For the future stability of the Carolingian realm, Bjorn rescinded the last, mad edict of his grandfather. Although the Frankish kings had split their realms amongst their children, Bjorn recognized that such fractured kingdoms would have no chance of survival. He decreed that inheritance would be bequeathed according to the tenets of salic primogeniture: inheritance would pass to the first born son or the closest living male heir, and would only be allowed to pass through males (as much as he loved some of his daughters, the trifecta of inbred women he had spawned shunned him from more liberal inheritance laws).
Torbjorn was up set at this change of events - understandably so. Bjorn attempted to placate him with the knowledge that his last will and testement, did in fact provide for Torbjorn. Regardless, his sons seemed to remain on amiable terms with him.
Aside from internal politics, Bjorn continued his war against the last hurdle to his lifelong goal. In 1267 he attacked the Emir of Toledo to lay claim to Barcelona. Of course, rumors of the harbor's physical wealth were somewhat exaggerated. Emir Dhu'-Mun was the true magic behind the city's wealth due to his status as a genius mathematician and master of logistics rumored to create fountains of gold from sand.
(he gets 20 gold per turn from Barcelona, but he's bankrupt...)
By June of 1268, Bjorn had forced the Emir into submission (although war with his liege, the King of Zenata would continue on for some months more). Envoys were sent to the pope to have Bjorn crowned King of Aragon in absentia by virtue of his possession of the realm and his defense of Christiandom against Muslim aggression.
Bjorn began to rearrange the grants of land throughout his empire to consolidate power for the future. Many vassals staunchly opposed the act - fearing that changes of their boundaries would represent decreased claims on hereditary rule. However, low taxes and peace throughout the realm pacified much of the opposition.
However, while surveying the lands in his new Kingdom, he was attacked around dusk by a group of well-trained assassins. He fought his way through his attackers but was severely injured in the engagement.
While laying bed-ridden for months, Bjorn was forced to delegate the task of pacifying unruly vassals to his marshal. Metz, Foix and Pest were brought back into the folds of the empire. The bisopric of Anjou - the bishop himself a friend of Thomas - managed to elude Bjorn's marshal for quite some time.
Fearing that his wound held ill omens, in his enfeebled form Bjorn attempted to convince various religious figures to aid the populace - noble and peasant alike. Wary of the church's talk of poverty and penitence, but seeing only opulence, Bjorn pushed hard for some reform.
By August he was able to watch his young daughter's marriage. Seeing that the last of his good daughters would be well taken care of and feeling somewhat better after nearly a year of rest, Bjorn attempted to return to running his realm.
However, in September his injuries became inflammed and old scars began to fester.
Fearing the end of his days would soon be upon him, Bjorn summoned his sons to his bedside in the Krak des Karlings. The event coincided with the anniversary of the death of Bjorn's father, William. Thomas soon arrived from the house seat at Vermandois, while Torbjorn - unexpectedly soon - also soon arrived.
With his sons at his side, he lifted himself from his bed. Taking a crown from his nightstand he held it out and said to Torbjorn, "Your fighting spirit and martial prowess will make you a great warrior. So that you may practice your craft and aid Christiandom, I grant you the realm of Aragon."
Coughing and sputtering he turned to his other son, Thomas, and said, "You are a magician with words and numbers. So that you may bring our family great wealth and power, I grant you the realm of Burgundy."
He sank back into his bed, wheezing from exhaustion.
Five days later he passed away.
However, there is much suspicion behind the death of Bjorn.
Bjorn was the son of William (who was a heretic, excommunicated by the Pope). When Bjorn refused to follow the heretical beliefs of his father William, William began to seek other propsective followers.
Now, William had 4 sons: Bjorn, Henry, Osmond and Godfrey. Only Bjorn was a legitimate heir, as his other 3 sons were bastards. William gave the county of Eu and the county of Amiens to Osmond repeatedly, but he continually attempted to use the land to rebel against William's heretical beliefs.
Subsequently, in his last year William stopped issuing lands to his son, but developed a protege in Henry (Godfrey was, at this time, too young to be considered). Henry subsequently adopted his father's heretical beliefs.
When Bjorn's sons came of age, Henry befriended them and managed to convert Thomas to William's heretical beliefs (Torbjorn can see Thomas' heretical beliefs because he is a friend, but Bjorn could not). Henry also proclaimed that he was a legitimate son and not a bastard (at least not in the literal sense).
So there are 3 likely rationales behind the patricide/fratricide:
Henry, in a long-running bid to become king assassinated Bjorn.
Thomas, as the next in line to inherit attempted to take the throne before Bjorn could discover his heretical beliefs or he got excommunicated (or he's just power hungry)
Torbjorn, disenchanted at the thought of being disinherited plotted an assassination of revenge (and may still be considering murdering his only (nearly twin) brother.
Your next ruler:
(and if you're greatly concerned about retrieving Aragon, Torbjorn has only managed to have daughters survive so far)
Maps will have to come tomorrow. Also, potential google docs/dropbox links or emails for whoever decides they want to be next in line.
Yeah, that's way worse than being mad. Does anybody remember the event tree for getting rid of that? There's a piety floor that triggers good reform events, right? Of course, you can always just run with it and RP, your choice.
PS-> I'm more than happy to jump back in whenever my turn comes up again.
I don't know of a way to gift lands or titles to foreign rulers outside modifying game files, otherwise I'd have tried harder to get Torbjorn the island of Burgundian land still in Aragon from Luxembourg (unfortunately it's Lux's vassal).
As for why I kept the duke title: I gave Torbjorn 3 or 4 duke titles already, and he has boatloads of land. I was trying to match my duchy titles somewhat geographically with their historical counterparts, but I didn't have anything for the south, so I figured I'd just use Barcelona...but then I forgot.
Long desired maps: now with less blue (Aragon, in-game, is also blue).
The placement of key duchies and individual counties:
The Carolingian sphere:
The ridiculously huge map of contiguous empires in the known world:
Ouch, so much for mighty Byzantium. Poland is looking pretty impressive. The inclusion of Polish Netherlands makes them feel like our Habsburgs. Scottish Scandinavia is just bizarre though.
Edit: Aragon is actually a lot larger than I thought it would be too. Might actually be enough to push out the Muslims.
It was helpful to have Alexandria (and eventually Rome) for carving out Aragon, but it's fairly overpowering to have Rome, Ile de France and Alexandria (short of adding Venice and Constantinople to that mix). So the best form of collapse would be managing to dump off Alexandria at least. Alexander attempted to do that, but then it came right back into my empire without any input from me. And I've never taken Rome before; I was expecting the pope to request it back.
Unfortunately, vanilla CK is pretty bad about random minors requesting to be vassalized. DVIP attempts to fix that and the overseas empires, but it's a bit harder to use the save game converters with it. When we do convert, I would recommend chopping off disparate areas of empires into independent states (or combining them with neighbors).
For example, Genoa - which formed Italy - has very few provinces actually next to each other, but they basically own Genoa/Milan and the western and central Italian peninsula. Our Duchy of Pest could easily be the creation of a more stable Hungary (the actual Kingdom of Hungary is all over the board and doesn't have any 2 provinces neighboring eachother). Somehow Rhodes replaced Byzantium as the go-to power in the East. They took Greece and the a huge swath near Moscow (and another tiny one in Belarus/Eastern Poland).
Also, I think I'll move the giant map in-line inside a spoiler sinc there're around 100 people that view them and it shouldn't kill my bandwidth.
Oh, I'm for sure at the very least turning things like Polish Ireland into an independent state. Some of them I'll keep vassalized (like, I think, Polish Netherlands).
enlightenedbum on
Self-righteousness is incompatible with coalition building.
