Blood and Empire: A Clash of Civilisations

[Bullfilter]

Chapter 85: The Quadricentennial Cometh (1260-1267)

‘Götterdämmerung’: artist unknown, c. mid-18th century, Imperial Gallery, Nygarðr. As four centuries of the Rurikid dynasty approached, quadricentennial cultists began to conjecture and spread rumours of the Twilight of the Gods. Stories and artwork depicting the Götterdämmerung became increasingly pervasive and doomsday-type cults (perhaps absorbing some of the still-pervasive Christian myths concerning the Apocalypse and End of Days) became increasingly alarmist. Some of the darker elements gravitated towards the darkest of them all: the Hel Worshippers. [Leonardo AI, Phoenix 1.0, prompt only, 'first take']

ᚔ ᚱᚢᚱᛁᚲᛁᛞ ᚔ​

Norwegian Claim War

By the late 1250s, the Kingdom of Noregr had become a disjointed realm of islands and enclaves. Little of its original core territory remained under the Norwegian crown – most of it had been gradually absorbed by Russian marcher lords over the centuries. Then in November 1260, Emperor Toste IV decided to end the saga by pursuing a claim on behalf of a vassal subordinate to the Jomsviking Warchief, one Chief Hysing Sleggja of Blois, against his kinsman the current King Sumarliði Sleggja, whose capital was on the North Sea island of Hjaltland.

In order to ensure a victory in the war would bring Noregr into the Rurikid Empire, in March 1261 Toste created a ‘junk’ kingdom title, for Pomerania and allocated it to Hysing. This made Hysing both very grateful and bound him to the Empire if his claim was sustained.

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Just like Noregr, the campaign was fragmented into five different theatres. Three counties remained in Norway proper, with the large Swedish levy called out, split into three armies (which were themselves too big for each county to sustain so were split further to prevent excess attrition). The fanned out from Uppland, with two skirmishes fought in Þelamark and Nidaros before the sieges were set, that of Þelamark being the most conclusive. A smaller force was split off from Þelamark to take ship to Hjaltland, landing in May 1261.

The Irish levy was used to move across a couple of straits to besiege Orknö from May 1261. Another army took the main fleet to Iceland (Island) in February 1261, arriving in Vestlandet in April. They would fight three battles in Iceland through to August, while the fall of Husavik castle in Austisland in September signalled the end of the war.

Two mini campaigns were fought to take the barony of Lillebone in Rouen and Yatvyagi in the east. In all, field and siege losses were minimal. Sumarliði surrendered after less than a year on 25 September 1261. The Kingdom of Noregr would live on under Hysing, but as part of the Russian Empire.

Norwegian Claim War of 1260-61, campaign map.

ᚔ ᚱᚢᚱᛁᚲᛁᛞ ᚔ​

Byzantine Civil War of 1261-62

In a return to the ‘good old days’, the again-allied Byzantine Empire was wracked by another revolt in 1261 and a few weeks later the Russian were called on for support. Naturally, Toste agreed, though did not do anything much early on to assist directly. After all, the revolt was localised to the east of the Basileus’ lands, he had a clear advantage in numbers and the Russians were focused on the early stages of the Norwegian Claim War at that time.

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However, Toste kept an eye on things and did not want to see the Germanic ruler fall. The northern Guard detachment was sent from Constantinople around to the Caucasus to commence sieges in rebel-held Lazike and Kakheti in September-October 1261. He also sent one of the raiding Guard armies in Palestine to Baalbek in October 1261 to assist. It was only in April 1262, when the siege of Ba’albek Castle was over and the report came of the gold looted that it was realised no Godi had performed the de-toggling ceremony and the army was still in raiding mode. They would exit and re-enter in May to begin the actual siege!

In July 1262, with the war dragging on, the liege levies of Wallachia and Aquitaine (the capital then conveniently located in Eilat) were mustered to assist. This eventually allowed the rebel’s capital in Palmyra to be added to the three existing sieges, but no headway was made over the next month before Neophytos suddenly negotiated the surrender of Doux Phokas in November 1262.

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Once again, Russian losses in the sieges were light and no land battles had been fought. Following his victory, Neophytos was very busy revoking titles from rebels and also converting non-believers. In addition to being very grateful to Toste for the assistance.

ᚔ ᚱᚢᚱᛁᚲᛁᛞ ᚔ​

Vassal and Foreign Affairs

As had been the case for many years, the Russian vassals (including second and even third tier lords) were busy either fighting each other (there were a great many internal demarcation wars, most not reported here) though also foreigners, whose land they coveted for themselves and the glory of the Rurikid Norse Germanic Empire.

After a good start to his campaign, King Klas of Wallachia suffered a major setback in March 1262 in his Holy War for Trebizond. Khagan Yeke sent a large army back from the east of over 35,000 men who defeated a Wallachian force of around half that strength in eastern Anatolia. Klas remained ahead (+13% warscore), but his lead – and ability to take more Mongol holdings) had been significantly constrained.

A raid of Aksum was interrupted in October 1262 when troops from Greater Poland arrived as part of a border war they were waging against the Suhailids. For a period, the Imperial Guard army there was enlisted to help with the Polish sieges. They would return to raiding when the Poles moved onto their next target.

In dynastic news, young King Öysteinn of England became bound to the Emperor with the consummation of his betrothal to Toste’s daughter Saga in October 1262.

[Image from Leonardo AI, Phoenix 1.0]
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Later that month, King Knut of Germany died in one of the endemic Magnate Wars against England, his young son Hrolfr ruling under a regency.

Another Russian marcher lord – the first among equals, King Þorbjörn of Irland – declared war on Khagan Yeke in January 1263. And the two could call on almost exactly the same number of men to fight for them! The struggle for Samarkand, where Þorbjörn had some extensive nearby holding – would be an interesting one.

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One war was stopped by the Fylkir in November 1262 – a Danish revolt, halted with the loss of some prestige and a favour to the rebel leader – which Toste knew was highly unlikely ever to be called upon. However, the attempt to save Bo’s throne proved futile, with a different claimant managing to usurp it the following month. The new king – an angry, alcoholic, pox-ridden raving lunatic by all accounts – was well enough disposed to the Fylkir, so no harm was done (to Toste’s interests, anyway – and after a hefty ‘gift’ was sent).

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It was soon after this, in June 1263, that Yeke’s reputation for cruelty led to him being branded as ‘the Monster’. Probably due to slain ambassadors, heads in sacks towed behind horses, massacres of townsfolk and other popular Mongol hobbies.

Old King Hysing of Noregr only had a couple of years to enjoy his new privileges before he died quietly in bed, succeeded by his son Hemming. He was soon invited to Nygarðr to celebrate with his Fylkir at one of his private feasts.

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The rich city of Ascalon was added to the Empire in September 1264 by some minor local Russian chieftain. One welcome addition to the realm, though one less juicy target to raid.

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Less than a week later, the Suhailid crossroads county of Tadjoura was won by another minor Russian vassal, thereby linking Russia’s Arabian holdings with the others on the western coast of the Red Sea and the Horn of Africa.

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In June 1265, Skotland (the last independent Norse Germanic realm in Western Europe) was in imminent danger of losing a claim war launched by England (72% warscore). And by August, Irland was well on top of the Mongols in the Holy War for Samarkand. King Haraldr of Aquitaine had been called in as Irland’s ally, while the Abbasid Caliph Nasr III was aiding the Mongols.

As had been hoped after the distribution of titles after the Great Holy War for Greece, King Sumarliði II of Burgundy had launched a de jure war for the rest of Thessalia and in September 1265 he finally won it, making the borders in the area far tidier.

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King Hemming of Noregr had been coming off second best in a revolt sparked by his attempt to revoke Austisland from one of Jarls. At the cost of more prestige and another favour, Toste brokered peace in December 1265. And had another very grateful vassal to thank him for the intervention.

In a rather momentous development, Skotland was brought under the control of the English-backed claimant the new King Hvitserk in February 1266. The last of the old Norse realms had been absorbed (albeit leaving Toste three over his vassal limit and unable to reduce the number).

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In March, Duchess Asta’s Polish Holy War for Cairo ended in victory, with Fustat added into the empire – another tidying up of the borders in Egypt. Alas, Asta was already badly ill at the time and would not get to enjoy her new possession and grand nickname for more than a few months more.

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Very soon after, a major revolt broke out just to the north in Pelusia: the brief story of that conflict will be told later, as it fell to Imperial forces to put it down.

ᚔ ᚱᚢᚱᛁᚲᛁᛞ ᚔ​

Raid and Revolt

Throughout these years, the main money-making arm of the Rurikid military – the Guard/Jomsviking standing army – continued its semi-permanent raiding of the Middle East, Arabia, Egypt and Ethiopia. Its many targets, loot and casualties are summarised at the end of the section.

Half the Guard army based in the Caucasus after the end of the Byzantine Civil War of 1261-62 then raided in nearby Semender from May 1263 to February 1264. The others half moved east to Urgench – on the south of the Aral Sea – to raid and also be present in case the Irish might need any help with their Holy War against the Mongols for Samarkand. They would stay from December 1263 until August 1265, by which time the Semender contingent had joined them.

