The Atheling Chronicle - A King without a Crown

[AllmyJames]

Chapter 12 - Troubled Times

Chapter 12 - The Reign of Aethelred III, part 1
The Troubled Years
1106 – 1108
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Anno Domini 1106:

This year, Aethelred succeeded to the dominions of his father Edgar, which stretched from the city of Tripoli to that of Jerusalem, and from the shores of the Mediterranean to the River Jordan. And Aethelred knelt before the Emperor Alexios, as his father had done, and pledged to serve him all his days. For not only was the Emperor a good friend of his father Edgar, but Aethelred’s lands were still surrounded by hostile nations of heathens.
In the protection of the realm was the Lady Anna, wife of Prince Aethelred, of great help. For she was skilled in matters of commerce, and the management of estates.

The Lord Aethelred and Lady Anna​

The rule of the new prince began in sorrow, as his first-born son, Aethelwold, passed away from a malady. And he was followed soon after by Cuthbert, younger brother of the Prince.

Deaths plagued the family in this year.​

Also in this year passed away the Holy Father, and God chose as his replacement Artemio Adorno, Archbishop of Argyll, which had once been part of the Kingdom of the Scots, but which henceforce fell under the rule of the Chruch. And the Archibishop was henceforth known as Urban II.

His Holiness, Pope Urban II​

The Holy Father was possessed of strong views, and was greatly desirous to increase the gains of Christians in the East. Thus he called for a new Crusade to the city of Alexandria in Egypt, and demanded all the faithful to wrest it from the control of the heathens.

The Second Crusade is launched, to Alexandria​

The King of Norway did pledge himself immediately to the Holy Cause, but many doubted his ability to wage war at such a distance.

The accession of the new Holy Father emboldened the clerics of the realm, and they put many strains upon the new Prince Aethelred. Both Raoul, Patriach of Jerusalem, and Bishop Aethelweard of the lands beyond the Jordan did seek concessions from the young prince. And when the noble Aethelred insisted that Bishop Aethelweard pay homage unto him as his liege, the bishop did most dishonourably declare war upon his master.

And there was trouble throughout the lands, for the men-at-arms of Tripoli were abroad, in service to the Emperor, as they had been on the death of Prince Edgar. The Prince Aethelred had barely a few hundred men with which to combat the rebellious bishop, and he did struggle greatly.
At the same time, the people of the city of Tiberias rose up against the rule of Prince Aethelred, and did cause great strife in the city, for there were no soldiers to keep the peace in the realm.

Anno Domini 1107:

In this year, the war against the Bishop Aethelweard progressed poorly for the Prince, for he still lacked the men to fight the rebellious cleric. And the city of Tripoli fell to the bishop’s men, and, furthermore, the city of Beirut lay under siege.

But the Emperor Alexios did support the Prince against his dishonourable vassal, and came to quell the revolt. And soon the cities of Tripoli and Beirut were relieved, and the bishop’s holdings under attack.

The Prince’s heart was much relieved, and he thanked his liege profusely for his intervention. Yet his thanks was ill-placed. For the Emperor judged Aethelred incapable of keeping order in these lands, and took possession of them himself. And the Prince, never a patient nor humble man, was bitter and aggrieved by this.

​

The Prince’s woes increased day-on-day, as the Holy Father Urban did instruct the Prince to allow Knights from the West to settle in his castles, and make war upon the heathens from there. And though the Prince protested, his pleas were for nought, and his realm was further dismantled.

The Knights of St John settle in Acre​

Also in this year was a harbour constructed in the city of Tripoli, and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem expanded.

​

Anno Domini 1108:

In this year did more knights approach the Prince Aethelred, and demanded castles of him. And since the Prince was young and lacking in authority, he acquiesced. But he liked it not.

The Knights of the Temple seize Hebron​

Many in the realm urged the Prince to join the crusade against the infidels, and to increase his holdings in that manner. But the Prince, though desirous of expanding his dominions, was undone by his liege. For the Emperor still held many of the men of Tripoli in service, and the Prince was surrounded by strong and powerful enemies, and so he could do nothing but wait.