Yeah, I'm all for fudging the borders to create more coherent nation-states when it comes time to convert over to EU3. Especially since I won't be the person who has to do it... :P
If holding a ducal title, not of the kingdom's culture, and significantly separate, ally.
If holding a any title of the kingdoms culture and physically separate from the demanse or an series of vassals connected to the demanse, vassal. Ducal titles connected in such a manner are vassals with the exception of those with a personal demanse of one province.
This allows far flung territories like Alexandria to be something like the Raj and forces kingdoms to deal with powerful vassals like historical Burgandy.
An important question for when the time comes: anybody feel vaguely artistic and interested in making flags? I'm pretty sure there are going to be a fair number of new countries that will need assets like that. Possibly including ourselves, unless we just decide we're Burgundy.
enlightenedbum on
Self-righteousness is incompatible with coalition building.
The stock flag for Burgundy in EU3 is hideous, so I'm all for designing something of our own. And I'd be willing to help out with some flag designs, as long as we have some specs to work with in terms of size/file type. My graphics skills are so-so at best.
Technically we should the Frankish Empire (whose name developed into France). Burgundy is its own separate entity; we just happened to have come across that king title first (since no one has it at the start of the game).
If possible we should set up a new tag for ourselves or use a less-used one, and let Burgundy potentially be Burgundy. Unfortuantely the Papal States, Poland and us are taking up Burgundy's historical position, but it's conceivable it could be released.
As another option, we could be a random tag, and have another random tag for the Frankish Empire (or Carolingian Empire or whatever) to be obtained via national decision (potentially requiring a ruler with X stats and the historic lands of Charlemagne's realm (and possibly other requirements). After CK it's going to be more and more difficult to transfer the saves, since there'll be ever increasing numbers of mod files.
Also, I'm not sure how HTTT handles colonization, but it'd be nice if it didn't start until around 1500 or so (I think assorted mods handle it with requiring two separate colonization-dedicated national ideas or something similar).
We'll also need to figure something out for the HRE. I believe Bohemia holds the crown, but Bohemia is basically the worst kingdom around. I think most converters actually handle it by who it decides to convert to German/Italian minors, but I foresee some editing in the works.
Flags are 64x64 targa (.tga) files. Enlightenedbum wanted to use his avatar cross for the actual country, but we may be able to use other adjusted flags depending on the situation (e.g. if we use the cross, it may make sense to throw it on Aragon's flag or something).
While I'd be hesitant to start making flags for places that may or may not exist by the end of the CK run, our lands should remain in some form (otherwise how would we continue :P ), so potential flag ideas:
Vermandois
Stylized combination of Vermandois and Valois
Based on the monogram of Charlemagne:
Alternative monogram with fleur-de-lis (which has a tenuous link with the Carolingians and late Middle Age/Renaissance paintings often depict him wearing):
Based on the famous 15th century painting of Charlemagne by Dürer (with the coat of arms of the HRE and France in the background):
Enlightendbum's favored Carolingian Cross (so named for its copious amounts of Cs and not anything Charlemagne-related):
Based on the French Oriflamme, which - like the spread of fleur-de-lis on a field of azure - has some links with Charlemagne (...and Byzantium):
I think I like the Vermandois+Valois for a starting flag that gets upgraded to the oriflamme when the empire is potentially reborn via event. I like the Dürer concept, but it feels somewhat unoriginal (since France will be running around with it and Germany could potentially form). Although the monogram or the cross would be easiest to imprint over our vassal's basic flag image.
OK I'm done with the gameplay and I'm sorting out the screenshots. Some notes:
1. Please update your CKDV to patch 2.1 beta (found here) The original CKDV comes with a bug that increases everyone's relationship with each other with each load, causing it to max out. The result is an orgy of ridiculous vassalisations (That's why you have Poland everywhere).
2. The reign of Thomas lasted for 20 years. Despite countless rebellions, Burgundy has consolidated its dominance in France.
3. Aragon didn't last.
4. Thanks in part to the relationship bug in (1), we now have a few big rivals.
There are so many rebellions it's really impossible to thread a story with them, so I've placed them outside of the main text. Unless otherwise stated, I eventually retook the territory and left them be.
And so, now I am King. And what a King I will be - I will not be gullible like father, who thinks the Church holds real power over our spirit; but in other ways, I will be like him - I will be just to my subjects, and I hope to bring stability to my country.
1269 AD
Father left me with a siege at Anjou - the results of which - it is a given.
October 14
Anjou is conquered. The false bishop is kicked out of the realm and the realm is added to the royal demesne.
How do I know the bishop is false? Why, they are all bloodsuckers! How else do you explain that the Pope sits in Transylvania, home of legendary vampires?
They can't be trusted, I tell you.
1270 AD
Rebellions:
- Jan 21, C.Auxerre and D.Flanders. Brugge taken from Flanders as punishment.
- May 05, D.Orleans. Bourges taken as punishment.
September 25
Theives disbanded in the capital. I must be doing something right, oui?
December 20 Curses. The battle at Tourraine went well and D.Orleans is in retreat, but a lucky archer managed to hit me. Now I am bedridden.
1271 AD
Rebellions:
None! Huzzah!
January 03
Hamelin - my second son - will be entrusted to the local nobles for upbringing. He must be a trusty character if he were to help his elder brother rule the realm, when the time comes.
February 02
Amazing news at the Chancellor's desk - Count of Rosello and Countess of Orbetello have begged that we accept them as a vassal. Who am I to say no?
April 23
Perhaps my injury gets me more "sympathy votes"? Today C.Albret has agreed to accept me as his liege.
May 30
Gauthier will remain with me, where I can teach him the fine art of kingship.
September 03
Finally, I found a way to be rid of the diocese bishop (a.k.a Papal Spy). I made him bishop to Bourges, a province I confiscated from the previously-rebelling D.Orleans.
December 27
As if a sign that I did the right thing to be rid of the bishop, a healer comes to Paris to cure my injury. I am well again.
1272 AD
Rebellions:
None! Huzzah!
March 01
The bishop of Armagnac is excommunicated. Whoever heard of an excommunicated bishop? If anything, this man is a contradiction in terms - evidence of the fallacies of the Papacy - one I intend to wipe from the realm.
June 04
Gauthier is now old enough to attend to me at court.
1273 AD - War of the White Eagle
Rebellions:
Aug 01 - D.Orleans. Confiscated his Ducal title. (None of his lands are actually in Orleans anyway)
June 02
With the realm in peace, it is time to complete our conquest of all of Anjou. The only province left is Vendome - a Polish vassal. C.Vendome also controls Oxford in the English isle. Of course, this means Poland has declared war to defend their vassal - but I'm confident that we can handle whatever the Polish King intends to throw at us.
June 22
With Vendome & Oxford subdued, the army now focuses on convincing the Polish King to agree to a ceasefire. To that effect, Polish royal holdings were conquered:
Jul 16
Poland is more stubborn than I thought. King Imre insists on a pitched battle, landing his impressive army on the coast of Normandy.
Of course, our levy from the capital holdings are far, far greater than "impressive".
Pwn'd!
July 22
Meanwhile the attacks on Polish royal demesnes continue unabated and one of our divisions find themselves in control of the capital, Krakow.
July 24
They think just because we're at war that I won't catch them trying to con money from me. Ha! Never! You Bloodsuckers!
July 26
The Polish invasion persists to be an impotent murmur. The Polish King has unwisely spread his troops all over the coast of Normandy, allowing me to pick them off easily with superior numbers. Meanwhile, I ignored the option to sell titles for money.
