To aid in the writing of the Languedoc event, monarch and leader files (as well as neighbouring countries) I have prepared a suggested Aberrated II history of Languedoc.
Much of the Provence region was under the control of members of the Trencavel family. With 10000 crusaders assembled near Lyon, Raymond of Toulouse promised to act against the Cathars, and his excommunication was lifted. The crusaders headed towards Montpellier and the lands of Raymond-Roger de Trencavel, aiming for the Cathar communities around Albi and Carcassonne. Like Raymond of Toulouse, Raymond-Roger de Trencavel sought an accommodation with the crusaders, but Raymond-Roger was refused a meeting and raced back to Carcassonne to prepare his defences. The city of Béziers was sacked in July and its population massacred. Here is where the Aberration begins in earnest. Having provided the crusaders with a battle to justify the crusade, the Pope lifted the ex-communications on other nobles who agreed to supress Catharism. The perfect were to be burnt, but cities would be spared. The Inquisition nonetheless saw over 300 000 people killed. While Raimond-Roger de Trencavel was spared, the south Provence and Languedoc came under the control of Peter II of Aragon, who permitted the inquisition to flourish and rescended many of the old rights of the semi-independent cities.
The fall of Catalan to the moors ended the Aragonese dominion over Provence and Languedoc. The regions had been granted to Garcias of Aragon, the fallen kings second son. While formerly heir to Aragon, he chose to establish instead the Duchy of Languedoc, fearing that to reestablish Aragon in Languedoc would challenge the moors and bring war. Garcias' only son Garcias-Alphonse married the daughter of the future Louis II of Anjou. Garcias-Alphonse went to war with Cordoba, striking quickly while the moors were already engaged against Portugal. Garcias' able commander was Estotz de Trencavel, great-great-grandson of Raymond-Roger. His victories over the moors and the recapture of the province of Gerona earned him the title of Duke.
With the death of the childless Garcias-Alphonse, Louis II of Anjou was set to inherit the principality, but Charles refused to accept his claim, and with the support of the King of Savoy instead chose to recognise the old claim of Duke Estotz de Trencavel. Estotz was coronated in 1379 and the Trencavel family found themselves once again masters of the the region. The Trencavels have ruled Languedoc since, as vassals first of France, then of Savoy following the collapse of France.
The story of Languedoc in ABII will be the themes of culture and religion, resulting in the probable formation of Occintania. Languedoc's options will include going protestant and forming Occitania and being a trading exploring based nation, or staying catholic and being more land-based, confronting the moors and engaging in a reconquista. Their fortunes are tied closely with those of Savoy. See the Savoy thread for more details, but if Savoy conquers Languedoc, then the reformation will produce a protestant Occitania through revolts (though not always).
The events for Languedoc/Occitania will also include cores on all Occitania provinces and the ability to change the cultures of Lyonnais and Bearn to Occitan. Both of these provinces had strong Occitan cultural/linguistic elements who can be favoured over the Basque/French populations. This makes Languedoc something closer to a major in the game and fits with the general approach of having a bunch of rank 2 nations that can be equally fun and balanced to play in MP, assuming all players chose rank 2 nations.
For Savoy, the 'history' in Aberration II (that I am proposing) diverges from that of Aberration. In that, Savoy became a Kingdom after the division of France when the last French king died on the Fourth Crusade. In Aberration II the collapse of France has occured more recently, but Savoy did become a Kingdom as a result of involvement in the Fourth Crusade. The planned storyline has a similar feel and helps to intertwine their futures, or esle sets them at odds. Savoy begins owning provinces with French Italian and Occitan cultures and will begin the game with all three national culture groups. However, unless it remains a five province country it will not retain all of these. Depeding on which direction it builds, that will largely determine the culture which it retains. The culture-focusing event(s) will trigger when Savoy grows beyond its manageable five province three-culture love in. Probably once province number 8 is gained, or else it will be triggered off specific provinces or events. There will be a chance to inherit Languedoc, and this will force them to abandon French and Italian cultures, or else lose Occitan.
Then there are thre religious tensions. Amedee the Blessed establishes a lot of new religious orders and near the close of his lengthened reign my chose as a new cardinal Rodolphe Tounissoux, who will be a powerful and effective minister for Amedee and his successor, but who will also re-inflame an inquisition to supress the remainder of the old cathar ways. This will ultimately alienate the Occitan provinces and likely result in an Italian noble to succeed the childless Amedee the Blessed. This will ensure Savoy remains catholic nationally, but will push all of the Occitan provinces they own to protestantism, resulting in Occitania emerging if Savoy has conquered Languedoc. Alternatively Amedee (or the player) selects a less radical man for cardinal, and Savoy remains open to alternative futures, including a more smooth expansion into Occitan provinces, or even a protestant monarch. Each choice ultimately effects the kinds of monarchs they receive and the number and quality of military leaders and explorers.
