The Song of Wessex

[coz1]

​

The Song of Wessex​

* * *

1399 to 1408​

There is much to tell in this last decade of Emperor Anselm’s life and yet so much of it is of a piece with all else that he had done since coming of age back in 1358. There would be more war, certainly another with the Holy Roman Empire that lasted from 1399 to 1401 in which the Empire gained the Duchy of Aquitaine (or the southern portions of the historical de jure Duchy not yet controlled by Britain) and then another with the Kingdom of Leon from 1406 to 1408 in which Anselm won control of Urgell and Lleida in Iberia against the King Julian ‘the Unready’ and expanded British Navarre into Barcelona. In both of these actions, the Emperor once more lead his armies even as his age advanced and his martial talent was never more superior than that of any of his leading generals. This latter war was especially important as it was the first he had ever fought without his most trusted cousin and greatest general, the Duke of Toulouse, Giselbert d’Albon. Lord Giselbert by this date had begun going by the far more anglicized Gilbert and was 75 years old in 1404. Having never left the Emperor’s side for all these many years, it was a great grief to Anselm when Giselbert simply could hold out no longer. Immense sadness took hold of the Empire over the passing of this great man and no one mourned more intensely and publicly than the Emperor himself.

​

However, Anselm was not without other bright lights within his leadership and one of the best had been for years Earl Ewan of Innse Gall who would be named the new Lord Marshal to replace the Emperor’s cousin. There would be many other deaths in this decade replacing much of the old guard of Lords, most importantly Duke Guy of York (though this Duke’s son and heir Andrew was no more a friend to Anselm than had been the father.) Earl Gilbert of Teviotdale would usurp the title of Duke of Northumberland finally and put the former Duke into prison in 1399. The Duke of Hereford would die in 1400 leaving an 8 year old Peter as heir. Lord Gregory of Meath would pass in 1401 and leave his son and namesake as Duke in 1401 and Duke Robert VII would die in 1402 and finally put an end to the shared Duchy of Normandy and Flanders. Normandy would go to Robert’s daughter Mary who was yet only 14 and Flanders was then passed to the son of Duke Andrew of York, Ralph of House Rose who was 23 and only held a tenuous claim but it would be honored. Finally, near the end of his own life, Anselm would lose Lord Nicholas, fourth Duke of Norfolk and Champagne and grandson to Anselm’s first great advisor, Duke Nicholas III. This fourth Duke’s son Eustace of Wessex had been named Duke of Ulster many years back and was considered a close ally but this would change in the coming years.

While many of these above new actors would play more of a role in the future, for the moment Anselm reigned supreme just as his great-grandfather had done. They would go so far as to vote absolute power to the Emperor once more in 1402 when Prince Arthur was turning 14. The Prince at this time was betrothed to the daughter of the King of Norway, a pretty young Princess named Snofrid who was still only 10. However, this betrothal was broken in 1402 which would have an everlasting effect on the Empire and proved to show the true greatness of Anselm long after he died. He had been a master at the marriage game all along, including his own gambit of divorce to gain a son (or was that truly that of his wife Empress Adelheid?) While his first daughter Princess Anne remained to her prison, the second Princess Mathilda was now married to King Ewen of Navarre named ‘the Cruel’ and this union would prove both beneficial and a headache for the Emperor. King Ewen had assisted in the war for Valencia but refused to join Anselm in his quest against Leon and at one point angered the Emperor so much that in 1407 went so far as to put one of Ewen’s own castles under siege. Finally, the third Princess Isabel (in a questionable case) was betrothed to the young Duke of Munster. Gregory of Wessex was at that time only 11 as Isabel turned 16. Yet the Dukes of Munster had long been a trouble having descended directly through the male line from Emperor Arthur and while the various Dukes since Lord Eadgar had been either the instigator or the figurehead of some plot or another, it was hoped that this union would cease such actions when the time came for Prince Arthur to inherit. Alas, this would not be the case.

Returning to the Prince and his important match, this is where Emperor Anselm and his wife Empress Adelheid truly excelled. It had been clear from early on in Anselm’s reign that he held desire to place far more emphasis on Iberian affairs. The British Isles had been fully conquered and most of historic Francia as well with only the far south in Gascony and some lands to the east still held by the Holy Roman Empire. Yet the region of Brittany held out and was now held fully by the Kingdom of Castille ruled by King Andres. This King held a very comely daughter only two years Prince Arthur’s senior named Velasquita. There may have been intense haggling to arrange this betrothal and eventual marriage (which may have been why Anselm chose Leon to war with as they were mortal enemies of Castille) but in 1403, the Prince came of age and one of the finest royal weddings ever was held at Westminster Cathedral in the summer of that year. More will certainly be said of this formidable Lady Velasquita, who was 18 in the year of her marriage, but it must be said now that this union had unknown but lasting effect upon the realm and Empire.

