s back to the story again.
And as you seem so much in disfavour of Bohemond and want to see him stumble I’ve made a little Chivalry statistics of the male, adult, living Hautevilles on Januay 1st 1101. There are 11 of them, with Chivalry scores from –80 (the two Godfreys) to +60 (Serlo). Average Chivalry among them is –20, so Bohemond is with his -10 actually slightly more chivalrous than most. So if Bohemond takes a fall chances are that somebody worse will follow; Prince Herman has Chivalry –60, by the way…
Enewald: Yes, Herman is a Norman. Apart from Arsenio and his children, who are Italian, the Hautevilles have not yet gone native.
democratickid: I guess a good look at the family was long overdue. The family tree in the very first installment lacks many Hautevilles who have come into their own since then, but the ones above have all who are going to play any role for at least a decade or two. Readers who don’t get any relations in the future updates can simply come back here and look the people up in the trees.
timetogetaway: Hmmm. Should I thank you for praising me so very highly and nominating me or should I rather keep a low profile to avoid becoming a victim of ritualized murder?
Ok, I guess I’ll be brave for once and simply thank you. I am very glad that you like “Furor Normannicus” and hope that you will continue to do so.
Lord Durham: At long last, praise for my excursions! I’m happy. No, honestly, thank you. Now that the history-book part is over, I can finally get back to the meat of the narrative.
Lord Strange: Glad you stepped out of the shadows! And I myself don’t really have a goal, I simply roleplay the goals of whoever sits he Norman throne. For Bohemond, that’s creating a powerful kingdom, so powerful that it has to fear no other realm. An he wants to keep it compact, for ease of defensibilty and mutual support of the various counties. And currently, he does also think about getting back at the Fatimids for having stabbed him in the back the previous year.
phargle: Actually, I have at several times mentioned that it would be Abelard and later Arsenio who’d inherit Serlo’s lands and that this was worrying Bohemond, but of course I can’t expect the lot of you to remember these details. That’s why I gave you the family trees to fall back upon. Even though they were a bear to build.
Morsky: I guess I could come up with some reason to bring Heinrich von Nordheim to Italy, but frankly I fear that any chapter including him would be silly to the point of surrealness. He’s just too unbelievable a character.
Fulcrumvale: Yes, I am myself ibtrigued to see how things are going to develop along the Pyrenee frontier. Sevilla is strong now, and I do’t give away too much when I tell you that it’s going to become stronger still.
And the Hautevilles sure are numerous. Mapping their family took me ages. If there is ever again an update with family trees, I will probably have to limit myself only to Bohemond’s or maybe Robert Guiscard’s descendants and will certainly not map all of Tancrede’s many descendats.
Eams: Yes, that’s been it with the excursions, I’ve shown you the world and I’ve shown you the Hautevilles. Now it’s back to the story again.
And as you seem so much in disfavour of Bohemond and want to see him stumble I’ve made a little Chivalry statistics of the male, adult, living Hautevilles on Januay 1st 1101. There are 11 of them, with Chivalry scores from –80 (the two Godfreys) to +60 (Serlo). Average Chivalry among them is –20, so Bohemond is with his -10 actually slightly more chivalrous than most. So if Bohemond takes a fall chances are that somebody worse will follow; Prince Herman has Chivalry –60, by the way…
Enewald: Yes, Herman is a Norman. Apart from Arsenio and his children, who are Italian, the Hautevilles have not yet gone native.
democratickid: I guess a good look at the family was long overdue. The family tree in the very first installment lacks many Hautevilles who have come into their own since then, but the ones above have all who are going to play any role for at least a decade or two. Readers who don’t get any relations in the future updates can simply come back here and look the people up in the trees.
timetogetaway: Hmmm. Should I thank you for praising me so very highly and nominating me or should I rather keep a low profile to avoid becoming a victim of ritualized murder?
Ok, I guess I’ll be brave for once and simply thank you. I am very glad that you like “Furor Normannicus” and hope that you will continue to do so.
Lord Durham: At long last, praise for my excursions!
I’m happy. No, honestly, thank you. Now that the history-book part is over, I can finally get back to the meat of the narrative.Lord Strange: Glad you stepped out of the shadows! And I myself don’t really have a goal, I simply roleplay the goals of whoever sits he Norman throne. For Bohemond, that’s creating a powerful kingdom, so powerful that it has to fear no other realm. An he wants to keep it compact, for ease of defensibilty and mutual support of the various counties. And currently, he does also think about getting back at the Fatimids for having stabbed him in the back the previous year.
phargle: Actually, I have at several times mentioned that it would be Abelard and later Arsenio who’d inherit Serlo’s lands and that this was worrying Bohemond, but of course I can’t expect the lot of you to remember these details. That’s why I gave you the family trees to fall back upon. Even though they were a bear to build.
Last edited:
Hah, you've even mentioned that to me specifically. I remember not liking the name 'Arsenio' much. Clearly, I am not paying sufficient attention to this AAR. Time to write "I will never cross Bohemond and Serlo is awesome" on the wall a hundred times.
"I will never cross Bohemond and Serlo is awesome"
"I will never cross Bohemond and Serlo is awesome"
"I will never cross Bohemond and Serlo is awesome"
"I will never cross Bohemond and Serlo is awesome"
"I will never cross Bohemond and Serlo is awesome"
"I will never cross Bohemond and Serlo is awesome"
"I will never cross Bohemond and Serlo is awesome"
"I will never cross Bohemond and..."
Hooray! Then I'll get to sextuple my moral outrage!Eams:
Average Chivalry among them is –20, so Bohemond is with his -10 actually slightly more chivalrous than most. So if Bohemond takes a fall chances are that somebody worse will follow; Prince Herman has Chivalry –60, by the way…
Just a question in relation to that: is Yolanda a particularly nasty example of Bohemond's brood, or are they all like her?
There is the risk that at some point, a heir will emerge who lacks Bohemond's strong sides but who has all of his cruelty.
A potential remedy to this would be to take a page out of the Knytling's book and begin keeping it in the family so to speak. By ensuring that both groom and bride has de Hauteville for a last name you can actually reduce the width of the family tree for the year 1200 update, although "Inbred" might have become the new most common trait.
Phew! Finally, after days of reading a bit here and a little there when time permitted, I have finally caught up. And what a ride so far. I'm really enjoying this kind of outside look at Bohemond (and previously to Robert) through the eyes of Serlo (also one of my favorites when I've played this house.) The de Hautevilles are also some of my favorite folks and were the first dynasty I played when I first bought CK. You've really done a nice job at bringing them alive.
Nice graphics and excellent battle scenes, not to mention fantastic attention paid to the little details, really make this a treat to read. Glad I caught up while it is still going. I hope you don't plan to end it when Serlo finally kicks (which I am glad has not happened yet - I've been dreading it, in fact.)
Your recent writAAR if the week nod was very well deserved for this, The_Guiscard. Now where is that next chapter?!
Excellent work!
Nice graphics and excellent battle scenes, not to mention fantastic attention paid to the little details, really make this a treat to read. Glad I caught up while it is still going. I hope you don't plan to end it when Serlo finally kicks (which I am glad has not happened yet - I've been dreading it, in fact.)
Your recent writAAR if the week nod was very well deserved for this, The_Guiscard. Now where is that next chapter?!
Excellent work!