Wars of House Rocherfort

[Austregisel]

A Crusader Kings 2 AAR

Wars of House Rocherfort
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Spoiler: Game Rules – This campaign contained a few different Game Rules, the most important were:

Gender Equality (None)

Secret Religious Cult (None)

Devil Worshipers (None)

Supernatural Events (None)

Absurd Events (None)

Culture Conversion (Slower)

Religious Conversion Speed (Slower)

Raiding (Unrestricted)

Matrilineal Marriages (None)

Demesne Size (Quartered)

Exclave Independence mod: Sea Connections (One sea zone)

As you can see, I disabled several events such as becoming immortal, bears, wolf boys, children of the Devil, as well as Satanic society itself, to make the game more realistic and historical in these aspects. I left the speed of conversion of religion and culture on slow, in order to avoid extravagances with entire regions with different cultures, besides I find it kind of unrealistic to drastically change the culture of a region to the Middle Ages.

The most important point was for Demesne Size, that count of how many counties of your own you can have, I found this choice very interesting, there are some good things, like it increases the politics within the kingdoms a lot, it is very much in line with feudalism, before to have a super Duchy with all the earldoms for the Duke, now in the beginning a great Duchy would have a very difficult life, as it would have to have many vassal counts. Also, this way the counties evolve better, because for example when being king and having 5 counties, it is very difficult to evolve more than 2, while the other 3 are left behind, this way these other counties would have counts that would have more possibility to evolve them. Also, the trade off between laws is better, as it is now necessary to have a low crown power to have one more county that you can have, further improving the issue of feudalism.

On the Rading issue, I think it's more realistic historically to let everyone raid and loot their neighbors, changing certain numbers in the file would improve, now for example the Caliphate can loot Byzantine lands in Syria, Normans looting Greece, looting Rome, large parts from Italy, and so on.

Matrilineal Marriages leave it off, because I think it's cool to see the history of the kingdoms, see what families that managed to stay in government longer, because without that, it means that having a woman on the throne married to a man from another family means that the title had passed to the other family, so more families achieve prominence in the region through strategic marriages and not just war most of the time.

Spoiler: - INDEX -

Prologue
Chapter I
Chapter II
Chapter III
Chapter IV
Chapter V
Chapter VI
Chapter VII
Chapter VIII
Chapter IX
Chapter X
Chapter XI
Chapter XII
Chapter XIII
Chapter XIV
CHapter XV
Chapter XVI
Chapter XVII
Chapter XVIII
Chapter XIX
Chapter XX
Chapter XXI
Chapter XXII
Chapter XXIII
Chapter XXIV
Chapter XXV
Chapter XXVI
Chapter XXVII - FINAL

 

[Austregisel]

Wars of House Rocherfort - Prologue​

House Rocherfort, the name means Strong Rock (rocher fort in French), has its origins in the Normandy countryside, its founder Hugh de Éverwyck (later) in his youth as a noble participated in the Norman Invasion of Angliétèrre under the command of Duke William 'the Conqueror' of Normandy. For his bravery in battle, having participated as one of the great Norman heroes of the conquest, he was given lands to rule in the name of the Roi to the North, in the region of Éverwyck, where he took up residence in Conisbrough, but under the suzerainty imposed by Duc William II of the House of Percy.
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Until his death in 1077, a lot would happen, Hugh and his family would suffer several regrets due to internal wars in Angliétèrre. Starting with Sighere's troops of the English Revolt, his troops advanced under Conisbrough, much of the family was captured, including Hugh's son who died some time later in Sighere's dungeons. While King Máel-Coluim III of Alba of House Dunkeld would advance south and conquer land in the region of Northumbria, renamed Brynaich by the invaders. His son Ilbert had succeeded him as Count of Éverwyck, who again faced civil wars in the reign of Roi Robert, and would eventually die in 1088. His 9-year-old son William would succeed him, the civil war continued and William would be imprisoned for 2 years in Waltheof's dungeons, a Northymbrisc leader of the English Revolt. And finally in 1101 Count William Rocherfort would plan the first military advance with his family at the helm since 1066.
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[stnylan]