​

Emperor Anselm was 62 in 1404 and as mentioned would lose his long time confident Lord Giselbert in same that year. He’d already reigned for over 50 years, first under regency and surely in his own right ever since. He had always professed to be a most devout Christian and proved it on numerous occasions, most especially in the Holy Land where he reigned as King of Jerusalem as well as Emperor. While he had practiced and succeeded in nefarious plots over the years, most current scholars consider that many of them may well have been carried out more by the Emperor’s talented and loving wife and master of spies, Empress Adelheid. And while the forced imprisonment of Anselm’s daughter Princess Anne was done out of anger and considered well being of the heir Prince Arthur, the one act that likely haunted this Emperor the most was that of his sister, Lady Matilda. As of 1405, this Lady had sat in forced seclusion in Cupar, Scotland for forty years and was now 70 years old. Her Duchy of Lancaster had been cared for at first by her husband Lord John and then Matilda and Anselm’s mother, Lady Maud Hayles until her death. After which, that land had been tended to by the once heir Arthur, son of Matilda. This Arthur died young, leaving no heirs of his own and so Deheubarth passed to another from Lord John’s family while Lancaster remained under the nominal control of Bishop Hugh, Matilda’s second son. An unassuming man, this Bishop had followed in the steps of his father and remained totally loyal to Anselm for these many years, especially after being named the Bishop of Jerusalem. However, Bishop Hugh did have his share of carnal relationships and had produced a son of his own and so when Lady Matilda finally died in seclusion in 1405, this son Mark of Wessex at age 20 was named the new Duke of Lancaster. It was controversial but only in that it skipped Hugh in inheritance for Mark was not a bastard. Bishop Hugh had secretly been married many years earlier and though against the conventions of Holy Church, Emperor Anselm held little issue confirming this and standing by his loyal nephew.

However the death of his sister had a profound effect upon Anselm, especially after losing his long time counsel and friend Lord Giselbert. It is true that his wife Empress Adelheid remained by his side and the Emperor was close with his son Prince Arthur, but Anselm grew colder and more aloof to others after Matilda died. Did he blame himself for her ultimate fate? It is possible. As we have seen, it did not stop his appetite for war and possession of new territory. So it did not drive him to retreat in any way. But his nature changed in 1405 when she died and he would then follow her to the grave a short three years later in 1408. He had not been in poor health though some injuries were gained as he fought in Barcelona and Navarre, but Anselm was only 66 years old. Given the long health of his great-grandfather, many assumed at least another fifteen to twenty years for this greatest of Emperors. However, he had reigned for 57 years...just as long as his illustrious forbear Emperor Arthur...and it is possible that he was tired. He had accomplished so much in that time, more even than his great-grandfather. Had seen his own son and heir come of age and marry his intended. Hardships may follow as they always do as one monarch passes and leaves to another, but there would be no regency as Anselm himself had found. Emperor Anselm had expanded the realm in nearly every way from Ireland to Scotland, in France and Iberia. He had fought and won a successful Holy war in Jerusalem and was hailed the world over as the most Christian of all. He’d never lost against the mortal foe, the Holy Roman Empire and counted the Holy Father in Rome as one of his most faithful allies. It is reasonable to say that Emperor Anselm the Great of Britain was truly the most impacting and important ruler that Europe had seen, at least since the days of the Caesars and Charlemagne. And it is possible to say that after 57 years as Emperor, there was simply no more left for him to give.

​

* * *

To be continued...​

 

[Nikolai]

A most impressive reign, to be sure. Seems Iberia might be the next (few) kingdom(s) to gain for Arthur II.

 

[stnylan]

And so he yields to a new Arthur. What will this new Arthur be like? Akin to his recent namesake, his legendary one, or something more humdrum?

 

[Bullfilter]

Wow, just the two Emperors in 114 years - both strong once in their prime. Such stability has born fruit in the expansion of Britannia and the consolidation of the monarch’s powers. With another quite young emperor taking over, another long reign can be hoped for. But is in no way certain, of course.

 

[coz1]

Fb-fb:

A most impressive reign, to be sure. Seems Iberia might be the next (few) kingdom(s) to gain for Arthur II.

Many years ago when Burgundy inherited those lands in Navarre, I started thinking about Iberia but Arthur and others had better things to do (aka the HRE.) But by the end of Anselm's reign, it was clear I could handle the HRE at any moment whether I warred with them or they declared on me. To be sure, I wanted to round out the south of France in Gascony and perhaps even southeast France, but there were some opportunities in Iberia so I definitely took advantage.

And so he yields to a new Arthur. What will this new Arthur be like? Akin to his recent namesake, his legendary one, or something more humdrum?

You probably won't be terribly shocked by what this new Arthur does.

Wow, just the two Emperors in 114 years - both strong once in their prime. Such stability has born fruit in the expansion of Britannia and the consolidation of the monarch’s powers. With another quite young emperor taking over, another long reign can be hoped for. But is in no way certain, of course.

It really was quite something to have two successful Kings/Emperors last that long. It definitely allowed for me to grow and build. Especially with the various plots and factions. The longer one reigns, the less they are so there is much less worry that some surprise will crop up. I mean, Anselm would have never been able to go to Jerusalem if there were still bothersome Lords and such back home. It's really those first ten years that matter and if you can get through that, you'll likely be safe (assuming you live.)


To all - Took a while to get through such a long reign. Imagine how long it would have taken if I'd done it narratively. That said, you can now see why I seriously considered another book to tell of all of Anselm's deeds. It took me a bit to get that male heir (and a bit of dodgy tactics) but that was just one of the very successful things Anselm did, capped likely with the successful Crusade. However, we've now moved into the 15th century and have less than fifty years to cover. Hard to believe I've made it this far. But thank you to everyone here that's helped me do so!

 

[TheButterflyComposer]

I've seen myself what happens if the first two emperors of brittania are around for a long time. One to unify the islands together and set the next area of interest, and one to rapidly expand all over the map.

 

[coz1]

I've seen myself what happens if the first two emperors of brittania are around for a long time. One to unify the islands together and set the next area of interest, and one to rapidly expand all over the map.

It certainly allowed me to get into a lot of mischief.

