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Cuan Ui Mordha was not a young man when he ascended to the throne of Ireland in 1131, but he had wisdom and experience of his own to call on as he assumed the titles and duties of king of Ireland. His first actions were in installing his own oldest son Failbe as first Count of Ulaid and then Duke of Ulster in June of 1131, cementing the tradition of Ulaid serving as the training grounds as it were for the future kings. Installing Failbe served three purposes, giving his son experience at rulership, increasing Cuan's own prestige by having another duke as his vassal, and finally serving as a valuable loyal counterweight Cuan could count on against some of the more restive nobles. There were no overt signs of rebellion, but all the nobles obviously wished to see how the new king handled himself in the larger arena of royal politics.
Satisfied with his first few months of rule, Cuan then turned to another concern, his lack of a wife. His beloved wife Caitilin had died the year before in 1130 and while the king still missed her presence, he knew that a royal marriage would be a valuable way to cement the kingdom more firmly around himself. He also wished for more sons, inheriting somewhat the old fear of the Ui Mordhas that the line would somehow die out. At the king's command diplomats quickly spread throughout the isles, and a match was quickly arranged between Cuan and a daughter of Rainulf de Normandie, king of England. The 17 year old Umfreda was both comely and intelligent, displaying obvious talents in both diplomacy and stewardship. Cuan lost no time making his new young wife his chancellor in the summer of 1131. By June of 1132 Umfreda was pregnant.
The child, born on the Ides of March 1133 was a boy quickly named Condlae by excited parents. Cuan's hopes were realized in both the boy's gender and apparent healthiness. Beneath his very real happiness however, the king nurtured dreams of an Irish/Norman dynasty, dominated of course by the Ui Mordhas spanning the whole of the Isles. For the moment, such dreams were both private and incredibly fanciful.
The nobles, seeing Cuan's strength and the continuing perpetuation of the Ui Mordha dynasty quickly fell into line, paying proper due and homage in all particulars. The queen became pregnant again in June of 1133. Broccan, Cuan and Caitilin's second son was married to Eadhild, daughter of Saebert the Duke of Mercia in September 1133. Though only 16, the young man had a quick mind and able skill on the battlefield. Seeing this and thinking again and always of the dyansty, Cuan installed Broccan as Count of Desmumu then Duke of Munster in the same month as his wedding, making the duchy his wedding gift. The young duke, needless to say, was quite impressed.
In October however, Cuan proved that he was not altogether immune to the same failings of his father. A wench approached the king in Dublin, claiming to have borne his bastard son Fiachna. Cuan recognized the woman as one he had taken to bed following a feast some months before. He immediately arranged for the boy to be cared for with sympathetic nobles, but the young woman herself was never seen nor heard from again. The boy was never very hale and died quietly in the waning months of November 1133.
Putting all such domestic discord behind him, as 1134 opened Cuan fainlly beganh to put in motion plans he had nurtured for some time now. His goal was the conquest of Wales and the title of King of Wales to add to that of King of Ireland. The situation was ripe. His vassals were all loyal, his two sons both served him as powerful dukes in their own right, the regiments of the kingdom were filled and trained, the island of England was in turmoil as the Normandie line began to unravel, and he himself was ready to lead the greatest united army in Irish history.
His first target was the Duchy of Gwynned, titles to which he haughtily assumed by force majuere, just as his father had done. The Kingdom of Ireland was about to take its' first steps into a larger world.
Satisfied with his first few months of rule, Cuan then turned to another concern, his lack of a wife. His beloved wife Caitilin had died the year before in 1130 and while the king still missed her presence, he knew that a royal marriage would be a valuable way to cement the kingdom more firmly around himself. He also wished for more sons, inheriting somewhat the old fear of the Ui Mordhas that the line would somehow die out. At the king's command diplomats quickly spread throughout the isles, and a match was quickly arranged between Cuan and a daughter of Rainulf de Normandie, king of England. The 17 year old Umfreda was both comely and intelligent, displaying obvious talents in both diplomacy and stewardship. Cuan lost no time making his new young wife his chancellor in the summer of 1131. By June of 1132 Umfreda was pregnant.
The child, born on the Ides of March 1133 was a boy quickly named Condlae by excited parents. Cuan's hopes were realized in both the boy's gender and apparent healthiness. Beneath his very real happiness however, the king nurtured dreams of an Irish/Norman dynasty, dominated of course by the Ui Mordhas spanning the whole of the Isles. For the moment, such dreams were both private and incredibly fanciful.
The nobles, seeing Cuan's strength and the continuing perpetuation of the Ui Mordha dynasty quickly fell into line, paying proper due and homage in all particulars. The queen became pregnant again in June of 1133. Broccan, Cuan and Caitilin's second son was married to Eadhild, daughter of Saebert the Duke of Mercia in September 1133. Though only 16, the young man had a quick mind and able skill on the battlefield. Seeing this and thinking again and always of the dyansty, Cuan installed Broccan as Count of Desmumu then Duke of Munster in the same month as his wedding, making the duchy his wedding gift. The young duke, needless to say, was quite impressed.
In October however, Cuan proved that he was not altogether immune to the same failings of his father. A wench approached the king in Dublin, claiming to have borne his bastard son Fiachna. Cuan recognized the woman as one he had taken to bed following a feast some months before. He immediately arranged for the boy to be cared for with sympathetic nobles, but the young woman herself was never seen nor heard from again. The boy was never very hale and died quietly in the waning months of November 1133.
Putting all such domestic discord behind him, as 1134 opened Cuan fainlly beganh to put in motion plans he had nurtured for some time now. His goal was the conquest of Wales and the title of King of Wales to add to that of King of Ireland. The situation was ripe. His vassals were all loyal, his two sons both served him as powerful dukes in their own right, the regiments of the kingdom were filled and trained, the island of England was in turmoil as the Normandie line began to unravel, and he himself was ready to lead the greatest united army in Irish history.
His first target was the Duchy of Gwynned, titles to which he haughtily assumed by force majuere, just as his father had done. The Kingdom of Ireland was about to take its' first steps into a larger world.
Glad Cuan finally gets to take up the throne, the poor, long suffering man has been too long in other's shadows.
Uh, I know where hasnt been an update here in quite some time, so I'm just wondering, is it dead? i just read the whole thing, and was heartily impressed, so much so that im not considering going to Paradox and buying CK right now.
But yeah, is it dead? please no... lol
But yeah, is it dead? please no... lol