Let's Try This Again- A 1066 Aragon Megacampaign MisadventAAR

[daird]

Hello, folks, and welcome to another of my One County Challenge AARs! Those of you who remember me will note that my computer bit the dust back in May while attempting this one, and that I thought I wouldn't have something up and running until the end of next year. Well, a little (okay, a lot) of DIY later, I was able to save the thing, and I can confirm that this one won't be canceled due to technical issues- come hell, high water, or both. With that said, I have my rules, as always:

1. If I lose Alto Aragon, it is an instant game over.

2. No retinues

3. Must tech in a balanced fashion

And away we go!

 

[daird]

Sancho I, King of Aragon

May 8, 1063- November 13, 1085

In September of 1066, King Sancho was but a minor player in the politics of Hispania, let alone the wider European sphere. Adding to this, both he and his wife Isabel were far from naturally talented. Still, Sancho committed himself to working hard to improving both himself and his lands.

As other Catholic realms like Castille, Navarra, and Barcelona overreached and were swatted down in turn by a Hudid-led Muslim coalition, Sancho waited. Certainly, this alliance based on common enemies would fail, and when it did, he would sweep up the pieces. Zaragosa, Lleida, Albarracin, and Turtusha were all added by conquest, and Urgell and Rosello peacefully agreed to become Aragonian vassals after becoming independent. The realm had grown massively, and Aragon was now a legitimate power.

Still, for all his wealth and power, Sancho would not be able to take his glory with him. On November 8th, 1085, Sancho suffered a compound tibia fracture in a sparring duel. The wound quickly turned septic, and he passed five days later. The throne would pass to his son Ramiro, still too young to rule himself.

 

[dark_melancholy]

Poor Sancho, we hardly knew thee. Oh well, your new heir has almost the same name. Perhaps she will continue her father's conquests one day.

 

[daird]

Ramiro Jimena II

King of Aragon

November 13, 1085- January 5, 1130

Taking the throne at a young age, Ramiro's regency was completely uneventful. After searching through several potential brides, he settled on Cecilia de Levezau, daughter and sister to Dukes of Toulouse. Aquitaine had been formed earlier by a revolt, meaning that the lands of southern France, once far too well protected to even be considered as targets for expansion, were suddenly vulnerable, and Ramiro saw his opportunity to add the six counties under the Duke's control to his own.

Cecilia would die giving birth to a son named Pedro, and Ramiro would soon press his claim to the Duchy. Thanks to a newly formed alliance with the Queen of Hungary and Bohemia, he was able to place his son on the Toulousian throne. Eventually, the King of Aquitaine would become a Waldensian, enabling Ramiro to declare and win a holy war for the Duchy of Gascogne, which had become a republic.

Ramiro died of an unknown infection just after New Year's Day, 1130. He had made no progress in reconquering Hispania from the Muslim infidel, but had nearly tripled the Kingdom's size by taking land from heretics, nearly as good in Rome's eyes.

 

[daird]

Let's take a look at the world of 1130, shall we? I guarantee, it will prove most enlightening.

Hispania is... well, it's Hispania. Muslims and Christians jockeying for power and more bordergore than you can shake a stick at. Note that while I haven't been doing much to hammer the Muslims yet, the other Christian realms sure have, aided by a converted Beja.

Poor, poor, Philippe Capet. First, the HRE did its usual thing of beating the snot out of France for de jure land. Then, William the Bastard took England (more on him later), yanking Normandy out of French hands. Then came the big revolt to form Aquitaine. Long story short, France was down to 80 holdings within fifteen years- barely a third of what it starts with. Ouch. The French have rebounded a little, but they're still a shadow of what they were.

England has been an absolute mess. First, William got the crown, only to be thrown out by Harald and thus a Norwegian-English-Norman doomblob. Both King level titles fell to Harald's son, who died of a heart attack barely a year into his reign. The crowns split, and the four-year-old king of England got dethroned by a rather persistent William the returning Conqueror. House de Normandie still reigns, but I've got a feeling Yngling claimants are going to be annoying them for a while.

Over in Scandanavia, Sweden's been taking blows almost as bad as France, while Norway continues to roll along.

The Holy Lands have seen their fair share of upheavals, too, as the Scots took Jerusalem in a Crusade, only to lose it back to the Jihadi Fatimids. Not pictured to the north: a monster Hungary stretching from Prague to the Lower Don. Rather impressive, actually.

The steppes are in flux, as they always are. Lots of nations, large and small, taking constant bites out of each other.

India hasn't changed much in the past 60-odd years. The only development of note is that the Deccan Empire is close to forming.

 

[The Number 9]

Subbed !

Nice start.
And thanks for the State of the world interlude. It's always nice to see how it is going in other part of the world.