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Chapter 6 - Tripoli

Chapter 6 – Tripoli
1082-4​

From The Atheling Chronicle, 1082:

In this year, Edgar the Atheling captured the cities of Tripoli, Beirut, Tyre, and Jerusalem. And the Emperor, Alexios Kommenos did grant unto Edgar and his successors the care of these cities, to hold them for Christendom in perpetuity.
And the Atheling Edgar was greatly perplexed, for he desired above all things to be raised to the throne of the English, yet the offer of the Emperor was a generous one, and he had taken a sacred vow before the Holy Father himself, the blessed Alexander, to liberate Jerusalem from the heathens. So he consented to the desire of the Emperor, and agreed to safeguard the cities of the Holy Land on behalf of the Emperor and all Christendom.

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Prince Edgar in the Year of Our Lord, 1082​

In his decision was Prince Edgar both noble and brave, for though he held in trust the lands in which our saviour himself had walked, they were now ravaged by warfare and the cruel rule of the Mohammodeans.
And though the Emperor had bade him protect these lands, Prince Edgar found himself much alone, and almost without friend in his new domains. His sister Margaret, wife to Donald, brother of the King of Scots, was a guest of Robert, King of England. The Duke Donald’s attempt to seize the throne from King Malcolm had proven to be a disaster, and he and the lady Margaret had sought the protection of the Norman King in their despair.

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The Lady Margaret, Once Duchess of Moray​

Similarly had Edith, widow unto King Harold, who was slain at Hastings, sought refuge with the son of her husband’s killer, and was rewarded with extensive lands in the county of Gloucester. Her sons, however, continued to reside with the King of the Danes, across the sea.

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Edith Godwinson, widow unto King Harold

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Harold Godwinson the younger, son of the slain king​

The Prince’s mother, Agatha, having passed from this world some years previously, had not lived to see her son rise to the greatness he now held, nor did Edgar learn of her death, which occurred while he was travelling to the East, until now.

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The Lady Agatha, widow to Edward of the Hungarians, mother to Prince Edgar​

The Crusader lands of Tripoli were extensive, but wanting for both men and resources. For the years of civil strife among the heathens and the recent crusades had taken their toll. Prince Edgar could rely on barely a few dozen of his own huscarls to provide security for the realm:

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The Principality of Tripoli, in 1081​

As the Holy City of Jerusalem was both convulsed by religious strife, and within view of the Muslim strongholds still held by his enemies, Prince Edgar chose to reside in the northern city of Tripoli.
To consolidate his overlordship, Prince Edgar’s first task was to find himself a bride, and to provide more heirs to the House of Cerdic. At the Emperor’s court, the Atheling had courted the young daughter of the Duke of Bavaria, Matilda of Nordheim, and he now requested the lady’s hand in marriage.

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The Lady Mathilda of the Bavarians​

But the Prince had little time to enjoy married life, as he was called upon once more to serve his liege. The lack of security for the realm did not dissuade the Emperor from requesting the muster of Edgar’s loyal men to help quash the rebellious moves of the Greek and Rus princelings.


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The Emperor calls for aid.​

While Prince Edgar dispatched what little help he could to the embattled Emperor, he set toestablishing his authority in the lands around Gallilee and Jerusalem to the south, forcing the local lords to accept his authority as Prince.

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While these lands contained significant numbers of Christian minorities, it had been many centuries since the law of the Emperor had been felt here, and most of the populace had fallen under the sway of the heathen faiths. Prince Edgar immediately set to reviving the authority of the old bishops, abbots and deacons of the church, promoting them to positions of power, and removing the influence of the Mohammadean imams.

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Prince Edgar strengthens the authority of the Christian clergy​
.

The security of the lands was also greatly on his mind. For not only was he unable to muster much of a force to maintain his own authority, but his realm was surrounded by hostile powers. The Emirate of Damascus and the Kingdom of Egypt squeezed his realm from either side, while many of the local sheiks had sworn fealty the Kingdom of the al-Murturbids, an entity which stretched from the Iberian sea across the Muslim world to the Sinai peninsula. Prince Edgar’s main hope lay in pitting the emirs against one another and looking to the Emperor for protection.

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The new Prince faced enemies without and within.​

The Blessed Alexander, spoke highly of the Prince Edgar, who had been the only Christian fulfill his sacred vows of Crusade. Yet the Holy Father continued to press the Atheling to allow the appointment of bishops from Rome and not Constantinople, as was the custom.

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The Holy Father Recognises Prince Edgar's achievements
And in that year, it became clear that the Emperor Alexios would continue to suppressing the revolts that convulsed his realm. Many of the secessionist princes fell on their knees in supplication upon the Emperor’s return to his lands, begging forgiveness for their sins. On his arrival in Constantinople, the Emperor interred a piece of the True Cross retrieved from Jerusalem, under the Church of Hagia Sophia.

