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EtzelHoveri

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Dec 16, 2010
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The BulgAARians rise again!​


Table of Contents
Chapter 1: Count Konstantin Tich (1066-1075)
Chapter 2: Prince Konstantin Tich (1075-1088)​




It has been quite some time since I last worked on an AAR and I fear that the one on the de Warenne family will be forced to end. The game was accidently deleted when I was going through things on my computer. So I have decided to begin a new CK AAR in anticipation of the upcoming CK2. In this installment I have decided to move east and play as Konstantin Tich of Galaz. My goals are pretty simple. I wish to eventually reinstate the Bulgarian Kingdom that was fused with the Byzantine's back in 1018. I hope to have this accomplished within Konstantin's life but I am fine with one of his children or even their children accomplishing the goal. Following the success of that goal I will then decide where to go from there. Maybe south and west. Unite the Balkans under one leader again. Just like I did in Hungary's Rise to Power.

I have decided that I will be posting a Chapter for each ruler. Though as they progress in rank they will begin a new chapter. So in the case of Chapter 1 it is Count Konstantin Tich. The story went the 9 years as a Count and though he did gain another county it continued until he was named Prince. The next chapter will be named Prince Konstantin Tich and follow his story as a Prince. Until he names himself King of Bulgaria, he dies or maybe until he becomes Emperor of Byzantium. You will just have tune in to see.

Feel free to post any suggestions or any other comments if you so wish. I would love to hear for those who read my AARs.
 
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Chapter 1: Count Konstantin Tich
(1066-1075)
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Just as England was collapsing following the death of Edward the Confessor so was the Byzantine Empire. Sadly it was not because of the death of their Emperor but rather Konstantinos Dukas' failure as a ruler. The military power was beginning to collapse as he disbanded large number of soldiers. On top of this the Seljuk Turks used this as an oppertunity to move westward. Slowly the lands of Armenia fell to the Turks as they continued to move west gaining support along the ways by the local population.

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The Balkan lands however wished to continue to grow and stay powerful. Among those that continued to employ the strongest leaders and not necessarily the wealthiest was Nestor Tzamplakon, Prince of Karvuna. He did this more as a longing for something he was not. He knew he was not a warrior and he so wished to be. So the closest thing he could have was warriors under him to do his bidding. Though he was in the most difficult of positions in the Balkan territories. As Prince of Karvuna he had the majority of the former Bulgarian people under his leadership. These men were an unruly group of people who became more so when they were placed under the guidance of a Greek. In an attempt to keep the peace in his most northern territory of Galaz he named Konstantin Tich, Count of Galaz in January of 1066.

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During his first years in his new position, Konstantin focused on trying to build up his power. To do this he would need to marry into a powerful family, show his loyalty to the Empire, and above all he had to prove the effectiveness of him and his slavic army in battle. Before he found a wife, Konstantin enjoyed the pleasures of his new position. This in turn brought about the birth of a young boy that he named Dragan.

A week after the child's birth he decided that it was about time to finally marry. Though he enjoyed the pleasures of his new title, he needed to prove himself to these Greeks so that he could further the glory of the Bulgarian people. So on the 21st of May 1067 he married Mariam Bagratuni, daughter of the King of Georgia Bagret Bagratuni. This marriage helped Konstantin tie a unity to a powerful family and also build a bond back between the lands of the Byzantine's and Georgia. Something that had not been done in many years after the Byzantine's tried to force them to be subjugated just like they did to the Bulgarian people.

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In the coming months Mariam began to swell and it quickly became obvious that she was expecting a child. This pleased both of them greatly and the two fell deeply in love.

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In the middle of December that year Andrjia Balik, Count of Karvuna, came to speak with Konstantin to learn his opinion on being ruled by Greeks. As they spoke it became rather obvious that they both had the same dislike of the Greeks as each other and saw them as occupiers of the Bulgarian lands. For the next week the two enjoyed each others company and spoke of the possible rebuilding of the Bulgarian Kingdom which was absorbed by the Byzantine's back in 1018. For to long now the Bulgarian's have been without power.