Enemies of the Realm​

The Emperor and the King of Georgia did together make war upon the Pagan Cumans in the north, and the Emperor would not release the Prince’s troops, no matter his protests.

The War in the North consumes the Emperor's thoughts and his soldiers.​

 

[AllmyJames]

The first years of Aethelred's tenure as Prince begin badly. His only vassal has rebelled, with the Emperor seizing what is rightfully Aethelred's. The meddling knights have then swooped in to steal two more precious provinces. And to add insult to injury, the Emperor is keeping Tripoli's forces mobilised, so we're unable to take advantage of the crusade.

Aethelred has a hostile personality, so he must be pretty p/o at these events. I feel his pain.

 

[OneiricRose]

I think the Emperor should suffer an accident!

 

[AllmyJames]

I think the Emperor should suffer an accident!

Very tempting... but I fear Aethelred has neither the cash nor the intrigue skills necessary to carry off such a move

 

[OneiricRose]

Very tempting... but I fear Aethelred has neither the cash nor the intrigue skills necessary to carry off such a move

Who said anything about Aethelred doing something ?
I was talking of divine intervention...*innocent look o

 

[Devin Perry]

Things don't look good for Aethelred, even the weakest of his neighbours could easily over-run him.

How did Al-murabitids get so powerful?

 

[AllmyJames]

How did Al-murabitids get so powerful?

The spineless emirates of Spain, North Africa and (most awkwardly for me) the former Fatamid Empire all rolled over and pledged allegiance to them.

Also - 1,000 views!

 

[Enewald]

Alexios the Great?

Btw, you mentioned a play being translated into english?
A written English has already been invented in your time-line?

 

[Rabid Bogling]

It'd be the West Saxon dialect, I should imagine. That was the King's tongue, and as such would be the version of Old English spoken almost exclusively in Edgar's court.

And I wholely support the use of "English" in place of "Saxon". Given that this is supposed to be written as a translation of contemporary works, it makes sense that they'd refer to it as such.

 

[AllmyJames]

An Audacious Gamble

Chapter 12 - The Reign of Aethelred III, part 2
An Audacious Gamble
1108 – 1111​

The Aetheling Chronicle, Anno Domini 1108:

In this year, many lords in Sweden answered the call of the Holy Father, and took up the cross to liberate Alexandria. And though hearts in Tripoli and Jerusalem were uplifted at this news, many also voiced doubt that such a long journey could be made by the men from the north.

Sweden joins the crusade​

Also in this year perished the great King of the heathens, the lord of the Al-Murabitids. He had constructed, in forty years, a mighty empire spanning the southern shores of the Mediterranean. But in his passing was opportunity for many, including the Prince Aethelred. For he was succeeded by his youthful grandson, and many said that his inexperience would doom his grandfather’s empire.

Tahir, the new King of the Heathens and Enemy of God​

And the Emperor Alexios brought to an end his war against the Northern Pagans, having secured many lands along the River Dneiper.

Peace with Cumans is Secured​

And there were whispers at court that a young foundling was, in fact, the son of Prince Aethelred. But many dismissed these as false and slanderous.

Anno Domini 1109:

In this year passed Guy, King of the Normans in England. And he was succeeded by his brother Roger. And strife broke out between the Norman King Roger and the King of the Welsh, a war that would tear apart many homes in the islands of Britain:

Roger I, False King of England

In Iberia, the Christians did band together and make war upon the young King of the Moors, and seek to wrest lands from him. And this brought great cheer to the Prince Aethelred, for the heathens would be weakened by this.

Furthermore did the Knights of the Temple of Soloman, whose castles in Hebron had been confiscated from the Prince, made war upon the King in Egypt, and Aethelred was further pleased, for he was enemies with the Egyptians and the Moors equally.

The Templars Knights begin their crusade​

Thus encouraged, and with his men-at-arms returned from the service of the Emperor in the north, Prince Aethelred did gird his loins, and make war upon the heathens of the south. And he vowed both to liberate the city of Alexandria on the Nile, and to secure his own lands from the Mohammadean menace.

