Centule Ironfist I de Bearn (1066-1107)
ROYAL STYLE:
By The Grace of God, Duke of Galicia (1094-1107), Count of Bearn and Compostela and The Defender of the Faith (1096-1105)
b. 1042, Bearn, Poitou, France
d. 1107, Bearn, Poitou, France
An 14th century depiction of Centule
Centule’s reign began on a bad note. In 1067, dysentery hit Bearn, causing much death, and destroying his realm’s commerce. However, Gisle, Centule’s wife, gave birth to a daughter, Ana. Centule was pleased, but not quite as pleased as he might have been if it was a son.
1068 saw a son, Jaume, born. The dysentery also ended around this time. To make sure he didn’t lose his throne, Centule instituted Salic Primogeniture, so only his family could inherit. Also, in 1069, peasants in Bearn started using a new method of farming, known as the two-field system.
Gisle caught dysentery around this time, which stopped her from making more children. Luckily, this was cured within a few months. To the south, Aragon was attacked and conquered by Navarre. Centule felt worried about this, as Aragon was just to the south of his realm.
In April 1070, Ana died of poor health. This was devastating, and a visible change began to take root in Centule. In September, Juliana was born but this did not take matters off Centule’s mind. In December, it was found that he had slept with a wench shortly after Ana’s death, and had had a son with her. This son, Girvais, was adopted to prevent a scandal. In other news, a forestry was begun.
In 1071, the Seven Liberal Arts spread to Bearn. A son named Gilbert was born and in November, the forestry was completed. Thing’s were beginning to look up for Bearn. Business Contracts were introduced the next year. In 1073, a Library was begun. Also, Light Chainmail was invented in Bearn. At this time, it hadn’t been developed anywhere else and it didnt for many years due to Centule ordering it be kept a secret. Bearn was fast becoming a centre of technology. A son, Ebles was born in November.
The Library was finished in 1075, and with it came the knowledge of long spears, short bows, and the small castle.
But all this success turned for the worse in 1076. Marshal Gautier was found to have raped the daughter of a wealthy merchant. Centule gave Gautier an immediate fine, and suspended his pay for 3 months. The people were outraged with this response, which they saw as weak, and began the Great Bearn Revolt, which ultimately destroyed Centule’s reputation within Bearn. The revolters did most damage to themselves, as they looted each other’s houses and burnt their possessions.
Luckily, in 1078, the nobles were given divine rights, and thus they put their support behind Centule. With a Royal Post under way, it wouldn’t be long before the burghers also joined him. A claim on Narbonne was also discovered in this year.
In 1080, soft leather was discovered, and the next year, chickens and minor merchant houses were introduced. Cloutilda was born to Centule and Gisle in 1081, but was a weak and sickly child. In 1083, roads were discovered, as was the hand axe. But in 1084, Gisle died in labour, with the child also dying. Centule became more and more cruel and uncaring. Roads were begun to try and increase commerce.
In 1086, he lost patience and had his knights run down the peasants. The peasants were skewered and their heads hung from Bearn Castle as a warning. With his, the revolt ended. But Marshal Gautier, whose lust had caused the revolt, was wracked with guilt, and in 1087, he was found dead, having hung himself.
A 15th Century depiction of the end of the Revolt. The knights showed no mercy.
In 1088, he married a new wife, Constanza. While Constanza was a depressed woman, and later went insane, Centule began to renounce his cruel ways. The following year, Eisabeu was born, followed by Bartoumieu in 1090.
In 1091, Gilbert died. Centule began to believe that this was a message from God, and he went on a crusade. At this point, the Moors had taken most of Spain. Only Navarre and Castile remained. He and his army invaded Galicia where the enemy was weak, and took most of it. As a result, in 1094, Centule was able to declare himself Duke of Galicia. Santiago was made a bishopric and was given to his son Jaume. Two sons were born in this era, Gaston and Felip.
A 12th century depiction of the capture of Santiago
In 1096, France began to collapse. Alderic Capet, King of France, was incompetent and the war began when Champagne revolted against their liege. They were quickly followed by Anjou. Centule saw an opportunity to leave France, and on April 10th 1096, Galicia became part of Navarre. France was unable to respond. It was then that the old pope died, and Centule was made the new papal controller. He used this to excommunicate the King of France, giving his vassals even more excuses to attack him. Alderic didn’t last long. In 1097, he was hacked to death by his marshal, and was succeeded by his 10-year-old son Bouchard. With this, Orleans and Burgundy rebelled.
In 1098, the reconquista was still being waged, and only the emirates of Murcia and Badajoz, and some independent Portuguese Sheikdoms remained. Asturias de Oviedo decided to join Galicia in this year.
In 1099, the end came for the Capets. Poitou rebelled, leaving only Agen, Amiens and the Ile de France under Capetian control. Agen quickly pulled out and Ile De France was invaded by Flanders. Finally, it was agreed that the Burgundian duke would become the new king, beginning the de Bourgogne dynasty. Nearly all the dukes bowed to this new king, except for Orleans, Bearn, and the count of Amiens (Bouchard Capet, who had declared independence) and Vexin (which, under Thibaut de Vermandois, had joined England).
To the south, Badajoz attacked Navarre. In a quick war, Badajoz was destroyed, although not without sacrifice: Elbes de Bearn was killed in the battle for Evora. In 1102, dysentery hit Bearn again, this time much harder. Many were killed in this new outbreak. In 1103, the last areas of Muslim Spain were conquered. Spain was now spilt between Castile, Navarre, France and some independent counties that had rebelled from France such as Faro.
The Death of Ebles: a piece from around the time of the event.
In 1106, Castelo Bronco, an independent county, joined Galicia after a large bribe. However, they were disloyal. It was also in this year that Constanza died in labour. Centule married again to Brites, a Breton. However, the marriage was short, as Centule died in 1107, just before the birth of Mathieu, his final son.
The final event of 1107 was the crowning of Bartoumieu, one of Centule’s earlier sons, as the Archbishop of Franconia.
. Updates will be at the weekend, because that is the only time I have access to 'mon ordinateur' 
