Jewish Alps- A Paradox Megacampaign AAR- Part1 - Crusader Kings 3

[Bfc kfc]

Jewish Alps- A Paradox Megacampaign AAR- Part1 - Crusader Kings 3
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(Note: In some places I used Debug mode to make the game logical. An example is that I merged the "Anglo-Norman" culture into English, because it does not make sense to have both, when English formed earlier. Also, this is my first AAR, hope you will enjoy it.)

Count Isaac of Innsbruck (1066-1079)

Duke Isaac of Tyrol (1080-1114)

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Pre-date story: Isaac's family escaped Jerusalem after it becoming a Muslim dominion. They settled in Innsbruck, and adopted a new German name for the family: von Eberstein. As most Jews, they soon emerged on the fields of trading. They soon became so powerful that Isaac' father decided to overthrow the von Andechs of the region, and install his son as count. However, In 1065, he died, and thus Isaac inherited his family's wealth.

Early days: Isaac first wanted to get rid of the Duke of Bavaria, his liege, because he thought that sooner or later he (or his sucessors) would disobey his contract of religious protection he just negotiated. The duke had many enemies who joined in without requesting money, as they were more than happy to get rid of him. After a year of careful planning the scheme succeeded. The Duke's second-in-line son inherited Tyrol, but he only controlled Brixen, and everyone saw Isaac as the ruler, due to the fact that the duke was ten years old, and Isaac was his Steward, so he managed the child's realm. After a time, he declared that his only oath is towards the emperor, and won decisively over the underaged Duke Kuno. Using the time of peace the truce lended to him, he fabricated a claim on Brixen to depose Kuno after the truce is over, and constructed the Schwaz Mines, earning him more gold.

During the period, he also married to Beila, a Jewish woman. Aside of the age difference of 11, they developed a deep romantic relationship and together they had 7 children:

Beila

Manasseh

Yehudis

Avomai (Isaac wanted him to be his heir, due to the fact that Manasseh trusted anyone and this could result in the extinction of the family via schemes, but he died in battle, read the next part to find out how)

Isaac (he received the city of Meran from his father to develop trading skills, but instead developed callousness and hatred. later he was executed by his own father, read the next part to find out how and why)

Mordechai (his final heir, also as zealous as the first duke)

Madrona

Soon the truce ended and Isaac attacked Kuno for Brixen, and won. In 1080, he proclaimed that the duchy is his only, and he became Duke Isaac I.

The Veletian Wars: The fresh duke nearly had nothing to do, when Henrik Nakonid arrived at his court, with a claim on Veletia, a powerful Slavic principality just north from the HRE. Isaac saw the opportunity for an alliance, so he called his rabbi to perform the rituals, so Henrik became Jewish. Henrik also married Beila, so that an alliance will be secured after Isaac overthrew the pagan duchess. After 2 years, Isaac hired mercenaries and declared war on Veletia for Henrik's claim. A year or two of bloody fighting came, and after the Battle of Rana, sadly, Avomai passed away by the sword of the Count of Rana. However, victory was achieved and Henrik was crowned Duke in Obotritia. A year after, pagan vassals revolted against Henrik to restore Agnieszka to her throne. Badly, but distance won, as Obotritia was sieged down before Tyrolese troops could arrive. Basically his late years were spent on scheming or fighting against the pagans of Veletia.

Henrik later, no longer a Duke
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Late years: Isaac became lunatic after all those wars and schemes, and then his faithful wife, Beila died,

Spoiler

they had "communions" in Isaac's dreams. In one dream Isaac claimed that Beila told to him that Mayor Isaac was a mistake, and should be removed

. Though the townsmen of Meran rejoice upon his execution due to his tyranny he tried to enforce on them, The Catholic peasants of Innsbruck and Brixen became rebellious, because they accused Isaac for kinslaying. He tried to execute Rava, the firstborn son of Mayor Isaac as well, but he escaped, and later the locals will elect him as their count in Innsbruck and Brixen against Mordechai. Duke Isaac died in a heart failure in 1115.

 

[NarcomancerPL]

Always nice to see a megacampaign

 

[Bfc kfc]

Always nice to see a megacampaign

Thank you very much, at least I have experience in megacampaigns, and I read multiple AARs already.

 

[Nikolai]

Interesting concept!

 

[Bfc kfc]

Interesting concept!

Thanks, I usually create a sophisticated lore for my custom characters.

Also, I've found your Wendish Empire AAR, and also read it all yesterday, it was a great interesting megacampaign.

 

[Nikolai]

Thanks, I usually create a sophisticated lore for my custom characters.

Also, I've found your Wendish Empire AAR, and also read it all yesterday, it was a great interesting megacampaign.

