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Uaronain

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Nos Vadum Victum: An Ua Ruairc AAR

Nos Vadum Victum: An Ua Ruairc AAR​

intro2.jpg
Prologue
breifne2.jpg
Castle Dromahair, Kingdom of Breifne​


Our current stronghold is Castle Dromahair; which lies in the hilly north west of Leitrim amid some stunning unspoiled natural landscapes. The "Sleeping Giant" mountain formation (comprising Keelogyboy, Leean and Benbo) is visible on approaches to the castle, as is Lough Gill below the Slieve Daeáne and Killerry mountain. The castle itself is also idyllic, located on the banks of the River Bonet, which flows into Lough Gill.


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Bishopric of Kells
The monastery at Kells is thought to have been founded around 804 A.D. by monks fleeing from St Colmcille's Iona monastery to escape Viking invasions.

The Abbey of Kells was first founded by St. Columba ca. 554. What some historians term a refounding happened in the early ninth century by Columban monks fleeing from Iona which was repeatedly raided by the Vikings. The site was a former Irish hill fort. In 814, Cellach, Abbot of Iona, retired to Kells. After further Viking raids, goods and relics from the abbey were transferred to other Columban houses inland, including Raphoe, Dunkeld and the Abbey of Kells. Some historians believe that the Book of Kells may have been either started in Iona and finished in Kells or written entirely in Kells by successive generation of monks.

(The Abbey and Monastery are 2 seperate buildings with different build dates)
(pictured is the Tower of Kells)
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The Book of Kells
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The Book of Kells is the most famous, and one of the finest of a group of manuscripts in what is known as the Insular style, produced from the late 6th through the early 9th centuries in monasteries in Ireland, Scotland and England and in continental monasteries with Hiberno-Scottish or Anglo-Saxon foundations


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(Crest of O'Rourke)​
History class​
:

Breifne was the seat of the O'Rourkes -the ancient Kings of Brieifne. The ruins of the O'Rourke castle (built c. 950 AD) t is also the place from which Devorgilla (wife of Tiernan O'Rourke) eloped with Dermot McMurrough (the King of Leinster) in 1153 to Ferns, an act which brought about a feud and McMurrough's eventual exile from Ireland. He was a King of Leinster in Ireland. In 1167, he was deprived of his kingdom by the High King of Ireland - Turlough Mór O'Connor (Irish: Tairrdelbach mac Ruaidri Ua Conchobair). The grounds for the dispossession were that MacMurrough had, in 1152, abducted Derbforgaill, the wife of the King of Breifne, Tiernan O'Rourke (Irish: Tighearnán Ua Ruairc). To recover his kingdom, MacMurrough solicited help from King Henry II of England. In return, MacMurrough pledged an oath of allegiance to Henry, who sent troops in support. As a further thanks for his reinstatement, MacMurrough's daughter Aoife was married to Richard de Clare, the 2nd Earl of Pembroke (nicknamed "Strongbow"). Henry II then mounted a larger second invasion in 1171 to ensure his control over Strongbow, resulting in the Lordship of Ireland. MacMurrough was later known as Diarmait na nGall (Irish for "Diarmait of the Foreigners").




DISCLAIMER I am not a writer! This is a hobby and not my forte, my grammar will sometimes be bad.
I am running on the patched version with only the rise of empires mod
No cheating, reloading etc to get better results
The layout of this AAR has been inspired by Alexander Primus and his CHRONICLES OF THE GOLDEN CROSS REDUX. I am NOT very creative, imitation is the most sincere form of flattery!
!​

Table of Contents:

Intro Part 2

Chapter 1; Part 1
Behind the character; Opposites Attract



 

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I have most of the first 2 parts done, and have went about 90 years into the game with as many screenshots to go through. There are lots of twists and turns ahead! Tomorrow I will post the character introduction and start to go over his reign.
 
Ah, good old Breifne. I shall subscribe and wait.
 