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In the lands of Tripoli, the peasantry, spurred on by the heathen clergy, continued to protest the Prince’s actions, but he pressed on with reforming the laws of the land, codifying elements of English practice with elements of Imperial law and the customs of the Arabs.

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Prince Edgar's New Laws

He sent for architects and monks from Constantinople to encourage the construction of new defences, new churches and monastaries throughout his realm, to strengthen his own authority, and that of Christ.

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A new era of learning is inaugurated.​

And while the lands remained poor, the Prince did what he could to ensure peace and prosperity

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The coffers of the realm​

Furthermore did the Prince Edgar forbid the gathering of the peasantry within the city walls, as the gathering of many in the one place was known to cause discord and strife.

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*****​

Anno Domini 1083:

In this year, the Kingdoms of Castile and Leon were united as one, and among the Visigoths of Iberia, there was much rejoicing.


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Alfonso, King of Leon and Castile​

Also was the Lady Matilda of the Bavarians heavy with Child, and troubled was her pregnancy. For in April of this year, she passed from the mortal world, and her child with her. The Prince, Edgar, was much upset, and there was sorrow throughout the land.


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The Lady Mathilda's tragic passing.

The prince chose for a second wife, Cornelia, an Italian maiden who acted as ambassador for the Church. He was much struck by her beauty, and by the wisdom of thought, and he took her for his wife in this year.

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The Lady Cornelia​

Their union would be fruitful and joyous, and the Lady Cornelia fell with child in the Autumn of this year.

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And also the peasants of the realm did tire of their insurrection, and return to the fields to gather their harvests. The people of the land were much relieved, and the noble Prince Edgar, did ease their hardship through distribution of food from his personal lands.

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*****

Anno Domini 1084:

In this year, the insurrections against the rightful rule of Prince Edgar continued, though the clergy made progress in promoting the true faith to the Muhammadean peoples of the land.

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Religious strife continues to plague the Crusader Lands.​

The Lady Cornelia bore Prince Edgar’s first child, a girl, they named Ealdgyth. And in the Autumn of that year, she found herself once again heavy with child.

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But the Prince was disquieted, for the Lady Cornelia was to be seen much around court, conversing with Aethelric, the Marshal, and it was said by many that their meetings took place at night, and were more intimate than was proper. And suspicion did grip the Atheling's heart, for he trusted few men.

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*****​


Notes – I removed Edgar’s depression, since his fortunes have taken a turn for the better (it also made him infertile and thus portended a short AAR!), and added the ‘crusader’ trait.
I was lucky during these years, and didn’t face a serious uprising. I am unable to muster many troops since nearly all the provinces are in revolt, and upset at my religious policies. As Edgar is a vassal of the Emperor, his conversion events make the provinces Orthodox, rather than Catholic, which could be troublesome later. It does make some historic sense though, so I like it.
I think my greatest surprise has been the success of Alexios in quashing the civil war. No doubt his reputation is still awful, but he’s holding the realm together nicely. As long as the Turks don’t want to take advantage...
 
Chapter 7 - Tripoli

Chapter 7 – Tripoli
1084 – 1093

Anno Domini 1084:

In this year word reached these shores from the scion of the Leofricson house, Edmond, Earl of Derby. In Derbyshire were Edmond and his father Edwin residing, the last Saxons to hold and earldom in England. Meantime Morcar, he who had been Earl of Northumbria, had perished in exile in the court of the Danes.


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The Leofricson brothers in 1084​

And Harold, son of Harold who perished at Hastings, remained as bishop in the court of the Danes, and did little to press his claim to the throne.


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Harold the Younger​

While the nephew of King Harold, Skuli, son of Tostig, had been rewarded by the Danes, and appointed Earl over many lands. Yet he, too, did nothing to challenge the rule of the Normans in England.

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Skuli Godwinson

Anno Domini 1085:

In this year were seen many signs of the noble prince Edgar’s just and rightful rule. For the Prince appeased the peoples of the land, and encouraged them to return to their homes and farms.

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And also did many English noblemen find their way to the court in Tripoli, seeking refuge from the many misfortunes suffered by our people.

And in the previous year, Theodosius, Patriarch of Jerusalem had perished, and he had yet to be replaced. The Prince Edgar was confounded, for while the Blessed Alexander in Rome desired the appointment of a Latin Bishop, the Emperor Alexios desired a Greek to oversee the rites in the Holy City. And so the seat remained vacant for many years.


On the 11th Day of June, in this year, upon the feast day of St Barnabas, was born unto Edgar a son, by the name of Athelred, after the Atheling’s great-grandfather, who was King of the English before the coming of the Danes.

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Aethelred​

Also in this year did the pagans from the North make incursions into the lands of the Emperor, who was beset by problems. And Alexios, Emperor of the Romans, made peace with the pagans, and allowed them to settle in his lands.

