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The Men of East Anglia - A CK2 AAR Chronicles of house De Gael, a breton dynasty which rose
to relevance during William 'The Conquerors' invasion
of England.
Contents: 1. An Introduction
2. Alba, Mercian's and Family | 1066 - 1067
3. The Brothers Hwiccing | 1067 - 1069
4. Nobody Said it was Easy | 1069
Hello,
I have been an avid fan of CK2 since roughly 2015, when numerous fantastic reddit tales and stories convinced me to
finally purchase the game. Despite a steep learning curve, and numerous Eire rage quits I finally figured out how to marry
somebody and since then I've been playing non-stop.
Yet despite now possessing over 1.3k hours of total playtime, I am still entirely new to both AARs and admittedly to forums such as
this. But with that information out in the open, I hope you enjoy reading this AAR. The goal was to have a detailed, story-driven campaign
that made a real attempt at bringing this little breton dynasty to life. It should be noted I played with the HIP modification, as well as numerous font mods alongside the Theatrum Orbis Terrarum map mod.
Before the famous conquest of the norman Duke William de Normandie, Ralf de Gael had been count of Norfolk serving under King Harold of Godwin's
kinsmen: Duke Gyrth of East Anglia. Their relationship had never been special yet the young breton had always fulfilled his duties for his Saxon overlord. From an early age, his
two sons had flocked to the court of William in search of prestige and adventure, such could not be found in the 'boring' lands of Norfolk.
But then, of course, everything changed. The land of the Angles was called to arms as it had been nearly a century ago, when the viking hordes pillaged and slaughtered
and plundered their lands. Harald 'Hardrada' and William 'the Conqueror' picked England to pieces, with the latter slaughter the Saxon King and claiming the throne of England
as his own.
In the months of war and strife, Ralf's ascention to Duc of East Anglia had largely gone ignored by the late Saxon King, and when William began replacing every
Saxon Lord with his own loyal Norman followers, he saw fit to keep Ralf in his new position. His son, also named Ralf, returned to serve as his Father's Marshal and
Designated Regent of East Anglia. His second-born son, Harduin, remained at Rouen to act as Chancellor of the realm and aid William during his ascention to King of the
Angles.
This is where our story begins, as Duke Ralf I hugs his firstborn son for the first time in years and gathers his court for the widely-anticipated coronation of King William I.
As ambitious and hungry Saxon Lords and Dukes angrily scheme and plot to reclaim lands that were once theres, whilst Norsemen and Scandanavians lick their wounds
and dream of settling the fertile lands of Norfolk and Suffolk.
But do not underestimate the new Duke. Where others see weakness, he see's potential for a dynasty that could shape the course of Brittania's future. He is an aged man and
with age comes wisdom and experience. The day might be William's, but the future belongs to house De Gael.
Chapter One Alba, Mercian's and Family | 1066 - 1067
Months after William's coronation, the realm maintains a somewhat stable balance as the English Lords and Counts adjust to life under Norman rule.
House De Gael has seen a signifcant rise in both prestige and power, with Ralf I's marriage to Annes Dinefwr, daughter of Count Rhys of Ystrad Tywi and Ralf II's
marriage to Nest Seisyll, daughter of the late Brenin (Duke) Gruffyd of Powys and claimant to most of the Welsh lands. Duc Ralf had secured some strong and steady
alliances with the Lord of Ystrad Tywi and the Brenin of Deheubarth, whilst more good fortune awaited him.
In reward for his capable service as Chancellor of England, Harduin de Gael was appointed Count of Grentebrige (Cambridge) and married to Margaret of Westseax,
further increasing the dynastic prestige of house De Gael. Harduin was appointed Chancellor of East Anglia, a sign of recognition by his Father.
Later in the year of 1067, King William declared a Tributary war on Alba, amassing an army 8,000 strong to march on the northern Kingdom. Desiring to make a
good impression on the Norman King, Ralf declared his support for the King and gathered some 1,000 men to march for Alba. The realm was left in the care of his
sons, as Ralf was accompanied by Robert le Blount, Count of Suffolk, as well as Lambert, a knight under Ralf's charge.
After marching for 4 days, Ralf and his men arrived at Srath Anann. With an almost entirely depleted garrison, the siege lasted no longer than a week, with most men
surrendering or joining Ralf's forces. Scouts spotted the approaching Alban army, 7,000 men strong, yet they did not march for Srath Anann.
To the East, William lay waste to the Alban lands. He had imprisoned numerous Lords and families loyal to King Mael-Coluim III, and had encamped his army near Berik.
