Chapter IV - Aymar II “the Scholar” (1256-1312)
Aymar II “the Scholar” (1256-1312)
Aymar II was known as a just man. A man of honor. Of principle. It was then the greatest tragedy that to hold power when he assumed the throne, he was forced half to insanity by executing prisoners to keep his scheming vassals in line.
Not too long after his rise to power, the mightiest nobles tried to plot to remove him from the throne. No one thought he had it in him, but Aymar II surprised them all – and probably himself.
He survived, though. And soon he was on campaign, waging war against Norway for the duchy of Jylland in Denmark. The Norwegians fought bravely, but ultimately in vain. The Holy Francian Empire was just too strong.
One of Aymar’s most important decisions as Emperor was the institution of primogeniture as law of the land. No longer would the royal domain be split between sons, but the eldest would inherit all. To come there, however, the major vassals would have to agree to terms. And all did, except the king of Danelaw.
Danelaw was a headache for all Francian Emperors, a place of constant struggle, scheming, internal war and opposition to the reigning monarch. If Aymar II was to get his wish, the king needed to be taken care of.
And again, we see Aymar II acting against his nature. He ordered the assassination of his disloyal vassal. It was discovered withing weeks though, as the chosen assassin headed to a local tavern and got drunk, spilling the beans to anyone who listened. So much for secrecy. But the king of Danelaw got so scared that he the next day sent people to the Imperial Court agreeing to the proposition of primogeniture. And so, the law was instituted.
Then, on January 10th, 1272 AD a momentous event happened. Having long ago secured Iberia for the Holy Francian Empire, it was now made official: Emperor Aymar II of the Holy Francian Empire was now also Emperor of Hispania – a dual Emperor! The festivities were talked about all over Europe. His Holiness the Pope personally crowned the dual Emperor. The mass in Notre Dame in Paris was presided over by the same man. The feasts flowed with wine, lavish food and the best music one could imagine.
After this, peace was reiging for several years. But all good things, even peace, has to go at some point, and in 1277 the wars restarted. First was the Grand Empire of Figuigid, who lost the duchy of Tahert. Then the Grand Emirate of Tamimid lost the duchy of Kairouan. Both were quick victories.
As was the third war, on the small kingdom of Sicily. Its king captured in battle, this war was also quickly resolved, and a claimant placed on the throne. One can only imagine what could have been in another timeline, if the once promising Hautevilles had been successful.
Then, in 1283 a new age started, one of art and discovery. Science flourished, arts did too. Much resources was given from the Emperor to glorify the Holy Francian Empire. A new university, one of the first in Europe, was built in 1286, several years later, in 1309, another war built in Oxford. Then two years later, a university in Madrid. The renaissance’s beginnings can, one might argue, trace its roots back to 1283.
But that did not mean war was out of the horizon. Wales was conquered in these years too. And enmity with the Holy Roman Empire grew. In 1301 it finally resulted in war between the two Empires. The war would rage for three years before ending in complete victory for Aymar II.
During this war tragedy struck the Imperial family, as Aymar II’s heir Aymar was murdered by unknown assailants. He was a promising man, and what might have been we will never know. What we do know is we got Aimery III, a failed drunkard. His father was also a drunkard, of course, but he somehow managed better than his son would. He did die in what can only be called a drunken stupor, though.
He would give his son a big responsibility in inheritance when he finally died on January 24th, 1312 aged 80, as he had shortly before begun another war with the Holy Roman Empire. Ending that war would be on Aimery III’s shoulders, and aged 58 and constantly in his cups, he had little time to place his mark on the country.
Aymar II was known as a just man. A man of honor. Of principle. It was then the greatest tragedy that to hold power when he assumed the throne, he was forced half to insanity by executing prisoners to keep his scheming vassals in line.
Not too long after his rise to power, the mightiest nobles tried to plot to remove him from the throne. No one thought he had it in him, but Aymar II surprised them all – and probably himself.
He survived, though. And soon he was on campaign, waging war against Norway for the duchy of Jylland in Denmark. The Norwegians fought bravely, but ultimately in vain. The Holy Francian Empire was just too strong.
One of Aymar’s most important decisions as Emperor was the institution of primogeniture as law of the land. No longer would the royal domain be split between sons, but the eldest would inherit all. To come there, however, the major vassals would have to agree to terms. And all did, except the king of Danelaw.
Danelaw was a headache for all Francian Emperors, a place of constant struggle, scheming, internal war and opposition to the reigning monarch. If Aymar II was to get his wish, the king needed to be taken care of.
And again, we see Aymar II acting against his nature. He ordered the assassination of his disloyal vassal. It was discovered withing weeks though, as the chosen assassin headed to a local tavern and got drunk, spilling the beans to anyone who listened. So much for secrecy. But the king of Danelaw got so scared that he the next day sent people to the Imperial Court agreeing to the proposition of primogeniture. And so, the law was instituted.
Then, on January 10th, 1272 AD a momentous event happened. Having long ago secured Iberia for the Holy Francian Empire, it was now made official: Emperor Aymar II of the Holy Francian Empire was now also Emperor of Hispania – a dual Emperor! The festivities were talked about all over Europe. His Holiness the Pope personally crowned the dual Emperor. The mass in Notre Dame in Paris was presided over by the same man. The feasts flowed with wine, lavish food and the best music one could imagine.
After this, peace was reiging for several years. But all good things, even peace, has to go at some point, and in 1277 the wars restarted. First was the Grand Empire of Figuigid, who lost the duchy of Tahert. Then the Grand Emirate of Tamimid lost the duchy of Kairouan. Both were quick victories.
As was the third war, on the small kingdom of Sicily. Its king captured in battle, this war was also quickly resolved, and a claimant placed on the throne. One can only imagine what could have been in another timeline, if the once promising Hautevilles had been successful.
Then, in 1283 a new age started, one of art and discovery. Science flourished, arts did too. Much resources was given from the Emperor to glorify the Holy Francian Empire. A new university, one of the first in Europe, was built in 1286, several years later, in 1309, another war built in Oxford. Then two years later, a university in Madrid. The renaissance’s beginnings can, one might argue, trace its roots back to 1283.
But that did not mean war was out of the horizon. Wales was conquered in these years too. And enmity with the Holy Roman Empire grew. In 1301 it finally resulted in war between the two Empires. The war would rage for three years before ending in complete victory for Aymar II.
During this war tragedy struck the Imperial family, as Aymar II’s heir Aymar was murdered by unknown assailants. He was a promising man, and what might have been we will never know. What we do know is we got Aimery III, a failed drunkard. His father was also a drunkard, of course, but he somehow managed better than his son would. He did die in what can only be called a drunken stupor, though.
He would give his son a big responsibility in inheritance when he finally died on January 24th, 1312 aged 80, as he had shortly before begun another war with the Holy Roman Empire. Ending that war would be on Aimery III’s shoulders, and aged 58 and constantly in his cups, he had little time to place his mark on the country.
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