There Will Be War - In The Balance

[ulmont]

Brittany, 1168

“Our Lord In Heaven be Praised!” King Orson shouted, raising a glass of wine to his lips and drinking deeply. “Finally, you say King Konrad has agreed?”

“Yes, my Lord, he has,” replied Chancellor Julnar. “The messenger we sent returned today with a copy of the Treaty of Britain, sealed with the Seal of the Billungs and Prussia.”

“It’s about time. That treaty has been nothing but a nightmare.”

“Yes, my Lord. Still, with no less than the territories of five Kings at stake – six, if you count the territory of the new King of Ireland, former Duke Silvester de Lusignan (or, at any rate, the territory his Regent and Mother now controls), you realized yourself that these negotiations would be long.”

“Ahh, yes. Regent of Ireland. Little Marguerite seems to have done quite well for herself out of that marriage. From King’s daughter to King’s Regent is quite the promotion.”

“Yes. Your Majesty was most wise to marry her to Duke Guy.”

“If you say so. I am not convinced she could not have served ably at court, although I agree it has worked out better for her as a result.”

“But I agree, Julnar, that the treaty negotiations were ever going to be long. Who would have thought King Agostino would hold out for Chalons over two measly counties in Wales and Scotland? Counties he could no more hope to hold true Lordship over than to hope for sainthood?”

“My Lord, King Agostino is known as a most pious man.”

“Yes, I agree. But it is also true that it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven, is it not?”

“My Lord knows his scripture well.”

“Yes. Well, suffice it to say that if King Agostino does not embark on a massive charitable campaign, and divorce himself from his Italian lands, then he has no more hope of heaven than Satan himself. That, or he has found a most novel means of passing camels through needles.”

“At least the Kings of France and Norway were easy to deal with.”

“Yes, King Henri and King Olaf were quite reasonable. Well, Brittany and France have always gotten along well. And King Olaf is, if nothing else, easy to deal with when he sees that Norway can gain as a result.”

“And I must admit, Julnar, that King Konrad was not difficult to deal with. He simply had the most interest in Britain, and so had to be dealt with the most.”

“That is true, Your Majesty. After all, Prussia did end up holding some seventeen counties in Britain, second only to Ireland…although Ireland is holding the much poorer land in Scotland.”

“Yes, well, Julnar, that does make sense…the Irish wouldn’t even know what to do with good land if they had any, so why give it to them? They can marry sheep in the highlands of Scotland as well as in the mists of Ireland.”

“Still, the thing is done. And that will have to be enough for now.”

 

[fasquardon]

Treaty of Tmutarakan

The Treaty of Tmutarakan​

The first of a series of treaties re-organising the so-called Grand Orthodox Alliance, the loose association of the major Orthodox powers that had grown out of the Chernigovian alliance of the late 11th Century, the treaty of Tmutarakan aimed at clearing away the territorial disputes between the putative allies. The process would not be a quick one. The first formal meeting of the delegates would occur late in 1151, however the perfectionism of the Georgian delegation and the interruptions of the Serbo-Roman war, the Romano-Serbian war, and the Romano-Georgian war, would delay any substantive agreement until late August of 1169.

-excerpt from Marshal Cowper's Commonwealth and Empire: Visions of Statehood and Fraternity in the Old East

From Georgia:

To Byz: Kaisereia and Atheniai to become Byzantine vassals, 2000 gold to the Byzantine Treasury
To the County of Bulgar: count of Suenik will cede Bilyar, Count of Tmutarakan will cede Tmutarakan to the County of Bulgar
To Georgia: County of Serdica will cede Yegorlyk to Georgia
To Serbia: County of Serdica will become a Serbian Vassal
To Novgorod: 2000 gold to the Novgorod re-construction fund

From Byzantium:

To Serbia: cede county of Birlad; Prince Title of Turnovo to be transferred to Serbia.

