England...does become a thing later on but not for the reasons I was expecting! I will say that no Saxon kingdom manages to form it though...
Lancaster: The King in the North
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England...does become a thing later on but not for the reasons I was expecting! I will say that no Saxon kingdom manages to form it though...
Chapter 10: Derby Falls
Chapter 10: Derby Falls
In the midst of the building site of the new settlement, Derby made his council. These were all good and wise men of the realm, and together they took stock of the situation. They now held enough land to potentially claim they were equal to Mercia and Northumbria in rank, that they too were kings of value. But Derby, following discussion with his son, decided that such an act would be prideful. For they were not the strength of these titans, but a smaller realm, wealthy for its size true, but small. Time was needed to grow, to strengthen, and faux titles would not make them great. Their leadership would. Derby did however begin building something not truly attempted for many years: a tower of stone to serve as memorial to the shaft of light on the hill. Perhaps one day this tower shall be surrounded by mighty walls and a great city of men. For now, it serves a pious reminder of the promise made to us.
But one family member would become equal, and greater, than the Saxon kings. Pepin’s bride-to-be came of age and thus set out for the Frankish empire, to create a bountiful crop of children bearing our family name. And she was called Maria, as our blessed patron was. The Lord truly does work His wonders, mysterious though it may seem.
Trouble threatened the realm as the bitter Elf of Westmorland, now removed of his other county of Lancaster, attempted to instead steal Chester from Derby. But the clever men of the Earl had already found out his ploy, and moved to silence his nefarious agent, halting the plot in its tracks. This began something of a tradition, where many deluded fools would rock up to our shores and try to press claims on us, and we would quietly remove them, or toss them back into the sea from whence they came!
Derby began to fall ill more and more. Despite this, his doctor was unconcerned and simply advised him to fast and think on his sins. Despite poor treatment and continued illness, the realm continued to prosper. The people were happy and safe, though the Northumbrians continued to fight amongst each other, and occasionally such fights crossed over the border.
The sickness continued and became apparent that it was the Flu. Derby was apparently far better looked after this discovery, though the council’s opinion of his doctor degraded with each passing day.
Wigferth by this time had grown old. Now the image of Old Chester, he had proven a worthy successor in every way. He had extended the realm, defended our independence and secured a home for our people.
Derby had also ensured our family would be widespread across Europe, formed the first bonds of friendship and love with the Franks, the Byzantines and many smaller duchies and counts throughout the continent.
The main line was also secured with a grandson called Elfwine, whom would one day rule in Lancaster.
Derby however would succumb to his illness swiftly after the birth. Having taught himself to read whilst bedridden, the Earl collected many texts and bibles that would form the first part of the Family Library. His son Wigberht would take the realm into a new age, having never bowed the knee to any monarch or lord save his own family. But a time of troubles was coming to Lancaster, even as the first great expansion of its power was at hand.
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Wigferth goes to his eternal reward after a long (for the time) and pious life.
It's impressive that you managed to get so many patrilineal marriages to some highly-placed ladies. I get locked out due to "Political Concerns" more times than I'd really like to count.
It's impressive that you managed to get so many patrilineal marriages to some highly-placed ladies. I get locked out due to "Political Concerns" more times than I'd really like to count.
First of all you just look at the default list you get for marriges when you click the ring button for your kid. Switch to matrilineal if a girl.
If there isn't anyone interested and high ranking, have a root around the local map for people with a few children, especially if they have one male heir and then two or more girls. Marry one of them and you get good relations. If you manage to marry the eldest daughter, you get take advantage of the high infant mortality rate and often they inherit when their brother dies.
Sometimes female rulers will just let you end their dynastic rule though, not sure why. It seems to be those who are the last of their line anyway or who has a massive extended family. But I've not really found a good reason yet. It probably has something to do with the PC too.
And of course, once you do establish your dynasty somewhere, they are fine with marrying your daughters matrilineally or your sons. Which you should do every so often to both keep them happy and ensure you have lots of heirs on the title you want to keep in family hands.
