Welcome back! A nice victory for the Northmen. Meanwhile France, their main opponent, splinters.
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Will Normandy expand? West Francia's weakness provides ample opportunity for that...
Brittany seems to have gotten off lightly. The danegeld is bad, though...
Brittany seems to have gotten off lightly. The danegeld is bad, though...
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Chapter 8 - The Battle of Blamont
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Chapter 8 - The Battle of Blamont
With the signing of the Treaty of Bayeaux peace had finally returned to Northern France. Such peace however did not come without struggles of its own.
The influx of Scandinavian settlers into the nascent Viking Kingdom would radically change the region for decades to come, bringing about a new culture and a foreign faith unknown to most. While many of the newcomers chose to settle in the already established town of Cherbourg among their peers, even more sought their fortune elsewhere across Normandy, either joining existing Frankish towns or founding new ones adjacent to them.
Fear and confusion was rampant among the native Franks for they had been conditioned to fear these foreigners that towered over them. Communication proved difficult at first, but with time the locals had no choice but to adapt to what had quickly become their new life. Soon the two communities began to mingle, and even a few mixed marriages sprung up, almost always comprised of a Norse husband and a local wife, who's father sought to befriend and build ties with the new powerful men of the region by offering up their daughter. It truly seemed as though the Vikings were there to stay, and thus most folks resigned themselves to their new overlords and continued their meager existences as they had before when a Frank ruled over them.
Among those who gave up the fight were the survivors of Coutances. The arrival of several Norse families forced the locals to abdicate the best and most fertile lands to their new Viking neighbors, who quickly set out to rebuild the burnt town under the new name of Brennuborg. While most still resented the Vikings for their previous raid, quickly they came to realize the new settlers were far more similar to them than previously thought, and over the next few years began to appreciate the restoration of their town, even if under a new facade.
The newly rebuilt town of Brennuborg, or "burnt town" in Norse, the name for the old town of Coutances.
Even as the new Kingdom of Normandy thrived, there yet remained a faction of belligerent Vikings who still sought violence and glory over peace. Led by the vicious Hjalmar the Red, these fierce warriors were forced to comply, albeit reluctantly, to Haesteinn's new peace with West Francia and Brittany, sailing their longships across the channel into the lands of the Saxons and Britons.
The peoples of Cornwall were frequent target of their raids, although such endeavors usually netted meager rewards. More tempting were the lands of Wessex, but the West Saxons under King Alfred had proven stout, and even achieved victory in battle over the Sons of Ragnar Lodbrok several times, allying and fighting alongside their eternal rival of Mercia, halting the Danish advance toward the South, at least for the time being. With this alliance in foot, raiding Mercia too became too dangerous for Hjalmar's warband.
Thus the Kingdom of East Anglia became the target of their wrath. As the island of Ireland and the kingdoms of Alba and Mercia became the focus of the Ragnarssons' efforts, the small East Anglian kingdom was left relatively untouched by war, its riches left untapped for any would-be pilferer, such as Hjalmar the Red. Despite the valiant efforts of King Eadmund to resist his attacks, the swift speed with which Viking longships could strike meant that defending from his raids was impossible, as Hjalmar's raiders would have left long before Eadmund's warriors could arrive.
East Anglian peasants carrying and burying their dead as a great plague sweeps their kingdom, ravaging its people.
Hjalmar's adventures in Britain would carry on until the Spring of 871 AD, when a great plague coming from Flanders struck the ailing kingdom. Rather than risking an infection he and his warriors returned to the Isle of Jersey, which he had made his seat, ruling under Jarl Haesteinn. Now laden with the riches of Britain, Hjalmar could leverage an increased position within Norman society, and soon began telling his men to tell others about their exploits abroad. News of their success in Britain quickly spread across Normandy, reigniting the flames of many retired warriors, as well as sparking it for the first time for those green boys who had only ever known peace.
Just as this hunger for glory reawakened across the Norse, the Kingdom of West Francia continued to plunge into chaos. Duke Hugo of Anjou would succumb to a murder plot orchestrated by the rival Etichonen family of Artois, leaving his cowardly son Wilhelm to contend with the vast swathe of lands surrounding Normandy. His death would greatly weaken Anjou as their lands in Burgundy were soon seized by their Burgundian rivals of the house of Nibelung, exploiting the instability of succession.
