Français avancé à la Victoire
A Kingdom of France AAR
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Prologue - Ascension of a King
*
OOC:
Hopefully this will turn out to be a mega-campaign
*
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
*
OOC:
Hopefully this will turn out to be a mega-campaign
*
Prologue - ascension of a king
PROLOGUE - ASCENSION OF A KING
Philippe I Capet had been the King of France since he was but a mere seven year old royal when his father King Henry I died in 1052. Although he was king, his kingdom was ruled by his widow mother; Queen Anne of Kiev who took power as the regent the years before he turned fourteen. Already by the time he was fourteen he had met with William de Normandie to discuss support in the near future. On the 4th of August 1066 he ascended the throne ending the regency of Queen Anne and putting him in full control of the Kingdom of France.
As he began his reign the world of France seemed in trouble because of the lows it had endured during his father’s reign. When he ascended, the Kingdom of Germany encroached to the south and the North West provinces where split between the trust-worthy Normans and the disliked Duchy of Brittany. Although an eerie peace had settled over Europe, Philip I knew that this would not last long.
As he began his reign the world of France seemed in trouble because of the lows it had endured during his father’s reign. When he ascended, the Kingdom of Germany encroached to the south and the North West provinces where split between the trust-worthy Normans and the disliked Duchy of Brittany. Although an eerie peace had settled over Europe, Philip I knew that this would not last long.
Western Europe at the Time of Philippe's Ascension
Philippe’s first five months as King were dull ones not much happened over the kingdom except the Norman Conquest of the Kingdom of England.
Throughout the fighting, Philippe supported the Invasion although never wanting to become involved militarily, although this support only came after the Battle of Hastings in which Harold Godwinson had been killed.
This support ushered a new ring of friendship between Normandy and France. When William de Normandie ascended to the throne of England on Christmas Day 1066 even Philippe attended the event to bring the two nations closer.
Throughout the fighting, Philippe supported the Invasion although never wanting to become involved militarily, although this support only came after the Battle of Hastings in which Harold Godwinson had been killed.
This support ushered a new ring of friendship between Normandy and France. When William de Normandie ascended to the throne of England on Christmas Day 1066 even Philippe attended the event to bring the two nations closer.
And so it begins. French AARs are always interesting. Right in the thick of things. Nice layout so far.
Friendship? Between Normandy and France?
How very unnatural
Good start to an AAR. Nice font for the text on the maps.
How very unnatural
Good start to an AAR. Nice font for the text on the maps.
Yay, I am the first non-mod to comment this aar which looks very very promising!
Are you using any mods?
*post number 7999*
And what shalleth be yer aims?
Charlemagnes borders?
Recreating Western Empire?
*or trying once again and failing*
Are you using any mods?
*post number 7999*
And what shalleth be yer aims?
Charlemagnes borders?
Recreating Western Empire?
*or trying once again and failing*
ok
ok, let me layout where i am at the moment. france has been having some tough times and civil wars between me and my vassals. i am sort of noobish, (only bin playing a couple months on crusader kings, but have been playing paradox interactive games for years) so could you guys give me some tips on keeping your vassals loyal? thanks
oh btw enewald my aim is to unite france, hopefully taking back those german duchies in the south of France (without getting the wrath of the kingdom of germany) as well as staying alive obviously but i need you guys to give me some suggestions about how to go about this.
ok, let me layout where i am at the moment. france has been having some tough times and civil wars between me and my vassals. i am sort of noobish, (only bin playing a couple months on crusader kings, but have been playing paradox interactive games for years) so could you guys give me some tips on keeping your vassals loyal? thanks
oh btw enewald my aim is to unite france, hopefully taking back those german duchies in the south of France (without getting the wrath of the kingdom of germany) as well as staying alive obviously but i need you guys to give me some suggestions about how to go about this.
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I. Rise of the King
28th December 1066
Paris, Ile de France, Kingdom of France
A young man entered the great hall in Paris. He bowed before King Philippe who then signalled to talk. The man was dressed in Norman Chain mail Armour and wore a red cape sown with two golden lions on the back. “This is a messenger from Normandy” thought the King as he remembered to the three days before when he had travelled to recently Norman Conquered England to view the inauguration of William de Normandie as King.
“My Lord, I am a messenger from King William de Normandie, I have come before you to inquire into a military Alliance between England and France to support each other if war ever came to our two kingdoms. William is confident that you will choose the correct choice in this matter.”
On the 28th of December, 1066 Philippe signed an Alliance with Normandy and England to support each other militarily and politically. This meant that both sides of the Channel would be friendly towards each other for the years to come. Also boosting the strength of the Alliance was when William became the Papal Controller a few days later.
Hearing an Alliance between England and France was apparent; Heinrich IV von Franken: Holy Roman Emperor and King of Germany feared that William the Conqueror was using this Alliance as a ploy to add support to a future war against Germany. So on January 4th 1067 Heinrich IV sent one of his most trusted ambassadors and messengers to the throne of France to ask for an Alliance. Of course Philippe agreed to the offer of friendship between Kingdoms for this Philippe thought he was in a position for a good reign as two of the most power nations of Europe were his allies.
At the end of first year as official king Philippe was faced by a small problem; the Dukes of Burgundy and Anjou thought that Philippe was too naïve to rule the throne due to his amount of alliances and approving all offers that had come to him so far as well as the fact he did not have a wife. They also had started to become fairly disloyal to the king in their comments. Philippe met with his advisors to discuss the turn of loyalty of these duchies and how Duke Geoffroy of Anjou and Duke Robert of Burgundy could be pleased. After many hours of pondering they came to the conclusion that the loyalty of these Duchies could be won over if he married a courier of one of these provinces. Philippe had heard rumours of a beautiful, honest courier of Anjou named Cathèrine de Roches. Philippe and a consort of ambassadors, advisors and couriers travelled to Anjou to meet this woman and propose a royal marriage. Although Philippe did not love the Cathèrine he knew that if he did not marry her and heed an heir the Anjou and Burgundy would become extremely unimpressed and possibly declare their leaving from the Kingdom of France. Although Cathèrine became ill and died a few months later this did not stop Anjou and Burgundy renouncing their loyalty to the king.