Aethelred launches an audacious attack while the Heathens are elsewhere​

For the soldiers of the heathens were away in Spain or in Egypt proper, seeking to repulse the Crusaders from the West, and thought not to defend the cities around Jerusalem. And so the Prince was greatly successful in his efforts. On the 7th Day of December, the feast of St Ambrose of Milan, the citadel of Amman fell to Prince Aethelred’s men.

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Also in this year a harbour was constructed in Tyre, to better wage war by sea against the infidel:

Anno Domini 1110:

In this year, the Prince was consumed by the war against the infidels, and many cities and castles fell into his hands, as it was the will of the Lord.
Thus was captured Kerak, on the feast of St Hilary of Poitiers

And though the Emperor sought to limit the holdings of Prince Aethelred, fearing his strength and control over these lands, the Prince would have none of it, and ignored those treaties made in the Emperor’s name with the Sheik of Monreal.

In February the heathens in Damascus made war against us, and the Prince was troubled, but the forces of the Emperor fought back the Damascans, and made peace with them:

And the Prince’s victories continued unchecked. Monreal fell to the Prince on the Feast of St Wilfred of York:

Ngev on the Feast of St Swithun of Winchester:

Darum on the Feast of St Genesius of Arles:

In September the dishonourable Alexios took Eliat for his own, and denied Aethelred lordship over the city.

And likewise in October the Emperor took possession of the city of Jaffa for his own

And in October he again sought to halt Aethelred’s conquests, making peace with the sheik of Ascalon. And again the Prince ignored the Emperor’s treaties.

Ascalon fell to the Lord’s footsoldiers on the Feast Day of St Romanus of Antioch, the 18th of November.

And Bersheeb likewise on the Feast of St Gatianus of Tours

And the foundling Aethelweard perished while the Prince was away; and some whispered that the Lady Anna’s hand was in this deed, for she feared that he was indeed the son of Aethelred by another woman.

Anno Domini 1111:

In this year the King of Croatia did pledge himself to the Cross and declare that he would voyage unto Alexandria. Prince Aethelred was cheered by this news.

Also in Britain was the King of the Welsh greatly humbled, his lands confiscated and abandoned by his Irish vassals:

The Fall of Wales​

In the first months of this year did the last of the Heathen cities fall to the Prince Aethelred and his men, namely Petra, the last nest of the al-Muratabids on the feast of St Eormenhild of Ely:

While the Emperor took Maan for himself in that same month.

And on the Feast of St Dysmas, who was Crucified with Our Lord, Madaba, the final Egyptian citadel to threaten the Holy City submitted to the armies of the Prince.

The speed of the Prince’s victories astounded many, and all agreed that in war his mind was superior to all others, save perhaps Alexander who had been King of the Greeks

But the noble prince was not yet satisfied, and he made sail for Alexandria, the city named after that same King of the Greeks, pledging to wrest it from control of the Egyptian heathens:

He was joined in this task by those Swedes who had made it across the seas to the Holy Land, but having captured the citadel at Gabiyaha, they chose peace over war, and did not press their advantage.

 

[AllmyJames]

What is a prince to do when his vassal has revolted, his leige has screwed him over, and the Knightly Orders have reduced his realm still further? Attack his two biggest neighbors, of course!

I was very fortunate with the timing here. Firstly with the Crusade targeted at
Alexandria, but also with the Al-Muratibid King dying and leaving his throne to an 8-year-old. Along with the wars in Spain, the lands around me were almost deserted, and Aethelred's martial value of 16 allowed me to mobilise an army of a few thousand.

As you can see, Alexios still managed to nab some provinces for himself, but since he saved me from the Damascans, I'm not too angry - but Aethelred has a different opinion on the matter...

The question now, of course, is what comeback we can expect from the Muslim powers.

 

[Vesimir]

Your provinces must be ravaged by revolts and bandits! You have a LOT more than your limit allows. Do you plan to divide the land to vassals after you become king and then let it stabilise or what?

 

[Devin Perry]

It's always nice to see the holy land changed to a nice imperial purple. Alexios has done well conquering the lands north of the black sea too. This is probably the best I've seen an NPC do.

 

[AllmyJames]

Vesimir - Yes, I'm well over my demesne limit at this point. Although Aethelred has a good intrigue value, I have about double the number of allowed provinces, and efficiency is about 10%. The only problem with giving the land to vassals is that Aethelred is not a likeable fellow.

