MOD: The War of the Gall against the Gael

[unmerged(370476)]

The year is 1164. Somerled is dead. The blood of the Islanders still stains red the soil at Renfrew. His realm has devolved into petty plots and bickering as his sons divide the remains of his former kingdom amongst themselves.

To the South, Galloway is divided between the Sons of Fergus, Uthred and Gille Brigte. Each is envious of the other’s domain, waiting for the opportunity to claim what they see as their full inheritance.

In the middle of the Irish Sea lies the Isle of Man, where Godred the Black is overseeing his own restoration to the Manx throne. The former King of Dublin, Man, and the Isles now reigns over the mere rump of a Kingdom, but his return to glory may be just a stroke of good fortune away . . .

On Éire, the High King Muircheartach Mac Lochlainn continues his attempts to make his title something more than a formality. Throughout the land Gaelic chiefs continue to wage petty wars, while rumours of an impending Norman invasion continue to be nothing more than faint whispers in the wind.

Máel Coluim IV, the sickly youth who sits upon the throne of the Scots, guides a kingdom that is as frail as his own sickly body. Rebellions at home have taken a toll on his health, while MacHeth and MacWilliam kindreds bide their time, awaiting the death of the young King. His brother William is set to inherit the throne, but his disputes with the English king over the Earldom of Northumbria have developed into a simmering rivalry that is likely to come to a boil.

Surveying this disunion is Henry II, the expansionist Anglo-Norman ruler of the burgeoning Angevin Empire. The Gaelic Kingdoms are to him like so many grapes upon the vine, awaiting to be plucked. The only question, is which grape should be the first to go down the gullet?

The War of the Gall against the Gael is about to begin . . .

************************************************************************************

Welcome to what is at present a fairly ambitious mod that’s just beginning to transition from the early planning stages. So without further ado, here’s a rundown of what I hope to accomplish:
Goals:

To faithfully portray the Gaelic kingdoms as they were on the cusp of the Norman Invasion (of Ireland )

One of the overarching themes of this mod will be the interplay between Gall (Foreigner), Gael, and Gall-Gael (Foreigner Gaels).

Many of the Gaelic Clans that would later become so prominent are just beginning to emerge, expect them to make their appearance.

New provinces! It’s not just the Isles that are woefully represented, but expect to see more than a few map changes in the coming months.

Dynamic Clan events! I’m still debating the best way to portray the Gaelic clan systems, but it should make playing a Gaelic kingdom a deeper and richer experience.

And of course, that’s just the beginning . . . suggestions are more than welcome!

De Jure Kingdoms​

Current Focus: The Isles and Man

Progress:
New Provinces:
Lewis
Skye
Mull
Kintyre
Islay (Replacing Innse Gall)

New De Jure Kingdoms:
Kingdom of the Isles
(Lewis, Skye, Mull, Argyll, Kintyre, Islay, Man)

New Culture:
Gall-Ghàidheil

 

[unmerged(121326)]

You might find this useful:

http://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum...-Gael-culture-added-Scottish-culture-overhaul

 

[unmerged(370476)]

Current Progress:

At the moment I've begun to create some of the New Provinces, things are proceeding nicely!

 

[unmerged(370476)]

You might find this useful:

http://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum...-Gael-culture-added-Scottish-culture-overhaul

Thanks I'll have to take a a deeper look, nice work! I already took a crack at creating a Norse-Gael culture, I'm interested to see what you decided to use in regards to names. I tried to restrict naming based on ones that appeared in annals and such, though I did make some exceptions in regards to female names by using more recent variants (in part because the names of the women sadly often went unrecorded.

Here's what I've begun with:

male_names = {
			Adomnán Áed Aindrias Alasdair Aonghus Aonghus-Óg Cináed Colum Conall Conn Cormac
Diarmait Domhnall Dubhghall Dubhaltach Eoghan Eoghan-Óg Eoin Eoin-Óg Fearchar Fearghal Fearghus Fearghus-Óg 
Fionghuine Fionn Firbhisigh Gilleain Giolla-Brénainn Giolla-Bhrigde Giolla-Chríost Giolla-Easpaig Giolla-Íosa Goffraid Griogair Guaire Íomhar Lochlainn Lochlainn-Óg Maghnus Muircheartach Muireadhach Murchadh Niall 
Raghnall Ruaidhrí Somhairle Suibne Toirdhealbhach Torcaill Tormoid Uilliam
		}
female_names = {
			Áine Aoife Ailbhe Áine Baraball Brìghde Brìghde-Bhallach Brigit Caireach Caitilín
Caitríona Caitríona-Bhallach Caitríona-Óg Deirdre Dìorbhail Ealasaid Èibhlin Etaín Fionnghuala Fionnaghal 
Gormlaith Gráinne Gráinne-Bhallach Gráinne-Óg Isibél Magaidh Maighread Mhàiri Mhàiri-Bhallach Mhàiri-Óg Mòrag Mòrag-Bhallach Raghnailt Raghnailt-Óg Seonag Siobhan Sìonag
		}

 

[unmerged(121326)]

For male names I use known Norse-Gaels as sources (including both Gaelic and Norse surnames- IRL you'd have people with names like "Olaf mac Ferghus"):

Magnus Ferghus Dubgall Gudrød Gofraid Fiongall Lachlan Domhnall Ruaidhrí Máel_Coluim Sumarlid Ragnall Olaf Somairle Harold Tormod Eoin Asgaill Amlaíb Coitir Ìomhair Torcuil Lagmann Áengus Áengus_Óg

There is a bit of overlap with yours, although I used medieval spelling for the names rather than modern if at all possible (eg. Torcuil, Somairle, Áengus). Writing-in lenition (IE all those 'h's) didn't become common until the Early-Modern period.

 

[unmerged(370476)]

There is a bit of overlap with yours, although I used medieval spelling for the names rather than modern if at all possible (eg. Torcuil, Somairle, Áengus). Writing-in lenition (IE all those 'h's) didn't become common until the Early-Modern period.

Indeed, but it's the Academic in me that follows the use in modern scholarship I suppose. If you're interested in looking at the spelling used in the sources and don't have access to copies yourself, you might want to take a look here: http://medievalscotland.org/kmo/AnnalsIndex/Masculine/all.shtml
Of course then you'll need to chose whether you prefer Turcaill, Torcaill, Turrcall, etc.

In other news, I've added a few more provinces to the Western Isles (updated on post 3)

Still debating whether or not to use modern Gaelic or current Anglicized spellings for the 'baronies':

Skye
=> Dunvegan (Castle)
=> Eilean Chaluim Chille (Church)
=> Dunakin (Castle)

Lewis
=> Stornoway (Castle)
=> Kisimul (Castle)
=> Borve (Castle)

Kintyre
=> Skipness (Castle)
=> Saddell Abbey (Church)
=> Tarbert (Castle)

Mull
=> Aros (Castle)
=> Iona (Church)
=> Ardtornish (Castle)

Islay
=> Finlaggan (Castle)
=> Dunyvaig (Castle)
=> Loch Gorm (Castle)

 

[unmerged(370476)]

As a bit of an update, the Kingdom of the Isles is now a De Jure Kingdom. This should make things a bit more interesting, be a bit more realistic, and allow a bit more historical tension between the regions. Also, I've begun going through the character files, creating new ones as necessary, to ensure that everything is correct for a 1164 start.

Since my current focus is the Isles, here are a few references for those interested in learning more:

Hebridean Sea Kings: The Successors of Somerled, 1164-1316 by W.D.H. Sellar, in Alba: Celtic Scotland in the Medieval Era
The Age of Sea Kings: 900-1300 by Alex Wolf, in The Argyll Book
R. Andrew McDonald's The Kingdom of the Isles: Scotland's Western Seaboard, c. 1100-1336

 

[Gwyn ap Nud]

Innse Gal, doesn't the first 3 baronies of a province HAVE to be a church, a castle, and a city?

 

[Veldmaarschalk]

Innse Gal, doesn't the first 3 baronies of a province HAVE to be a church, a castle, and a city?

Not in the history-files.

But if f.e. you want to built another settlement in-game in the Skye province it can only be a city, since it already has 2 castles and 1 temple.

 

[unmerged(370476)]

Innse Gal, doesn't the first 3 baronies of a province HAVE to be a church, a castle, and a city?

Not in the history-files.

But if f.e. you want to built another settlement in-game in the Skye province it can only be a city, since it already has 2 castles and 1 temple.

Pretty much what Veldmaarschalk said, and besides, the Western Islanders were too cool for cities.

In all seriousness in regards to the mod though, cities don't really make sense for the region, and pending playtesting each of the Isles provinces will probably be limited to three settlements apiece.

 

[spinoza013]

This mod along with Evilweasels mods look fantastic. Exactly what I was hoping for.

Do you intend to make this mod playable from 1066?

I would like to see the Uists be a separate 'county' also [ for slightly selfish reasons because that's where half my Family are from ]. Historically Lewis, Uists and Skye seemed to be constantly fighting each other so . I'll concede that having the MacNeil base of Barra would be getting a bit too detailed

Anyway this is great stuff, I'm not sure how I can help [ I've never modded a game before] but if you need it just ask.

 

[unmerged(370476)]

This mod along with Evilweasels mods look fantastic. Exactly what I was hoping for.

Do you intend to make this mod playable from 1066?

I would like to see the Uists be a separate 'county' also [ for slightly selfish reasons because that's where half my Family are from ]. Historically Lewis, Uists and Skye seemed to be constantly fighting each other so . I'll concede that having the MacNeil base of Barra would be getting a bit too detailed

Anyway this is great stuff, I'm not sure how I can help [ I've never modded a game before] but if you need it just ask.

Thanks for the interest! The main focus of the mod will be the post 1164 period, but it will be playable from 1066 onwards if one so chooses, but it will be balanced for an 1164 start.

My initial sketch-up initially had the Uists and Benbecula separate from Lewis, but I'm leery of adding too many provinces to the Isles for obvious reasons. On the other hand, as a MacNeil I'm sure you'll be pleased to note that the ancient seat of the MacNeils, Kisimul, will be represented as a barony. So expected Clan MacNeil to make an appearance.

And since it sounds like you have an interest in the MacNeils, if you haven't already, I'd recommend a look at Barra and Skye: Two Hebridean Perspectives. In particular, there are two articles in there giving alternative origins for Kisimul Castle, Kisimul Castle an the Origins of Hebridean Galley-Castles: Preliminary Thoughts, by Ian R. MacNeil, and Sally Foster's Kisimul Castle: Recent Work by Historic Scotland.

Any offers of help are greatly appreciated. Since at the moment I'm waiting for the full game to be released before getting too much into it, feel free to throw out ideas for flavour events, what historical personages you' like to see, gameplay changes, etc.

 

[spinoza013]

Thanks for the interest! The main focus of the mod will be the post 1164 period, but it will be playable from 1066 onwards if one so chooses, but it will be balanced for an 1164 start.

My initial sketch-up initially had the Uists and Benbecula separate from Lewis, but I'm leery of adding too many provinces to the Isles for obvious reasons. On the other hand, as a MacNeil I'm sure you'll be pleased to note that the ancient seat of the MacNeils, Kisimul, will be represented as a barony. So expected Clan MacNeil to make an appearance.

And since it sounds like you have an interest in the MacNeils, if you haven't already, I'd recommend a look at Barra and Skye: Two Hebridean Perspectives. In particular, there are two articles in there giving alternative origins for Kisimul Castle, Kisimul Castle an the Origins of Hebridean Galley-Castles: Preliminary Thoughts, by Ian R. MacNeil, and Sally Foster's Kisimul Castle: Recent Work by Historic Scotland.

Any offers of help are greatly appreciated. Since at the moment I'm waiting for the full game to be released before getting too much into it, feel free to throw out ideas for flavour events, what historical personages you' like to see, gameplay changes, etc.

Sounds great, My Grandparents were actually both Macdonalds from North Uist. My Grandfather was actually descended from the Macdonalds of Sleat in Skye [ a bad lot according to Uist folk ] while my Grandmother was Clanranald from Uist.

My paternal Grandmother was from Sandwick in Shetland so I'm definitely more Norse than Gael.