By March 1266 it became clear the Irish were handling things well enough themselves, so the 13,700 men of the Guard army then stationed north of the Aral Sea began returning to Constantinople. Soon after this, as we saw above, a major Egyptian Liberation Revolt had broken out in Pelusia on 30 March 1266. The 10,800 men raiding in Hebron under General Arngrimr finished there on 2 May and began heading to Egypt to deal with the rebels. A few days later, around 5,600 men were detached from the army raiding Dotawo to march north, to ensure the 13,700-odd rebels would be outnumbered.

The two contingents carefully coordinated their approaches to Pelusia to ensure they would arrive on the same day. Unfortunately, the castle of Tinis had fallen the month before but on 11 July 1266 the hammer of vengeance fell on the rebel army. While a convincing victory was won by 7 August, Russian casualties were more than token.

[Image from Leonardo AI, Phoenix 1.0]
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An increasingly perhaps arrogant Emperor Toste IV decided to make an example of the rebel leader, who was tortured to the point of insanity and then released a broken man, as an example to others. From this point, Toste was known for a streak of sadistic cruelty.

After this battle, Arngrimr’s army (not the other raiding detachment sent to Pelusia, which then headed to Buhairya) began redeploying all the way to Anatolia – a long march that may eventually end in support for King Klas’s continuing Holy War for Trebizond, which dragged on still. Of note, during the entire six-year period up to early 1267, not a single peasant rebellion occurred across the vast expanse of the Russian Empire.

Raiding had continued in Tabuk, Medina, Semien and Aksum in late 1261. Various armies in different combinations then ranged around the Middle East and either side of the Red Sea (in addition to the ‘northern raiders’ in Semender and Urgench) for the following five years.

By January 1267, there were raiding armies hunting in pairs (for mutual support if needed) in Buhairya, Nubia, Sanaa and Al-Akhaf. Only one ‘clearing engagement’ had been fought during the time, in Kassala – quite a sharp engagement with comparable casualties on both sides). Arngrimr’s army was still on the march to Anatolia.

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In total, 69 holdings had been sacked for 7,872 in gold at the cost of over 11,400 raiders during sieges. While this seemed a bloody price, the net effect was (in addition to tax intakes, which had returned to a decent monthly surplus due to friendships with successive Grand Mayors of Livonia) a massive fund to pay for an unprecedented building program during the period. Mecca and Medina alone had each yielded over 800 gold each.

ᚔ ᚱᚢᚱᛁᚲᛁᛞ ᚔ​

Domestic Affairs

Factionalism at the Imperial level remained almost negligible throughout these years – the vassals more made up for this within their own subordinate kingdoms! One thing that had been dragging on for years now was the family feud between Toste and his estranged half-sister and bitter rival Princess Halla, who had initiated a death plot against Toste that had been reciprocated (with a spectacular lack of success).

In November 1261, this ugly disagreement again came into view with news from the spymaster that two lower tier vassals had discovered Toste’s latest murder plot and were trying to blackmail him. On inquiry, it also appeared his daughter-in-law (and niece) Princess Markia had recently joined Halla’s plot: perhaps no surprise, given Halla was her mother! She would probably cease soon, but Toste decided enough was enough. He decided to short-circuit the blackmail attempts by ending the plot, knowing Halla’s attempt was highly unlikely to ever succeed anyway – and risked him being branded a kinslayer even if it did.

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First he abandoned his own plot, then sent a gift to Halla and finally (when that did not cause her to stop) invited her new husband Orestes Aplakes from the Byzantine court to his own in February 1262. Now back under Russian control, Halla dared not refuse Toste’s ‘invitation’ to end her plot. They would remain rivals but the immediate threat of violence (on either side) had at last been removed.

Later that year, with the Norwegian and Byzantine Wars out of the way, Toste once again attempted to fulfil the ambition of maintained realm peace for the next five years. By January 1267 – the Rurikid quadricentenary – that ambition was still alive (the Egyptian revolt apparently not having invalidated it).

Despite bribes and the extraction of favours, in early 1263 Toste could not convince the Germanic Chief Antiochus of Baalbek (who became independent after the end of the latest Byzantine Civil War) to become a vassal of Russia. It would just have to wait – perhaps a marcher lord might try, as Toste remained unwilling to trigger the world-spanning defensive pact, even briefly, for such a small prize.

Toste did however continue his program of carousing as a tool of state to keep as many of his powerful vassals happy with his rule as he could. Though a majority remained distracted by internal wars for most of the time. In October 1263 he forced a white peace between Germany and England just so he could invite a number of lords involved in the war to carouse instead! One was his new son-in-law, the King of England.

[Image from Leonardo AI, Phoenix 1.0]
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Three were invited to his 1263-64 ‘season’. One declined, two attended and one of those – the Jarl of Vladimir (a Garðarikian jarl Toste could not transfer to anyone else) – became a firm friend.

During this time, even with periodic increased replacement costs for slain raiders from the Imperial Retinue or new companies being raised, the monthly budget surplus was often around 60-70 gold. A nice addition to the massive Viking looting industry.

The Imperial Council was very loyal during the period, even as members came and went over time. King Þorbjörn of Irland remained in opposition in the sole ‘grandfathered’ Advisor slot remaining. Every so often, Toste would renew ‘loyalty payments’ to keep other well-disposed.

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In August 1265 Toste began a policy of examining his list of prisoners (usual around 50 at any one time, despite many ransoms, some releases of long-term detainees who could not be ransomed and periodic Blots) to search for recruitable talent in case they were needed in the future. The first of these was a recently graduated diplomat called Abdul-Gafur Khalilsson. And a new Seer (the most loyal and competent available) was appointed on the death of her predecessor in 1266, to continue the work of spreading Odin’s Light to the new ‘southern capital’ of Constantinople.

Two more ‘prison recruits’, both Greeks, were released in August 1266. One, Aikaterene, was a highly skilled financial manager. The other, Epiphania, was a Germanic convert and a renowned negotiator. Toste took her as a concubine, sent a gift and then replaced his (somewhat offended) daughter Alvör with her as Chancellor!

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Toste was now able to adopt another legal change but the one he really wanted to make – Imperial Administration, to remedy his chronic vassal management problem – remained out of reach. More cultural research was required, and in September 1266 some of his massive building program was invested in boosting that, while his new Seer was put on the case as well (for what that may be worth).

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More of the huge treasury and looting income was spent on increasing the Imperial Retinue when capacity came up: from November 1262 to September 1266 five new companies were raised: two cavalry, two housecarl and one skirmish.

Building Program

As noted, a huge building program was pursued from 1261-66 in either the recently acquired counties or after technological developments in the ‘old counties’ of Russia, France and Spain.

In Prusa, where the Barony of Docimium had been obtained after the Greek War, there was confusion with some infrastructure ‘accidentally’ built in the similar-sounding county capital of Daricium (highlighted yellow below) for the lucky local owner. Docimium itself gained a couple of military upgrades.

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Constantinople received a massive boost in three different locations: the main holding of the great city itself (three builds), its hospital (five) and its trading post (five).

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The Old Counties were also well supported, especially in military facilities after castle infrastructure knowledge improved in in Rouen (previously), Paris (with two baronies owned), Valencia and Torzhok.

ᚔ ᚱᚢᚱᛁᚲᛁᛞ ᚔ​

Court and Personal News

Other than his new-found reputation for cruelty, in May 1261 Toste had one of those periodic encounters with the Bringer of Light Himself … the mysterious Traveller. From that time, the Fylkir embraced his religious duties even more seriously than he had to date. It may also have led into the later display of cruelty against the infidel rebel leader in Egypt. [In fact it did, as there was some RP in that later interaction involved ].

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In September of that year, it was time for Princess Markia to marry her betrothed, Crown Prince Björn. Who was also a cousin of sorts (a ‘half cousin’?). This was part of the consideration that led to the abandonment of the murder plots and grudging reconciliation between Toste and Halla we mentioned earlier.

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Markia would get over the attempted murder of her mother in time. In the meantime, she brought some potentially useful older claims on the Byzantine throne with her. And the chaste Björn would reluctantly start his task of producing his own heir.

The home front remained largely quiet for the next four years, until the now zealous Toste decided to both mend his relationship with the Empress and finally convert her from her mistaken Tengrist heresies. As it often did, money came first. That, and the benefits of finally sharing her Fylkir (as Sea King) husband’s religion, did wonders for their relationship, far outweighing any irritation at being forced to convert.

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Not long afterwards, on 21 December 1265, a son was born to Björn and Markia. He would grow to develop a lisp but was otherwise healthy as an infant. And of course the new Prince Ulfr may one day ascend the Imperial Throne – many years from now, it was assumed.

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Unless … with the imminent approach of the quadricentenary, rumours once again arose of the semi-mythical Skrælings. Tales were being told but no confirmed sightings made, as yet. Perhaps the Götterdämmerung was approaching after all!

Be that as it may, Toste continued to indulge the wilder side of life when, in addition to his zealotry, cruelty and adoption of a Greek prisoner as his concubine and Imperial Chancellor, he took on a young lover in August 1266. A Skottish princess who shared his puny physique and penchant for cruelty! And a rival to his own daughter Saga … the Queen of England.

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After a ‘failed’ feasting season in 1265, when no invitees could be tempted to attend, the Quadricentennial 1266-67 season was given a helping hand after another knock-back, this time from the King of Könugarðr. Another ‘Feasting Peace’ was forced, this time between Burgundy and England. Young Öysteinn was appreciative and it also freed up a co-belligerent, the powerful King Oddr III of Lotharingia, to accept an invitation to feast with his Emperor.