Devin Perry - I've also been surprised with the Emperor's successes. He's even done a good job protecting the Russian lands in the north of his empire and against the Turks in Armenia. But Alexios is old, and it'll be interesting to see how the Empire survives the succession.

 

[Enewald]

Time to invite some saxon blood from Aenglia to help you in governing those lands?

 

[AllmyJames]

The Regal Supremacy

Chapter 14 – The Reign of Aethelred III, part 3, 1112 – 1115
The Regal Supremacy
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Anno Domini 1112

In this year Prince Aethelred was in Egypt, making war against the King there, and laying siege to the city of Alexandria. And though the Prince prevailed against the heathens many times, the faithless hordes outnumbered the Christian men of Prince Aethelred by a great number, and, moreover, the cost of the siege was a mighty strain upon the coffers of the realm. And in May the siege was broken, and the prince returned to his own lands.

As the seige drags on, the cost of war is high

The siege is broken off and the Tripolitanian force is destroyed.​

Despite this setback, there were many good tidings to reach the Prince. The King of the Moors, resigned to his defeats, and under attack from the Christians of Spain, made peace with Prince Aethelred, and was seen no more in these lands.

Peace with Al-Murabitids​

Also did the Norman Kings, having defeated the Welsh, take up the cross and travel unto Egypt. Though the Prince despised the Norman, who had stolen the birthright of his father, he did welcome the news of aid in the war against the Egyptians.

England joins the crusade.​

Anno Domini 1113:

In this year the Holy Father Urban passed from this world, having held the Holy See for seven years. And his successor was Marsiglio Giustiniano, who had been Bishop of Lyons, and was henceforth known as Paschal II

The Holy Father Paschal II​

And the Emperor Alexios once more thwarted the ambitions of the Prince Aethelred, as he made peace with the King of the Egyptians while the Prince was preparing a second invasion and siege of Alexandria. The Prince was greatly irritated, for he could not fulfill his obligations before God, nor could he bring the Lord’s judgment against the heathen King.

Peace with Egypt, just as a new invasion is in progress​

The counselors of the Prince advised him to keep the peace, and that the realm could take no more war. And so Aethelred abided by the treaty, though he liked it not, and turned his mind to matters of state. But he harboured in his heart the seeds of resentment, and plotted ways to break free of the Emperor’s grip.

The seeds of rebellion.​

The Prince’s lands had doubled in size, and he now held dominion as far afield as the deserts of Sinai and the River Jordan. He set about spreading the word of the Lord in these lands, encouraging bishops and monks to roam widely and suppress the false prophets of the heathens.

Many heathens are converted to the true faith.​

Three of the daughters of Edgar, sisters of the Prince, had come of age in this year, or those previous, and Aethelred arranged them to be married to men of influence.

Margaret was married unto Andronicus, a Greek, and Prince of Epirus

Ecfriga to Aehthelred’s neighbour, Constantine, Prince of Armenia Minor

And Eadflead to Ulrich, son of the Duke of Carinthia, whose lands at the head of the Adriatic made them important potential allies of the Prince.

Anno Domini 1114:

In this year, the King of Croatia also made peace with the Heathens in Egypt, having made little effort to liberate Alexandria.

​

And in England, Gillemichael, son of Margaret and cousin of the Prince, was named as Duke of Oxford by Roger, the Norman King in England.

Gillemichael, Cousin to Prince Aethelred​

Meantime the Prince Aethelred was confronted by Raoul, Patriarch of Jerusalem, who spoke the words of the Holy Father Paschal, when he said that all the members of the Prince’s family should practice Mass in the Latin rites, not the Greek, as had been used until this time by some in Tripoli and Jerusalem. And the Prince replied that while the some celebrated the Greek Mass, and others the Latin, they were all followers of the Word of God, and united in their hatred of the heathens. But the Patriarch was insistent, saying that the ways of the Greeks were false and decedent, and tied the Prince to the Emperor and turned him from the Father in Rome. And Bishop Raoul insisted that the offices of state might only be held by practitioners of the Latin mass, particularly in Jerusalem, the city of God. The Lady Maria, widow of Prince Edgar was at this time serving as chancellor of the realm, and the Patriarch’s words were aimed at her. For the Patriarch feared the influence of the Dowager Princess and her father-in-law, the Emperor.
And though Aethelred was not the son of Maria, he was unwilling to see her die for her beliefs, nor to see her exiled, and he wished the Pope not to have such control over his own court. And thus he told the Patriarch.