Ralf sensed opportunity. He swiftly ordered his meagre forces North toward the capital of Gobharaidh, hoping to avoid the enemy entirely and swiftly besiege the
Alban capital with little to no resistance, in a similar fashion to Srath Anann. Ralf's fortunes were blessed, as the enemy army headed east for Berik to meet William head-on,
leaving the East Anglian forces free to advance without issue.
The Siege of Gobharaidh was arduous, it's garrison nowhere near as depleted as Ralf had believed. With his men also tired from a forced march North, and the weather getting
colder, they prepared themselves for a long siege.
Back in Norfolk...
Harduin burst into the courtyard, as his brother continued to oversee the training of the garrison. In his hand lay a parchment sent from the Duke of Mercia, a declaration
of war!
Eadwine lay claim to the land that once belonged to his Father, Ralf's land. Harduin swiftly ran to his Father's chambers, frantically composing letters to their Welsh
allies warning them of the upcoming conflict, and the lack of an East Anglian force to fight with...
It took but a few days to recieve a response from their Welsh Father and Brother-in-law.
Peace be with you. Of course, I will honour my obligation.
No more than 120 men marched under Sir Bernez of Norfolk to meet with the Deheubarthian forces, as 2,600 Mercian soldiers lay siege to their keep. Both Ralf and
Harduin took refuge inside the castle walls. They prayed for a miracle.
It took Duc Ralf two months to break the siege at Gobharaidh, eventually breaching the walls and slaughtering whatever garrison stood in his way. Lambert immediately
took to searching the keep top-to-bottom, with no sign of the Queen or the royal children. Ralf cursed his fortune, before Robert le Blount informed him of an approaching
East Anglian fleet, the men would not rest for long.
Aboard the transport vessels, Captain Konan informed the old Duke of news from the mainland. King William had triumphed over the Alban collective at the Battle of
Hexham, utterly shattering the 6,000 Scotsmen and sending them reeling to Cille Mhàra, where the Norman army surrounded them. Due to the circumstances, the good news
fell on almost deaf ears, as Ralf impatiently paced the deck. He should never have marched North, he pondered, and feared as to whether he had allowed his ambition
and carelessness to descend his dynasty into ruin.
On the 29th January 1068, Ralf and the remenants of his army arrived on the shores of Suffolk, attaching to the allied forces of Deheubarth and Ystrad Tywi. For his service in Alba,
he permitted Count Robert permission to travel home should he wish. The Norman Lord declined the Duke's generous offer, too proud to abandon such a cause.
With time running out, and the already impoverished garrison of Thetford growing hungrier by the day, Ralf ordered his troops to advance. Within they day they reached
Thetford Keep to find it free of any seige, with the garrison informing the East Anglian's of the Mercian's retreat North, toward Elmham.
Wasting no time, Duc Ralf and his followers gave chase. It took a day to finally reach the invading forces, encamped and resting near the Bisphoric. Robert le Blount offered to parlay
with the Mercian Duke, and went ahead to begin battle negotiations. Ralf suspected the Duke of awaiting reinforcements, Sir Lambert and Sir Bernez both pointed out that
the Mercian Duke had no reinforcements to recieve, and even if he did they would have to march across the Great Ouse River in order to do so.
The Great Ouse River
With piece of mind as to the Mercian's predicament, and needing an advantage to compete with the vast amount of heavy infantry, Duc Ralf decided to
starve the Mercian's out. He tasked le Blount with establishing a trade route between their encampment and the city of Norwich, assuming the defensive whilst also
allowing time for the fatigued Anglian forces to both rest and ready themselves.
Within days, the tables had turned on the Mercians. With provisions running low, and no means of escape, they marched to battle on the 13th May 1068. Whilst Ralf maintained
missile superiority thanks to his Welsh allies, the Mercian infantry made quick work of the weaker and less armoured Welsh-East Anglian forces. Casualties racked up on both
sides, and Robert le Blount was injured in the melee by William de Crepon, Count of Gloucester. By the days end however, Duc Ralf and the men of East Anglia were triumphant,
with Duke Eadwine being bested and captured by the men of Ystrad Tywi. In exchange for his release, he relinquished all claim to the Dukedom of East Anglia, and vowed never
again to set foot on Ralf's lands.
With the Mercian's repelled, peace reigned in the lands of East Anglia. King William's war against Alba resolved with a swift victory at Cille Mhàra, and King Mael-Coluim III
recognised the Norman monarch as his suzerain. Harduin frequently organised events to bring his family closer together, succeeding in doing so as Ralf I and Ralf II spent more
time together than they ever had done.
But peace is a luxury, a luxury one tends to lack in times of opportunity, war and turmoil. These years are a time of social upheaval, as nations rise and fall as frequently as Kings
and Queens. Being a Breton Duke in England was dangerous, yet more dangerous was the ambitions of the displaced Saxons, who now fought a game of intrigue and wits to survive
under Norman rule.