 

[coz1]

​

The Song of Wessex​

* * *

1408 to 1419​

​

At the start of the 15th century. There was no living member of society the world over that had ever known any other monarch of Britain besides either Arthur or his great-grandson Anselm. Together, they had reigned for 114 years and in their century plus, had remade the map of Western Europe and the Levant completely. While there was no regency to contend with when the young Prince Arthur took to the imperial throne, the end of this extraordinary run of two successful Emperors left a considerable void. This new Emperor was styled Arthur II and was 21 years old. His wife Velasquita of Castille was 23. They had been married now for five years and as yet had seen no issue and so the line of succession once more was traced through cousins. The immediate heir was the young Duke Gregory of Munster who was 15 at the time of Anselm’s death and was betrothed to the new Emperor’s sister Princess Isabel who was 19 in 1408. To remind, this Wessex line out of Munster was traced back to Emperor Arthur’s youngest son Prince Eadgar who history suggests took his own life with a very young son of the same name to inherit. Next in line after Lord Gregory was Lord Eustace of Norfolk, Ulster and Champagne. He was the son of Duke Nicholas IV and great-grandson to the famous Lord Nicholas III, Lord Chancellor and Regent for Emperor Anselm. He was nearly 40 years of age when Arthur II took his throne and this line of Wessex could trace directly through the male line all the way back to King Eadgar II of England and Wales.

Emperor Arthur II was a man unlike his father Anselm. He was handsome and fair haired, and though studious and held piety, his version tended more towards the extreme. This Arthur was a better military leader than his father and a better diplomat as well, however nothing in his raising or demeanor would suggest the levels of duplicity in which this monarch would practice in the years to come. It is possible that this young Emperor had learned at the feet of his powerful mother, the now Dowager Empress Adelheid but one must not look past his wife, the now Empress Velasquita who was formidable in her own right. Was he lead by these two strong women, or did he merely find willing partners with which to carry out his plans? It cannot be said with certainty. Yet upon gaining his imperial seat, none the world over could have guessed at the resolve and cunning of this new, young Emperor. And this question would cost many of them their life.

Arthur II became Emperor in the late summer of 1408. From 1409 through 1413, the Empire was thrust into what is now called the British Succession Crises. It began when the Lord of Norfolk, Duke Eustace pressed his claim to the throne. It was a foolish move for what had been until now one of the most loyal branches of Wessex. Lord Eustice would find favor with the Lord of Burgundy, Duke Gilchrist and later the Earl of Gwent. These three nobles would soon see the extreme manner in which Emperor Arthur II handled his affairs. Aided well by the Lord Marshal Ewan, Arthur II took battle straight to his cousin Eustace. Norfolk itself was quickly blockaded both by land and sea and the great Battle of Norwich saw Lord Eustace himself lose an entire army. Though the Duke escaped, it was a massive blow to his rebellion. Lord Gilchrist of Burgundy too saw quick and decisive action against him as both Dijon and Zaragoza were quickly under siege. Such was the power of this Empire and its vast holdings.

To complicate matters, a new figure emerged. The heir to the imperial throne, Lord Gregory of Munster came of age in late 1409. Emperor Arthur II quickly sent his sister Princess Isabel to Bunratty in Thomond for a quiet wedding and continued to prosecute his war. For the next year, the Emperor and his Lord Marshal Ewan fought seemingly all over and everywhere. Thetford itself would fall to Lord Ewan in early 1410 and further success was found in Ednam, Zaragoza and eventually Dijon. In the midst of all of this, the Emperor was able to do his royal duty and in July of 1410, the Empress Velasquita would produce a child. A male child named Eadward. At a stroke, the succession itself was solved but not the rebellion of Lord Eustace. In late 1410, Lydford fell to the Emperor and the Lord Mayor Gerald would find great victory in the Battle of Dundalk in Ireland. And here is where the second act of betrayal occurred. Lord Gilchrist of Burgundy had not only sided with Lord Eustace, but so too began to sound out the young Lord Gregory of Munster. Though cousin and now married to the Emperor’s sister, Gregory too would declare against Arthur.

A lessor monarch might have failed in such crises as Ireland was in near total rebellion and battles were fought throughout England, France and British Navarre and yet this Emperor put his head down and pushed through with much vigor. Through marriage ties, he was able to seek assistance from King Andres of Castille called the Half hand having lost it in battle many years before as well as that of the King of Navarre married to his elder sister Queen Mathilda of Navarre. King Ewen the Cruel was little help, but the Castilian King made quick work to go to battle in Zaragoza against Lord Gilchrist. With this assistance, Lord Eustace would find his ill considered rebellion neatly snuffed out by June of 1411. The Duke of Norfolk was put to prison upon the peace and would die there within the year at 43 leaving his son of the same name as Duke of his lands at 24 years of age. More to that, this new Lord Eustace was caused to bend the knee as his younger brother Nicholas had been captured when Thetford fell and was not but 5 years old. Held as hostage for some years, this part of the rebellion seemed over. Yet when Emperor Arthur moved to imprison Lord Gilchrist, the Burgundian Duke took up his own cause and maintained his battle stance.

It was this late period of 1411 that causes many to question. Had Arthur been more lenient, perhaps his cousin Lord Eustace would not have died in prison. A more honorable death could have been seen with a swordsman at the block. Instead, this Lord was left to rot in horrible conditions. More to that, a curious case occurred in the late summer of that year. The Dowager Empress Adelheid had been nothing but supportive for both her late husband and now her son and then was murdered in August of 1411. Blame for this horrible case was placed to one of her ladies in waiting, Joan of Essex, but through records we can now trace a connection between this Joan to the very Empress Velasquita. Many books have been written, and will be written, about this most formidable Queen and Empress, but here is where she came into her own. Events that would occur later can surely be seen as coming from her mind even if carried out by others. As in the case of the Dowager Empress, nothing suggests that there was ill will or disagreement. And no direct word can be traced to Velasquita. Yet when the Dowager Empress Adelheid died, the Empress Velasquita was all powerful. She did not hold many fans among the still loyal great Lords, most especially Duke Andrew of York, but her mind was on one thing only. She desired her father’s Kingdom of Castille.

