Curlan History from Antiquity to 1066
The Curlani tribe, though of obscure origin, passed a cultural identity unique to Europe. Seafaring traders, the Curlani people gave thanks and benedictions to their sea goddess Melsina. The Curlani developed an advanced trade network. Their wealth and influence stretched throughout the region, with regional tribes swearing loyalty to a chief king. A gold coin discovered in the late-1700s bears the image of Aenirix, King of the Curlani, who claimed direct descent from Melsina herself. His wealth was so great that, according to sources, the chief king rode on "a chariot of gold and silver. "
Writing in the mid-1700, antiquarian Jean-Remy d'Artignan noted King Aenirix of the Curlani was "a historic figure of fictional origin." Indeed, the 1st-century ruler gained little to no mention prior to the Gallic Wars. But he is credited with uniting the southwestern tribes under a single polity. Ruling from Burdigala - Bordeaux - Aenerix joined famed hero Vercingetorix to repel Roman forces from subjugating their territories. Their efforts, however, were all in vain. Losing at the Battle of Alesia, both men were stripped naked and forced to submit to the authority of Julius Caesar. Based in the city of Bordeaux, the Roman province stretched both sides of the Pyrenees.
The region of Curlanie was the core territory of Roman Augusta Colonia Curlaniæm. Around 580, following the decline of the Western Roman Empire, both the Visigothic Kingdom and the Kingdom of the Franks desired to take control of the region. Beginning in the early seventh century, the French Merovingians looked to the Curlan as possible allies, offering to recognize a frontier duchy in exchange for their oath of fealty. This decisive action aided in repelling invasions from the Cordoban Emirate. Though formally known as 'Frankish Dukes of Curlanie', they continued to rule as independent lords.
The direct line of Curlan Dukes ceased upon the death of Felix in 705. Under the reign of his great-nephew Odo, Duke of Gascony, Frankish overlordship ceased as Curlanie became a prominent regional power. Odo led Curlan and Basque forces against the Umayyad in the early part of their invasion of the eighth century. Written in the following century, the Chronicles of Curlanie and Gascony noted the presence of women on the battlefield. Among the commanders was Odo's daughter Hiltrud, who led forces at the Battle of Tours (732). Shortly after the death of her father, Hiltrud sat in council with the leading nobles to elect and confer the title Rex Curlaniæm onto her brother, Hunald. This was not well received by Charlemagne. Beginning in 778, the French king began appointing counts on the bordering lands in order to undermine the influence of the new Curlan King. The cultural and political conflict between both kingdoms manifested at the Battle of Roncevaux in 778, when the latter attacked Charlemagne's rearguard after the Franks destroyed the walls of Curlanie's ally, Pamplona. Charlemagne retaliated by invading and sacking Bordeaux in 799. Both Hunald and Hutald were among the first to pledge fealty to Charlemagne as Holy Roman Emperor the following year; Hunald, now Dux Curlaniæm, pledged Curlanie as a nominal fief.
The Odonian line ended in 864 when Ramnulf of Curlanie succeeded to the throne. Though appointed by the French Crown, the Curlan dukes remained relatively autonomous, though they were faced with invasions from Vikings, and Muslims as well as internal struggles and unrest for over a century. Reprieve mainly came in the form of military assistance from the King of Navarre. In 1066, Ramnulf's direct descendant Pierre-Arnaut de Coucigne did the unthinkable - breaking from France without a single drop of blood. France under King Philippe was devastatingly weak. The teenage King Philippe could not afford to lose more of his power - and recognized the Curlan noble as a sovereign king.
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