Anno Domini 1086:

In this year, the Sultan of the Turks made war upon the people of Georgia, and it was surely to be the ruin of the Christian people of Georgia.

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The Doom of the Georgian People​

On the 26th day of July, the feast of St Anne, mother to the Blessed Virgin, was born Aelflaed, daughter of Prince Edgar and the Lady Cornelia.

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Aelflaed​

And the Prince Edgar took command of the education of his son Aethelred personally, teaching him the arts of rulership and the ways of command,

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As the Prince’s skilful and noble rule became known throughout the lands of the Romans, many began to talk of his influence with the Emperor, and the chance that Alexios, who was himself without legitimate issue, might nominate him to the Empire. But Prince Edgar desired not the burden of the Imperial throne, and dismissed such talk.

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Anno Domini, 1087:

In this year did Prince Edgar continue to enforce the Christian faith among the pagans, and did order the execution of many among the landowners of Tripoli who refused to follow the cross. And it was said that in the lands North of the Sea of Galilee that the people had once more turned to the true faith.

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Meantime the Mohammadeans of the Emirate of Damascus offered Prince Edgar great insult, yet he durst not act against them, for he had few men at his disposal, and they had many.

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Around Midsummer the Heathens of Damascus were divided, and some did forswear the Emir’s authority. Prince Edgar sought to add their lands to his rule, but the Emperor did forbid it, seeking not to gain more enemies.

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Anno Domini, 1088:

In this year a ship ran aground upon the coast, and there was great discussion among the people as to whom the spoils belonged. Prince Edgar did decree that, as the wreckage be an Act of God, the remains did rightful belong to His church. And he was praised for his just and pious ruling.

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Also did Prince Edgar seek to quiet the multitude of unhappy peoples by offering coin to their leaders. They accepted, and were quieted for a time.

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The Child Aethelred was found to be a boisterous and aggressive child, and these qualities were much encouraged, for they made him strong in rule, like unto his father.

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And news reached these shores that in Wales, the land of the Britons, had Bleddyn Cynfyn united the Britons, and proclaimed himself king of these lands.

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Anno Domini, 1089:

In this year there was much commotion among the councilors of Prince Edgar, for the steward Elfleda was found to be embezzling the finances of the realm, for which crime was she sentenced to exile.

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Moreover, the Lady Cornelia was disquieted and not pleased with her position, for she desired greater authority in the realm, though she already oversaw many affairs of state.

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Anno Domini, 1090:

In this year the preachers of false news and the servants of the idolotars were driven from the Holy City of Jerusalem, and there was much rejoicing:

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And the child Aethelred, being five years of age, was sent to be instructed in the ways of war and the handling of arms:

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News reached these lands that the Holy Father, the Blessed Alexander, had passed from this realm into the Kingdom of Heaven. Long was his Pontificate, and he was a great friend of the Prince Edgar. In his place was elevated Bertoldo Tomacelli, the Bishop of Bourges, taking the name Gregory VII.


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The Holy Father Gregory VII

In the same year was the Western Empire wracked with strife, from which there would be many years of bloodshed and division. Henry, Emperor of the Romans, was found to be a heavy-handed and ambitious ruler, whose means were disliked by his subjects, and many Dukes and Counts and Bishops did rise up and make war against him:


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Anno Domini, 1091:

In this year a long-haired star, or Comet, was seen in the sky, and the people turned to the bishops for answers, and they did proclaim it a wicked omen for the coming years, portending a tragic demise.

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And a daughter, Elfleda, was born unto Edgar and Cornelia

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But words concerning the Lady Cornelia continued to spread among the court, and the Prince continued to be greatly suspicious of her.

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Also was it rumoured that the Prince had been much taken with the daughter of the Emperor Alexios, a maiden by the name of Eirene.

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Anno Domini, 1092:

In this year did the Lady Cornelia make much upset among the people of the court, as she did demand still greater authority over the affairs of the realm:

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While still words were made against her concerning her faithfulness to the Prince Edgar. And the Prince did finally confront his wife, demanding she swear upon the holy gospel that she had bedded none but him. But the lady refused to do so, and there was much consternation because of this.

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Anno Domini, 1093:

In this year did God visit his vengeance upon the faithless lady Cornelia. For she had refused to make an oath to Prince Edgar upon the Holy Gospel, and in March of this year was she punished. On the first day of March, the feast of Saint Swithbert of the English, the Lady Cornelia was found lifeless in her room. And while there was mourning among the people, as was proper, all were convinced of her wickedness and rightful end.


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He's well shot of her, by the look of things. Out of interest.. is Eirine the daughter that Edgar - supposedly - courted and had a bastard with in reality?