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1 January 1267 marked four hundred years since the founding of the Rurikid dynasty [and the start of the first part off this AAR: see Chapter 1 of this AAR for a reminder of those beginnings] by the legendary Rurik as the Petty King of Holmgarðr. So much had changed since then. It fell to Fylkir Toste IV ‘the Sword of the Lord’ to conduct massive celebrations of Norse Germanic power, religion, wealth and majesty in what now ranked as one of the largest and richest cities in the known world. His personal demesne, wealth, prestige and armed might were unparalleled at this time.

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The Rurikid Russian Empire was more widespread and geographically ‘solid’ than it had ever been before. The Tibetan empire of the Rashtrakuta dynasty was the next most power – though a long way back.

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There had been another five county conversions within the Empire over the last six years, though the reassertion of Germanic rule over Byzantium also seemed to have brought more conversions there as well.

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As always, the ‘lagging indicator’ of Viking dominance was cultural conversion, which always took longer than territorial and religious expansion. But Norse practices had also gained vast though patchier reach after 400 years of increasing Rurikid dominance.

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Would this all last another 400 or more years? Or were fears of an approaching Twilight of the Gods (renowned for their fickle nature) justified? Only time will tell.

 

[StrategyGameEnthusiast]

An increasingly perhaps arrogant Emperor Toste IV decided to make an example of the rebel leader, who was tortured to the point of insanity and then released a broken man, as an example to others. From this point, Toste was known for a streak of sadistic cruelty.

Others should think twice before defying the Emperor...

Unless … with the imminent approach of the quadricentenary, rumours once again arose of the semi-mythical Skrælings. Tales were being told but no confirmed sightings made, as yet.

Uh oh...

 

[jak7139]

The last of the old Norse realms had been absorbed

Russia is mighty, great, and blessed by the Aesir surely!

They would remain rivals but the immediate threat of violence (on either side) had at last been removed.

Very nicely done. Toste may be cruel, but he does realize the benefits of diplomacy.

In October 1263 he forced a white peace between Germany and England just so he could invite a number of lords involved in the war to carouse instead!

Why fight when you can party!

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Markia would get over the attempted murder of her mother in time.

A famously easy thing to forgive.

 

[Chac1]

Thank you for the new chapter. This definitely has the sweep of history!

[Image from Leonardo AI, Phoenix 1.0]
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As usual, very much loved all the art that you use to adorn the AAR. I wanted to call out your stone work in the grove image. These are difficult to get right and this one is excellent. Perhaps I will be inspired to go back to trying stonework and more Gothic representations by your good work here.

One thing that had been dragging on for years now was the family feud between Toste and his estranged half-sister and bitter rival Princess Halla, who had initiated a death plot against Toste that had been reciprocated (with a spectacular lack of success).

In September of that year, it was time for Princess Markia to marry her betrothed, Crown Prince Björn. Who was also a cousin of sorts (a ‘half cousin’?).

Evil half-sisters and half-cousins (?)... oh my! All you need now is an evil half-brother to surface....

Unless … with the imminent approach of the quadricentenary, rumours once again arose of the semi-mythical Skrælings. Tales were being told but no confirmed sightings made, as yet. Perhaps the Götterdämmerung was approaching after all!

Now, I forget if this warning comes five years before the Aztecs arrive or less. Or more?

But given your map, I think what will happen is they will come and perhaps just sit on one of your western provinces. They won't attack you because you are not Catholic or Muslim. They are looking to attack those religions. If you are unlucky they will wander around until they find a Muslim country to attack and then they will become a problem for everyone once they control some provinces.

I remember when I had a game as the Empire of Hispania and they landed but didn't do anything. Earlier, my ruler had converted the empire to the Germanic religion as he had been a secret follower of that faith. Disgusted that they were just standing around doing nothing, I used the console to take control of them and aim them at some Catholics. Of course, I regretted this later because they embedded themselves in central Europe and became quite a problem. Eventually, by the end of that play-through their empire had disappeared, but not before they took some of my lands and many pieces of property from others too. Imagine the HRE as Aztec and you will understand what happened.

Given the shape of your world, unless they find a toe-hold against the Catholics or Muslims, prepare to be underwhelmed.

 

[diskoerekto]

Haven't created any. Do they count towards the Duchy+ limit that impacts on opinion, or tax, or whatever it is?

no no those are just titles, they are not limited in any way. they just cost some money and give prestige. since you are an emperor, even if a big vassal has 9999 kingdoms he'll stay a vassal. on the other hand, there are empires that are smaller than other such as the wendish empire or the italian empire or the malian empire. it's more difficult to create an empire title (for a kingdom or duchy one needs 51% of the land, for an empire one needs 80%), but still one of the magnates might collect enough for the smaller ones. From the de jure titles map or menu just take a look at the empires (there are around 10-15 in total) and see who has which title or if the title is destroyed, and if anybody is close to claiming any.

Yes, and it is now proving very lucrative too with the carousing focus having made two friends in a row.

there are some duchies or kingdoms that make for successful merchant republics than others, which is mostly having all coastal counties and no or very little inland ones. if one day we expand to, say, Sri Lanka or Yemen or south tip of India; we can create another one that'll do us some good.

 

[diskoerekto]

In order to ensure a victory in the war would bring Noregr into the Rurikid Empire, in March 1261 Toste created a ‘junk’ kingdom title, for Pomerania and allocated it to Hysing. This made Hysing both very grateful and bound him to the Empire if his claim was sustained.

good that you took the safe way

Two mini campaigns were fought to take the barony of Lillebone in Rouen and Yatvyagi in the east. In all, field and siege losses were minimal. Sumarliði surrendered after less than a year on 25 September 1261. The Kingdom of Noregr would live on under Hysing, but as part of the Russian Empire.

I expected quick, clean and painless but definitely not that quick, clean and painless

After a good start to his campaign, King Klas of Wallachia suffered a major setback in March 1262 in his Holy War for Trebizond. Khagan Yeke sent a large army back from the east of over 35,000 men who defeated a Wallachian force of around half that strength in eastern Anatolia. Klas remained ahead (+13% warscore), but his lead – and ability to take more Mongol holdings) had been significantly constrained.

maybe raid there a bit to help out Klas?

In a rather momentous development, Skotland was brought under the control of the English-backed claimant the new King Hvitserk in February 1266. The last of the old Norse realms had been absorbed (albeit leaving Toste three over his vassal limit and unable to reduce the number).

such a satisfying map, most of the border gore is gone. great job!

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Related to my previous post about merchant republics, the Horn and Yemen are already taken by the magnates, but for example Socotra stays. That's a single province duchy which might make for a very efficient MR.

Despite bribes and the extraction of favours, in early 1263 Toste could not convince the Germanic Chief Antiochus of Baalbek (who became independent after the end of the latest Byzantine Civil War) to become a vassal of Russia. It would just have to wait – perhaps a marcher lord might try, as Toste remained unwilling to trigger the world-spanning defensive pact, even briefly, for such a small prize.

the war should be over even before the world spanning pact mobilizes their troops, but what amazes me is how and why does he reject

Toste was now able to adopt another legal change but the one he really wanted to make – Imperial Administration, to remedy his chronic vassal management problem – remained out of reach. More cultural research was required, and in September 1266 some of his massive building program was invested in boosting that, while his new Seer was put on the case as well (for what that may be worth).

good work on the margins

Unless … with the imminent approach of the quadricentenary, rumours once again arose of the semi-mythical Skrælings. Tales were being told but no confirmed sightings made, as yet. Perhaps the Götterdämmerung was approaching after all!

 

[Bullfilter]

Thanks for your comments and patience everyone! Time for pre-update comment feedback.

Others should think twice before defying the Emperor...

Indeed. Toste may be a bit slow, but he's putting the shoulder to the autocratic wheel!

Uh oh...

They cometh.

Russia is mighty, great, and blessed by the Aesir surely!

I passively resisted this for a long time, but their end largely came at the hands of the Marcher Lords anyway.

Very nicely done. Toste may be cruel, but he does realize the benefits of diplomacy.

Better than an endless, futile plot likely to end in kinslaying or frustration.

Why fight when you can party!

Quite! It's the new order of the day.

A famously easy thing to forgive.

Especially for a a Byzantine princess. And it was both in response to her mother initiating it against her uncle, and was unsuccessful to boot. All part of the usual Imperial family ups and downs.

Thank you for the new chapter. This definitely has the sweep of history!

Most welcome. Did manage to cover a fair bit there.

As usual, very much loved all the art that you use to adorn the AAR. I wanted to call out your stone work in the grove image. These are difficult to get right and this one is excellent. Perhaps I will be inspired to go back to trying stonework and more Gothic representations by your good work here.

Thanks - that one did take quite a few iterations. It wasn't as weathered and Rune-like as I'd wanted, but was happy enough to use the best of what I got. AI seems to be better at statues.

Evil half-sisters and half-cousins (?)... oh my! All you need now is an evil half-brother to surface....

Haha! A mix of Norse and Byzantine imperial family dynamics: what could go wrong?

Now, I forget if this warning comes five years before the Aztecs arrive or less. Or more?

We shall be seeing soon ...

