Lilies and Stripes - An Anjou Hungary AAR
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Yeah, I won't plan to abandon this game. My early fall was a little bit busy, but now I'm ready to continue the storytelling
Chapter XI - The Bohemian Rhapsody (1335-1340)
Chapter XI - The Bohemian Rhapsody
(1335-1340)
When Károly was on the way back to Visegrád, he encountered with his Court Chaplain, Bishop Loup. Earlier he was charged with the conversion of the bosnian bogomils and he reported, his effort started to be succesful. During the last couple of years, almost half of the locals converted back to the catholic faith.
Later the hungarian king stopped in the castle of Podrinje. Károly was pleased with the hospitality of Count Vukac, but later in the night he accidentally caught him in an unmistakable situation with one of his wife's courtier, Berta. The king was really furious and he scolded them publicly.
In Visegrád Károly received great news. His second grandson just born while he was in the coronation of Nikephoros II. He was much smaller than the another newborns, but at least he was a healthy boy.
Howewer on the way to visit their newborn grandson, Queen Inge suddenly fall ill and died without any sign. The whole court was shocked.
With Queen Inge's sudden death, according to the agreement with King Mikulás, Károly's youngest son, István inherited the Duchy of Bohemia under the Bohemian Crown.
Dietwin von Caslav, Count of Hradec was appointed as the Regent of Bohemia. He made an alliance pact with Károly to secure István's inheritance.
Back in home the king received some interesting news from the south. Zsanett Kán, Princess of Transylvania launched a surprise attack against the serbian king and succesfully conquered Ráska for herself. Zsanett became a quite formidable leader after his father, László's death. That was the second time, when she increased her realm to the detriment of the serbs.
With his wife's death, Károly became more devoted to his children. He spent more time with his youngest daughter, Alíz, and slowly started to influence her with his war stories.
Later a knight-errant, named Tetbald asked audience from Károly. He was a pretender back in Aragon and asked help from the hungarian king to conquer his rightful titles. Károly wanted to stay neutral, so just like in the case with the sardinians, he let him to recruit, until he didn't do any trouble in the country.
Originally, Károly betrohed his daughter, Alíz with the second son of the king of Galich-Volyn, to counter the bulgarian tsar's rising ambitions. But the deal was broken now, because the Golden Horde conquered the country. The newly elected Khan Temur was a quite formidable leader, who started to unite the shattered mongol realms. And now he had enough power to vassallize a whole kingdom. He may be a dangerous enemy in the future.
So Károly needed to search another opportunity to secure his southern borders. And this new opportunity came from a place, which Károly never expected: from Constantinople. Despite his defeat from the Ilkhanate, Basileus Isaakios III succesfully held his remaining anatolian holdings and started to be respected as a strong leader among his people. He also searched new opportunities against the growing infidel threat, so that's why Byzantium and Hungary started to came closer to each other. As a first step they agreed on a marriage between Princess Alíz and Prince Rhomanos.
To celebrate the wedding and Károly's 50th birthday, the king organised a grand tournament in Visegrád.
Originally the king didn't plan to participate, but he was so dissapointed about the performance of his knights, so decided to join to the tournament, despite his age.
But in the end, King Károly emerged as the victor of the whole tournament. Count Nemac Kosaca became the third and Commander Bertalan Czegey the second. According to some people, Bertalan let Károly to win in the final round, because he was an old beholden to the king, but nobody dared to question the results.
Yes, with the Mongols on the rise Hungary might need its Warrior King once again; good thing he still seems to be a formidable warrior!
Having Byzantium as an ally of yours will be quite a boon. An imperial marriage is always prestigious after all. Plus your southern flank is now more secured if you have plans to expand at the enpense of the HRE
Chapter XII - The Eleventh Crusade (1340-1345)
Chapter XII - The Eleventh Crusade
(1340-1345)
Despite their success against the Byzantine Empire, the vast power of the Ilkhanate cracked. With the death of the last Toluid emperor, his realm shattered between his sons, and the Empire of the Ilkhanate was no more.
Seeing the opportunity to take revenge for the last crusade, Pope Pious II called a new campaign against the infidels. Károly always felt shame, when he thought about the happenings, so he decided to join again despite his old age.
King Károly supported the claim of his cousin, Helene d'Anjou, who was the bastard daughter of his uncle, the late King Robert of Naples.
