Heathens are from Venus, Croats are from Mars: A Croatian CK AAR

[Brownbeard]

*CK 1.03B + Solmyrs' 1066B V2 Bugfix
*added Solmyrs' cool courtier events+mine special event that changes laws for south slavic realms(if traditional custom then: salic primogeniture+feudal contract+monastic supremacy)
*i altered crusader order events so that they only happen:
- hospitalier and templar: only for frankish rulers
- teutons: only for german rulers
*playing on very hard/furious
*my 'passions' modification which multiplies the chances of getting both positive and negative traits from events up to 500%(5->25, 10->50,15->75,20+->95)
*think i know how to avoid the CtD corruption if it does happen again(a bit of time travel fixes things...)

Prologue

The night was saultry. Although the middle of winter, a strong wind blew from the Adriatic sea, anyway, better than the cold winds from Mt. Dinara, anything is better than 'Bura'...

The Kingdom was doing okay, all was well and peaceful, I still have firm grasp over the rule of the realm, although not as strong as before, kinsman Zvonimir rules the north, and the local lords in Croatia seem to have a will of their own. That will be rectified. There will only be one will in this kingdom. The will of the King. MY WILL.

A widower for quite some time, and without a son. I must remarry. Love you ask? What's love got to do with it? Kings cannot afford to wait on such emotions, there is duty and obligations. Love might come along the way, but might not...

And there is a perfect bride: Mathilde Canossa, carrying one of the wealthiest duchies in the world as her dowry. How could one resist such sweet temptation. And a lovely young lass as well...

Chapter I – Later era of Petar Kresimir IV 1066.-1082.

...and how could she resist a royal offer? Isn't being a queen every young womans dream?

A wedding fit for a king it was... And the taxes raised for the wedding will aid the realm significantly. Such events really inspire the peasantfolk to work harder. Hmmm, maybe if I married once every month I'd end up wealthier than Cresus... Nevermind...

Does gold make gold? Maybe, but one thing for sure is that it makes roads, at least now I have enough to build a road across my lands, this will aid the realm greatly. Also, I have founded a bishopric in Senj. The church seems happy, and the clergy are definitively less fuss than those pesky nobles...

Two years passed. The lands developed, but I am trapped between two empires east and west, Hungarians to the north and the sea to the south. Realms that do not grow get eaten by those who grow. There is time for peace, but right now, it's time for WAR! Where, how and why? Pagan lands east of Hungary. A swift and decisive campaign. Because I CAN.

Without any chance of discussion all the regiments in the realm were ordered to assemble at Visegrad. Nobles complained, fearing a war with Romans, but I am no fool, I only fight battles I can win. With the blessing of the Emperor who was busy fighting the Seljuk I passed through his realm and invaded Wallachia, Pecheneg camps fell one by one. In the skirmishes with their armies I sent them running and finally crushed them completely.

After the last Pecheneg surrendered, I split these new lands into two archbishoprics: Wallachia and Moldau, and the bishopric of Peresechen(Torki). And this infuriated the nobles in my army. Since many of them expected to expand their realm in these new lands. So, they challenged my rule. Fools. One by one, the rebels fell. In the end Zachlumia, Usora and Veglia were combined with the bishopric of Senj into the Archbishopric of Croatia... Although kinsman Zvonimir helped surpress the revolt he was very unhappy with the new theocratic order in the realm... It is only a matter of time before we fight for rule over Croatia...

Beatrice of Bar died. My son Tomislav Matej became Duke of Toscany. Seems that the locals defy the child-duke... let him learn his trade on them...

Meanwhile, my sight turned elsewhere. East. The Duchy of Dioclea. Dioclea is descended from one of the principalities in Croatia Rubea. Since I am the King of Croatia, it is my right to rule them. A quick strike across the backlands of Dubrovnik into Zeta, followed by a simple skirmish, a quick siege, and Dioclea was no more. King Mihajlo surrendered Zeta, and his sons in Rahska and Hum abandoned him. Immediately, I started negotiations with Dubrovnik and Rashka. Soon both joined the realm.