Further East, despite numerous setbacks during the war, the combined armies of West and East Francia had finally managed to trap and defeat the Lotharingian host outside the walls of Blamont. The Viking Rorik had been unable to reach the Lotharingians in time, and now his ally King Lothaire II laid under siege by King Charles II of West Francia and King Ludwig II of East Francia.
King Charles paced restlessly in his tent, the flickering candlelight casting long, wavering shadows on the canvas walls. His mind was a storm of conflicting emotions—anticipation, fear, and a gnawing sense of betrayal. He had sent an assassin under the cover of darkness to eliminate King Ludwig , his ally, in a bid to seize all the glory from their impending victory. The decision had not come easily, but the lure of absolute power and unchallenged fame had proven too strong.
Outside, the camp was eerily quiet, the usual sounds of soldiers preparing for battle replaced by an oppressive silence. Charles strained to hear any sign of commotion from Ludwig’s camp, but the night remained stubbornly still. He knew that if the assassin succeeded, the news would reach him soon. But what if the attempt failed? The consequences could be dire—Ludwig was not a man to forgive such treachery.
Charles’s thoughts drifted to the battles they had fought side by side, the camaraderie they had shared. It seemed almost surreal that he had chosen this path of betrayal. Yet, in the ruthless game of thrones, alliances were fragile, and trust was a luxury few could afford.
As the hours dragged on, Charles’s anxiety grew. He imagined the assassin slipping through the shadows, dagger in hand, approaching Ludwig’s tent. He pictured the moment of confrontation, the swift, silent strike. But with each passing minute, doubt gnawed at him. Had he underestimated Ludwig’s vigilance? Was the assassin skilled enough to carry out such a perilous task?
Finally, the sound of hurried footsteps broke the silence. Charles’s heart pounded as a messenger burst into the tent, breathless and wide-eyed. The moment of truth had arrived. Would it be news of success, or had his gamble led to ruin? Perhaps both.
King Charles II’s heart sank as the messenger relayed the grim news. The assassin had succeeded in his mission, but had been captured shortly after. Under duress, he had confessed everything, revealing Charles as the mastermind behind the plot to kill King Ludwig. The betrayal was now laid bare, and the consequences were swift and brutal.
Before Charles could fully grasp the gravity of the situation, the camp was thrown into chaos. The forces of East Francia, once their staunch allies, had turned against them, led by Ludwig III, the slain king’s son. Fueled by a thirst for vengeance, Ludwig III’s troops launched a ferocious attack on Charles’s camp.
The night erupted with the clash of steel and the cries of battle. Charles’s soldiers, caught off guard and demoralized by the sudden betrayal, struggled to mount a defense. Charles himself, clad in his armor, took to the field, trying to rally his men. But the tide of battle had turned against them.
Amidst the turmoil, Charles’s mind raced. He had gambled everything on a single, treacherous act, and now he faced the wrath of a betrayed ally. The vision of glory and power that had driven him to such lengths now seemed distant and unattainable. Instead, he was confronted with the stark reality of war and the heavy price of betrayal.
As dawn broke, the battlefield was littered with the fallen. Charles, bloodied and exhausted, stood amidst the ruins of his ambitions. The forces of East Francia had withdrawn, but the damage was done. Ludwig III had avenged his father, and Charles’s dreams of unchallenged rule lay in tatters. Unable to continue his siege of Blamont, King Charles and what remained of his army retreated West toward home, defeated.
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Hugo did not live too long after to suffer the consequences
. His son did however, and now Anjou lost about 5 provinces total to its rivals.A big of both! Why not? Plagues do not last forever, and East Anglia will be nice, weak, and depopulated following the plague. A juicy target indeed.I'm glad this is back!
Where will the Norse's eyes turn now? Maybe across the Channel?
Or has Haesteinn convinced enough of his men of his peaceful settlement plan?
Haesteinn grows old, and Hjalmar's exploits inspire a new generation of would-be raiders.