Will follow

 

[Austregisel]

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Wars of House Rocherfort - Chapter I​

Lonceaster's War of Religious Reconquest - Eorl Wigod Haulding had just emerged from a revolt against Queen Agathe 'the Caste' of Angliétèrre, he is the leader of the Fraticelli heresy among the peasants in Lonceaster. William takes the opportunity to take the lands for himself, and put the Rocherforts on the map of more powerful lords of the kingdom. Arriving to besiege Lonceaster on 17 March 1101, gaining victory at the siege on 24 April, storming the walls, losing 56 soldiers, against only 78 defenders at Loceaster. With the help of troops from Angliétèrre, Cludhyll falls after a 3-day assault.

After 5 months of siege, Frodesham, the capital of Eorl Wigod falls. With the help of the forces of Earl Dolfin Dunbar, Earl of Alba, the Castles of Appleby, Kirkby and Brough fall by July 1102. After the war all cities and castles are taken from the heretics, now all in the Counté(County) of Cestre, Lancaster and Westmorland becomes the Rocherfort family.​

News Around the World – The Kingdom of Jerusalem is officially formed on November 29, 1102, on the throne having a wife, the Regina(Queen) Congratulates 'the Sword of the Lord' of House Morosini, daughter of Doge Francesco 'the Glorious' of Venexia , after a victorious Crusade in the Holy Land.

After a bloody Civil War, Duc Renaud of Alençon emerges victorious against King Fernán II 'the Vegetal' of Castile, León and France, now the northern part of France is again under French rule, after 3 years under a Castilian government.

On June 28, 1118, Queen Agathe dies, her daughter under the throne as Estefania 'the Beautiful' of England, of the House of Álava of Euskara origin(Ibero-Romance), married to William Rocherfort, and her heir is a legitimate English, Adam Rocherfort. Queen Estefania then obtains 2 major victories, ends up victorious in the Civil War of her mother's time and vassalizes Cyning Hrothmund II of Strathelyde, fortifying her legitimacy in England.​

 

[stnylan]

Some very nice additions.

Seems an appropriate epithet for the Queen of Jerusalem.

 

[Austregisel]

Some very nice additions.

Seems an appropriate epithet for the Queen of Jerusalem.

It's just me or every winning crusade the new king/queen of any crusade state gain this nickname?

 

[stnylan]

It's just me or every winning crusade the new king/queen of any crusade state gain this nickname?

Tbh I haven't played CK for ages, and last times I did I paid zero attention to Crusader areas so never noticed.

 

[HistoryDude]

The Rocherforts have managed to take the throne of England.

Will you become English eventually, or will the subjects and nobility remain stratified? I doubt the realm will survive a cultural partition for that long.

 

[Austregisel]

The Rocherforts have managed to take the throne of England.

Will you become English eventually, or will the subjects and nobility remain stratified? I doubt the realm will survive a cultural partition for that long.

The future is english all the way.

 

[Austregisel]

Wars of House Rocherfort - Chapter II​

William of the West Riding's War for York – William after gaining papal support presses his claim over the Duchy of York, which at the time belonged to Alan II of Percy, William is descended from the 1st Duke of York through his mother. The Catalan Band is hired by William, Captain Farras brings with him 4,200 soldiers. William's allies also send their troops, Duke Osulf of Kent and Duke Henrike of Wessex answer William's call to war.​

