Lancaster - King Henry IV
The Lancaster Line
King Henry IV
**Coronated on the 12th of September in 1399**
The Early Years 1399 to Jan-1404
Bells ringing and choirs singing, on the 12th of September the nobility and peasant folk alike celebrate the coronation of Henry IV and even the portugese send envoys to england with gifts and exotics from north africa.
Henry spent his early years travelling throughtout the major english cities and gaining more support from the people which made the aristocracts worried however, not rebelious. Henry devoted alot of resources in increasing the english name throughtout europe and increased relations with Burgandary and Portugal forming alliances and royal marriges with both.
In November 1402 Henry had a dream, a dream of a unified Britian and France and england finally becoming a major nation in europe. He spent months convincing his allies and the nobles of a war plan to take scotland and finally in Feburary 1403 england declared war on Scotland and moblizied with Portugal and Burgundary joining the War of Scottish Subjugation.
The War of Scottish Subjugation 1404 Feb-Oct
English soldiers mobilize and march on Southern Scotland.
In mearly a month the english forces surrounded and forced the scottish troops to abandon lower scotland and their capital and fled to the highlands. The portugese having blocked the western isles forces the scottish to abanded their fleets and rally support from the peasantry in the highlands.
Four months later with a new army the scottish forces prepared to retake and resupply their besieged forts and provinces in the south however, thanks to the graet leadership of Robet Knolles they were repelled and the King of Scotland forced to surrender.
This nine month war showed the other european nations that england was a rising nation and now had scotland under her thumb as a vassal nation.
Years of Power 1404-Oct to 1408-April
After the war Henry's dream of an english Britian became half true however, britian was not english, only unified under english control. Never the less the people loved Henry and his name was spoken in every peasant house for grace and praised by the merchants.
However, Henry was slowly and discreatly cedeing more power to the crown and leaving less and less for the nobility which angered them. henry abolished national institions, freed british trade and took privilages from the nobles and instead bestowed them upon himself and the plutocracy.
The Conquest of Ireland 1408-May to 1419-Jan
Henry's dream was becoming more and more real every year and soon Henry moved his gaze upon the west, Ireland. These lands weren't claimed by the english however, because of Henry's charm he convinced the nobility of england and scotland to aid him in the conquest of Ireland.
Starting in 1408 April Henry led an 11 year war against the forces of spilt Ireland and finally in 1419 Janurary, Connaught the last stronghold of the irish fell and Britian stood united and reformed.
The Eye of the Storm 1419-Fed to 1437-Jan
Territory of the Commonwealth of England. (Not including English-French held lands.)
18 years of peace followed with Henry becomming more and more powerful. The Nobility of england suffered when Henry formed a commonwealth of Scottish, English and newly conquered Brittany nations, with England ruling over the nations.
The nobility sent an envoy to Burgundary asking for help against Henry and in reponse sent an assassin to deal with Henry's great heir, Henry V. Unknown to the nobility the burgundarian king planned to assassinate Henry V, Henry IV's only son and because of the royal marrige place the burgundaries in control of england.
The assassin succeded and Henry V soon lay dead. As Henry IV was mourning the burgundarian King announced his claims to the throne and in anger Henry IV cancelled their alliance. Seeing no other choice Henry placed his other, illegimate son next in line to the throne, James.
The Burgundarians plan were finally ruined when James died and 3 months later Richard, the King's son was born. Finally the throne and commonwealth were safe and the enlglish could finally breath again.
The French-English War 1437-Feb ->
Henry knew his days as King and on this earth were almost up and so to finally fulfil his dream he convinced the people and nobility to start a war with france in order to reclaim normandy, in response the Austrians and Norwegens pledged their support in this war. Aragon and Hungary had no other choice but to support France is fear of 1. Austrian getting more french-italian lands and
2.England conquering foix and sharing a border with Aragorn.
Finally during the last days of the month war was declared and the Great French-English war began, however as soon as the war began Henry died leaving his 2 year old son as King. (French propaganda had the french people believe that God killed Henry for declaring war on France.)
The Two Sides
The Commonwealth of England: England, Scotland, Brittany [Allies:Austria, Norway]
The Crown of France: France, Orleans, Foix, Bourbounaais [Allies:Hungary, Aragon]
Now the war has started and who knows how long it will rage for and how will be the winner, who shall win? Will the English fulfill their dream of a pro-English France, or will France finally reclaim their lands in Aquitane and Calais.
--- To be continued in the next chapter.
but I am very enthusiastic about doing an AAR. My EU skills aren't super great but I don't suck either.