August 13
Imre finally realises the futility of his counterattack and agrees to peace.
October 30
That SLUT! SO Gauthier is none of mine! I should have known...
I cannot bear to look on him any longer. The steward arranged for his fostership with Tobjorn in Aragon.
1274
Rebellions:
October 15 C.Albret & Armagnac.
May 22
Hamelin is my only legitimate son now - I know, because I went over the spy reports twice. He therefore must be schooled in the ways of the court.
August 02
Today we march for Geneve to include that mountainous land as part of our Kingdom. The result is inevitable.
November 11
A pleasant surprise today as Robert D.Gloucester offered to served under Burgundy. The man has some very strong provinces, including Essex (and therefore London)
1275
Rebellions:
- February 10. C.Chalons.
- June 01. C.Vannes.
- October 01. C.Tourraine & LaMarche. I took LaMarche from him this time.
1276
Rebellions:
- January 13. D.Flanders. I took from him the County of Pecs.
- May 12. C.Foix.
- October 05. C.Leiningen.
1277
Rebellions:
- August 16. C.Vannes.
January 03
We subdued C.Leiningen. After making sure he learnt his lesson, the army moves southward to Sundgau. Sundgau he broken free a few years ago without me knowing. Doesn't mean I've forgotten though.
May 25
Sundgau is ours. C.Sundgau (a relative no less!) is made to retake his oaths.
June 16
With the eastern fringe of the empire settled, I turn my eye to the west - C.Thouars is a vassal of the King of Bohemia - a mewling of a kingdom with less than a handful of provinces to call it's own.
The King of Bohemia quickly agreed to peace after Thouars fell.
September 10
There's a rumor going around that Hamelin beat up a servant. Now a child of 8 beating down a servant is really something! Hamelin protested that it was slander, of course. But the rumour stuck and now everyone thinks my little boy is a tyrant. Being known to be a bully isn't a bad thing, you know... just don't get called.
September 26
Superb news as another lord seeks my protection - C.Gelre isn't at war with anyone, and his province is moderately rich, and is actually near enough for me to defend if he gets into trouble. Welcome I say!
Novermber 11
Marie, that slut, dies. She was carrying our child - or at least I hope was mine. A proper burial was ordered, but I shed no tear for such a faithless woman.
A new Queen is sought amongst the brightest in the known world, as soon as possible. And I have my eyes on a Greek courtier serving the Counts of Somerset, the talented Eirene... A good day is selected for the wedding, and Eirene will take charge of my diplomatic matters in Burgundy.
November 19
The marriage duties came up to just over 3000 ducats, doubling our treasury!
1278 - The War of the Red Lion
Rebellions:
None! Huzzah!
February 02
Spring brings the refreshing air of love. Eirene is all that a man can hope for - capable, smart, and beautiful.
February 13
The past year saw a back-and-forth campaign between the Scots and the Italians. Their troops traverse our lands more often than my own men do - and that's counting all the rebellions! This gallivanting has got to stop, and I think Scotland is exhausted enough not to mind losing a few of their territories in France in the process...
March 20
Our first strike at Macon goes well. The Scots were taken completely by surprise.
April 18
Nonetheless their response is quick. The reinforcements meant to support the troops further south were channeled to attack Burgundian lands. We leave them to rampage for now. Having captured Macon, our Charolais strike force was sent southwards to conquer the Scot royal demesne there..
May 18
Charolais strike force proceeded to attack Viviers, an independent County that makes an excellent outpost on our way south.
July 09
Another division the LaMarche strike force, is sent to stop any Scottish forces they encounter inland.
August 09
The conquest of Viviers proceeds smoothly, and we expand into Gevaudan another independent County bordering the west of Viviers.
September 05
Tougher resistance than expected along LaMarche's front. Reinforcements sent from Anjou.
November 14
Reinforcements meet the LaMarche regiment just in time as the first big battle between Scotland and Burgundy unfurls.
In the end the Scots couldn't hold their lines against a well rested, Burgundian army that's confident at home.
December 07
Our emboldened LaMarche regiment continues to hunt the retreating Scottish main army. Meanwhile reinforcements are called from Nevers and Lyons to liberate Scot-occupied Charolais and deal with some of the Scottish forces that got past the front lines at Lyons.
Meanwhile, our Macon strike force steams captures the Scottish lands to the south of France. Smaller regiments were sent westward after the disparate Scottish territories there too.
1279
Rebellions:
December 26. C.Chalons.
January 20
Another showdown as LaMarche strike force catches the Scottish main army in Tourraine. We fought in Tourraine so often (no thanks to a certain rebelious lord), there's really no better advantage. Scotland was routed.
March 20
Our Macon strike force journeys northwards, capturing all 3 Scot provinces in Southern France, and they continue northwards towards an unguarded Limousin. The LaMarche strike force continues to hunt the Scottish main army into Anjou.
May 11
With the siege of Limousin under way, Dijon was captured.
May 21
With his main force in tatters and losing territories on the mainland, Donald King of Scots did the only wise thing - accept the peace deal, ceding most of his possessions in South France to Burgundy. The exception being Limousin, Auvergne, and Dijon. Here's the new map:
September 18
Mindful of the bad reputation after seizing so many territories from Scotland, I decided to reduce my holdings. Chief of which Arques is entrusted to the D.Normandy.
October 18
Amazingly I found a bishop with the same thoughts as I regarding the Pope. I appointed him the diocese bishop.
1280
Rebellions:
- July 21. C.Troyes.
March 05
Bardas - the first offspring by Eirene.
June 06
A suitable girl is found for Gauthier (the Bastard) - a Catalan courtier serving the C.Leon (who happens to be party of Burgundy). The girl is exceptionally talented.
June 30
Finding a good match for my son obviously impressed others.
August 09
Again the Church seeks to profit from the hard work of others. I bade them to speak unto my hand, and go.
September 23
My dislike of the church finally caught the Pope's eye and he threatened to excommunicate me.
Damn you people! I just returned from my throne room in the center of plague-ridden Barcelona and this medieval version of Sims is pretty addictive... I keep getting annihilated and vassalised with every other country, but I'm getting a great run with Barcelona. Personal favorite amongst the Paradox games for me.
You guys are pretty awesome for trying this adventure! Fun to read too! Sorry if I missed it, but what difficulty are you guys playing at? Normal/normal i guess? Keep this gig up guys
EDIT: At the rate we're going, we may need to make a new religion for ourselves, Henry VIII style.
So, basically we're Cathars now? (and by we I mean those of you who are playing) A major 13th century French heretical movement? Yea that has Cathar written all over it. Good luck with that. A crusadish thing was called to push them out of France, but with nobody really having the power to do that and with the Pope being in exile, you might be able to pull it off. For role-playing flavor, if you decide to take this route, here is the wiki entry.
EDIT: Sorry, apparently I can't read straight, Cathars were big in the 12th century and were wiped out in the 13th, but still it's the best one I could find.
Seems like Excommunication is the worst the Pope can do. Pathetic.
1281
Rebllions:
March 12. C.Albret & Armagnac
April 07. D.Alsace - my ally
May 06. C.Oxford
June 26. C.Thoaurs
June 19
At least a bit of good news in Court. The bishop has some success preaching against the false pope.
November 05
With the world seemingly against me, Eirene's silent support through this excommunication makes be think our love for each other must be for real.
1982
Rebellions:
None! Huzzah! Could that all the sting of an Excommunication has?