Battle of Kirkby – Departing Richmod, 5,350 soldiers led by William, Farras and John meet York's army on the plains of Westmorland. A little over 1,200 York soldiers fight a much larger army at the Battle of Kirkby. The first moves in the battle show the superiority of William's army, John quickly attacks the left flank commanded by Drogo of Percy, who is forced to withdraw from the battlefield, while the cavalry commanded by William Rocherfort quickly harasses the center of York's army commanded by William of Percy who failed to form an effective Shieldwall position, allowing William's cavalry to penetrate his defense lines; while on the left flank York's army, Shieldwall's line struggles to remain upright against Farras' charge. In the final moments of the Battle, John begins to flank the center of York's army that was still fighting valiantly against the cavalry led by William Rocherfort; the fighting still rages on the right flank, Herman of Surrey takes the lead and retreats Farras' cavalry, Theobald of Percy launches his cavalry into Herman's lines, who now use the more than 600 archers to shoot arrows at the enemy, the cavalry of Theobald proves to be more effective and inflicts more casualties on Herman's line, but that's not enough, the center of York's army flees, while William and John use the rest of the Longbow archers against the rest of Theobald's troops, even with the cavalry inflicting more casualties, Theobald is forced to flee with the rest. After a few hours of battle it ends with the pursuit of York's army in the woods around Appleby. In the end York's army is completely destroyed, losing 1,260 soldiers, while William remains with minimum casualties of 96 soldiers.

The war ends inconclusively, William Rocherfort dies aged 49 of natural causes, his son inherits his lands, Adam of Shrewsbury receives the news in his cell, imprisoned by his own mother in Westminster. Duke Alan II of York celebrates his “victory” in Scarborough. That with his father's inheritance, Adam pays for his freedom.​

 

[Austregisel]

Wars of House Rocherfort - Chapter III​

Shropshirean War of Independence – Adam, Earl of Shrewsbury to 4 years serving under the suzerainty of Dukesa Wulfthryth of Mercia. After the death of his father, he starts a war for his independence, with his allies in the Duchy of Wessex and Kent.

Dukesa Wulfthryth is ambushed with her contingent of 185 soldiers by Adam's 804 soldiers, commanded by Solomon, Wulfthryth suffers over 100 casualties and then goes north where her husband, Duke Tristan of Breizh with 470 soldiers comes to her aid. By 1131, Warwick, the capital of the Dukesa falls and the army of Shrewsbury and their allies set out north and defeat 553 soldiers of Wilheld Selkirkisc in the small Battle of Brough. And finally on September 17 of 1131, the war ends, and Adam officially becomes independent, Adam offers to legitimize himself as Earl of Shrewsbury, and then goes to Selkirk, where his mother and Queen was, and there he takes his oath of loyalty. In 1133, Adam officially became the Duke of Lancaster and made Conisbrough his capital.​

News Around the World – Khalifa Ilyas 'the Sword of the Great' of the al-Fatimí Empire finally reconquers Jerusalem, and expels the Catholic nobles from this side of the world. Queen Estefania the Beautiful of England becomes the suzerain of King William of France, after a long war on 2 fronts.​

 

[HistoryDude]

It's interesting that England and France are united. I wonder how long that'll last...

Good job gaining a Ducal position again.

When's the inevitable Crusade for Jerusalem going to happen?

 

[Austregisel]

It's interesting that England and France are united. I wonder how long that'll last...

Good job gaining a Ducal position again.

When's the inevitable Crusade for Jerusalem going to happen?

The Caliph of Egypt has already defeated the crusades, but I believe there will be more crusades, perhaps in Iberia, the Pope loves Iberia to make crusades.

 

[Austregisel]

Wars of House Rocherfort - Chapter IV​

Civil War over Count Edmumd's clamor over England - Beginning in 1142, this civil war was part of the end of the turbulent reign of Queen Estefana 'the Beautiful', who spent several of her years warring against neighboring states and defending Queen Marie of France, which had been excommunicated by the pope, and so several lords had reason enough to invade French lands. Duke Adam of Lancaster would help his mother the Queen with her troops in the war, the need to solidify his position as heir to the English throne was at stake, the Rocherfort family would rule the English lands, and they would have an English ruler, which they had not had since 1117 when Estefana ascended the throne, culturally Euskara (Ibero-romance) spending her life before 1098 in the Kingdom of Castille.