It really is in their blood. No reward is ever enough when you get stung by the Viking virus. If it was up to Haesteinn the peace would be ever-lasting, but I fear he may be forced to act sooner rather than later, especially as his heir comes of age. Hjalmar poses a succession threat, so he's like to look for a way to ensure his son Ragnarr has many supporters among the Normans.
Too true. There are many irreconcilable differences between the two peoples. Thankfully for them the French continue to struggle, so they have some time to plan accordingly.
Splintering is the right word! Especially as the French nobles sense the weakness in their King. Even his heir in Aquitaine can sense it, although the Muslims in Al-Andalus keep him too busy to make any moves as of yet. Still, the splintering continues.
Brittany was badly hurt by the war both in terms of manpower and economically, but you are right in that they were spared of any military action in their kingdom. Their towns and cities were spared, but their troubles are just starting. Ridoredh the traitor still remains at large under Haesteinn gathering strength and many Breton nobles suffered greatly from King Salomon's ineptitude, with several suffering captivity before being ransomed during the Treaty of Bayeux. Brittany is honestly ready to explode!
Thank you everybody for such an effusive welcome back!
I didn't expect such quick responses from everybody, I'm glad the interest remains.
It seems the measures I took to prevent my savegame breaking worked, with the run still being viable and fully functioning following the latest update/DLC. I shall continue to update as time allows, thank you everyone for your kind comments and reactions.
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The Karling infighting is not good for their chances against the Vikings - they need to learn to get along.
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I’m curious if your story has a protagonist. First, I thought we were going to follow the story of the young man whose father was killed by the Vikings in your first chapter. Then, I thought perhaps it would be Haesteinn and Hjalmarr. Now I am wondering if you have abandoned a central protagonist in the interest of world building. Both approaches have their benefits.
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The Gambler's Guru cautions about counting chips before the final card is played, likewise the General's Guide warns about distributing spoils and laurels before the war's final battle is won. King Charles should have worried about winning before worrying about the prizes. Thanks
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RIP Ludwig. Who rules East Francia now?
Will the Norse in Normandy come to adopt Christianity? Or will they syncretize their old Asatru beliefs with Christian ideas? Or will they remain faithful to the old religion?
Hjalmar will remain a threat to Haesteinn's descendants. Will he or his descendants decide to outright conquer land in Britain? How long will he be satisfied with mere raids?
Will the Norse in Normandy come to adopt Christianity? Or will they syncretize their old Asatru beliefs with Christian ideas? Or will they remain faithful to the old religion?
Hjalmar will remain a threat to Haesteinn's descendants. Will he or his descendants decide to outright conquer land in Britain? How long will he be satisfied with mere raids?
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Good to see this AAR continuing. Although I have been away from these CK3 AARs for too long for a variety of reasons, I am back and very much like the multifaceted ways this AAR is told.
As for the French: treachery not only rears its head but is repaid.
Good to get an update about Haesteinn's progress too. Carry on!
As for the French: treachery not only rears its head but is repaid.
Good to get an update about Haesteinn's progress too. Carry on!
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There is no end to the Carolingian machinations. They're all pretty spent however, so at least for now their squabbles will cease.
That's a good question actually. So technically the "House de Coutances" are the protagonists, which include Baudouin whose father got killed, as well as the three brothers that appeared in Chapter 5. They however are still peasants and thus are technically "irrelevant" as of yet, thus the plot must follow the actual playmakers in the region, which include the French, the Bretons, and of course, the Vikings.
Even as the "de Coutances" rise up in power, I'll do my best to track the movements of those around them in the interest of world building, especially as I don't intend to power-game, and thus there will be no constant warring in an attempt to conquer the world. Were I to do that I could fill the chapters exclusively about the wars, but as I won't I'll need other stuff to keep the narrative going.
Indeed. King Charles has been quite shortsighted in his decision-making. The worst part is that he's quite old, so his successors will likely have to deal with the mess once he dies rather than inherit a stable realm.
Ludwig II was murdered, Ludwig III rules now.