And my first move was to revoke them from office. An archbishopric of Dioclea was set up over Zeta and Rashka, and Dubrovnik is now a royal city. Without any real alternative, Hum was forced into the same scenario, and an Archbishopric of Bosnia was set up over Rama and Hum.

And then it happened. Kinsman Zvonimir tried his last chance to crush me. He should have known better. With the help from fresh armies of the eastern lands he was soon crushed and fled to Hungary. From now on Slavonija will be run by the church as well.

A steel grip over my lands, run by church which is in my hands, what could be better?

Two years of peace followed and Petar Kresimir passed away of old age in 1082.

Chapter II – Early years of Tomislav Matej 1082.-1109.

Returning home after so long. I had left for Tuscany at a very young age, i had barely started my military training then. Couldn't even hold a sword. And it's been a few years since I had the last opportunity to visit. It seems like everything was bigger before...

21 and single. Among those who attended coronation was a young greek princess. Anna, daugher of the Prince of Hellas. She definitively had a special something. Sparks flew and the wedding bells followed.

I had unfinished business in Tuscany. Reclaiming lost land. In a quick campaign, counts of Parma and Siena surrendered, along with the treacherous bishop of Florence. I expanded the bishopric of Piombino into the Archbishopric of Toscana. And the counties of Parma and Modena became the foundingstone for the bishopric of Romagna.

I have gained quite a few claims to property in Italy in my youth, plus, the old man made a few. When opportunity rose, i crushed the Duchy of Campania and installed an Archbishop to govern it for me. It seems that our house had gained quite a notorious reputation in the world. This 'new order' of ours is not looked upon with acceptance. It might be best to work on our image. But first we'll lay low and raise our strength...

Months of planing and scheming. Strategy is just my game. I am the best there is. And I know what people want. Heroes. Someone to save them from the heathen. And it's time to teach the heaten a lesson. The Zirid are closest.

Without much details, the entire realm was mobilised. The main army of Croatia at Zadar, and eastern reserves stationed at Severin, Tuscan forces at Lucca, and Campanian at Napoli.

I declared war and invaded Sicily(route 1.). There was no adequate response from the Zirid, seems they were to busy fighting with Cordoba. Fools. Sicily fell with a whisper, so did Malta. Reinforcements from the eastern lands joined the main force at Mahdia (route 1.b) and proceeded through Tunis.(1.c) Kingdom of Tunisia was overrun along the way. But the Emir of Cyrenaica decided to attack my flank. So I had the armies from Italian holdings move to Mahdia and protect the flank(2.b). After Tell Atlas keep fell, I had to travel far west, to Canaries and finished of the Zirids. Then I returned to Tunisia and proceeded east along the Libyan coast. In 1092. i finally destroyed the Emirate of Cyrenaica. I was now King of Tunisia, and the new lands were split between archbishoprics of Sicily, Constantine, Tunis, Kairouan, Libya, Cyrenaica and Alexandria.

Time to go home.

In 1093. the Archbishop of Moldau became the Pope. I used my influence on him to excomunicate a few counts in Italy. He did obey some of my orders, but... when he refused to excomunicate Venice, an ancient enemy, I knew it was time do teach him a lesson...

I managed to get claims on all of his vassals, and with a strong swift strike, the papal states were reduced to the gates of Rome. Romagna in now an Archbishopric, two now Archbishoprics: Marches and Spoleto, and Toscana expanded.

But fighting the pope had made every bishop in my realm furious. I have to do something big for them to forgive me, and I can't rely much on their support to do so.

I returned to africa with 4000 men and destroyed the Hamamids and several minor sheikdoms in the region. But that wasn't enough. Although I was now King of Africa as well, and established the Archbishopric of Algers, I was still 'The King who attacked the pope'. But at least now they were willing to talk....

Two years later I decided to do something that would make them forgive my transgressions. 15000 men split into two armie landed at Snassen and El Rif(1.), it was time to destroy the Murabitid and take Morocco.

I led the main army and conquered the Murabitid lands, while the other army protected my advance(2.) One by one, their cities fell and in the end I destroyed them by taking their last stronghold in Iberia(2.a).