All of it, in one day?? You sir, are a scholar and a gentleman. Thanks!

 

[Bfc kfc]

Duke Mordechai of Tyrol (1115-1140)

King Mordechai of Tyrol (1141)

Early rule: After Duke Mordechai inherited his realm, he had to face the fact that his rebellious nephew Count Rava gained power in Innsbruck and Brixen. He decided to send a letter to the teenager to hand over his lands. Rava stubbornly refused, and civil war started. Rava had the numerical advantage first, but Mordechai had more money which he could use for mercenaries. With the help of mercenaries, he defeated Rava, and took control of his lands. After that, Mordechai confiscated Rava's properties and banished him. Under his rule, Jewish settlers arrived in Innsbruck, at such a large scale that Bavarians disappeared in Innsbruck.

He married to Rivkah, who was first Mayor Isaac's wife, but later Duke Isaac married Mordechai to his executed brother's wife. Despite the fact that Mordechai staunchly supported his father during his reign, they still had a deep romantic life together. They had 2 children:

Isaac (heir)

Zelekman

Conquests: Mordechai saw opportunity on the peninsula of Istria, as it was a mayor trade centre in the area aside of Venice and was ruled by a weak ruler. The war was short, but decisively victorious. He also wanted to expand his alpine domains, so he conquered Carantania. However, the land was ruled by Catholics, and the nobles rebelled against him. Mordechai emerged victorious, and he granted the Czech Lichovsky brothers lands there, as they faithfully served the realm (Neusa as a Marshal, Radosta as a Steward).

The Lichovsky brothers after the death of Mordechai
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Also, Duke Isaac's attempts for a Jewish Veletia were not for nothing, Because after Mordechai removed the last Wizlawid, Henrik's son, Guthskalco inherited all her demesne, which meant that the 2-year old toddler had complete control over Veletia. Mordechai educated him himself, and Guthskalco later became a founder of the Jewish Veletian State:

Independence from the HRE: Mordechai knew that sooner or later the HRE would strike him down for his faith and dominance, so he tasked his spymaster to find secrets across the entire realm, to

Spoiler

threaten

persuade others to join his cause. In the end he found out about a secret of the Kaiser's most powerful vassal's attempted murder, which forced her to join Mordechai's cause. Guthskalco also helped, and soon independence has been proclaimed by forced means. At the end Mordechai proclaimed the Kingdom of Tyrol and was coronated by his rabbi. Soon he went on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. However, bandits attacked his group, and he got wounded. When he returned home, he died from his wounds in 1141.

 

[Nikolai]

A king! Too bad about the early death, though...

 

[Bfc kfc]

A king! Too bad about the early death, though...

Sadly he decided to fight the bandits...

 

[Warlord Skorr]

Now the real question is if this megacampaign will manage to avoid the temptation to restore Israel and build up a European kingdom instead. Italy should be a good target, if only for the fun of a Jewish Rome.

 

[Bfc kfc]

Now the real question is if this megacampaign will manage to avoid the temptation to restore Israel and build up a European kingdom instead. Italy should be a good target, if only for the fun of a Jewish Rome.

I planned to build an Empire of Tyrol, also containing Israel as well as Italy, because for a new empire, the von Ebersteins need more land, and they are of a zealous heritage: Duke Isaac, King Mordechai and his son King Isaac are all zealous.

So something in between. Also, this empire will be Europe-centered.

 

[NarcomancerPL]

I planned to build an Empire of Tyrol, also containing Israel as well as Italy, because for a new empire, the von Ebersteins need more land, and they are of a zealous heritage: Duke Isaac, King Mordechai and his son King Isaac are all zealous.

So something in between. Also, this empire will be Europe-centered.

Oh nice that's interesting. For some reason I thought you would do something more akin to Jewish Switzerland

 

[Bfc kfc]

King Isaac of Tyrol (1155-1158)

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Isaac had only 3 years to rule, and as historians suspect, this might be because of his former injuries' remnants: He was wounded in one of his father's battles severely, but managed to recover. It seemed that the only price Isaac had to pay is one of his eyes. His 3 years were mostly war, since he wanted to expand his realm along the Alpes, where recently new states became independent from the HRE; and he had to defend his realm on multiple occasions, mostly from Croatia. He also fortified the border counties of his kingdom by the end of his rule.

Family: He married Shonlin, an Iberian Jew. They deeply loved each other. They had 4 children:

Shonlin

Gregoria

Baruch (heir)

Rivkah

Sadly Shonlin died in the 5th childbirth.