Much of the Provence region was under the control of members of the Trencavel family. With 10000 crusaders assembled near Lyon, Raymond of Toulouse promised to act against the Cathars, and his excommunication was lifted. The crusaders headed towards Montpellier and the lands of Raymond-Roger de Trencavel, aiming for the Cathar communities around Albi and Carcassonne. Like Raymond of Toulouse, Raymond-Roger de Trencavel sought an accommodation with the crusaders, but Raymond-Roger was refused a meeting and raced back to Carcassonne to prepare his defences. The city of Béziers was sacked in July and its population massacred. Here is where the Aberration begins in earnest. Having provided the crusaders with a battle to justify the crusade, the Pope lifted the ex-communications on other nobles who agreed to supress Catharism. The perfect were to be burnt, but cities would be spared. The Inquisition nonetheless saw over 300 000 people killed. While Raimond-Roger de Trencavel was spared, the south Provence and Languedoc came under the control of Peter II of Aragon, who permitted the inquisition to flourish and rescended many of the old rights of the semi-independent cities.
The fall of Catalan to the moors ended the Aragonese dominion over Provence and Languedoc. The regions had been granted to Garcias of Aragon, the fallen kings second son. While formerly heir to Aragon, he chose to establish instead the Duchy of Languedoc, fearing that to reestablish Aragon in Languedoc would challenge the moors and bring war. Garcias' only son Garcias-Alphonse married the daughter of the future Louis II of Anjou. Garcias-Alphonse went to war with Cordoba, striking quickly while the moors were already engaged against Portugal. Garcias' able commander was Estotz de Trencavel, great-great-grandson of Raymond-Roger. His victories over the moors and the recapture of the province of Gerona earned him the title of Duke.
With the death of the childless Garcias-Alphonse, Louis II of Anjou was set to inherit the principality, but Charles refused to accept his claim, and with the support of the King of Savoy instead chose to recognise the old claim of Duke Estotz de Trencavel. Estotz was coronated in 1379 and the Trencavel family found themselves once again masters of the the region. The Trencavels have ruled Languedoc since, as vassals first of France, then of Savoy following the collapse of France.
The story of Languedoc in ABII will be the themes of culture and religion, resulting in the probable formation of Occintania. Languedoc's options will include going protestant and forming Occitania and being a trading exploring based nation, or staying catholic and being more land-based, confronting the moors and engaging in a reconquista. Their fortunes are tied closely with those of Savoy. See the Savoy thread for more details, but if Savoy conquers Languedoc, then the reformation will produce a protestant Occitania through revolts (though not always).
The events for Languedoc/Occitania will also include cores on all Occitania provinces and the ability to change the cultures of Lyonnais and Bearn to Occitan. Both of these provinces had strong Occitan cultural/linguistic elements who can be favoured over the Basque/French populations. This makes Languedoc something closer to a major in the game and fits with the general approach of having a bunch of rank 2 nations that can be equally fun and balanced to play in MP, assuming all players chose rank 2 nations.
For Savoy, the 'history' in Aberration II (that I am proposing) diverges from that of Aberration. In that, Savoy became a Kingdom after the division of France when the last French king died on the Fourth Crusade. In Aberration II the collapse of France has occured more recently, but Savoy did become a Kingdom as a result of involvement in the Fourth Crusade. The planned storyline has a similar feel and helps to intertwine their futures, or esle sets them at odds. Savoy begins owning provinces with French Italian and Occitan cultures and will begin the game with all three national culture groups. However, unless it remains a five province country it will not retain all of these. Depeding on which direction it builds, that will largely determine the culture which it retains. The culture-focusing event(s) will trigger when Savoy grows beyond its manageable five province three-culture love in. Probably once province number 8 is gained, or else it will be triggered off specific provinces or events. There will be a chance to inherit Languedoc, and this will force them to abandon French and Italian cultures, or else lose Occitan.
Then there are thre religious tensions. Amedee the Blessed establishes a lot of new religious orders and near the close of his lengthened reign my chose as a new cardinal Rodolphe Tounissoux, who will be a powerful and effective minister for Amedee and his successor, but who will also re-inflame an inquisition to supress the remainder of the old cathar ways. This will ultimately alienate the Occitan provinces and likely result in an Italian noble to succeed the childless Amedee the Blessed. This will ensure Savoy remains catholic nationally, but will push all of the Occitan provinces they own to protestantism, resulting in Occitania emerging if Savoy has conquered Languedoc. Alternatively Amedee (or the player) selects a less radical man for cardinal, and Savoy remains open to alternative futures, including a more smooth expansion into Occitan provinces, or even a protestant monarch. Each choice ultimately effects the kinds of monarchs they receive and the number and quality of military leaders and explorers.
