Aa, nothing else to do tonight, here it goes:
The Years Between the Wars (1245-1261): Postwar Diplomacy and Politics
Queen Marguerite's first major independent diplomatic action was when, in December of 1245, she married her younger sister Jeanne to a Hungarian royal cousin. Since 1200, Hungary and her allies had been involved in a "Crusade" against the Romans, the same Crusade that Duke Baldwin had prudently stayed out of. For 45 years the war had gone back and forth, though in general Hungary was winning. By establishing family ties with the Magyars, Marguerite was clearly reversing the earlier pro-Roman Flemish policy and supporting the Pope and Hungary. However, while a first this angered some Flemish nobles, the fact that nothing really happened to enforce this new policy quickly trivialized this decision.
In May 1247, the descendents of the infidel Saladin annexed the Kingdom of Jerusalem, which had already lost the city of its name but had still been the last outpost of Christianity in the Levant. This led to some calls for a new Crusade back in Europe, but no major effort ever materialized, especially because the Pope maintained that a Crusade was already occurring. For her part, Queen Marguerite made it clear that she had no intention of supporting or allowing any of her vassals to support a new Crusade.
Four years later, the Crusade took another turn. Croatian opponents of the Crusade revolted from Hungary and declared themselves under the suzerainty of Rome. A few years later, however, Hungary crushed the rebellion, took back half of the rebel lands, but did allow considerable autonomy for Croatia under a pro-Crusade government. During all of these events, Marguerite became disillusioned about the Hungarian chances for success, and while she did not break her matrimonial ties, she did openly declare neutrality in the Crusade. This was a wise decision, for by 1260 Romans would be pillaging southern Hungary.
In October 1249, Governor-Emperor (as had become the new official title of the Hohenstauffens) Friedrich II died. Two months later, after allowing the various German princes to express their opinions, Marguerite appointed his son, Konrad IV, as Governor-Emperor. Four years later, however, Konrad died n=and left no clear heir. This time, the Empress decided to allow the German princes to have relative autonomy, though occasionally she would send a small army to quell attempts to re-form the Kingdom of Germany and choose a new Emperor. This period, known as the Great Interregnum, would not end until 1273, when the Empress decided to revive the office of Governor-Emperor in Rudolf I von Habsburg.
Around the year 1254, the lords of the former Union of Arelate came to completely accept Flemish rule. No longer needing to fear a revolt from the region, the Queen moved most of the army to other areas of the country.
When the Kingdoms of Wales and Scotland declared war on England in 1255 while England's Continental lands rebelled, the Queen had high hopes that the latter Kingdom would finally completely collapse. All of England's non-Continental lands except Northumberland and the area surrounding London itself had rebelled to Wales under the harsh incompetence of John Lackland, and now it seemed England would lose the rest. However, in just a few months, the English managed to buy peace for a few ducats, saving themselves from utter destruction.
That same year, Flandres's Toulousian allies declared war on the small Duchy of Provence. Dutifully Marguerite joined the war but Flandres played a very limited role in the war. In the first few months of 1256, however, there were some important naval battles between Provence and Flandres. On New Year's Day, the Provencal fleet, consisting of only one fighting ship and two transports, attacked Commodore Bertrand's fleet of one Warship and six Galleys off the cosat of Provence. To the great embarassment of the Commodore, his much stronger fleet was defeated and retreated to the Ligurian Sea. There Commodore Duvernet was placed in charge of the entire Mediterranean fleet and Bertrand was demoted for his incompetence. This larger fleet quickly defeated the upstart Provencal in another battle and Duvernet blockaded Marseilles until 1257, when the city fell to Toulouse and Duchess Joanna annexed Provence.
After the end of this war, known as the War of Provence, most Flemish diplomacy rightfully belongs in our upcoming discussion of Saint Louis's War. However, though it did not directly involve Flandres, there was one other important political event between 1257 and 1261: in 1259, King Jaume the Great of Aragon declared the Reconquista of Iberia vitually completed, as the new Morrocan dynasty that had overthrown the Almohades had conceded all of their European lands except Granada to the Great Reconquistador.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Next (after I spend awhile trying to fix the CtD): Saint Louis's War!