Károly's spymaster, Henrik spent the last couple of months in the city of Venice. He studied their advancements, so now the hungarians can use these experiences to develop the country much more.
Thanks to the peaceful years, the capital region of Hungary started to attract more people. A new city was born from the nothing, Érsekújvár.
With the years, the king's second grandson, Károly started to be older. So it was the time to decide about his education. For the advice of Prince Henrik, Károly was tutored about the court life and etiquette.
The situation of Károly's younger son, István wasn't easy neither. One of his vassal, Count Petr Rozemberka tried to revolt against him, but luckily his revolt was a short and unsuccesful one.
After almost two years preparation, the Eleventh Crusade officially started in 1342. Despite his age, Károly decided to lead the hungarian contingent himself with the help of his son and heir, Lajos, and his old friend, Bertalan Czegey.
33 years later Károly stand before the walls of Beyrouth again. And the hungarians conquered the city just like decades ago.
After the siege, a local merchant caravan visited the king's camp. When Károly was informed about it, he gave order about their capturing and later their execution. He wanted the recapture of the Holy Land so bad, he can't bear the sights of any infidel before him.
One of the merchant was a really wealthy man. From him Károly acquired a storied scimitar. The blade was useless in battle, but at least he can decorate with it his castle in Visegrád.
Before the departure from Beyrouth, Károly spent his night in a local tavern. A courtesan tried to offer her beauties for him, but the king wasn't interested. After the death of his queen, he wasn't sought the company of women.
On the way toward Jerusalem Károly teamed up with german and french lords and fought one of the biggest battle during the Eleventh Crusade. But this time the christians made an overwhelming victory against the infidels.
After the battle, the christians finally reached the walls of Jerusalem, and after a couple of months King Károly successfully captured the Holy City. Some of his soldiers tried to rob the locals but the king forbade it, because he didn't want to harm the city.
But the capturing of Jerusalem didn't come without a cost. Many brave crusader died during the siege. So Károly ordered to give them a proper funeral.
In the first night in Jerusalem the crusaders experienced a really miracle. A comet passed overhead. Károly felt, God is with them and his premonition was correct.
Next day the hungarian king received great news: the Caliph surrendered. The crusaders finally recaptured the Holy Land from the infidels. King Louis X of France brought with himself Plaisance de Lusignan, the last living child of the late King Hugues of Jerusalem, who was crowned later as the Queen of Jerusalem. The whole christian world was celebrated. Károly was really pleased, but after the campaign he felt himself so tired. When the coronation ended, the hungarian king retired to his tent. And the next day, he didn't wake up anymore.
King Károly of Hungary and Croatia, the Zealot, who was the founder of the hungarian Anjou-branch, died as one of the greatest hungarian king in Jerusalem on 3 January 1345. He ruled de jure 38 years, but de facto 42, so he bested the longest reigning hungarian king, Saint István. During his reign, he consolidated his realm, and Hungary became one of the leading power in Europe. His body was sailed back to Hungary, and buried in Székesfehérvár, among the other hungarian kings.
That's the best end he could wish for.Makes you feel nice to see the fate treat youlike this which is fairly rare in my experience
He died after winning yet another grand victory; he will surely be remembered as one of the greatest warrior kings of Europe.
So lies the end of Karoly, perhaps one of the greatest kings in Europe within many generations.
Also the new Queen of Jersualem looks hideous!
Also the new Queen of Jersualem looks hideous!
The king is dead, long live the king! I'm curious to see if he gets a beautification eventually, perhaps he might become a saint too!
Interlude - (The known world in the middle of the 14th century)
Interlude
(The known world in the middle of the 14th century)
The British Isles
At the beginning of the century the Kingdom of England was the absolute leading power under House Plantagenet. But after Edward II died childless, the kingdom, which almost ruled two-thirds of the Isles, started to disintegrate. With the extinction of House Plantagenet's male line, two of his half-brother were the most likely candidate for the throne: Edmund de Kent, Prince of York and Thomas de Norfolk, Prince of Gwynedd. At last Edmund ascended to the throne as Edmund III. He reigned 18 years, until in 1329 his throne broke beneath him and he died after a couple of days. The Prince of Gwynedd announced his claim again, because Edmund only had an underaged daughter. But this time Prince Thomas was backed by Louis X, King of France. The local lords feared about the growing french influence, so they decided to stand with Edmund's daughter and elected Adelaide as the first Queen of England. Based on an agreement, what the lords made with Prince Thomas, he became the forth king of Wales. But he wasn't been fully independent. King Thomas was closely influenced by the french king.