Meh. I think I'm becoming a fan, AllmyJames. :D
 
Wow... your Europe is surprisingly stable. In most of my games by 1090 the Muslims have all of Iberia; Germany is a utter mess of princes and a king or two with no followers; France has imploded and the powerful Aquitaine has rebelled; Byzantium/Eastern Roman Empire only contains the Greek provinces.

How'd you manage such stability?

Also, I love the point of view for most of the chapters. Not having a single count/duke/king to follow up till recently did a fair job of building up Edgar's initial triumph in Jerusalem!
 
Thanks for the comments, guys, I'm glad you're enjoying reading along.

Rabid Bogling - I hadn't heard that story about Edgar and the Emperor's daughter, but I like the coincidence! Eirene is a character born after the game began though, so probably not the same person.
Good to have you on board.

Timetogetaway - Yes, it was quite a feeling of triumph for me as well as the character to finally have somewhere to call home. Even if home, for the moment, consists of a few very rebellious provinces guarded by an army of a few dozen men!

DevinPerry/Timetogetaway - I've been surprised myself that things are holding out as well as they have for the last 30 years. I can reassure you that things start to get weird in the next 30 though. I'm playing on weakling/hard difficulty levels (that's one above 'coward'), and I'm pleased with the results. It bothers me when the whole world implodes as soon as the game begins.

All - Cornelia was beginning to bother me as much as she must have been Edgar, and his falling for Eirene was the icing on the cake, so I took 'steps'. Killing a bossy and unfaithful wife turns out to be very satisfying.

What do you think of the new style I've been attempting (trying to write the whole update as a sort of medieval chronicle)? Characterful, or just confusing and hard to read?
 
Chapter 8 - Tripoli

Chapter 8 – Tripoli
1093 – 1100


The Atheling Chronicle, Anno Domini 1093:


In this year, the Lady Cornelia was laid to rest. And it was said of her that she was an unfaithful wife, and that God’s vengeance had been visited upon her for her sins.

Also in this year perished Margaret, sister unto the Prince Edgar, and widow of the Duke Donald, brother to Malcolm King of Scots. She passed away in a nunnery in England, cloistered from the world, and the troubles of her family.

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Margaret, sister of Prince Edgar​

The Prince Edgar had been greatly taken with the daughter of the Emperor Alexios, and he desired now to take her as his wife. But it transpired that the maiden Eirene had been already promised to the brother of the Count of Dorostotum, a man of little import, and the Prince was vexed.

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Eirene, daughter of the Emperor Alexios​

Knowing him to be a loyal and noble prince, the Emperor did, by way of compensation, propose a match between Edgar and his younger daughter, by the name of Maria. And the Prince accepted, for she was beautiful of countenance and the Emperor did honour him by his offer.

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Maria, sister of Eirene, and wife of Prince Edgar​

But the joy of the prince’s marriage did soon turn to mourning, as his daughter Elflaeda passed from this world, after not even a year from her mother’s womb.

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Elflaeda, daughter of Prince Edgar​

Meantime the young prince Aethelred continued to grow to be strong and valorous, and he did seek the company of others, and was most agreeable to them.


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Athelred, heir to Prince Edgar

In this year also did several disloyal servants of the Emperor approach the good Prince with their schemes and intrigues. But the prince sent them away, for their plans were ignoble and with neither just cause nor chance of success.


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While throughout the realm, the work of the Roman architects and engineers bore fruit, and the people were engaged to construct buildings of brick and stone, and many petty nobles constructed factories to produce such materials.

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Tile factories were constructed across the land

Anno Domini 1094:

In this year there was war among the peoples of Britain, as Malcolm, King of the Scots, continued to labour under his excommunication issued by the Holy Father Alexander more than 10 years previous. For not only were his own subjects disloyal to him, but the King of the Britons did make war against him, desirous of his lands and titles. And many of the kings of the Irish did join the King of the Welsh in this task.

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War between the Welsh and Scots​

But the King of the Scots was victorious, and humbled the King of the Welsh greatly, though the Irish princes remained true to the Welsh cause.

In this year the Lady Maria fell pregnant with child, and there was feasting and rejoicing.

And the Prince appointed as Bishop of Jerusalem, the first for 10 years, Raoul of Canterbury, a Frankish cleric, who had made the pilgrimage to the city with the hope of dispelling the heretics. And he set about this task with vigour.

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The new Patriach of Jerusalem

But not all was well, for Prince Edgar did once more suspect his consort of infidelity, and eyes did turn to Bishop Raoul, and though he had taken holy orders, the Prince’s mind was troubled indeed.

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Since for many years, men of standing and also pilgrims in want had travelled to the lands of the Prince, there were now some hundreds of men-at-arms who had pledged their services to Prince Edgar. And he now took these men, and made war upon the Emir of Jerusalem, who still held the city of Hebron against him, and threatened the safety of Jerusalem.