Certainly he left an important legacy. I suppose we shall have to see if his successor squanders it or note.
Sort of? I think he tried his best though, and it wasn't really his or my fault what happened in the upcoming few decades. I doubt I'd have bothered getting any marriges with europe if i knew how horribly things were going to turn there presently.
Well, Lancaster is ok. Some ups and downs but we come out alright and on top for the most part.
...
...Everyone got thrown through the ringer in this playthrough though. We got a lot of game ending catatrophes that I'm astounded I managed to get through...and we're just now reaching 1000AD. There are some moments of calm in between, but the first signs of what is to come start to show in the next chapter I think.
I'm not greatly optimistic about Wigberht 'the Feeble' being able to hold the realm safe from the other regional powers but I'd be happy to be proven wrong
May Wigferth prove to the world that he does not in fact deserve to be called "the Feeble". But instead, that the only difference to his father is that he has a f.
For Derby managed to secure independence, a bear guard and a realm poised to stand amongst England's kingdoms for some time to come.
For Derby managed to secure independence, a bear guard and a realm poised to stand amongst England's kingdoms for some time to come.
Yes he did quite well considering we had no resources and are surrounded by giants. That being said, when I did get to his son, I decided that the feeble just meant physically. So, as is tradition, I sent my problems to the church.
Because you hate God. And yourself.
Always good to see the ancient incantations correctly chanted.
I have reached Chapter 6, so will soon be all caught up, but this deserved an early reply.
I'm glad I am not the only one who noticed thatBecause you hate God. And yourself.
Always good to see the ancient incantations correctly chanted.
Because you hate God. And yourself.
Always good to see the ancient incantations correctly chanted.
I have reached Chapter 6, so will soon be all caught up, but this deserved an early reply.
I'm glad I am not the only one who noticed that
Oldy but goody. And as it turns out, still viable too! Especially if there's no one else left to run the church.
I don't hate it. Not even disappointed (not any more). Just.. resigned I suppose.
That said if you are going for the oral history recounted saga style, then it is the format most suited to Panserbjørn and the rest of the supernatural event pack.
On more important matters I do hope you recover from your latest close encounter with the health service and will soon be in a position to complete your grand plans for you many AARs. :fingers crossed:
Yeah...I do like the events in the whole because they really do show up quite often in real medieval stories and legends, to the point where if you were flicking through a period before...hmm, about 1400 and stopped at random, there's probably some really cool myth added into real events. The tale of the monks of st. Anne's and the walking dead for example. Now that...disturbing and fascinating at the same time.
However, I do agree that this specific event is...aggravating in some circumstances. For example, the real reason I'm not writing the CKII Irish republic game right now is because I made the mistake of marrying into that Welsh family...and everyone turned into bears. Now, whilst I'm sure there is an audience for an Irish bear republic in medieval Europe...
...
Oh...I probably should have written that. Shit!
One can only hope. Cheers mate!
I actually do have quite a few now...none done of course. That would be professional.
For example, the next chapter of this aar is complete and has an interesting bit about the formation of a new religious society but...well, it's over there and I can't move. it'll keep till tomorrow.
Oh, by the way, anyone who wants to see France suffer for being such a greedy blue blob, is going to like what happens to them here. In fact, pretty much every Western European country gets the stuffing kicked out of them in this game so if you are a vengeful type (or secretly like Italy) then you'll get a kick or two in the next few updates.
Chapter 11: The Benedictine Order
Chapter 11: The Benedictine Order
Wigberht was not fully respected as a man. He was infamous for his weakness of body despite his skill as a rider. Unbeholden to any man but himself, unlike the previous two Earls, it is said he questioned his role on this Earth, and sought guidance from an Authority he had lost with his father’s death. So, retaining his father’s council to keep the realm in check and oversee Lancaster’s construction, he declared he would journey east on Pilgrimage, as his father had done.