But given your map, I think what will happen is they will come and perhaps just sit on one of your western provinces. They won't attack you because you are not Catholic or Muslim. They are looking to attack those religions. If you are unlucky they will wander around until they find a Muslim country to attack and then they will become a problem for everyone once they control some provinces.

I'd actually welcome them bringing a bit of entertainment to the stage but am prepared to be disappointed.

I remember when I had a game as the Empire of Hispania and they landed but didn't do anything. Earlier, my ruler had converted the empire to the Germanic religion as he had been a secret follower of that faith. Disgusted that they were just standing around doing nothing, I used the console to take control of them and aim them at some Catholics. Of course, I regretted this later because they embedded themselves in central Europe and became quite a problem. Eventually, by the end of that play-through their empire had disappeared, but not before they took some of my lands and many pieces of property from others too. Imagine the HRE as Aztec and you will understand what happened.

Given this is an Ironman run, I don't think I can use the console and haven't wanted to try in case I break the game

Given the shape of your world, unless they find a toe-hold against the Catholics or Muslims, prepare to be underwhelmed.

This seems to be likely.

no no those are just titles, they are not limited in any way. they just cost some money and give prestige. since you are an emperor, even if a big vassal has 9999 kingdoms he'll stay a vassal. on the other hand, there are empires that are smaller than other such as the wendish empire or the italian empire or the malian empire. it's more difficult to create an empire title (for a kingdom or duchy one needs 51% of the land, for an empire one needs 80%), but still one of the magnates might collect enough for the smaller ones. From the de jure titles map or menu just take a look at the empires (there are around 10-15 in total) and see who has which title or if the title is destroyed, and if anybody is close to claiming any.

Right. I may consider it in the future but for now, no-one else seems to be threatening to do it. I'd almost welcome it as a challenge, really.

there are some duchies or kingdoms that make for successful merchant republics than others, which is mostly having all coastal counties and no or very little inland ones. if one day we expand to, say, Sri Lanka or Yemen or south tip of India; we can create another one that'll do us some good.

Will keep an eye out for future opportunities. I'd have to figure out how to do it all over again, of course!

good that you took the safe way

Was pleased with how that all worked out. First time I've done it.

I expected quick, clean and painless but definitely not that quick, clean and painless

Barely raised a sweat.

maybe raid there a bit to help out Klas?

It's been on my mind, but have hesitated with either distractions, wanting to raid and not wanting to take heavy casualties fighting Mongol hordes (or what's left of them). I have an eye on Anatolia for a future GHW. Even one that takes on the whole world!

such a satisfying map, most of the border gore is gone. great job!

Nice to have it all consolidated after 400 years of gameplay.

Related to my previous post about merchant republics, the Horn and Yemen are already taken by the magnates, but for example Socotra stays. That's a single province duchy which might make for a very efficient MR.

Noted. Will see if I can get around to it in time.

the war should be over even before the world spanning pact mobilizes their troops, but what amazes me is how and why does he reject

True, though it seems a bit unchivalrous

good work on the margins

We try. Imperial admin is the next big things for realm management and seems suitable for the scale of the Empire these days.

The Feathered Ones approach!

 

[Bullfilter]

Chapter 86: Farce and Feathers (1267-1269)

‘Toste the Builder’. The late 1260s would see Toste’s expansive building program continue – and in one particular direction at first as he sought to increase the pace of cultural advancement. [MS Copilot]

ᚔ ᚱᚢᚱᛁᚲᛁᛞ ᚔ​

Raiding

The full-time ‘raiding industry’ of the Rurikid Fylkirate continued apace during the late 1260s, aimed at keeping the extensive building program going while also maintaining a decent sum in the treasury to cater for unforeseen emergencies. In early 1267, the two main raiding areas were in southern Egypt-Nubia and southern Arabia, with two armies operating in each.

The rest of the Imperial Guard had concentrated in eastern Anatolia, following the end of the latest Byzantine Civil War and while a possible ‘raiding support mission’ was considered to aid the King of Wallachia. Those forces would later move south to the Middle East. In the meantime, the raiders in southern Egypt switched south towards Ethiopia after that were done by September 1267-January 1268.

One of the armies began raiding Semien in January 1268 while the other finished off in Buhairya and also began marching south. However, before Prince Valdemar’s raiders could join them, the force in Semien was first pinned by a smaller army on 4 May 1268 at Ciarveta, while a far larger Suhailid army bore down from the south. Holed up in favourable mountain terrain and waiting for their comrades to join them, the Guard-Jomsviking army decided to stay put and fight it out, preserving both their honour and the raid.

​

Even when Valdemar did arrive, the Russians would still be clearly outnumbered. They would bank on their superior armament, training and tactical position to try to win the day. They managed to hang on until Valdemar arrived on the 17th. By the next day, a ferocious melee was in progress on the Russian right flank, where the Russians had been about to rout before reinforcements arrived. The Russians remained heavily outnumbered on the left, was strongest in the centre and failing on the right.

The battle intensified by 23 May, with the Russians relying on their elite heavy infantry advantage and the Suhailids their large light cavalry preponderance, with their main weakness being an over-reliance on light infantry levies. With Russia’s best generals now in charge, the left flank ignored their numerical disadvantage to launch a savage charge.

​

Though tired, they prevailed on the left and turned on the enemy centre, where the Russians were reasserting their dominance. The enemy’s largest and victorious left flank was pursuing the Russian right, which was breaking from the fight at that point. This meant the Rurikid raiders would eventually win the day, winning a tough fight which proved one of the most epic and even (if not largest) battles of the period.

The raids in the Middle East had started around the same time and proceeded uneventfully through to mid-1269.

Northern raiding campaign, January 1267-June 1269.​

The raids on the Abbasids in southern Arabia lasted until April 1269. By mid-1269, one of the two armies had commenced raiding in the old stamping ground of Aksum while the other passed through Tadjoura to join the fun.

Southern raiding campaign, January 1268-June 1269.​

In all, the two and a half years of raiding brought in 3,700 gold from 37 holdings, at the cost of 3,465 casualties, plus incidental ransom income.

ᚔ ᚱᚢᚱᛁᚲᛁᛞ ᚔ​

The Sunset Invasion

The prophesied Sunset Invasion of the Aztecs began on 1 July 1268 with the landing of 84,000 warriors in Iceland (Island), at Vestisland. A fleet of a thousand galleys, which had clearly been based on Viking longships captured and copied decades before, sat offshore after unloading their human cargo.

​

The Aztec Emperor Huetlatoani Xochipilli of the Acatl dynasty landed with this great army to take personal command. However, by 11 July, suddenly – nothing happened! It seemed they had no desire to attack fellow Pagans. [And Toste could find no CB to attack them with, either, as they controlled no land.]

Aztec Emperor Huetlatoani Xochipilli lands in Iceland, 1 July 1268. He came armed and prepared for all-out war but seemed confused as to how to start one. They just sat out the local fort and … did nothing. [MS Copilot].​

Later that month, and even larger army landed in Morocco, in the county of Anti-Atlas. Like those in Iceland, they made no demands after landing, just camped on the plain in the shadow of the foothills of the Atlas Mountains – partying.

A Sunset Celebration, Aztec style, July 1268. [Illustration: MS Copilot.]​

This Aztec arrival became known as the Sunset Invasion, ostensibly due to the fact they emerged from the west, where the sun set. Others more irreverently suggested it was because their emperor, a known glutton, was fonder of feasting and getting drunk on potent Viking liquor than fighting, encouraging ‘Sunset Ceremonies’ of eating, drinking and the occasional human sacrifice. Which the Vikings naturally thought was all completely understandable. They were left to themselves while the Rurikid Empire got on with business as usual.

ᚔ ᚱᚢᚱᛁᚲᛁᛞ ᚔ​

The 8th Crusade for Italy

The feeling of farce was extended shortly after the Aztec arrival (no one was calling it an actual invasion at this point) with the declaration of yet another futile Crusade by the current Pope Gregorius VI, from his hiding place in the catacombs of Rome.

​

These days, with no Catholic realms left in Western Europe (and hardly any Orthodox ones further east, either) the only Crusaders willing to answer the call were the landless mercenary bands of the Christian Militant Orders. By early September, around 5,100 of them from three Orders had assemble din southern Italy to begin their paltry Crusade.

​

In response, the levy of just one nearby marcher lord, King Oddr of Lotharingia, was summoned. And that was split into two hosts to minimise attrition during their approach march to Italy. As a sign of how things now stood, each of these halves outnumbered the Crusader army by more than 2-1.

​

Unable to curb his enthusiasm and returning past Rurikid support without being prompted, later that month Basileus Neophytos (known in his realm by his subjects as the ‘Son of Loki’), offered his services against the Crusaders, an offer which was duly accepted.

​

In mid-December 1268, the Crusaders had settled down to besiege Ancona while the two Russian levy armies and a Byzantine contingent of over 25,000 men slowly closed in from northern Italy.

​

As Arngrimr’s lead force approached Ancona in late January 1269, the nearby Byzantine army was requested to join them.

​

Despite their proximity, the Byzantine army never did join Arngrimr, heading further south instead. However, it hardly mattered. The Lotharingian levies attacked uphill at Ancona on 7 February 1269 against the slightly reinforced Crusader army.

​

After a running battle that lasted over a month, the Russians emerged with their expected comfortable victory. It was not enough to end the Crusade, but its back had been easily broken.

The final act came in Parma, on the field of La Spezia, where King Þorbjörn’s contingent caught up with the rallied remainder of the Crusader army. The fighting was perfunctory and all over by 17 June 1269.

​

One of the top Crusader generals was captured and thrown into the oubliette rather than executed outright (due to an acknowledgement of his honour in championing a lost cause) or ransomed (being too good a commander to be let go, either). If he managed to survive until the next blot (unlikely as that was) he would make a worthy sacrifice.

​

The very aptly nicknamed Pope Gregorius ‘the Rash’ capitulated after this second disastrous defeat, retuning to obscurity. Perhaps he had sought to take advantage of the rumoured Aztec Invasion. But that, like his Crusade, had turned out to be nothing more than a performative entertainment in the form of a farce.

ᚔ ᚱᚢᚱᛁᚲᛁᛞ ᚔ​

Vassal Affairs

The Marcher Lords during this period did engage in a few external wars, but none of them resulted in any territory gained for the Empire during the two and a half years to June 1269. Most of their conflicts were internal – revolts, revocations, or internecine claim wars between vassal kingdoms.

There was a succession in the minor kingdom of Mali in March 1267.

​

The long-standing attempt by King Klas of Wallachia to take Trebizond from the Mongols was finally lost in June of the same year. As we noted earlier, the Imperial armies had not involved themselves in what for a while had been deemed a losing cause and soon began heading south to the Middle East for more raiding.

​

The powerful Swedish kingdom had an unexpected change of leadership soon after when King Dag succumbed to the Slow Fever, leaving his young son Þorfinn II in a long regency.

​

And the unstable throne of Denmark saw yet another turnover when King Arnfast was deposed for a young King Edmund Stenbock in late 1268.

ᚔ ᚱᚢᚱᛁᚲᛁᛞ ᚔ​

Domestic Matters

Given the fizzling international events of this interval, there was significant concentration on domestic and dynastic matters over the period. Constantinople’s trade post was further developed in February 1267 after a new library was completed in the nearby hospital.

[MS Copilot, which also generated the caption when I asked it to do the illustration in CK2 style event notification. This was a the first attempt from the text prompt.]​

A little later, Toste was seeking to boost the rate of cultural advancement by spending thousands in gold on establishments of learning within the hospitals of his personal demesne. This was being done to hasten the adoption of new doctrines of Majesty, which would allow the adoption of a full Imperial administration.

​

As it happened (whether a coincidence or spurred by this frenzy of educational spending) a great philosopher arrived in the capital less than two months later. For a hefty fee, the learned man rapidly advanced cultural knowledge in the Empire. And suddenly, the secrets of Imperial Administration had been uncovered!

‘The Emperor lays down the law as the Council looks on’, May 1267. [MS Copilot]​

The Council rubber-stamped the new law immediately and at the stroke of a pen, all of the Rurikids’ longstanding issues with managing their vassal cap were gone. While the vassals did not like the law much, the malus from constantly controlling ‘too many’ of them was gone. And future Rurikid Fylkirs would have enough scope to keep expanding the realm under vassal kings, jarls and grand mayors almost indefinitely.

From June 1269 to March 1269, three more new buildings in Constantinople and Docimium were commissioned as others were finished.

​

And as the new centres of learning came on line, cultural advancement over the next two years. Still useful, even if the immediate research objective had been achieved.

​

On top of this, November 1267 saw the fulfilment of Toste’s ambition to see the realm prosper, further enhancing his now quite competent stewardship skills.

​

The Imperial demesne county of Valencia – now the greatest city in Spain – became fully converted to Norse culture in June 1268.

​

Later that year, Toste installed his personal friend Jarl Borkvard of Vladimir as the Imperial Steward. Borkvard was fully loyal and a far more effective manager than Þorsteinn af Holmgarðr, who had given competent enough service but was seen as the weakest link on a high-performing Council.

​

Only three more counties converted to Reformed Germanicism within the Empire, though it seemed more were being brought to Odin’s Light within the Byzantine Empire by the devout Basileus Neophytos.

ᚔ ᚱᚢᚱᛁᚲᛁᛞ ᚔ​

Personal and Dynastic Affairs

The carousing season of 1267 kicked off with an invitation to the powerful King Oddr III of Lotharingia, who challenged Toste to a strategy game. Not surprisingly, Toste lost but seemed to enjoy himself. No other effect was noted from this interaction and a long-term friendship did not emerge.

​

Toste’s liaison with Princess Alfrið resulted in the birth of a daughter in May 1267. Not wishing to alienate his large family but also not to reject the child, Gyða was acknowledged but not legitimised.

​

The next carousing season in 1268 was notably unsuccessful. An attempt to mend the deep rift with his sister Princess Halla came to nothing. The next invitation, to King Klas of Wallachia was similarly rejected. The season petered out with a whimper in August.

​

By mid-1269, as he approached his late-forties Toste’s position remained unchallenged by feather-light ‘threats’ from either Aztec or Popish adversaries. The treasury had been substantially refloated, despite all the expenditure on buildings and retinue maintenance.

​

Crown Prince Björn sailed along well enough as he approached his thirties. The chaste (though not quite monastic) Rurikid scion had just the one child at this point. Despite the Aztec incursion in the west, no credible threat had emerged to Rurikid hegemony.

Spoiler: Future AAR Prospects, AI Art

From what I’ve briefly read and seen so far, I’m thinking the Aztecs may never do anything. A bit of an anti-climax. I can’t even seem to amass an army to massacre them in place, given the lack of a CB. If this is so, it seems to this effectively ends the last main external challenge of the run.

If so, I’ll rethink where things go from here with almost 200 years of gameplay left. I do have some ideas to keep things interesting but won’t spoil them here.

PS: I used Copilot for the illustrations for the first time here and quite liked what it produced. Given it does not allow reference images, I was impressed by the continuity of style I got by basically seeking illustrations ‘in the style of CK2’ and trying to have consistent text prompts. Each of those used was a first go – didn’t feel the need to redraft any of them, which was another point in its favour.

 

[StrategyGameEnthusiast]

The Sunset Invasion

The prophesied Sunset Invasion of the Aztecs began on 1 July 1268 with the landing of 84,000 warriors in Iceland (Island), at Vestisland. A fleet of a thousand galleys, which had clearly been based on Viking longships captured and copied decades before, sat offshore after unloading their human cargo.

​

The Aztec Emperor Huetlatoani Xochipilli of the Acatl dynasty landed with this great army to take personal command. However, by 11 July, suddenly – nothing happened! It seemed they had no desire to attack fellow Pagans. [And Toste could find no CB to attack them with, either, as they controlled no land.]

Aztec Emperor Huetlatoani Xochipilli lands in Iceland, 1 July 1268. He came armed and prepared for all-out war but seemed confused as to how to start one. They just sat out the local fort and … did nothing. [MS Copilot].​

Later that month, and even larger army landed in Morocco, in the county of Anti-Atlas. Like those in Iceland, they made no demands after landing, just camped on the plain in the shadow of the foothills of the Atlas Mountains – partying.

A Sunset Celebration, Aztec style, July 1268. [Illustration: MS Copilot.]​

This Aztec arrival became known as the Sunset Invasion, ostensibly due to the fact they emerged from the west, where the sun set. Others more irreverently suggested it was because their emperor, a known glutton, was fonder of feasting and getting drunk on potent Viking liquor than fighting, encouraging ‘Sunset Ceremonies’ of eating, drinking and the occasional human sacrifice. Which the Vikings naturally thought was all completely understandable. They were left to themselves while the Rurikid Empire got on with business as usual.

Nothing's happening because they can't attack the player first (if there was an AI realm on the coast they'd attack it).

 

[dmurgell]

Aztec Emperor Huetlatoani Xochipilli lands in Iceland, 1 July 1268. He came armed and prepared for all-out war but seemed confused as to how to start one. They just sat out the local fort and … did nothing.

The classic military strategy of 'boring the enemy to death' ...

 

[Wraith11B]

I can't help but think that the designers should have--given that IIRC, the Sunset Invasion DLC came out before the Old Gods one--included an event chain in the latter to make sure that if a pagan religion grew, that the Aztecs would still impact Europe somehow...

EDITED TO ADD:
I wonder how crazy it would be to port this to EU4... with everything all under the Empire, would there be no challenge in that game, either? Ie, just run out the clock in this game to see what happens?

 

[diskoerekto]

one of the most epic and even (if not largest) battles of the period.

Epic for sure!

The prophesied Sunset Invasion of the Aztecs began on 1 July 1268 with the landing of 84,000 warriors in Iceland (Island), at Vestisland. A fleet of a thousand galleys, which had clearly been based on Viking longships captured and copied decades before, sat offshore after unloading their human cargo.

Later that month, and even larger army landed in Morocco, in the county of Anti-Atlas. Like those in Iceland, they made no demands after landing, just camped on the plain in the shadow of the foothills of the Atlas Mountains – partying.

now this is really crazy. Maybe at one point they'll join forces with the Vikings

As it happened (whether a coincidence or spurred by this frenzy of educational spending)

Auspicious either way

If so, I’ll rethink where things go from here with almost 200 years of gameplay left. I do have some ideas to keep things interesting but won’t spoil them here.