The Years Between the Wars (1245-1261): Postwar Diplomacy and Politics
Queen Marguerite's first major independent diplomatic action was when, in December of 1245, she married her younger sister Jeanne to a Hungarian royal cousin. Since 1200, Hungary and her allies had been involved in a "Crusade" against the Romans, the same Crusade that Duke Baldwin had prudently stayed out of. For 45 years the war had gone back and forth, though in general Hungary was winning. By establishing family ties with the Magyars, Marguerite was clearly reversing the earlier pro-Roman Flemish policy and supporting the Pope and Hungary. However, while a first this angered some Flemish nobles, the fact that nothing really happened to enforce this new policy quickly trivialized this decision.
In May 1247, the descendents of the infidel Saladin annexed the Kingdom of Jerusalem, which had already lost the city of its name but had still been the last outpost of Christianity in the Levant. This led to some calls for a new Crusade back in Europe, but no major effort ever materialized, especially because the Pope maintained that a Crusade was already occurring. For her part, Queen Marguerite made it clear that she had no intention of supporting or allowing any of her vassals to support a new Crusade.
Four years later, the Crusade took another turn. Croatian opponents of the Crusade revolted from Hungary and declared themselves under the suzerainty of Rome. A few years later, however, Hungary crushed the rebellion, took back half of the rebel lands, but did allow considerable autonomy for Croatia under a pro-Crusade government. During all of these events, Marguerite became disillusioned about the Hungarian chances for success, and while she did not break her matrimonial ties, she did openly declare neutrality in the Crusade. This was a wise decision, for by 1260 Romans would be pillaging southern Hungary.
In October 1249, Governor-Emperor (as had become the new official title of the Hohenstauffens) Friedrich II died. Two months later, after allowing the various German princes to express their opinions, Marguerite appointed his son, Konrad IV, as Governor-Emperor. Four years later, however, Konrad died n=and left no clear heir. This time, the Empress decided to allow the German princes to have relative autonomy, though occasionally she would send a small army to quell attempts to re-form the Kingdom of Germany and choose a new Emperor. This period, known as the Great Interregnum, would not end until 1273, when the Empress decided to revive the office of Governor-Emperor in Rudolf I von Habsburg.
Around the year 1254, the lords of the former Union of Arelate came to completely accept Flemish rule. No longer needing to fear a revolt from the region, the Queen moved most of the army to other areas of the country.
When the Kingdoms of Wales and Scotland declared war on England in 1255 while England's Continental lands rebelled, the Queen had high hopes that the latter Kingdom would finally completely collapse. All of England's non-Continental lands except Northumberland and the area surrounding London itself had rebelled to Wales under the harsh incompetence of John Lackland, and now it seemed England would lose the rest. However, in just a few months, the English managed to buy peace for a few ducats, saving themselves from utter destruction.
That same year, Flandres's Toulousian allies declared war on the small Duchy of Provence. Dutifully Marguerite joined the war but Flandres played a very limited role in the war. In the first few months of 1256, however, there were some important naval battles between Provence and Flandres. On New Year's Day, the Provencal fleet, consisting of only one fighting ship and two transports, attacked Commodore Bertrand's fleet of one Warship and six Galleys off the cosat of Provence. To the great embarassment of the Commodore, his much stronger fleet was defeated and retreated to the Ligurian Sea. There Commodore Duvernet was placed in charge of the entire Mediterranean fleet and Bertrand was demoted for his incompetence. This larger fleet quickly defeated the upstart Provencal in another battle and Duvernet blockaded Marseilles until 1257, when the city fell to Toulouse and Duchess Joanna annexed Provence.
After the end of this war, known as the War of Provence, most Flemish diplomacy rightfully belongs in our upcoming discussion of Saint Louis's War. However, though it did not directly involve Flandres, there was one other important political event between 1257 and 1261: in 1259, King Jaume the Great of Aragon declared the Reconquista of Iberia vitually completed, as the new Morrocan dynasty that had overthrown the Almohades had conceded all of their European lands except Granada to the Great Reconquistador.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Next (after I spend awhile trying to fix the CtD): Saint Louis's War!
Last edited:
