Felix Austria

[Brickie]

Right, thought I might give this AAR lark a crack. I've never actually finished a game of CK after having bought it the other week, but I've played a couple of partial games to get the gist of it.

My plan is this; I'm starting a game as Babenberg Austria in CK DV (the straight-out-the-recently-purchased-box version) and will attempt to play to the end of the game, export it to EU2, then Vicky, then HoI2, giving somewhere around 900 years of history. Given this plan, if the Babenbergs ever die out, I'll reload as whichever dynasty inherits the Ducal seat and continue.

 

[Brickie]

Oh, I meant to say; given I have little real idea what the objectively "best" thing to do in most cases is, I'll be taking game decisions "in character" as well as describing them "in character". But if anyone wants to pitch in with advice, feel free.

 

[Brickie]

26 December 1066
This is the chronicle of Ernst von Babenberg, Duke of Austria and count of Niederösterreich and Morava. For posterity, I should record that I owe fealty to Heinrich von Franken, crowned King of Germany, and my lands sit on the border between his realm and that of the child King Salomon Arpad of Hungary. However, neither of them seem to have much interest in each other, or in me, so the Duchy of Austria simply sits quietly by the Danube, taking in a modest amount of trade revenue. The court in Vienna is a quiet, poor place staffed only by my immediate family (my eldest son is Marshal, my wife as Spy Master) and at the heart of a backwater town, once a Roman border fort.

I have decided to keep this chronicle from now onwards, as a way of passing the days and as a record of the important events at this court.

 

[Brickie]

3 January 1067
Some people have arrived at my court seeking employment, and to be honest they are sorely needed . Albrecht von Habsburg, aged 40, is a merchant who has a reputation of being generous and fair, but also crafty. He may make a good steward. Adela von Habsburg, his ward, aged 22, has been well tutored by her father and will make a good wife for someone. A handsome 17-year-old of burgher stock, known only as Mathilde, seems to have some skill as a diplomat, and may as well serve as my Chancellor. Such a young unmarried woman is not the first person I would choose in this role, but she will at least help out until someone better comes along. Finally, a pretty 12-year-old girl named Ida von Cham has been sent by the monks at Melk to become a ward of our court until she completes her monastic education. I have ordered Albrecht to be sworn in as Steward and Mathilde as Chancellor.

4 January 1067
Hot on the heels of young Mathilde’s arrival in the court comes a proposal of marriage to her. Ulrich von Lenzburg, ten years her senior and son and heir of his father, the count of Bern, wishes for her hand. Mathilde tells me that the reason she came to my court in the first place was to escape this marriage and, faced with losing my Chancellor so soon in exchange for little but the promise of future good relations with someone so far away, I send the messenger away with a flea in his ear.

8 January 1067
Interesting news down south. Ulrich von Weimar, count of Krain and Istria, has laid claim to his liege lord’s title of Duke of Kärnten. I wonder how my old neighbour Berthold will react? And whether I can take any advantage of this?

18 January 1067
I’m beginning to see why the monks at Melk wanted rid of young Ida. She seems only to be interested in the good things in life and is enjoying my court all too much. She is proving lazy and - if you can credit it in one so young, is already developing quite an eye for the young men around the court. I must warn Leopold to watch himself. With regard to Ulrich the pretender Duke of Kärten, I understand that Berthold has simply laughed and waited for him to actually try and claim the ducal crown, which he shows no signs of doing. Ah well.

 

[Brickie]

6 February 1067
Another marriage proposal arrives for Chancellor Mathilde, this time from Gisulf of Salerno. Horny old goat is 38, would you believe, and so far unable to sire an heir. I see no reason to lose a perfectly capable chancellor for this man, and send the messenger away. Mathilde looks relieved.

9 February 1067
Things are going from bad to worse with the children. Adalbert, my second son, is showing Ida’s influence and has been beaten for refusing to do his Latin exercises. I've also noticed him hanging around near Mathilde's chambers, for what reason I wouldn't like to think. I am somewhat stuck with Ida as I must show willing to the monks of Melk but am considering sending young Adelheid off to Ulrich’s court in Passau to get her away from Ida’s influence.

16 February 1067
Adelheid left for Passau today. Tears all round from the girls, but it’s for the best. I just hope I’ve acted in time before she turns into a lazy hussy as well.

19 February 1067
Urgh. Yesterday was the anniversary marking 40 years to the day since my Maker decided to grace my parents with my presence. My mother journeyed to Vienna from the court of young King Salamon in Pressburg for the occasion and we drank much of the local wine, which is extremely good. And now I very much wish we had been more modest, partly as an example to Ida (who had a great time) but mainly for the sake of my head.

26 February 1067
Received word from Adelheid today to say that she had arrived and settled in to the court at Passau. If anything, it’s even smaller than the one here in Vienna, but Passau is a handsome town and I am sure the purer air there will do her good.

 

[Brickie]

8 March 1067
Word of my unconventional approach in appointing Mathilde, and of its success, seems to be spreading. Another marriage proposal rebutted today, this one from some minor noble over in France.

6 April 1067
And another, this one from no less than the Marshal - and younger brother - of the King of Aragon. Still said no, though she probably wouldn’t have minded as he was rather younger than most and stood to inherit much. However, with the wars against the heathen underway I fear she would be widowed soon.

6 May 1067How time flies with nothing really to report beyond another rejected suitor for our Mathilde. This one was actually younger than her for a change, but only the third son of a minor Spanish count? I think not.

1 June 1067
Turning down all these suitors would get tedious if it weren’t for the opportunity it affords me to catch up with news from further afield. This one might even have turned her head - the Count of Chalons himself, in fact - but the last French ambassador we entertained had so many stories of his cruelty and selfishness that she would not entertain the idea.

 

[Brickie]

26 June 1067
Great news! The court physician informs me that my wife is with child! Of course one hopes for a boy, but with two sons already the succession seems safe enough so let God do as he wills.

13 July 1067
Well, I can see how it would benefit Eudes, Count of Penthièvre, to marry his Chancellor, Alain, to mine. After all, she’s a rather better diplomat than he is. But I can’t help suspect that Alain may not take kindly to being swiftly replaced in his post by his own teenage wife, so I think it safest to keep Mathilde away from that one. Penthièvre is somewhere in the Celtic wilds of France, by the way - or so the messenger informs me.

 

[Brickie]

2 September 1067
The French and Spanish do seem very keen on our Mathilde. I sent away yet another suitor today - or rather his messenger. From somewhere on the border between the two. Rosseyo, or some such. Adelheid is starting to show, but seems keen to carry on her duties as long as she is able to. Tough cookie, that one.

5 November 1067
I suppose it had to happen sometime. It seems Adela, our Steward’s ward is getting somewhat jealous of all the attention being lavished on our beautiful Chancellor. It came to a head the other day, the two had a blazing argument and I fear there may be bad blood between them now.

3 December 1067
Well, that certainly set the court a-flutter. Not quite a year ago, Mathilde came to the court as a young woman of no name and no title. And here today we have an ambassador from the King of Norway himself seeking her hand in marriage. As kingdoms go, of course, Norway is not exactly a major player, and she may find the Norsemen strange and their manner rough. In strictly pragmatic terms I would lose a good chancellor to no real gain but I must allow Mathilde to decide for herself in this matter. It is not every day one has the chance to become Queen, even if it is only Norway.

4 December 1067
Mathilde has sent the ambassador back to King Olaf asking for his indulgence while she decides, and sees our court through the celebrations of Christmas. She promises to send reply by the end of January at the last.

26 December 1067
I have been keeping this journal for a year now, and my humble duchy has changed little. However, the people have been prosperous in this quiet year and tax revenues should pay for the development of some forestry in the immediate area of Vienna, which will help the growth of the town as well as directly increasing tax revenues. I fully expect to lose my excellent Chancellor in the new year, but am glad that this pleasant and capable young woman will become greater than I, and greater surely than she could ever have hoped a year ago. Assuming she departs for the long journey to the North, and pray God that she arrives safely, I will expect regular letters from her with news.

 

[Brickie]

Right, folks, there's Year 1. Any thoughts so far? I've actually played to the end of 1068, so I've got a couple more years in the bank, I'll slow down the rate of entries a bit now though as it's going to start getting busy in the run-up to Christmas. It's a bit businesslike so far, but the entries I've got to come allow the characters to come through a little more. I'm still not planning to go all Forsyte Saga on you though...

 

[Brickie]

Here's a few more months' worth for you.

 

[Brickie]

3 January 1068
Steward Albrecht brought me the deeds for the forestry development today, and, although I hesitated at how little would be left in the coffers after such an outlay, he persuaded me that it was the best thing to do and I affixed my seal.

6 January 1068
Mathilde has been very quiet recently, but the arrival of an envoy from the Count of Alsace, offering her marriage to his younger brother, seems to have goaded her into action. She has packed her chest and sent word ahead to the Norwegian court - she is to be Queen of Norway! The Alsatian envoy seemed most put out, as this wasn’t the effect he had wished to achieve at all.

10 January 1068
Mathilde left today, and expects to be among the Northmen in a few weeks’ time. It will not be as civilised and refined a court as she could have found in France or Spain, but I am sure she will be fine - her head is certainly screwed on the right way round.

In the meantime, and in the absence of any other candidates, I have offered Adela von Habsburg the position of Chancellor in her place. She is not half the diplomat Mathilde was - indeed, I fear she would make a better marshal for my forces! I don’t think Adela quite knew where to put herself. She was clearly delighted to be given high office and glad to be rid of her rival Mathilde, but beside herself with jealousy that Mathilde will be a Queen now. Speaking of Queens, Adelheid is due in around a month’s time, and the priests and physicians have been attending her in her chamber. She finds it difficult to work now, and stays most days in bed, but the child is healthy, praise the Lord.

27 January 1068
I hear news today that Mathilde has arrived safely in Akershus, which pleases me mightily. She says that the royal wedding customs there are strange and barbarous and yet entertaining, and that she is very happy so far. This is music to everyone’s ears except Adela, who was, I suspect, only sustained so far by the thought of young Mathilde being miserable among the barbarians in the frozen north.

29 January 1068
A town elder showed me today some of the new shortbows that have been distributed among the militia. The design is apparently Magyar in origin and works well for warfare as well as hunting.

 

[Brickie]

5 February 1068
It’s a boy, at last. We have never had a child come this late before, and Adelheid is no supple youngster, so the birth really took its toll on her. Still, both child and mother are fine. The pains came on her in the middle of the night and Steward Albrecht was the only one awake, and helped with the delivery until the physician could be summoned. We have decided therefore to name the child Albrecht. He seemed delighted, but his ward just found the whole thing distasteful. I don’t think I really like Adela, and would accept the first marriage proposal for her I could get. Unfortunately, she’s no great shakes as a Chancellor either, so that may be harder than it sounds.

1 March 1068
Worrying news from the east. The heart of the old Roman Empire itself, the city of Constantinople, is threatened by the heathen Turks. We hear that the Asian shore opposite the great city is now held by the Mohammedans, who have been causing much destruction and death among the good citizens of the Empire and overthrowing many Greek counts and bishops.

3 March 1068
Young Adelheid, our daughter, returned from Passau today to meet her new little brother, and we were happy to hear how much she is enjoying life there and flourishing. Dear Ulric treats her like his own child, which is to say very well indeed.

16 March 1068
I have sent an envoy to Italy offering a marriage between my son Leopold, and Mathilda, Duchess of Canossa. If this succeeds, it will strengthen my house greatly, but I send more in hope than expectation. Otherwise I must find a more lowly bride for my son.