In January 1069 the Duke of Brittany and his counts ventured to Paris to seek a counsel with King Philippe. Once he had met Philippe Duke Hoël de Cornouaille pledged his allegiance to the King and formally joined the Duchy with the realm of France once and for all.
During July the Duchy of Swabia and many other surround German Duchies declared rebellion and left the Holy Roman Empire. Emperor Heinrich IV was desperate help during the attack and leant on France. King Philippe responded by Declaring War on the Duchy of Swabia. Heinrich called for Grand Mobilisation the following day to encircle the rogue duchy.
The War in Swabia was over by June 1070.
I. RISE OF A KING (December 1066-July 1070)
28th December 1066
Paris, Ile de France, Kingdom of France
A young man entered the great hall in Paris. He bowed before King Philippe who then signalled to talk. The man was dressed in Norman Chain mail Armour and wore a red cape sown with two golden lions on the back. “This is a messenger from Normandy” thought the King as he remembered to the three days before when he had travelled to recently Norman Conquered England to view the inauguration of William de Normandie as King.
“My Lord, I am a messenger from King William de Normandie, I have come before you to inquire into a military Alliance between England and France to support each other if war ever came to our two kingdoms. William is confident that you will choose the correct choice in this matter.”
On the 28th of December, 1066 Philippe signed an Alliance with Normandy and England to support each other militarily and politically. This meant that both sides of the Channel would be friendly towards each other for the years to come. Also boosting the strength of the Alliance was when William became the Papal Controller a few days later.
Hearing an Alliance between England and France was apparent; Heinrich IV von Franken: Holy Roman Emperor and King of Germany feared that William the Conqueror was using this Alliance as a ploy to add support to a future war against Germany. So on January 4th 1067 Heinrich IV sent one of his most trusted ambassadors and messengers to the throne of France to ask for an Alliance. Of course Philippe agreed to the offer of friendship between Kingdoms for this Philippe thought he was in a position for a good reign as two of the most power nations of Europe were his allies.
At the end of first year as official king Philippe was faced by a small problem; the Dukes of Burgundy and Anjou thought that Philippe was too naïve to rule the throne due to his amount of alliances and approving all offers that had come to him so far as well as the fact he did not have a wife. They also had started to become fairly disloyal to the king in their comments. Philippe met with his advisors to discuss the turn of loyalty of these duchies and how Duke Geoffroy of Anjou and Duke Robert of Burgundy could be pleased. After many hours of pondering they came to the conclusion that the loyalty of these Duchies could be won over if he married a courier of one of these provinces. Philippe had heard rumours of a beautiful, honest courier of Anjou named Cathèrine de Roches. Philippe and a consort of ambassadors, advisors and couriers travelled to Anjou to meet this woman and propose a royal marriage. Although Philippe did not love the Cathèrine he knew that if he did not marry her and heed an heir the Anjou and Burgundy would become extremely unimpressed and possibly declare their leaving from the Kingdom of France. Although Cathèrine became ill and died a few months later this did not stop Anjou and Burgundy renouncing their loyalty to the king.
In January 1069 the Duke of Brittany and his counts ventured to Paris to seek a counsel with King Philippe. Once he had met Philippe Duke Hoël de Cornouaille pledged his allegiance to the King and formally joined the Duchy with the realm of France once and for all.
During July the Duchy of Swabia and many other surround German Duchies declared rebellion and left the Holy Roman Empire. Emperor Heinrich IV was desperate help during the attack and leant on France. King Philippe responded by Declaring War on the Duchy of Swabia. Heinrich called for Grand Mobilisation the following day to encircle the rogue duchy.
The Rogue Duchy of Swabia
The first test of loyalty between the English-French Alliance was on September 10th 1069 when the Duchy of Northumberland under Morcar Leofricson, the Duchy of Derby and the Duchy of Lancaster declared independence from Norman England and attacked. Philippe sent word to William on April 11th that France would aid him in the conflict ahead with supplies rather than troops due to the war in Swabia. Although this annoyed William quite a bit he still thanked France for the help against the treacherous Duchy. The King did not see the point in wasting good Frankish lives over English Rebel states that could be crushed quickly.The War in Swabia was over by June 1070.
Keeping vassals loyal? Don't expect to be able to all the time
But in all seriousness, it has been ages since I played CK, but I seem to recall keeping your badboy under control, and having a good chancellor, were pretty important aspects to keeping them in line. If you have wealth, you can bribe them also.
But in all seriousness, it has been ages since I played CK, but I seem to recall keeping your badboy under control, and having a good chancellor, were pretty important aspects to keeping them in line. If you have wealth, you can bribe them also.
Definitely - good chancellor, good reputation and money. And since you're in Deus Vult, if one rebels, unless he's a constant thorn (rebellious trait, loses a great deal of loyalty per month), its usually better to re-vassalize them at the end of the war. Also, if you conquer new lands and parcel titles out to courtiers, that tends to improve your reputation.
Have a good diplomacy.
And chancellor.
And low badboy.
And nice amount of prestige and piety.
Low scutage.
Friendly traits, aka not kinslayer, vengeful, lazy, bastard, etc.
And good relations help also.
And chancellor.
And low badboy.
And nice amount of prestige and piety.
Low scutage.
Friendly traits, aka not kinslayer, vengeful, lazy, bastard, etc.
And good relations help also.