(von) Vlaanderern' around in the North Sea (A Dutch/Flanders AAR)

[bod305]

So, this is my first attempt at an AAR. After deliberation, I've decided to play as Flanders, in northern France. The goal of the AAR will be to survive until the end-date, having formed the Kingdom of Holland (which, in game, is part of the Kingdom of Lotharingia, so we'll be forming that and including Flanders), and reach to... finite goals and beyond! Because, dynasties can't go on forever. I'll be doing this AAR from the very beginning, September 15, 1066, playing as Duke Boudewijn V of Flanders. I'm using the Sword of Islam, The Republic, and Legacy of Rome DLCs, as well as the CK2+ mod, game running on patch 1.09. I'll do my best to play my characters in-character, and no reloading if things go poorly.

The AAR itself will be done in a comedic, first person style. Without further ado (and a big thanks to imgur, as its where I upload my images for this AAR), let's begin!
---

Table of Contents​

Chapter One; Watching Early Wars

 

[bod305]

Today is September 15. My son-in-law, the Duke of Normandy, the lion to the west, has set about his quest to conquer England. (I don't know why he'd really want to, it's so very... wet.)
Well, whatever he does, should he win, my daughter will be queen. By the way, this is me.

Charming, aren't I? Ehum, anyway. In an ironic twist of fate, as William left for England to conquer, those Britons to the further west, invaded France to claim Normandy. The young king, well, he didn't like that. And while I could document the internal politics of my realm, I'll do that later. War is so much more interesting.
Though, I don't know what the Duke of Brittany wanted to achieve, he was so hopelessly outnumbered...

During the height of the 'war', the good young king saw fit to name me his steward. Quite right! So, I counted all those shiny coins while the soldiers fought in those muddy fields.

The warm fires of Paris, and the good food, was nice for my old bones. My fighting days where long done. Though, as the war with Brittany was nearly over after that one battle, the war in England was only beginning to rage at its fiercest. In April of 1067, I got news that my son-in-law had engaged the English forces.

After the battle, in May, I recieved a letter from William! The old king, Harold, perished in battle against the King of Norway, and the new king, Godwine I, was captured in battle by William, in that large engagement. He won! The wars where over, and by 1068, my daughter was a queen, and I, sipping my '87 red, counted the young king's coppers. However, King William still had to fend off the Norwegian Invasion of old King Harold.

 

[Lord Blekinge]

A nice start, I am planning to do a Flanders game after my current d'Hauteville game finishes. Good luck!