In the next decade various regents ruled in the name of the young Queen, but she could never rule as her own. In 1337 Jan Reginar, Prince of Brabant launched an invasion against the Isles with the approval of the Emperor. He wanted to claim the english throne as the grandson of the late Edward I Plantagenet. He conquered London in a short time and crowned himself as John II of England. Taking the opportunity, John de Bohun, Prince of Hereford declared independence from the crown and became the first king of Ireland.
In the middle of the 14th century, the only stable point in the Isles was the Kingdom of Scotland. Queen Maud ruled the kingdom, since his father, the legendary Robert de Brus died in 1336. But she'll be the last ruler of her dynasty. After her death, the Douglas Clan'll lead Scotland.
Northern-Europe
The political situation in Northern-Europe didn't change too much. In Norway, after the heirless death of Hakon V in 1312, four king reigned from four different dynasty. In Sweden, King Birger, heavily influenced by his russian wife, decided to rebaptise as an orthodox christian. But his efforts to proselytize his subjects weren't so popular. He was mercilessly murdered during an assembly in 1318. The new king, Erik VI made extra efforts to repair the damaged reputation of the af Bjalbo dynasty. He built new churches around Finland and with his help, the last pagan sami tribes converted to catholicism. To strenghten his power over his finnish subjects, he created the Kingdom of Österland. But after his death in 1333, his realm was divided between his sons. Brynjolf became the King of Sweden, while Erik II became King of Österland. In Denmark House Estrid still held the kingdom since 1047. In the Baltic region, the Teutons and the Prince-bishopric of Livonia was present beside the danish. At last, in the east Novgorod ruled the banks of the White-sea. The kingdom slowly lost control over his pagan subjects but still was a prominent player in the region.
Eastern-Europe
Eastern-Europe was dominated by the Golden Horde, without a question. The Empire was in the state of disintegration, when King Károly and the bulgarians beat them during the Moldavian Holy War, but after the ascension of Khagan Temür a new golden age started. Temür conquered the Kingdom of Galych, the eastern part of Poland, and most of his neighbour became his tributary. Beside the mongols, only a few little russian princedom, and some pagan tribes remained independent in the region.
Western- and Middle-Europe
In Western, the Kingdom of France was still a stable point under the Capets. Philippe IV conquered Brittany and Savoy and thanks to his schemes, Wales became a tributary under his kingdom. When he died in 1325, his son Louis X inherited one of the most stable realm in Europe.
As I already mentioned before, the Holy Roman Empire was quite unstable these times. During the first half of the 14th century, 8 different emperor ruled the Empire and neither of them could found a proper ruling dynasty. Engelbert von Berg who became Emperor in 1333, with the help of King Károly, only reigned 4 years and his successor, Rudolf III wasn't luckier eather. The situation was so chaotic, that first time in the Empire's history a non-german became the Emperor. That person was King Mikulás of Bohemia. In Bohemia, the circumstances were favorable for the Anjou dynasty. Because the local lords supported Károly's son, István, or Stepan now over Mikulás' son as the heir of the bohemian crown.
For the Kingdom of Poland, the future wasn't so bright. The old Leszek III ruled the country almost 20 years and he witnessed the slowly atrophy of his realm. The german princes in western, the lithuanians in eastern and after his death, the mongols also attacked the country. Leszek's son, Krzeslaw tried to stand against the waves but he soon died in a battle against Khagan Temür. His brother, King Gierolt is trying to defend the country now.
In the east, Gediminas II lead the lithianians. Despite the fact, that Lithuania is one of the last pagan country in the continent, the realm is quite stable and in the last couple of years Gediminas led successful campaigns against Poland.
Iberia
In the beginning of the century, Fernando IV's Leon was the dominant power in the peninsula. But his realm shattered between his sons in 1321. Now Leon, Castille and Aragon represent almost the same power. Despite their difficult situation, the muslims didn't disappear from Iberia. Although they lost Cordoba and Granada, but with the emergence of the Marrakech based Galaid dynasty, they made a counterattack and conquered Algarve and Alentejo from the portugals. In the north, Navarra became part of the Holy Roman Empire, because the Luxembourg dynasty inherited the kingdom.
Italy
In Italy, the Anjou led Sicilia was the dominate power, particularly, after they inherit the Duchy of Provance. After Károly's grandfather, King Charles died, his uncle Robert successed on the throne. Until now his descendants sit on the sicilian throne. Beside Sicilia, there are three another player who are still present in the peninsula. The Duchy of Milano and the Republic of Genova in the north and the catalan ruled Trinacrian Kingdom in the south.
The Balkan and Anatolia
In the southern part of the Balkan, Byzantium held his leading power. Despite their defeat against the Ilkhanates, the empire didn't shattered and under Emperor Anthimos Palailogos they are trying to reclaim their past glory. Northern the Kingdom of Serbia was in a hopelessness situation between the hungarians and the bulgarians. In Bulgaria, Tsar Georgi II still ruled the country, but he faced against a succession crisis. Despite he remarried after his wife Clemance, Károly's sister died, he didnt have any sons. Thus he appointed Dietpold of Wittelsbach, one of his grandson as his heir. But with this move he angried some of the local lords, who rebelled against him with the leadership of Prince Shishman, Duke of Vidin.
In Anatolia, after the Ilkhanate shattered, a couple of turko-mongol successor state appeared like the Ramazans, the Chupanids or the Alkans. Only two christian state remaned there, Cilicia in the south and Trebizond in the north. But both state was the tributary of Hayk, just like Georgia too.
The Middle-East
(Missing description)
The Steppes
(Missing description)
(The known world in the middle of the 14th century)
The British Isles
At the beginning of the century the Kingdom of England was the absolute leading power under House Plantagenet. But after Edward II died childless, the kingdom, which almost ruled two-thirds of the Isles, started to disintegrate. With the extinction of House Plantagenet's male line, two of his half-brother were the most likely candidate for the throne: Edmund de Kent, Prince of York and Thomas de Norfolk, Prince of Gwynedd. At last Edmund ascended to the throne as Edmund III. He reigned 18 years, until in 1329 his throne broke beneath him and he died after a couple of days. The Prince of Gwynedd announced his claim again, because Edmund only had an underaged daughter. But this time Prince Thomas was backed by Louis X, King of France. The local lords feared about the growing french influence, so they decided to stand with Edmund's daughter and elected Adelaide as the first Queen of England. Based on an agreement, what the lords made with Prince Thomas, he became the forth king of Wales. But he wasn't been fully independent. King Thomas was closely influenced by the french king.
In the next decade various regents ruled in the name of the young Queen, but she could never rule as her own. In 1337 Jan Reginar, Prince of Brabant launched an invasion against the Isles with the approval of the Emperor. He wanted to claim the english throne as the grandson of the late Edward I Plantagenet. He conquered London in a short time and crowned himself as John II of England. Taking the opportunity, John de Bohun, Prince of Hereford declared independence from the crown and became the first king of Ireland.
In the middle of the 14th century, the only stable point in the Isles was the Kingdom of Scotland. Queen Maud ruled the kingdom, since his father, the legendary Robert de Brus died in 1336. But she'll be the last ruler of her dynasty. After her death, the Douglas Clan'll lead Scotland.
Northern-Europe
The political situation in Northern-Europe didn't change too much. In Norway, after the heirless death of Hakon V in 1312, four king reigned from four different dynasty. In Sweden, King Birger, heavily influenced by his russian wife, decided to rebaptise as an orthodox christian. But his efforts to proselytize his subjects weren't so popular. He was mercilessly murdered during an assembly in 1318. The new king, Erik VI made extra efforts to repair the damaged reputation of the af Bjalbo dynasty. He built new churches around Finland and with his help, the last pagan sami tribes converted to catholicism. To strenghten his power over his finnish subjects, he created the Kingdom of Österland. But after his death in 1333, his realm was divided between his sons. Brynjolf became the King of Sweden, while Erik II became King of Österland. In Denmark House Estrid still held the kingdom since 1047. In the Baltic region, the Teutons and the Prince-bishopric of Livonia was present beside the danish. At last, in the east Novgorod ruled the banks of the White-sea. The kingdom slowly lost control over his pagan subjects but still was a prominent player in the region.