From Serbia:

To Byz: Principality of Aegean Islands to become a Byzantine Vassal

From Rus:

To Serbia: Prince title of Moldau

From Brittany:

To Byz: the county of Attaleia will become a Byzantine Vassal


FoCoG payed by Georgia

fasquardon

 

[fasquardon]

The Bagratuniad:

Aghmashenebeli:

Part 3 - The Eater of Women

"The Lady emerged from the royal chambers screaming, followed closely by the Royal person, also screaming. The words exchanged were indistinct, and besides which unfit for polite company, but I got the impression the Royal person was unsatisfied with the Lady's performance on their marital bed. It was not the first such argument I had witnessed, so I thought little of it, and continued to make the fireplace. Just as the first sparks had started to take, I heard a cry and a great crash. When I turned, the Lady was insensate on the floor, and the Royal person was standing above her, a great candlestick in his hands. By the spreading pool of blood, I knew the Lady must already have been dead." -excerpt from the testimony of Alda Liparitid regarding the murder of María Jimenez​

Vengeful, deceitful, reckless and in thrall to his lusts, it is perhaps a wonder that Kvirike Bagratuni managed to rule so well for so much of his reign, but men are bloodthirsty animals, and so we find bloody collapse more interesting than whatever will held that bloody collapse from happening sooner.

Kvirike would always have a tendency to hold grudges, often letting them shape his destiny, and consequently the destiny of all Abghazia. However, he would as often forgive those who offended him as destroy them, and it is instructive to examine the differences between the cases. The two classic examples are Bozan Lord of Itil and Vladimir Rurikovich. Bozan, who rebelled against Kvirike countless times, only to be forgiven each time, until finally, so impressed by the Propheteocrat's Christian virtue, he asked to be baptised, and became Kvirike's fast friend. In contrast Vladimir would never be forgiven. His only sin? To oppose Kvirike's schemes in Russia. This is the pattern we see throughout Kvirike's relations with his contemporaries: slights would be forgiven, but should a man stand in his way, Kvirike was his worst enemy.

In the middle ages, it is important to remember that children, and the women who produced them, were as important as land and gold in the schemes of the age. And Kvirike played the dynastic game more ruthlessly than most.

When his first wife, Elvira de Coimbra, was found in the arms of another man, he had her summarily executed. The reason? Not the personal betrayal of her vows to him (he had, after all, openly and prolifically fathered bastards to a number of young ladies of the court while they were married), but rather to refute the doubt she had cast on the legitimacy of the children she had borne him.

Kvirike was no less ruthless with his mistresses, famously driving the fearsome Anja Sigridsdatter to spend almost 20 years fighting a hellish insurgency campaign against the Seljuks, rather than risk Kvirike being too close to the inevitable lovers she collected.

Thus we can see that the murder of María Jimenez hardly came out of the blue. So if Kvirike was already know for being ruthless with women, where they intersected with his schemes, why did this murder provoke such a violent reaction from his vassals and peers? The key factor was simply this: Elvira de Coimbra and every one of his mistresses that met his wrath previously, were each tried in a court of the land. María died in a shadowy antechamber at Kvirike's own hands. For his many vassals, this was a mortal threat. If Kvirike was allowed to get away with killing his wife one day, then the next he could well come after them. The result was a massive rebellion.

It is perhaps fortunate that Kvirike died soon after the murder. In 1122, Kvirike died valorously in battle against the rebel army of Aboulgharib Taronities, Lord of Tmutarakan. His body was lain to rest in a barrow outside Aboulgharib's fortress, and the rebel Lord swore fealty to Kvirike's son, the Lord Evstati of Uzens, and now all Abghazia.

fasquardon

 

[Lurken]

[x] I, Slavko Vojislavljevic place the seal on the Treaty of Tmutarakan

 

[unmerged(87267)]

I, Andronikos Diogenes Emperor of Byzantium and King of Bulgaria, place my seal upon this treaty of Tmutarakan.

(Seal of Andronikos Diogenes.)

 

[King of Men]

The promised map:

Also some battles from the recent Irish War, in which it was stated by a coward who shall remain nameless that the Yngling infantry was not all its reputation claimed for it. Take a look:

Three battles, in each of which the Norwegians are outnumbered by amounts ranging from slightly to lots, and each of which the Norwegians are winning. It is true that in the later stages of the campaign, when the Irish took to letting the terrain do their fighting and then struck tired troops with odds of three or four to one, we were sometimes at a temporary disadvantage. But in fair fights, the Norwegians easily held their own - 'fair' being defined here as "no more than two strils per Norseman".

You should also note that at Strathclyde, my troops are in fact being commanded by a dead man, and nonetheless won the day!

 

[ulmont]

The promised map

I hate that color scheme. you can't tell Brittany from Scotland.

