I've decided to post a brief (compared to the Byzantine AAR) AAR of my experiences with my first Deus Vult campaign as the Irish, starting in 1066. I'm going to try a different, more chronicle-esque style, like that of RossN's AAR "Eastern Ambition." This should keep updates shorter and to the point, and speed things along (my hope is to play this into EU3, time permitting). Its not intended to be a literary masterpiece, more quick and dirty than anything.
Don't worry, fans of Rome AARisen - this won't detract from that AAR at all.
And without further ado:
Herein begin the humble chronicles of the High Kings of Ireland, the family of Ui Mordha. Legend places our clan within the most ancient reaches of the history of the Emerald Isle. Our dynasty claims a heritage all the way back to Crimthann mac Enna Cennsalagh, High King of Ireland in 483. A.D. In later years, some of our ancestors fought against the great Brian Boru, who sought to unify our people against the threat of the Northmen. His death left our people divided, and leaderless.
Around the Emerald Isle enemies gathered. To the north, amongst the barren islands of the northern Atlantic lie the Norsemen, nursing their wounds still from the great battles with Boru. Across the sea lay the Scots, kinsman who covet our lands, and to their south the menacing kingdom of the Normans. Closer to hand lies the fractured principalities of Wales, little concern to any of Irelands Kings. Closest to home, the once great isle is now split amongst eight kings, great and small. Of little concern are the Kings od Ulaid, Mide, Sligo, Tir Eoghian and Tir Connhair - they are little more than tribal chieftains in this tale. Of greater concern are the three contenders for the coveted title of High King of Ireland - the Kings of Connacht, Munster and, of course, Leinster.
Leinster has several advantages over the others. During the course of his long and shrewd reign, King Diarmat of Leinster captured the Norse town of Wexford, and through a devious alliance with Ulaid, pressured the "High King" to grant him the rich town of Dublin. With control of both Wexford and Dublin, Diarmat held sway over the two largest towns in all of Ireland, a power base that few lords could match.
By the time William the Bastard drove the Saxon Harold from the throne of England, Diarmat was already an elderly man in his seventies, who for a time hosted the sons of the late Harold. Diarmat's eldest son, Murchaid, was more skilled than the elderly man in the ways of the blade, but in all other manners of statecraft he was inferior. He was unable to read nor write, and scoffed at clergy and wisdom alike. The elderly king feared for the safety of his people, and felt their greatest need would be to secure their borders.
In March of 1067, the clever King sent a several skins of foul wine as "gift" to the King of Mide. The King, who it was told to me was a drunkard and a lout, took offense at this gift and promptly set upon Leinster with his host. King Diarmat had expected this from his enemy, and when Mide arrived outside of Dublin he found nary a soul in sight, for Diarmat had moved his host to Mide and captured the land. In return for swearing loyalty and allegiance to the Kings of Leinster, the King of Mide was allowed to retain his possessions, becoming a loyal subject of Leinster for years to come.
The end of the great age of Diarmat was nigh to its end. In the fall of 1069 King Diarmat fell while hunting a great stag with his son Murchad. Diarmat was a great horseman, yet few were surprised that his age had tarried his hand, and his balance left him. Injured in the spine and unable to move, the proud King handed more and more duties to his ill-capable son. When he died after a year of agony, on October 12th of the year of Our Lord 1070, Leinster passed into the crude, utterly incapable hands of Murchaid...
Don't worry, fans of Rome AARisen - this won't detract from that AAR at all.
And without further ado:Emerald Jewel - an Ui Mordha DV AAR
Diarmat Ui Mordha, King of Leinster ?-1070, Lord of Laigin, ?-1070
Diarmat Ui Mordha, King of Leinster ?-1070, Lord of Laigin, ?-1070
Herein begin the humble chronicles of the High Kings of Ireland, the family of Ui Mordha. Legend places our clan within the most ancient reaches of the history of the Emerald Isle. Our dynasty claims a heritage all the way back to Crimthann mac Enna Cennsalagh, High King of Ireland in 483. A.D. In later years, some of our ancestors fought against the great Brian Boru, who sought to unify our people against the threat of the Northmen. His death left our people divided, and leaderless.
Around the Emerald Isle enemies gathered. To the north, amongst the barren islands of the northern Atlantic lie the Norsemen, nursing their wounds still from the great battles with Boru. Across the sea lay the Scots, kinsman who covet our lands, and to their south the menacing kingdom of the Normans. Closer to hand lies the fractured principalities of Wales, little concern to any of Irelands Kings. Closest to home, the once great isle is now split amongst eight kings, great and small. Of little concern are the Kings od Ulaid, Mide, Sligo, Tir Eoghian and Tir Connhair - they are little more than tribal chieftains in this tale. Of greater concern are the three contenders for the coveted title of High King of Ireland - the Kings of Connacht, Munster and, of course, Leinster.
Leinster has several advantages over the others. During the course of his long and shrewd reign, King Diarmat of Leinster captured the Norse town of Wexford, and through a devious alliance with Ulaid, pressured the "High King" to grant him the rich town of Dublin. With control of both Wexford and Dublin, Diarmat held sway over the two largest towns in all of Ireland, a power base that few lords could match.
By the time William the Bastard drove the Saxon Harold from the throne of England, Diarmat was already an elderly man in his seventies, who for a time hosted the sons of the late Harold. Diarmat's eldest son, Murchaid, was more skilled than the elderly man in the ways of the blade, but in all other manners of statecraft he was inferior. He was unable to read nor write, and scoffed at clergy and wisdom alike. The elderly king feared for the safety of his people, and felt their greatest need would be to secure their borders.
In March of 1067, the clever King sent a several skins of foul wine as "gift" to the King of Mide. The King, who it was told to me was a drunkard and a lout, took offense at this gift and promptly set upon Leinster with his host. King Diarmat had expected this from his enemy, and when Mide arrived outside of Dublin he found nary a soul in sight, for Diarmat had moved his host to Mide and captured the land. In return for swearing loyalty and allegiance to the Kings of Leinster, the King of Mide was allowed to retain his possessions, becoming a loyal subject of Leinster for years to come.
The end of the great age of Diarmat was nigh to its end. In the fall of 1069 King Diarmat fell while hunting a great stag with his son Murchad. Diarmat was a great horseman, yet few were surprised that his age had tarried his hand, and his balance left him. Injured in the spine and unable to move, the proud King handed more and more duties to his ill-capable son. When he died after a year of agony, on October 12th of the year of Our Lord 1070, Leinster passed into the crude, utterly incapable hands of Murchaid...