On his travels, the new Earl received a mixing of signs, that caused great confusion to his companions. The Earl persevered, despite his physical weakness, and began to shed his image of feebleness. The rains, which had raineth six weeks across countryside and sea, cleared upon reaching the coast of the Holy Land. Instead of clouds, bright lights pointed the way for the party, until they reached the city Jerusalem, where it is said that an Angel took them to a secluded place to pray.
Wigberht however was disquieted, as he confided later on in life. He had seen great splendour and wealth within the city, and on his travels. Yet people struggled to live in the world of Man, and the Church, such that it was, struggled to provide relief for them. And in this, the holiest of places, the peace of God was hard to come by, so close to the cries of the poor were to the place the Earl was staying. On the third day, it is said, he stood from his reflections and went out into the city, spending the rest of the pilgrimage giving alms to the poor and relieving their suffering anyway he could. This earnt him much praise within Jerusalem, and it has come to my knowledge that his name is remembered even today, as well it should.
The Earl, first of Lancaster, returned from the East a much-changed man. He had seen the world, and his place within it. His was the task to make life better for the people, his people especially. This could not be done within the bounds of the Church, nor purely with temporal power alone. After much prayer and thought, he began a new Christian sect, together with several bishops and churchmen throughout the land, based on the Rules of St. Benedict. Whilst it would sponsor monasteries that followed said rule, as most did of course, the sect sought to serve as a bridge between noble lords and the Church, that the people and the Lord might be brought closer together. Perhaps one day this sect will find friends throughout the world but for now, it is an Anglo-Saxon cult. Benedict joined the Blessed Mother and St. Peter as patron saints of the Promised City, and the sect would continue to be of great importance to Lancaster forevermore.
Feeble no more, Wigberht showed his true inner strength by denying the leadership of the Benedictines, instead suggesting not even one of his own bishops, but Hernam of St. Germans, a Breton from the wild southwest. In this way, all Christians of these islands were welcomed for the first time into one holy society, for in those days the Irish and Saxon Churches were still much removed from one another. The First Earl of Lancaster was very concerned with being a member, visibly as well and spiritually. He cut his hair and fashioned himself in the garb of the monks, and from that day, though he was a layman, acted much in the way of a spiritual leader. It is in fact his example of leadership that I myself feel closest to.
The bonds of friendship and family the were forming would prove instrumental to Lancaster on many occasions. Wigberht made many friends amongst the bishops of the realm and beyond, and brought his younger sibling Wiglaf along to many conclaves and meetings, to ensure the family would continue to invest and be a part of his new Order.
The Earl was not a perfect Christian though, and he made clear through his actions that he was far from a hermetic monk. Wigberht made friends everywhere he went, and did not limit himself to those of the True Faith. Amongst his court, indeed, were several Jews of note, one of whom was a purported sorcerer, that could turn the Bear Guard black with his magic, and heal the sick with his rituals. With the pragmatism of the family, the Earl took in the heretic as a doctor of medicine, saving him from the pyre.
It is also noted how great the love was between he and his wife. They already had a son before Derby’s death, but the couple would go on to have two daughters, and her Eastern rites of Christianity melded quite well with that which the Benedictines were trying to achieve. Still, the pair were rapacious lovers and did not cease their interactions when the lady was with child, much to the presumable shock of his bishops! To the common folk however, this humanised the Earl, especially as he ensured throughout the construction of Lancaster that no one went hungry or uncared for. The city was one that was built upon love, wisdom and faith in partnership, and so it has remained.
Still, the Earl waivered between his temporal and spiritual existence. He would withdraw for long reflections on the Divine, only to emerge and live normally. This could not continue forever. The man was at war with himself, and something had to give. The Almighty, in His wisdom, took the decision out of his hands.
His wife died in childbirth, giving life in exchange for her own. On her deathbed, she blessed her husband, and the new-born babe. The Earl was not there. He was fighting the Welsh of Powys as they rose up in defiance of tribute now Derby was dead.