On February 9, 1143, the rebel army advances, succeeds in taking Frodsham Castle from Earl Edward, vassal of Duke Adam of Lancaster, and soon after the city of Chester. But loyalist troops take Gloucester Castle in May. And as expected, the rebels depart and begin besieging Conisbrough, taking it on July 1st.​

Battle of Conisbrough – The Loyalist Army commanded by Duke Wulfnoth 'the Nice', Duke Richard 'the Frank' and Earl Osmond of Essex set out to confront the rebel army in Duke Adam's regions of Lancaster, after conquering all of Gloucester, the Loyalist army arrives on October 18, 1143 to start a great battle against the rebels who had 4.725 soldiers commanded by Earl Eardwulf of Stafford, Thomas Trask and Aurelio d'Ávalos, while the Loyalists enter the battle with 5.714 soldiers, but they were at a disadvantage, because there was a river that had to be crossed. The battle began with Duke Richard failing to harass the enemy's right flank, where Aurelio commanded, while Count Osmond used volleys from his archers to damage the left flank, which was defended with shield wall. The battle continued, the rebels' left flank balanced the fight on this side after failing to harass the soldiers under Count Osmond, while Aurelio dominated by defending well with shield wall, but the center of the rebel army failed to defend itself, allowing the Duke Wolfnoth to use an efficient shield wall against the disorganized center of the rebel army. A few hours later, the decisive moment in the battle took place, Count Osmond missed a charge while Thomas slowly advanced over his lines; Aurelio bravely intimidated the attack to his right flank, inflicting more casualties on Duke Richard's soldiers who could in no way outrun Aurelio. But Duke Wulfnoth gloriously defeats completely the center of the retreating enemy army, and his soldiers end up chasing them, while on the left and right flank the loyalist army was overcome by the rebels. But the victory had already been decided when Count Osmond had inflicted too much casualty on the left flank, as much as he was losing more soldiers, Thomas would eventually give in and disband his soldiers from the battlefield, while Count Osmond would do the same, suddenly the flank left had no soldiers, only the bloodied bodies of the dead. Up to this point Aurelio had won on the right flank, but Wulfnoth's lines turned against him, and firmly the loyalists disbanded Aurelio's right flank, the victory was sealed and it remained only to pursue the losers. A victory for the loyalists who lost 1.568 soldiers, while the rebels lost a total of 1.603 soldiers.

Post-Battle of Conisbrough – After the victory, the loyalists set out to besiege the Castle and retake it on 11 February 1144, while in June the rebel army reconquered Gloucester Castle. After retaking Frodsham from the rebels, the loyalists set out to face the rebel army again.

Battle of Tewkesbury – The Loyalist army passed through Worcester and realized again that they would need to cross a river to reach the plains of Gloucester, but the Rebel army prevents them, again the Loyalists would need to battle around a river, and that is what happened in the Battle of Tewkesbury. This time Count Osmond would be effective using devastating shield walls against the rebel right flank commanded by Aurelio, not before Wulfnoth won again the center commanded by Earl Eardwulf. Victory is achieved earlier, the loyalists inflict 1.782 casualties on the rebels, while suffering only 540 on their side.

Post Battle of Tewkesbury - The rebels again take Conisbrough Castle on April 1, 1145, still trying to gain something, but Duke Adam and his family manage to flee the enemies and stay safe. The loyalists again face the rebels at the Battle of Doncaster, ending with the rebels' surrender, Duchess Wulfthryth of Mercia is arrested, Earl Goubert of Hertford is also arrested, as well as Duke Alan II of York is also arrested. Adam returns his troops, but the English army leaves for the north in the winter to defeat King Fiachnae of Alba who had invaded the kingdom's lands with the intention of taking them for himself.