 

[Emperor Ike]

Ireland and Scotland proved that even Ynglings can be defeated! They are just defending themselfs by claiming that they were tired and outnumbered, just trying to cover their shame of how the irishmen defeated their King in battle twice.

 

[King of Men]

I hate that color scheme. you can't tell Brittany from Scotland.

Scotland being roughly two provinces at the moment, it's a bit of a moot point. I'll change it for next week.

 

[ulmont]

Scotland being roughly two provinces at the moment, it's a bit of a moot point. I'll change it for next week.

I think Scotland has a strip of desmense all the way across Ireland.

 

[King of Men]

The point remains.

 

[Sid Meier]

Ireland and Scotland proved that even Ynglings can be defeated! They are just defending themselfs by claiming that they were tired and outnumbered, just trying to cover their shame of how the irishmen defeated their King in battle twice.

Yeah, except all they had to do was throw your men crates of beer and they stoppped fighting.

 

[Sid Meier]

The Treaty of Tmutarakan​

The first of a series of treaties re-organising the so-called Grand Orthodox Alliance, the loose association of the major Orthodox powers that had grown out of the Chernigovian alliance of the late 11th Century, the treaty of Tmutarakan aimed at clearing away the territorial disputes between the putative allies. The process would not be a quick one. The first formal meeting of the delegates would occur late in 1151, however the perfectionism of the Georgian delegation and the interruptions of the Serbo-Roman war, the Romano-Serbian war, and the Romano-Georgian war, would delay any substantive agreement until late August of 1169.

-excerpt from Marshal Cowper's Commonwealth and Empire: Visions of Statehood and Fraternity in the Old East

From Georgia:

To Byz: Kaisereia and Atheniai to become Byzantine vassals, 2000 gold to the Byzantine Treasury
To the County of Bulgar: count of Suenik will cede Bilyar, Count of Tmutarakan will cede Tmutarakan to the County of Bulgar
To Georgia: County of Serdica will cede Yegorlyk to Georgia
To Serbia: County of Serdica will become a Serbian Vassal
To Novgorod: 2000 gold to the Novgorod re-construction fund

From Byzantium:

To Serbia: cede county of Birlad; Prince Title of Turnovo to be transferred to Serbia.

From Serbia:

To Byz: Principality of Aegean Islands to become a Byzantine Vassal

From Rus:

To Serbia: Prince title of Moldau

From Brittany:

To Byz: the county of Attaleia will become a Byzantine Vassal


FoCoG payed by Georgia

fasquardon

I forget if I placed my seal on it but to clarify things I Tsar Vassili Rurikovich the II place my seal.

 

[Sid Meier]

The Charter of the Orthodox Commonwealth

Russia 1155




Russia 1181





The History of the Russian Bear: 1066-1453 by Viktor Sibersk.


Russia under the Reign of The Vassili's[\b]

The Russian Empire in the early 1140's was possibly at its greatest height in the Middle Ages, at least in theory. It spanned from the Gulf of Finland down to the Persian guld and no single power could have possibly hoped to match it for power, wealth, and manpower. But this power was tenious at best, the lands directly vassalized or controlled by Tsar Vassili I, Tsar of All the Russyas, was still far weaker in all of the compared to its largest vassal, the Tsar of Abghazia. Luck would have it that for the Tsar of Russia he needn't worry about this arrangement too much, as the Tsar of Abghazia seemed to be made of the same cloth as the mighty Aleksandr the Great and constantly crusaded against the Muslems to his south, the alliance that has existed and lasted since the Chernigov Principality days had not waned. However as powerful as Russia was, the combined strength of its enemies is concievably greater.

Relations between the "East" consisting of the Russian Empire and the "West" consisting of nearly every major western european nation came to a head when the Crowns of Brittany, Prussia, Bohemia, Norway and Italy all seated in Prague negotiated and then delivered the Prague Ultimatum to the Russian Tsar, fearful of Russian might they sought to weaken and contain Russia threatening that unless their demands were met there would be war. They're absurd demands consisted of the following:

1) That the seemingly dual monarchy of Russia-Abghazia be split asunder.
2) The ceding of Torshok, Onega, Kexholm, and Vodi the Finnish-Novgorod peninsula to the Yngling Realm.
3) The ceding of West Ukraine to Bohemia.
4) The granting of Khazaria to an independent Principality.
5) The transfer of Belurus to the Prussian-Lithunian Commonwealth.