But first, this rebellion needed to be ended. In late 1411, decisive battles were seen in both Dunasead and Limerick and then the young Lord Gregory was hauled before the court. While extent records show the meeting was unkind, the more telling aspect is that no one would see Lord Gregory again. Placed to the Tower in London, as Lord Eustace had been, there is no exact date of this man’s death. He merely faded into the winds of history. No matter the fate of Lord Gregory of Munster, there remained the fight against Lord Gilchrist of Burgundy. Ireland was secured, the succession more or less solved and now it was this last rebellious Lord to deal with. It would take two more years and in that time, Arthur allowed his better martial leaders to prosecute this war as he stayed to Westminster and many suggest took up gardening. This might be due to remarks of derision by the historians of the day or by those looking back on it now, but Arthur did not take up the sword again for this particular cause. Instead, he and his wife continued to grow their family. Empress Velasquita would grow heavy with child once more in late 1412 and in 1413 would give birth to a second son named Anselm.

In this same year, Lord Gilchrist was finally defeated and also put to prison where he would die in 1417 and leave Burgundy to his young son Alfred who was but 7. The British Succession Crises was finally over in full, but Emperor Arthur II had little chance to breathe as another crises would arise. It is rumor only, but knowing the history of House Wessex the rumor is believed to be true, yet it is said that the Emperor started plotting to see his Duke of York killed. Lord Andrew was not shy about practicing in the heretical faith of Waldensian. More to that, he was also not shy about his opinions of Emperor Arthur II. Perhaps with some better counsel, Arthur might have tried a different method of solving this disturbance. However, the Lord Marshal Ewan had been sent to Jerusalem along with Lord Dietmar of Toulouse to deal with a brewing rebellion. These rebels would be defeated at Saint Samuel in February of 1414 though it would cost Lord Dietmar his life and leave his Duchy of Toulouse to his 11 year old son Meinhard, but the Lord Marshal would not return for many months. In that time, Arthur decided to move forward with his plot. It would fail and so the Emperor went in a different direction. In March, he would revoke the Lord’s Duchy of York and then followed by revoking all other titles in Touars, Blois and the county of York itself. Having only the Duchy of Anjou left to him, this Lord Andrew would run to his son’s court at Flanders. And then in May, Andrew was found dead of a poisonous snake bite. The plot had finally found success. Lord Ralph of Flanders would then inherit Anjou and there is some suggestion that he may have had some hand in his own father’s death. That Lord Ralph was more amenable to the Emperor lends the theory some credence.

In an effort to shore up his base of power, the Duchy of York was then granted to a cousin, Edward of Wessex and then the county of Blois to another cousin Robert of Wessex. Both of these men were descendants of the great Lord Nicholas III of Norfolk and while they had been to the court of Lord Eustace in Ulster, Arthur found them loyal. Finally, Thouars was given to Duchess Eleanor of Poitou as he secured her favor. Arthur was not yet done. In May of 1414, he made the decision to release his eldest sister Princess Anne from her prison to the Tower where she had sat alone for many years. Yet this was not out of love. Instead, he would banish her from the Empire never to return. For a sizable sum, she was given the gift of life but never again in her native Britain. She would wind up in Breda in the low countries and little is known of her after that.

It would seem that after all of this, that Emperor Arthur II could finally rest and yet he would not. In early 1415, the Emperor and his wife attempted a detente with the Holy Roman Empire when Arthur offered a betrothal of his son Prince Eadward to the daughter of the German Emperor, the Princess Elisabeth. This offer was rudely denied and offended Arthur so much that he declared war. It was ostensibly over a claim for the Duchess of Poitou, but all historians agree that it was this affront that caused it. Over 30,000 were raised within England, Scotland, Normandy and France and by the end of the year Arthur himself would lead his armies to great victories at Bar-le-Duc, Doaumont, Longuyon and finally Verdun. Arthur would develop a fever over the winter but by the spring, he was back to health and once more took up his campaign. Jarnac and Saintois were the next victories before Angouleme fell to Lord Ewan in September of 1416. By the end of that year, the German Emperor Georg could stand no more and begged peace. Angouleme would go to Duchess Eleanor and Emperor Arthur II had his satisfaction.

In less than ten years, Emperor Arthur II had bested all comers and found some little luck when other powerful Lords that might give trouble passed on to God. Lord Alan of Bedford and Gloucester died at 52 of what is oddly called severe stress in late 1416 and his 30 year old son took his seat as Duke Andrew II. And then at the end of the year, Lord Ralph of Flanders and Anjou died at only 38 leaving his lands and titles to his ten year old son Simon. Yet these were not the deaths that Arthur found interest. It was late 1416 when he and his wife Empress Velasquita began a rather bizarre and extensive plot within Castille. The Empress held two younger bothers, Prince Ramiro and Prince Andres that blocked her from inheriting the Kingdom of their father. How it was done and with whom is not known, but beginning in 1417 these Princes began to mysteriously die. The first was the eldest brother Prince Ramiro. In May of that year, the Prince was in an inn on the road to his father’s castle in Burgos. At 25 years old, this Prince would die in a massive manure explosion. Worse than this, Prince Ramiro held a young son named after him that was only 2. It is horrific, but in August 1417 the boy was found dead in his nursery. It is said that he was smothered by a pillow. Next to dispatch was the second brother Prince Andres that was 17 at the time. It would take until March of 1419 by which date Arthur held many other troubles, but this Prince would die after a banquet from poisoned wine. These successful plots took away every block between Empress Velasquita and her father King Andres the Half-hand and she was then named as his heir to the Kingdom of Castille. It was ruthless, mean, dirty and underhanded in every way, but this Emperor and his wife had achieved their goal.