April 10
The false pope declares a crusade to free Jerusalem. Well I don't feel obliged to do what the church says. Burgundy Alexandria is closed to the Crusaders. (Actually nobody seemed to respond to this Crusades)
October 21
Feeling cheated of his inheritance, Gauthier demanded I re-institute him as a true heir. What nonsense.
1983
Rebellions:
- May 30. D.Burgundy. I took Macon as punishment.
- June 01. D.Flanders. Took his Duchy title this time.
- June 16. C.Vannes.
February 11
Do I dare?...well it turns out, I do. We declared on Scotland again. This time to capture Auvergne and Limousin. Plus, C.Auvergne is the Papal Controller, seems like some righteous smacking is in order.
Anyway the Count of Auvergne is a pompous self-righteous arse without an heir.
Hey Zavie, I hear your wife's mighty lonely at night!
April 03
The outcome is inevitable. Zavie Dunkeld is stripped of his title, which is awarded to a claim-holder that turned up at court the other day.
Meanwhile, the expedition force is sent eastwards to capture Scot-held provinces and convince King Donald to come to the negotiation table.
May 13
We almost moved against Donald's provinces in England.
May 19
Limousin and Aargau fall on the same day.
The victorious Aargau strike force is sent eastwards to Niederbayern.
August 03
News reach us that the a popular revolt in Montpellier was successful in throwing off the Polish yoke and becoming independent.
September 23
Niderbayern is captured, yet King Donald refuses to parlay.
December 12
Morava, far to east, is captured. Donald finally agrees to part with Auvergne and Limousin.
1284 - Bumper Crop of Rebellions
Rebellions:
- February 07 C.Anjou. Anjou is seized because the count was doing such a bad job managing the province, it was constantly under revolt under him.
- March 02. C.Leiningen. Replaced with someone in Court.
- March 14. C.Provence.
- May 14. C.Vannes. Property seized and given back to D.Brittany.
- June 09. C.Lyons. Took Perigord as punishment.
- Jul 01. C.Tourraine.
- July 07. C.Thouars.
January 06
Well obviously my creds aren't that bad even with the excommunication thing... Lusignan, previously a Danish county in France, has agreed to defect.
March 19
A sad day today as my Diocese Bishop dies at the ripe old age of 70. I cannot find anyone more suitable to the position, and therefore it is left vacant.
August 20
Lest the world thinks we're weakened by all the rebellions happening domestically, Burgundy continues to absorb new territory, Surrey now bows to Paris.
1285 - The Year of Financial Embarrassment
Rebellions:
- February 07. D.Orkney. He's too far for me to care, so we didn't try to re-conquer him. I'll get him, eventually.
- March 27. C.Tourraine & LaMarche. LaMarche is taken as punishment.
- July 22. C.Brabant.
February 02
Hamelin reaches majority and I found a good wife for him.
Tiburge from the House of de Donzy shows much potential...
Which as you can see, is well realized:
April 23
All those rebellions are draining the treasury despite our best efforts.
October 26
Alas, to my shame, again, we needed the help from the Estates General.
1286
Rebellions:
April 23 - D.Champagne.
May 06 - C.Geneve & Gabiya (Egypt). Geneve is taken and awarded to Gauthier (the Bastard).
May 11 - C.Limousin.
June 12 - C.Provence.
December 28 - C.Brabant. Brabant is re-incorporated into the royal demesne.
September 06
Again, the countless rebellions continue to drain our warchest.
November 02
Expected money comes in the form of Blanche's brideprice. She is wedded to C.Labourd, which is just south of our own territories. Perhaps family ties will convince Raolf to defect to Burgundy... perhaps.
Also, the triple-county of Neuchatel, Bern & Valais offered to recognise Burgundy as suzerain.
1287
Rebellions:
Jaunary 27. C.Provence
March 7. C.Auvergne
March 09
A Traveling Minstrel offered to compose a song about Burgundy for a paltry sum. I figured with the excommunication in full force, a bit of cheering up should do everyone some good.
May 19
Since our troops are already mobilised to subdue the rebellious Count of Provence, I though we could pick up Montpellier on the way.
August 27
Guillaume - my second son with Eirene, is slow to talk. In a bid to encourage him, the boy became weak-willed instead.
1288
Rebellions
October 29. D.Gloucester. Essex taken as punishment.
November 24. C.Neuchatel, Bern, & Valais. I let them go since they came to us willingly anyway.
April 06
Bardas, my firstborn with Eirene, is gaining some notoriety due to some rumors about him beating up a servant (now where have I heard it before? Unlike his brother Hamelin, who took it in his stride despite a protest of innocence, Bardas got really worked up over it. All that warrior training obviously haven't put enough backbone into him - I worry for his future.
April 15
So I thought since Guillaume is still slow with his speech I would try something more "motivational". He became vengeful.
July 15
Have you heard of a double-excommunication? Fustrated by the impotent sting of his excommunication, The Pope thinks having twice the number of excoms make me look bad. Hey if it makes him look more the fool, I'm happy to play along.
/nelson Haha!
Maybe I should started revoking the bishoprics in Burgundy, just for kicks.
1289
Rebellions
July 19. C.Thouars.
October 29. D.Gloucester. Essex taken as punishment.
November 24. C.Neuchatel, Bern, & Valais. I let them go since they came to us willingly anyway.
March 25
Hamelin, being crown prince, is deserving of a land to rule for his own. I've granted him the Duchy of Luxembourg to prepare him. It's a safe part of the neighborhood, and close enough to Paris so he can come over for dinner ever so often with his mum and dad.
March 30
Now for some explanation of a silly... mistake... on my part. After capturing Gevaudan a couple of years back, I kept the existing count in place. In fact, after the war with Scotland, I granted him neighboring Rouergue. What I didn't realise, was that the man's still at war with Italy! So in the end his territories of Gevaudan and Rouergue ended up as part of the Kingdom of Italy.
Now apparently the King of Italy awarded Gevaudan to some courtier or such and he had declared himself independent.
Which just means we have a chance to get the place back:
September 05
We're broke again due to all the rebellions. So I decided to stimulate the economy by borrowing large quantities from the banks.
1290
Rebellions
April 08. C.Surrey.
June 25. C.Auvergne.
EDIT: At the rate we're going, we may need to make a new religion for ourselves, Henry VIII style.
So, basically we're Cathars now? (and by we I mean those of you who are playing) A major 13th century French heretical movement? Yea that has Cathar written all over it. Good luck with that. A crusadish thing was called to push them out of France, but with nobody really having the power to do that and with the Pope being in exile, you might be able to pull it off. For role-playing flavor, if you decide to take this route, here is the wiki entry.
EDIT: Sorry, apparently I can't read straight, Cathars were big in the 12th century and were wiped out in the 13th, but still it's the best one I could find.
Actually Thomas I was written to allow Catharism to fit in if that's what you want. There's actually a Cathar event in Charolais.
Maps coming soon. I've just sent the save file to Enlightened.
I didn't see anything about Luxembourg's rebellions, so I'm assuming Thomas' mother died at some point and the lands fell to his personal demesne so that they could be granted to Hamelin?
Also, there seems to be some blue in NW Spain (but everything in Spain is blue), so is Aragon completely non-existent or just much diminished?
Enlightenedbum - Oops. PM me your email. I sent it to Rex by mistake. Our Rep now is Slightly Tarnished.
President Rex - Yes, Lux reverted back to Thomas. Regarding Aragon, Hamelin inherited his uncle and father both in the same year. I wasn't sure when it happened so I didn't screenshot that.
Poland is - for lack of a better descriptor - fucking huge. They are basically the USSR and the Ottomans combined. Aside from Poland, they have much of Scandinavia, the Caucasus, Cyrencia/Libya, Dalmatia, and other crap scattered all over.