These demands were a travesty, ridiculas and absurd, and war would have been fought then and there with Russian regiments marching into Spain by years end had cooler heads not prevailed and a peaceful settlement reached.

Tsar Vassili Rurikovich I, in his absolute wisdom and the power invested in him by God ascquinced to the ceding of Belurus, the Finnish lands, and the splitting of the dual monarchy, the west accepted this. Complications in communications made the instant resolving of this issue impossible but by 1175 the final lands were transfered from Russia to Prussia ending its obligation. Tsar Vassili Rurikovich II, taking over from his father upon his coming of age successfully renogiated the treaty, separately of course as Italia seemed askance at even the slightest movement by the Russian Crown. In 1176 a pact of non agression was negotiated with the Britanian Crown with the details as follows.

1) Zadar ceded to Brittany
2) A Pact of Non aggression lasting until 1250(?) void if Russia participates in aggression against, Ireland, France, and Bohemia.

Attempts before this were made to negotiate the ceding of Zadar back to Serbia but miscommunications caused endless delays, so to sooth Serbian annoyance the County of Turki will be ceded to the Crown of Serbia in compensation.

Italy at the news of the ceding of Pinsk, Orsha and Minsk back to Russia expressed concern but so far nothing has come of it, hopefully this incident will go past peacefully.

However all was not peaceful in the intervening time, twice events came to a head between Russia and the Yngling realm, the first time the Principality of Novgorod, vassal to Tsar Vassili gained controll of Onega in breach of the Prague Treaty, war came quickly and while the Russians held their own at first the arrival of Breton troops forced the wars resolution Onega was ceded back with 2000 in war reparations. Then the situation threatened to turn to conflict yet again over Torshok but a diplomatic solution was reached with the province being officially declared Russian for the sum of 2000 gold.

Vasilli Rurikovich I would die and a Regent appointed, then at age 16 Vassili Rurikovich II named himself Tsar of All The Russias upon his coming of age.

 

[ulmont]

2) A Pact of Non aggression lasting until 1250(?) void if Russia participates in aggression against, Ireland, France, and Bohemia.

A few corrections. 1200, not 1250.

1177-07-02 : Vassili II (Russia) : We, agree until the date of 1200 of the year of our lord

Also, Ireland (or Scotland) is not protected.

1177-07-23 : Vassili II (Russia) : void
1177-08-02 : Vassili II (Russia) : if the Crown of Russia take parts in an act of aggression against France
1177-08-02 : Vassili II (Russia) : Bohemia

And, finally, whatever gaps are left over here are to be filled in by reference to the Treaty of Provence. Specifically, arbitration, treatment of rebellious vassals, exemption of phony wars, etc.

1177-08-03 : Ulmont (Brittany) : *For further details, see the Breton-Italian pact.

EDIT1: But note that, unlike the Breton-Italian pact, the Breton-Russian pact has no stated penalty other than the scorn of your peers.

 

[hyme]

Treaty of Danzig

the lands of Duchy of Alsace, Mazovia, and country of Baden, Galinda and wurttemberg shall be return to Bohemia and 250 piety shall be giving to rule of Prussia Otto Billung. The Duchy title of Prussia will stay with Prussia.

Bohemia pays for treaty (500 gold) and Piety for Otto Billung (1000 gold).

Jodokus Premyslid places this seal upon the treaty.

 

[fasquardon]

Treaty of Danzig

the lands of Duchy of Alsace, Mazovia, and Prussia, and country of Baden and wurttemberg shall be return to Bohemia and 500 piety shall be giving to rule of Prussia Otto Billung.

Bohemia pays for treaty (500 gold) and Piety for Otto Billung (1000 gold).

Jodokus Premyslid places this seal upon the treaty.

Each point of Piety costs 4 gold, so you'd have to spend 2000 gold to give Otto 500 piety.

fasquardon

 

[unmerged(87267)]

Aftermath and Reconstruction.

With peace in the Byzantine Empire, Thomas Diogenes sought to rectify affairs outside of his internal affairs, and focus more on making a strong Federation of Orthodox States with The Kings of Georgia and Serbia.

Initially the Councils and Discussions went well. However, Whence Thomas Heard that part of the Treaty would require him to relinquish Control over the Provinces of Bulgaria, he became angry and wrathful. In his brewing Rage, he declared War upon the Kingdom of Serbia, greedily eyeing Balkan Land. Known as the Romano-Serbian War, all Thomas Diogenes succeeded in doing was setting Balkan development years back.

