In the Year of Our Lord one thousand sixty-six, Berthold von Zähringen, duke of Kärnten and Verona, granted his second son Berthold the county of Baden.
This is generally regarded as one of the less inspired actions of his life.
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Dynasty: von Zähringen
Title: Count of Baden (at least at the beginning)
Year: 1066 (if you couldn't tell from the introduction)
Patch: 1.05
Goals: Become Duke of Swabia, and then cause as much trouble for my elder brother Hermann as possible without directly inheriting his lands (that would be too easy) or killing him (that too),* thereby making mine the main branch of the von Zähringen family. Plus whatever comes up along the way.
Once (or I should say if) I get to 1400 or 1410 or sometime around then, I'll move everything over to EU2 (not using the conversion tool, which I don't like at all). I might go to Victoria and (less likely) Hearts of Iron after that.
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PART I: INHERITANCE THE HARD WAY
The first event of the game comes in January 1067, when (currently about 11 years old) Count Berthold's personality matures, and shows himself to be a conniver. Interestingly enough, that is how I will play him for much of this, not necessarily due to that event.
The next thing to happen is in November 1068 (boring early years), when a noble named Martin flees to my court from a distant land and I give him sanctuary. This gives him a claim on my title, for absolutely no other reason than to confuse me, apparently.
On January 28, 1069, old Berthold (the Duke) dies and is replaced by young Berthold (the Count)'s older brother Hermann. I get a claim on Kärnten, which will become important later on (much later on).
On October 25, 1070, the Pope calls for crusades to retake Jerusalem from the Muslims. However, everybody takes a look at the size of the Fatimid army and decides to pass on the opportunity.
In 1071, Berthold comes of age, and is discovered to be a brilliant strategist. Sweet. Too bad I'm not likely to end up in any wars.
I'm going to hold off marriage, however, until the eldest daughter of the Duke of Swabia comes of age. He doesn't have any sons, and if I pull this off correctly I'll get an easy duchy. If I don't, hey, that's what the "Send Assassin" button and a complete disregard for where my prestige and piety end up is for.
On June 29 of that year, a war veteran offers his services. I make him my marshal...
...and he lasts all the way until August 4 before he dies of old age. This will become a trend, as my marshals have an annoying tendancy to die of old age not long after being appointed. I don't know what it is, but I'll just go along with it.
Nothing happens until January of 1074. That's when Adelaide, the aforementioned daughter of the Duke of Swabia comes of age. My first request for marriage is declined, but on January 19, the Duke accepts my second proposal.
The first child of this marriage comes on October 13 of that year... and is a girl, Gerberga. Ah, well, we'll just try again.
The next one comes on October 7, 1075, and this time it's a boy. His name is Johann von Zähringen, and, God willing, the next Duke of Swabia. If God isn't willing, then I'll just have to be, if you get my meaning.
Unfortuantely, the Duke of Swabia makes the error of having a son not long after. He dies on November 27, 1078, before I can fix the error. But I still have a chance, as if he happens to die before his majority (and thus him having children) Johann will still inherit.
This gives me about 15 years to fix things. I'm not worried.
On June 4, 1079, a new tile factory is completed in Baden. That means I get more money, somehow.
On January 1, 1080, Berthold and Adelaide decide to have some insurance and get a second son, Hermann. Hey, the more the merrier.
Exactly one month later, on February 1, I finally get a chance to deal with the new Duke of Swabia. The assassin is sent, and it is successful. Yes, I'm found out and lose 100 presige and piety. I don't even notice that much, really.
In any case, Johann is now Duke, which creates the interesting situation where the lord is the very young son of the vassal.
Meanwhile, France is in the process of collapsing. The dutchies of Flanders, Burgundy, Aquitaine, Champagne, and Bretagne all break away, along with several counts. Germany is also grabbing a couple counties on the border. Ah, what a mess.
On April 22, 1083, I get a third son (!) named Albrecht. Hurrah, although I don't really need another one.
On December 27 of that year, the aforementioned collapse of France ends when Raymond Bernard of Carcassone decides he wants France for himself. He defeats the tititular king and takes that title. Aquitaine and Champagne decide to rejoin the kingdom.
The next event isn't until 1087 when, on January 9, Berthold dies of pneumonia and is succeded by the 11 year old Duke of Swabia. That goal is finally complete.