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As the snows began to melt the people of Galaz started to speak out against Dragan. Now that Konstantin was married and Mariam was expecting their child, something had to be done about him. Shortly after these rumors began to spread Mariam gave birth on the 14th of April 1068 to a son. This boy they named Pavao, however, he was no the heir. Within the Principality of Karvuna it was the strongest warrior who would succeed the former leader. This put Pavao at the end of the line and Dragan was before him in succession through these rules.

A month after the birth of Pavao Tich, Mariam began showings signs of pregnancy again. These next few months were rather slow. As winter started to set in Mariam and Konstantin began to argue about Dragan. Mariam feared that his bastard would end up taking over the lands should Konstantin die. In the end the two were able to make up once Konstantin agreed to send Dragan to be raised by the church and away from their family. Once this issue was resolved Andrija Balik arrived with Roman Cherven, Count of Constantia, who wished to talk about the possibility of reforming the Bulgarian Kingdom. In the end Roman and Andrija left very pleased with their plans. After the Counts left the winter weather grew worse causing problems with sanitation and Typhoid quickly spread throughout Galaz.

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With the beginning of the new year Jelena Thurzo, Konstantin's Spy Master, suggested getting rid of Dragan as rumors continued to spread through Galaz. Konstantin informed her that if she spoke of this again he would banish her and that was the last they would speak of this. On the 15th of Februrary 1069 saw the birth of Konstantin's third son Nikolitza. With the birth of another son Konstantin decided it was time to send Dragan away. For the next three years he would be raised by monks away from home. Only returned on his 5th birthday to begin his more formal education. With Dragan gone Mariam's happiness overwhelmed her and she soon began showing signs of pregnancy again.

This winter was slow and nothing important happened until the 11th of March 1070 when Mariam gave birth to yet another son for Konstantin who was named Vailii. Everything became peaceful again in Galaz after that. In September word came from the monastery that people were picking on Dragan again for being a bastard. Konstantin ignored this and decided to focus on Pavao who he placed in the care of one of his highest ranking nobles. In the coming summer Konstantin would finally get a chance to prove himself in battle. For with the death of Emperor Konstantinos Dukas the Prince of Macedonia, Andronikos Kabakes, rebelled against the new Emperor Isaakios Komnenus and declared his intention to recreate a Greek nation.

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When word reached Galaz of this Konstantin began building up his armies to move south and protect Constantinople. First though he sent Nikolitza to the same monastery as Dragan so the boy would not be alone. This made the people of his court happy as it showed Konstantin to be a good man. Then in November he claimed the title of Count of Philippopolis and began the march south. While he was away Mariam had the nannies raise Vasilii as she could not take care of the boy as she was in her later stages of pregnancy again. Also while Konstantin was away Dragan returned from his time with the members of the church. Mariam disliking the boy had him thrown out and he was forced to return to the Church where he had spent the past three years. The stress of this event caused her to go into labor the next day where she gave birth to yet another son on the 29th of May 1072 whom she named Ladislav.

While Mariam was dealin with things in Galaz, Konstantin arrived in Philippopolis to find no soldiers around. They had already marched east to Constantinople it appeared. Using this advantage he began the siege of the city and cut off the enemies supply train. This siege went on for four months before word finally came from the Prince. He agreed to surrender Philippopolis to Konstantin if he would stop cutting off his supply train. This seemed reasonable to him and so on the 24th of June 1072 Konstantin Tich became both Count of Galaz and Philippopolis. He then quickly went about reorganizing the city before he decided to return to Galaz where he would have his base of operations. He feared being so close to Constantinople. Above all he wished to be seen in lands that were Bulgarian and not Greek.

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Upon his return he learned of what happened to Dragan. Feeling bad for his eldest child he sent the boy to live in the Emperor's palace to continue his education. The Emperor quickly agreed to the request in repayment for what Konstantin had done for the Empire.