Torbjorn died in 1290 (apparently he was indeed very twin-like with Thomas, who also died that year). He was beatified, so although he apparently got his ass handed to him by the Kingdom of Zenata, he was recognized for fighting the good fight, I guess.
Jeanne (Thomas' and Torbjorn's mother) died in 1279.
Hamelin is inheriting with a 4 year old son. He's got the titles to the kingdom of Burgundy and Aragon, although the former Aragonese holdings are two provinces (although there's another independent county still there).
I felt more betrayed over the fact that Torbjorn lost his heretic trait midway, than him losing most of his inheritance before giving it back to the "main family".
So anyway, here's the map:
I forgot to label Lavender in the Balkans - that is the Kingdom of Croatia.
Pink Stripes - Kingdom of Zirid & Qarakhnid.
Scotland's been fighting a losing war with Italy and Sicily over the past decade.
Denmark's doing well for itself, considering it's been at war with Poland.
Poland is HUGE.
The Papacy has 2 territories in South France that I've been meaning to absorb as well... ah, an early death leaves so much undone.
State of the Union (of Burgundy & Aragon)
Burgundy has expanded mainly in France. We have more than 2/3 of France now, so we can force Baltic France to give up their pretensions and form New France if we're inclined.
I've gathered most of the royal demesne around our capital region and the rich lowlands. As shown in the war with Poland and Scotland, a strong inner core can be a deathtrap against invading armies.
We also have direct control of many of the big trade centres of our age - Brugge, Ile-de-France, Essex, Roma, and Alexandria. Money is generally flowing except that we need to bribe many of our court to keep them in their post.
Presently at war with rebel lords at Surrey and Aurvergne.
And finally, I present, Hamelin I, King of Burgundy & Aragon:
Posts
Torbjorn was up set at this change of events - understandably so. Bjorn attempted to placate him with the knowledge that his last will and testement, did in fact provide for Torbjorn. Regardless, his sons seemed to remain on amiable terms with him.
Aside from internal politics, Bjorn continued his war against the last hurdle to his lifelong goal. In 1267 he attacked the Emir of Toledo to lay claim to Barcelona. Of course, rumors of the harbor's physical wealth were somewhat exaggerated. Emir Dhu'-Mun was the true magic behind the city's wealth due to his status as a genius mathematician and master of logistics rumored to create fountains of gold from sand.
(he gets 20 gold per turn from Barcelona, but he's bankrupt...)
By June of 1268, Bjorn had forced the Emir into submission (although war with his liege, the King of Zenata would continue on for some months more). Envoys were sent to the pope to have Bjorn crowned King of Aragon in absentia by virtue of his possession of the realm and his defense of Christiandom against Muslim aggression.
Bjorn began to rearrange the grants of land throughout his empire to consolidate power for the future. Many vassals staunchly opposed the act - fearing that changes of their boundaries would represent decreased claims on hereditary rule. However, low taxes and peace throughout the realm pacified much of the opposition.
However, while surveying the lands in his new Kingdom, he was attacked around dusk by a group of well-trained assassins. He fought his way through his attackers but was severely injured in the engagement.
While laying bed-ridden for months, Bjorn was forced to delegate the task of pacifying unruly vassals to his marshal. Metz, Foix and Pest were brought back into the folds of the empire. The bisopric of Anjou - the bishop himself a friend of Thomas - managed to elude Bjorn's marshal for quite some time.
Fearing that his wound held ill omens, in his enfeebled form Bjorn attempted to convince various religious figures to aid the populace - noble and peasant alike. Wary of the church's talk of poverty and penitence, but seeing only opulence, Bjorn pushed hard for some reform.
By August he was able to watch his young daughter's marriage. Seeing that the last of his good daughters would be well taken care of and feeling somewhat better after nearly a year of rest, Bjorn attempted to return to running his realm.
However, in September his injuries became inflammed and old scars began to fester.
Fearing the end of his days would soon be upon him, Bjorn summoned his sons to his bedside in the Krak des Karlings. The event coincided with the anniversary of the death of Bjorn's father, William. Thomas soon arrived from the house seat at Vermandois, while Torbjorn - unexpectedly soon - also soon arrived.
With his sons at his side, he lifted himself from his bed. Taking a crown from his nightstand he held it out and said to Torbjorn, "Your fighting spirit and martial prowess will make you a great warrior. So that you may practice your craft and aid Christiandom, I grant you the realm of Aragon."
Coughing and sputtering he turned to his other son, Thomas, and said, "You are a magician with words and numbers. So that you may bring our family great wealth and power, I grant you the realm of Burgundy."
He sank back into his bed, wheezing from exhaustion.
Five days later he passed away.
However, there is much suspicion behind the death of Bjorn.
Bjorn was the son of William (who was a heretic, excommunicated by the Pope). When Bjorn refused to follow the heretical beliefs of his father William, William began to seek other propsective followers.
Now, William had 4 sons: Bjorn, Henry, Osmond and Godfrey. Only Bjorn was a legitimate heir, as his other 3 sons were bastards. William gave the county of Eu and the county of Amiens to Osmond repeatedly, but he continually attempted to use the land to rebel against William's heretical beliefs.
Subsequently, in his last year William stopped issuing lands to his son, but developed a protege in Henry (Godfrey was, at this time, too young to be considered). Henry subsequently adopted his father's heretical beliefs.
When Bjorn's sons came of age, Henry befriended them and managed to convert Thomas to William's heretical beliefs (Torbjorn can see Thomas' heretical beliefs because he is a friend, but Bjorn could not). Henry also proclaimed that he was a legitimate son and not a bastard (at least not in the literal sense).
So there are 3 likely rationales behind the patricide/fratricide:
Henry, in a long-running bid to become king assassinated Bjorn.
Thomas, as the next in line to inherit attempted to take the throne before Bjorn could discover his heretical beliefs or he got excommunicated (or he's just power hungry)
Torbjorn, disenchanted at the thought of being disinherited plotted an assassination of revenge (and may still be considering murdering his only (nearly twin) brother.
Your next ruler:
(and if you're greatly concerned about retrieving Aragon, Torbjorn has only managed to have daughters survive so far)
Maps will have to come tomorrow. Also, potential google docs/dropbox links or emails for whoever decides they want to be next in line.
Good luck to Reboot with the heretic. That strikes me as large potential for collapse.
And it's oddly set to go down the tubes again ...
...
Argh a Heretic!
Hmm. RPing this will be... interesting.
PS-> I'm more than happy to jump back in whenever my turn comes up again.
As for why I kept the duke title: I gave Torbjorn 3 or 4 duke titles already, and he has boatloads of land. I was trying to match my duchy titles somewhat geographically with their historical counterparts, but I didn't have anything for the south, so I figured I'd just use Barcelona...but then I forgot.
Long desired maps: now with less blue (Aragon, in-game, is also blue).
The placement of key duchies and individual counties:
The Carolingian sphere:
The ridiculously huge map of contiguous empires in the known world:
Edit: Aragon is actually a lot larger than I thought it would be too. Might actually be enough to push out the Muslims.
If we still need a collapse, I could take a turn.
(Please do not gift. My game bank is already full.)
Unfortunately, vanilla CK is pretty bad about random minors requesting to be vassalized. DVIP attempts to fix that and the overseas empires, but it's a bit harder to use the save game converters with it. When we do convert, I would recommend chopping off disparate areas of empires into independent states (or combining them with neighbors).