I'll be waiting to read the adventures whichever way you decide to take it

used Copilot for the illustrations for the first time here and quite liked what it produced. Given it does not allow reference images, I was impressed by the continuity of style I got by basically seeking illustrations ‘in the style of CK2’ and trying to have consistent text prompts. Each of those used was a first go – didn’t feel the need to redraft any of them, which was another point in its favour.

They progress quickly, and I enjoy the way it blends in with the aar

 

[Chac1]

Thanks for the new chapter. It seems you are indeed now the champion!

This Aztec arrival became known as the Sunset Invasion, ostensibly due to the fact they emerged from the west, where the sun set. Others more irreverently suggested it was because their emperor, a known glutton, was fonder of feasting and getting drunk on potent Viking liquor than fighting, encouraging ‘Sunset Ceremonies’ of eating, drinking and the occasional human sacrifice. Which the Vikings naturally thought was all completely understandable. They were left to themselves while the Rurikid Empire got on with business as usual.

The very aptly nicknamed Pope Gregorius ‘the Rash’ capitulated after this second disastrous defeat, retuning to obscurity. Perhaps he had sought to take advantage of the rumoured Aztec Invasion. But that, like his Crusade, had turned out to be nothing more than a performative entertainment in the form of a farce.

Have to agree with your summation of these past few years, that the threats are more like the occasional mosquito: easy to swat away. I think I did predict for you the Aztecs would land (and that is quite a force) but do nothing. Unless they happen to start wandering around and find the Muslims or the Orthodox, I think you are safe.

[MS Copilot, which also generated the caption when I asked it to do the illustration in CK2 style event notification. This was a the first attempt from the text prompt.]​

PS: I used Copilot for the illustrations for the first time here and quite liked what it produced. Given it does not allow reference images, I was impressed by the continuity of style I got by basically seeking illustrations ‘in the style of CK2’ and trying to have consistent text prompts. Each of those used was a first go – didn’t feel the need to redraft any of them, which was another point in its favour.

Good to see these experiments and I have to agree I was surprised by the results, especially with the text. Glad you are finding Copilot to be consistent despite not being able to use reference images. I have found it to be consistent sometimes, and inconsistent at other times. I have gone back to using Bing's image creator when trying to use Microsoft for image creation. My tastes for AI art platforms continue to evolve. Glad to see your positive experimentation.

 

[jak7139]

Nothing's happening because they can't attack the player first (if there was an AI realm on the coast they'd attack it).

I didn't know that. I feel like I do remember the Aztecs attacking the player if they were Christian.

Have to agree with everyone else about the AI images, some amazing work!

And I'll read this as long as you continue it, whether we see those last 200 years or not, or whether you end up skipping ahead.

 

[Wraith11B]

It is one of those things that blobbing successfully can render the player omnipotent... Several articles discuss this about how in strategy games the player can run away with things once they understand the mechanics.

 

[Bullfilter]

It is one of those things that blobbing successfully can render the player omnipotent... Several articles discuss this about how in strategy games the player can run away with things once they understand the mechanics.

Which is pretty funny given it’s still the only game of CK2 I’ve ever played, but it’s so far taken almost 8 years, with plenty of help along the way!

 

[Chac1]

I need to include a belated postscript here to my comments: congratulations on your ACA win as one of the two top CK2 AARs. Well done.

 

[Midnite Duke]

Congratulations on a very successful run. The Aztecs fizzled out (bad coding). Still confused why the DLC was ever released especially as third in the series. It would have been semi-justifiable near the end of the run when any idea is tried.

You can raise vassal troops in any county that they control (either outright or vassal), not just in capital.

As someone who plays in the Byzantine world semi-frequently (recently went from 30something Basileus with three young sons to game over/no dynastic heir within twenty years), when a lawyer suggests making government changes (imperial administration/viceroyalties) using the Byzantines as a reference, please show the lawyer to the oubliette post-haste while awaiting the next blot. Luki is a serious fellow/nice guy compared to the Mount Olympus tricksters.

Any thought about using wife's claims to establishing a son on the Mongol throne?

 

[Bullfilter]

Well, we return now to the world of Rurikid world dominance and fizzling Aztecs. But fear not, the story marches on! Been busy with RL, sport, jigsaw puzzles and other AARs (writing and reading) but the return to Great Rurikidia comes with a bumper edition! Still stuff happening, even if I'm compressing some more aspects now to get the time.line moving along.

Nothing's happening because they can't attack the player first (if there was an AI realm on the coast they'd attack it).

Yes, previous comments and some wiki reading lead me to believe there is not much I can do about that for now. It seems the Aztecs will remain nothing more than a quaint and paradoxical (!) story arc here for the foreseeable future <shrugs>

The classic military strategy of 'boring the enemy to death' ...

Quite! And I actually wanted them to attack so we could have some huge and savage Blood and Battle!

I can't help but think that the designers should have--given that IIRC, the Sunset Invasion DLC came out before the Old Gods one--included an event chain in the latter to make sure that if a pagan religion grew, that the Aztecs would still impact Europe somehow...

EDITED TO ADD:
I wonder how crazy it would be to port this to EU4... with everything all under the Empire, would there be no challenge in that game, either? Ie, just run out the clock in this game to see what happens?

Agreed. On oversight at the start and one that should have certainly been corrected subsequently when this possibility would have become apparent. Re an EU4 conversion: interesting indeed. Though given my tendency to run small powers and go for a gameplay challenge (and zero experience at converting from one game to another), plus many ideas for AARs I haven't yet had the time to implement, an experiment I may be unlikely to perform.

Epic for sure!

I like it when they're close and you don't know which way they'll go. Despite overall world dominance, it's still possible to get surprised tactically, which adds a bit of spice to things.

now this is really crazy. Maybe at one point they'll join forces with the Vikings

I actually tried to get them interested in marriages, etc but they weren't interested.

Auspicious either way

Very. I think the game is quite good at linking these things and having them trigger related events.

I'll be waiting to read the adventures whichever way you decide to take it

Thanks! I'll definitely finish it off and do have some ideas about possible tangents, but they would be conditional on events, characters and role-playing. Alternatively, I might just play it out as is but try to compress the timeline further as I go. But if something interesting happens, then I'll be taking the time to describe it.

They progress quickly, and I enjoy the way it blends in with the aar

I've also found Copilot to be good too at iterating versions to tweak them. And it has a quite friendly and engaging (if at times a little bit effusive) engagement style, as a multi-purpose chatbot/generative AI vehicle.

Thanks for the new chapter. It seems you are indeed now the champion!

Most welcome.

Have to agree with your summation of these past few years, that the threats are more like the occasional mosquito: easy to swat away. I think I did predict for you the Aztecs would land (and that is quite a force) but do nothing. Unless they happen to start wandering around and find the Muslims or the Orthodox, I think you are safe.

They've shown no desire to wander yet, though I suppose it's early days. Any potential targets are a long way off now.

Good to see these experiments and I have to agree I was surprised by the results, especially with the text. Glad you are finding Copilot to be consistent despite not being able to use reference images. I have found it to be consistent sometimes, and inconsistent at other times. I have gone back to using Bing's image creator when trying to use Microsoft for image creation. My tastes for AI art platforms continue to evolve. Glad to see your positive experimentation.

Actually, on one rendering iteration (for my EU4 AAR) it did invite me to supply a sample image of something it just couldn't do no matter how explicit and detailed the commands. It was the Frisian flag, where it just could not get the stripes and numbers of lily pads right! Alas, it didn't work, though it did incorporate the flag example in the attempt.

I didn't know that. I feel like I do remember the Aztecs attacking the player if they were Christian.

Have to agree with everyone else about the AI images, some amazing work!

And I'll read this as long as you continue it, whether we see those last 200 years or not, or whether you end up skipping ahead.

The Aztecs will I fear remain an academic mystery to me, for this game at least.

Thanks re the AI artwork: I've found Copilot particularly good at doing CK2 style stuff. Not quite as adept at the more modern stuff so far (like for my HOI4 AAR), though OK.

I need to include a belated postscript here to my comments: congratulations on your ACA win as one of the two top CK2 AARs. Well done.

And thanks for that - I've ended up shamefully missing the last couple of award voting opportunities as I'd gotten preoccupied with other stuff and procrastinated past the deadlines. I'll try to force to make myself do better next time!

Congratulations on a very successful run. The Aztecs fizzled out (bad coding). Still confused why the DLC was ever released especially as third in the series. It would have been semi-justifiable near the end of the run when any idea is tried.

Thank you my friend. Yes, bad coding and also poor follow-up too: they could have patched that issue at some point.

You can raise vassal troops in any county that they control (either outright or vassal), not just in capital.

Didn't know that: not sure how to do it - I thought they just appeared in the capital.

As someone who plays in the Byzantine world semi-frequently (recently went from 30something Basileus with three young sons to game over/no dynastic heir within twenty years), when a lawyer suggests making government changes (imperial administration/viceroyalties) using the Byzantines as a reference, please show the lawyer to the oubliette post-haste while awaiting the next blot. Luki is a serious fellow/nice guy compared to the Mount Olympus tricksters.

Haha, Messrs Dewy, Cheatem & Howe making a comeback?

Any thought about using wife's claims to establishing a son on the Mongol throne?