1073 was rather slow for the Tich family. Pavao finally began his formal training in the army. Konstantin also learned that he had a distant relation to the former Count of Hellas. This rumor and claim he quickly squashed as he told the envoy who brought him this news, "I am Bulgarian, not one of you damn Greeks." Above all he continued to gain support for a possible push to reinstate the Bulgarian Kingdom.

The following year was just as slow. Ladislav was sent to join Nikolitza at the monastery for the remainder of the year. Then in December Pavao was sent to Andrija Balik to learn under him and Marshal Kotroma Karvuna who people said was the greatest Bulgarian warrior since Samuel of Bulgaria died back in 1014.

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Shortly after Pavao left Nikolitza returned from the monastery with word that Prince Thomas Aboceres of Thessalonica had decided to revolt against the Empire. In repayment for this news Nikolitza would be educated in the court and not sent away from Galaz like his brothers were.

January of 1075, Konstantin declared himself Count of Chalkidike. 600 men from Philippopolis marched west while another 700 men under Konstantin left Galaz to join the war in the south. On the 25th of February the soldiers of Philippopolis arrived outside Chalkidike to see an army of 138 men waiting out front. They decided not to engage until the following morning but when the soldiers woke the next day they saw that Bishop Manuel Iagonis had fled the field of battle and the siege began. In April Konstantin arrived with his men and joined the siege.

As the siege was going on in August a large body of people approached the city from the northeast. Unsure what to make of this he moved his men to possibly fight a pitch battle. Once they were closer though he realized that these men marched under the standards of Andrija Balik and Roman Cherven. It appeared more aid had arrived. This was not the case though. As the force came near the siege the soldiers stayed back and only his two friends approached, Count Roman carrying a large bundle with him. After a few words of greeting Andrija informed him that Nestor Tzamplakon, Prince of Karvuna, had died.

Upon his wish that the strongest noble be the person to be his heir it should fall to Konstantin. Only he had more then one county. He had fought in two wars now to keep the Empire safe of rebellion in the Balkans. And they supported him for he was a man who stood for what he believed in. Though Konstantin did not wish to be a Prince of the Empire, he reluctantly agreed. He saw this not as progress up the ranks of the Empire but as a chance to possibly further his goal to see a Bulgarian Kingdom occur once more. Taking the bundle from Roman he brought it back to camp. The next day it was not the Couth of Galaz that was besieging Chalkidike but the Prince of Karvuna as the Prince's standard now flew over the camp just outside the city walls.

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The first post is now up and it is rather short I know. The upcoming post of Prince Konstantin Tich will be a bit longer. I've already played through to the beginning of Chapter 3. Once the second chapter is posted I would love to hear your suggestions on what should happen next.
 
Prince Konstantin Tich
(1075-1088)
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With his coronation as Prince, Konstantin had succeeded in his goals. He married into a prestiges family, he is known throughout the entire Byzantine Empire as a loyal subject, he has proven the strength of his armies, and now he is the most powerful person in the entire Balkan territory. However, he still had a war to fight though and a Kingdom to build.

A few months after the new standard was raised, Chalkidike fell to his army and Bishop Manuel Iagonis was captured. After two days of pressure the Bishop finally surrendered his claim on the city and fled. As this occured Konstantin recieved word that Prince Thomas was coming to assist in the dfense of Chalkidike with 360 men. He arrived on the 23rd of December to learn that the city had already fallen. As he was attempting to fall back he was surrounded by 1300 soldiers. Unable to stand against such numbers Prince Thomas surrendered and relinquished his claim on Chalkidike.

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With the war over Konstantin made his way to his new capitol of Mesembria. Upon his arrival he found that he already had his first guest. Nikodim Chervonon, Count of Tyrnovo and vassal of Emperor Isakios Komnenus had come to speak with him when he learned that a Bulgarian had become a Prince within the Empire. He informed Konstantin that he would support him should he choose to name himself King of Bulgaria. Shortly after he left Mikac Terter, son of Gerogi Terter, Count of Dorostotum arrived to study within his court.