The year is 1069, four years on from William de Normandie's invasion of England.
Suprisingly, no Norman has dealt the ageing Breton Duke any strife in his four year tenure as Duc of East Anglia.
But the same cannot be said for the Anglo-Saxon Lords and Landowners, as one tedious war now bleeds into another.
Duc Ralf makes a pledge to himself and his kin in Thetford Keep that night.
They will not succumb to Saxon might.
And House Hwiccing will pay.
Ralf calls his banners, and once again writes to his Welsh allies asking favour. He takes no pride in such an act, and decides to bestow rewards upon
the Lords should victory be achieved again. Sadly, the craven Rhys of Ystard Tywi breaks his oath and declines the call. Ralf's misfortune can only
grow it seems, as he curses the Welshman's name. Brenin Maredudd II answers within the week, as he had before, and Ralf's sorrows dampen ever
so slightly. He owed the old Duke a drink and a coin satchel when this war was over, he thought, and perhaps a hunt to celebrate.
The passing of Summer had allowed the stockpiles of Thetford to replenish somewhat, and with his allies still marching through Ledecestre, Ralf decided
to employ the same stratergy as he had with Duke Eadwine. He gathered his troops, some 1,600 strong and marched West via Suffolk to avoid the advancing
Northumberland army and join with his allies.
Brenin Maredudd II, Robert le Blount and Ralf de Gael
With the men assembled outside Ledecestre (Maredudd was stricken by illness, so his forces were led by the Captain of the Garrison), Ralf informed them of
his plan to wait a while, simply stating that "more were coming". The army advanced to the Bishopric of Ely, sworn vassal to Ralf, and made an encampment
by the Great River Ouse. The confusion upon the men's faces was obvious, as they knew each day that passed was a day that Thetford was besieged. Ralf,
however, would not be told otherwise.
Captain Wealhtheof of the Saxon Band
Dawn broke to the sound of marching footsteps approaching. The scouts, half-asleep, scrambled to their posts and began crying out meek calls of warning
and fear. Their calls were met by the disappointed face of Ralf, as he emerged from his tent. The short yet imposing man approached one of the scouts,
sword raised towards his head.
"If I was the enemy, you'd be dead by now. Wouldn't you?"
The scout nodded, bowing his head as the tiny commander burst into a fit of laughter. He announced himself as Captain Wealhtheof, Commander and Leader
of the Saxon Band. Smiles quickly emerged on the gathering troops faces. Here stood over a thousand brave Saxon men, ready to fight and die for the men of
East Anglia. Ralf shook his hand firmly.
"Are your men ready to march?" Asked the Duke. "We're ready when you are my Lord." Replied the Captain.
The Anglian army arrived at Suffolk as October began, taking a moment to rest and recover before advancing on the besiegers. Ralf had a feeling
the Northumberland would follow the pattern of his Brother, and retreat upon seeing the size of the Anglian forces. He proposed they advance from
the Southwest, in an attempt to back the Saxon army towards the coast effectively trapping them.
Sure enough, on the 7th October 1069 when Ralf's army arrived at Thetford keep, the besiegers had turned tail and retreated North. Clearly these
brothers are not in contact, Ralf thought, else such a trap would've been easily avoided. Yet it was not a thought that plagued him much. If the
number advantage wasn't enough, now the Northumberland Lord had no means of escape. Unlike the last war, the garrison reported the besiegers
retreat Northwest.
"They're trying to cross the river." Robert began. "They're running for home."
"They won't get very far." Ralf replied.
Giving chase, resources and dropped armour was found on the East side of the River, with no sign of any tracks or equipment on the opposite side.
It could only mean one thing, and Ralf knew exactly where they were.
Approaching Elmham, a bewildered Duke Morcær hastily ordered his army into a defensive stance. This time, there would be no waiting or tactical
pause, Ralf wanted the Saxon's head on a spike. He charged his men forward, as 5,000 Saxons, Welshmen and Bretons surged forward toward
the shattered enemy.
It was a bloodbath.
The Second Battle of Elmham resulted in a stunning victory for Ralf and his men.
They lost only 300 men, whilst the Northumberland forces lost over 1,000. Duke Morcær and his Commanders retreated in the midst of the slaughter,
hurrying home toward Appleby. As the Anglian troops gathered themselves, congratulating one another and beginning to sort out the wounded
and slain, Robert approached the Duke.
"What should we do now my Lord?"
Ralf turned to his vassal with fire in his eyes.
"We follow them." He began. "And we kill every last one of them."