The Synod of Kells 1052 (age 12)

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The men were filtering through the entrance of the Abbey from all corners of Ireland. Church Reform came slowly to Ireland. The synods main effect was to increase the number of archbishops from two to four, and to redefine the number and size of dioceses. Father told me the church holds great sway here; vast tracts of land are owned by the church and are outside the control of the many kingdoms of Ireland. Father had sent me there fraternize with the many erenaghs, bishops and other nobles. I remember firsthand the petty squabbles, divisions and rivalry created there by the mere presence of my fellow “Earls” It was there that I met Cardinal Paparoni. He was an Italian Cardinal and prominent papal legate in dealings with Ireland and Scotland. I remember peppering the good Cardinal with questions at every opportunity. Over the course of the Synod, the Cardinal would speak to me at great length about the world, the role the church played and my own responsibility to Breifne, god and the Holy Father. It was there that at the end of the synod that I left compelled to do his work, I had a yearning to serve the Holy Father and through him god’s will.

Castle Dromahair, Kingdom of Breifne

Earl Aed
aed1066.jpg

What is there to say about Aed? His martial skill is his one good feature, for everything else he is lucky to have his council. His education is skilled tactician and his one trait is brave. He will be married off to someone to help him rule the realm, not so much for possible allies or even titles.


The Council
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Of my council all I have to say is that it is actually pretty decent compared to what you can get when starting as a meager, landlocked province. The steward was sent forthright to collect taxes, the marshal was sent to train the levies, my honest spymasters was to uncover plots at the castle or at least appear to try. The chancellor was send right away to the province of Oriel, the earl there was a frequent thorn In the side of my family, constant cattle raids and his frequent claim to fame was his ancestor Nail of the Nine Hostages. I know many of you do not know of our Irish customs but to hold sway over another province and be recognized as king you needed to secure hostages of the local family. I grew tired of the cross border raids and the back and forth to just have access to ports along the Irish sea. Connaght to our west was not very feasible as she had allies and a more secure powerbase to draw upon allies. The King of Dublin and his brood have been long enemies and rivals of my line. The Norwegian Kings of Dublin, Cork, Waterford, Wexford and Limrick were not to be trusted. A mere generation ago In 1018, Sigtrygg plundered Kells; he "carried off innumerable spoils and prisoners, and slew many persons in the middle of the church. This left Oriel as the only feasable way to have access to the sea.


My Nephew the heir
heir1066.jpg

My dear nephew who is 11 years my senior and about as useful as teats on a bull is my heir; his one redeeming quality is his sons. Of his sons the younger is slightly better than his father, even with a clubfoot and a hunchback. They will all be married out as quickly as possible. Our goal is not to ensure claims but a more educated and diversified court.


The Spouse
spouse1066.jpg


I know it is not much of an introduction, but here you have our cast of characters, locations, a general theme and mood and some proper Irish history mixed in. I hope tomorrow to get to the actual game events!

All FEEDBACK will be considered, any advice would also be helpful. This is my second attempt at an AAR, the first one did not last as I lost the internet when I moved.

Word of the day is Erenaghs: That was a status word which indicated minor nobility, erenaghs being hereditary land owners who were responsible for the administration and operation of church lands and property in any given area. (similar to barons)
 
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Seems like a good setup. Hopefully Áed can get some children of his own instead of having to rely on his nephew for heirs.
 
Chapter 1; God, Gold and Glory

Chapter 1; part 1
Behind the character; opposites attract


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Beatrice de Guines

From the onset Beatrice was everything Aed needed even if he did not know it. She easily navigated court politics and influenced all policy from the moment she arrived in Brefine. Her understanding of all thing finicial gave a much needed boost to the provinces overall economic health. Before she was even pregnant with child she convinced Aed to do away with gavelkind succession in favor of primogeniture to ensure a stronger realm. She never openly challenged Aeds faith but would quietly steer him to more prudent choices even if it meant going against norms of the realm. Just like the Norse Viking raids of Eire forever changed warfare with the introduction of Bows, Axes and proper armor; Beatrice’s Frankish influence would forever change the realm. Aed wanted to do great things; it was Beatrice who knew how to get him where he needed to be.​


