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What Came Before (History Book)
The Carolingians were once a great house. Their glory began with Charles Martel, who was merely a “Mayor of the Palace” - although he did de facto rule over the Franks. He was faced with a Muslim invasion, although some modern historians consider it more of a raid. The Muslims would conquer much of Aquitaine, and its duke requested aid, although he had previously revolted against the Franks.
Charles accepted this request for aid. He met the Muslims at Tours, and their commander was killed. Without a commander, the Muslim raiding force quickly withdrew. For this feat, Charles was known as “Martel” - the Hammer.
His heirs were Peppin and Carloman. They quickly managed to assert effective control over Francia. Carloman ruled Austrasia, Alemannia, and Thuringia (the eastern portions of the Frankish realm), whereas Peppin ruled Neustria, Burgundy, and Provence (the western portions of Francia). They would install Childeric III as a puppet king of the Franks, although they retained all of the actual power.
Carloman would retire into religious life in 747 AD. Peppin would thus effectively rule over the entire Frankish realm. He would suppress a revolt by his half-brother. In 751 AD, he gave up all pretence of non-monarchical rule, as he forced Childeric into a monastery.
Peppin’s sons would divide the realm, but convenient deaths would lead to the ascension of Charles to the position of King of all Francia. Charles would then defeat the Saxons, Muslims, and Lombards alike. These deeds earned him the title “Magnus” - the Great.
The man known as Charlemagne also gave land to the Pope to rule, who crowned him as Western Roman Emperor in 800 AD.
Ultimately, though, Charlemagne was a mortal man, and he would perish. His son, Louis the Pious, would inherit. Unfortunately, Louis would be the last ruler of a united Empire. His sons would fight over the crown.
In the end, the Treaty of Verdun would divide the realm into 3 parts. To make matters worse, when the eldest son, Lothaire, died, he split his realm into 3 parts - Italy, Lotharingia, and Arles (Burgundy).
In time, all of the Carolingians would lose their authority. Lotharingia was the first realm to be destroyed, and that kingdom was heavily fought over by East and West Francia. By 1066 AD, the Carolingians had been reduced to a single county in the former lands of West Francia, now known as France.
Meanwhile, the King of East Francia (known as Germany by that point), Otto, would conquer Italy in the 900s AD and have himself crowned as Holy Roman Emperor.
Count Herbert of Vermandois, however, dreamed of restoring Carolingian glory. His ambitions would lead to countless wars and intrigues, and that is the true history of the restored Carolingians and their descendants.
Charles accepted this request for aid. He met the Muslims at Tours, and their commander was killed. Without a commander, the Muslim raiding force quickly withdrew. For this feat, Charles was known as “Martel” - the Hammer.
His heirs were Peppin and Carloman. They quickly managed to assert effective control over Francia. Carloman ruled Austrasia, Alemannia, and Thuringia (the eastern portions of the Frankish realm), whereas Peppin ruled Neustria, Burgundy, and Provence (the western portions of Francia). They would install Childeric III as a puppet king of the Franks, although they retained all of the actual power.
Carloman would retire into religious life in 747 AD. Peppin would thus effectively rule over the entire Frankish realm. He would suppress a revolt by his half-brother. In 751 AD, he gave up all pretence of non-monarchical rule, as he forced Childeric into a monastery.
Peppin’s sons would divide the realm, but convenient deaths would lead to the ascension of Charles to the position of King of all Francia. Charles would then defeat the Saxons, Muslims, and Lombards alike. These deeds earned him the title “Magnus” - the Great.
The man known as Charlemagne also gave land to the Pope to rule, who crowned him as Western Roman Emperor in 800 AD.
Ultimately, though, Charlemagne was a mortal man, and he would perish. His son, Louis the Pious, would inherit. Unfortunately, Louis would be the last ruler of a united Empire. His sons would fight over the crown.