For example, Genoa - which formed Italy - has very few provinces actually next to each other, but they basically own Genoa/Milan and the western and central Italian peninsula. Our Duchy of Pest could easily be the creation of a more stable Hungary (the actual Kingdom of Hungary is all over the board and doesn't have any 2 provinces neighboring eachother). Somehow Rhodes replaced Byzantium as the go-to power in the East. They took Greece and the a huge swath near Moscow (and another tiny one in Belarus/Eastern Poland).
Also, I think I'll move the giant map in-line inside a spoiler sinc there're around 100 people that view them and it shouldn't kill my bandwidth.
If holding a ducal title, not of the kingdom's culture, and significantly separate, ally.
If holding a any title of the kingdoms culture and physically separate from the demanse or an series of vassals connected to the demanse, vassal. Ducal titles connected in such a manner are vassals with the exception of those with a personal demanse of one province.
This allows far flung territories like Alexandria to be something like the Raj and forces kingdoms to deal with powerful vassals like historical Burgandy.
If possible we should set up a new tag for ourselves or use a less-used one, and let Burgundy potentially be Burgundy. Unfortuantely the Papal States, Poland and us are taking up Burgundy's historical position, but it's conceivable it could be released.
As another option, we could be a random tag, and have another random tag for the Frankish Empire (or Carolingian Empire or whatever) to be obtained via national decision (potentially requiring a ruler with X stats and the historic lands of Charlemagne's realm (and possibly other requirements). After CK it's going to be more and more difficult to transfer the saves, since there'll be ever increasing numbers of mod files.
Also, I'm not sure how HTTT handles colonization, but it'd be nice if it didn't start until around 1500 or so (I think assorted mods handle it with requiring two separate colonization-dedicated national ideas or something similar).
We'll also need to figure something out for the HRE. I believe Bohemia holds the crown, but Bohemia is basically the worst kingdom around. I think most converters actually handle it by who it decides to convert to German/Italian minors, but I foresee some editing in the works.
Flags are 64x64 targa (.tga) files. Enlightenedbum wanted to use his avatar cross for the actual country, but we may be able to use other adjusted flags depending on the situation (e.g. if we use the cross, it may make sense to throw it on Aragon's flag or something).
Vermandois
Stylized combination of Vermandois and Valois
Based on the monogram of Charlemagne:
Alternative monogram with fleur-de-lis (which has a tenuous link with the Carolingians and late Middle Age/Renaissance paintings often depict him wearing):
Based on the famous 15th century painting of Charlemagne by Dürer (with the coat of arms of the HRE and France in the background):
Enlightendbum's favored Carolingian Cross (so named for its copious amounts of Cs and not anything Charlemagne-related):
Based on the French Oriflamme, which - like the spread of fleur-de-lis on a field of azure - has some links with Charlemagne (...and Byzantium):
I think I like the Vermandois+Valois for a starting flag that gets upgraded to the oriflamme when the empire is potentially reborn via event. I like the Dürer concept, but it feels somewhat unoriginal (since France will be running around with it and Germany could potentially form). Although the monogram or the cross would be easiest to imprint over our vassal's basic flag image.
1. Please update your CKDV to patch 2.1 beta (found here) The original CKDV comes with a bug that increases everyone's relationship with each other with each load, causing it to max out. The result is an orgy of ridiculous vassalisations (That's why you have Poland everywhere).
2. The reign of Thomas lasted for 20 years. Despite countless rebellions, Burgundy has consolidated its dominance in France.
3. Aragon didn't last.
4. Thanks in part to the relationship bug in (1), we now have a few big rivals.
(Please do not gift. My game bank is already full.)
(The First Ten Years)
There are so many rebellions it's really impossible to thread a story with them, so I've placed them outside of the main text. Unless otherwise stated, I eventually retook the territory and left them be.
1269 AD
Father left me with a siege at Anjou - the results of which - it is a given.
October 14
Anjou is conquered. The false bishop is kicked out of the realm and the realm is added to the royal demesne.
How do I know the bishop is false? Why, they are all bloodsuckers! How else do you explain that the Pope sits in Transylvania, home of legendary vampires?
They can't be trusted, I tell you.
1270 AD
Rebellions:
- Jan 21, C.Auxerre and D.Flanders. Brugge taken from Flanders as punishment.
- May 05, D.Orleans. Bourges taken as punishment.
September 25
Theives disbanded in the capital. I must be doing something right, oui?
December 20
Curses. The battle at Tourraine went well and D.Orleans is in retreat, but a lucky archer managed to hit me. Now I am bedridden.
1271 AD
Rebellions:
None! Huzzah!
January 03
Hamelin - my second son - will be entrusted to the local nobles for upbringing. He must be a trusty character if he were to help his elder brother rule the realm, when the time comes.
February 02
Amazing news at the Chancellor's desk - Count of Rosello and Countess of Orbetello have begged that we accept them as a vassal. Who am I to say no?
April 23
Perhaps my injury gets me more "sympathy votes"? Today C.Albret has agreed to accept me as his liege.
May 30
Gauthier will remain with me, where I can teach him the fine art of kingship.
September 03
Finally, I found a way to be rid of the diocese bishop (a.k.a Papal Spy). I made him bishop to Bourges, a province I confiscated from the previously-rebelling D.Orleans.
December 27
As if a sign that I did the right thing to be rid of the bishop, a healer comes to Paris to cure my injury. I am well again.
1272 AD
Rebellions:
None! Huzzah!
March 01
The bishop of Armagnac is excommunicated. Whoever heard of an excommunicated bishop? If anything, this man is a contradiction in terms - evidence of the fallacies of the Papacy - one I intend to wipe from the realm.
June 04
Gauthier is now old enough to attend to me at court.
1273 AD - War of the White Eagle
Rebellions:
Aug 01 - D.Orleans. Confiscated his Ducal title. (None of his lands are actually in Orleans anyway)
June 02
With the realm in peace, it is time to complete our conquest of all of Anjou. The only province left is Vendome - a Polish vassal. C.Vendome also controls Oxford in the English isle. Of course, this means Poland has declared war to defend their vassal - but I'm confident that we can handle whatever the Polish King intends to throw at us.
June 22
With Vendome & Oxford subdued, the army now focuses on convincing the Polish King to agree to a ceasefire. To that effect, Polish royal holdings were conquered:
Jul 16
Poland is more stubborn than I thought. King Imre insists on a pitched battle, landing his impressive army on the coast of Normandy.
Of course, our levy from the capital holdings are far, far greater than "impressive".
Pwn'd!
July 22
Meanwhile the attacks on Polish royal demesnes continue unabated and one of our divisions find themselves in control of the capital, Krakow.
July 24
They think just because we're at war that I won't catch them trying to con money from me. Ha! Never! You Bloodsuckers!
July 26
The Polish invasion persists to be an impotent murmur. The Polish King has unwisely spread his troops all over the coast of Normandy, allowing me to pick them off easily with superior numbers. Meanwhile, I ignored the option to sell titles for money.
August 13
Imre finally realises the futility of his counterattack and agrees to peace.
October 30
That SLUT! SO Gauthier is none of mine! I should have known...
I cannot bear to look on him any longer. The steward arranged for his fostership with Tobjorn in Aragon.
1274
Rebellions:
October 15 C.Albret & Armagnac.
May 22
Hamelin is my only legitimate son now - I know, because I went over the spy reports twice. He therefore must be schooled in the ways of the court.
August 02
Today we march for Geneve to include that mountainous land as part of our Kingdom. The result is inevitable.
November 11
A pleasant surprise today as Robert D.Gloucester offered to served under Burgundy. The man has some very strong provinces, including Essex (and therefore London)
1275
Rebellions:
- February 10. C.Chalons.