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Anno Domini 1095:


In this year, the Prince Edgar took control of the city of Hebron, and the Emirate of Jerusalem was no more.

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And in the emir’s palace in Hebron were found many texts in the script of the Heathens, and also in Greek and Latin. Therein were described principles of mathematics and engineering, of which the monks of Tripoli had no ken.

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And the Lady Maria gave birth to a daughter, whom they named Margaret, after the sister of Prince Edgar, a cause of great happiness.

While Ealdgyth, eldest child of the Prince developed a malady and grew unwell, and this was a cause for sadness.


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And the Lady Maria was once again soon pregnant with child, but the Prince Edgar’s suspicions of her behaviour grew inside his mind.

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Anno Domini 1096:


In this year, the Lady Maria bore another daughter, whom the Prince named Ecgfrida.

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And in the lands of the Armenians and Georgians, the Emperor made war against the Turks, to free the Christian peoples of their dominion.


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And the Prince Edgar and his followers did answer this call to fight the enemies of God.

In the Prince’s absence the Lady Maria was found to be again with child

And a Holy Man was asked to heal the child Ealdgyth, but he could not.


Anno Domini 1097:


In this year passed Raoul, Bishop of Jerusalem. And the Holy Father Gregory petitioned the Prince Edgar to receive a new bishop. And the Prince Consented, for he was a pious man.

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But the people of Jerusalem were much affected by the zealous rule of Bishop Raoul, and they protested the appointment of a new bishop. And the Emperor Alexios also was opposed to a Latin bishop in the city. So Aethelweard was appointed as bishop of Safed, a town in Syria that was under the control of Prince Edgar, but whose inhabitants clung to the heathen faith.

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In the month of June was born a daughter unto the Lady Maria, and she was named Eadflaed.

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But the sickness among the children of Prince Edgar continued, and the child Ecgfrida fell ill.

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The Lady Maria sent for a certain Syrian monk who was known to be wise in the ways of healing, and he able to minister to the child, and she was greatly recovered. And all wondered at this man’s ability to heal, but he said his knowledge came not from himself, but from the words of the Greeks. And the wonderment of the multitude was even more.

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Anno Domini 1098:


In this year did the word of the True faith spread throughout the lands of Tripoli, and many more people came to be baptised in the Jordan. And all the villages of Galilee and Nazareth did construct churches to the almighty.

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The work of God continued in Armenia, as the Emperor Alexios recovered these lands from the heathen Turks.

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Anno Domini 1099:


In this year Prince Edgar returned from the wars in Armenia, and while he was with the Emperor, the Count of Thrace did impugn his honour, and though the Prince demanded compensation from the reckless count, no recompense was forthcoming.

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In the lands of the Emir of Damascus there was tumult, and the Sheik of Irbid did recant the Emir’s authority. And so Prince Edgar lead an expedition against the Sheik, and captured the city of Irbid, and added it to his domains.

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Anno Domini 1100:

In this year more manufacturies of tile were constructed across the land, and the homes of the people did multiply.

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And in Beirut were found to be a sect of Bogomils, whose heretical beliefs held Satan’s power to be as great as that of the Almighty, and they did not recognise the authority of the clergy.

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In the month of May, on the Fourth Day, a son was born to Maria and Edgar, and he was named Baldred.

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Also in this year, Prince Edgar’s daughter Ealdgyth came of age, and all men commented on her sharp mind and wits. And though she was blighted by sickness, she was engaged to be wed unto Leofric Earl of Derby, and son of Edwin, once Earl of Lancaster. And thus were two noble Saxon families joined in matrimony.


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Some of the thanes of the realm came unto the Prince, and requested that they be allowed to hunt in all parts of the land. But the Prince righteously decreed that those lands held by God’s church remain inviolate.

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And in the land of England there was much strife, for Robert, son of William of Normandy, was gravely ill, and the nobility of the realm , disliking his rule, made war upon him.

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Yes, for some reason he doesn't have much luck with the ladies.

He is a selfish, deceitful, arbitrary, suspicious, reckless and stubborn flamboyant schemer - what's not to like?
 
Of course, the Prince is so suspicious that these women could be entirely innocent...
 
Chapter 10 - Tripoli

Chapter 9 – Tripoli
1101 – 1106​

The Atheling Chronicle, Anno Domini 1101:

In this year, war was waged upon Robert, King of England by his rebellious subjects. For the King was very ill, and unable to assert his authority over them. There were many friends of the Prince Edgar who bade him assert his ancient right to the throne, and put an end to the unfit rule of the Norman Kings. But the wise Prince said unto them “We are few, and they are many; and what is more, there is still God’s work to complete in this land. I shall not leave this realm to the mercy of the heathen, when not one Englishman has appealed for my help. If they wish to be liberated, let them prove it by their actions.”
Many in the court were amazed by these words, for they showed the Prince to now have little ambition for the prize which he had pursued for so long. But still others said that it showed the wisdom of the Prince, and his great humility before God. And they cited as proof, the Norman King’s victory over the rebels in the spring of this year.