Thomas and Kera’s Son, Andronikos Diogenes, became the next Emperor of the Diogenes Dynasty. Upon his fathers Death, Andronikos immediately set out to undo his father’s mistakes. Trained in the Art of War and Combat, Andronikos was an Honest, Generous and most famously Zealous Ruler. He immediately made amends with Serbia, who had lost their King in Battle against the Romans, and made peace with The Kingdom of Georgia, who had come to Serbia’s aid.

Andronikos Diogenes entered deals and discussions with Adarnese Bagratuni, and came into an agreement. Due to this Agreement, Andronikos gave Stewardship of Bulgarian Land to Slavko, King of Serbia. In return Andronikos received continuing funds from the Kingdom of Georgia, and the services of the Slavko as Strategos of the Roman Empire. Above this, Andronikos hoped, would come more land to add to his Empire, as the Roman Empire has been getting smaller year-by-year.

Internal Developments in the Empire went surprisingly Well under Andronikos’ Leadership, though due to the loss of its previous Steward and the number of Demesne given away to vassals over the years, the Empire of Byzantium’s income had been reduced by almost 1/3 of its original state.

Konstantinos Diogenes, ever loyal to the Emperor of Byzantium, has now become the Eldest Male member of the Diogenes Family at Age 55. His Sister, Sophia Diogenes, is the oldest Member of the Ancient Empirical Family.
Konstantinos Diogenes, for his Outstanding Military Service, having served the Empire as it’s Marshall for almost 25 years, winning Numerous Battles and even Wars, relying on his intellect and Marshall Instinct, was awarded the highest Military Honour in Byzantium, much gold and prestige. Konstantinos Diogenes was known throughout the Empire as one of the Heroes of the Roman Empire. Emperor Andronikos commissioned his statue to be built in Constantinople, next to the Statues of Julius Caesar and Flavius Belisarius.

Konstantinos, leaving the duties of Marshall temporarily to his Son, the Brilliant Young Strategist Andreas Diogenes, took a leave of absence to a house of his on the Island of Rhodos.
Even as a testament to his competence on the Battlefield, Konstantinos, though he had fought no Grand Battles in the service of Andronikos, led a resistance Force in the Island of Rhodos against rebelling Peasants. 130 Peasants Armed with Pikes, Torches and the occasional Shovel marched on Rhodos’ Center of Government. The only able bodied Soldiers in the Vicinity were the local Guards.

Through Konstantinos’ planning, 30 Government hired Prefects and volunteers slew over 100 Peasant Revolters. Though not recorded as one of his greatest Battles, it may have been the one battle that most exemplified his Military Genius. Unfortunately, this victory did not deter the people of Rhodos, who rebelled three more times after Konstantinos had left.


OOC:

Just barely made it over the 500 Word Count I believe. Missed last session and was swamped this week so excuse the fragileness of the AAR please

 

[Emperor Ike]

Scotland loyal to the Empire​

After serious defeats Silvester de Lusignan retreated to safety of his castle in Scotland leaving the power to his council. Now that the kingdom didn't have a real ruler the council started to argue what should be done. After long weeks of arguing the council decided to appoint Rober de Lusignan, Silvesters brother to be the temporaty "king". Robert now had all the powers that his brother had. Scotland has lost many provinces to Kingdom of Norway but now news came that Breton Empire has taken over Irish and Scottish provinces that were held by Norway. It would now only be a matter of time before Brittany would take all of Scotland. So Robert decided to call upon a meeting between him and the Emperor in Strachyle.

"For your majesties to sign between this treaty of vassalization" Cardinal Ike said walking towards the Robert and Breton Emperor. "To confirm with your seals the vassalisation of Scotland" Cardinal said while puting the treaty on the table. "I say to you again in my powers as the chanchelor of Scotland that you should sign this treaty of friendship one to another and never break it, so help you God" Cardinal said. Both Kings signed the treaty and people in the room applauded loudly.

Robert de Lusignan Lord of Scotland, Lord of Ireland and King of all Britain


((This is just to give you a clue what happened between Brittany and Scotland. This all is allready edited but it depends on Ulmont will it be a vassal king or duke))

 

[carillon]

Otto I, King of Prussia, Finland and Wales, Most Christian Defender places his seal upon the treaty of Danzig.