Yet Arthur did not have chance to enjoy his success (if it can be called such.) The same August of 1417 that news reached Westminster of the death of the boy Ramiro in Castille, another letter arrived at court. The Shia Caliph Milad had declared a jihad upon the Emperor and his Kingdom of Jerusalem. At the time, there were less than 5,000 able bodied soldiers in the Levant and Arthur was forced to scramble. Before he had chance to get his many levies there, the Battle of Harbijah was a terrible loss with over 3,000 dying against 15,000 infidels. Jaffa was another horrible defeat in January of 1418 with another 1,000 losing their lives. It took months to fully mobilize and the entirety of the Christian world was horrified at what was happening. Offers to join against this jihad came from all over and in the most unlikely of places. The Knights Templars joined as did the nearby Knights Hospitaller. The Kingdom of Aragon with their limited resources joined as did the Serene Doge of Pisa. The King of Leon would send soldiers to help push back at this Moslem wave and even the Holy Roman Emperor Georg. Yet nothing seemed to work.

Thousands upon thousands were called up to travel to the Holy Land and fight for their Christian brothers and the Duke of Bourbon was one of the first to arrive and then promptly lost half of his 9,000 strong army at the Battle of Nazareth. By April of 1418, all armies of the Emperor and allies had been defeated but there were more on the way. The Emperor himself arrived in May and landed in Egypt with 22,000. The Lord Marshal was just behind him with another 22,000. By September, all armies were in the Levant. There were over 62,000 soldiers between three armies but the conditions in Egypt were atrocious. Many died of disease, fever and the lack of food, including Duke Hugh III of Cornwall who would leave his lands to a young son Albert at only age 10. Yet together, this army pushed across the Sinai Peninsula as the Kingdom of Jerusalem itself was over run with the armies of Islam. In November of 1418, the Emperor sent word back to recruit another 20,000 in the form of White Company mercenaries and then found some small victory. Damietta would fall to him in this same month. It was not to last.

​

In December of 1418, the Emperor’s cousin Earl Robert of Blois was caught at Arish by nearly 40,000 of the enemy. Twice his number. Some few others would come to assist from surrounding areas but in the end, the Earl still only held 27,000 on his side. The Emperor was quick to take ship to assist and sent word back for raising an additional 20,000 levies if they could be found either from villages or more mercenaries but by the time he arrived, the Moslem army was up to 60,000. The Emperor had little choice and was forced to retreat back into Egypt. An entire 20,000 man army was destroyed in the Battle of Arish and worse, Lord Ewan lost as well at the Battle of Darum. Arthur himself found himself in a battle at Seyan. It was a disaster. The last great fight was the battle of Rammala and in March of 1419, the entire British expedition had been completely destroyed. The Emperor and his few leaders in Lord Ewan and Lord Robert were able to escape by ship, but Arthur had been wounded in the battle. The long journey home did little to relieve his ailment. Nor did word that the Holy Roman Empire landed their own 22,000 in the Holy Land to fight these infidels. It was too late and that German army was immediately dispatched by the Moslem force. Emperor Arthur would arrive back to Westminster a wounded man, both in body and mind.

As mentioned, the plot for Castille had remained ongoing and the same month that Arthur suffered his last and greatest defeat, was the month that Empress Velasquita was named heir to the Kingdom of Castille. Arriving home to his wife was no solace. The great Kingdom of Jerusalem that his father Emperor Anselm had gained would be lost. The wound from battle would never heal and only grew worse after months at sea. This in fact did happen in November of 1419 when Jerusalem itself fell and victory went to the enemy of God. The Empress Velasquita did all she could to tend to her ailing husband but nothing seemed to work. Not even the news in that same month of November 1419 that her father had died and she was to be crowned Queen of Castille and Brittany could not shake his fever and sense of loss. Emperor Arthur II would die less than two weeks later on December 3rd of 1419. He was only 32. He had been a restless monarch for just over ten years either due to circumstances thrust upon him or ones that he created for himself. He had not been a poor Emperor, especially besting all that resisted him at home, but the loss of the Holy Land surely stung at his heart and this may well have been what ultimately killed him. The wound gained there was but the conduit. His will to live after such a loss was entirely defeated.

​

* * *

To be continued...​

 

[Nikolai]

That was quite the fall. And now the Empire’s numbers are depleted...

 

[TheButterflyComposer]

Through marriage ties, he was able to seek assistance from King Andres of Castille called the Half hand having lost it in battle many years before as well as that of the King of Navarre married to his elder sister Queen Mathilda of Navarre. King Ewen the Cruel was little help, but the Castilian King made quick work to go to battle in Zaragoza against Lord Gilchrist.

A clever move by Castille. Given their small size and annoying ownership of both Brittany and their lands in Iberia, they were sure to be in the chopping block for the empire. Now they might stand a chance of becoming allies, tributaries, vassal state and the family might even keep control when the empire takes it over.

She desired her father’s Kingdom of Castille.

Well, that's one way of keeping it in the family...