There is certainly a large degree of syncretization in Normandy. Frenchmen adopting pagan practices, Norsemen converting here and there, and people from both sides adopting words from the other in an attempt to better communicate. Still though, the Norsemen have only been there for a few years, so the two remain quite distinct and separate from each other, even if mostly living side by side.
Thank you. I can sympathize with you in that aspect. I love reading AARs but I barely have enough time to keep up with my own as it stands. Thankfully I don't update too often so you won't have to worry about keeping up here
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Chapter 9 - A Chance Encounter
Chapter 9 - A Chance Encounter
It was an unremarkable dull day in the town of Brennuborg*. The crisp air carried with it the scent of fallen leaves, and as the days grew shorter everyone began to worry about their stockpiles for the winter. The sounds of the bustling market mingled with the autumnal smells. That harsh and guttural tongue of the Norsemen never failed to make Henri feel like a stranger in his own home. The once familiar streets were now filled with foreign traders and settlers. Every face seemed to remind him of the conquerors who had seized his village and altered the course of his life.
Many years had gone by since that fateful day when Haesteinn and Hjalmar the Red first appeared on the banks of the Soulle River, bringing with them misery and destruction to the town of Coutances. The town was burnt, its riches were pillaged, and its people were put to the sword. Finding the savaged remains of his parents had been a terrible blow to Henri and his family, but worse yet was not being able to find that of their sister Blanche, who had seemingly vanished during the attack, likely carried away by a Viking like many of the young townswomen. They were all presumed dead, never to be seen again.
Henri buried those memories deep within, focusing on survival in a town that no longer felt like home. Each day, the market's vibrancy and the Viking presence served as a stark reminder of all he had lost. He pushed those thoughts down and hurried through the busy market, his mind preoccupied with thoughts of trade. As he bartered for a basket of apples, a commotion at the docks caught his attention. If anything, his new neighbors ensured there was always something interesting taking place around town.
Drawn by curiosity, Henri made his way through a crowd of people, only to discover a pointless argument over a game of dice. He let out a small, sad chuckle as he remembered a phrase he and his brothers used to hate due to the sheer frequency in which their late father Arnault used it. "There is nothing new under the sun." Henri was convinced that was the only thing his father ever managed to learn from a lifetime of attending mass, as he loved to remind them that such words came straight from the Holy Book, yet never did so for any other phrase. Henri was not entirely convinced of the source, but nonetheless turned that phrase he once hated into a loving memory of his father.
The sun dipped low, casting a golden hue over the docks. There were many ships waiting there, some for supplies, others to unload their goods unto the market. Henri stared at them all with slight, melancholic interest, wondering what the life of a Norse sailor would be like, the kind of sights they would encounter during their travels, surely better than his boring life as a farmer.
A ship was beginning to depart, its sails billowing in the brisk wind. Even in his ignorance of all things Viking, Henri could tell that was no regular trading ship, but a especially crafted one, of high quality wood and make, likely owned by Haesteinn or someone close to him. Amid the crew and passengers, a strange yet familiar face stood out like a beacon on the fog. Henri's heart nearly stopped at the sight of her. She moved with the confidence of a Norsewoman, her attire and demeanor completely transformed. Yet, there was something familiar about her.
Squinting against the glare of the setting sun, Henri recognized her face. Blanche. The years had changed her. She was older now, her hair a little longer, her eyes a little sadder, but there was no mistaking her. He tried to call out her name, but his breath caught in his throat as memories of their childhood together flooded back. He could no longer fights those emotions he had long sought to bury deep within.
Henri's feet moved before his mind could catch up. “Blanche!” he shouted, his voice hoarse with desperation. The noise of the docks nearly drowned him out, but she turned, their eyes locking. For a fleeting moment, he saw a spark of recognition in her eyes. Despite her transformation, she had not forgotten her past, nor her dear older brother.
Pushing yet again through the throng of people, Henri fought to reach her, launching his basket of apples into the ground in an effort to ease his way through the crowd. The ship's horn blared, signaling its departure. Her gaze met his one last time, her eyes filled with years of hardship and longing, reflecting a deep unspoken bond between the two. As the ship pulled away, Blanche raised a hand in a silent farewell, and only then he realized the two small red-haired children clinging to her skirts, their eyes wide with curiosity. The two children raised their hands in turn, mirroring the gesture. Henri watched helplessly as the ship continued to drift away, but standing there, a fire ignited within him, hardening his resolve. He would not let them disappear into the distance forever. He would find her again and bring them back home.
*As stated on the previous chapter, Brennuborg is the new Norse name for the town of Coutances, literally meaning "Burnt Town." For all intents and purposes the terms Brennuborg and Coutances will be interchangeable but used according to the context, similar to words like Norse/Norsemen/Viking/Norman.
Hey everyone! I decided to color some names and placenames on this chapter, as it can be difficult for readers to keep track of things, especially when there's few pictures to look at and lots of paragraphs to get through. Hopefully those colors are not too intrusive. I'm not entirely convinced those are the colors I want to stick with so let me know if you think another color would fit better.
As you probably noticed this is almost exclusively a narrative chapter as no gameplay takes place during it. It's main purpose was to slightly flesh out those invisible "de Coutances" characters which the AAR is supposed to be about, but whom I barely wrote about as of yet, especially Henri and his motivation which should lead him to establish his family in a position of power. These characters do come into play later, so it's not pointless filler, although you could argue its filler nonetheless as it has no gameplay
.I wrote a short introduction to the family members back in Chapter 5, so feel free to revisit that if you want a quick rundown of who they are. This chapter will make some more sense with that context, plus it will serve to inform you about who the people in the picture below are. They're a vast family! Not all will play some huge role in the story, but at least they exist hehe.
Blanche and Baudouin are twins, as are the bastard sons of Eudes and the sons of Godefroy. Twins run in the family!
If you recall in Chapter 1, Baudouin almost faced Hjalmar in battle but chickened out in the end. Maybe his twin Blanche could have been spared capture if Baudouin had stopped the red-haired marauder...
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I'm guessing that once the original conquerors die, Henri is going to seize the moment and take power.
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Good to see this chapter. No need to explain it away. It is not filler.
(Other AAR writers have used color-coded systems too. If they help break up the text for you, then continue, certainly. Not distracting.)
As someone who appreciates character building, any chapter that gets to the motivations of some of your characters that will explain their later actions certainly has a purpose. Just my opinion, but a narrative AAR is not shackled to the gameplay. I like to have gameplay spark ideas and support what is in the AAR but there is no rule you need gameplay in every chapter. Looking forward to more about Henri and what happened to his sister.As you probably noticed this is almost exclusively a narrative chapter as no gameplay takes place during it. It's main purpose was to slightly flesh out those invisible "de Coutances" characters which the AAR is supposed to be about, but whom I barely wrote about as of yet, especially Henri and his motivation which should lead him to establish his family in a position of power. These characters do come into play later, so it's not pointless filler, although you could argue its filler nonetheless as it has no gameplay
(Other AAR writers have used color-coded systems too. If they help break up the text for you, then continue, certainly. Not distracting.)
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Thank you for fleshing out Henri and family. I will be the last person on the forum to complain about colors as many as I use. Thanks
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Thanks! I actually meant the colors would help the readers haha, not me. I didn't make it super clear at first.
It was actually you and some other AAR I read a bit of that gave me the idea actually, thanks for reading.
Something like that
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I wish the Channel Islands were in game, they were pretty important historically for the history of the Norman coast.
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Try either More Provinces Expanded (MPE), More Bookmarks+ (MB+), or both (they're compatible with a compatch.) I play with More Bookmarks+ only since my PC can't handle both at the same time. They both add the Channel Islands and many more provinces.
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Chapter 10 - The Fall of Aquitaine
Chapter 10 - The Fall of Aquitaine
While the arrival of the dreaded pirate king Haesteinn had greatly upset the balance of power in Northwestern Francia, the rule of King Charles "the Bald" endured through all the hardship. Haesteinn appeared reluctant to push for the Frankish throne even at the behest of his followers, content to settle for the Norman coast. A steep price, but one King Charles was willing to accept in exchange for peace.
To the South however, the situation was much more grim. The Kingdom of Aquitaine found itself under siege by not just Vikings, but also Saracens from Hispania, and even rebel lords from within. King Louis "the Stammerer," son of King Charles of West Francia, ruled Aquitaine in his father's name. While Charles did hold some influence over his son Louis, in reality Aquitaine managed to its own affairs independently, and as such it too was forced to fend for itself.
The first Aquitanian lord to rise up against King Louis had been the perfidious Antso "the Terrible," who with the support of Basque and Gascon nobles, seized control over Gascony and declared itself independent from Frankish rule*. Fearful of retaliation by his overlord, Antso was quick to recruit several Viking bands as mercenaries, granting them lands along the southern banks of the Garonne River, believing their fierce strength could secure his borders and help him strike at his former overlord. At first, the plan unfolded perfectly. The Norsemen, ruthless and efficient, launched relentless raids, securing the contested province of Agenais and even seizing the West Francian fortress at Perigord, extending their rule North of the river.
The arrangement seemed mutually beneficial, but it was not long before the Vikings realized their true potential. Under the leadership of their chieftains, they saw themselves as more than mercenaries. They were conquerors, the most powerful force in the region. Word of the ripe opportunities in Gascony spread swiftly across the Viking world, drawing more warriors eager to carve out their own fortunes.
Among these new arrivals was Ubbe, son of the legendary Ragnar Lodbrok. Once a formidable leader of the Great Heathen Army in Britain, Ubbe had been ousted by his own brother, Halfdan, whose ambition had led him to seize the throne of Jorvik. Stripped of power and seeking a realm of his own, Ubbe answered the call from the Vikings of Bordeaux and set sail for France.
The Kingdom of Aquitaine and its lords, outlined in green. 868 AD.
Upon his arrival to Bordeax, Ubbe was quick to seize power from the chieftains there, consolidating the disparate bands into a single conquering army under his command. He forcefully seized the city of Bordeaux from the Basque Duke Antso, and upon its fall Agenais and Perigord too fell in line, granting Ubbe his much desired realm in one fell swoop. Unable to muster much of a resistance, Antso retreated to Armagnac into the Gascon hinterland, resigning himself to his new lowered status. Rather than chasing the defeated lord however, Ubba set his sights on a grander conquest—the Kingdom of Aquitaine.
With his father preoccupied by wars in the North, King Louis of Aquitaine was forced to stand alone against the Viking threat**. His envoys swiftly carried the news to his vassals, but the call to arms fell on deaf ears as each of them could scarcely afford a single man, let alone their full levies to defend a weak King they no longer believed in.
To the South, Count Bernard of Barcelona was actively engaged in a defensive war against the ambitious Emir Felipe, who from his small holdings in Tarragona had managed to conquer the Balearic Islands and establish himself as Emir of Mallorca, independent of the Umayyad Sultan. Emir Felipe had already seized Bernard's fortress at Lleida, and was now pushing towards Urgell and Barcelona itself, intent on conquering all the Aquitanian lands South of the Pyrenees.
Meanwhile, the County of Toulouse was bearing the brunt of Ubbe's attacks on all fronts. The same river systems that once blessed Toulouse and turned it into a fertile, bountiful paradise were now serving its enemies, providing Ubbe and his Vikings an effective method of transportation, allowing him to penetrate even the farthest reaches of the Kingdom. With the Norsemen actively raiding his lands, Count Bernat of Toulouse could not afford to wait on the King, and thus set out to fight Ubbe on his own.
Even as both Muslims and Norsemen laid siege to the Kingdom, the squabbles for the long-disputed Bishopric of Viviers continued. Exploiting the King's weakness, Count Bertaland of Gevaudan had raised his men to seize the Bishopric by force, jealously coveting its fertile lands by the Rhone River. The Church had found its defender in Count Ricard of Auvergne however, who rushed to raise his levies at Clermont and set out to battle the impious Bertaland.
While King Louis sat idle in the safety of his castle at Ventadour, Ubbe spent the years of 868 to 871 AD setting the lands of Toulouse afire, ravaging the provinces of Quercy, Rouergue, Albi, and even taking the city of Toulouse itself, sowing fear and chaos across the region. There was little Count Bernat could do against the Viking onslaught, now dispossessed of his capital.
The river systems of Aquitaine, the highways which allowed Ubbe Ragnarrsson to ravage the Kingdom indiscriminately
Outside of the successful capture of Toulouse, Ubbe and his men had mostly raided the countryside of the Kingdom, refusing to lay siege or assault any other fortresses, for he feared suffering heavy losses. Ubbe had hoped that setting Aquitaine ablaze would compel King Louis to abandon the safety of his walls and meet him in battle, yet no matter how many villages he burnt, Louis remained at Ventadour, unmoving. Even if Ubbe wished to lay siege to the castle, his men would be spotted sailing the river long before they could get near that inland stronghold, and thus all element of surprise would be lost.
The Norsemen grew weary. Many began losing confidence in Ubbe's abilities as a leader, some even calling him a coward in whispers, too afraid to meet the enemy head on. Ubbe was not oblivious to these changes in his camp's mood, and thus in 872 AD he chose to radically switch tactics, abandoning Toulouse and leaving a small skeleton crew to guard their longships at Bordeaux. Rather than striking through the rivers the Viking way, Ubbe's warriors would make the long march from Bordeaux to Ventadour, stopping at Perigord for supplies. While the trek there would be arduous, full of wild woods and steep hills, Ubbe believed that such an intrepid attack would be wholly unexpected by the King and thus heavily increase the chances of success.
His gamble paid off. Even as the war raged on across his Kingdom for years, the relative remoteness of Ventadour had instilled a sense of safety in King Louis. He thought it unthinkable that such an attack as what Ubbe was planning could even be devised, and thus he never expected to be caught by the advancing Viking army during one of his leisure hunts through the woods. All ten of his hunting companions, including King Louis himself, were slain on the spot. Ubbe had just won his Kingdom, having fought not a single major battle.
Upon seeing their King's head in a spike, the spirit of the garrison at Ventadour faltered, and the men surrendered without a fight, opening the gates to Ubbe, self-proclaimed King of Aquitaine. With the head of the snake cut off, the Kingdom of Aquitaine was left in disarray, its territories ripe for the taking. Ubbe summoned the peasantry to watch his "coronation" and to watch him divvy up the riches seized from the royal coffers among his warriors, rewarding them for their support. Such public displays of generosity enticed many of the Aquitanian peasants to willingly join Ubbe's army, hoping they too could reap the rewards of a Viking's life.
Now with the safety of Ventadour to fall back into if things went awry, Ubbe began his march North into the provinces of Limousin, La Marche, and Bellac, lands which owed allegiance to the King as his personal demesne. With the promise of retaining their lands and titles, much of the nobility there submitted to Ubbe without a fight, reluctantly accepting their new King. While those minor barons surrendered with ease, the larger counties of Barcelona, Toulouse, Gevaudan, and Auvergne all but ignored his summons, joining the Basque rebel Antso in declaring the dissolution of the Kingdom of Aquitaine, and thus, independence.***
Ubbe's Kingdom of Aquitaine, 872 AD
*Duke Antso and his Vikings were introduced in Chapter 3, in case you wished to re-read that chapter.
**This chapter goes a few years back into the past so I could depict what happened in the South. While all this took place, Haesteinn was fighting Duke Hugo of Anjou and King Salomon of Brittany, while King Charles was fighting his relative King Lothaire of Lotharingia and the Viking Rorik of Dorestad, so he was unable to help his son Louis.
***I wanted a more dynamic world so I granted several Viking warriors enough prestige and some levies so they could launch their own invasions. Ubbe invaded Aquitaine, slew Louis in Battle, and nearly got to 100% warscore, but before he could claim victory the Dukes of Aquitaine successfully launched a dissolution faction and Aquitaine dissolved before Ubbe could take it all. As a compromise I granted him the personal demesne of the late King, while letting everyone else go independent.
I'm actually not convinced about using a variety of colors for certain things like names or places as in the previous chapter. If you would like me to do so let me know, I feel like some may like it, while others may find it annoying, so I'd like to hear what you think. Thanks for reading.
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The Vikings in this world are very powerful (even Ubbe has managed to carve out a realm for himself). How will House de Coutances oppose them, or will they ally them?
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