News Around the World - Duke Arsenios of Al'as'id is known for taking southern Egypt, now in Christian hands again. The Holy Roman Empire leaves its presence in Ifriqiya but visible, the Arabs of the region end up being the seat of the invading Kaiser, thus Habib of Sulaym Imára becomes the Kaiser's Christian subject, converting a traditionally Muslim family to Christianity, a new era for House Salaym starts.​

 

[HistoryDude]

Hopefully England can be kept in Rocherfort hands.

 

[Austregisel]

Wars of House Rocherfort - Chapter V

Munio's Revolt War for England – Munio, was made Lord Chancellor in 1161 as soon as Edmund assumed the throne of Engelond (England), he already had pretensions to the throne, he is Edmund's cousin and grandson of Queen Estefania 'the Handsome' who reigned from 1097 until his death in 1117. In 1163 Munio openly declares war against King Edmund already known as 'the Gentle'.​

On 17 August, as the King's troops gathered at Ely, Earl Tibalt under Munio began the siege of Westminster, King Edmund's brother Edmund(yes, it's his name) led the defense, bastard of Duke Henry of Lancaster himself. Marshal Osmond of Essex, a legendary commander, participated in several wars under Queen Estefana, winning most of her battles, even outnumbered against enemies; he led the King's troops, gathered him about a little over 3.000 soldiers, and went to save Westminster.

Battle of the White Tower – Marshal Osmod leading the King's troops along with Blayve de Montjoy and Harold de Valois-Vexin, while the rebels were led by Count Tibalt of Hertford and Brother Kinkin, an African eunuch. The battle starts very well in the first phase of the combat, Harold harasses the enemy's right flank, and devastates his troops that failed to form a formation with their archers, while Blayve advances in the terrain with shield walls, causing the enemy to fail in fight with your cavalry against the forces of the King, in the center of the two armies use the cavalry as a primary option and balance the fight. The two armies fight in hand-to-hand combat on the right flank, Kinkin manages with his cavalry to break Harold's lines and the combat is balanced again, but it was too late, on the other side of the battlefield, the rebels' left flank was already had relented, but Blayve ineffectively attempts to harass the center of the army, and soon afterward Harold manages to form lines quite firmly and fend off part of Kinkin's cavalry, which begins to disband soon after, following the center of the rebel army. At the end of the chases, the rebels lost 912 soldiers, while the King's army lost only 183 soldiers.

Post-Battle of the White Tower – Victorious, Marshal Osmond leaves to besiege Windsor, Munio's residence, which was being defended by Munio Munez. Finally falls on March 23, 1164, Marshal Osmod, quickly departs to Middlesex, once again the rebels try to conquer Westminster, the capital of Engelond. But the rebels are defeated on their outskirts at the Battle of Fulham, lose half their army, and then lose most of their army at the Battle of Wycombe on the plains of Hertford. And to end the war, they have their entire army wiped out at the Battle of Wallingford.​

World News – The Great Kagan Asep invades the Seljuk Empire and proclaims the Khaganate of Sokalid, but is unable to stop the Khan Togli of Kuçet who makes him a tributary of nomads to the north. King Edmund releases Queen Marie of France from paying tribute to England, the benefits become very low, the Queen of France was constantly attacked by neighboring nobles as she had been excommunicated by the Pope.​

 

[HistoryDude]

It's a shame that England didn't fall to the Rocherforts. Oh well. I suppose that they can try again in time.

Did the Rocherforts lose any land because of their revolt?

 

[Austregisel]

It's a shame that England didn't fall to the Rocherforts. Oh well. I suppose that they can try again in time.

Did the Rocherforts lose any land because of their revolt?

Maybe I got complicated in my words, but England is a kingdom of Rocherforts, the Munez family lost the civil war to take the kingdom for them. As you can see in the last screenshots, I'm playing with the King of England, from House Rocherfort.

 

[stnylan]

It seems the throne of England is a somewhat uneasy thing to inhabit. But perhaps it will get more comfortable with time.

 

[Austregisel]

It seems the throne of England is a somewhat uneasy thing to inhabit. But perhaps it will get more comfortable with time.

Apparently needs the hand of a p-player...cough...cough.