- June 01. C.Vannes.
- October 01. C.Tourraine & LaMarche. I took LaMarche from him this time.
1276
Rebellions:
- January 13. D.Flanders. I took from him the County of Pecs.
- May 12. C.Foix.
- October 05. C.Leiningen.
1277
Rebellions:
- August 16. C.Vannes.
January 03
We subdued C.Leiningen. After making sure he learnt his lesson, the army moves southward to Sundgau. Sundgau he broken free a few years ago without me knowing. Doesn't mean I've forgotten though.
May 25
Sundgau is ours. C.Sundgau (a relative no less!) is made to retake his oaths.
June 16
With the eastern fringe of the empire settled, I turn my eye to the west - C.Thouars is a vassal of the King of Bohemia - a mewling of a kingdom with less than a handful of provinces to call it's own.
The King of Bohemia quickly agreed to peace after Thouars fell.
September 10
There's a rumor going around that Hamelin beat up a servant. Now a child of 8 beating down a servant is really something! Hamelin protested that it was slander, of course. But the rumour stuck and now everyone thinks my little boy is a tyrant. Being known to be a bully isn't a bad thing, you know... just don't get called.
September 26
Superb news as another lord seeks my protection - C.Gelre isn't at war with anyone, and his province is moderately rich, and is actually near enough for me to defend if he gets into trouble. Welcome I say!
Novermber 11
Marie, that slut, dies. She was carrying our child - or at least I hope was mine. A proper burial was ordered, but I shed no tear for such a faithless woman.
A new Queen is sought amongst the brightest in the known world, as soon as possible. And I have my eyes on a Greek courtier serving the Counts of Somerset, the talented Eirene... A good day is selected for the wedding, and Eirene will take charge of my diplomatic matters in Burgundy.
November 19
The marriage duties came up to just over 3000 ducats, doubling our treasury!
1278 - The War of the Red Lion
Rebellions:
None! Huzzah!
February 02
Spring brings the refreshing air of love. Eirene is all that a man can hope for - capable, smart, and beautiful.
February 13
The past year saw a back-and-forth campaign between the Scots and the Italians. Their troops traverse our lands more often than my own men do - and that's counting all the rebellions! This gallivanting has got to stop, and I think Scotland is exhausted enough not to mind losing a few of their territories in France in the process...
March 20
Our first strike at Macon goes well. The Scots were taken completely by surprise.
April 18
Nonetheless their response is quick. The reinforcements meant to support the troops further south were channeled to attack Burgundian lands. We leave them to rampage for now. Having captured Macon, our Charolais strike force was sent southwards to conquer the Scot royal demesne there..
May 18
Charolais strike force proceeded to attack Viviers, an independent County that makes an excellent outpost on our way south.
July 09
Another division the LaMarche strike force, is sent to stop any Scottish forces they encounter inland.
August 09
The conquest of Viviers proceeds smoothly, and we expand into Gevaudan another independent County bordering the west of Viviers.
September 05
Tougher resistance than expected along LaMarche's front. Reinforcements sent from Anjou.
November 14
Reinforcements meet the LaMarche regiment just in time as the first big battle between Scotland and Burgundy unfurls.
In the end the Scots couldn't hold their lines against a well rested, Burgundian army that's confident at home.
December 07
Our emboldened LaMarche regiment continues to hunt the retreating Scottish main army. Meanwhile reinforcements are called from Nevers and Lyons to liberate Scot-occupied Charolais and deal with some of the Scottish forces that got past the front lines at Lyons.
Meanwhile, our Macon strike force steams captures the Scottish lands to the south of France. Smaller regiments were sent westward after the disparate Scottish territories there too.
1279
Rebellions:
December 26. C.Chalons.
January 20
Another showdown as LaMarche strike force catches the Scottish main army in Tourraine. We fought in Tourraine so often (no thanks to a certain rebelious lord), there's really no better advantage. Scotland was routed.
March 20
Our Macon strike force journeys northwards, capturing all 3 Scot provinces in Southern France, and they continue northwards towards an unguarded Limousin. The LaMarche strike force continues to hunt the Scottish main army into Anjou.
May 11
With the siege of Limousin under way, Dijon was captured.
May 21
With his main force in tatters and losing territories on the mainland, Donald King of Scots did the only wise thing - accept the peace deal, ceding most of his possessions in South France to Burgundy. The exception being Limousin, Auvergne, and Dijon. Here's the new map:
September 18
Mindful of the bad reputation after seizing so many territories from Scotland, I decided to reduce my holdings. Chief of which Arques is entrusted to the D.Normandy.
October 18
Amazingly I found a bishop with the same thoughts as I regarding the Pope. I appointed him the diocese bishop.
1280
Rebellions:
- July 21. C.Troyes.
March 05
Bardas - the first offspring by Eirene.
June 06
A suitable girl is found for Gauthier (the Bastard) - a Catalan courtier serving the C.Leon (who happens to be party of Burgundy). The girl is exceptionally talented.
June 30
Finding a good match for my son obviously impressed others.
August 09
Again the Church seeks to profit from the hard work of others. I bade them to speak unto my hand, and go.
September 23
My dislike of the church finally caught the Pope's eye and he threatened to excommunicate me.
Oh yeah? Is that the best you can do?
You guys are pretty awesome for trying this adventure! Fun to read too! Sorry if I missed it, but what difficulty are you guys playing at? Normal/normal i guess? Keep this gig up guys
EDIT: At the rate we're going, we may need to make a new religion for ourselves, Henry VIII style.
So, basically we're Cathars now? (and by we I mean those of you who are playing) A major 13th century French heretical movement? Yea that has Cathar written all over it. Good luck with that. A crusadish thing was called to push them out of France, but with nobody really having the power to do that and with the Pope being in exile, you might be able to pull it off. For role-playing flavor, if you decide to take this route, here is the wiki entry.
EDIT: Sorry, apparently I can't read straight, Cathars were big in the 12th century and were wiped out in the 13th, but still it's the best one I could find.
(The Later Ten Years)
Seems like Excommunication is the worst the Pope can do. Pathetic.
Rebllions:
March 12. C.Albret & Armagnac
April 07. D.Alsace - my ally
May 06. C.Oxford
June 26. C.Thoaurs
June 19
At least a bit of good news in Court. The bishop has some success preaching against the false pope.
November 05
With the world seemingly against me, Eirene's silent support through this excommunication makes be think our love for each other must be for real.
1982
Rebellions:
None! Huzzah! Could that all the sting of an Excommunication has?
April 10
The false pope declares a crusade to free Jerusalem. Well I don't feel obliged to do what the church says. Burgundy Alexandria is closed to the Crusaders. (Actually nobody seemed to respond to this Crusades)
October 21
Feeling cheated of his inheritance, Gauthier demanded I re-institute him as a true heir. What nonsense.
1983
Rebellions:
- May 30. D.Burgundy. I took Macon as punishment.
- June 01. D.Flanders. Took his Duchy title this time.
- June 16. C.Vannes.
February 11
Do I dare?...well it turns out, I do. We declared on Scotland again. This time to capture Auvergne and Limousin. Plus, C.Auvergne is the Papal Controller, seems like some righteous smacking is in order.
Anyway the Count of Auvergne is a pompous self-righteous arse without an heir.
Hey Zavie, I hear your wife's mighty lonely at night!
April 03
The outcome is inevitable. Zavie Dunkeld is stripped of his title, which is awarded to a claim-holder that turned up at court the other day.
Meanwhile, the expedition force is sent eastwards to capture Scot-held provinces and convince King Donald to come to the negotiation table.
