The Mandate of Heaven - Interventionist Irish Isolationsists

[Silverbow]

The Mandate of Heaven - Interventionist Irish Isolationists

Hello everyone,

after my first, extremely expansive AAR, I've decided to try something a bit different. And so the oxymoronic idea of the Interventionist Irish Isolationists was born.

- no mods, all DLCs (yes, including Sunset Invasion)
- no reloads, except if the Aztecs decide to land in Ireland first (as that'd be instant game over)
- Ireland cannot expand beyond its de jure boundaries. This doesn't preclude intervening, massive meddling and even offensive wars. Meaning, winning a crusade is no problem - as long as I immediately give the kingdom title to someone else (preferably a family member, of course). Inheriting kingdoms is no problem, as they can be dealt with in the same way. Inheriting duchies and counties... I'll find some way to deal with that I hope. Holy wars that end up with me granting the gained lands to the Pope are also a possibility I suppose (unsure yet if I want to go that way though).
- no assassinations. Murder plots allowed if direly necessary, but I'd rather not use them.
- played characters should try to act as their traits dictate
- ruler designer character that's almost a blank sheet (tough soldier)

-----------------------------------------------

Table of contents:

Prologue: The prophecy of Mór Dhubh, the last druidess, and the ascendancy of duke Loingsech
Chapter 1: The reign of Loingsech I
Chapter 2.1: The regency and start of the reign of Gabrán I
Chapter 2.2: The coronation of Gabrán I
Chapter 2.3: Ireland united
Chapter 2.4: The bloodless crusade
Chapter 2.5: Gabrán the Conqueror
Chapter 2.6: The end of Gabrán's reign
Chapter 3: War Eternal - the reign of Flaithbertach I
Chapter 4.1: The seven daughters of Pilip the Just
Chapter 4.2: The birth of Portugal
Chapter 4.3: The crusade for Aquitaine
Chapter 4.4: To France - Pilib the Conqueror
Chapter 5.1: Dúnlaing I and the chaos in France
Chapter 5.2: The civil war
Chapter 6: Sunset Invasion - the reign of Fergus the Scotsman
Chapter 7: Infinite infidelity - the reign of Énri the Old
Chapter 8.1: Eormenric the Just assumes the throne and the crusade for Sicily
Chapter 8.2: The fall of Portugal and Eormenric's death
Chapter 9.1: France falls again - Énri the Conqueror
Chapter 9.2: Holy wars
Chapter 9.3: The Lions of Africa
Chapter 10: The holy wars of Fogartach I
Chapter 11.1: Queen Lann I and the crusade for Andalusia
Chapter 11.2: Crusader Queens 2
Chapter 11.3: Lann's end
Chapter 12: King Áed the Boring and the hungry pope​

 

[Silverbow]

Prologue

Listen, and hear my words. In dark aeons yet to come, a man shall arise. Chosen by the New God and the Old Gods, he shall arise from the mud to unite the shattered realm of Hibernia. From the west he'll come and cleave the Rock of Lugh in two. By this sign he shall be known and proclaimed, and the lords of the West shall bow down to him and raise him above them. And to the east he shall lead them, until his armies stand on the northern shores, and the eastern, and the southern. United, the realm shall endure all hardships that are to come, provided that the kin of The Uniter shall stay true to the New God and the Old Gods. So do I foretell, and so shall it be.
[SUB]The prophecy of Mór Dhubh, the last druidess, as recorded at the shores of Loch Lurgain in 459 A.D. [/SUB]

[SUB]Duke Aéd[/SUB]​

Duke Aéd of Connacht was an old, religious man. He didn't live his life in fear of Mór Dhubh's prophecy, but it was always in the back of his mind, a distinct possibility that could lead to him having to relinquish his throne to whoever managed to cleave the Rock of Lugh in two. For, you see, the Rock was the centerpiece of the courtyard of the castle of Roscommon. His castle. His home.

Many men have hacked at the rock in the years that Aéd ruled in Connacht. They tried it with everything, using swords, axes, hammers. They tried heating the rock with fire, they tried it in deepest winter when it was covered in ice. They have been trying it for centuries, for the hope of becoming the Uniter was a strong incentive. Aéd himself tried his hand at it numerous times, in numerous ways, but the rock remained as slick, black and impervious as ever. Aéd eventually gave up, for wasting good weapons by breaking them on the troublesome rock was not in line with his frugal way of thinking.