In the end, the Treaty of Verdun would divide the realm into 3 parts. To make matters worse, when the eldest son, Lothaire, died, he split his realm into 3 parts - Italy, Lotharingia, and Arles (Burgundy).
In time, all of the Carolingians would lose their authority. Lotharingia was the first realm to be destroyed, and that kingdom was heavily fought over by East and West Francia. By 1066 AD, the Carolingians had been reduced to a single county in the former lands of West Francia, now known as France.
Meanwhile, the King of East Francia (known as Germany by that point), Otto, would conquer Italy in the 900s AD and have himself crowned as Holy Roman Emperor.
Count Herbert of Vermandois, however, dreamed of restoring Carolingian glory. His ambitions would lead to countless wars and intrigues, and that is the true history of the restored Carolingians and their descendants.
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No. They had a glorious rule, but said glory may yet be reclaimed...
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My first ever attempt at an AAR was an overly ambitious Herbert de Vermandois narrative, so seeing this makes me feel all warm and fuzzy. Subscribed!
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Count Hugh may have little left but his ancestors' ancient legacy, but other men have made do with less.
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My ideas are often ambitious...
Perhaps. Or perhaps they shall swallowed by the dustbin of history...Best of luck! The Carolingian legacy will be epic, I'm sure.
True enough...
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A Strategy Is Made Clear (History Book)
“The rebirth of the Carolingians took centuries. Many historians consider 1066 to be a year that is primarily interesting for the Wars Over England. If France in this time is talked about at all, it is for the Norman Invasion. Still, plots were stirring in the tiny French County of Vermandois.
Vermandois was ruled by the last of the Carolingians. Count Herbert had sworn allegiance to the French King, who was a Capet, but he dreamed of lost glory. Once, the Carolingians had ruled over almost the entirety of Central Europe and large parts of Western Europe. Herbert imagined a world in which that glory was renewed.
Still, for all of his faults, the Count of Vermandois knew of the reality of his position. A few of his ancestors had imagined that lands would just fall into their grasp. Herbert knew that belief to be folly. He knew that a man must work toward glory - glory rarely fell into the laps of men. He also knew that patience was key.
He learned to be patient. He would serve, and the Capets would believe him and his dynasty content. The Holy Roman Emperors would also believe him content. No one would suspect him of contemplating lost glories. He would be beneath suspicion.
After all, no one would oppose him if they didn’t know his goals. No one could oppose him without knowing his goals. He would pretend to be someone who he was not, and he would scheme. His dynasty had fallen due to pride. They had let power slip from their grasp, and, in the long run, that had destroyed them.
Many believe that the early Carolingians trusted no one with their plans, but that was blatantly untrue. The Carolingians - or, at least, the early ones, those that had reigned before the Restoration - firmly believed that trusting no one was utter folly. After all, if no one knew your plans, how were they supposed to be carried out?
No, the early Carolingians trusted a select few men in their small County, and no one outside of it. They were perfectly aware that no man ruled alone.” - Introduction to The Prelude to Restoration: A Tale of the Carolingians
Vermandois was ruled by the last of the Carolingians. Count Herbert had sworn allegiance to the French King, who was a Capet, but he dreamed of lost glory. Once, the Carolingians had ruled over almost the entirety of Central Europe and large parts of Western Europe. Herbert imagined a world in which that glory was renewed.
Still, for all of his faults, the Count of Vermandois knew of the reality of his position. A few of his ancestors had imagined that lands would just fall into their grasp. Herbert knew that belief to be folly. He knew that a man must work toward glory - glory rarely fell into the laps of men. He also knew that patience was key.
He learned to be patient. He would serve, and the Capets would believe him and his dynasty content. The Holy Roman Emperors would also believe him content. No one would suspect him of contemplating lost glories. He would be beneath suspicion.
After all, no one would oppose him if they didn’t know his goals. No one could oppose him without knowing his goals. He would pretend to be someone who he was not, and he would scheme. His dynasty had fallen due to pride. They had let power slip from their grasp, and, in the long run, that had destroyed them.
