De Flandre's House of Cards

[pdubz]

The Illustrated Tales of...​

De Flandre's House of Cards​

From 1066 onwards​

Welcome to my first ever AAR. This is going to be a bit different since it's my first proper game of CK, but since there's no tutorial, what better way to learn than to jump in at the deep end?

I will be playing as the Duke of Flanders, Baudouin de Flandre, on normal/weakling without any mods. Be warned, however, my newcomer's recklessness may well get me into trouble.

Anyways, let's meet our hero...

My name is Baudouin de Flandre, as my father's was and his father's father before him. I'm a tough soldier and Duke of Flanders to boot.

Right, before we get down to business, we may as well be done with the customary meet the wife and kids. From left to right the kids are Baudoiun, Robert and Mathilda. Guess which one my hopes are pinned on. The wife, Adele, is 57. I have my sons and an heir; what good is she to me now?

This is the extent of my domain. Not much, I know, but I have plans to change that. For now, however, those plans will remain under wraps. A Duke who cannot keep his mouth shut is not fit to be King... I mean, well, theoretically speaking, of course...

These two clowns on the right pay homage to me at least. In turn I am forced to pay homage to my liege, the King of France, a boy of 14 who dares not even show his face! Oh the humiliation, the outrage! I hate him, but I'm not strong enough to say it and live to tell the tale, even if he is just a boy.

The Court has been appointed, here's the lineup for 1066. Allow me also to introduce Oda, the hunchback wench I have chosen for Chancellor. I wouldn't have, but my court is filled with imbeciles. On a more positive note, it seems I was wrong to write off young Robert. He has the making of a military genius and has therefore been appointed Marshal. Sod's law that I'd bet on the wrong flippin' horse. Baudouin had better make something of himself if he knows what's good for him...



Tune in next time, when something may actually happen in the Duchy of Flanders! ​

 

[Veldmaarschalk]

A very nice start ! Good luck with your first AAR

 

[phargle]

Looks excellent. I like graphics and quick explanations. I'll read it!

 

[pdubz]

De Flandre's House of Cards​

Dec 1066 - Nov 1071​

As it happens, my son, heir and namesake, Baudouin de Flandre IV, is Count of Hainaut. I suppose he has made something of himself after all, even if he is something of a layabout. His title may even prove useful - not to me of course - but for the greater good of the dynasty.

My daughter, Mathilda, has done even better for herself. Indeed, she has managed to marry the King of England, William de Normandie. I haven't seen the silly cow in years; maybe I should send a communication, and see if I can't find a way to take advantage of her status.

By January 1067, there are sufficient finances in the treasury for me to create and award myself the title of Duke of Artois, which will no doubt increase my standing amongst my peers. While they stand in awe of me, I will stake my claim to Vermandois.

With the money rolling in, I order construction to begin on forestries in Brugge and Gent, the wealthiest provinces in the Duchy. Yperen and Artois will follow as soon as possible. It's expensive, but any good ruler has to think about the long-term.

As time passes and the coffers swell, I will invest in fisheries and training grounds because, to be honest, I have more money than I know what to do with. I bet the other nobles would kill to be me. Or should that be will?

The Pope, that underhanded infiltrator, I won't accept his spies in my court! Well, not until I'm clear on what's in it for me.

My son Robert excelled in the arts of war, so I see no reason why his son should not follow in his footsteps. An army education is just what the boy needs!

Financially, we are in great shape. The King of France must satisfy himself with only one third the income I receive. Still, in proportion to age, he is doing pretty well.

For a tough soldier like me, there is only one option. I'm going to hunt down that beast and show people that the de Flandre name still means something. My actions were broadly condemned as reckless, and it seems to have stuck. Drat.

Curse my luck! In February 1070 the destitutes, scumbags and lowlifes of Brugge had the nerve to establish a thieves' guild. To think, there's nothing I can do about it. We shall see.

This 'elusive shadow' is highly skilled in the arts of intrigue. It looks like Baldwin van Ghent, current spymaster, will be looking for a new job soon.

1071 was a terrible year for Flanders. Well, not the best year anyway. But I eat come rain or shine, so who cares? Maybe it's about time my son took over from me...



Things are quiet at the moment, but slowly, de Flandre's plan is revealing itself. Tune in next time to find out if it happens, if it works, and if our hero survives...​

 

[phargle]

Bravo! I like the light, yet serious tone. And the graphics. More!

 

[pdubz]

De Flandre's House of Cards
Dec 1071 - Jun 1074

Between December of 1071 and June of 1074, I received no less than fifteen requests for (soon to be) Spymaster Bertha's hand in marriage. Needless to say, they are going to have to catch my elusive shadow before I hand her over. I shall now have my repayment for all those years of free education.

In a vain attempt to appeal to my pious side, the pope chose Christmas of 1071 to try and saddle me with one of his cronies. The court of the Duchy of Flanders shall not be subject to outside interference, especially by a pope who can barely conceal his desperation to place a spy in my midst. One day, I may have him assassinated.

A martial education seems to have paid off for Albrecht van Holland, brother of spymaster Bertha. What a talented family, pity about mine. Having said that, my son Robert is the superior commander, and Baudoiun, my other son, is a Count. Bertha and Albert's father, Floris, doesn't even have a single title to his name! (He is dead, though.) It's a shame there aren't more de Flandres.

Baldwin van Ghent, son of Baldwin van Ghent, former Spymaster, believes himself to be of better judgment than his liege. In November 1072, he gathered the courage to suggest that he replace Oda as Chancellor - a suggestion which was swiftly rejected. Frankly, he is lucky I didn't expel him from the Duchy for his insolence.