Until one day, one of his men-at-arms, a young man known only as Loingsech, tried to whack at the stone with his rusty sword, just for fun. The stone parted for a rusty blade where it resisted the very best weapons Ireland had to offer before. A great ruckus was heard across the land, with most refusing to believe that a lowborn man had any right to be even a baron, let alone King of Ireland.

But Aéd was a man of faith and principle. He was old, and had no heir of his own, since his son died in a skirmish with bandits a few years back. So Aéd knighted Loingsech, ennobling him and naming him Loingsech na Carraige, Loingsech of the Rock. He granted him a coat of arms with the rusted sword, stylized as a cross, over the waves of Loch Lurgain. And then, to a great surprise of everyone across the land, he stepped down as the duke and count of Connacht in Loingsech's favor.

[SUB]Duke Loingsech, on the day he assumed the throne[/SUB]​

 

[DisgruntledLemming]

A Sunset Invasion AAR? Hmm... I likey, and I also likey the house rules. Keep Irish land in Ireland! The Soldiers though... You've got Crusades to win, don't you?

 

[Silverbow]

Chapter 1​

Loingsech na Carraige, the first of his name, the founder of his house, was crowned the duke of Connacht on 15th of September 1066 A.D.. According to the prophecy, he was supposed to become the king of whole Ireland. Alas, the petty lords of the island refused to bow down to him as the former duke Aéd had done. And thus Loingsech knew he'd have to unite Ireland by fire and sword, not unlike it was prophesied.

Loingsech was an orphan who never knew his parents, his mother dying in childbirth, his father being a man-at-arms at Roscommon and dying in a battle with bandits when Loingsech was three months old. He was raised by the men-at-arms and kitchen maids of the castle, and became a man-at-arms himself in turn. There was nothing to predict that one day he would be the one to cleave the Rock of Lugh and become the duke of Connacht. But it happened, and meant that he suddenly had concerns he didn't have before. Like finding a wife. If it was up to him, he probably would've married the prettiest of the maids at the castle. Thankfully, he had a council that quickly talked him out of it.

[SUB]The council consisted of fairly competent men. Ryan Michael, the Chancellor of Connacht, portrayed in his later life here, would come to play a major role in the eventual unification of Ireland.[/SUB]

[SUB]Ireland on the day of Loingsech's ascendancy.[/SUB]​

The council arranged for Loingsech to marry Ingegred, the princess of Norway. This was done in hope of gaining a strong ally to help unify Ireland.

[SUB]Sadly, this would go on to be the first in a series of marriage blunders by the council.[/SUB]​

King Harald Hardrade immediately request Loingsech's aid in his war for England. While Loingsech agreed to join the war, his two hundred men would make no difference and would likely end up all dead if anything went wrong, and thus he sent no troops to England. Harald eventually went on to win the war and claim the English crown, and then to beat William of Normandy and secure the throne. Loingsech, of course, provided moral support in the war against William as well.

Ingegred bore Loingsech three sons - Gabrán, Gilla-Pátraic and Flann. Gabrán was a scrawny, weak child, while Gilla-Pátraic was his polar opposite. It was as if God chose to shift half of Gabrán's strength to Gilla-Pátraic. As for Flann, the less said the better. He was of dull mind and generally neglected by Loingsech.

Chacellor Ryan Michael managed to make the people in Breifne believe in the prophecy of Mór Dhubh. Loingsech chose not to act upon it for now, though, as he had de jure claim on the county anyway and his coffers were near empty, due to the construction work being undertaken in the castle village of Roscommon.

Then he did the same in Tyrconnell, proving himself a capable man once again.

The wars in England over, Harald Hardrade was free to aid Loingsech. And so Loingsech chose to claim Tyrconnell, declaring war in spring of 1074 A.D.. Earl Áed had no allies, unlike earl Ualgarg of Breifne, who was allied with duke Bleddyn of Gwynedd. Harald, however, chose not to participate in the war, claiming distance as the deciding factor. Odd, considering his nearby holdings in England and Scotland.

Loingsech's forces crushed the army of Tyrconell at Donegal. While the forces both belligerents could muster were almost equal, superior leadership decided the battle. The army kept pursuing the Tyrconnell army until it was completely obliterated.

This has proved a mistake. Not enough men were left to besiege Tyrconnell, and duke Loingsech fell into a depression that lasted the rest of his life.

Eventually, Loingsech was able to raise enough levies to defeat the newly raised armies of Tyrconnell and then successfully besiege the strongholds of earl Áed. The war ended in the summer of 1078 A.D., having lasted over four years.