Eastern-Europe
Eastern-Europe was dominated by the Golden Horde, without a question. The Empire was in the state of disintegration, when King Károly and the bulgarians beat them during the Moldavian Holy War, but after the ascension of Khagan Temür a new golden age started. Temür conquered the Kingdom of Galych, the eastern part of Poland, and most of his neighbour became his tributary. Beside the mongols, only a few little russian princedom, and some pagan tribes remained independent in the region.
Western- and Middle-Europe
In Western, the Kingdom of France was still a stable point under the Capets. Philippe IV conquered Brittany and Savoy and thanks to his schemes, Wales became a tributary under his kingdom. When he died in 1325, his son Louis X inherited one of the most stable realm in Europe.
As I already mentioned before, the Holy Roman Empire was quite unstable these times. During the first half of the 14th century, 8 different emperor ruled the Empire and neither of them could found a proper ruling dynasty. Engelbert von Berg who became Emperor in 1333, with the help of King Károly, only reigned 4 years and his successor, Rudolf III wasn't luckier eather. The situation was so chaotic, that first time in the Empire's history a non-german became the Emperor. That person was King Mikulás of Bohemia. In Bohemia, the circumstances were favorable for the Anjou dynasty. Because the local lords supported Károly's son, István, or Stepan now over Mikulás' son as the heir of the bohemian crown.
For the Kingdom of Poland, the future wasn't so bright. The old Leszek III ruled the country almost 20 years and he witnessed the slowly atrophy of his realm. The german princes in western, the lithuanians in eastern and after his death, the mongols also attacked the country. Leszek's son, Krzeslaw tried to stand against the waves but he soon died in a battle against Khagan Temür. His brother, King Gierolt is trying to defend the country now.
In the east, Gediminas II lead the lithianians. Despite the fact, that Lithuania is one of the last pagan country in the continent, the realm is quite stable and in the last couple of years Gediminas led successful campaigns against Poland.
Iberia
In the beginning of the century, Fernando IV's Leon was the dominant power in the peninsula. But his realm shattered between his sons in 1321. Now Leon, Castille and Aragon represent almost the same power. Despite their difficult situation, the muslims didn't disappear from Iberia. Although they lost Cordoba and Granada, but with the emergence of the Marrakech based Galaid dynasty, they made a counterattack and conquered Algarve and Alentejo from the portugals. In the north, Navarra became part of the Holy Roman Empire, because the Luxembourg dynasty inherited the kingdom.
Italy
In Italy, the Anjou led Sicilia was the dominate power, particularly, after they inherit the Duchy of Provance. After Károly's grandfather, King Charles died, his uncle Robert successed on the throne. Until now his descendants sit on the sicilian throne. Beside Sicilia, there are three another player who are still present in the peninsula. The Duchy of Milano and the Republic of Genova in the north and the catalan ruled Trinacrian Kingdom in the south.
The Balkan and Anatolia
In the southern part of the Balkan, Byzantium held his leading power. Despite their defeat against the Ilkhanates, the empire didn't shattered and under Emperor Anthimos Palailogos they are trying to reclaim their past glory. Northern the Kingdom of Serbia was in a hopelessness situation between the hungarians and the bulgarians. In Bulgaria, Tsar Georgi II still ruled the country, but he faced against a succession crisis. Despite he remarried after his wife Clemance, Károly's sister died, he didnt have any sons. Thus he appointed Dietpold of Wittelsbach, one of his grandson as his heir. But with this move he angried some of the local lords, who rebelled against him with the leadership of Prince Shishman, Duke of Vidin.
In Anatolia, after the Ilkhanate shattered, a couple of turko-mongol successor state appeared like the Ramazans, the Chupanids or the Alkans. Only two christian state remaned there, Cilicia in the south and Trebizond in the north. But both state was the tributary of Hayk, just like Georgia too.
The Middle-East
(Missing description)
The Steppes
(Missing description)
Fantastic work as always! I'm quite jealous at your beautiful skill with editing your photos
I dunno if this thread is still active or what but I’d really like to know how you managed to play as Charles I of Hungary because as far as I’m aware the only bookmark that CK2 allows in the 12th century is 1337?? And the mods as well, could you tell us what you used? Also I thoroughly enjoyed this AAR, I do wish it’d continue!