I'm not sure how good the claims would be but yes, have given it some passing consideration. Will be keeping an eye out for any future opportunities (not sure what, if any, she has at the moment).

Thanks everyone for the comments and continued support. Next big chapter will be out soon!

 

[Bullfilter]

Chapter 87: The Family that Fights Together … (1269-1275)

‘Uncle Toste Loses Patience’. In 1271 the complex and conflicting interests of the wider Rurikid family in the Russian and Byzantine Empires would boil over in an unexpected way. Here, Fylkir Toste IV attempts to mediate an argument between his young son-in-law Arsenios Sgouros, the new Basileus of the Byzantine Empire and his daughter-in-law (and ‘half-niece’) Princess Markia Sellokolas, wife of Crown Prince Björn and daughter of Princess Halla. More such intra-family conflicts would emerge within the fractious Byzantine Empire. [MS Copilot]

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Court and Domestic Events

Carousing season reopened in August 1269, where Toste would seek to advance his political relationships through feasting and comradeship. His former prisoner, reluctant concubine and Imperial Chancellor Epiphania was invited to bond with the Fylkir but alas (politely but coolly) rejected the invitation. Next month King Oddr the Great of Lotharingia once again passed up his opportunity for feasting.

Then Toste asked his kinsman King Rikulfr of Könugarðr and this time got a positive response. But as the year ended and the feasting was well under way, the ‘eccentric’ Rikulfr turned violent. Deciding discretion was the better part of valour on this occasion, the slight-framed Toste adopted the old option of running away when confronted with the prospect of a fist-beating, Viking style, from his raging relation.

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Fortunately, this was seen as wise rather than craven and his reputation emerged intact as the carousing season ended quietly in January 1270.

Toste once again took most opportunities to improve infrastructure in his demesne counties during this time, funded as ever by the continuous raiding of the Imperial Guard and Jomsvikings. In the four years from October 1269, many projects were completed and nine new ones begun at the cost of thousands of gold pieces, much in Constantinople and two projects in Valencia, where its previous conversion to Norse culture saw its Housecarl Training Ground established and then expanded.

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In November 1269, something of a trend began with the murder of Imperial Spymaster Ingemar Bleik on the orders of yet another disgruntled minor nobleman. Princess Halla (half sister and bitter rival of the Fylkir) was the next most qualified to take the role but was passed over for obvious reasons. A new (and better qualified) candidate was attracted from outside the court, with one Styrbjörn Alfrsson appointed – along with a small bribe to make him even happier.

In January 1270, three new retinue companies were raised (two cavalry, one housecarl). More would be added periodically as the realm and/or its infrastructure expanded. In the middle of the year, economic research advanced with improved construction techniques embraced.

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This would allow an enormous new expansion of Rurikid hospital complexes. But with epidemics not proving too much of a problem to the heartlands and the enormous expense of such works (over 5,000 gold), it would only be envisaged for the capital and for now, despite a healthy treasury of around 10,000 gold, the outlay was not made.

After a nine year wait, another Great Blot was celebrated between 5 November 1270 and 2 January 1271. This one was uneventful, producing the usual ongoing benefits for the next year. And the 1270-71 carousing season ended with a whimper in April, with no one having been persuaded to attend.

Better news was the milestone conversion of Constantinople to Reformed Germanicism by Imperial Seer Tolir in May 1271. Now, the two great centres of Christianity had been brought fully into Odin’s Light.

A Germanic ceremony is celebrated in the renamed Temple of Heilagr Speki (‘Holy Wisdom’ in Old Norse, the equivalent meaning of Hagia Sophia) to mark the occasion of its conversion to Reformed Germanicism in May 1271. [MS Copilot]​

Another imperial milestone was reached at the beginning of 1272, with 100 years of control bringing the geographic de jure Kingdom of Aquitaine into the de jure Russian empire.

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And at the end of the year, with no carousing season called (for reasons that will be explained later), another three retinue companies were raised (again using the maximum entitlement), this time two cavalry and one shock.

After a relatively quiet year at home, November 1273 saw another Spymaster murdered by a random adversary. Styrbjörn (dead at only 23) was replaced by Mayor Eirikr of Spångsholmr, who received 50 gold in ‘danger money’ to keep him happy. The same day, Toste enforced another new law – this time, without the need of the disempowered Council’s approval.

Unable to enforce realm peace any longer, he hoped this new law would limit some of the rampant internecine wars that infested the realm like lice. [Note: though it seems to have a very restricted application due to different realm laws, from what I’ve since seen and looked at in the chats.]

In June 1274, the new Spymaster was sent to investigate rumours of an artefact. A month later, he reported steady progress. And by early December he too was dead, murdered by yet another non-entity from the provinces.

[Image: ‘Et tu, Skuli?’ via MS Copilot.]​

Eirikr was replaced by the new King of Sviþjod, Þorsteinn II – which also had the benefit of placating a powerful magnate. Soon after, he was instructed to take up the artefact search. And to beware of shadows!

In February 1275, Toste was able to raise another three retinue companies, two cavalry and one housecarl. Once at full strength, this would give his retinue (not including the Jomsvikings) 1,200 light infantry, 4,700 pikemen, 8,000 archers, 14,900 heavy infantry, 13,800 light cavalry and 3,400 knights.

From July 1269 to March 1275, another 11 counties had been converted to Germanicism within the Russian Empire – not including more in the Byzantine Empire.

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Foreign and Vassal News

A new Grand Mayor of Livonia, Olafr, took over in May 1270. Unfortunately, he was ineligible to be called to carouse at that time. And when the violent Rikulfr was deposed as King of Könugarðr later that year, his successor Grimr refused an invitation.

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Another alarmist bulletin came from the Aztec tourists in the west in mid-1271. Though it seemed to have no discernible impact on events in Eurasia.

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In the event, King Grimr only held the throne of Könugarðr for a year before it all became too much for him. His son Sæmundr inherited – but being unmarried, gay and celibate it may well be that he would produce no heir of his own. Which left none other than the ousted Jarl Rikulfr as next in line!

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Sæmundr soon declared a war on Khagan Yeke ‘the Monster’ of the Mongols to liberate Turkestan in March 1273.

Then the great Kingdom of Aquitaine saw King Haraldr II cut down by illness in the prime of life in February 1274, leaving his four-year-old son Bertil to inherit, facing a long regency. Hoping that he might survive this period and to cement Aquitaine’s loyalty, Toste’s bastard daughter Gyða was soon betrothed to him.

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The next month, reports came from the Aztec encampments that they had brought a frightening new disease with them from across the seas.

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Though there was no immediate effect discernible, it was enough to persuade Toste to begin that new hospital expansion in Holmgarðr (which already had a level 5 hospital), the treasury having swelled to over 13,000 gold from raiding and tax receipts, despite all the retinue hiring and building that had been going on.

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In June 1274, the (pre-existing) war to replace King Þorfinn in Sviþjod was won, placing Þorsteinn II (who was soon appointed as Spymaster, as we saw above) on the throne.

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More news – of doubtful relevance – came of goings-on in the Aztec Empire back on the other side of the Atlantic came in early 1275.

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Was it the truth, or just Aztec propaganda? They still remained peaceful in their camps, spreading disease and stories without leaving them.

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Relations with Byzantium

In January 1270, Toste’s old collaborator Basileus Neophytos ‘Son of Loki’ agreed to a proposal that his eldest son Arsenios would marry matrilineally with Toste’s daughter Bodil. It seemed another Sgouros family member, a young boy of 8, was the Basileus heir, but the Russians thought this would be a good match and you never know, might eventually lead to a Rurikid sitting the throne of Byzantium. Arsenios came to live with Bodil in Nygarðr.

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On 21 August 1271, Neophytos died: as was often the case in Byzantium, apparently murdered. And somewhat to the surprise of the Russian court, Arsenios assumed the Roman throne after all! Now it was Bodil who headed to the Byzantine capital of Nikomedeia. And a short time later, Arsenios agreed to renew the alliance between the two realms.

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So it came as something of a surprise when, less than two weeks after that, Arsenios presented a combative complaint citing rumours of Russian-sponsored piracy which, as far as Toste knew, were baseless. Rather than taking offence, Toste was prepared to lose a little of his huge prestige to politely reassure the young pup.

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It was an even greater shock when, despite close marriage relations, a formal alliance, a reasonable personal relationship and these placatory words, Arsenios rudely and outrageously broke the alliance that had been forged just four weeks earlier. A vile tadpole indeed!

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The War for Sicily

Toste went from cool diplomacy to white hot anger in an instant. Arsenios’ impetuous and presumptuous behaviour in breaking the alliance had left Byzantium temporarily outside the world-embracing defensive pact against Russia. There would be a war of punishment.

Of all the various casus belli available, Toste picked the one he thought would do the most damage to Arsenios and produce long-term possibilities for the Rurikids. The Kingdom of Sicily would be claimed in the name of his ‘half-niece’ Princess Markia, who was also the wife of Crown Prince Björn. She was not a member of the Rurikid dynasty herself – but her son would be.

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Five of the seven raiding armies in the Middle East broke their sieges, ceremonially ‘de-toggled’ by their Gods and were diverted to Syria, along with the 39,000 men of the Aquitanian liege levy now located in the Sinai: a total of around 76,000 troops. Another 115,000 were mustered in Europe (none of them Imperial demesne levies, to save funds) with some sent towards Spain, Italy and the Balkans. The small ‘New Guard’ forming in Holmgarðr was sent towards the Caucasus.