Not even the news in that same month of November 1419 that her father had died and she was to be crowned Queen of Castille and Brittany could not shake his fever and sense of loss.

Still, the empire contuse to grow. Better make sure that you keep control though. This entire reign was an exercise in over extension leading to a decade wasted on civil strife followed by a massive and disastrous holy war of defence. Still, with the middle east barred, the Britons can now focus on doing the job properly...the long way round through Iberia.

 

[JabberJock14]

Anslem certainly managed a successful reign, with a healthy dose of familial love that would have made his great-grandfather proud. Of course, expanding into the Holy Lands tends to recipe for disaster just because the ensuing Jihad will just drain your resources. Just ask the England in my Anjou game.

But even for a human player, unless you sink thousands and thousands of gold into mercenaries, and constantly shift troops left and right, the mechanics will go against you. Too many enemy troops will end up accumulating war score no matter what you do, which can be frustrating. It's a big reason why I avoided crusades prior to Holy Fury - winning them was a poisoned chalice. At least now, you can get the money, prestige and then leave it to be someone else's problem when the Jihads fire.

So I feel for this Arthur, who inherited a massive problem that he had nothing to do with. The succession revolt... also unfortunate but less avoidable, especially if you are playing without some of the expansions which made large realms more stable... perhaps too stable, honestly.

But if they end up with Castille, Wessex will all but control Western Europe by the end of the game. So... still a net positive, even if the Holy Lands are lost.

At the start of the 15th century. There was no living member of society the world over that had ever known any other monarch of Britain besides either Arthur or his son Anselm.

I might be misreading this, but did you mean "Arthur or his great-grandson Anslem?"

 

[coz1]

Fb-fb:

That was quite the fall. And now the Empire’s numbers are depleted...

It happened fast, no doubt. I was shocked but it makes sense. He'd done little else but fight for ten straight years.

A clever move by Castille. Given their small size and annoying ownership of both Brittany and their lands in Iberia, they were sure to be in the chopping block for the empire. Now they might stand a chance of becoming allies, tributaries, vassal state and the family might even keep control when the empire takes it over.



Well, that's one way of keeping it in the family...



Still, the empire contuse to grow. Better make sure that you keep control though. This entire reign was an exercise in over extension leading to a decade wasted on civil strife followed by a massive and disastrous holy war of defence. Still, with the middle east barred, the Britons can now focus on doing the job properly...the long way round through Iberia.

The play for Castille was well planned, but I can't deny it was definitely underhanded. There were still little assurances until King Andres died because he could always have another son, but when he died before this reign was over I was relieved. And no - I did not kill him. Just his sons and grandson. Yeah, that last one was really bad. Only 2 yrs old.

As for over-extension, I'm not so sure about that. Sure, in Jerusalem, but not so much at home. That was really more the curse of any new monarch. In this early version of the game, there were just always someone (no matter how previously close) that wanted to pick a fight. It was good that I had tons of gold, but the gifts only work so far and you run out of titles to placate everyone.

Anslem certainly managed a successful reign, with a healthy dose of familial love that would have made his great-grandfather proud. Of course, expanding into the Holy Lands tends to recipe for disaster just because the ensuing Jihad will just drain your resources. Just ask the England in my Anjou game.

But even for a human player, unless you sink thousands and thousands of gold into mercenaries, and constantly shift troops left and right, the mechanics will go against you. Too many enemy troops will end up accumulating war score no matter what you do, which can be frustrating. It's a big reason why I avoided crusades prior to Holy Fury - winning them was a poisoned chalice. At least now, you can get the money, prestige and then leave it to be someone else's problem when the Jihads fire.

So I feel for this Arthur, who inherited a massive problem that he had nothing to do with. The succession revolt... also unfortunate but less avoidable, especially if you are playing without some of the expansions which made large realms more stable... perhaps too stable, honestly.

But if they end up with Castille, Wessex will all but control Western Europe by the end of the game. So... still a net positive, even if the Holy Lands are lost.



I might be misreading this, but did you mean "Arthur or his great-grandson Anslem?"

On the last, you are absolutely right. An unfortunate typo (and a forgetful mind.)

Very, very true on Crusades and Jihads. The latter is worse than the former, frankly, because it works like a crusade in reverse with many of the other Muslim kingdoms joining in. And they do pile in just wave after wave of soldiers that you cannot keep up shuttling them from a far off place like England and France. I'm surprised that Byzantium doesn't have more success but that is likely because there is always infighting there.


To all - I will say on the response to jihad here, I played it very, very poorly. I made the mistake at first of treating it just as any other war - landing them in and sending them to meet the enemy. Initially I landed in the Kingdom of Jerusalem itself only to lose everything almost immediately. That's when I decided to try an angle from Egypt but as seen, that was no more successful (especially with the attrition included in the deaths.) That last part of escaping by ship is actually what happened. I was in the process of loading in retreat when I got attacked again and very nearly lost it all once more. While Jerusalem itself has fallen, the jihad keeps on going so I had to try a more creative way to do it. I'll cover that in the next updates.

I covered the plot for Castille above, but despite the terrible things I had to do for it to succeed, it was satisfying when Velasquita inherited. If all works right, Eadward will inherit Castille and Brittany (a bit of a replay with the Scottish ploy.)

As for the British Succession Crises, it had an unintended consequence. Between that and the jihad at the end of the reign, I was not paying close enough attention to little things like succession (plus Arthur II remained young.) But you will notice that after Arthur II died, his 2nd son Anselm gained the Kingdom of Scotland. I was so focused on winning the various wars, I forgot to check and make sure it was not a gavelkind succession. Not the worst thing in the world as Scotland remains part of the Empire, but it was not intended and had I more time with this Emperor, I would have fixed that.