__________
*That is not to say that there will be no killing in this AAR.
This is generally regarded as one of the less inspired actions of his life.
- - - - - - - -
Dynasty: von Zähringen
Title: Count of Baden (at least at the beginning)
Year: 1066 (if you couldn't tell from the introduction)
Patch: 1.05
Goals: Become Duke of Swabia, and then cause as much trouble for my elder brother Hermann as possible without directly inheriting his lands (that would be too easy) or killing him (that too),* thereby making mine the main branch of the von Zähringen family. Plus whatever comes up along the way.
Once (or I should say if) I get to 1400 or 1410 or sometime around then, I'll move everything over to EU2 (not using the conversion tool, which I don't like at all). I might go to Victoria and (less likely) Hearts of Iron after that.
- - - - - - - -
PART I: INHERITANCE THE HARD WAY
The first event of the game comes in January 1067, when (currently about 11 years old) Count Berthold's personality matures, and shows himself to be a conniver. Interestingly enough, that is how I will play him for much of this, not necessarily due to that event.
The next thing to happen is in November 1068 (boring early years), when a noble named Martin flees to my court from a distant land and I give him sanctuary. This gives him a claim on my title, for absolutely no other reason than to confuse me, apparently.
On January 28, 1069, old Berthold (the Duke) dies and is replaced by young Berthold (the Count)'s older brother Hermann. I get a claim on Kärnten, which will become important later on (much later on).
On October 25, 1070, the Pope calls for crusades to retake Jerusalem from the Muslims. However, everybody takes a look at the size of the Fatimid army and decides to pass on the opportunity.
In 1071, Berthold comes of age, and is discovered to be a brilliant strategist. Sweet. Too bad I'm not likely to end up in any wars.
I'm going to hold off marriage, however, until the eldest daughter of the Duke of Swabia comes of age. He doesn't have any sons, and if I pull this off correctly I'll get an easy duchy. If I don't, hey, that's what the "Send Assassin" button and a complete disregard for where my prestige and piety end up is for.
On June 29 of that year, a war veteran offers his services. I make him my marshal...
...and he lasts all the way until August 4 before he dies of old age. This will become a trend, as my marshals have an annoying tendancy to die of old age not long after being appointed. I don't know what it is, but I'll just go along with it.
Nothing happens until January of 1074. That's when Adelaide, the aforementioned daughter of the Duke of Swabia comes of age. My first request for marriage is declined, but on January 19, the Duke accepts my second proposal.
The first child of this marriage comes on October 13 of that year... and is a girl, Gerberga. Ah, well, we'll just try again.
The next one comes on October 7, 1075, and this time it's a boy. His name is Johann von Zähringen, and, God willing, the next Duke of Swabia. If God isn't willing, then I'll just have to be, if you get my meaning.
Unfortuantely, the Duke of Swabia makes the error of having a son not long after. He dies on November 27, 1078, before I can fix the error. But I still have a chance, as if he happens to die before his majority (and thus him having children) Johann will still inherit.
This gives me about 15 years to fix things. I'm not worried.
On June 4, 1079, a new tile factory is completed in Baden. That means I get more money, somehow.
On January 1, 1080, Berthold and Adelaide decide to have some insurance and get a second son, Hermann. Hey, the more the merrier.
Exactly one month later, on February 1, I finally get a chance to deal with the new Duke of Swabia. The assassin is sent, and it is successful. Yes, I'm found out and lose 100 presige and piety. I don't even notice that much, really.
In any case, Johann is now Duke, which creates the interesting situation where the lord is the very young son of the vassal.
Meanwhile, France is in the process of collapsing. The dutchies of Flanders, Burgundy, Aquitaine, Champagne, and Bretagne all break away, along with several counts. Germany is also grabbing a couple counties on the border. Ah, what a mess.
On April 22, 1083, I get a third son (!) named Albrecht. Hurrah, although I don't really need another one.
On December 27 of that year, the aforementioned collapse of France ends when Raymond Bernard of Carcassone decides he wants France for himself. He defeats the tititular king and takes that title. Aquitaine and Champagne decide to rejoin the kingdom.
The next event isn't until 1087 when, on January 9, Berthold dies of pneumonia and is succeded by the 11 year old Duke of Swabia. That goal is finally complete.
__________
*That is not to say that there will be no killing in this AAR.