The Struggle for Kranj: In the start of his reign, Isaac invaded the small and week Duchy of Kranj's only county Kranj. Little did Isaac know, King Tvrtko of Croatia also wanted this piece of land hungrily. Under Isaac's reign Tvrtko attacked on multiple occasions, but due to mercenaries on the Tyrolese side, he always had to admit defeat. In the last year of Isaac' reign, our protagonist decided to squash Croatia once and for all! So he decided to attack Dalmatia, a land not only important because of trading, because it contained most of Tvrtko's demesne. The last war of Isaac's life ended shortly, because the Battle of Zadar was a decisive victory for the Tyrolese side, and King Tvrtko was captured. After the war, the Republic of Dalmatia was estabilished as a vassal under the leadership of Grand Mayor Pirkoi.

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Alpine Conquests: As I said above, many small states in IRL Switzerland seceded from the HRE. The most powerful one of them was the Prince-Bishopric of Sankt Gallen. After defeating Sankt Gallen and the Knights Templar on multiple occasions, their territory fell to Tyrol. Zurich, Grisons and Transjurania fell quickly, and then Savoy was next. Upper Burgundy became independent, and was Isaac's next target. He also had to defend the new territory of Savoie against Provence, and left victorious.

Holy War for Pomerania: In the middle year of his rule, Isaac received a call to war from Guthskalco. He wanted to invade the pagan Pomeranian Duke's land. Isaac was too busy to conquer Zurich, and only helped Guthskalco with the final siege. After the victory, Guthskalco created the kingdom of Pomerania, founded the Guthskalcid branch of the Nakonid dynasty, and adopted Pomeranian customs.

Economics and Defense: Isaac realised that his Kingdom can easily fall to outsiders, namely Italians, if they manage a breakthrough in the Alpes, so he ordered the constructions of fortification in the region. Under his rule Istria was flooded by Jewish settlers, and local Croats emigrated to Tvrtko's realm. He also ordered to settle Jews in the border counties of the Alpes, because this would mean the most important regions would stay loyal to their monarch. However, he could not finish this as he died of "natural causes" in 1158.

 

[HistoryDude]

A mega campaign! That's interesting.

Also, European Jews are new. Really enjoying this so far!

 

[Bfc kfc]

King Baruch of Tyrol (1159-1182)

Emperor Baruch of Tyrol (1183-1207)

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Early Rule: After Baruch inherited the throne from his father, King Isaac, he had to face serious inheritance problems. Our well-known and infamous usurper, Rava returned, and claimed the duchy of Tyrol, thereby laying claim to the Kingdom. Baruch, crowned as a 15 year old teenager, sent an ultimatum to Rava, to surrender Tyrol to the Kingdom. Rava refused, and civil war started. In the siege of Innsbruck, Jew fought Jew, father fought son. The city was devastated by the siege, but at least Rava was captured. Baruch claimed victory, and executed Rava. Just as Baruch grew up, he saw opportunity to cleanse Burgundy from the cultists of Christ: local rulers seceded from the HRE, and they were weak. However, after the first attack, they formed a coalition against the ambitious Jew. But Baruch defeated their united armies near Marseille, and sieged down every single town.

He also married Esther, who originated from a lost village in Innsbruck. Baruch's father, King Isaac found out about the lost village, and she was discovered here. She was invited to stay at the royal court. She met with Baruch only when he was Prince of Currezia (King Isaac founded the tradition that the Heir to the crown holds the Duchy of Currezia), and they fell in love. She died at the age of 22, because Gregoria, Baruch's sister could not bear that a random girl from a random village could become a Queen, so, she went on to murder her and the rest of the court. Nearly half of the royal court was dead when a commoner called Shimon arrived, claiming he can help. With the help of Shimon, Gregoria was revealed and executed. Esther and Baruch has two children:

Esther

Isaac (died from being sickly)

Conquest of Italy: Italy was ruled by tow powerful nations: Lombardia and Venice. But Lombardia was so close to the power of the Tyrolese King that Baruch ordered a holy war for their whole territory, as Lombardia was going through a succession crisis: they had an 8 year old child in power and they were temporalily weaker than Tyrol. After the siege of Milano, the young duke Bonconte was captured, and Lombardia surrendered to Tyrol. Soon Baruch started a holy war for Venice proper. In the Battle of Chioggia, he captured the Doge, who surrendered immediately. Baruch stripped him from his title, and by this, Venice was no more, but Polesine was still loyal to him, so remained in power, for now. After defeating a Catholic rebellion in Italy, Baruch redistributed those lands for Jews, and Shimon received Tuscany. Then he defeated the last warlords in the area, and only the Prince-Bishopric of Ravenna managed to stay independent. Pope Benedictus X, fearing that Jewish armies would march to Rome soon, organized a meeting with Baruch in Rome. They became friends, and also signed a treaty of peace between Catholic and Jew.