I regrouped with 6000 men at Infa and attacked the remains of the Almerian emirate. After i drove them out of Africa, i took Almeria and proceeded to Granada. I was coronated King of Morroco. The land was divided to the Clergy and I headed home...

The priest finaly forgave me. Time for more mischief. As I said I had strong claims in Italy, and those were strong claims on Norman lands... With a few dirty tricks and strong swift strikes, those lands were mine by 1104. King of Sicily as well.

Back to being notorious...

Four years passed. My realm had strenghtened greatly in this time, I could raise an army of 50,000 men... Things have quieted down from the Norman business, but I was still a king of dubious reputation... I decided to pick a new front. I had only a small holding in Torki. And it was going to be mine.

Through shady machinations, I managed to claim Torki. I mobilized the Armies in Wallachia, Moldau and Peresechen(1.). First i struck the Count of Torki, defeated him and he surrendered. The army proceeded towards Kiev(1.a) and forced the Prince to give up his claims on Torki. I gave the holding to the Bishop in Peresechen. Next, I applied the same procedure on Marmaros and Szekelysomething. While the eastern army defeated them(2.), I lead a strike on the King of Hungary and forced him to give up his claims in the region. Torki was now officially an Archbishopric. And mine. Notorious again. What is new?

At least my wife and children don't hate me. 10 kids at home... although i lost two boys to horse accidents in the woods... such cruel fate...

But now I'm off to rest a bit and see some of my realm. There's no sea like the Adriatic Sea... Perhaps meet some lovely bohemian maidens while I'm there... Be with you in a week...

 

[tombom]

I really hope it doesn't go wrong this time.

 

[unmerged(14092)]

A new world conquest for Croats we are unstopable

 

[Brownbeard]

Chapter III – Late era of Tomislav Matej 1109.-1138.

Almost a decade of peace followed, in which there was only a minor conflict in which the Duchy of Pisa met it's demise and was absorbed into the Archbishopric of Toscana, Sardinia and Corsica are now also ruled by my bishops... Peace also brought new strength and power to the realm, armies were at full strength, and it was time to show our might. During this time we heavily aided the development of our african holdings, and a road connecting Tunis to Alexandria was built.

The Holy Lands and The Lands of the Pharaoh. A true challenge. I have sent a few scouts to determine the state of the Fatimid realm. Egypt was heavily underdeveloped, light keeps, no roads, inneficient economy, The Holy Lands were much more developed and wealthier, Syria and Arabia undeveloped. The Fatimid forces were determined at 40,000 men total. If I strike Egypt directly, the desert will be as strong enemy, as the Kaliph, but if i ignore it, they will strike into Tunisia and there'll be even more trouble. So, this was my plan. Two armies of 12,000 men will defend the african holdings. But the main force will strike the Holy lands. By taking the wealthiest, most developed and most powerful lands, I will cripple them and defeat them with ease.

Within 6 months, everything was ready, and I was of to war. The Fatimids were unprepared, while they assembled in Alexandria, they dared not break through west, meanwhile, their vassals in Asia fell one by one to my Army. Reinforcements landed later and protected my flanks from counterattacks.

After I freed the Holy Lands, I entered Egypt with 5,000 men. The desert was more of an enemy than the worn down Fatimid armies. At Alexandria, I was coronated King of Egypt. Then I proceded east and struck down the remains of Fatimid power in Arabia. When Mecca fell, it was over. Nine years of bloody war in the desert... Alexandria became a royal city of King of Croatia, while the rest of the land was divided into Archbishoprics.

Meanwhile...

Four years after the King left for the Holy lands, Queen Anna had her own plans... Since House Trpimirovic was the most respected of all the christian lords, she decided to use that... And set her eyes north, towards Hungary. Hungary still had not recovered from the inept rule of Salomon, and was the perfect target for a strike. Plus, the Croatian holdings along the Danube weren't connected with mother country. This was about to change. The Queen ordered the armies of Torki, Wallachia and Moldau to strike In Temes and Slovakia, while the armies of Slavonija, Bosnia and Croatia engaged Kalman, King of Hungary.

The war was swift and successful, Temes and Slovakia became part of our Kingdom. Hungary was seriously weakened, most of its armies destroyed.

Two years later the Queen launched another campaign and pushed the border from Drava to Danube. Kalman failed to offer serious resistance.

In April 1126. the King returned home from the Holy Lands. And the Queen welcomed him with a gift. The Crown of Hungary almost at hand. Two months later I crossed the Danube and the remains of Hungary soon fell. House Arpad was reduced to their bohemian holdings.

Hated and adored. And definitively the most controversial. But the Papacy was getting out of hand. And my armies put an end to it when they entered Rome in 1129.

Although Hungary was completely in my hands, the world still called Kalmans' son the King of Hungary, in 1133 my armies crushed the remains of his power and I restored the Kingdom of Bohemia. In the end House Arpad was reduced to counts of Bryansk. I was King of Hungary. The count of Bryansk soon revolted, after a my decisive victory he was forced to surrender all his claims to the hungarian throne and as an act of generosity i granted him independent rule of Bryansk. Within a decade Bryansk was overwhelmed by Lithuanians.

A time of peace and prosperity followed...

In 1138. Tomislav Matej died of old age at the age of 60. His son Domagoj Hrvoje was coronated King. Domagoj Hrvoje died suddenly in 1139. and his son, Pavao Stjepan was coronated King.

Chapter IV – Pavao Stjepan

King at 25. like grandfather, although no one will ever be able to compete with his achievements... But one must try.

In 1140. the Prince of Kiev destroyed the Kingdom of Cilicia, but also became engaged in a civil war against his brother. Kiev is at my border, and Cilicia is in my sphere of influence. A fierce strike in both lands made me King of Cilicia and added Kiev and Armenia Minor to the realm.

I know this is not a good way to make people like me, but at least they will fear me and respect me. There were still heathens at my borders. I assembled three armies of 12,000 men and sent them east. While my main army invaded the emirates of Al Jazira and Palmyra, the other two protected my flank in Syria. As I laid siege to Palmyra, the Emirs of Azerbaijan and Euphrates, and the Sheik of Gilan attacked me. I defeated them soon after.

I returned home to rest and regroup. My border in the east had grown somewhat large, and powerful enemies lurked beyond. It was time to strike them down. The Abbasids must fall first. Again I deployed 60,000 men to hold the front.

The war against the Abbasids went well, but then hell broke loose, all the remaining muslim forces in the east joined together in a jihad against me. I defeated the Abbasids and was coronated King of Mesopotamia, proceeded along the coast and defeated the remaining arabs, at Basra I was coronated King of Basra. Then engaged the persian Emirate of Lut. After the siege of Laristan I proceeded towards Hormouz and a great battle followed...

Pavao Stjepan died at the battle of Hormouz in 1148. His son Stjepan Hrvoje was coronated King.

Chapter V – Stjepan Hrvoje[1148.-1193.]

After a brief coronation I departed immediately east, to battle. My regiment met with the army of Sicily at Tripoli and proceeded northeast, to fight against the Khwarizm. After I defeated them I was coronated King of Aleppo, and proceded north into Caucasus to destroy the Turkmen holdings and the Emirate of Derbent. With that done, I regrouped and moved the east.

Although in somewhat of a mess, the front was holding since fathers death. With five armies blocking heathen advance. I struck Karbala and Mosul and proceeded east into Persia, around the Byzantine enclaves. Towards Hormouz. I was King of Persia. It was time to finish of the muslims in the east. I moved north into Transoxiana, destroyed, the Qarakhnate, Khwarizm and the Turkmens. In 1157, I took Astrakhan castle, the last bastion of muslim power in the east.... this crusade was over. And all the lands governed by my clergy. With the pope hiding in the west, I was true head of the Church.

But... there was conflict near, and a very interesting conflict. There was turmoil in the Empire of Romania, minor civil war. The emperor was strong and the outcome was doubtlessly clear, but there was profit to be made, by striking before he could, i managed to steal three byzantine provinces, The Archbishopric of Mesopotamia was mine, plus two counties in Persia.

Also, while I was away, the republic of Genoa was crushed and absorbed into my empire. Plans were also made to push the HRE out of Italy

There were still several byzantine enclaves in my lands, plus i wanted to be 'more natural' so, a secret plan was made, to push the byzantines out of Persia, Jerusalem, Aleppo and Armenia by 1200....

I returned home to rest. And another problem appeared. While I was busy fighting in the east, a great new power rose, and one near my lands. The emirate of Sevilla had managed to destroy all christian and moslem kingdoms in Iberia, and was a force with over 60,000 men. And they were still gaining power. I could not delay a strike against them.

With an army of 15,000 men, and 65,000 as auxiliary and reinforcements I attacked Seville in 1161.

The crusade through Iberia was long with many glorious battles, I also came into conflict with the remaining christian who had allied with the heathen. After I defeated the last muslim lord in the known world, all of Iberia was mine, but Barcelona and Rosello, Norway and France still held these two cities. That was about to change. Both soon fell, and the Kings of Norway and France were soon defeated and humiliated. My power was unquestionable.

After 14 years of bloody war, all of Iberia was mine. Kingdoms of Aragon, Castille, Leon, Galicia and Portugal, all mine. During this time, Archbishopric of Galich was added to the Kingdom in the east, and King of Poland defeated and humiliated.

I returned home and set my eyes north and west. The Holy Roman Empire of Germany, with an army of 150,000 men, yet, I question it's strength. It has been a long time dream to connect Croatia to the Italian holdings, with, 4 armies, each numbering 15,000 men, I questioned the Emperors authority. I simultaneously struck against the Emperor and the Markgraves of Karnten, Lombardia and Provance. Within 6 months, the Duchies of Karnten, Lombardia and Provance were destroyed, their vassals in disarray, and the Holy Roman Emperor humiliated and defeated. I immediately continued to expand in northern Italy, driving out Venice, and forcing the Doge to flee to Scotland and taking the rest. When almost all was mine, I decided to test the Emperor again, this time, I destroyed the last remaining imperial duchy, Krain, and Drove the Duke of Lower Lorraine out of Verona. In the end the Emperor was humiliated again and forced to give up the title King of Italy, and surrender his claims to Kingdom of Hungary. A complete triumph... except that everyone else hated me.

Few years later, I drove the French out of Languedoc. The entire western mediterranean was now mine.

And in 1191. I set my eyes east. It was time to deal with Romania. The empire was very strong, so a swift strike would be necessary. Their forces were estimated at 180,000 men, I mobilized 100,000 men to protect the 6 royal cities in the east, while 4 armies of 15,000 men assembled in Mesopotamia and Persia. Byzantine enclaves in Persia, Mesopotamia and Armenia fell soon, and my armies pushed west, towards Antioch, by 1193, the Emperor was forced to surrender...

Did I mention how much fellow monarch fear me and hate me? Anyway, secret plans are being made to make Mediterranean Mare Nostrum.... to be achieved by 1300.

Stjepan Hrvoje died of old age in winter 1193. at the age of 64. His son Nikola Stjepan was coronated King.

 

[Brownbeard]

note: since all muslim realms were destroyed, all muslim courtiers were converted to catholicism through savegame edit to prevent muslim courtiers from becoming bishops to avoid the muslim bishop bug. i don't consider this cheating since these people should not be in the game and will die out in the following decades. hundreds of muslim courtiers migrated to my african/middle east bishoprics after i destroyed the last muslim lord. province religion was not changed. let nature take its course.

 

[CatKnight]

So...you believe all these courtiers who'd been trained in Islam all their life would just instantly convert.

Interesting

 

[Brownbeard]

So...you believe all these courtiers who'd been trained in Islam all their life would just instantly convert.

Interesting

and do you believe that these same courtiers should be named bishops in catholic bishoprics?

like i said, these courtiers will not marry, or do anything other than perhaps be named bishops. and muslim bishops in replacing catholic ones are a bug. they won't have kids if they're unmarried, and they won't marry since they live in bishoprics and will die out by 1250. this is merely a precaution to prevent a bug, since none of them have any chance of restoring any power or continuing their dynasties.