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Nope, just a good amount of it, it's not as fierce as a crusade, and takes longer to materialize.
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Jun 14, 2013 07:42
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Chapter Fifteen: Daughters-in-Law (1160-1169) Richard’s disdain for war is tested once again when he receives a plea for help from his daughter-in-law Queen Estefania of Aragon.  The queen’s two major vassals, the dukes of Aragon and Barcelona, have risen in revolt against her. Royalist forces are completely outnumbered and have already been boxed into a small area.  Richard sees no option but to defend his son and daughter-in-law. A small army under Duke Stefan of Capua is sent to assist the royal forces.  They arrive in time to achieve a crucial victory over the Duke of Aragon, saving the queen’s army from destruction.  The true test comes with the separate assault of the Duke of Barcelona, however.  The Normans win again, but this victory comes at a greater cost: Duke Stefan is killed during the battle.  He is not the only one, however. The heir to Barcelona falls as well, leaving the rebel forces in disarray.  From there, the royalists have little difficulty ending the rebellion.  Despite his belief that defending his family was the correct course of action, the guilt over it and the invasion of Tunis take their toll on Richard, and he begins a regimen of fasting against the advice of his physicians.  The Aragonese campaign also marks the first military expedition of the king’s youngest son Guy, who has already begun to demonstrate an excellent understanding of military tactics and strategy.  Richard seems doomed not to have any peace, however, as word reaches him that his other daughter-in-law, Queen Yvon of Egypt, is now in danger from a massive Muslim invasion.  Naturally, Yvon asks her father-in-law for help. Richard, however, is shocked at her suggestion that Sicilian troops should also assist in her border disputes with the Kingdom of Jerusalem. He reluctantly accepts, but insists that his armies will not fight under there is peace between the crusader kingdoms.  It isn’t long before the dispute is resolved, however, and so a Sicilian army is sent to the Levant under the command of Prince Guy.  The first battle they participate in is a slaughter, as overconfident Arab troops rush into battle against overwhelming odds.  A truer test comes with the arrival of Turkish armies from the Sultanate of Rum. Here, too, however, the united crusader kingdoms, along with the armies of Sicily and England, are able to win a crushing victory.  The tide of Muslim mujahideen seems unceasing, though, and the Christian armies are forced to split up to deal with a multi-pronged attack. Guy’s army marches south, along the coast of the Red Sea, to deal with another Turkish army.  Unexpected reinforcements shift the tide of battle, however, and Guy’s army suffers its first defeat. Other Christian armies begin to meet defeat as well, and it looks as if the tide of the war is beginning to shift.  And then suddenly it is over. Queen Yvon, leading her own army into battle, manages to capture the Abbasid Caliph himself, forcing him to call off the Muslim assault and confirm Christian possession of Egypt and Jerusalem.  Back in Sicily, Richard does his best to avoid thoughts of war, instead focusing on more pleasant things, such as the marriage of his only living daughter to the young Holy Roman Emperor.  Even in peace, though, Richard cannot escape his daughters-in-law. An interrogated Norman nobleman admits to being part of a plot to kill Richard orchestrated by none other than Estefania of Aragon, though Richard cannot understand how she could possibly betray him so.  There is worse news yet, however. Richard – along with the rest of the Norman establishment – is shocked by the most scandalous rumour imaginable: it is widely-believed at the Egyptian court that Queen Yvon’s infant son was not father by King Roger at all, but rather by her own son and heir.  Though Richard tries not to believe either betrayal, he cannot help but feel once again that he is cursed, punished for his sins. Before he can begin another slow slide in depression, however, he simply dies in his sleep. Those around him say that he simply gave up on life, unable to live any longer in such a world.  Once again, Norman succession is anything but smooth. Not even a week after King Richard’s death and King William’s ascension, Prince Guy declares himself a more qualified heir and promises war.  He receives virtually no support, however, and some say that his declaration was based on little more than a misguided sense of tradition. His lands in southern Tunisia are quickly besieged by William’s forces.  Gabes falls quickly, and the rebellion is over as soon as it begins.  In keeping with tradition, William is quick to pardon and free his brother. The two reconcile immediately, preferring to begin their work on William’s young reign. 
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Jun 15, 2013 11:27
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Is the Egyptian Crusader Court the set of Oedipus Rex?
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Jun 15, 2013 15:49
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Things that probably will bite us in the bum, exhibit A and B.Viscardus posted:
Giving Emperors claim on our lands sounds like a bad idea no matter who you are. Even if this isn't the case, don't we want to free the north of Italy from the German yolk? Viscardus posted:In keeping with tradition, William is quick to pardon and free his brother. The two reconcile immediately, preferring to begin their work on William’s young reign. While traditional, this too could end well. Though it feels like a test of character and strength more than anything. Let's see some heathen smashing now. There are still more muslims to relieve of land.
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Jun 17, 2013 01:21
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I just tried playing as the Italian Normans. The very same forces rebelled at the beginning but they won a crucial battle by chance. I was set to lose until Muslims declared holy war on me, killed the rebels, and then were wiped out by the Pope. I reclaimed the rebel lands, revoked some titles, and now I'm set to retake Sicily. Yay Pope, and to a certain extent Muslims.
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Jun 27, 2013 06:30
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...Reverter?
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Jun 27, 2013 12:12
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Chapter Sixteen: The Three Williams (1170-1175) Though not a brilliant man by any means, the new king is almost universally well-liked, beloved both for his handsome face and virtuous heart.  Like her husband, Queen Ermessentz is well-known for her beauty, and they appear to be a perfect match for one another.  Unlike his father, King William has no qualms about violence, and his love of tournaments is well-known.  He has not forgotten the betrayal his father felt at the depravity of Queen Yvon of Jerusalem, however, and when he discovers that the mad queen has started yet another war against the Kingdom of Jerusalem while a child rules it, he has had enough.  By the time William’s offer of help reaches Jerusalem, young King Bohemond has passed away, succeeded by his uncle Guntard. Nevertheless, Guntard gladly accepts King William’s assistance.  William gathers an enormous army to sail to Egypt, and it isn’t long before he is marching to Cairo, his way blocked by desperate Egyptian troops.  The Egyptians are completely outnumbered; the battle is a slaughter.  While half the army stays behind in Egypt to besiege Cairo, William and his brother Guy march toward Jerusalem, where Arish is under siege.  The numbers are more even this time, but neither can resist giving battle when they discover that the queen herself is leading troops into battle, an unorthodox behaviour for which she is famous – or infamous.  The battle almost becomes a catastrophe when William is nearly killed. He is rescued in the nick of time, however, his only injury a gash in his right leg.  The battle is close, turning into a bloodbath that finally ends with more than half the participants dead, but it is the Egyptians forced to leave their siege in the end.  In equally good news, Cairo itself has fallen, giving the Sicilians a stranglehold on Egypt. The war looks to be all but over.  William has other concerns, though. His leg wound has not healed well, and the development of a fever suggests it may be infected.  Soon gangrene sets in, and the king’s physicians are forced to recommend the highly dangerous course of action that is amputation.  William braves the pain of surgery as stoically as possible, but it does him no good. Even the highly-accomplished Muslim and Jewish doctors of Sicily are unable to prevent his death on the operating table. Like his grandfather King Robert, he dies in the Holy Land, leaving the kingdom in the hands of his young son.  Sicily’s intervention in the war is forgotten as the armies sail home. Unlike in the days of King Richard’s youth, there is no Guy of Benevento, a single figure to dominate the kingdom. Most prominent among those in power for the regency, surprisingly, is a commoner – Bernard of Ariana, a brilliant bishop who has risen to become one of the strongest voices in the Curia Regis.  Predictably, a child on the throne gives rise to opportunist thinking among the young King William’s vassals.  It is not long before the king and his courtiers in Palermo are presented with a list of demands by a coalition led by William’s great-uncle, William of Spoleto, who has long craved greater independence from Palermo.  The demands are naturally refused, and Duke William rises in rebellion.  It is not long before others have joined his cause, however, including King William’s uncle, Prince Guy. The realm is split in half, and the outcome seems impossible to predict.  Fortunately, many of Duke William’s allies are not as well-organized as he is, and the royalist armies are quick to strike many of the disloyal lords.  The king’s army itself besieges Messina, the only rebel foothold on the island of Sicily.  This nearly ends in catastrophe after a surprise attack by a larger rebel force led by the Duke of Calabria.  Fortunately, they are saved by the timely intervention of loyal armies, and Messina is eventually taken.  The young king’s problems do not end with the rebellion, however, as his great-uncle Prince Roger discovers Bernard of Ariana himself attempting to steal from the royal treasury.  The war goes on for some time, but royalist forces win most of the battles. With order mostly restored, the great enemy of the civil war has not yet been faced: Duke William himself. Roughly evenly matched, the Sicilian forces make an impetuous mistake, launching an assault through the hills and mountains of central Italy.  And yet it does not cost them. Though the battle is close, it is Duke William who is retreating at the end.  And that is enough to convince him that the rebellion is over. After over two years of war, he lays down arms and surrenders. 
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Jun 29, 2013 07:04
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Just a quick note about the delay between updates: I'm away from home at the moment (in Copenhagen, in fact) and will be for at least a few more weeks. I will try to have at least a couple more updates in that time, but they will unfortunately be few and far between. On the bright side, the rather slow pace increases the chances that I will eventually ending up converting to EU4 rather than EU3. In other news, some of you might remember that in the last thread, I stated that any ruler that dies without a nickname will get one based on thread suggestions. It's not a vote, however: I'm going to pick the one I like best, although you're still free to make your preferences clear if you want. Since William I died without a nickname, it's suggestion time (although it might be a little tough, considering he only ruled about three years).
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Jun 29, 2013 07:11
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"The Handsome" seems like a natural choice.
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Jun 29, 2013 08:21
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The Unlucky.
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Jun 29, 2013 08:57
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The Eucharist, since he gave his blood and body for the holy land.
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Jun 29, 2013 12:23
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The Legless.
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Jun 29, 2013 12:28
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Maybe "The Young" considering his youthful beauty, as well as him not being the eldest of the brothers? Or maybe "The Pure" what with his pious heart? Or "The Knight" since he is very much the epitome of Chivalry?
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Jun 29, 2013 13:02
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I'd go with The Young.
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Jun 29, 2013 13:17
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Frogfingers posted:The Eucharist, since he gave his blood and body for the holy land. In this vein, maybe The Martyr
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Jun 29, 2013 13:49
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This little kid we've got running the show is a badass.
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Jun 29, 2013 14:16
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It'll make more sense to call him the Eucharist or the Martyr if the intervention was successful... was it?
Readingaccount fucked around with this message at 21:16 on Jun 29, 2013 |
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Jun 29, 2013 17:31
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Jerusalem won, since even though they lost Sicily's participation, Egypt's armies were pretty much obliterated in the short term.
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Jun 29, 2013 17:59
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King William 'The Brief'.
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Jul 8, 2013 19:32
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Chapter Seventeen: The King’s Justice (1176-1186) Though his reign was short, the memory of the beloved King William I does not fade easily. Many of his subjects take to calling him “William the Martyr”, despite the disapproval of some in the clergy, who point out that he died fighting Christians. Hatred for the Kingdom of Egypt and its queen is enough to ensure that the nickname sticks, however.  The second King William, while he has inherited his father’s looks, has not inherited the former king’s likeability. A very private man, he rarely engages in extended discussions with his counsellors, preferring to dictate his orders with little advice from others.  This is dramatically demonstrated when he ignores calls for clemency toward the rebels, disregarding the merciful approach most of his predecessors have preferred to take. Each of the major rebels is stripped of his titles, most of which are redistributed to those who remained loyal to the king.  There are two exceptions. The first is Duke William, the revolt’s leader. William makes the unprecedented decision to have the duke publically executed for his treason, dramatically demonstrating the power of the king.  The second exception is his uncle, Prince Guy. The king reluctantly pardons him at the urging of his family.  There is much rejoicing in Sicily at the news of the death of the demon-queen Yvon of Egypt in the dungeons of a Muslim prince.  Her son and successor is little more beloved, however, considering it was he who engaged in such horrific acts with the queen.  Despite – or perhaps because of – his heavy-handedness in putting down the rebellion, William is once more confronted with angry demands from his vassals.  It is a moment of truth for the king, but he stands his ground, demonstrating his stubborn nature and his firm belief in his supremacy over his vassals. Thanks to his bravery, the threat quickly dissipates.  Following shortly the death of Queen Yvon of Egypt, Queen Estefania of Aragon also passes away.  Her successor, King Ranulf, is much more acceptable to the Sicilian Normans, despite his apparent incompetence.  It isn’t long before Ranulf is threatened by the powerful King of Leon, who still dreams of further expanding his kingdom across Spain.  King William’s brother Prince Ferant is sent to lead a Sicilian army in defense of Aragon. Ferant wastes no time in attempting to relieve the siege of Zaragoza.  His impetuous attack costs him dearly, though. An inexperienced commander, Ferant drastically underestimates his enemies, and the Sicilian army is slaughtered. It is among the worst defeats in the history of Norman Sicily.  Fortunately, the surviving soldiers – along with many reinforcements – are able to redeem themselves at the Battle of Logroño, where they win a critical victory over the Leonese.  Combined with the victories of the Aragonese troops, the Leonese are eventually pushed back, saving Zaragoza.  The massive casualties of the Aragonese campaign do little to endear King William to his vassals. Neither does his choice of bride; a princess from far-off Denmark, she is in stark contrast to the cultured French and Occitan queens of Sicily’s past.  Not long after the birth of William and Queen Jutta’s first child, a terrible plot comes to light: it seems that William’s brother Richard is attempting to poison the young heir apparent.  William is naturally outraged, demanding Richard’s immediate arrest. Knowing that his brother is unlikely to forgive him, Richard immediately begins a new rebellion.  Once again, the king’s vassals are split, some of them seeing Richard as a possible alternative to William’s perceived tyranny.  On the whole, however, most of William’s vassals are either too loyal or too scared to join Richard, and the second rebellion does not match the size of the first.  The king’s troops move quickly to attack Apulia, the home of the largest rebel armies.  Meanwhile, Messina is once again the only rebel stronghold on the island of Sicily, forcing William to commit troops to its capture. He vows to incorporate the city into his personal holdings after the war to avoid such headaches in the future.  Back in Apulia, the enemy armies are easily defeated, scattering the rebels.  Prince Richard’s holdings in Reggio are the next target, and the Prince himself is captured at the battle’s conclusion.  William considers executing Richard for his treason, but the threat of being labeled a kinslayer is too much even for him. Instead, he revokes all of his brother’s titles and permanently exiles him from the Kingdom of Sicily. Disgraced, Richard flees to Egypt, confirming in Sicilian eyes his moral bankruptcy. 
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Aug 2, 2013 21:52
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Sicily returns. With an interesting change in ruler attitude to boot. It definitely is promising to be more focused on dealing with internal strife than foreign adventures for a bit. That undiplomatic a ruler does have consequences, not even taking tyrannical acts into account.
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Aug 2, 2013 23:23
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The 0-dip monarchs are part of what makes CK2+ fun, sometimes your heir just insists on being cruel/shy/slothful 
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Aug 2, 2013 23:23
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It's about time we got a King who didn't put up with this treasonous bullshit.
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Aug 2, 2013 23:35
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If you want to make an omelette, you have to crack some skulls.