By mid-October, there was a Byzantine army of around 3,000 moving through southern Spain, headed for France. Two more larger armies (of 10,400 and 6,500), mustered in Tunisia and began heading towards the Strait of Gibraltar. Many other smaller Byzantine Imperial and vassal contingents were called out across the now disjointed New Roman Empire.

Another Byzantine force of around 2,800 had been operating in Palestine when the war broke out. By early December it had moved north to try to return to its homeland when it ran into a hostile Sardinian vassal army of about 1,800 from Modena, in Beirut. This clash was enough to slow them down a allow a Guard army of 5,100 to catch up and join the fight on 24 December. The tables were turned and a majority of the Byzantine troops killed before they could flee eight days later. First blood to Russia!

Next, the lead Byzantine army had entered southern France and were intercepted at Agde in Narbonne on 13 February 1272 by 13,300 Russian levies. The Burgundian levy of 17,600 men was also called out in Narbonne the next day and, though those troops were unready, the combination was enough to overwhelm the Byzantine invaders, who were all killed or surrendered by 25 February for the loss of on 55 Russian levies.

From mid-January to early May, following the Battle of Beirut, seven sieges were begun all over Syria to provide the ‘engine room’ of the war’s prosecution.

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Back in Spain, the main Byzantine field army was approaching Almansa as Bersi advanced to meet them. The now fully reorganised Burgundian levy army followed on at a distance. Chief Traianos of Beroa showed more valour than judgement by attacking the numerically superior Bersi across a river on a strong hilltop position at Albacete in Almansa on 3 May 1272.

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Even in the skirmish phase, the superior Russian numbers, better terrain and strong leadership generated a lot of combat power, especially in the Russian left and centre: Byzantine casualties soon began to mount quickly.

By 11 June, when the reinforcing contingent arrived, the enemy had been completely broken. Their own reinforcements had been too slow to arrive and would not have reversed the result in any case. Chief Traianos was lucky to escape the pursuit on 15 June with a little more than half his army still alive. This would be the largest and most decisive battle of the war, severely damaging Byzantine morale.

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The Burgundian levies had continued on, now under the command of the fearsome King Oddr III of Lotharingia, while Bersi’s army rested after Almansa. The main Sicilian army had managed to escape pursuit at first but ran into interference on 20 July in Seville in the form of a local vassal regiment. Oddr marched to the sound of the fighting and reinforced six days later.

Image: ‘The Battle of Seville’, painted c. 1420 [MS Copilot.]​

Baron Theodoulos was heavily defeated by 9 August, meaning both the main enemy armies in the West had been sent scurrying back to Africa.

In Quattara, on the modern-day Libyan-Egyptian border, a smaller Sicilian army was run to ground at the end of August by a raiding army of around 7,000 elite Guard and Jomsviking troops sent to intercept them. The result was not pretty for the Sicilians, with most of their troops killed by 11 September 1272.

Meanwhile on 7 September, the remnants of the main Byzantine army had rallied just long enough to be ambushed by King Oddr in Tangier (17,600 v 4,600). And in Syria, by 10 September good progress had been made on the various sieges.

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Eleven days later, more holdings there and elsewhere had fallen and Arsenios was approaching the point of capitulation.

As it happened, the battle in Tangier was never concluded: Arsenios gave up on 24 September, with most of Sicily itself, plus Neapolis and other counties on both sides of the Adriatic were sheared away to form a new and independent Kingdom of Sicily.

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Queen Markia was very grateful but would not accept vassalage to Toste (which had not been expected anyway). The war had lasted six days short of one year. And now her husband Crown Prince Björn followed her from Nygarðr to the new Sicilian royal palace in Neapolis. A map of the campaign is shown below, with field battles and the start dates of the various sieges shown.

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In a little more than two weeks after the end of the war, another Byzantine relative of Toste saw his chance and declared his own claim war. Toste quickly offered Marcia an alliance to assist, but this was narrowly (and perhaps rather foolishly) rejected by the new Queen due to ‘political concerns’.

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By the end of the month this folly was made clearer, with the Republic of Ferrara jumping on the bandwagon. Still, neither war would be resolved by March 1275.

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Raiding

The great raiding enterprise continued routinely from July 1269 through to the outbreak of war against Byzantium in September 1271. The tempo of raiding slowed markedly after that time, picking up again from late 1272 when the Guard-Jomsviking armies began filtering back from Syria. One returned to Homs, the rest to their regular looting grounds on either side of the Red Sea. During this latter period, two ‘raiding battles’ of note were fought, where more isolated raiders were surprised by local troops.

The first of these battles began at Pakhoras in the Suhailid county of Dotawo on 15 May. The combined raiding army of over 12,200 crack Imperial troops under King Þorbjörn of Irland had considered themselves equal to any likely local challenge and had no nearby supporting troops were available. But the Suhailids, assisted by some Affatid vassals, had assembled an army of 14,200 men to ambush the raiders.

This would prove the largest, longest and most epic battle of the period. The Suhailids had a large advantage in archers, light cavalry and camel cavalry. The Russians had the advantage in heavy infantry and knights. The initial skirmishing therefore saw the enemy gain an advantage, though King Þorbjörn in the centre had the upper hand against his Affatid opponent, while his own right flank was losing ground. It was only by 14 June that the closing of a melee on the Russian left saw a decisive advantage begin to accrue there. But Þorbjörn was now narrowly losing in the centre, while the right was fading fast.

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It was the Russian centre that broke first, with the left gaining ground and the right losing it by the 17th. Three days later, the enemy’s left had been broken and then its own centre. The Russian left then came to the aid of the beleaguered right wing, striking the enemy on their exposed flank but at that time was only in skirmish order rather than a heavy infantry-led melee, where they excelled. The battle remained evenly poised by 5 July after over a month and a half of fighting.

Alas, on 9 July the Russian right broke and the two remaining divisions faced off directly against each other in exhausted skirmish lines. This continued for another two weeks with the Russians never able to close in for the melee kill: the last Russian division broke by 23 July and the desultory pursuit ended on the 29th.

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Somewhat surprisingly, this long and desperate battle did not see either side suffer crippling casualties, with most of the fighting being skirmish rather than melee and hardly any troops left on either side for the pursuit. Despite being outnumbered, the Russians had inflicted slightly more casualties than their enemies even though they surrendered the field. The main practical outcome was that all Suhailid lands would be proof from Russian raiding for a long period.

Another smaller but quite violent battle was fought in Homs from 22 January to 20 February 1274. There, a larger Byzantine force ambushed the raiding army. But in this case the Russians were able to charge in a front-wide melee by 10 February and began inflicting massive losses on the enemy, who routed and lost more than half their men.

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The raid on Homs had been coming to an end anyway and the Russians departed before they could be attacked again, to rest up in Beirut.

A map showing the spread (if not the detailed results) of the raiding program of this period is shown below. The dotted boxes represent those raids started after the end of the War for Sicily in 1272. As can be seen, the raiding tempo was quite reduced.

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By March 1275 more of the armies had consolidated and a number were now resting up in friendly territory or moving towards it. Only two raids remained in progress at that time, in Mecca and Taizz.

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Personal and Dynastic Events

Other than the state marriage and betrothal developments, feasting and Blot already mentioned, it was a comparatively quiet time at the Palace in Nygarðr during this period. Crown Prince Björn and Princess (as she then was) Markia had a second child, a daughter, in April 1270. Their third child, another daughter, would be born during the War for Sicily in February 1272 and a third daughter came in August 1274.

In between these new additions to the Rurikid dynasty, Toste IV turned 50 on 14 August 1271. He would take the opportunity to review his personal priorities and decided to work on his weakest ability – intrigue. The ‘Age of Carousing’, which had found mixed success over the years, was over.

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His first use of this additional spying capacity was on King Oddr of Lotharingia, but observations by a team of snoops and sneaks from February to April 1273 drew a blank and were discontinued.

On a personal note, one of Toste’s unmarried daughters, Beata, died of food poisoning in May 1273 at the age of 24. Ten of Toste’s children out of twelve remained alive, as did his wife: quite a boon in those dangerous times.

By March 1275, Toste remained healthy and firmly in charge of the Empire. His son and heir Prince Björn was now 35 and living with his wife, Queen Markia of Sicily in Neapolis as Despot-Consort while he awaited the call to return to Russia as Fylkir one day. Alas, the marriage was not a happy one, as Markia had proven to be an unfaithful adulteress who Björn despised. Her lover was a notorious seducer and cocksman, the Lovers Pox-ridden Jarl Rikulfr ‘One-Eye’ of Silesia (and his one-eyed trouser snake, as the bards were want to call it). How Byzantine!

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Living with them and under Markia’s tutelage was their first-born son (and heir presumptive to the Russian and direct heir to the Sicilian throne) Ulfr, now nine years old. Though he had been studying stewardship for the last three years, it seemed he was more adept at the martial pursuits at that age.

Years of scant direct territorial expansion at the Imperial or vassal level since the Great Holy War for Greece had seen Toste’s perceived threat level to others fall significantly to its lowest level in years. Which might at some point open up an opportunity for a major war of expansion that would not trigger a world-wide pact response.