Mega-campaign : The Normans of Provence - Crusader King II

[Swompy Time]

THE NORMAN OF PROVENCE​

Hello, I'm embarking on my mega campaign, with a slightly more realistic goal. Indeed, I will not start from the Bronze Age. English not being my mother tongue, my language may not be perfect. In fact, this AAR aims to anglicize me.

I'm going on a historical and realistic AAR (as far as it goes). I don't have big goals, but I'll try to stay consistent.

Everything is in Iron Man and on normal difficulty. Usually, I'm going all out, but I'm here to relax.

CHAPITRES
INTRODUCTION - An age of crusades
I- Svend of Aarhus "Well Kept", ruler of Arus 769-781
II- Folki of Aarhus "The Younger", ruler of Arus 781-789 & Aarhus Ake "Flat Nose", Chief of Arus 789-792
III- Grima of Aarhus "Light Legs", chief of Arus 792- 807​

INTRODUCTION - AN AGE OF CRUSADES​

The Norman family of Provence dates back to the end of the eighth century. Older sources are unreliable and few in number, and largely subject to interpretation. These Nordics, at first seasoned traders and ambitious explorers, then turned to plunder, then territorial conquest. This, thanks to the fracturing of the Christian kingdoms following the disappearance of Pepin the Short and the civil wars that followed.

Arus was a cold land, while Provence was a gentle and frugal region. During the Merovingian succession, power there fragmented, making its lords unable to repel the Norman invaders. They were also attacked by Muslims from the south who saw an opportunity for expansion. From an economic point of view, Provence was perfectly placed, with its Mediterranean facade. Counters had been flourishing for a long time, but they lacked a reliable and above all, stable protector. We are therefore going to follow the dynasty of the Normans of Provence, through the centuries.​

In the north​

King Haraldr "To the Tooth of Battle" of Sjaelland reigned over a disparate kingdom in 769. At 78 years old, the old sovereign is about to leave his throne to his sons, Drandr of Slesvig and Hrörekr of Skane. Haraldr was the son of Aud the Wise, daughter of Ivar Vidfamne, and son of Rorik Slungebond, King of Seeland. Although of prestigious birth, Harald had had to snatch his rightful inheritance by the force of his arm, fighting from the age of fifteen.
Note that Rorik was considered the son of the gods Höd and Nanna, announcing the divine patronage of the future kingdom of Denmark.​

I- Svend of Aarhus "Well Kept", ruler of Arus 769-781​

Among the vassals of Haraldr, one of them is Svend of Arus, or Sven of Aarhus, of the city of which he had the government. He is known to have a wife (Malmfrid du Nord) with whom he had two children, Ake and Gunnhildr. The small lord essentially concentrates on the renovation of his chief town. Aarhus is becoming a market for the North Seas trade, although its intensity is still very low. Svend wants to enrich his land as much as possible. If we know Svend, it is for his role as intendant of Sjaelland, because we will find his accounting writings. Svend is known by the nickname "Best Kept", as he was known for his bodyguards, reflecting his acute paranoia.

To enrich the Arus, Chief Svend decides to carry out looting in the south. A first expedition in 769 will be a failure. The Saxon troops will repel the Dane at Borkum, forced to return to his still poorer areas.

Prince Drandr inherited his paternal titles in December 770. A warrior called by the gods, the new king of Sjaelland dreamed of expansion. From February, he melted his troops on the Rygjafylki. Svend joins his lord in this conquest. During his absence, his wife becomes strangely pregnant.

In Aarhus, the stewards of Svend build war camps to recruit men for future expeditions. This measure will have some success. The Frankish city of Zwolle was sacked in 772. After the sacks of Enschede, Svend would gain the terrible reputation of being a Viking. Overijssel will also pay the price.

Just returned from his looting, King Drand calls for the conquest of Austergautland, then held by King Hjörvardr. Svend's grown reputation allows him to surround himself with housecarls and join in this war. At the same time, he sends up an expedition by his new daughter-in-law, Dardedze. Daughter of the chief of Selija, she had the fiber of trade, like her father. He will receive a letter from the Doge of Venice, asking for financial compensation. A response will not even be returned. King Hjörvardr is captured at Blekinge, leading to his surrender. This buys Svend time to hop in a boat and meet King Ealhred of Northumbria, a powerful English lord, in person. Svend will offer him the service of a dozen housecarls. A profitable commercial agreement is quickly concluded.

Obviously, the master of Aarhus returned to Frankish territory. The expedition is cut short, but in the chaos of the Battle of Zutphen the sister of Karl and Karloman, kings of the Franks, dies in the melee (June 2, 774). 774 is a busy year. Drandr will be assassinated by Hrörekr of Skane. The latter's son, Dorolfr, was elected king in his place. Without waiting, he launches a war of aggression against the Swedish king Sigurdr, "the Ring". At Hleidra, the enemy troops are crushed.

An alliance is made with the high chief Ankad "the Redhead" of Curonia, thanks to the promises of marriage between the heir Pukuveras, the oldest "man" after Ankad and nephew of this one, and Asa, the last daughter of the Svend. This corresponds to the period when Svend will produce pieces bearing his effigies (and a priori fake ones). Always more housecarls join the chief of Arus, attracted by this providential wealth. The money also allows him to improve the infrastructure of his trading village. A fort was also built to protect this prosperous town. Following his king's warrior festival, Svend decides to take concubines and join the brotherhood of the Warriors-Wolves. And after which he returns to Frankish land. In doing so he is forced to join the war of the King of Saxony, the great Theoderic. On May 6, 780, he had been at war for 4 years and 3 months against the great Karl. The king of the Franks had already burned the sacred tree, and wanted to impose his faith all over the north. And on August 23, 781, a white peace was obtained!​

II- Folki of Aarhus "The Younger", ruler of Arus 781-789 & Aarhus Ake "Flat Nose", Chief of Arus 789-792​

Chief Svend died at only 51 years old in 781. A bad flu had mowed this man down in a few weeks. His son Ake becomes the head of the family, having to take care of the formation of Folki, heir apparent to the earldom. Ake and Svend had managed to contract an engagement with the Ulfhildr, who had shortly before become chief of Blekinge.

In 783, King Dorolfr of Sjaelland appealed to all his vassals. Indeed, the great chief Wichimann of Saxony, the heir of the proud Theoderic, had decided to extend his domains towards the north. And that's not counting the aggression of King Ragnarr Lodbrok of the Svidjob who wants to snatch the Värend. Peace will take two years of war, but at least no territory is lost.

Communities of hunters settle in Arus, providing excellent archers and scouts to his armies.

King Dorolfr decides to go after Ake's new father-in-law, the high chief Dorsteinn of Eystridal, known as "the Spider". The leaders of Arus prefer to redo a raid on the Franks, weakened by a recent civil war. This also makes it possible not to question his bonds of loyalty, whether to his lord or his family.

Young Folki was murdered at age 11 by his father's concubine, Hafrid af Aalborg. And this under the orders of his aunt's widower, the Godi Tryggve of Hleidra. Ake is devastated. He decides to make the culprits pay. The offending hand is imprisoned. The second is provoked, in the hope of obtaining a duel. The duel takes place, but Ake loses and comes out greatly injured. He then joins the Wolf Warriors to become stronger. Shortly after, illness takes away her granddaughter Alvor.

A second duel takes place in 791. Both fighters are seriously injured, but the Godi is the undisputed winner. Ake's ambitions grow. In 792, he occupied Kleve, capital of Merovingian Austrasia. Shortly after, the Godi dies from infection from his wounds. An Austrasian army is repulsed at Goch. Victorious but weakened, the Nordic will turn his men on Berg. The metal pray to the monks will be sent to the new forges of Arus. Like his father, he will be known as a bloodthirsty viking. With the money, Ake organizes a big blot. The traitress Hafrid is offered to the gods. Folki is avenged, finally.

Ake will die in turn of his wounds, and of the contiguous infections. Thus dies this 37-year-old Viking.​

III- Grima of Aarhus "Light Legs", chief of Arus 792- 807​

At only 6 years old, the young Grima, eldest of Ake, takes over. The regency is ensured by his grandmother, Malmfrid "the Forgiving". His education is entrusted to Dorstein the Spider, a courtier particularly versed in conspiracy.

Looting becomes the economic engine of the county. Malmfrid will organize a number of expeditions against the Franks. When Dorstein dies, the little girl is sent to Tjudmund of Agdir.

Dorolfr had himself crowned king of the Danes on July 12, 797, formally founding the kingdom. The Duchy of Jylland is also founded, and Arus becomes the vassal of Jarl Frederik "the Jittery".

While climbing a tower, Grima loses a hand after a serious fall.

In 800, a most perilous expedition was launched. The objective is to go to Narbonne, Christian lands divided after the death of the Merovingian. Then held by Count Gundemar, the Danes intend to take advantage of the context of chaos. A certain Ragnarr must lead the men through the Frankish lands. In Béziers, the troops oppose each other. On December 17, the Nordics emerged victorious. The siege of Narbonne begins the same day. The city fell on April 22, 801. A counter-attack on August 15 was cut short for the Christians. On September 21, mass is said.

Grima marries in 803 the chief Mehis de Jarva. On April 26 of that year, she raised her armies, followed by those of Mehis, Gyla of Slesvig and Alvör of Värend. The objective is to take Melgueil, then under the authority of a very young count, Thierry Gellones. She will personally lead her men. She will even conduct duels against enemy commanders.

After the death of the great Dorolfr, a queen is elected, Ulfhildr. The queen will launch her own wars of expansion, as in 803 against King Ecgfrith "the Vat" of Mercia. His goal is to gain a foothold on the Big Island.

Melgueil was taken on June 13, 804. And at the very beginning of 805, the territory was completely conquered. Immediately, Rouergue is targeted. Rouergue will be torn off.

Grima will not enjoy his new lands for long. She dies in an ambush as she returns to the safety of the walls of Narbonnes. The hypothesis of a conspiracy is widely debated. Some speak of monks reproaching him for his dissolute morals. Others of a revenge inflicted by the sons and daughters of the Godi. It could also be Narbonnais loyalists wishing to liberate their lands from invaders. Either way, his estates are divided among his children.​

 

[Swompy Time]

Below, the portraits of the above-named protagonists

Folki, live hard, die young​

Svend, raider of franks lands​

 

[HistoryDude]

When will the rulers of Arus gain an independent country?

Many of these earlier ones are great raiders. Did they become very rich from that?

 

[Swompy Time]

IV- Dordis de Kotha Sakalan, the Screaming Violet, Queen of Toulouse 807- 829​

The new-independant lands of Narbonne​

Dordis is a barely born child when she becomes chief of Narbonne by default. Daughter of Mehis of Järva, who can hardly manage such remote lands. Dordis' older sister, Hafrid, rules Arus. The regency of Narbonne is entrusted to Malmfrid "the Forgiving", her great-grandmother.

Queen Ulfhildr continued to impose Danish influence by taking Venaissin in 807. After rapid success, the queen died on April 2, 809. Her sister Sara Skjödlung took power following a quick election. The new regent of Dordis, Ragnarr, Marshal of Narbonne, does not send a vow of loyalty. Concretely, Narbonne becomes an independent province.

Further north, King Karl the Mutilator manage to claim the Merovingian kingdom, lost years before. He will be made king of Austrasia in 810. The blood of the Merovingians is revealed to flow through the lands of Hattuaria. In the north, Queen Sara decides to take the supreme authority of the men of the northby by a great war against Sweden.

Narbonne knows a certain prosperity. The town is extensive, and a market is developed close to the port. The walls are also rebuilt to avoid new raids (especially from vikings). Under their shadows, additional businesses are set up. In parallel, the education of the chief is attributed to Asa the Vixen, intendant of the county. The castle of Narbonne will also be partially renovated.

Karl the Mutilator died in 814. His domains are divided into three kingdoms. His son and daugther received Austrasia for Arnegisel and Burgundy for Audovera forfor his children. Pépin, son of Karloman, gains West Francia.

A raid is carried out on Toulouse in 816. The castle is looted, and a finger of Saint John the Baptist is stolen there. In Castelnaudary, a magnificent axe is discovered and brought back to Dordis.

A great plague broke out in 819 in the Duchy of Normandy. Bodies are piling up on the street. When the disease arrives at the gates of Narbonne, they are double-locked.

Narbonne offers itself new military barracks.

In 823, the Countess of Narbonne decided to conquer Toulouse, then in the hands of Alitrudis. She celebrates her majority a few days later. Dordis is known for his tantrums, lack of moderation, and greed. We find him a hidden character, and an inclination for the ladies. Her objective is to gain power, the Narbonnais being stuck between the Frankish kingdoms and the mighty Muslim Empire of Hispania. The lands of Toulouse are known for their wealth. The plague may have ravaged the countryside. A revolt of catholics take weapons against Dordis.

Dordis's husband was found murdered on December 30, 823 in a simple corridor. Reclusion gives terrible scenes, like the one where the countess devours a courtesan who had stolen from the food reserves. The revolt and war are resolved with the help of high chief Premyslava the Just of kyiv and Skuli the Poison Tooth of Halogaland, finally in 825. After earning enough money, Dordis finally has the means to be recognized as Queen of Toulouse on June 28, 829. On August 7 of that year, the queen challenged Beata the Faithless of Burgundaholmt to a duel for a stupid story of an insult contest. In the result, the queen Dordis died only 22 years old.

V- Bragi d'Aarhus, The Wise, King d'Auvergne 829-84​

The queen is dead, long live the king !
​

When Dordis dies, his uncle Bragi, son of Ake, son of Svend, is elected king. Indeed, Toke, son of Dordis, is too young to inherit such a great responsibility. He will only keep control of the county of Melgueil.

Bragi was not a warrior, no one had seen him fight. On the other hand, he was a recognized manager and trader. He had visited many Mediterranean ports, exchanging northern furs for silks and frankincense. He uses his position to marry Ipekel, a daughter of the late Khan of the Yabghummakh clan, and with his funds take on some concubines.

Bragi builds many roads to secure the merchants. Guard posts are springing up everywhere in Toulouse. An ambassador is permanently attached to the court of Emperor Mauregato of Hispania. It will go so far as to go into debt to avoid the closure of trade routes passing through its ports.

Bragi gets closer to his new queen with whom he ends up feeling a mutual and sincere love. He also likes to immerse himself in games, for which he shines.

King Bragi begins to integrate with the population, who appreciate this almost pacifist sovereign and above all taking care of the little people. A loss, however, will shake this good king. In 832, his son Ake died of indigestion - or poisoning?

Bragi will erect a runic stone in his honor in Narbonne in 832. We find his image there, which we can imagine flattering.

In 834, Bragi decided to take independent Gevaudan into his hands. He takes advantage of the mobilization of Christian troops to repel the Muslims to attack the Auvergne of Duke Gottschalk. A great battle will take place in Rodez, sealing the fate of the province.

On October 28, 836, Cardinal Bertrand de Franche-Comté arrived at the court of King Bragi. He is sent to court by Queen Ingrid of Burgundy. Bragi welcomes him, curious to see what the man can tell him. Indeed, Bragi has an interest in the faith of his people, which strongly structures the life of his vassals. And despite the chaos, he suspects that there is a non-zero possibility of being driven out by a Christian coalition. Seeing the mobilization against the Empire of Hispania makes him have this conclusion: a mass rather than dispossession. The two men had many debates, concerning among other things monogamy and the erasure of earthly power in the face of spiritual power. Above all, Cardinal Bertrand explained that a kingdom at peace must have the blessing of God, and that an appeased sovereign that of the Pope. Only the conversion made it possible to obtain them.

La Marche was in turn targeted in February 837, the King of Toulouse seeking to expand his kingdom as quickly as possible, taking advantage of the disorder of the Iberian invasion. He will be noticed in Bellac, by killing in a duel Bishop Adalgrim de Guéret, yet known as a great fighter. Count Godalvert de la Marche, in the confusion, will seriously injure the king by gouging out his eye. The happy arrival of allies did not, however, allow the battle to be won, which was decisive in every aspects. The return match takes place in Béziers, close from Narbonne. And this time, it turns to the Norman's advantage. Rushing back to La Marche, the king reaped new wounds, but in fact proved his bravery. He is no longer a coward. But his wounds have infections.

In addition to external threats, the king must be wary of his own nephew, Barid de Melgueil, who shows too much ambition.

January 18, 839 is an important date. Under the leadership of Cardinal Bertrand de Franche-Comté, King Bragi converted to Catholicism, thus saving the Marche for a time, but a time only. The ceremony takes place in Morteau, capital of Burgundy, with King Sechnassach as godfather (as well as his regent Echtgus mac Dunadach, the sovereign being only 8 years old). Indeed, the Cardinal had been in the service of this family, at least since the reign of Queen Ingrid. A second ceremony takes place in Narbonne, with a massive conversion of the lords of Toulouse and their families. The king will be particularly violent with apostates.

After which, he returns to the roads with his armies: the March must fall. Relations with Pope Anastasius III deteriorated somewhat because of this, the latter finding that the king retained many barbaric reflexes and pagan advisers. He will attack shortly after the Limousin (held by a Carolingian).

841 is the year of the Corpse Synod. The remains of Pope Marinus are dug up, judged and condemned to the worst torments. This opens a period of crisis in the Church. In Brioude, the king is once again wounded by an endless duel, this time against the mayor Laurènç de Rochechouart. In 842, peace returned, at least until an adventurer named Toke came to try his luck on his lands. A second Synod of the same nature will be made against Anastasius III in 844.

In addition to numerous alliances, the king has his wife Ipekel imprisoned, after having had proof that she was plotting to kill his daughter Astrid.

King Bragi, now known as the Sage, manages to reform the succession of his country, this to favor his own sons. An agreement was hard-wrung on February 1, 845. On the death of his wife, the king took his vassal Countess Hildegardis de Limousin as his wife. This alliance is not intended to produce children, but to secure peace.

On August 14, 847, Bragi founded the kingdom of Auvergne at the age of 55. In the ensuing battles to secure his borders, he fell on September 17 against Liutpold, a physicist from Aurillac during the battle of the same name.

The Kingdom d'Auverge, before its formalization​

 

[HistoryDude]

Tolouse is doing well. I'm worried about Austrasia, though.

How stable are the Umayyads to your south? Those are still the Umayyads, right?

 

[Swompy Time]

How stable are the Umayyads to your south? Those are still the Umayyads, right?

A STATE OF WORLD - 845​

The Umayyad becoming a Bedouin-Visigothic family. For decades, this dynasty gradually detached itself from its Arab roots. Since around 820, the Umayyad (or Hispanic) rulers have adopted much more westernized and Germanic habits and customs. It is notable, for example, that they adopted the symbols and ceremonies usually attached to Roman Emperors, such as the wearing of purple. If the population accepts better its sovereigns who begin to speak their language and to integrate their laws, the tensions with the Pope and the Christian Kingdoms do not weaken. The expansion towards the south is only blocked by the Kingdom of Auvergne which remains young and freshly converted. The Frankish coasts are vulnerable because of the fragmentation of the kingdoms.

Their main competitors are the Arab Empire, then recently returned to the Abbasid. The Caliph claims a form of authority refused by the Visigothic Emperor. Even if the two forces seem distant, a trade war is raging throughout the Mediterranean. The capture of distant wealth is the main source of conflict. If Hispania benefits from the gold extracted from African mines, the Arab Empire controls very strongly the silk roads.

The Roman Empire brings its support to the Hispanics, a distant power from its borders and draining part of the economic resources of the Caliph. Ironically, the Caliph receives the support of the Pope and the Christian kingdoms. The Pope wants to have a weight against the bishops of the East contesting his legitimacy, and the Christian kingdoms are sorely lacking in resources to repel the Hispanics. The pontifical embassy in Baghdad will be a high place of diplomacy which will welcome many princes of Europe coming to seek assistance from the Caliph.

 

[HistoryDude]

Nice world view!

The Umayyads are very stable, and the Abbasids have many internal enemies?

Let's hope that the Fatimids can create an enemy for the Abbasids in the Near East, or the Romans step up.

 

[Swompy Time]

In 845, the Abbasids had just regained power after a plot by their emirs. In truth, the Arab Empire is very unstable, it teems with conspiracies to put this or that dynasty in power. The interesting thing is that the territory is stable (even expanding) by itself, and the lower echelons of nobility change very little. Only the head of power is replaced at regular intervals, which has a strong impact on his real authority. The Caliphate (Shamirid) will eventually separate from the Arab Empire, which necessarily leads to tensions. Indeed, the Shamirid claims authority over Muslims by virtue of its spiritual power, the Abbasid by virtue of its temporal power, and the Fatimid for its control of the holiest places in Islam. Pilgrimages to Mecca will become the object of intense permanent negotiations, the faithful necessarily having to cross the border of one of these countries to respect one of their fundamental pillars.

As for the Hispanics and the Romans, the First Plague ravaged them. The campaigns were emptied, and the famines ended up impacting the feudal lords.

Among the Hispanics, the supreme authorities have failed to supply their entire territory. This failure, relatively understandable in relation to the scale of the disaster, was amplified by a political crisis: the Emperor indeed behaved tyrannically and cruelly. He sends back the image of a man losing interest in his people, despising them, and remaining deaf to their sufferings. Its legitimacy is weak, and the country regularly burns with the fire of civil war.

On the other side, the Roman Empire remains the Roman Empire, with its package of revolts of doux, nobles, peasants and heretics. During a humiliating period, the Romans were the tributaries of the Khans of the Kazaks. The Empire was impoverished during this Reign of Shame, with monstrous quantities of gold and slaves heading east. A number of provinces have managed to secede, if not in theory, at least in practice (such as Venice which, although it remains a Roman city, did not send a doge to Constantinople to formally accept the authority imperial for decades). Beyond the territorial decline, it is above all a loss of control over the maritime trade routes and a source of income. The Imperial Army begins to decline in numbers and equipment. The balance of power is gradually tilting towards the doux, who all dream of wearing the Purple and the Diadem. And regularly, the most proud take up arms to support their ambitions.