[SUB]This doubled Loingsech's demesne.[/SUB]​

Ostensibly to keep the realm together after his death, Loingsech instituted Agnatic-Cognatic Primogeniture succession law in Connacht after the war. He also continued to build up the castle of Roscommon.

Meanwhile, Ryan Michael worked his magic in Kildare.

Loingsech chose to annex Kildare, hoping for support from Harald Hardrade again. Support that never came, this time because Harald liked Loingsech's opponent more than Loingsech himself.

Upon hearing the news, Loingsech fell ill. Weakened by all the disappointment that Harald provided him with, Loingsech succumbed to the illness on the 3rd of September, 1079 A.D.. He had reigned for almost 13 years, doubled the land of Connacht and was on the way to triple it, but still fell pretty far from uniting Ireland. His 11-years old son Gabrán inherited the throne, with Ryan Michael becoming the regent.

 

[mike the knight]

It is poty you died just beofire another great victory at the battlefield ... May oyur son continues your legacy

 

[DensleyBlair]

This is really interesting I always like a good Ireland AAR, what with all the different possibilities...

Keep 'em coming

(OT: I had a look at the end if your ABA, and it certainly was expansive - I've never seen such a militarily sucessful AAR!)

 

[Silverbow]

Thanks for reading and commenting guys! As for the ABA game, I didn't plan it to be an extremely expansionist blob at first, but the HRE really pissed me off twice, and things kinda snowballed from there...

 

[Silverbow]

Chapter 2.1​

Duke Gabrán was crowned a duke at the age of 11, at 3rd of September, 1079 A.D.. He was of weak constitution, but otherwise exhibited potential to be a capable ruler one day, taking his studies diligently and with great patience, all the while showing a lot of humility, realizing he's become a ruler only thanks to his father and the Miracle at Roscommon.

The war for Kildare was in full swing by then, with both involved armies being basically the same size, and besieging the capital of each other.

[SUB]An artist's impression of duke Gabrán as a child.[/SUB]​

Ryan Michael continued to be a driving force behind the throne of Connacht, both as regent and chancellor. He convinced the general population of Tyrone that Gabrán was indeed the rightful king of Ireland.

The sieges of Kildare and Connacht both complete, the armies of Gabrán and earl Máel-Sechlainn of Kildare finally met on the battlefield just outside Kildare. The encounter ended with the Kildarian army on the run, courtesy of superior maneuvering at the hands of Gabrán's army.

[SUB]The decisive battle of the war for Kildare.[/SUB]​

All the victories led to Gabrán becoming content with the way his military and diplomacy were run by his regent and the people around him.

With his army decimated, Máel-Sechlainn saw no point in continuing the war. This was all too well with Gabrán, as his army was very much beat up too, and unable to dislodge the occupation of Roscommon by Máel-Sechlainn's men.

[SUB]It was the summer of 1081 A.D., the war lasted two years.[/SUB]​

With the armies of Connacht severely depleted, the ambitious regent Ryan Michael decided to spent some of the money saved up over the years to hire a band of Saxon mercenaries from England. The mercenaries were immediately ordered towards the borders of Tyrone, and an official declaration of war was issued, citing the harboring of former count Máel-Sechlainn among the reasons for war. The year was 1083 A.D..

Half a year into the war, duke Gabrán came of age and the regency of Ryan Michael ended. Tutored by his regent, Gabrán grew up to become a capable administrator and ruler, even if a poor warrior. He saw the war finished within another half a year, making it last less than a year overall.

[SUB]Definitely his father's chin.[/SUB]​

Alas, Gabrán was not to enjoy peace. Earl Domnall of Oriel declared his claim on Tyrone during the Connacht-Tyronese war, and decided to continue pressing it against Gabrán, even in the face of overwhelming odds. The conflict lasted only half a year, but it was enough to stress young Gabrán out. After all, it was the first time he was anywhere near the front lines, seeing all the death first-hand.

With the Saxon mercenaries still hired and being paid a significant amount of money, there was no time to waste for Gabrán if he wanted to make a good use of them. The people of Breifne didn't recognize his father's claim on the county anymore, but it was still de jure a part of Connacht, after all.

While the armies marched onto Breifne, the council finally decided upon a wife for young Gabrán. They chose Iseult ferch Caradog, the daughter of the earl of Gwent, who claimed he could trace his lineage all the way back to Caratacus, the legendary chieftain of the Catuvellauni. She certainly was strong enough to make the ancestry claim believable.

