Note: This is my first AAR, I've always seen the stories people put up so I thought on my next play-through I'd give it a go as-well. I'm stating a custom Ruler Charlemagne era start running CK2+, Elective Leagues and Royal Bloodlines. It will be a Norse Pagan start, despite the Welsh Dynasty name. I'll update as I play and if I make it to the end-game I will carry it over to EUIV. Hope you guys enjoy reading it.
Prologue-The Fall and Rise of House Hughes.The House of Hughes has a humble beginning, a family of minor Welsh Nobility with little wealth or power however they had many enemies. The fortunes of the House were soon to change, apparently for the worse as the family was exiled from their home in Powys, in 698AD. with rising tensions between the Welsh Princes, the Saxon Kingdoms in England and the Picts they found no refuge in Britain. The family fled across the North Sea to the land of the Northmen, Pagans and mighty warriors. What was left of the Hughes Dynasty settled in Nidaros, and soon rose to prominence in the region due to their skills as warriors they were given ladn to live from by the Chief of Nidaros and soon became as Norse as the natives.
However fortune would once again play with the Hughes Dynasty, in a raid on their lands all of the family were killed apart from one boy, Fredrick Hughes. The boy was taken as a ward of the Chief of Nidaros, and was declared his heir when at the age of 67 he still had no sons. on the 21st of December 768 the Chief of Nidaros died without a son of his own, with no other contenders Fredrick Hughes became chief of Nidaros at the age of 21, it was a new start for the Hughes Dynasty and Fredrick was determined to have his family name be known throughout the world.
amassed an army bigger than either of the rival chiefs. However he knew that if they were to strike at the same time he would be outnumbered, a situation he wished to avoid. To him the decision was clear and simple, strike his enemies first and catch them off guard. He knew that he would only be able to attack one of his rivals without being accused of warmongering, so he chose the stronger of his two rivals, the Chief of Hedmark. The war which followed was over in 3 months, Fredricks army was far larger than that of his enemies, almost triple its size, coupled with his military genius he made quick work of the Hedmark army and proceeded to march on the tribe itself not bothering with a siege but rushing the defences and taking it in only 5 days.
With the war over Fredrick was in a position of power in the region, with more men at his command than any of his neighbours he was free of fear of attack. The chief of Naumadal was no longer a threat to him and was now himself being attacked. While Fredrick wished to increase his realm even more he knew that he was unable to do so at the current time. Instead he focused on rebuilding his dynasty, he married the old Chief of Hedmark's daughter, Ingrid and took her 3 sisters as concubines. Four years later there had been little political change, Fredrick now had 5 daughters and 3 sons, Thor, Oerm and Refilk. All three boys were naturally strong, and Refilk showed his fathers genius even at a young age.
However while Fredrick was happy in life, he also grew restless as he still wanted to expand his land. It was the very same day he had this thought that his Chancellor, Ragnar, came to him with a plan. With a large sum of gold he could name himself Jarl of Nidaros and lay claim not only to Nidaros and Hedmark but also to Naumadal. An opportunity he could not pass up. On the 16th of March 776 Chief Fredrick was named Fredrick, Jarl of Nidaros, Chief of Nidaros, Hedmark and Naumadal. All that remained was to take Naumadal from his rival, and so on the day he was named Jarl he raised his armies and marched North. Naumadal was already weak from fending off a previous attack on their lands, and so the war lasted only a month, Fredricks men stormed the tribe holdings on arrival and captured the Chief of Naumadal. He was made to surrender his lands before being burnt at the stake outside his Longhouse.
Frerick had now tripled the land he had inherited and his name was known throughout Norway and Sweden, stories of his genius and might in battle travelled to all those who would listen. But it was not enough, to Fredrick this was merely the beginning of the rise of the Hughes Dynasty.
Prologue-The Fall and Rise of House Hughes.
However fortune would once again play with the Hughes Dynasty, in a raid on their lands all of the family were killed apart from one boy, Fredrick Hughes. The boy was taken as a ward of the Chief of Nidaros, and was declared his heir when at the age of 67 he still had no sons. on the 21st of December 768 the Chief of Nidaros died without a son of his own, with no other contenders Fredrick Hughes became chief of Nidaros at the age of 21, it was a new start for the Hughes Dynasty and Fredrick was determined to have his family name be known throughout the world.
Chapter One- From Chief to Jarl.
The start of Fredrick's rule was not an easy one, the situation he inherited was a dire one. With Enemies in Hedmark and Naumadal ready to attack it looked as if his reign would be short lived. But what his enemies did not know what that Fredrick was not only a masterful warrior but a natural genius, with a perfect mixture of both martial prowess and administrative brilliance he had amassed an army bigger than either of the rival chiefs. However he knew that if they were to strike at the same time he would be outnumbered, a situation he wished to avoid. To him the decision was clear and simple, strike his enemies first and catch them off guard. He knew that he would only be able to attack one of his rivals without being accused of warmongering, so he chose the stronger of his two rivals, the Chief of Hedmark. The war which followed was over in 3 months, Fredricks army was far larger than that of his enemies, almost triple its size, coupled with his military genius he made quick work of the Hedmark army and proceeded to march on the tribe itself not bothering with a siege but rushing the defences and taking it in only 5 days.
With the war over Fredrick was in a position of power in the region, with more men at his command than any of his neighbours he was free of fear of attack. The chief of Naumadal was no longer a threat to him and was now himself being attacked. While Fredrick wished to increase his realm even more he knew that he was unable to do so at the current time. Instead he focused on rebuilding his dynasty, he married the old Chief of Hedmark's daughter, Ingrid and took her 3 sisters as concubines. Four years later there had been little political change, Fredrick now had 5 daughters and 3 sons, Thor, Oerm and Refilk. All three boys were naturally strong, and Refilk showed his fathers genius even at a young age.
However while Fredrick was happy in life, he also grew restless as he still wanted to expand his land. It was the very same day he had this thought that his Chancellor, Ragnar, came to him with a plan. With a large sum of gold he could name himself Jarl of Nidaros and lay claim not only to Nidaros and Hedmark but also to Naumadal. An opportunity he could not pass up. On the 16th of March 776 Chief Fredrick was named Fredrick, Jarl of Nidaros, Chief of Nidaros, Hedmark and Naumadal. All that remained was to take Naumadal from his rival, and so on the day he was named Jarl he raised his armies and marched North. Naumadal was already weak from fending off a previous attack on their lands, and so the war lasted only a month, Fredricks men stormed the tribe holdings on arrival and captured the Chief of Naumadal. He was made to surrender his lands before being burnt at the stake outside his Longhouse.
Frerick had now tripled the land he had inherited and his name was known throughout Norway and Sweden, stories of his genius and might in battle travelled to all those who would listen. But it was not enough, to Fredrick this was merely the beginning of the rise of the Hughes Dynasty.
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