6 April 1068
It’s just as well I’d already had a message back from Canossa with a negative answer, otherwise I’d have been even angrier with Leopold than I am. I realise he doesn’t have a lot to do in his capacity as Marshal of my virtually nonexistent forces, but to jaunt off to Bohemia and come back with a bride?! I don’t doubt that she’s a fine diplomat and will prove a wonderful replacement for Mathilde, but the woman’s 38!! She’s nearly twice his age, two years older than his own mother, and well into the twilight of her childbearing years, while he has no heir. At least he has younger brothers...

Player's note: Damnit - I really should have checked the woman's age before offering her a marriage!

 

[Brickie]

10 April 1068
The woman’s diplomatic skills are truly awesome. She’s even talked me into apologising to Leopold for being angry at him. He was only doing what he thought I wanted, I suppose. Anyway, I’ve officially appointed Barbora as my new Chancellor. Adela predictably livid, hopefully Barbora can smooth her over too.

 

[Brickie]

25 June
More news today from Norway. Mathilde is with child, God grant her a safe delivery. The date was unfortunately destroyed in transit, so I have no way to know when the child may be due.

22 July
Adelheid’s father visited the court last week to see his latest grandchild. I never really did like the man - Dedi, count of Lausitz, some woodland tract the other side of Bohemia. Still, I suppose I’d better try and get along with him for my wife’s sake. I was worried it might make me look weak, but I’m assured I just come across as amiable. Which is nice to know.

24 August
I haven’t written much recently because I’ve been taking an extended break in Moravia, doing some hunting with Count Konrad of Hradec Kralove, my northern neighbour. I don’t know why I hadn’t done this before, it really is the best way to build good relations. I can’t claim we became firm friends, but a bit of shared fun and excitement gives you a lot of common ground. He thinks I ought to give Leopold some land of his own, now he’s married. I have little enough to give, but could I suppose make him Count of Moravia. Or not. He’ll get the lot when I’m gone anyway.

25 August
I don’t know who’s been talking, but Leopold himself came to me yesterday and threatened to leave my court altogether if I didn’t grant him a title of his own. Well, I had to either say “yes”, or have him follow through - I suppose I could have chewed him out and disinherited him entirely, but I dread to think what Adelheid would have made of that. I suppose I’ll have to make him Count of Moravia now, but he’ll have to curb that reckless streak of his before he gets in real trouble.

 

[Brickie]

3 September
Today was Leopold’s investiture as Count of Moravia. He’s actually gone off and set up his own little court in Cesky Krumlov as well - I thought he’d stay in Vienna and act as my Marshal as well. Still, it’s not like I really need a Marshal at the moment. Which is just as well, really. Barbora stayed behind to continue as my Chancellor, which I’m pleased about on my own terms, but worries me even more about the succession...

21 September
The Lord will provide indeed. Today, a noble warrior fleeing a distant land arrived at my court seeking a position. If he is as able has he claims, I will have a new Marshal soon.

25 September
Walram, his name is - he will give no other - and he has a sound grasp of tactics and strategy. He seems a little lacking in personal courage, but hopefully the other things will outweigh that. Given that it’s either him or no-one, he can be my new Marshal.

22 October
Walram has been keen to show me the new composite bow design he has brought with him from wherever he was. It is certainly more effective than our current designs and I have ordered them to be distributed among the troops. However, an army is not made of Archers alone and I have asked Walram to direct future energies into improving the designs of our swords.

11 November
I am truly blessed. His Holiness himself has sent us a bishop, something we have been without these last years. I have of course been delighted to accept him as the new Bishop of Vienna.

15 November
I am slightly worried about Bishop Mathias. I am no theologian, and the Holy Father of course knows best, but he seems ... somewhat sceptical regarding Holy Scripture, and came close during our conversation earlier today to suggesting that he trusted his own judgement better than that of God’s Word. I will have to keep an eye on him, lest he say or do something that will reflect badly on me.

21 November
I’ve been praying this moment would never come, but today young Adalbert came to me and confessed that he’d taken quite a shine to Ida von Cham. To be honest, they’re made for each other; both are lazy and feckless, and only interested in the opposite sex. Still, he is my son and I wouldn’t be a good father if I didn’t warn him off her, so I did. I hope he takes it in the right spirit.

8 December 1068
Oh, this is bad. I had a huge falling-out with Adelheid yesterday, I mean a major fight. She’s fuming, and if I don’t do something soon it could become a real rift between us. The trouble is, she’s made it clear that it will have to be a large and expensive something, and the coffers are just running dry a bit at the moment after all the investments and appointments of late, as well as giving up the direct taxes of Moravia. So, do I go into debt to save my marriage, or have my Duchess hanging around the court working against me? It’s going to have to be the former, isn’t it? And just before Christmas too.

12 December 1068
It seems to have worked, at least. Turns out she was probably just a bit jealous that I’d been spending so much time and money on things other than herself. Those forestry improvements I paid for in January should be ready soon, and that will help bring a bit more tax money in at least.

26 December 1068
Time for my annual stocktake as I recover once again from the excesses of the feast of Christ’s Mass. A combination of money spent on accommodating Bishop Mathias and Marshal Walram and a decrease in tax revenue after granting Leopold his title means I have not been able to recoup the money spent on the forestry development, and after spending money building bridges with my wife, I will enter the year of our Lord 1069 in the red. This does not please me mightily, but we have sufficient income to overcome the deficit as long as no further unexpected costs intervene.

 

[Brickie]

All of 1069 in one go today - I've been playing quicker than I've been posting, and to be honest not a lot happened for the first couple of years...

 

[Brickie]

6 January 1069
We had Adelheid’s father over for the new year, and you know, the old man’s actually not so bad after all, in fact I think I would even call him a friend now. We also had news that Mathilde and Olaf have had their baby, a little girl called Thorborg. Strange names these Norse have. Mathilde tried hard to sound pleased, but I know she must have been disappointed, and Olaf too. Still, they’re both young and - God willing - have many years to produce an heir. And I understand that their succession law allows Olaf’s younger brother to succeed if the worst were to happen, so at least the dynasty wouldn’t die out entirely.

5 March 1069
Serious news reaches the court; the Duchess of Tuscany - widely believed to have the ear of His Holiness - has declared war on the German King and called up her soldiers. So has Heinrich. I hope that they will resolve this without the need to call up my people.

9 March 1069
Alas, it is not to be. A messenger arrives today from the King asking me to mobilise my forces for the war. I have sent a reply telling the German king - truthfully - that we simply cannot afford to do so this time, but that we remain at his service. I hope this will find his favour.

9 April 1069
Either the King has bigger fish to fry, or the clever words of my Chancellor Barbora have done their work. Either way, we have heard nothing more of his request to mobilise. Today, however, I hear we have problems closer to home - a Thieves’ Guild is said to be operating in Vienna, if you can believe such a thing exists.

18 April 1069
News has reached us that the King’s army has won a battle in Italy and the Duke of Lombardy is besieging Brescia. I hope the King’s army is successful, just as I hope equally that my Austrian boys are not called to fight this faraway war.

8 May 1069
More good news from Italy; the loyal Bishop of Parma besieges Modena and armies are reported streaming south across the Alps. He surely has no need of my pitiful band.

27 May 1069
Brescia has fallen! May God speed the King’s noble enterprise.

21 July 1069
Our peasants have apparently begun using a two-field system of farming, which seems to be helping produce better crops. News from Italy is confused - battles rage, but few seem decisive, while the siege of Modena draws on.

16 August 1069
Modena has finally fallen, and we also hear that the King has won a great battle at Ravenna. We are also out of debt at last.

24 August 1069
Some choices need to be made regarding young Albrecht’s upbringing. Shall we get a nanny, or send him away to a minor noble or perhaps the abbey at Melk? We have decided to send him to the household of one of our local barons so that we can easily visit, but he will not be spoiled by constant attention.

8 September 1069
Mantua is now under siege, by Swiss forces led by the Count of Aargau, Werner von Habsburg. I wonder if he is any relation to Albrecht and Adela? They say not, but you never know.

7 October 1069
The news from Italy remains excellent. Ludwig von Thüringen’s army has defeated the rebellious Duchess in the open field and now besieges Ferrara itself! Hopefully this war may soon be over.

2 November 1069
Worrying news from Swabia. King Heinrich has himself claimed Countship of Fürstenburg, a position currently held by his own vassal the Duke of Swabia. We will see how this plays out.

12 November 1069
Ferrara and Mantua have fallen, only Spoleto still holds out for the Duchess. However, a large army under the rebellious Bishop of Lucca has apparently begun to besiege Modena to recover it. The war may not be over yet.

26 December 1069
On the third anniversary of beginning this chronicle, little has changed in the Duchy. I know Leopold is frustrated by what he sees by my lack of ambition, but truth be told I am happy to see this little corner of the world at peace.

 

[Brickie]

Things start to kick off a bit in 1070...

3 March 1070
Shocking news. An army of the Duchess of Toscana has apparently slipped through the Alps under Royal flags and sacked Leiningen, and is now underway to Heinrich’s capital at Nuremberg! Estimates say there are nearly 1600 men but they must be tired after a long march. I shall mobilise my forces and march to meet them. Let no-one say that I shirk from the fight. The King may be glad I didn’t mobilise at his request after all. I expect this will carry me back into debt but there are, after all, higher things in life than money, including duty to one’s King.

2 April 1070
I crossed the Danube today and entered the lands of the Duke of Bavaria, who has offered me passage. My army, and the smaller contingents under Leopold and Ulric of Passau have arranged to travel independently and meet before the walls of Leiningen.

29 May 1070
Dire tidings indeed. Although the war in Italy continues well, we have news that King Heinrich is dead on the battlefield. He is succeeded by his infant son Dietmar, just one year old. Ulric’s armie arrived just in time to hear the news, and we all agreed that we would have to raise the siege of Nuremberg before the city and the infant king were taken, rather than relieving Leiningen and waiting for Leopold.

30 May 1070
Ulric points out that we are not actually officially at war with the Duchess, and would be condemned by the Holy Church if we were to attack her troops without any cause or declaration. I have therefore taken the bull by the horns and claimed the county of Brescia in order to justify the war. It’s a sham and evryone knows that I have about as much legitimate claim to be King of France! And yet the rules of Just War insist that we go through these motions.

18 June 1070
We hasten forward, Ulric and I, to the rescue of the boy king. I hear word that Leopold has arrived at Leiningen behind us and we have instructed him to besiege the city and wait for our return. I know he will hate being left out of the main fight, but his reckless streak will endanger him in battle, and I will not risk both myself and my only adult heir on the same field.

30 June 1070
We battle on the morrow. A fear grips me to think about it, and yet part of me is eager for the glory that victory can bring to me and my little duchy. We have around 2000 men, our archers especially strong with their composite bows, though fewer than I would wish. They had 1600 at last report and must have suffered deaths and desertions in their long siege. This at least fills me with optimism.

1 July 1070
Before battle could be joined, an envoy from the Duchess’s commander Goffredo offered to recognise me as Count of Brescia if I made peace. I declined, though tempted by this prosperous land. Of course, I had to reject the offer - I don’t even know if Goffredo has the authority to make that offer - and battle is now imminent. I must go and mount up to lead my troops. If this is my last entry in this chronicle, I hope that my son Leopold will lead the Duchy well and continue this record, which I have ordered sent to the rear with the baggage.

 

[Brickie]

4 July 1070
I have finally caught up again with my baggage and been able to record these lines. God granted us a great victory beneath the walls of Nuremberg. Goffredo’s army fled almost as soon as we arrived, the coward escaping on horseback at the front of his fleeing men. We made obeisance to the boy King Dietmar, and set off in pursuit of the cowardly traitor, who was last observed marching back towards Leiningen, which he still garrisons for the Duchess - a path that will take him straight into the army of Leopold. He may get his battle after all, and be outnumbered, but we will be ready to take the coward in the rear and finish him off. At least, as long as Leopold has his scouts doing their job and isn’t surprised.

26 July 1070
Alas, it all came a little unstuck because Goffredo was even more of a coward than I thought and turned tail as soon as he realised Leopold’s force was there, not realising he had vastly superior numbers. We will recapture Leiningen and then head for home, a job well done.

15 September 1070
Great news indeed. Our recapture of Leiningen was greeted by an envoy of the Duchess all the way from Italy bearing the regalia of the County of Brescia, to offer it in tribute to me in exchange for peace. Since I had been planning to return with my army anyway shortly, now the Royal army had arrived in Franconia in sufficient numbers to foil Goffredo’s schemes, I gratefully accepted and was invested at the court in Nuremberg in front of the King’s cradle. I hope Leopold has learned from this that you can often achieve more with caution and prudence than you can by charging in - if we’d have listened to him, we’d have spent the last year fighting in Italy as one tiny part of the King’s vast army. This way, we made a real difference.

21 September 1070
As we return victorious from the wars, we hear that things go badly for the boy king. The dukes of Lower Lorraine and Swabia have both refused to declare allegiance, and raised armies. My men are tired and I am deeply in debt from paying them, so we must leave the lad to his fate, which galls the spirit after what we did to rescue him. However, we are confident that there are many Royal troops in the area which should be able to deal with them.

30 September 1070
The exchequer is deeply in debt, but hopefully the revenues from the County of Brescia will help to plug the gap. Time to stay low for a while and rebuild the Duchy’s finances, I think. Things seem to have been as quiet as ever on the home front at least.

7 October 1070
Germany appears to be descending into civil war. Kärnten, Swabia, Upper and Lower Lorraine, Alsace, Breisgau, the bishops of Mainz and Trent - all have refused allegiance to Dietmar and raised troops. An emissary from Alsace arrived today seeking an alliance. I refused, but there will be more. I just hope I can negotiate these rapids and come out with my lands - and all our lives - intact. I will try and watch the form for now, not committing to one side or another. I must confess that, for all that I have done for the King it would not be unwelcome to be my own Liege and no-one else’s.

18 October 1070
The King of Hungary invited me to one of his hunts recently - my mother is still at his court. He’s a grown lad now, 17 years old, and a personable one with it. I suspect, though, that he might prove a fickle ally and would be wary of trusting him too closely.

7 November 1070
Besancon, Saluces and Neuchatel are the latest to secede from the German kingdom, and the road from Germany to the King’s Italian possessions and vassals is threatened.

26 December 1070
As this fourth year of the chronicle of Ernst von Babenberg ends, all is not well in the world. The king’s army has invaded Swabia to force the Duke to his allegiance, and great battles are fought throughout the country. Germany seems destined to fracture into many small fiefdoms and duchies instead of one strong kingdom. If my little Duchy of Austria can negotiate these treacherous waters safely, this might be the making of us - but if not, it might disappear for ever.

Ernst von Babenberg, Duke of Austria, Count of Niederösterreich and Brescia.

 

[Brickie]

Going to post a bunch of updates at once, since I've got some way ahead while playing the game...

15 January 1071
My wastrel son Adalbert has finally finished his education and come of age. He is a spendthrift and a feckless lazybones, and I am simply at a loss to know how he could be a son of mine. A large part of me is tempted to marry him off to his sweetheart, the equally loathsome Ida von Cham, and pack them off to be Count and Countess of Brescia. Unfortunately, I really need the income from there coming to the Ducal coffers, and I’m not letting either of them anywhere near it, so I suppose I’ll just have to put up with them whooping it up around Vienna on my tab instead.

We hear sad tidings from the North. Our former Chancellor, Mathilde, has died in childbirth at the age of just 21, leaving her husband twice a widower before he is 20 years old.

16 February 1071
I’ll say one thing for Ida, though. Being a sneaky weasel is making me wonder if she’d make a good spymaster. My wife is talking about retiring from public life. She turns 40 this year and we have a decent court around us now. I will try Ida out in the role and see how things develop.

18 February 1071
Turned down a marriage proposal for Ida today - that’s something I never thought I’d say. The Count of Verona, Berthold von Zähringen, is 16 like her and looking for a bride. He’s a cruel, ruthless warrior - just the man, under normal circumstances, but I still want to try her out as spymaster.

1 April 1071
News from Swabia indicates that the King’s forces are successful in defeating the Duke’s army, but things may already be moving too fast. The Duke of Bavaria is the latest to secede from the Kingdom and I must think seriously whether I will follow suit now. Only my northern neighbour, the Duke of Bohemia, is yet to do so and Ida’s spies tell me he is also leaning towards that option.

6 April 1071
The King of Aragon sent to ask me for an alliance. I declined, somewhat baffled as to what he thought to gain from such a treaty.

9 April 1071
The king - or should I say, his regent - has sent his envoy to ask me to mobilise my troops in his defence. I pleaded poverty but in truth I will wait to see how things turn out - my informers tell me that the regency council are deeply unpopular and many lords are awaiting their chance to break away.

11 April 1071
News comes to me that the Bishop of Cremona has declared himself independent of the King. His Holiness is said to be pleased.

22 April 1071
In September, I marched on Nuremberg to the rescue of the boy king. Now I hear that the Archbishop of Franconia has raised an army against the king and declared independence. So much has changed in 7 months and the German Kingdom looks doomed to fall apart.

29 April 1071
The Duke of Bavaria writes to ask me for a military alliance, but I am not ready to show my hand quite yet. Bohemia, to my north, is both powerful and - for the moment - loyal...

11 May 1071
The King has defeated and executed the Duke of Swabia, but I think it may be too late for him to rescue his kingdom.

26 May 1071
Aargau is the latest county to declare independence.

13 June 1071
My marshal has demonstrated a new kind of shortsword that has been discovered by Viennese smiths.

21 June 1071
My wife Adelheid is with child once more.

2 July 1071
The Bishop of Parma has declared war on the King.

28 July 1071
As has the Duke of Alsace

9 August 1071
And now the Bishop of Valais

21 September 1071
Ida has formally completed her education. It seems that she is quite the theologian, and is proving a capable spymaster. Although I do not like her personality, she is more useful than at first I thought. In other news, I hear the Duke of Brandenburg has broken away - the first of the north German lords to do so; they have all been loyal so far.

13 November 1071
The Countess of Leiningen has now declared for the rebels.

7 December 1071
The Duke of Holland is the latest noble to break away.

9 December 1071
The Duchy of Dauphiné has broken free of the King.

20 December 1071
I’m going to have to find some land for young Adalbert as well, aren’t I? He came to me today demanding to be made Steward, despite the fact that he couldn’t run a market stall! All I can do is make him either Count or Bishop of Brescia. I lean to the latter, at least he won’t breed...

26 December 1071
Five years to the day since I started this chronicle, and great change is afoot in our land. It seems inevitable now that the Kingdom of Germany is doomed to fall, just seventy years after Charles the Great was crowned ruler over all Christendom. The heathen Turks knock at the gates of Byzantium and push back the Christians in Spain. I wonder what kind of a world I bring a new child into.