Things were looking rather dire for the fishermen of Brugge by September 1073. With the assistance required amounting to a mere hundredth of the treasury, it would have been madness not to help. Any good ruler must think of the future. And the cost of replacing fisheries.

Adela van Holland, sister of Albrecht and Bertha, has recovered from illness. Normally I wouldn't log such trivialities in my diary, but I have particularly high hopes of this girl following in her sister's footsteps. Drat, that's another point for the van Hollands. I really need to increase the dynastic diversity of my court.

Giselbert van Ghent has become a priest, but a rather detached one at that. His religious education may serve my purposes at some point, but for now, he remains detached.

Those idiots! I specifically recall sending a messenger to Yperen to remind the fools to prepare the soil adequately and in good time. The harvest of 1074 is not looking promising. Still, you reap as you sow.

Again I must log seemingly trivial news; Engelbert van Ghent, a boy of 15 years, but an extremely promising military talent is suffering from stress. Hopefully he recovers before it becomes of serious detriment to his education and (my) future prospects.

I am already 62 years old, yet I have not lived. On the 13th June of 1074, God finally called on my tormentor, and freed me from the shackles of oppression. This is a sign. A sign that it is time to stake my claim to Vermandois before it is too late! Oh, and to find myself a new bride, preferably of child bearing age.



With his wife out of the way, will de Flandre finally summon up the courage to fulfill his destiny? Will he find his princess, and will he sire any more children before his time comes? Tune in next time to learn of our hero's fate...​

 

[phargle]

Giselbert van Ghent has become a priest, but a rather detached one at that. His religious education may serve my purposes at some point, but for now, he remains detached.

Fantastically dry sense of humor here. More.

 

[Veldmaarschalk]

Bertha and Albert's father, Doris, doesn't even have a single title to his name! It's a shame there aren't more de Flandres.

Well his father, Floris , was count before he died and now the brother of Albert and Bertha, Dirk is count of Holland, Zeeland and West-Friesland

 

[pdubz]

Well his father, Floris , was count before he died and now the brother of Albert and Bertha, Dirk is count of Holland, Zeeland and West-Friesland

Oops, momentary lapse of concentration on the name! (Unless he had a secret life we don't know about... )

As for Dirk, I guess that's another point for the van Hollands. Drat.

 

[pdubz]

De Flandre's House of Cards
Jul 1074 - Dec 1076

The tragic passing of my wife created new possibilities - for both myself and the dynasty. With the agreement of Robert, Count of Kent, I was wed to his daughter, Emma, a girl of only sixteen years of age, and for a dowry of almost 310 ducats. A bride young enough to be my granddaughter and payment for taking her - fortune surely favours the old.

Failing to learn from our experiences in Yperen is inexcusable. Quite why the soil was being prepared in November - before the winter freeze - eludes me. There is only so much an enlightened liege can do, but if the peasants won't co-operate, they will starve, and I'll lose a little revenue too.

In January of 1075, Engelbert van Ghent was welcomed to my court following his military education. By all accounts, his tactical skills were first-class, but stress kept him from achieving his full potential. Perhaps it is not too late. In March, Peter van Holland, brother of Bertha, Albrecht and Adela, graduated from his military education. His tactical skills match Engelbert's in every way, but Peter can handle the pressure. Drat, that's another point for the van Hollands. Anyways, I am loath to strip my son, Robert, of his position as marshal. The family is a little fragile right now, what with the arrival of a new wife and all.

On April 1st of 1075, Emma told me she was pregnant. To be honest, I thought she was joking. Alas, Raymonde, my youngest daughter and Emma's eldest, was born on December 29th of 1075. I shouldn't have accused Emma of letting herself go. Never mind.

My loyal Steward, Gherbod Gherbod, was taken ill in January of 1076, and in April 1076 his condition deteriorated into pneumonia. His chronic coughing was hampering not just his own, but everybody else's work too, and I therefore took the decision to ask Emma to assume Gherbod's duties. Hopefully a bit of hard work helps her overcome her stress problem.

I finally decided to bring justice to the counties of Flanders by ordering the construction of courts. The administration costs will certainly reduce revenues from the counties, but who can put a price on justice? Besides, I am drowning in more ducats than I could hope to spend, so anything that helps stem the tide is welcome.

Giselbert van Ghent declared himself the most suitable candidate for the job of diocese bishop in August 1076. Normally such arrogance would not go unpunished, but in this instance, there are no other candidates, and I can't help but think the pope might be wondering how committed I really am to the faith. Less than a month later, his brother, Engelbert, was mysteriously cured of his stress. Giselbert might appear detached, but he seems to have connections. I am, however, left with the problem of whether or not to appoint a new marshal.

In October 1076, Pope Anselm of Lucca called for a crusade to liberate Jerusalem. Having just appointed a bishop, I owe the pope no favours. It's a pity he's not going to fight himself. It mustn't be that important.

It is a great source of comfort to me to see that the van Holland dynasty can indeed produce average offspring. Oh, to be a de Flandre!

Emma is pregnant with our second child - every time, I hope for a son. This time I will take her more seriously, but it had better not affect her duties as Steward as long as Gherbod is unable to resume. I would hate to have to appoint a fool; it wouldn't reflect well on me.



Will de Flandre's next child be a boy or a girl? Will he ever act on his claim to Vermandois? How much longer does our aged protagonist have left? Tune in next time!​