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As summer approached Konstantin was requested at a feast in Constantinople by the Emperor. The feast went rather well until Patrikios Serantenos, Count of Kaliopolis, insulted him about how a simple Bulgarian should not be a Prince of the Empire. As their blood was to weak to hold any real titles. Furious with the man Konstantin looked to the Emperor who forced Patrikios to leave the feast.

Returning to his home Konstantin spent the entire rest of the year stressing over the man's comment. He was in a strong position now and would soon be able to name himself King of Bulgaria but that was still years away. By the standards in the Empire it was the strongest man who became the new leader and by that comparrision if he died today none of his son's would inherit his position. This position would go to his friend Andrija Balik and then to his Marshal Kotroma Karvuna. None of his children were even considered as they were still so young. So as the new year began Konstantin decided to change the laws concerning succession and from now on they would follow that of Salic Primogeniture. All of his titles would go to his eldest son that was born in wedlock.

Shortly after this proclomation disaster struck the Tich family. On the 22nd of January 1077, Konstantin's fifth son Ladislov Tich passed away from Typhoid Fever. Grief stricken by this loss of their baby Mariam locked herself away. During these months Nikolitza became recognized by the people of Mesembria for being a modest person.

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It was not until September that Mariam began to feel better, that was when Vasilii returned from the monastery. Konstantin decided to have him stay in court as well to keep his mother happy. As time went on Mariam began showing signs of pregnancy again and Konstantin decided she had returned to normal. So he sent Vasilii to Michael Dukas, Count of Nikopolis. Hearing of this Ioannes Betatzes, Bishop of Ochrid, sent Konstantin a letter claiming he was trying to rebuild the Bulgarian Kingdom and he was not to be trusted. Konstantin sent the letter to the Emperor and demanded he intervince. In response the Emperor named Konstantine heir should he die. Konstantine would never disgrace himself to become the Emperor of the Byzantine's but he saw it as a step in the right direction. He had been recognized as the most powerful man in the entire Empire with that decleration.

Sadly though things were not yet better at home with mariam. On the one year anniversary of Ladislav's death she had another break down. The two argued more frequently but they fought it out and she returned to her isolation. Eventually on the 7th of June 1078 she gave birth to a son named Drago. The following month word came from Galaz that there were no more cases of Typhoid Fever within the entire province.

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With things beginning to become more stable in the Principality of Karvuna, there were whispers of a plot. This plot had nothing to do with the Bulgarians what so ever. This was an attempt to kill the Greek Emperor by the other Greeks that served him. Worried that if they were successful they would name him Emperor, Konstantin found the names of the plotters and told the Emperor.

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With the plot foiled Konstantin decided it was time to send young Drago away to begin his education. When he brought this up to Mariam, she threatened to divorce him and take their younger children with her back to Georgia. In the end Konstantin lost the argument and Drago would be raised by him and Mariam.

Over the next three years the land was peaceful. There were no wars in the west. No men trying to kill the Emperor. And most importantly Konstantin's power over the Bulgarian region was steadily growing. With just one more province he believed he would be ready to declare his independence and the forming of the Bulgarian Kingdom. These plans would be put on hold though at the start of the year 1082. Word reached Konstantin that a rogue bishop was stirring up the people back in Galaz. In short order the entire county was in revolt. Fearing the fire bringers, which the revolters had named themselves, Drago started having difficult sleeping at night. After talking to Drago, Konstantin was able to show him that there was nothing to be afraid of. Sadly though these people would be angry for some time.

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Dragan returned from the Emperor's palace in June and upon his return he became known through the Empire as a Martial Cleric. As time went on Konstantin decided to marry him to Efrosina Vojislavljevic, sister of Vlkan Vojislavljevic, Duke of Rashka. She had studied in the same church as Dragan had and they were a good match. Where he was a warrior she was a scholar.

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With his eldest son taken care of he then focused more on his youngest. He would join the army and study with them just like his brother Pavao had done before him. A week after Drago left, Pavao returned from his time of study under Kotroma Karvuna and it paid off. He was such a brilliant strategist that people compared him to Simeon the Great. Should his father fail to become King of Bulgaria the people believed he would achieve this feat at the tip of his sword. Upon his return he was named Marshal and took up the training of his younger brother Drago.

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On the 2nd of February 1085 Konstnatnin became a grandfather when Dragan had a son who he named Martin. This greatly annoyed Mariam as both Pavao and Nikolitza were without wives of their own. In an attempt to Please his wife he had Nikolitza marry Tailltiu O'Brien, daughter of Muirdertech O'Brien, Duke of Munster and Pavao married the granddaughter of Mate Akos, Duke of Transylvania, Matild Akos.

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Still worried about something happening to Dragan, Konstantin decided to send him to Galaz to become the new Count. Though he would not be able to become Prince or the King one day he hoped to see him at least have his own county and him and his children taken care of. Shortly after he took his new post word came that he had fathered his own bastard who he named, Miroslav.

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As time went on Vasilii returned to his hom. Nikolitza had a son named Iljko. While Pavao was graced first with a son he named Gheorghe and then the following year a daughter named Katrina.

In the latter months of 1087 Konstantin decided to assist the Emperor in a plan to bring the Rurikovich family under his control. This would involve the assassination of the Count of Korchev, Vladimir Rurikovich. This man had countlessly denied the Emperor the chance to gain territory on the northern border of the Black Sea. With his death the land would finally collapse and fall under his rule. He was certain of it.

On the 20th of November Konstantin succeeded in his mission and Vladimir now lay dead. By the 1st of the next month Gled Rurikovich surrendered to the Emperor's rule and formed and alliance with Konstantin as he was still the most powerful of all the Princes and he was unaware of his involvement of Vladimir's death. In an attempt to form a stronger union he sent Vladimir's former wife Nada Vojislavljevic, sister of Grigorii Vojislavljevic, Prince of Dioclea, to be the wife of Vasilii. With this new wife Vasilii attempted to prove his strenght and worth by challenging his rival Evtimii Terter to a duel. This fight went on for hours but in the end there were no clear winners and the two men returned to their homes.

Since Vasilii was granted a chance at a duel and Dragan was named Count of Galaz, Pavao came before Knstantin and demanded his own land as well. In the end all he got was a slap across the face and was told to quit whinning.

As time went on Vasilii had a little girl named Elena. Pavao had another son named Trajan. Above all else the Emperor was able to exploit Gled Rurikovich enought for him to covince Izyaslov Rurikovich to join the Empire. This act made him by far the strongest leader in the entire Empire. The lands he controlled nearly matched that of the rest of Byzantine's before he joined them. Because of this the Emperor was forced to name him his new heir.

With winter coming to full bloom Konstantin's body started to shut down. Though he was still generally young his body could not take another winter. So on the 27th of November 1088, Prince Konstantin Tich passed away. In honor of his long servitude to the Empire and the church he was beatified and from that day forward on the 20th of November a feast would be held through the Principality of Karvuna for the "Blessed" Konstantin Tich.

As he had changed the laws of succession his Marshal and son Pavao Tich became the Prince of Karvuna. Konstantin was unable to fomr the Bulgarian Kingdom which he had set out to do. However, how will the Counts Roman and Andrija react to Pavao as the new Prince? What will Pavao do about Dragan who controls his his northern border? Will he be able to succeed where his father did not? Will Pavao be the first Bulgarian King in the past hundred years? Only time will tell.



(For some reason the screenshots I took during the latter parts of Konstantin's life did not take and that is why there are no pics following Dragan becoming Count of Galaz. Also the first year of Pavao's reign there is no pics either.)
 
So following Konstantin's death the Byzantine Emperor claimed the title of Bulgarian King himself. So the only way I will be able to get it is by rebelling from the kingdom and declaring war for it. Unless you guys know a different way.
 
As you might have guessed this AAR will be slowing down with the opening of CK2. I will be continuing it and I have the next two chapters done. I just have to post them. My first five chapters on my new CK2 AAR are finished just not posted yet. If you want to read that one as well it is called 'Class on the Balog Family'.