​

And the Holy Father Paschal was most displeased when he learned of this in Rome, and he did label the Prince a Heretic who would not acknowledge the supremacy of Rome.

Furthermore the Emperor Alexios called upon the Prince once more, saying that he was to make war upon the people of the far North. But this campaign was a great distance from Tripoli, and the Prince required his men-at-arms for his own lands. And thus he refused to answer the Emperor’s requests.

And at the ending of this year, it was shown that the Lord God was truly a friend of the Prince Aethelred, for two of his enemies were struck down. The Emperor Alexios passed from this world, and was replaced by a Prince of the Rus’, who could barely speak the Greek tongue, let alone Latin, and the Prince was ill-disposed to pledge any loyalty to him.

Emperor Vladimir I​

And the second passing in this year was that of the Holy Father in Rome. Soon after issuing his decree against the noble Prince, Bishop Paschal was struck with illness, a sure sign of God’s displeasure. He was replaced in the Holy See by Arnold von Steutzlingen, a Teuton and Archbishop of Brandenburg. He was henceforth known as Gelasius II.

His Holiness Gelasius II​

Anno Domini 1115:

In this year the Kings of the Huns and the Sarmatians made war against each other over the eastern realms of the Holy Roman Emperor.

And in Spain the Moorish King had conquered further lands from the Christian lords of Aragon and Leon. The gains of Christianity in the East had come at the cost of lands in the West.

Moorish gains in Iberia​

In the city of Beirut there was rioting among the people, and the prince saw that they were ungrateful for his rule, and that their emotions were inflamed by the imams and priests of the Mslims.

Riot in Beirut​

So the Prince ordered that in his new lands to the south, the mosques and temples of the unbelievers be stripped of their gold and silver, and that this money be returned to the city of Jerusalem. In this way, he filled his own purse with riches and weakened those who did not follow the Lord.

Prince Aethelred strips the Mosques of their treasures​

In this year also did the Prince Aethelred, no longer a friend of the Emperor in Constantinople, declare himself sole ruler of the lands around Jerusalem, answerable to none but God himself.

The Prince Prepares for his Coronation​

 

[AllmyJames]

So the Prince has managed to hold on to his possessions in the south, and to celebrate, has managed to anger both the Emperor and the Pope (not to mention the population of his new possessions) in preparing to have himself crowned as a King. Will this be the undoing of him, or will he continue to make enemies with impunity?

 

[AllmyJames]

Chapter 15 – the Coronation of Aethelred III

Chapter 15 – the Coronation of Aethelred III​

The Coronation of King Aethelred in Bethlehem​

From Edmund of Tyre’s A History of the English in Jerusalem

Aethelred, son of Edgar, had inherited from his father the rule of many cities in the Holy Land, from Tripoli in the north to Jerusalem in the south. His first days of rulership were troubled by the disloyalty of the Bishop of Baalbek and the selfishness of the Greek Emperor.

But Prince Aethelred persevered, and bade his time. And in the Year of Our Lord 1109 he made war against the neighbouring heathens, and took their lands from them. For the Prince was mightily skilled in matters of war, and knew to strike when the Enemies of God were at their weakest. And in less than two years, the Prince conquered numberless castles and cities, and took control of both banks of the River Jordan, and much of the Desert of Sinai, in which the Hebrews wandered.