The first battle was a disaster, ominously timed with the events in Chester, where his wife lay dying. The Earl was melancholic after the defeat, and broken upon his return to Chester. He had seemingly lost everything.
Not everything was at it seemed. Though fall back the army had, the enemy king had been badly struck by the Earl’s attack. He too was close to death, and his army scattered northwards.
Wigberht thus chased the Welsh down with a vengeance, and eventually forced a fight outside of Chester itself. Powys broke swiftly, though it was not much of a battle. Both armies were small, as befitted two at the time minor powers in the land. Still, a mere score of men to near-hundred was a good result, in warfare at least.
The Welsh mob then dispersed into small encampments, and the way forward seemed clear. Wenlock fell to a short siege, and a small battle at Macclesfield ended without much fighting. The Welsh continued their irritating tactic of firing volleys of arrows and then disappearing. One does not simply ‘disappear’ from a charging bear however, and the Welsh lost far more at every encounter than the Earl’s army.
Though beaten back, the Welsh carried on, and on, and on with their attack. This would set the standard for warfare in those wretched lands. If we could not decisively defeat them in one or two large battles or secure enough settlements fast enough, then the enemy simply melted into the mountains and fought from there. Wigberht fought a logical and patient campaign however, and was gaining ground and slowly choking the life from Powys.
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Overall, Wigberht at present strikes me as a man searching for a purpose that seems to continually elude his grasp. Part of that probably comes from living in his father's shadow -- and it's significant that he's been doing nothing so far but literally covering the same ground that his father has walked before. I think that if he really wants to find his purpose, he's going to have to break out of his "comfort zone" and strike out into uncharted territory, one way or another.
I disagree a little with @Specialist290 , I'd agree he is clearly searching for a purpose and failing to find one. But Wigberht's problem is a lack of conviction in his actions, for instance his faith is all over the shop (failed pilgrimage, founding a sect, hiring heretical sorcerer as doctor). If he could just pick to either be devout, or not, he'd probably be happier. Pragmatism is all well and good but it requires a degree of self confidence, if not it turns into a weak justification for insecure and inconsistent flailing about.
He hasn't got the cunning or skill to be a warrior, lacks the strength of faith to be a rock of the church, realm is probably too poor for him to be a great and legendary builder. So maybe he should ignore grand ambitions and aim for 'just' being a decent monarch (which is actually quite difficult),throw himself into raising a decent heir, reforming the tax code, writing a code of laws that make sense. The worthy but not exciting things that underpin a strong state and make things better for the actual citizens, the people he professes to care about.
He hasn't got the cunning or skill to be a warrior, lacks the strength of faith to be a rock of the church, realm is probably too poor for him to be a great and legendary builder. So maybe he should ignore grand ambitions and aim for 'just' being a decent monarch (which is actually quite difficult),throw himself into raising a decent heir, reforming the tax code, writing a code of laws that make sense. The worthy but not exciting things that underpin a strong state and make things better for the actual citizens, the people he professes to care about.
Both interesting takes. This earl is in the uneasy transition between a former vassal and independant realm, and there's a lot of uncertainty about pretty much everything.
He does...ok, basically. Not too great, not too awful. In his own realm, that approach is fair enough, and he does do some conquering that forms the backbone of Lancaster lands in the future, but naturally for him, doesn't complete them. He also establishes a proper presence in wales as a power for the first time, but it is transitory. And as far as foriegn policy goes, it very nearly falls to pieces and his heir (and everyone after) has to deal with it. A stronger and better ruler might have handled francia far differently and stopped or delayed the crisis that was to come, but...well...he doesn't. It was cut for picture limits but he also has a big problem with corruption and theft which he never fixes.
He does groom a pretty fantastic heir though.
Grinding through Wales is a very English thing to do
Only way to do it at present. Tempt them out of wales, smash their army to bits and then painfully clean up the rest with long sieges. I end up calling in continental muscle to do that bit for me.