May 13
We almost moved against Donald's provinces in England.
May 19
Limousin and Aargau fall on the same day.
The victorious Aargau strike force is sent eastwards to Niederbayern.
August 03
News reach us that the a popular revolt in Montpellier was successful in throwing off the Polish yoke and becoming independent.
September 23
Niderbayern is captured, yet King Donald refuses to parlay.
December 12
Morava, far to east, is captured. Donald finally agrees to part with Auvergne and Limousin.
1284 - Bumper Crop of Rebellions
Rebellions:
- February 07 C.Anjou. Anjou is seized because the count was doing such a bad job managing the province, it was constantly under revolt under him.
- March 02. C.Leiningen. Replaced with someone in Court.
- March 14. C.Provence.
- May 14. C.Vannes. Property seized and given back to D.Brittany.
- June 09. C.Lyons. Took Perigord as punishment.
- Jul 01. C.Tourraine.
- July 07. C.Thouars.
January 06
Well obviously my creds aren't that bad even with the excommunication thing... Lusignan, previously a Danish county in France, has agreed to defect.
March 19
A sad day today as my Diocese Bishop dies at the ripe old age of 70. I cannot find anyone more suitable to the position, and therefore it is left vacant.
August 20
Lest the world thinks we're weakened by all the rebellions happening domestically, Burgundy continues to absorb new territory, Surrey now bows to Paris.
1285 - The Year of Financial Embarrassment
Rebellions:
- February 07. D.Orkney. He's too far for me to care, so we didn't try to re-conquer him. I'll get him, eventually.
- March 27. C.Tourraine & LaMarche. LaMarche is taken as punishment.
- July 22. C.Brabant.
February 02
Hamelin reaches majority and I found a good wife for him.
Tiburge from the House of de Donzy shows much potential...
Which as you can see, is well realized:
April 23
All those rebellions are draining the treasury despite our best efforts.
October 26
Alas, to my shame, again, we needed the help from the Estates General.
1286
Rebellions:
April 23 - D.Champagne.
May 06 - C.Geneve & Gabiya (Egypt). Geneve is taken and awarded to Gauthier (the Bastard).
May 11 - C.Limousin.
June 12 - C.Provence.
December 28 - C.Brabant. Brabant is re-incorporated into the royal demesne.
September 06
Again, the countless rebellions continue to drain our warchest.
November 02
Expected money comes in the form of Blanche's brideprice. She is wedded to C.Labourd, which is just south of our own territories. Perhaps family ties will convince Raolf to defect to Burgundy... perhaps.
Also, the triple-county of Neuchatel, Bern & Valais offered to recognise Burgundy as suzerain.
1287
Rebellions:
Jaunary 27. C.Provence
March 7. C.Auvergne
March 09
A Traveling Minstrel offered to compose a song about Burgundy for a paltry sum. I figured with the excommunication in full force, a bit of cheering up should do everyone some good.
May 19
Since our troops are already mobilised to subdue the rebellious Count of Provence, I though we could pick up Montpellier on the way.
August 27
Guillaume - my second son with Eirene, is slow to talk. In a bid to encourage him, the boy became weak-willed instead.
1288
Rebellions
October 29. D.Gloucester. Essex taken as punishment.
November 24. C.Neuchatel, Bern, & Valais. I let them go since they came to us willingly anyway.
April 06
Bardas, my firstborn with Eirene, is gaining some notoriety due to some rumors about him beating up a servant (now where have I heard it before? Unlike his brother Hamelin, who took it in his stride despite a protest of innocence, Bardas got really worked up over it. All that warrior training obviously haven't put enough backbone into him - I worry for his future.
April 15
So I thought since Guillaume is still slow with his speech I would try something more "motivational". He became vengeful.
July 15
Have you heard of a double-excommunication? Fustrated by the impotent sting of his excommunication, The Pope thinks having twice the number of excoms make me look bad. Hey if it makes him look more the fool, I'm happy to play along.
/nelson
Haha!
Maybe I should started revoking the bishoprics in Burgundy, just for kicks.
1289
Rebellions
July 19. C.Thouars.
October 29. D.Gloucester. Essex taken as punishment.
November 24. C.Neuchatel, Bern, & Valais. I let them go since they came to us willingly anyway.
March 25
Hamelin, being crown prince, is deserving of a land to rule for his own. I've granted him the Duchy of Luxembourg to prepare him. It's a safe part of the neighborhood, and close enough to Paris so he can come over for dinner ever so often with his mum and dad.
March 30
Now for some explanation of a silly... mistake... on my part. After capturing Gevaudan a couple of years back, I kept the existing count in place. In fact, after the war with Scotland, I granted him neighboring Rouergue. What I didn't realise, was that the man's still at war with Italy! So in the end his territories of Gevaudan and Rouergue ended up as part of the Kingdom of Italy.
Now apparently the King of Italy awarded Gevaudan to some courtier or such and he had declared himself independent.
Which just means we have a chance to get the place back:
September 05
We're broke again due to all the rebellions. So I decided to stimulate the economy by borrowing large quantities from the banks.
1290
Rebellions
April 08. C.Surrey.
June 25. C.Auvergne.
May 30
'Tis but a scratch!
August 01
Oh, running away aye?
Actually Thomas I was written to allow Catharism to fit in if that's what you want. There's actually a Cathar event in Charolais.
Maps coming soon. I've just sent the save file to Enlightened.
Also, there seems to be some blue in NW Spain (but everything in Spain is blue), so is Aragon completely non-existent or just much diminished?
President Rex - Yes, Lux reverted back to Thomas. Regarding Aragon, Hamelin inherited his uncle and father both in the same year. I wasn't sure when it happened so I didn't screenshot that.
Poland is - for lack of a better descriptor - fucking huge. They are basically the USSR and the Ottomans combined. Aside from Poland, they have much of Scandinavia, the Caucasus, Cyrencia/Libya, Dalmatia, and other crap scattered all over.
Torbjorn died in 1290 (apparently he was indeed very twin-like with Thomas, who also died that year). He was beatified, so although he apparently got his ass handed to him by the Kingdom of Zenata, he was recognized for fighting the good fight, I guess.
Jeanne (Thomas' and Torbjorn's mother) died in 1279.
Hamelin is inheriting with a 4 year old son. He's got the titles to the kingdom of Burgundy and Aragon, although the former Aragonese holdings are two provinces (although there's another independent county still there).
...Torbjorn, I'm so disappointed in you.
So anyway, here's the map:
I forgot to label Lavender in the Balkans - that is the Kingdom of Croatia.
Pink Stripes - Kingdom of Zirid & Qarakhnid.
Scotland's been fighting a losing war with Italy and Sicily over the past decade.
Denmark's doing well for itself, considering it's been at war with Poland.
Poland is HUGE.
The Papacy has 2 territories in South France that I've been meaning to absorb as well... ah, an early death leaves so much undone.
State of the Union (of Burgundy & Aragon)
Burgundy has expanded mainly in France. We have more than 2/3 of France now, so we can force Baltic France to give up their pretensions and form New France if we're inclined.
I've gathered most of the royal demesne around our capital region and the rich lowlands. As shown in the war with Poland and Scotland, a strong inner core can be a deathtrap against invading armies.
We also have direct control of many of the big trade centres of our age - Brugge, Ile-de-France, Essex, Roma, and Alexandria. Money is generally flowing except that we need to bribe many of our court to keep them in their post.
Presently at war with rebel lords at Surrey and Aurvergne.
And finally, I present, Hamelin I, King of Burgundy & Aragon: