Was wondering what was going to happen next! Good update...looking forward to hearing what Herbert does next.
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Nice update about a sad topic. I finished catching up on this splendid tale the other day but forgot to leave a comment so allow me to address that oversight now. It's interesting that Adalbert ends up remembered as a folk hero and it makes me wonder what happens to cause that transformation from a man to myth.
Finally another chapter
I feel extremely sad for Adalbert though.. that was an unsuiting end for such a man, but atleast he is properly remebered !
I actually had no intentions for him to be written out, but I managed to work myself into a place where it was either him or Herbert, and Herbert doesn't get his rest quite yet.
A bit of, hopefully, constructive criticism: You might wanna go through the start of the chapter again, there's some minor mistakes "Suing a short prayer" and "So peacefull too much", makes the start seem a bit unfinished
Ach! The perils of typing on an iPad - thanks, I've now changed it.
Great read otherwise though! And we even got a poem
Thanks! Did you like the poem? (And, for bonus points, could you tell me who degli Alberighi basically is?
)So am I - I'm thinking of writing a brief interlude so I can move the story on a bit.
Thanks a lot - and welcome to the thread! I do wonder who reads this, considering (contrary to popular belief) I don't read it myself 7,000 times
I wanted Adalbert to at least have something, considering being hit by a lone bowman is pretty unsatisfactory for someone who was the greatest military mind in Valois. Jean II and his Order of the Sword and the Key are basically Edward III and his own Order of the Garter - Edward had a sort of obsession with Arthur [Pendragon], so I thought I'd give out knight a proper send off.
I must confess I'm not much of a poem man, but I admire that people can be creative like that. However, it's definiatly better than some of the questionable literary works I've had to read for school over the years
But no, I'm afraid I'm not well-versed enough in the poetry department, to answer that question
But no, I'm afraid I'm not well-versed enough in the poetry department, to answer that question
Part Three, Chapter Thirty-Three, the die is cast.
He was without horse this time, as he battled through the rain towards the castle doors at Péronne. His horse was beside him, carrying a young woman, maybe midway between her third and fourth decades, her hood pulled tightly against her body, dripping and sodden. She looked wary, having been thrust into this foreign part of the world, despite having travelled only six days. It had been an hard ride. There had been points when she had been hidden in barrels or under hay on carts to get past soldiers, and out of her homeland. It hadn't been as bad during the trek through the Morvan hills down to the Valoisian lowlands, but the weather had been particularly bad, with the geography offering no shelter from the winds and the rain. Her companion walked up to the door, rapping three low, defined knocks. A young page boy answers, his face jarred with fear.
"Out of the way, boy." He waved the page out of his path, the rain streaking at his face as it shot through the door. Once the two visitors were gone, he rushed to close it, having to lean heavily against the thick-set oak. The male visitor gestured his female companion up the stairs. She obliged.
They found Simon in his chamber. The male visitor knocked and entered, giving a short bow.
"My lord, your bride awaits."
"Good. We shall visit the church as soon as day breaks. There's no need for a big affair. This is intrigue, after all."
"Of course, my lord."
"You've done well. And now, the die is cast."
The Marriage of Simon and Ermengarde, painted at a later date.
--
To be continued in...
Part Four
of
In the Footsteps of Charlemagne
Coming Soon.
Chapter Thirty-Three
He was without horse this time, as he battled through the rain towards the castle doors at Péronne. His horse was beside him, carrying a young woman, maybe midway between her third and fourth decades, her hood pulled tightly against her body, dripping and sodden. She looked wary, having been thrust into this foreign part of the world, despite having travelled only six days. It had been an hard ride. There had been points when she had been hidden in barrels or under hay on carts to get past soldiers, and out of her homeland. It hadn't been as bad during the trek through the Morvan hills down to the Valoisian lowlands, but the weather had been particularly bad, with the geography offering no shelter from the winds and the rain. Her companion walked up to the door, rapping three low, defined knocks. A young page boy answers, his face jarred with fear.
"Out of the way, boy." He waved the page out of his path, the rain streaking at his face as it shot through the door. Once the two visitors were gone, he rushed to close it, having to lean heavily against the thick-set oak. The male visitor gestured his female companion up the stairs. She obliged.
They found Simon in his chamber. The male visitor knocked and entered, giving a short bow.
"My lord, your bride awaits."
"Good. We shall visit the church as soon as day breaks. There's no need for a big affair. This is intrigue, after all."
"Of course, my lord."
"You've done well. And now, the die is cast."
The Marriage of Simon and Ermengarde, painted at a later date.
--
To be continued in...
Part Four
of
In the Footsteps of Charlemagne
Coming Soon.
I must confess I'm not much of a poem man, but I admire that people can be creative like that. However, it's definiatly better than some of the questionable literary works I've had to read for school over the years
Thanks a lot.
But no, I'm afraid I'm not well-versed enough in the poetry department, to answer that question
I based degli Alberighi on Dante, of Divine Comedy fame. Really, the only connection is the poem's structure, which is 'Terza Rima' - the same structure used in the Comedy (which, I must say, isn't very comic...) Basically, a Terza Rimi is where the poem rhymes ABA, BCB, CDC, ad infinitum.
Much of what you just said there, makes little sense to me
Did almost say Dante, but only because he is the only poet from the period I know off
Been meaning to read Divine Comedy for years actually, but havnt gotten around to it yet
intriguing, albeit a bit shorter chapter than usual
Did almost say Dante, but only because he is the only poet from the period I know off
Been meaning to read Divine Comedy for years actually, but havnt gotten around to it yet
intriguing, albeit a bit shorter chapter than usual
Nice chapters as usual, I'm sorry for hardly commenting but I am very bad at that, great work!
I actually found his Divine Comedy to be quite hilarious. Especially the Inferno part, Purgatory and Paradisio aren't as funny though. But Inferno that was beyond hilarious and the best part of the whole Comedy I thought
Much of what you just said there, makes little sense to me
You now have permission to speak to me in Danish - it only seems fair
Did almost say Dante, but only because he is the only poet from the period I know off
Been meaning to read Divine Comedy for years actually, but havnt gotten around to it yet
I think I might give it a proper read - I had a skim over (so it's probably unfair of me to dismiss it as 'unfunny')
intriguing, albeit a bit shorter chapter than usual
I realised that I had hit a good point to end the part, so I went for the short update rather than a clumsy 'introduce a new part halfway through an update.' This chapter will actually be vital in parts to come.
I thought I'd scared you off!
Thanks a lot.I actually found his Divine Comedy to be quite hilarious. Especially the Inferno part, Purgatory and Paradisio aren't as funny though. But Inferno that was beyond hilarious and the best part of the whole Comedy I thought
As I say, I think I'll give it another go.
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Dante to me seems like the early 14th century's version of George Carlin/Bill Maher. Just because of how dark and politically incorrect the Inferno is.
I just loved the people he meets in hell and how they're being tortured for eternity it made me laugh
I just loved the people he meets in hell and how they're being tortured for eternity it made me laugh
Just to let you know, Comedy in Dantes time meant it had a happy ending; as opposed to a Tragedy that had a unhappy ending.
I just loved the people he meets in hell and how they're being tortured for eternity it made me laugh
:rofl:
"Searching for psychiatric services in your area..."
Dante to me seems like the early 14th century's version of George Carlin/Bill Maher. Just because of how dark and politically incorrect the Inferno is.
I just loved the people he meets in hell and how they're being tortured for eternity it made me laugh
Well... I'll look out for them (I think he needs help
)On a serious note, Canto I equals read.
That certainly makes more sense.
And be quick about it!
Have you been here the whole time? Good to see you back in any case.
[And when is AARlander 6 coming out?]
Guys shhh, don't poke the bear with an outspoken interest in torture :O
Think I'm gonna look for Divine Comedy after my exam on friday
Think I'm gonna look for Divine Comedy after my exam on friday
I have indeed. Only reading the shorter, picturey, not so wall-of-text updates, though.
Don't get me wrong - your writing is good; my focus is not. When school forces you to read a book a month you want to read something with pictures in your spare time
And uhm.... soon. Just keep an eye on the Fan of the Week thread, posting the banner there is the first thing I'll do when the new AARlander is out!
In any case it's good to see people are asking for the AARlander before it's out, as opposed to the previous edition when I had to explain people what this was after it was out.
Think I'm gonna look for Divine Comedy after my exam on friday
I just found it on iBooks on my iPad - it's in the Public Domain, so you can find it online for free at various places.
I have indeed. Only reading the shorter, picturey, not so wall-of-text updates, though.
Don't get me wrong - your writing is good; my focus is not. When school forces you to read a book a month you want to read something with pictures in your spare time
I have no problem with that - I understand what you're saying completely. Incidentally, do the shorter updates still give you the gist?
Ha! Good to know.
No worries the government already keeps this kid well stocked with psychiatrists
:rofl:
But honestly its funny because there's lots of Popes down there and other people you wouldn't expect...really funny when he runs into his friends in hell think a few of his friends anyway. Its been a long time since I read it though.
Part Four, Chapter Thirty-Four, The Decline of Saxon Britain
"[...]Upon the death of St. Edward the Confessor on the 4th of January, England, the kingdom Edward was leaving behind, was plunged into a succession crisis that would culminate in one of the defining moments in European history. Edward died childless, with no apparent heir - his closest male relative a fourteen year old boy, Edgar the Ætheling (later 'the Exile.') The Saxon council, the Witangamot, quickly elected in Edgar's place Harold Godwinson, son of the powerful Earl Godwin, and brother-in-law to Edward. Harold was a skilled warrior and politician having proved invaluable to Edward during military campaigns. He was respected by the ordinary Saxon populace, and, as the country's most powerful landowner, seemed the Witan's most natural choice.
St. Edward, the Confessor.
But, as with many of history's other defining moments, nothing proved as simple as it seemed. Since the early months of 1066, William, the duke of Normandy, had been planning an invasion of England. William was Edward's first cousin thrice removed, and had hosted the English king in Normandy during periods of exile in his early years, when the country was ruled by the Danish kings Cnut (Canute) and Harthacnut. William claimed that, in 1051, Edward designated the duke heir to the English throne. When Harold was elected king, William was outraged, and began preparations for an invasion of England.
The plot thickens, however, with the introduction of one final claimant to the throne, also planning an invasion. Harald Hardråda, king of Norway claimed the throne based on an agreement between his nephew, Magnus the Good, and Harthacnut.
Around 1040, Magnus, seeking to reunite Norway with Denmark, launched an attack on Denmark, but the noblemen of the two countries intervened, bringing the two kings together, supposedly at the Göta River in modern day Sweden. The kings agreed that they would each be the other's heirs, should one of them die before the other. When Harald began to contest Magnus' rule in the early 1040s, Magnus created him 'co-king.' He died the next year, either in an accident or of illness, and was inherited in Norway by Harald (Sweyn Estridsson inherited Denmark, having previously been the country's jarl, or earl.) Harald was dismayed when he was looked over as heir by Edward, having been given the impression throughout Edward's talks with his enemies in the 1050s that he was a possible heir.
Magnus with Harthacnut at the Göta.
Both claimants began preparations, by all accounts, around March 1066, with William building ships, and Harald assembling a force of longships and around 12 thousand soldiers. Both men landed within three days of each other at opposite ends of the country - Harald invading Northumbria on the 25th of September, and William landing at Pevensey Bay in the 28th. Harold was unable to cope with the fighting on both fronts, staying in the south of the country to intercept William, whom he saw as posing the larger threat. The Saxon king was only able to look on helplessly as Hardråda's Viking hordes ravaged the north of England, burning fields and raping women, many of whom would have been of Viking descent, as they went.
The Vikings landing in Northumberland.
Knowing now that any attempt to quell the situation in the north would be futile, and only act as a window of opportunity for William, Harold set towards the south coast, reaching Pevensey on the 4th of October. The Normans were caught unawares, supposedly being sighted by Harold whilst erecting tents, though this has often been cast aside as Saxon propaganda, as it is unlikely that the Normans would have dwelled so long at Pevensey upon landing. In any case, a battle was fought on the morning of the 5th of October, later remembered as the Battle of Pevensey Fields. The battle was hotly contested, with the flat terrain offering no starting advantage to either side, though the Normans had a numerical advantage - fielding around 17 thousand men from all over northern France to Harold's 15 thousand. William's base of Normandy could only supply around seven thousand troops, with the numbers being made up by Angevin, Poitevin, Flemish and Breton volunteers. Later, numbers also swelled following a popular movement that saw about a thousand French troops head to England in favour of the ongoing French civil war, many normal soldiers attracted by the prospect of land.
By the evening, around ten thousand casualties had been sustained across both sides, with the Saxons taking about six thousand of those. Significantly, amongst those casualties were a large number of Norman leaders, with the most prominent death being William's half-brother, Odo de Bayeux, who was supposedly hit in the face by a stray Norman arrow, bleeding to death. The only evidence to suggest this is indeed correct comes from a depiction of Odo, shown with an arrow in his eye, on the de Bayeux Tapestry - commissioned in his honour by William, possibly as a sign of penance for the bloodshed.
The battle, as shown on the de Bayeux Tapestry.
Following the Norman victory, the Saxons fled back to the north, Harold desperately hoping to eliminate Harald, though, by all accounts, fearing his efforts would be in vain even as the orders were given. When Harold arrived in Yorkshire on the 12th of October, he discovered that the people of the north, especially Northumbria - Tostig's former earldom, had risen against the Viking forces, and had repelled them as far as Whitley Bay. Harold took his army to Whitley Bay, arriving on the 16th of October, finding the Viking army severely worn by skirmishes by local people. It is estimated that, of the initial 12 thousand soldiers, only five thousand returned to Norway. Estimates as to the combined size of the skirmishing forces range from 3-5 thousand. Harold met with Hardråda, who acknowledged his defeat. The Saxon king, in a show of benevolence, allowed the Norse king three passage from the country in exchange for Tostig. Harald readily agreed, leaving with his remaining forces two days later. Tostig was taken to a nearby town, and summarily hanged. Harald, incidentally, never reached Norway, falling off his ship and drowning in the North Sea. It is unknown if this was an accident, or if the king was murdered by discontented soldiers. Another theory even goes as far as to suggest Harald committed suicide, too ashamed at his defeat.
Harold, now paranoid that the journey back north had been an act of folly, travelled with his army, along with the three thousand or so who had been skirmishing the Viking forces, back to Sussex in record time, meeting a Norman force of 12 thousand soldiers at Maidstone on the 21st of October. This time, the force of 11 thousand Saxons defeated the Normans, repelling them back towards the Sussex coast, and effectively negating their gains in Kent and Surrey.[...]
[...]In October 1069, after three years of fighting, a Norman force, which now consisted of more Franks and Italians (drafted in from Apulia) than Normans, met a heavily beleaguered Saxon force just outside London. William now controlled all of south east England as far as the River Thames, forcing Harold back towards the Midlands. Areas around Gloucester had also been taken effectively cutting Harold off from his power base in Wessex. It was at this, the Battle of Hextable, that Harold conceded defeat and recognised William as king, in exchange for his continued existence as the earl of Wessex. William agreed, and set about making arrangements for his coronation, sending parties of men to subdue the northern populations, who were the most militant when it came to expressing disapproval of the Norman regime (the Northern Revolts would occur just three months into William's reign, with Eadwin and Morcar, the earls of Northumberland and Lancaster leading a popular revolt - ending six months later with the capture and execution of the brothers, who were both publicly hanged. The revolts were the immediate catalyst for the infamous Harrying of the North.) Crowned in New Year's Day, 1070, William's first act of king was to renege on his deal with Harold, who was captured and imprisoned in London. He was later hanged as a traitor.
William's coronation, from the de Bayeux Tapestry.
[...]The first few years of William's reign are often now labelled as over-cruel in the Saxon population. Having installed a new Norman-favoured beaurocracy, focusing on the centralisation if the state, many of the new 'seigneurs' were keen to impose a mark on the Saxon populace, with thousands being recorded as being sentenced to death as traitors, many for taking part in localised revolts.[...]"
Here the author goes on to talk of Saxons in the nobility after the consolidation of William's rule, which is irrelevant to our narrative.
Part Four, taken from the works of de Compiègne, with some additional material from the following publications:
-The Decline of Saxon England (Quentin, 2001)
-The Year of Kings (Yvetot, 2009)
All texts are used with the kind permission of the authors.
"If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you." - John 15:6-7
Chapter Thirty-Four
The following is take from The Decline of Saxon England (Quentin, 2001,) detailing the Norman Invasion and subsequent conquest, as well as the later decline of the Godwinson Family:
-The Decline of Saxon England (Quentin, 2001)
-The Year of Kings (Yvetot, 2009)
All texts are used with the kind permission of the authors.
"If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you." - John 15:6-7
Chapter Thirty-Four
The following is take from The Decline of Saxon England (Quentin, 2001,) detailing the Norman Invasion and subsequent conquest, as well as the later decline of the Godwinson Family:
"[...]Upon the death of St. Edward the Confessor on the 4th of January, England, the kingdom Edward was leaving behind, was plunged into a succession crisis that would culminate in one of the defining moments in European history. Edward died childless, with no apparent heir - his closest male relative a fourteen year old boy, Edgar the Ætheling (later 'the Exile.') The Saxon council, the Witangamot, quickly elected in Edgar's place Harold Godwinson, son of the powerful Earl Godwin, and brother-in-law to Edward. Harold was a skilled warrior and politician having proved invaluable to Edward during military campaigns. He was respected by the ordinary Saxon populace, and, as the country's most powerful landowner, seemed the Witan's most natural choice.
St. Edward, the Confessor.
But, as with many of history's other defining moments, nothing proved as simple as it seemed. Since the early months of 1066, William, the duke of Normandy, had been planning an invasion of England. William was Edward's first cousin thrice removed, and had hosted the English king in Normandy during periods of exile in his early years, when the country was ruled by the Danish kings Cnut (Canute) and Harthacnut. William claimed that, in 1051, Edward designated the duke heir to the English throne. When Harold was elected king, William was outraged, and began preparations for an invasion of England.
The plot thickens, however, with the introduction of one final claimant to the throne, also planning an invasion. Harald Hardråda, king of Norway claimed the throne based on an agreement between his nephew, Magnus the Good, and Harthacnut.
Around 1040, Magnus, seeking to reunite Norway with Denmark, launched an attack on Denmark, but the noblemen of the two countries intervened, bringing the two kings together, supposedly at the Göta River in modern day Sweden. The kings agreed that they would each be the other's heirs, should one of them die before the other. When Harald began to contest Magnus' rule in the early 1040s, Magnus created him 'co-king.' He died the next year, either in an accident or of illness, and was inherited in Norway by Harald (Sweyn Estridsson inherited Denmark, having previously been the country's jarl, or earl.) Harald was dismayed when he was looked over as heir by Edward, having been given the impression throughout Edward's talks with his enemies in the 1050s that he was a possible heir.
Magnus with Harthacnut at the Göta.
Both claimants began preparations, by all accounts, around March 1066, with William building ships, and Harald assembling a force of longships and around 12 thousand soldiers. Both men landed within three days of each other at opposite ends of the country - Harald invading Northumbria on the 25th of September, and William landing at Pevensey Bay in the 28th. Harold was unable to cope with the fighting on both fronts, staying in the south of the country to intercept William, whom he saw as posing the larger threat. The Saxon king was only able to look on helplessly as Hardråda's Viking hordes ravaged the north of England, burning fields and raping women, many of whom would have been of Viking descent, as they went.
The Vikings landing in Northumberland.
Knowing now that any attempt to quell the situation in the north would be futile, and only act as a window of opportunity for William, Harold set towards the south coast, reaching Pevensey on the 4th of October. The Normans were caught unawares, supposedly being sighted by Harold whilst erecting tents, though this has often been cast aside as Saxon propaganda, as it is unlikely that the Normans would have dwelled so long at Pevensey upon landing. In any case, a battle was fought on the morning of the 5th of October, later remembered as the Battle of Pevensey Fields. The battle was hotly contested, with the flat terrain offering no starting advantage to either side, though the Normans had a numerical advantage - fielding around 17 thousand men from all over northern France to Harold's 15 thousand. William's base of Normandy could only supply around seven thousand troops, with the numbers being made up by Angevin, Poitevin, Flemish and Breton volunteers. Later, numbers also swelled following a popular movement that saw about a thousand French troops head to England in favour of the ongoing French civil war, many normal soldiers attracted by the prospect of land.
By the evening, around ten thousand casualties had been sustained across both sides, with the Saxons taking about six thousand of those. Significantly, amongst those casualties were a large number of Norman leaders, with the most prominent death being William's half-brother, Odo de Bayeux, who was supposedly hit in the face by a stray Norman arrow, bleeding to death. The only evidence to suggest this is indeed correct comes from a depiction of Odo, shown with an arrow in his eye, on the de Bayeux Tapestry - commissioned in his honour by William, possibly as a sign of penance for the bloodshed.
The battle, as shown on the de Bayeux Tapestry.
Following the Norman victory, the Saxons fled back to the north, Harold desperately hoping to eliminate Harald, though, by all accounts, fearing his efforts would be in vain even as the orders were given. When Harold arrived in Yorkshire on the 12th of October, he discovered that the people of the north, especially Northumbria - Tostig's former earldom, had risen against the Viking forces, and had repelled them as far as Whitley Bay. Harold took his army to Whitley Bay, arriving on the 16th of October, finding the Viking army severely worn by skirmishes by local people. It is estimated that, of the initial 12 thousand soldiers, only five thousand returned to Norway. Estimates as to the combined size of the skirmishing forces range from 3-5 thousand. Harold met with Hardråda, who acknowledged his defeat. The Saxon king, in a show of benevolence, allowed the Norse king three passage from the country in exchange for Tostig. Harald readily agreed, leaving with his remaining forces two days later. Tostig was taken to a nearby town, and summarily hanged. Harald, incidentally, never reached Norway, falling off his ship and drowning in the North Sea. It is unknown if this was an accident, or if the king was murdered by discontented soldiers. Another theory even goes as far as to suggest Harald committed suicide, too ashamed at his defeat.
Harold, now paranoid that the journey back north had been an act of folly, travelled with his army, along with the three thousand or so who had been skirmishing the Viking forces, back to Sussex in record time, meeting a Norman force of 12 thousand soldiers at Maidstone on the 21st of October. This time, the force of 11 thousand Saxons defeated the Normans, repelling them back towards the Sussex coast, and effectively negating their gains in Kent and Surrey.[...]
[...]In October 1069, after three years of fighting, a Norman force, which now consisted of more Franks and Italians (drafted in from Apulia) than Normans, met a heavily beleaguered Saxon force just outside London. William now controlled all of south east England as far as the River Thames, forcing Harold back towards the Midlands. Areas around Gloucester had also been taken effectively cutting Harold off from his power base in Wessex. It was at this, the Battle of Hextable, that Harold conceded defeat and recognised William as king, in exchange for his continued existence as the earl of Wessex. William agreed, and set about making arrangements for his coronation, sending parties of men to subdue the northern populations, who were the most militant when it came to expressing disapproval of the Norman regime (the Northern Revolts would occur just three months into William's reign, with Eadwin and Morcar, the earls of Northumberland and Lancaster leading a popular revolt - ending six months later with the capture and execution of the brothers, who were both publicly hanged. The revolts were the immediate catalyst for the infamous Harrying of the North.) Crowned in New Year's Day, 1070, William's first act of king was to renege on his deal with Harold, who was captured and imprisoned in London. He was later hanged as a traitor.
William's coronation, from the de Bayeux Tapestry.
[...]The first few years of William's reign are often now labelled as over-cruel in the Saxon population. Having installed a new Norman-favoured beaurocracy, focusing on the centralisation if the state, many of the new 'seigneurs' were keen to impose a mark on the Saxon populace, with thousands being recorded as being sentenced to death as traitors, many for taking part in localised revolts.[...]"
Here the author goes on to talk of Saxons in the nobility after the consolidation of William's rule, which is irrelevant to our narrative.
--
To be continued...
To be continued...
I wonder what relevance Bill the Bastard's victory has on the tale. A new player in the intrigues? Or perhaps there's a war for Normandy brewing?