Even then, as the Prince sought to spread the Lord’s word amongst the heathens, the perfidious Emperor of the Romans plotted to undo him. For he made treaties with the unbelievers, and prevented Aethelred from divesting them of their lands; or else he took the lands of the heathens for his own, though he already had many lands, and Aethelred had few. Prince Aethelred was greatly aggrieved, and he looked for a means to rid himself of the Emperor’s oversight. And in the Year of Our Lord 1115, the Emperor Alexios passed from this world, and the Princes of the Empire did elected Vladimir, a Prince of the Rus’ to the Imperial purple. This upset many of the Greek princes, and some refused to pledge fealty to a man from the north whose ways were foreign and uncouth to them. And Prince Aethelred saw an opportunity, and he, also refused to swear allegiance to the new Emperor, saying that he owed him and his family no loyalty.

Since the Prince now owned many lands of his own, he sought to correct the injustices done unto his father, and have himself crowned a King. For the blood of Kings flowed in his veins, and there were many in his lands who saw him as the rightful King of English. And though some of the thanes urged him to declare himself King of the English, the bishops declared that it was necessary to obtain the approval of the Holy Father in Rome, and the Roman Bishop still supported claims the Norman Kings descended from William the Bastard, and refused him to be crowned with that title also.

Furthermore, the Prince was estranged from Raoul, Patriarch of Jerusalem, and the bishop would not consent to any manner of consecration, for he believed the Prince to be a heretic and an unbeliever.

Aethelred was, however, determined to have his rights acknowledged, and he said unto Bishop Raoul, “God has favoured me with these lands, and would not have done so lest he wished me to have dominion over them. I need not your consent, nor that of the Holy Father, for the Lord himself has blessed me.”

Yet still the Bishop would not yield, and closeted himself within his house, refusing to recognise the authority of the Prince. The Prince cared little of it, and continued with his preparations, heedless of the world’s disapproval.
Thus it was, that on the 24th Day of June, on the Feast of the Nativity of John the Baptist, in the Year of Our Lord’s incarnation, 1115, Aethelred, son of Edgar was anointed as King in the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, by Harold, bishop of Tripoli.

Prince Aethelred was dressed in robes of ermine-trimmed purple by the chamberlain of the palace, and the procession made its way through the streets of Bethlehem, along the same roads trodden by Our Lord in his infancy; the chamberlain and officers of state bearing the royal diadem, sword of state and sceptre before the Prince. In the Church of the Nativity were present all the notables of the realm; the bishops of the cities of Tripoli, Tyre, Beirut, Acre, Hebron and Ascalon, as well as the senior abbots, thanes and minor earls. Many of these were men who had traveled across the sea from England to join the court of Aethelred or his father Edgar and escape the machinations of the Norman usurpers.

The Prince Aethelred ascended the throne mounted on the dais, and was anointed by the Bishop Harold, who spoke these words:
“By the power of Almighty God, I, Harold, Bishop of Tripoli, anoint thee, Aethelred, son of Edgar, King of the English and of the Lands of Jerusalem, protector of the Holy City and Servant of the Lord.”
And the King replied:
“I, Aethelred, son of Edgar, vow to do the work of the Lord in these lands, and to serve him until the end of my days; I sweat that I will hold this kingdom in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.”
Then an almighty cheer arose from the congregation, as they acclaimed Aethelred as their King. And one by one the noble men of the kingdom came to him and pledged their loyalty to him as their liege.

From this day forward, Aethelred was known to all as King of the English in Jerusalem; he was the third King of the English to bear that name; the second being his great-great-grandfather, who was overthrown by the northmen; the first being the brother of Alfred the Great.
And he took as his coat of arms a golden cross on a field of blue, to symbolise his faith in the Lord, accompanied by five golden martlets, for the martlet is a bird without legs, and thus it symbolised his family’s wandering in the wilderness, and exile from their ancestral lands.
 

A Silver Penny of Aethelred III

The Coat of Arms of Aethelred III​

 

[Devin Perry]

I find it highly unlikely that Vladimir did not know Greek. His mother was a Greek descended from emperors and his father was also lilely to have spoken fluent Greek.
Otherwise good stuff and congratulations on becoming a king. Now that you've done all the hard work of converting the provinces to orthodoxy I wonder how they will feel about turning to Catholicism.

 

[Vesimir]

3 things.

1. It's the Holy Spirit, not ghost. Christianity isn't that spooky.
2. Gillemichael should probably be son of Margaret. Not daughter.
3. Good to see you're free from Byzantium.