And it was in this year that the Prince’s son, the noble Aethelred, of whom many songs would later be written, came of age. He was known to all as a clever youth, and possessed of great skill at arms, though perhaps lacking in strategic thought. He had sought the company of others from a young age, yet few found him an agreeable companion, for he was ruthless in his use of friends.

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Aethelred, son and heir of Prince Edgar​

Two days before Christ’s Mass in this year, One thousand, one hundred years after the birth of Our Saviour, the Holy Father Gregory VII passed from this world, and entered the Kingdom of Heaven. God chose as his replacement Anselm, bishop of Lucca, and nephew to the Blessed Alexander II. And he was henceforth known as Victor III.

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Pope Victor III​

Also passing from this world was Robert, son of William the Bastard, who held rule over England for the past 27 years. Though he perished of his ailments, his realm was secure, and passed to his grandson Guy, son of his eldest son Henry, who had expired the year previously. Guy was but a youth of 14 summers, and many were nervous of his ability to rule the land.

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Guy, King of England​

And furthermore passed Malcolm, King of the Scots, and one-time friend of Prince Edgar. Though he died under interdict of Excommunication from the church, there was mourning in Tripoli for his passing. His second son, also named Malcolm, succeeded him to the rule of the Scots.

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Malcolm III, King of Scotland

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Malcolm IV, King of Scotland​


Anno Domini 1102:


In this year, Alexios, Emperor of the Romans in the East, made war upon the pagan tribes to the north, and he called upon Prince Edgar to serve him in this endeavour.

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War with Cumans​

And during this campaign, Alexandros the Count of Thrace continued to offer insult unto Prince Edgar, and while the Prince was much aggrieved, his respect for his father-in-law caused him to take no action against the insolent count.

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And while the Prince was away, there was sorrowful news in Tripoli. For the Lady Maria’s first-born daughter Margaret fell ill with a malady unknown to the priests of the court, and many feared for her safety. But a monk from a far-away monastery, hearing of the Lady’s distress, did cure the maiden of her sickness.

And the Prince, ever wary of the fidelity of those close to him, found the uninvited visit of the holy man most irksome, and complained to his wife that such behaviour was not proper.

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There were some in the land who whispered that the Lady Maria was falsely accused, and that the Prince was more suspicious than was justified. While others still thought the Prince to be rightful to rebuke his wife for such behaviour. Regardless of talk, it was at this time that the Lady Maria’s attachment to the Prince began to wane.


Anno Domini 1103:


In this year were mines completed in the lands around Tyre, to exploit the reserves of minerals known to be found about the city.

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The sickness of the child Ecgfrida grew worse, and much blood and phlegm was brought forth from her mouth, and the physicians of the realm were unable to heal her, and the prayers of the faithful availed her not, and she passed from this land.

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And the Prince Edgar remained on campaign in the company of the Emperor, his father-in-law. The Prince and the Emperor slew many pagans together in the North, and spread the true faith among these people, and grew close, and the Emperor was proud to call him friend.

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This attracted the jealousy and wrath of a Prince of the Rus, by the name of Pavel. The Prince Pavel held many lands, and was the most powerful Prince in the Empire. He desired the throne after the passing of Alexios, who was still without legitimate issue, and feared that Prince Edgar desired the same.


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In this year Aethelred, son of Prince Edgar, was married unto Anna, sister of the Prince of Cyprus. Since the Prince of Cyprus was but a youth, and childless, it was hoped that the offspring of Aethelred might one day inherit his lands. Moreover Anna was a woman of excellent thought and highly skilled in matters of state.

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The Lady Anna, wife of Aethelred​

Anno Domini 1104:

In this year Prince Edgar married his daughter Aelflaed unto Adrian, brother of the Emperor Alexios, and tied his family closer to that of the Caesars.

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The Prince’s son Aethelred was granted dominion over the city of Tripoli to rule as his own:


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And the Lady Maria was with child.


Anno Domini 1105:


In this year was born a third son unto Edgar, from the Lady Maria, and he was named Cuthbert.

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Cuthbert, third son of Prince Edgar​

To celebrate his birth, a play of the Greeks, newly translated into English, was performed at the court in Tripoli.

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The First English Performance of Aristophanes' The Birds

And the Prince’s second son, Baldred, was sent unto the Steward of the Court to receive his instruction, being then five years of age.


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Baldred’s education.​

In the month of July were the repairs to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem finally completed. For many generations this building had languished under the rule of the heathens, and was in great disrepair. But Prince Edgar chose to restore it to its glory, and dedicate it to his success in these lands.