The End of the Exodus: The new treaty gave Baruch the opportunity to strengthen his realm and prepare the Invasion of Israel. He wrote a book with the title "The Jewish Dream" about the struggle of the Jews to keep their identity under foreign lords, and that the only solution is ending the Jewish Exodus. Baruch ordered his Nasi to copy and export that book en masse, so he can found popular support behind the Invasion. The book spread to the Byzantine Empire very fast, and after reading the book and some negotiations, the Basilissa agreed to help Tyrol reclaim Canaan. When the Invasion began, they landed in Ghazza together, sieged it down and they battled the Fatimid armies with ease. The war was victorious, also, local rulers seceded from the Fatimids, making it easy for Baruch to proclaim that the Exodus comes to an end. Baruch was too humble to retain Jerusalem and Israel for himself, so he started a search for a worthy holder. He received reports about a Jewish man called Ravya, who held heavenly virtues. So Baruch invited him to the throne of Israel, and his Nasi coronated them both: King Rayva of Israel, and Baruch Emperor of Tyrol.

He decided to remarry to an influential Cisalpine family's daughter: Heike. She embraced Rabbinism. They had 6 children:

Maddalena

Isaac (heir)

Baruch

Shonlin

Putzelina

Tziviah

But soon something terrible happened.

Crusade for Italy and Last years: After 8 years of lasting peace in the Empire of Tyrol, something terrible happened in Rome, which would change history. In most cases, cardinals supported the Pope enthusiastically, but many turned against Benedictus X due to his toleration of Jews. He was found dead in 1198. The cardinals did not hesitate to elect Cardinal Tord of Uppland as Pope Callistus II. He was known to be hostile in his own nature. He proclaimed a Crusade for Italy. Most Catholics did not join, but some counts and sadly, many Superpowers like HRE and France. The Jewish forces lost against the Pope in the Battle of Lucca, and they sieged down most of Italy. Baruch attacked them in the Battle of Trent, but he was defeated. In the Treaty of Venice, the Catholics agreed that they do not take Venice proper and the Lands of the Rabbinist High Priesthood in Central Italy. From trust towards his own kind, the Pope entrusted Swedes to control border counties. After the Crusade, the former Duke of Lombardia, now an adult, took control of Italy, but now as a King. In the last 7 years of his life, Baruch took the opportunity to fortify alpine counties even more! But he died of old age in 1207.

International news and map:

The Collapse of Croatia: After the offensive for Dalmatia led by King Isaac, Byzantium saw opportunity in Slavonia, and took it from the weakened Croatian state. King Tvrtko was wounded in the battles, and died a month later. His successor had no control over Croatia, he became a puppet to his Bans. The Bans exploited the population, but most importantly the ethnic Bosnians. Soon the Visoki Uprising happened, under the leadership of Hrana, who was a follower of the old Krstjani rites, and proclaimed himself King of Bosnia. He defeated the low-morale levies of the Bans on multiple occasions, but the Battle of Zavrsje meant a decisive victory for the Bosnian side, so Hrana formed the Kingdom of Bosnia. Grand Mayor Pirkoi saw opportunity, and he proclaimed a Holy war for Croatia proper. He won, and thus the successor's power was limited to the County of Leibach. Emperor Baruch gave a finishing blow to Croatia, when he occupied Leibach, and integrated it into his realm.

A map of Tyrol:

​

 

[Bfc kfc]

A mega campaign! That's interesting.

Also, European Jews are new. Really enjoying this so far!

I'm glad you're enjoying it!

 

[HistoryDude]

It seemed as if Tyrol was on the verge of greatness, but the Crusades put an end to that.

It seems as if some of the royal family are capable of hypocrisy. After all, they're new royalty.

 

[Bfc kfc]

It seemed as if Tyrol was on the verge of greatness, but the Crusades put an end to that.

It seems as if some of the royal family are capable of hypocrisy. After all, they're new royalty.

I'm sure that Benedictus X won't start one, the Catholic cardinals felt threathened, I fear that some of them was behind the murder of Pope Benedictus X.

Maybe they will be able to recover from that, but It seems the birth of a reincarnated empire will happen soon.

 

[Koweth]

An interesting story and concept! Perhaps the Judeo-Alpine Empire will recover from the deadly crusade launched against them.

 

[Bfc kfc]

An interesting story and concept! Perhaps the Judeo-Alpine Empire will recover from the deadly crusade launched against them.

Thanks! Also, sorry for being inactive, a New thread about the story of Emperor Isaac Will come in 2-3 days.