[SUB]Apparently the council believed that her strength would help preclude Gabrán having children as weak as himself.[/SUB]​

It's possible that Gabrán found his wife unattractive, at least if the historical portraits of her are to be believed. This might have played a role in him allowing his brother Gilla-Pátraic, who came of age half a year after Gabrán's wedding feast (which brought a lot of much needed money into the ducal treasury), to choose his own wife. Gilla-Pátraic went off the table and chose Sheeva bint Isa, a Bedouin courtier who was visiting in Connacht on a mercantile mission. This caused much uproar among some of the more zealous Catholic courtiers, but Gabrán chose to give Gilla-Pátraic his blessing to go ahead with the wedding. Some wondered if he secretly wished he had stayed his council's hand and married Sheeva himself.

[SUB]Many also wondered whether Gilla-Pátraic wouldn't have been an even better ruler than Gabrán.[/SUB]​

After a year of sieging, the war with Breifne came to an end, and earl Ualgarg bent his knee to Gabrán.

Iseult's father requested Gabrán's assistance in defending against the English invading his realm. Alas, the war was over before Gabrán could even mobilize his troops.

[SUB]The court of Gwent fled to Gabrán's court.[/SUB]​

Meanwhile, Ryan Michael convinced the population of Breifne that Gabrán was the chosen one after all.

 

[mike the knight]

You are coming liek a storm mate ! I can already see unified Ireland ....

 

[DensleyBlair]

Hooray for nearly getting your hands on Breifne! You're coming along well - I can foresee a unified Ireland in no time

 

[Silverbow]

Chapter 2.2​

During the wars in the north, Iseult bore Gabrán a daughter and a son. Neither was particularly strong, weak or otherwise remarkable, but they filled Gabrán's heart with joy and made him forget his worldly troubles.

[SUB]Who knew wailing babies actually lessen stress?[/SUB]​

For years, life passed quietly in Connacht. Gabrán eventually saved enough money to proclaim himself the duke of Ulster, and as such the undisputed ruler of the northern Ireland.

[SUB]He apparently felt his hands full of blood after the wars.[/SUB]​

Flann, the youngest of the three brothers, came of age soon after, and was also given a free reign in choosing his wife. Inspired by Gilla-Pátraic, he also went for a merchant's daughter, this time from far east. At least she was Christian this time.

The remaining free lords of the north noticed the growing power of Gabrán and chose to vassal themselves to him, after some discreet gifts from Ryan Michael.

The pope chose to declare a crusade on Jerusalem in 1090 A.D.. The crusade was aimed on Caliph Al-Mustansir, and considering the immense might of the Fatimids, Gabrán felt it was a doomed venture. Still, he considered joining it, but decided it would be prudent to unite Ireland first, as was prophesied.

A year later, Gabrán's second daughter was born. Little Deirdre was truly little, for she took after her scrawny father.

Meanwhile in Oriel, Ryan Michael continued his campaign, and Gabrán decided it was the ideal time to start acting upon it. After all, if he were to be the king of united Ireland, he'd need a consistent, united demesne.

Earl Domnall of Breifne, son of the late earl Ualgarg, was determined to resist, however.

[SUB]Not particularly efficiently.[/SUB]​

With most of the northern part of Ireland firmly in his hands, and with his treasury finally full, Gabrán proclaimed himself the King of Ireland on 26th of March, 1093 A.D..

The parts of Ireland not under Gabrán's rule were split into six independent counties. Three of them were ruled by self-proclaimed dukes - Ossory, Thormond and Dublin. Leinster, Desmond and Ormond were ruled by earls. The norse earl Sigtrygg of Ormond, and duke Donnchad the Merry of Leinster (reigning in Ossory) both agreed to bow down to the new king peacefully, recognizing that the ancient prophecy was being fulfilled.

Duke Domnall of Meath was at war with earl Donnchad of Leinster, while duke Brian of Munster and earl Tadg of Desmond were embroiled in foreign wars. Gabrán gave them all a chance to join peacefully, but none were interested. And so he realized he'd have to finish the unification of Ireland by the force of arms. Duke Domnall of Meath was the first to fall, and seeing that, earl Donnchad chose to join peacefully, and was given as vassal to duke Donnchad the Merry.

And in the midst of unification, Gabrán's third daughter, Scáthach, was born.

 

[DensleyBlair]

Ireland by '93? Good job

 

[Silverbow]

Thanks guys, I've already reunited Ireland. Just gotta write it up, and then I can get back to playing, and maybe crusading or something. :ninja:

 

[mike the knight]

It is great ! Now you should see beyond see the expand our banners

 

[Silverbow]

Chapter 2.3​

In 1094 A.D., the reunification of Ireland picked up speed. Duke Brian of Munster was the second to fall.

And finally, early in 1095 A.D., earl Tadg of Desmond was forcefully persuaded to bend his knee to Gabrán, uniting Ireland once and for all.

Ryan Michael believed, however, that the realm would be stronger if the king controlled all of Connacht, Ulster and Meath. And thus he helped the county of Ulster to enter Gabrán's demesne.

Gabrán held all of Connacht, Ulster and Meath, albeit he didn't declare himself the duke of Meath yet. He also held Tormond, and the duchy of Munster remained unformed as well. He considered giving the county and the duchy to his brother Gilla-Pátraic. But there was also the option of trying the crusade for Jerusalem, and to put his brother on throne there. And, first and foremost, Ireland would need a lot of economical development. It was pretty poor right now, after all...

[SUB]Ireland at the beginning of 1096 A.D.[/SUB]​

 

[Silverbow]

It is great ! Now you should see beyond see the expand our banners

I've set myself house rules against expanding beyond Ireland, outlined in the first post. A green blob might be fun, but I want just to develop my island while meddling the hell out of the world at large.

 

[mike the knight]

But there was also the option of trying the crusade for Jerusalem, and to put his brother on throne there", this is what I am talikng abaout mate

 

[morningSIDEr]

Harald eventually went on to win the war and claim the English crown, and then to beat William of Normandy and secure the throne. Loingsech, of course, provided moral support in the war against William as well.

Harald would have most certainly not have secured victory without so wonderful an ally.

Great to see another AAR from you so quickly after the last. Good choice of nation, interesting set of rules, cracking progress already! I am of course subscribed.

 

[Silverbow]

Harald would have most certainly not have secured victory without so wonderful an ally.

Great to see another AAR from you so quickly after the last. Good choice of nation, interesting set of rules, cracking progress already! I am of course subscribed.

Thanks, glad you're enjoying it!

 

[Silverbow]

Chapter 2.4​

In the January of 1096 A.D., the crusade for Jerusalem was going badly for the Catholics.

[SUB]Very badly.[/SUB]​

King Gabrán was a wise man. He knew the crusade was doomed. Still, he owed his title to God's miracle performed upon his father, and with Ireland secure, he chose to heed the call of God's vicar on Earth.

[SUB]Mustansir trembled indeed, with laughter.[/SUB]

[SUB]The entire military might of the Irish, boarding for the crusade.[/SUB]​

The long voyage east took four months, but was mercifully without any accidents, and on 20th of May, the Irish host laid siege to Jerusalem. Alas, the siege was soon broken up by the arrival of a humongous horde of the Fatimids. Gabrán saw no point in letting a whole generation of Irish warriors get slaughtered.

[SUB]Does running away count as storming the walls?[/SUB]​

Soon after the retreating Irish army was back safely on the ships, the crusade came to a bitter end.

[SUB]Or hilarious one, judging by the pope's name.[/SUB]​

Being a sovereign with no domestic threat possible in Ireland, Gabrán decided to increase his authority once he arrived back home. The hardships on the sea and in the Holy Land made him appreciate his wife, and he fell in love with the woman he once deemed an ugly mistake of the council.

[SUB]Love is blind, after all.[/SUB]​

Their reunification and newfound love soon led to another daughter, and to Gilla-Pátraic becoming the steward of Ireland.

Eventually, Gilla-Pátraic became the count of Thomond.

Long years of peace settled upon Ireland. Gabrán spent a lot of money building up the economic infrastructure in his holdings, and fathered two more sons.

But the years of peace stirred something in Gabrán.

Gabrán started to spend money on more than just villages and walls, becoming the duke of Meath, and granting his brother the duchy of Munster. His eldest daughter, Imag, turned 16 and married Lukaz, a Breton courtier destined to be the future marshal of Ireland.

Woe trailed the joy of the wedding, as little Fedlimid succumbed to pneumonia.

Gabrán's eldest son and heir, Gilla-Pátraic wasn't as skilled as his namesake uncle, but he was a capable administrator at the age of 16. Like his uncle, he married out of love, and just like him found love in the form of a Muslim merchant's daughter.

[SUB]When you can't crusade into Levant, let Levant come to you.[/SUB]​