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The Church of the Holy Sepulchre is repaired.

Anno Domini 1106:


In this year war returned to these lands. The King of the Franks had designs upon the city of Naples in the south of Italy, and did strive to wrest it from the Roman Emperor. And Prince Edgar and his men marched to the support of the Emperor.

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War with France​

And a church in the city of Beirut was completed, and dedicated to the Sacred Heart of our Lord.

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The Church of the Sacred Heart in Beirut​

While on campaign, the Prince Edgar did thwart the attempts of the Emperor’s enemies to sabotage his efforts in the war against the Franks.

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The Prince displays his loyalty once more.​

On the 19th day of August, the feast day of Saint Magnes of Anagni, the Prince Edgar passed from this world, and was found at peace in his bed while away in Italy. His body was brought to these shores, and laid to rest in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, which he himself had restored.


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Two things. The play should be translated to Saxon, not English as english is a mix of norman and saxon while the Atheling is purely Saxon.
The second thing is - Why is Adrianos Komnenus muslim?

Apart from that great. Aethelred should consider his relations with the emperor and create the kingdom of Jerusalem.
 
Two things. The play should be translated to Saxon, not English as english is a mix of norman and saxon while the Atheling is purely Saxon.
The second thing is - Why is Adrianos Komnenus muslim?

Apart from that great. Aethelred should consider his relations with the emperor and create the kingdom of Jerusalem.

I've been using the term 'English' as I think that by this point it was already more common than the term 'Saxon', e.g. 'King of the English'. Of course, the version of English spoken in Jerusalem will take a different route to that spoken in London. More words borrowed from Greek and, later, Arabic.

I presume that he (Adrianos) spent some time in exile in an Arab court, and took up the faith. I find how quickly the AI changes religion somewhat disturbing. As we shall see in the next chapters...
 
I found it ironic that having traveled hundreds of miles, the French still proved to be the end of poor Edgar.

A non-gameplay update soon.
 
Interlude

Chapter 10– Extracts from The Life of Edgar the Atheling

Prince Edgar the Atheling was born, in the Year of Our Lord 1051, in the land of the Hungarians, and he perished in Italy, in the year 1106, having been upon this earth 55 years.

His father was Edward, descendant of the Saxon kings of old, and his mother was Agatha, a lady of the Rus. Edgar was the son of Edward, who lived in Exile in Hungary; Edward was the son of Edmund, who was named Ironside, and perished against the Danes; Edmund was the son of Aethelred, who lost his kingdom to the Northmen; Aethelred was the son of Edgar the Peaceable, who was King of all the peoples of Britain; Edgar was the son of Eadred; Eadred was the son of Eadward, who was first crowned as King of the English; Eadward was the son of Alfred, who was King of all the Saxons; and Alfred was the son of Aethelwulf, who was king before the Northmen came. And there were 162 years from the death of Aethelwulf to the death of Edgar the Atheling, and 8 generations of Kings in England.

Prince Edgar was born in the land of the Hungarians, in which his father resided while the lands of England were under the dominion of the Northmen. And his grandfather’s brother Edward was King in England after the Northmen were driven out, who built the Cathedral at Westminster and restored peace to the land. He was a pious man, but bore no children, and so Prince Edgar’s father, also named Edward, was invited to as his heir. But the younger Edward died before his namesake uncle, and through devious tricks and many intrigues, the crown passed first unto Harold, son of the Earl Godwin, who was brother unto King Edward’s wife, and secondly unto William, Duke of Normandy, who was a cousin unto King Edward.

Though the Prince Edgar was acclaimed as King of the English in the City of London, his youth caused him to be abandoned in the face of the Duke William’s men-at-arms. And the youth Edgar fled unto Malcolm, king of the Scots with his mother and sister.

Prince Edgar spent many years in exile, first in Scotland, and then in Flanders, in which he sought to regain his crown and overturn the rule of Duke William and his son Robert. But in these attempts he was unsuccessful, and so he turned to God for his salvation.

And when the Blessed Alexander in Rome called for all men to take up the cross and travel to the Holy City of Jerusalem, Prince Edgar above all others headed the call, and made his way unto the Pope in Rome, and thence unto Alexios, Emperor of the Romans in Constantinople. Alexios and Prince Edgar led the armies of the Romans to victory against the followers of Muhammad, and they made great slaughter in their lands, and liberated the cities of Tripoli, Beirut, Acre and Jerusalem from the heathen. And Prince Edgar was installed as protector of these lands and given dominion over them.

Though the Prince’s work was hard, he persevered to instil in the peoples of the East the true faith in Our Lord, and spread many churches and monasteries throughout the land. And upon his death there were few who did not embrace the salvation of the Lord Christ.
Prince Edgar was also a steadfast supporter of the Emperor Alexios, and aided him in his struggles with his enemies within the Empire, and against Pagans of the north, the Turks of the East, and the Franks in the West, to the extent that he perished in service to his Lord doing so.

The Prince was noble in bearing, and the blood of kings flowed through his veins. He bore many children, and was married 3 times. The Lady Matilda of the Bavarians died in labour with their first child. The Lady Cornelia, who was faithless and deceitful, bore for him three daughters and a son, Aethelred, named for the Prince’s great-grandfather, and Aethelred succeeded to the throne after Edgar’s death. For his third wife, Prince Edgar took Maria, a daughter of the Emperor, and she bore him two daughters and two sons, named Baldred and Cuthbert.

And Prince Edgar’s body was borne from Italy where he fell, and transported unto Jerusalem, and he was interred in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the site of Our Lord’s resurrection, where he awaits the Judgement Day. At his funeral presided Theophilus, Bishop of Tripoli, and all the bishops, monks and thanes of the land were in attendance, with representatives of the Holy Father Victor III and the Emperor Alexios, both of whom held the Prince in high regard.

And on his tomb are written these words:


Here Lies Edgar, uncrowned King of the English,
Servant of God, and Lord of the Lands of Tripoli,
Father of Aethelred, Baldred and Cuthbert.
He drove the infidel from this and other cities,
He returned the Word of God to these shores, and restored this church by his own hand.
 
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A fitting end for an Edgar far more noble than many of the men around him... and a Saxon Kingdom of Jerusalem would be something extremely interesting...
 
Chapter 11 – A Map of the World in all its parts, at the death of Prince Edgar

Chapter 11 – A Map of the World in all its parts, at the death of Prince Edgar:

The Principality of Tripoli and its neighbours:

The lands of the Prince of Tripoli are a bastion of true faith in a sea of heathens. Though it rests under the protection of the Roman Emperor (purple), it is menaced by three main heathen powers; the Fatimids of Egypt (green); the Turks (yellow) and the Al-Murabitids (dark green), whose empire stretches along the African coast as far as Spain.
Even the smaller emirates are powerful enough to extinguish the light of God’s word in these lands. The Emirate of Damascus (white) is the most immediate enemy of Tripoli, lying across the River Jordan. Likewise, to the south lies the Emirate of Medina (grey). And the Emirates of Mosul (grey), Allepo (orange) and Edessa (green) would eagerly sack the Christian cities and rape their women if they were given the chance.

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The Eastern Roman Empire

The Eastern Emperor continues to be a strong ally to the Saxons of Tripoli however, and Alexios Kommenos rules his Empire with a strong hand, quashing such princes who strike out on their own. He remains on good terms with the Kingdom of Croatia (blue) to his East, and with the Kingdom of Hungary (grey) also. In addition to his problems with the Mohammadeans, he is often fighting the pagan Cumans (green) to his northern border.

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Italy


The Norman Duchy of Apuilia has sworn fealty to their kinsmen in England (Orange), and only the city of Naples remains loyal to the Empire.
Northern Italy, meanwhile, is under the control of the Western Emperor (olive), though a number of duchies such as Carinthia (brown) are breaking free. The Papacy (white) and Venice (white) have small holdings in the Peninsula.
The Moors of Sicily remain untroubled by their Chritian neighbours, and are part of the Al-Murabitid Empire, while a number of smaller sheikdoms are dotted around the African coast.

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Iberia

The Spanish peninsula is divided between three powers – the Christian Kingdoms of Leon-Castile (light blue) and Aragaon (blue) and the mighty Al-Murabitids (dark green). The Christians are struggling to hold back the heathen tides.

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France and Britain

France (blue) remains a stable entity, despite the presence of several powerful dukes in its realm. It has even acquired the loyalty of Brittany and parts of Provence, and driven the Normans largely from Normandy.
The British Isles are divided fairly equally between England (orange), Scotland (blue) and Wales (grey), which at present has most of Ireland. The Irish duchies hold the balance of power in the region, as they have switched loyalties several times, and could yet be the undoing of the fragile Kingdom of Wales.

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The Holy Roman Empire:


Emperor Henry’s grip on the Holy Roman Empire (Olive) is tenuous at best, and he has spent most of his life trying to hold it together. The new Kingdom of Bohemia (pale Green) has broken free and is taking advantage of the disturbance, as are the Kings of Poland (dark Green) and Hungary (Grey) – long-time enemies of the Emperor.

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Scandanavia

Denmark (dark red), Norway (pale blue) and Sweden (blue) are in a state of equilibrium, and while they have made some cautious attacks on the Baltic pagans, and pledged to crusade in the East, have done very little in practice.

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Russia:


On the Russian steppes, most of the Rus’ princes have pledged alliegence to the Eastern Emperor [purple], helping to create a new superpower. They are, however, beset by various pagan tribes, especially the Cumans (green)


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