Many believe that the early Carolingians trusted no one with their plans, but that was blatantly untrue. The Carolingians - or, at least, the early ones, those that had reigned before the Restoration - firmly believed that trusting no one was utter folly. After all, if no one knew your plans, how were they supposed to be carried out?
No, the early Carolingians trusted a select few men in their small County, and no one outside of it. They were perfectly aware that no man ruled alone.” - Introduction to The Prelude to Restoration: A Tale of the Carolingians
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There's an old saying: "The mills of God grind slowly, but they grind exceeding fine." Count Herbert may not necessarily be anything approaching a divine being himself, but I have a feeling he has taken this saying to heart, and wishes to leave nothing to chance.
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In the full view of history, the Carolingians’ situation in 1066 is hopefully going to look like a minor aberration.
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Of course. We can be patient...
Hopefully...
Close at hand? Probably not. But in due time...
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Right, so I'm going to put this on official hiatus.
I can't actually get CK3 to load, so this will need to wait until I can do that. It'll resume as soon as I can do that.
Sorry!
I can't actually get CK3 to load, so this will need to wait until I can do that. It'll resume as soon as I can do that.
Sorry!
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Ah, that’s not ideal for you. Hope you get your issues with the game resolved in due course!
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No, it isn't. Hopefully CK3 will load for me soon. I have some... interesting ideas for this...
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Herbet's View on War (Diary)
The hiatus is over!
“I wish to be a warrior. Men will follow a warrior far more than they will follow an administrator. A man who refuses to lead his men in the field is a coward. My ancestors led from the front of their armies, and I will follow in their footsteps. To do so will inspire loyalty toward me, and, hopefully, toward my dynasty.
Still, there are many ways to fight. Men often like to compete at tournaments, hoping that they will triumph and win fame. Fools. All of those men are fools! Real war is nothing like a tournament. Tournament competitors are constrained by honor, at least in theory. They are expected to be chivalrous.
That’s fine, if those men want glory. But glory is fleeting. Glory won at a tournament will never stand the test of time. Chivalry! What a joke. Honor in a war is a lie. Many men attempt to be honorable in real war. They attempt to be chivalrous. Because of that, they die. Real wars have no honor. It’s kill or be killed. There is no middle ground except the fleeting respite of peace. And peace is fleeting. It never lasts, and it cannot last in this fallen world. Only a fool believes in a lasting period of peace. True peace will never be achieved, and the closest thing to it is a single man having dominion of the planet.
No, wars were won by strategy! They were won by cunning plans. If I wish to win wars, then I must master that art.” - the Diary of Herbert of Vermandois
“I wish to be a warrior. Men will follow a warrior far more than they will follow an administrator. A man who refuses to lead his men in the field is a coward. My ancestors led from the front of their armies, and I will follow in their footsteps. To do so will inspire loyalty toward me, and, hopefully, toward my dynasty.
Still, there are many ways to fight. Men often like to compete at tournaments, hoping that they will triumph and win fame. Fools. All of those men are fools! Real war is nothing like a tournament. Tournament competitors are constrained by honor, at least in theory. They are expected to be chivalrous.
That’s fine, if those men want glory. But glory is fleeting. Glory won at a tournament will never stand the test of time. Chivalry! What a joke. Honor in a war is a lie. Many men attempt to be honorable in real war. They attempt to be chivalrous. Because of that, they die. Real wars have no honor. It’s kill or be killed. There is no middle ground except the fleeting respite of peace. And peace is fleeting. It never lasts, and it cannot last in this fallen world. Only a fool believes in a lasting period of peace. True peace will never be achieved, and the closest thing to it is a single man having dominion of the planet.
No, wars were won by strategy! They were won by cunning plans. If I wish to win wars, then I must master that art.” - the Diary of Herbert of Vermandois
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