Kerne Theory
Chapter 7: The Heirs of Crimthann
Part I: Uilleam
Duke Uilleam Kerne
At first, Uilleam seemed completely typical of a Medieval ruler: increasingly suspicious of his own family, gluttonous, and amongst the most frivolous spenders of the era. He was friends with Brandon de Porhoët, a suspected culprit in Crimthann’s assassination. As a result, most viewed him as a usurper – something which would not fall lightly for the neighboring Duchies, but that was in the future. In the meantime, Uilleam enjoyed feasting, tournaments, and promiscuous escapades of all kinds.
In August of 1294, Damietta collapsed under the onslaught of Kiliç’s armies. Uilleam acted completely unaware of the event, one which badly shook the still boastful Christians of Europe. It was when Galicia came under siege as well that Uilleam decided to help. With 5,900 troops, he hoped to provide vital manpower for the weakening Crusader state. On October 30, 1296, the Duke fought his first battle outside the war weary walls of Lisboa. Uilleam fought with “admirable determination for a man of such heavy condition,” noted the Bishop Geoffroy, who was present at the battle. Just as the Moors were on the verge of breaking, the Duke was struck in the leg by an arrow. Almost immediatly, he fled the field. Geoffroy himself scraped out a victory but it was a costly one.
Early in the next year, Uilleam returned home, completely crippled by his wound. Many attributed the severity of it to his hasty flight from battle. Had the Duke stayed and fought, many said, he might have already been walking. Geoffroy continued the siege of Lisboa, eventually succeeding in June of 1297. Whilst the Bishop fought the Muslims, Uilleam found himself embroiled in a war against Brandon de Porhoët. In the Duke’s absence, the Count had taken it upon himself to plunder several villages in Cornouaille. Summoning what troops he could, Uilleam had himself carried along with an 8,000 man army, bound for the city of Vannes.
Brandon, having realized he had overplayed his cards, offered himself as a vassal to Uilleam. So it was, on October 1st, 1297, the Count of Vannes pledged to Uilleam – himself confined to a bed throughout the ceremony. This would be the Duke’s only achievement and on May 22, 1298 -- only 26 years old, he succumbed to the infection. His eight year reign would have been forgotten if not for the final unification of the Bretons. His six year old son, Tigernach, would be the next Duke of Brittany.