May Pål rest in peace. A good lord is gone.
Now, instead of a saint, let's have an empire maker. Let's conquer something...
Now, instead of a saint, let's have an empire maker. Let's conquer something...
Isles of Glory: A Dynastic History
- Thread starter azatol
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Sad to hear about loss of a great lord.
Eystein's news are grimm indeed. With Denmark fallen and Norway falling, I wouldn't predict much longer survival to Sweden. If you have at any point spare resources, reconquest of parts of Scandinavia might be beneficial. Especially if sheiks declare independence.
Eystein's news are grimm indeed. With Denmark fallen and Norway falling, I wouldn't predict much longer survival to Sweden. If you have at any point spare resources, reconquest of parts of Scandinavia might be beneficial. Especially if sheiks declare independence.
The Color Purple
Skofte immediately set out to relieve some of the administrative burden of managing his duchy by creating more vassals. His old lands of Angus and Mar went to sons Torkjell and Vigleik respectively. First son Arnmond held Osraige already. In addition, Skofte created the bishopric of Benevento, divesting the long held Italian county to Bishop Havard Keith.
In late Winter of 1216, England went to war with the Seljuks again, this time on its own terms, seeking, as many other nations had in decades before, to conquer Antiocheia and end one of the longest crusades ever. First they requested Skofte's army, and then King Humphrey de Normandie ordered Skofte to go on Crusade as well. Knowing well the precipice that his father Pål had fallen into, Skofte had two options to avoid angering the Seljuks. He could refuse the summons and remain a vassal of the English, or, since the King was away Crusading, Skofte could renounce the English as his liege and seek the return of his armies. With all the internal and external trouble England was getting into, Skofte took a bold step, and declared independence from England. He felt that the new Western Isles, strengthened greatly by his father, could hold up to any local threats, except England itself.
The Western Isles are light purple!
In Spring of 1218, Skofte was remarried to Beatryse von Franken, a descendent of the German line than no longer ruled the Holy Roman Empire. Soon after, Skofte began planning the final conquest of Munster. Weakened by Pål's campaign against them, Munster was now a weak one-province duchy, and its conquest would unify Southern Ireland under a Crovan banner. Skofte ordered his forces to gather at Urmumu before going to war.
As war preparations dragged on, Skofte received a letter from the Pope. In it, the Pope warned Skofte about the consequences of his refusal to crusade on King Humphrey's behalf. The Pope basically threatened to excommunicate Skofte if he didn't get into the Crusading spirit. So Skofte sent a letter back stating he would campaign against the Muslims in the future. But, he had no intention of going beyond Scotland and the Irish county of Laigin (which was held by Muslims) in his crusades.
Dealing with that troublesome matter, Skofte declared war on Munster. His army quickly defeated the Irish duchy in battle, sieging Desmumu, and conquering it in a mere two months. Unfortunately, the Duchy of Anjou declared war on Skofte in response, as an ally of Munster. But Anjou's ally was no more, Desmumu was rightfully Skofte's, and he fought back against their invasion.
Anjou sieged and conquered Shrewsbury, but Skofte travelled to Anjou and conquered it. After Anjou County's fall in October of 1219, the duchy was more than willing to have peace, and Skofte asked for ducats, receiving 500.
Skofte immediately set out to relieve some of the administrative burden of managing his duchy by creating more vassals. His old lands of Angus and Mar went to sons Torkjell and Vigleik respectively. First son Arnmond held Osraige already. In addition, Skofte created the bishopric of Benevento, divesting the long held Italian county to Bishop Havard Keith.
In late Winter of 1216, England went to war with the Seljuks again, this time on its own terms, seeking, as many other nations had in decades before, to conquer Antiocheia and end one of the longest crusades ever. First they requested Skofte's army, and then King Humphrey de Normandie ordered Skofte to go on Crusade as well. Knowing well the precipice that his father Pål had fallen into, Skofte had two options to avoid angering the Seljuks. He could refuse the summons and remain a vassal of the English, or, since the King was away Crusading, Skofte could renounce the English as his liege and seek the return of his armies. With all the internal and external trouble England was getting into, Skofte took a bold step, and declared independence from England. He felt that the new Western Isles, strengthened greatly by his father, could hold up to any local threats, except England itself.
The Western Isles are light purple!
In Spring of 1218, Skofte was remarried to Beatryse von Franken, a descendent of the German line than no longer ruled the Holy Roman Empire. Soon after, Skofte began planning the final conquest of Munster. Weakened by Pål's campaign against them, Munster was now a weak one-province duchy, and its conquest would unify Southern Ireland under a Crovan banner. Skofte ordered his forces to gather at Urmumu before going to war.
As war preparations dragged on, Skofte received a letter from the Pope. In it, the Pope warned Skofte about the consequences of his refusal to crusade on King Humphrey's behalf. The Pope basically threatened to excommunicate Skofte if he didn't get into the Crusading spirit. So Skofte sent a letter back stating he would campaign against the Muslims in the future. But, he had no intention of going beyond Scotland and the Irish county of Laigin (which was held by Muslims) in his crusades.
Dealing with that troublesome matter, Skofte declared war on Munster. His army quickly defeated the Irish duchy in battle, sieging Desmumu, and conquering it in a mere two months. Unfortunately, the Duchy of Anjou declared war on Skofte in response, as an ally of Munster. But Anjou's ally was no more, Desmumu was rightfully Skofte's, and he fought back against their invasion.
Anjou sieged and conquered Shrewsbury, but Skofte travelled to Anjou and conquered it. After Anjou County's fall in October of 1219, the duchy was more than willing to have peace, and Skofte asked for ducats, receiving 500.
Good to see expansion in the Ireland. Now all you have to do is defeat Connacht and Ulster before you can create Kingdom of Ireland.
I enjoyed the narrative interlude, gives a nice face to the characters. You're making steady progress in game, I think you've reached a point where if nothign else you cant be utterly destroyed. (The transportations costs alone should deter most enemies..)
Irish Invasion, Take 5
With the successful conquest of all of southern Ireland, and two successful campaigns there, one led by his father and one by himself, Skofte wasted no time in proceeding with the next step: the conquest of Connacht and the first incursions into central Ireland. Dublin was the prize, but Skofte wanted to test himself against their weaker neighbor before taking on the Duchy of Ulster.
Before he could begin though, horrible news came concerning Skofte's son Arnmod. Excommunicated by the Pope, officially for supporting heresies in Osraige, Arnmod was an embarrasment to the isles which had been so highly regarded by the Catholic world in the past. As a result, the succesionary laws specified two-year-old Inge, son of Arnmod, as heir to the Isles.
After hearing this, Skofte began his campaign against Connacht anyway, with three armies from Scotland setting sail for Ireland, and the regiments of Southern Ireland were raised as well. The following map indicates estimated troops on both sides of the war. Red and blue are the Isles and ally Mide respectively. White and yellow indicate Connacht and their vassal Galway.
As the map shows, the Irish powers were outnumbered and facing two strong armies. Mide was a strong ally, despite fielding only one regiment. Mide helped defeat Connacht's army at Mayo, while Skofte's South Irish forces invaded Galway and routed the count's defenders, who were outnumbered over three-to-one. Mide agreed to peace with Connacht soon after, taking ducats for their withdrawl from the war. But by that time, Skofte's ships were landing on the east coast of Ireland.
Began in earth fall of 1422, Skofte's armies had conquered Galway by winter, and Mayo fell, with only minor counterattacks, in March. The Crovans had won another lightning campaign, and now controlled over half of Ireland. Only Ulster stood in the way of their domination of Ireland. That and the Duchy of Gwynedd, who had decisively defeated the Western Isles once before. The reviled duchy was allied with Ulster and was almost certain to play a part in the next Irish Invasion.
Skofte didn't wait long to divide the spoils of war. To his youngest son Magnus, he gave Mayo, in the same tradition that had places his father Pål in Benevento from an early age. He formed the bishopric of Galway, and granted the title to recent arrival Osric Stenskilsatten. And, Skofte added another ducal title to the list: Duke of Connacht (others being WI, Leinster, Iceland and Mar). Lastly, a bishop arrived from Parma (new home of the Pope, who has long since been displaced from Rome), and Skofte granted this bishop Arnvid a new bishopric of Tuadmumu.
After all this, typhoid broke out in the county of Western Isles, making Skofte glad that his capital was no longer such an isolated and poor place. In the duchy of Western Isles, the smaller isles from which all things had began were taking on less and less importance. Today, the Crovans rarely even thought about Iceland, amusing considering the focus Gudrød once had on the place. The old Republic of Iceland was barely remembered by any but the greatest historians. As Gudrød's concerns were left behind with his death, gradually fading away, so to would Skofte's concerns fade. After Aslak the Suicidal, Skofte's reign was the briefest thus far, as he died of unknown causes on August 17th, 1224.
Arnmod, first son of Skofte, resented being passed over in succession. He resented his son Inge's ascension to Duke of the Western Isles. But Inge's reign faced bad luck from the beginning, as the four-year-old caught a strange illness just weeks after he was recognized. Although there were hopes he would survive, many looked to Inge's younger brother, Gudmund, who was next in line for the duchy.
[size=+1]End Part 5: Steps to Power[/size]
With the successful conquest of all of southern Ireland, and two successful campaigns there, one led by his father and one by himself, Skofte wasted no time in proceeding with the next step: the conquest of Connacht and the first incursions into central Ireland. Dublin was the prize, but Skofte wanted to test himself against their weaker neighbor before taking on the Duchy of Ulster.
Before he could begin though, horrible news came concerning Skofte's son Arnmod. Excommunicated by the Pope, officially for supporting heresies in Osraige, Arnmod was an embarrasment to the isles which had been so highly regarded by the Catholic world in the past. As a result, the succesionary laws specified two-year-old Inge, son of Arnmod, as heir to the Isles.
After hearing this, Skofte began his campaign against Connacht anyway, with three armies from Scotland setting sail for Ireland, and the regiments of Southern Ireland were raised as well. The following map indicates estimated troops on both sides of the war. Red and blue are the Isles and ally Mide respectively. White and yellow indicate Connacht and their vassal Galway.
As the map shows, the Irish powers were outnumbered and facing two strong armies. Mide was a strong ally, despite fielding only one regiment. Mide helped defeat Connacht's army at Mayo, while Skofte's South Irish forces invaded Galway and routed the count's defenders, who were outnumbered over three-to-one. Mide agreed to peace with Connacht soon after, taking ducats for their withdrawl from the war. But by that time, Skofte's ships were landing on the east coast of Ireland.
Began in earth fall of 1422, Skofte's armies had conquered Galway by winter, and Mayo fell, with only minor counterattacks, in March. The Crovans had won another lightning campaign, and now controlled over half of Ireland. Only Ulster stood in the way of their domination of Ireland. That and the Duchy of Gwynedd, who had decisively defeated the Western Isles once before. The reviled duchy was allied with Ulster and was almost certain to play a part in the next Irish Invasion.
Skofte didn't wait long to divide the spoils of war. To his youngest son Magnus, he gave Mayo, in the same tradition that had places his father Pål in Benevento from an early age. He formed the bishopric of Galway, and granted the title to recent arrival Osric Stenskilsatten. And, Skofte added another ducal title to the list: Duke of Connacht (others being WI, Leinster, Iceland and Mar). Lastly, a bishop arrived from Parma (new home of the Pope, who has long since been displaced from Rome), and Skofte granted this bishop Arnvid a new bishopric of Tuadmumu.
After all this, typhoid broke out in the county of Western Isles, making Skofte glad that his capital was no longer such an isolated and poor place. In the duchy of Western Isles, the smaller isles from which all things had began were taking on less and less importance. Today, the Crovans rarely even thought about Iceland, amusing considering the focus Gudrød once had on the place. The old Republic of Iceland was barely remembered by any but the greatest historians. As Gudrød's concerns were left behind with his death, gradually fading away, so to would Skofte's concerns fade. After Aslak the Suicidal, Skofte's reign was the briefest thus far, as he died of unknown causes on August 17th, 1224.
Arnmod, first son of Skofte, resented being passed over in succession. He resented his son Inge's ascension to Duke of the Western Isles. But Inge's reign faced bad luck from the beginning, as the four-year-old caught a strange illness just weeks after he was recognized. Although there were hopes he would survive, many looked to Inge's younger brother, Gudmund, who was next in line for the duchy.
[size=+1]End Part 5: Steps to Power[/size]
Olaus Petrus: Having a child-ruler can be a pain I guess, but I haven't had too much trouble with that. The question is whether it will be Inge or Gudmund and for how long.
JimboIX: I was looking for something different. Haven't been that motivated to post until the last few days. So I relied on my narrative writing skills I learned from Knight-Mages, although it was shorter than I would have liked because I barely keep track of alot of characters in this one (I've written a lot more notes on wars than wives, that for sure). I'm practicing my note taking in another game and I plan on writing a character-driven narrative AAR sometime in the future after Isles is done.
JimboIX: I was looking for something different. Haven't been that motivated to post until the last few days. So I relied on my narrative writing skills I learned from Knight-Mages, although it was shorter than I would have liked because I barely keep track of alot of characters in this one (I've written a lot more notes on wars than wives, that for sure). I'm practicing my note taking in another game and I plan on writing a character-driven narrative AAR sometime in the future after Isles is done.
Arnmod and Inge
[size=+1]Part 6: The First of Many[/size]
For the first time, the duchy of Western Isles ruled over a significant number of vassals, and their requests were thought of more highly than ever. As a result, when several vassals presented a request to Inge's court in late 1224, it was granted. Perhaps helping this was the fact that, as a young child still, Inge needed help, but his father and mother were estranged. Living as vassal instead of overlord infuriated Arnmod, and it caused several incidents at court until Arnmod's brother Magnus, marshal of the Isles (as several Magnuses before him have been, amusingly), insisted that Arnmod not set foot in the castle, nor bother Inge anymore. Uncle Magnus practically adopted Inge, and the previously mentioned request, which asked the Duke to rewrite the rules of Crovan feudal society, was accepted without much consideration.
Magnus was no expert in laws, but the other advisors at court struggled with the change, which the vassals had specified as establishing a feudal contract between themselves and Duke Inge. Previously, all law and relations between vassal and liege had been handled traditionally, and by understood but not written customs. So formal expectations and responsibilities were put into place, and the traditional way ended, all on an uncle's idle and unknowing agreement.
The dispute between Arnmod, Magnus and Inge didn't end with Magnus' threat. No, Arnmod had greater plans. Stirring up controversy and proclaiming that he was wrongfully excommunicated, Arnmod influenced Austisland towards rebellion and also fomented rebellion in Atholl. Disaffected nobles and burgers in Atholl looted the county, raiding and pillaging wherever they went. But the greatest impact was the declaration of war by Austisland and Arnmod's Osraige against Inge. Arnmod had a secret and foolish hope that he could topple his son's rule and claim the duchy for his own.
So then Magnus responded, but with more might than Osraige and the sparsely populated Austisland could ever muster. Irish forces joined battle almost immediately against Osraige, but loyal Vestisland was not strong enough to take on its neighbor. So Magnus sent troops from Scotland north into Iceland. With other ships still at sea, the first arrivals rushed into battle with a two-to-one advantage. After a long sea voyage and little time to rest, the troops were tired, and Austisland won the first battle despite being outnumbered.
Meanwhile, Arnmod's forces were routed in Osraige and the father was forced to submit to the son, albeit through an intermediary, his brother. With Osraige retaken, Magnus banned Arnmod from the Western Isles, Scotland and Ireland. So Arnmod fled to France, living the harsh life of a disowned, excommunicated noble.
Austisland was not about to give up however, bolstered by their first victory. But sending far more troops than needed, Magnus prepared to launch a final blow against the rebels. Regiments at Vestisland attacked the rebellious count, while Irish forces landed in Scotland to take over for the regiments abroad, linking up and routing scattered rebels in Atholl.
What Magnus didn't know yet, is that his favorite cousin and Duke of the Isles caught pneumonia soon after he left for Ireland. Before he could return to declare the end of the uprising, Inge died suddenly. Gudmund, who was taken away to Sutherland in the aftermath of Arnmod's fall, is next in line for the Duchy, and he is two years younger than Inge.
Amidst all the rebellions in Oceania, a more distant county also declared independence, although they refused to declare war on the Isles. The Bishopric of Benevento, close as it was to Rome and more importantly, Parma, home of the Papal States, refused to recognize a distant and uncultured duchy as their liege. With so much else happening, neither Magnus nor anyone else at court sought to fight for the Italian province.
[size=+1]Part 6: The First of Many[/size]
For the first time, the duchy of Western Isles ruled over a significant number of vassals, and their requests were thought of more highly than ever. As a result, when several vassals presented a request to Inge's court in late 1224, it was granted. Perhaps helping this was the fact that, as a young child still, Inge needed help, but his father and mother were estranged. Living as vassal instead of overlord infuriated Arnmod, and it caused several incidents at court until Arnmod's brother Magnus, marshal of the Isles (as several Magnuses before him have been, amusingly), insisted that Arnmod not set foot in the castle, nor bother Inge anymore. Uncle Magnus practically adopted Inge, and the previously mentioned request, which asked the Duke to rewrite the rules of Crovan feudal society, was accepted without much consideration.
Magnus was no expert in laws, but the other advisors at court struggled with the change, which the vassals had specified as establishing a feudal contract between themselves and Duke Inge. Previously, all law and relations between vassal and liege had been handled traditionally, and by understood but not written customs. So formal expectations and responsibilities were put into place, and the traditional way ended, all on an uncle's idle and unknowing agreement.
The dispute between Arnmod, Magnus and Inge didn't end with Magnus' threat. No, Arnmod had greater plans. Stirring up controversy and proclaiming that he was wrongfully excommunicated, Arnmod influenced Austisland towards rebellion and also fomented rebellion in Atholl. Disaffected nobles and burgers in Atholl looted the county, raiding and pillaging wherever they went. But the greatest impact was the declaration of war by Austisland and Arnmod's Osraige against Inge. Arnmod had a secret and foolish hope that he could topple his son's rule and claim the duchy for his own.
So then Magnus responded, but with more might than Osraige and the sparsely populated Austisland could ever muster. Irish forces joined battle almost immediately against Osraige, but loyal Vestisland was not strong enough to take on its neighbor. So Magnus sent troops from Scotland north into Iceland. With other ships still at sea, the first arrivals rushed into battle with a two-to-one advantage. After a long sea voyage and little time to rest, the troops were tired, and Austisland won the first battle despite being outnumbered.
Meanwhile, Arnmod's forces were routed in Osraige and the father was forced to submit to the son, albeit through an intermediary, his brother. With Osraige retaken, Magnus banned Arnmod from the Western Isles, Scotland and Ireland. So Arnmod fled to France, living the harsh life of a disowned, excommunicated noble.
Austisland was not about to give up however, bolstered by their first victory. But sending far more troops than needed, Magnus prepared to launch a final blow against the rebels. Regiments at Vestisland attacked the rebellious count, while Irish forces landed in Scotland to take over for the regiments abroad, linking up and routing scattered rebels in Atholl.
What Magnus didn't know yet, is that his favorite cousin and Duke of the Isles caught pneumonia soon after he left for Ireland. Before he could return to declare the end of the uprising, Inge died suddenly. Gudmund, who was taken away to Sutherland in the aftermath of Arnmod's fall, is next in line for the Duchy, and he is two years younger than Inge.
Amidst all the rebellions in Oceania, a more distant county also declared independence, although they refused to declare war on the Isles. The Bishopric of Benevento, close as it was to Rome and more importantly, Parma, home of the Papal States, refused to recognize a distant and uncultured duchy as their liege. With so much else happening, neither Magnus nor anyone else at court sought to fight for the Italian province.
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That's one of the problems of a king-child: your nobles doesn't waste a chacne to give you a headache and to go away...
Inge's brief reign was certainly troubled one and his death is likely to cause more instability. Hopefully Gudmund can keep the nobles at bay.
Interesting to see that also the Isles are reforming. This is about the time, when feudal influences started to reach Western Scotland historically, although system mixed with the traditional clan system of the Highlands and never became similar as in Lowlands.
Interesting to see that also the Isles are reforming. This is about the time, when feudal influences started to reach Western Scotland historically, although system mixed with the traditional clan system of the Highlands and never became similar as in Lowlands.
The loss of those counties definitely seems manageable. The way you're writing it now gives the characters a bit more flair, and you've done a good job at maintaining the cohesiveness of your story. The Western Isles are on the cusp of Kingship I think.
The War for Control of Ireland
Ulster had long been the dominant power in Ireland, ever since the duchy acquired Dublin. But despite this, they failed to ever take control in southern Ireland. So they left open the possibility of another power conquering the South and contesting their dominance over the island. With the Western Isles in charge of South and Central Ireland, Ulster was in danger, but they were relying on their most steadfast ally, the duchy of Gwynedd, to defend against the Crovans. But Ulster had something to worry about: the last time the two powers warred, Ulster only survived because of the Seljuk threat. Also, this time, Ulster had no foreign lands to regroup from.
But the numbers and the opinion of many said that the Western Isles were no threat, having only fought the weaker southern powers in Ireland. Dublin alone was more populous than much of the south. On paper, Ulster and Gwynedd together could muster roughly twenty thousand troops, while the Western Isles could only raise half that. Marshal of the Isles Magnus Crovan, uncle of the young Duke Gudmund, had a plan. He sought a lightning quick assault on Dublin and Tir Eoghain, before Gwynedd could have much of an impact. Shrewsbury was at risk, being so close to the Welsh duchy, but Magnus was not worried about that. With Ulster knocked quickly out of the war, Magnus hoped to turn to Gwynedd and either defeat them or negotiate a peace.
Key to this, was the ability of Isles forces to overwhelm Dublin and Tir Eoghain's defenders. Once again, forces on paper said bad things about the success of this plan, but Magnus pushed hard for it, and Gudmund agreed, though he didn't understand the seriousness of the coming campaign. Defeat would mean setbacks in Ireland and England, victory would lead to supremacy in Ireland.
With the campaign approved, Magnus began mustering his forces in fall of 1230. He called for the mobilization of all armies available to the duchy. He sought approval to hire mercenaries as funds allowed, and he gathered the Irish regiments together to form his first army in Osraige. Tuadmumu and Mar both refused to send their troops, but the rest of the vassals agreed to mobilize.
When all the regiments arrived in Osraige, Gudmund declared war, though once again, Magnus did most of the work and was effectively a regent, sending the declaration with his nephew's signature. In early Spring of 1231, Magnus' army of 8500 entered Dublin, which was defended by less than half that number. Magnus won the day, and begin the siege of Dublin in earnest. Meanwhile, Gwynedd, which had declared war in support of their ally, attacking defenseless Shrewbury with 5500 troops. The English county which had become Crovan under peculiar circumstances would not last long against such a force.
Dublin raised forces from its vassals and prepared to defend Tir Eoghain. Only a few minor skirmishes were fought in Dublin after the first battle there, and the siege of Dublin was drawing to its conclusion.
In early April, just before the fall of Dublin, the Dead Oaks company arrived in Sutherland and was hired to support the war efforts. It didn't take long for Dublin to fall, and by mid-April, Magnus was ready to march on Tir Eoghain, knowing he only needed to take one more county to end the war with Ulster. The Irish power intended to prevent that, but numbers on paper proved to be out of touch with reality. With the Dublin Regiment's crushing defeat, Ulster had only 2600 troops to defend with. While Magnus still had around 8000.
Despite this, the battle of Tir Eoghain was quite spirited. The soldiers of Ulster knew Tir Eoghain well, and were able to pick the time and place of battle. Magnus' renown as a general was considerable, but Marshal Staden of Ulster would prove to be the better at Eoghain. Staden's forces seemed almost magical as they danced around the more numerous islanders. Despite being outnumbered three to one, Staden nearly routed Magnus' forces. It was only by sheer numbers that Magnus at last turned the battle around, sacrificing large numbers in a brute force charge that left the battlefield littered with corpses. Magnus had lost 6000 soldiers leaving 2200, while Staden had only lost 1500.
The men of the Dead Oaks company were to save the day, arriving soon after the battle to augment Magnus' siege force. The besiegers feared the arrival of forces from Gwynedd, an event which never happened. Gwynedd focused on conquering Shrewsbury, and the county thus proved to be an unplanned trap for the Welshmen. After conquering Shrewsbury, they headed to Urmumu. But they were too late, as Tir Eoghain fell, and the two counties went to Duke Gudmund. Gwynedd was alone now, but they had no intentions of giving up or changing course. They kept to the same plan, quickly conquering Urmumu.
But Magnus headed to England, to retake Shrewsbury and conquer the one-province duchy. Gwynedd returned its forces to Wales, and met the arriving forces of the Western Isles at Chester. The battle would have been decisive, if only it had been fought. After peace was reached with the Duchy of Ulster (which remained in power in Tir Connail, with a few vassals still), Magnus had sent an offer of peace to Gwynedd. It was refused. But before the battle at Chester could begin, the Duke of Gwynedd asked to speak with Magnus under white flag. The two dukes hammered out an agreement that would cost the Isles 407 ducats. Magnus knew Dublin and Tir Eoghain were worth that price anyday.
Meanwhile, Gudmund was growing up fast in Sutherland. Many at court saw great potential in the Duke who only ruled because of his sickly elder brother's death. Better than his father's jealousy and his brother's weakness, Gudmund already had plans, even at 10. It would soon be time for Magnus to step down and let the Duke take over. Gudmund's lands made him a mighty duke, perhaps even on the precipice of being the first King of the Western Isles. But there was time to wait, prematurely declaring a new kingdom would be likely to ruffle some feathers.
[One county short of being able to create King of Ireland.]
Ulster had long been the dominant power in Ireland, ever since the duchy acquired Dublin. But despite this, they failed to ever take control in southern Ireland. So they left open the possibility of another power conquering the South and contesting their dominance over the island. With the Western Isles in charge of South and Central Ireland, Ulster was in danger, but they were relying on their most steadfast ally, the duchy of Gwynedd, to defend against the Crovans. But Ulster had something to worry about: the last time the two powers warred, Ulster only survived because of the Seljuk threat. Also, this time, Ulster had no foreign lands to regroup from.
But the numbers and the opinion of many said that the Western Isles were no threat, having only fought the weaker southern powers in Ireland. Dublin alone was more populous than much of the south. On paper, Ulster and Gwynedd together could muster roughly twenty thousand troops, while the Western Isles could only raise half that. Marshal of the Isles Magnus Crovan, uncle of the young Duke Gudmund, had a plan. He sought a lightning quick assault on Dublin and Tir Eoghain, before Gwynedd could have much of an impact. Shrewsbury was at risk, being so close to the Welsh duchy, but Magnus was not worried about that. With Ulster knocked quickly out of the war, Magnus hoped to turn to Gwynedd and either defeat them or negotiate a peace.
Key to this, was the ability of Isles forces to overwhelm Dublin and Tir Eoghain's defenders. Once again, forces on paper said bad things about the success of this plan, but Magnus pushed hard for it, and Gudmund agreed, though he didn't understand the seriousness of the coming campaign. Defeat would mean setbacks in Ireland and England, victory would lead to supremacy in Ireland.
With the campaign approved, Magnus began mustering his forces in fall of 1230. He called for the mobilization of all armies available to the duchy. He sought approval to hire mercenaries as funds allowed, and he gathered the Irish regiments together to form his first army in Osraige. Tuadmumu and Mar both refused to send their troops, but the rest of the vassals agreed to mobilize.
When all the regiments arrived in Osraige, Gudmund declared war, though once again, Magnus did most of the work and was effectively a regent, sending the declaration with his nephew's signature. In early Spring of 1231, Magnus' army of 8500 entered Dublin, which was defended by less than half that number. Magnus won the day, and begin the siege of Dublin in earnest. Meanwhile, Gwynedd, which had declared war in support of their ally, attacking defenseless Shrewbury with 5500 troops. The English county which had become Crovan under peculiar circumstances would not last long against such a force.
Dublin raised forces from its vassals and prepared to defend Tir Eoghain. Only a few minor skirmishes were fought in Dublin after the first battle there, and the siege of Dublin was drawing to its conclusion.
In early April, just before the fall of Dublin, the Dead Oaks company arrived in Sutherland and was hired to support the war efforts. It didn't take long for Dublin to fall, and by mid-April, Magnus was ready to march on Tir Eoghain, knowing he only needed to take one more county to end the war with Ulster. The Irish power intended to prevent that, but numbers on paper proved to be out of touch with reality. With the Dublin Regiment's crushing defeat, Ulster had only 2600 troops to defend with. While Magnus still had around 8000.
Despite this, the battle of Tir Eoghain was quite spirited. The soldiers of Ulster knew Tir Eoghain well, and were able to pick the time and place of battle. Magnus' renown as a general was considerable, but Marshal Staden of Ulster would prove to be the better at Eoghain. Staden's forces seemed almost magical as they danced around the more numerous islanders. Despite being outnumbered three to one, Staden nearly routed Magnus' forces. It was only by sheer numbers that Magnus at last turned the battle around, sacrificing large numbers in a brute force charge that left the battlefield littered with corpses. Magnus had lost 6000 soldiers leaving 2200, while Staden had only lost 1500.
The men of the Dead Oaks company were to save the day, arriving soon after the battle to augment Magnus' siege force. The besiegers feared the arrival of forces from Gwynedd, an event which never happened. Gwynedd focused on conquering Shrewsbury, and the county thus proved to be an unplanned trap for the Welshmen. After conquering Shrewsbury, they headed to Urmumu. But they were too late, as Tir Eoghain fell, and the two counties went to Duke Gudmund. Gwynedd was alone now, but they had no intentions of giving up or changing course. They kept to the same plan, quickly conquering Urmumu.
But Magnus headed to England, to retake Shrewsbury and conquer the one-province duchy. Gwynedd returned its forces to Wales, and met the arriving forces of the Western Isles at Chester. The battle would have been decisive, if only it had been fought. After peace was reached with the Duchy of Ulster (which remained in power in Tir Connail, with a few vassals still), Magnus had sent an offer of peace to Gwynedd. It was refused. But before the battle at Chester could begin, the Duke of Gwynedd asked to speak with Magnus under white flag. The two dukes hammered out an agreement that would cost the Isles 407 ducats. Magnus knew Dublin and Tir Eoghain were worth that price anyday.
Meanwhile, Gudmund was growing up fast in Sutherland. Many at court saw great potential in the Duke who only ruled because of his sickly elder brother's death. Better than his father's jealousy and his brother's weakness, Gudmund already had plans, even at 10. It would soon be time for Magnus to step down and let the Duke take over. Gudmund's lands made him a mighty duke, perhaps even on the precipice of being the first King of the Western Isles. But there was time to wait, prematurely declaring a new kingdom would be likely to ruffle some feathers.
[One county short of being able to create King of Ireland.]
I see that your options are either to take Mide, Connacht or that single Muslim sheikdom in Leinster.
Unless they are protected by some very mighty overlord the choice should be obivious.
Unless they are protected by some very mighty overlord the choice should be obivious.
Good job knocking Ulster out of contention, the next war should see the Crovans finally get their hands on the Kingship, excellent news! You've had a lot of heroic mercenary companies as well. You've been lucky to get so many with your manpower situation, which is good.
King Gudmund the First
Conquered by the Seljuks around the time of their invasion of Scotland, Laigin was granted to the Abbassid family, to a cousin of the ruling branch of the Abbasid Empire. Amir Abbasid, Emir of Laigin, had enjoyed the protection of being a vassal of the Seljuks for some time, but he decided to renounce this allegiance and go independent, for whatever reason. The Western Isles kept a close eye on the Muslim thorn in Ireland's side, and when Amir become a free sheik, Gudmund struck.
In late 1232, Gudmund declared war on Amir. While the emir had almost 2000 soldiers available, he couldn't stop the onslaught of a powerful duke. Gathering only forces from Ireland, Gudmund raised over 6000 troops and marched on Laigin. Quickly crushing the defenders, it only took a few more months of sieging before Laigin was under his control.
With much of Ireland now his, Gudmund took a break from his conquests to return home and plan for a glorious celebration. Working with his advisors, he planned out a great festival and the commissioning of a new crown. Gudmund didn't want a copy of something out of England or Italy, but something essentially Scottish, Irish and Norwegian. It took two years of planning and saving before the grand event was to take place.
Held in Dublin instead of Sutherland, Gudmund's servants had fixed up the castle there for just such a feast. Many nobles from Europe were invited, though only a few arrived, mostly those from Scotland and from Scandanavia. Before the feast, the guests watched as craftsmen presented the new crown of the Kingdom of Ireland. Embossed with the ducal crest of the Western Isles, it also displayed a new insignia of Ireland, that had been designed by Gudmund. Gudmund's uncle Magnus placed the Crown on the young King's head, and it was official: the duchy of the Western Isles was now the Kingdom of Ireland, with its new capital at Dublin.
The feast that followed was almost as glorious as the crown that its host now wore. More work needed to be done in Dublin, to make the castle into a palace, but it would be done in due time. Gudmund's coronation served as a warning to those throughout the region that the balance of power had changed. Controlling Ireland and parts of Scotland, Gudmund's kingdom served as a stopper to any plans of local expansion England may have had. Those with a bit of insight knew that relations between the two Kings would not be cordial forever. Scotland alone could not stand up to England, but would a Scots-Ireland be able to? That question would have to wait for further reclaiming of Scotland, which was one of the first things on the new King's mind.
Conquered by the Seljuks around the time of their invasion of Scotland, Laigin was granted to the Abbassid family, to a cousin of the ruling branch of the Abbasid Empire. Amir Abbasid, Emir of Laigin, had enjoyed the protection of being a vassal of the Seljuks for some time, but he decided to renounce this allegiance and go independent, for whatever reason. The Western Isles kept a close eye on the Muslim thorn in Ireland's side, and when Amir become a free sheik, Gudmund struck.
In late 1232, Gudmund declared war on Amir. While the emir had almost 2000 soldiers available, he couldn't stop the onslaught of a powerful duke. Gathering only forces from Ireland, Gudmund raised over 6000 troops and marched on Laigin. Quickly crushing the defenders, it only took a few more months of sieging before Laigin was under his control.
With much of Ireland now his, Gudmund took a break from his conquests to return home and plan for a glorious celebration. Working with his advisors, he planned out a great festival and the commissioning of a new crown. Gudmund didn't want a copy of something out of England or Italy, but something essentially Scottish, Irish and Norwegian. It took two years of planning and saving before the grand event was to take place.
Held in Dublin instead of Sutherland, Gudmund's servants had fixed up the castle there for just such a feast. Many nobles from Europe were invited, though only a few arrived, mostly those from Scotland and from Scandanavia. Before the feast, the guests watched as craftsmen presented the new crown of the Kingdom of Ireland. Embossed with the ducal crest of the Western Isles, it also displayed a new insignia of Ireland, that had been designed by Gudmund. Gudmund's uncle Magnus placed the Crown on the young King's head, and it was official: the duchy of the Western Isles was now the Kingdom of Ireland, with its new capital at Dublin.
The feast that followed was almost as glorious as the crown that its host now wore. More work needed to be done in Dublin, to make the castle into a palace, but it would be done in due time. Gudmund's coronation served as a warning to those throughout the region that the balance of power had changed. Controlling Ireland and parts of Scotland, Gudmund's kingdom served as a stopper to any plans of local expansion England may have had. Those with a bit of insight knew that relations between the two Kings would not be cordial forever. Scotland alone could not stand up to England, but would a Scots-Ireland be able to? That question would have to wait for further reclaiming of Scotland, which was one of the first things on the new King's mind.
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Congratulations on achieving the kingdom! It's been a long and hard road, but it's richly deserved. Keep up the good work.
Thanks, now I just gotta figure out what's going on with the image server I use. Its been funky lately, and the Laigin image I used for that last post didn't show up for some reason.
Hopefully it won't be too long before King of Scotland is added to the Crovan's list o' titles.
Hopefully it won't be too long before King of Scotland is added to the Crovan's list o' titles.