However, we grow ever closer to the final ending, so stay tuned for the next monarch Emperor Eadward (and yes, I purposely named him after the infamous one of this story.)

EDIT - Also, no words on Arthur's gardening trait? I thought that was hilarious.

 

[TheButterflyComposer]

EDIT - Also, no words on Arthur's gardening trait? I thought that was hilarious.

It might be your default version but since I've been playing, gardener is actually one of the most common events to end up happening if you aren't constantly at war. Monasteries and churches all increase the chances, so if you are anyway that way inclined or simply don't want to piss off the religious for no reason, you sort of have to go along with it.

 

[stnylan]

Just goes to show how quickly things can turn sour. Well, they do say when you are at the top the only way is down.

 

[Bullfilter]

In early 1415, the Emperor and his wife attempted a detente with the Holy Roman Empire when Arthur offered a betrothal of his son Prince Eadward to the daughter of the German Emperor, the Princess Elisabeth. This offer was rudely denied and offended Arthur so much that he declared war.

Well, if that was the grouchy reaction, no wonder the detente didn’t take!

How it was done and with whom is not known, but beginning in 1417 these Princes began to mysteriously die.

At 25 years old, this Prince would die in a massive manure explosion.

Ah, my favourite!

It is horrific, but in August 1417 the boy was found dead in his nursery. It is said that he was smothered by a pillow.

Next to dispatch was the second brother Prince Andres that was 17 at the time. It would take until March of 1419 by which date Arthur held many other troubles, but this Prince would die after a banquet from poisoned wine.

It was ruthless, mean, dirty and underhanded in every way, but this Emperor and his wife had achieved their goal.

The Empress turbocharged Wessex’s murderous traits! Shocking, but impressive.

By April of 1418, all armies of the Emperor and allies had been defeated but there were more on the way

Oops, reinforcing defeat.

The last great fight was the battle of Rammala and in March of 1419, the entire British expedition had been completely destroyed.

The wound from battle would never heal and only grew worse after months at sea.

What a thorough disaster, for Arthur II and the rest of Christendom.

 

[TheButterflyComposer]

It's troubling how the HRE won't accept a lasting peace with this ascendant empire. It's fine for now while there's still bits to clean up west of the Rhine but once brittania and Germany just share one huge border, I can't see why both sides wouldn't want at least something approaching neutrality towards each other. That being said, HRE has to balance itself to the looming threat somehow, either by reclaiming all of Italy to open a second front or plunging ever further eastwards to get the manpower required. Of course they could also reform the empire itself but from what I recall, they're not quite ready yet. One family seems to have a handle on power most of the time though, so it might happen before EU makes it far harder.

 

[coz1]

Fb-fb:

It might be your default version but since I've been playing, gardener is actually one of the most common events to end up happening if you aren't constantly at war. Monasteries and churches all increase the chances, so if you are anyway that way inclined or simply don't want to piss off the religious for no reason, you sort of have to go along with it.

I don't know that it really effected much, but I just thought it was funny while Arthur was in the midst of all this war.

Just goes to show how quickly things can turn sour. Well, they do say when you are at the top the only way is down.

That, sir, is very true!

Well, if that was the grouchy reaction, no wonder the detente didn’t take!


Ah, my favourite!


The Empress turbocharged Wessex’s murderous traits! Shocking, but impressive.

Oops, reinforcing defeat.

What a thorough disaster, for Arthur II and the rest of Christendom.

One could say that the last two Empress' did that. Adelheid was no slouch which is probably why she got murdered. It only made sense that Velasquita did it. As for the jihad...just total and complete disaster!

It's troubling how the HRE won't accept a lasting peace with this ascendant empire. It's fine for now while there's still bits to clean up west of the Rhine but once brittania and Germany just share one huge border, I can't see why both sides wouldn't want at least something approaching neutrality towards each other. That being said, HRE has to balance itself to the looming threat somehow, either by reclaiming all of Italy to open a second front or plunging ever further eastwards to get the manpower required. Of course they could also reform the empire itself but from what I recall, they're not quite ready yet. One family seems to have a handle on power most of the time though, so it might happen before EU makes it far harder.

To be fair, I am usually the one to go back to war with them, but the fact is there will likely always be war there. This Britain inherits the historical animosity between France and Germany that wasn't really solved until WWII (if even then.)

 

[coz1]

​

The Song of Wessex​

* * *

1420 to 1428​

How history does repeat itself. In 1351, Emperor Anselm had been 9 years old when Emperor Arthur I died. Now in 1419, the new Emperor Eadward was also 9 years old when Emperor Arthur II died. A regency was once again required and led by the Duke of Leinster, Lord Raymond. The Dowager Empress Velasquita was required to go to her native Castille and accept (and defend) her crown as Queen of Castille and Brittany and the rest of the world seemed as if on fire. Let us not forget that war still raged in the Holy Land as the armies of Islam continued their onslaught on Jerusalem and the rest of the Levant. Yet worse, the death of Arthur II truly left the Empire in a period of question. For the first, it had been written that upon his death, Arthur’s second son Prince Anselm would inherit the valuable Kingdom of Scotland. This he did at only 5 years old and so another regency was required to the north. Second, Prince Eadward was not considered bright. His tutors had consistently suggested to his parents that he was a slow learner, taken to gluttony and not at all considerate of others. And yet now he was named Emperor Eadward, the first of his name. He was the 5th of that name as King of England, and still held his royal titles in Wales, Ireland, France, Aquitaine, and nominally still in Jerusalem.

​

Eadward would inherit a huge fortune of both gold and land. He would also inherit the still ongoing war in the Levant. The situation had not been totally lost as of this date even if it may have killed the previous Emperor, but it appeared dire to all that looked at it. Even King Alar of Navarre, who was cousin to this new Emperor as son of Princess Mathilda and the late King Ewen the Cruel, offered to join against the infidel. However, nothing would work. In 1420, another 42,000 landed in the Holy Land between imperial levies and mercenary companies and even with losses, there were some few gains. The Duke of Munster found victory at Hebron in May, but losses at Lydda, Huidre and especially Massada continued the trend. The regency of Eadward kept spending his considerable wealth to hire more mercenaries in some hope of stemming the tide, but it was to no avail. No matter the numbers placed to the Levant, it would not matter and every soldier there was exhausted. Even with Duke Gregory III of Meath arriving with an additional 20,000 in June of 1420 and winning a fantastic battle at Alexandretta in May of the next year, it soon became clear that the Kingdom of Jerusalem was a lost cause. There were soldiers of Britain everywhere, from the south in Egypt all the way from others landing in Byzantium and moving into the Kingdom, but at every step they would find loss. And in June of 1421, it was totally lost. In just under thirty years from 1392 to 1421, Christians had ruled in this land and had converted many of the local populace, but with the end of this war/jihad...it was all over.

It would not be the end of the attempt to fight back in the Holy Land, but they would be pressed by Pope Hormisdas II from 1422 on in what was termed the 8th Crusade. Emperor Eadward’s regency privy council could not see taking time to do any more for this lost cause and the title King of Jerusalem was destroyed. There were many other issues to tend to during this year at any rate. In 1422, there was trouble in Flanders and Anjou against their very young Duke Simon and then later in the year, the Earl of Surrey revolted against his Duke Thomas of Kent. There was little the regency could do, but they did attempt to aid young Lord Simon when one of his Barons brought his daughter to court and the regency decided to betroth this pretty Alice of Torhout to Eadward. He was 11 at the time and she 17, but the match seemed well made. Worse news was found at the end of 1422 when Eadward’s mother Queen Velasquita saw rebellion and civil war in Brittany. And finally, there were serious issues rising out of the privy council itself. There was never any love between Eadward’s master of spies Lord Thomas II of Kent and the Regent and Lord Chancellor, Lord Raymond of Leinster. The Duke of Kent felt that the regent was taking too much power to himself and enriching himself at the expense of the young Emperor. Then Lord Thomas would die in 1424. The new master of spies, Earl John of Oxford would inherit this distrust and begin to spy on the regent as well. Yet as long as Eadward remained a minor, these issues would not be solved.

These were long years as the local populations of his various kingdoms waited for Eadward to come of age and into his own. Finally he would do so in 1426 and he was quickly wed to Lady Alice. While many at court still considered this young Emperor a slow man with few wits about him, and it is possible, but he would show that there was more behind those blank eyes than a dull mind. He was already heavy set and never ceased eating well beyond what he should, and drinking as well, but once he was formally invested with all of his crowns and the imperial crown at 16, Eadward did begin to take much more interest in his affairs. For one, he was deeply unsatisfied at how the matter of Jerusalem had been handled. For some years, smaller bands of soldiers had been sent to assist the Pope and others on this renewed crusade, but they were each fleeting and much too little to fight against the massive numbers of Moslems. Further, he was angered that nothing had been done to assist his mother Queen Velasquita of Castille and Brittany. She had been unable to win her civil war in Brittany and then faced a new trouble when the Kingdom of Galicia joined her enemies in Cornouaille.

With these twin goals in his mind, Emperor Eadward huddled with his new Lord Steward Duke Amedee III of Bourbon and figured out how he win pay for his desires. For one, he would raise 15,000 soldiers to head to Iberia and fight for his mother and these men would ultimately lead her to a victory in her war by the end of 1427. She was of course grateful, especially when the Emperor paid her a visit to celebrate that victory. At the feast, Eadward would confide in his mother his much grander goal. For many months, he had been recruiting more and more soldiers, weapons, ships and horse. By the end of 1427, he would have over 80,000 men ready to head back to the Levant and retake what had been stolen from him.

​

They would soon leave out under the head of the Lord Marshal, Duke Gregory III of Meath and began arriving in the summer of 1428. A glorious victory was had in August at the Battle of Serapeum and it seemed as if a new era would be seen but it ended as soon as it began. By this date, there was a new Holy Father and Pope Sixtus V did not have the stomach of his predecessor at crusade and called it off in October of 1428. Eadward was outraged. Those that considered him slow could no long hold that opinion after he raged nightly about the craven pontiff and relations between Westminster and Rome were from that day forward broken. It was a stab in the back and Eadward never forgot it. Later issues may well have arisen from this move but we shall have to wait for that. It had not been an auspicious start to his reign and these ten years, more than any other, would drive this young Emperor for the rest of his life. He would never forgive one that crossed him and was quick to anger when he thought one might. He did not have patience with rebellion and treachery and those that attempted it did so at their own peril.

 

[stnylan]

So it seems the young Emperor has his reign pretty much get him riled from an early point, with - ah sterling assistance from the Pontiff.

With all this unfocused irritability (as it were) it makes me wonder who is going to have pay the pontiff's debts (so to speak). I pity the poor unfortunate.

 

[Nikolai]

Anger issues, pontiff troubles, eating and drinking way too much... Are there a dozen wives waiting at the other end of this tale and a religious revolution to boot?