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Aug 3, 2013 04:32
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Chapter Eighteen: Scholar and Adulterer (1186-1199) While the official policy of the Kingdom of Sicily remains relatively tolerant of Muslims and Jews, this has not stopped missionary efforts.  In Palermo, the king begins an illicit affair with his sister-in-law, wife of his youngest brother Roger.  Unsurprisingly, his continued neglect of the opinions of his vassals creates problems for him once again. This time it is his uncle Guy, whom he once pardoned for treason, leading the revolt.  On the other hand, William’s firm and predictable sense of justice dissuades most of his vassals from joining Prince Guy.  In the end, while the rebellion is large enough to be worrisome, it does not seem truly threatening.  William decides to lead his own army into battle as a show of force, a decision that quickly backfires when his inexperience in military matters leads to his being outmanoeuvred and forced to give battle at a large numerical disadvantage.  Worse, William himself is badly injured during the battle, leading some to wonder whether he is destined to suffer the same fate as his father.  The battle is a significant defeat, though William’s commanders are able to retreat to safety with their king.  Fortunately, William’s injury does not become infected, and he is brought back to Palermo to recover.  Under more proven leadership, his armies win a major victory at Cosenza.  The numerical superiority of the king’s forces removes any doubt about the final outcome, and the rebellion is effectively over with the capture of Cannae, once the seat of Robert Guiscard.  With the rebellion over, many of William’s vassals expect some form of reward for their loyal service. William, however, sees no point in rewarding his vassals for performing their obligatory duties.  This time William is not merciful with Guy, although he once again refrains from executing a close relative. Instead, Guy has his lands revoked and is imprisoned indefinitely.  It is not the last difficulty William will have with a member of his family. Only a few months later, William’s brother Ferant is accused of having raped a young woman during the campaign. While such events are hardly rare in war, the evidence is strong and William sees no choice but to imprison his brother for the crime.  Prince Ferant is aghast at being thrown into his brother’s dungeon, begging to at least be allowed lodgings more befitting his station. William is unsympathetic, however.  Some time later, King Turstin of Egypt has the audacity to ask for Sicilian aid in a North African campaign, meaning to extend Egyptian rule west toward Sicilian Tunis. Predictably, William declines, seeing no reason to waste his money on another war, especially one helping the hated enemy of the Sicilian court.  Instead, King William spends his money on construction projects, as his grandfather preferred to do.  Even without Sicilian help, however, the Egyptians are successful in their campaign, creating a North African border between the two kingdoms.  William cares little, though, continuing his reclusive lifestyle when he is not issuing dictates to his court. A voracious reader, he begins a great collection of Latin, Greek, and even Arabic books. He even dabbles in writing himself, his greatest work being a volume on the nature and responsibilities of kingship – which, naturally, espouses a view on the subject unheard of in most of Catholic Europe, inspired as it is more by the Byzantines and their Roman predecessors.  Absent from William’s treatise is any requirement for domestic virtue. His affair with his sister-in-law having ended some time before, William eventually begins a new relationship with a beautiful young woman in Palermo. Naturally, she is married. Even more scandalously, however, she is a Jew.  William cares little for the opinions of others, though, and even when he begins to make the relationship obvious by his frequent trips into the countryside with his lover, he has little regard for what others think.  It isn’t long before Nehama is pregnant. Nine months later she gives birth to a girl whom she names Ronit, leading to a difficult decision for the king.  Ultimately, William decides it is his duty to take responsibility. Nehama agrees to allow the girl to be baptized a Christian – renamed Matilda – in order to have her legitimized as a princess of Sicily.  At the same time, William’s eldest child, Prince Bohemond, is coming of age. William arranges for him to be betrothed to Theodora, a Byzantine princess.  The prince is also made Duke of Calabria and officially named as William’s successor.  William’s relationship with Nehama continues despite the growing discontent within his court. A little over a year later, their second daughter is born.  Unfortunately, young Giselle dies in infancy  While he is capable of disregarding the opinions of his vassals and courtiers when it suits him, King William is not able to ignore them completely. With rumours of a fourth major rebellion in the air, he decides that something must be done to improve his popularity – or at least distract his vassals from their complaints. William quickly hits upon the perfect solution: an invasion of the hated Kingdom of Egypt. Foreign campaigns have always been an easy way to placate one’s vassals, and one against the kingdom’s greatest enemy would be particularly suitable. The perception that he is avenging his beloved father would not hurt either. The only question is what the goal of the invasion would be. The simplest, safest route would be the conquest of Tripolitania. Geography alone means that the Egyptians would be hard-pressed to keep the land against a Sicilian attack. Such a campaign would be almost certain to succeed and have a guaranteed reward.  There is another option, however. Among the Egyptian branch of the d’Hautevilles, there is one notable enemy of King Turstin: his nephew Hussayn. While most of the nobility of the young crusader state has retained their Siculo-Norman culture, disdaining the Islamically-influenced Egyptian Arab culture and Arabic language, Hussayn has embraced it, making him an outcast among the Egyptian court but beloved by the Egyptian people. A capable commander and an intelligent, virtuous man, Hussayn would be the perfect candidate to replace King Turstin. Of course, a campaign to install Hussayn would be much more difficult, likely requiring the capture of Cairo itself, and the rewards to the Sicilian state would be much less immediate than the acquisition of territory. Though he is normally loath to accept the advice of the Curia Regis, William recognizes that in this case it would be beneficial, if only because the entire point of this campaign is to endear himself to his vassals. Thus he puts the question before them: a smaller, more conservative campaign to take Tripolitania, or a more extensive campaign to put Hussayn on the throne of Egypt? 
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Aug 3, 2013 21:35
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Let's kill that motherfucker and put a non-motherfucker on Egypt's throne. Support Hussayn
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Aug 3, 2013 21:49
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While dabbling with the Muslims is horrible, though culture less so than religiously, being a douche is even more so. Long live to-be-King Hussayn!
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Aug 3, 2013 21:52
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Go for Tripolitania. Isn't that a claim on Sardinia he has? Putting Hussayn on the throne could backfire.
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Aug 3, 2013 22:07
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Egypt to the Egyptians! Or at least to the Egyptian d'Hautevilles! Support Hussayn!
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Aug 3, 2013 22:12
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Egypt has a lot of territory, and presumably the manpower to go with it. Let's not get over our heads and take Tripolitania.
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Aug 3, 2013 22:19
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Long live Hussayn!
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Aug 3, 2013 22:26
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Putting an egyptian d'hauteville on the throne would be loving awesome, but if this campaign is to placate the vassals then taking tripolitania would be the better option. We can always put Hussayn on the throne next time.
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Aug 3, 2013 22:41
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Support Hussayn
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Aug 3, 2013 22:54
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Go big or go home. Support Hussayn!
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Aug 3, 2013 22:57
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Hussayn. An actually powerful branch of the family that isn't us or our needy cousins in Aragon could do wonders for House d'Hauteville.
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Aug 3, 2013 23:29
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Camoes posted:Go for Tripolitania. Isn't that a claim on Sardinia he has? Putting Hussayn on the throne could backfire. Yes, it's a weak claim on the Duchy of Sardinia. To be fair, if that's your concern then it's probably worth noting that King Turstin has strong claims on both of our king titles (Sicily and Sardinia).
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Aug 4, 2013 00:20
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Support Hussayn!
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Aug 4, 2013 00:38
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It would disgrace the Norman Spirit if we didn't think big. Support Hussayn!
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Aug 4, 2013 00:55
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Let's put this Hussayn guy on the throne.
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Aug 4, 2013 01:40
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| # ? Apr 24, 2024 07:51 |
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Tripolitania. Why settle for half-measures when we can claim all of egypt over time?
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Aug 4, 2013 02:05
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