God, Gold and Glory
1066-1084

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Breifne 1069

The sound of thunder crashing through the valley almost drowned out the cries and pleas of dying men on the field that day. No matter how much it rained the meadow was still soaked with freshly spilled blood. Aed and his teaghlach (troops of the household) took to the field that day to avenge the deaths of his kinsmen who were held hostage by Earl Domnall of the Neill Noigiallaich clan. Hostages sent to end the frequent cattle raids and skirmishes along his eastern border that threatened the stability of Breifne. Though slightly outnumbered Aed was clearly the superior tactician and warrior; with the added benefit of the hilly terrain of Breifne the outcome of the battle was never in doubt. Once Domnall’s forces were driven from Breifne it was just a matter of time before Clones fell and Oriel would be added to his demesne.


Somewhere Beatrice was smiling, her ploy had succeeded. Aed’s claim to legitimacy to the province of Oriel was entirely her doing. No one had to know that the claim came at the cost of Aeds own kin. Only by their deaths could Aed claim right of retribution, it was Domnall’s responsibility to ensure the health of his hostages. She did what had to be done to strengthen the realm, to expand her soon to be born child’s territory in this backwards part of the world. (Later that year Ronan was born the first of 5 children she would come to bear)


1069-1083

Between 1069 and 1084 Breifne saw peace, her holdings expanded, wealth increased. While Aed focused on raising his son Ronan he would have three more children born.
1077 Fine
1080 Aed
1081 Fedelmid


While Beatrice was engrossed with trying to add Ulster to the fold by any means possible; Aed took Ronan on a pilgrimage to Rome. (it was common in Ireland for the various kings to make such a trip once during their lifetime.) These were dire times indeed, the heathen Muslims had swept southern Italy, Capua, Napoli, Apulia, Bari, Salerno, Taranto and Lecce were all under Muslim domination. Cardinal Paparoni by this time was an elderly man on his deathbed but he still made time for Aed on his pilgrimage. It was made blatantly clear to Aed that something had to be done before Rome fell! If no one else would take to the field for Christendom a little known King of Breifne would! Much to the horror of Beatrice upon Aed’s return he declared a holy war for Girgenti; he mustered his men and galleys and landed in Normandy and started his trek.

thelongtrip.jpg


Notes:
1. I actually tried to expand for a LONG time in ireland before 1084! I did not try to usurp the Duke title of Connaght as gold was best spent elsewhere IMO
2. I am not trying to gloss over these years, but they were relativity uneventful. I am trying to get to the better part of the story where things actually happen.
3. I know my writing style is ALL over the board. Once I get settled in, I hope it will be easier to read and follow.
4. Stay tuned, things never turn out the way you or I think!
5. It took 2 trips to get my 900 men across to france ie making me take a VERY long walk to italy
 
An Irish crusade into Italy? Excellent!!

Expanding in Eire can be very luckbased at times, so I totally understand. I also sympathize with the scattered writing style, but don't worry about it, it reads well.

I look forward to Áed's pilgrimage. :D
 
An Irish crusade into Italy? Excellent!!

Expanding in Eire can be very luckbased at times, so I totally understand. I also sympathize with the scattered writing style, but don't worry about it, it reads well.

I look forward to Áed's pilgrimage. :D

I dont know if you would consider 900 irishmen a "true crusade" lol

I can see the french lords watching the irishmen walking by and hoping they were not squatters!
 
Cross and Crescent the Battle for Girgenti

Chapter 1: part 2
Cross and Crescent the Battle for Girgenti​

Rome 1085​
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The procession entered holy Rome as the sun rose on the eastern horizon; both Aed and Ronan were in awe of the splendor that is Rome. The Mighty Aurelian Walls, a moat and portcullis manned with ever vigilant guardians of Pope Alexander II. He was a truly pious man, an example of Christian virtue. A mastermind theologian of the highest order; words such as scholarly, diligent, just, kind, zealous and brave aptly described him; there would never be another pontiff of his virtue. Inside the walls proper was just as spectacular with Cathedrals, churches, libraries, markets and the largest barracks and training ground ever seen. The impression would last a lifetime for both Aed and Ronan.

The residence of his Eminence Cardinal Paparoni

Aed was sitting across from the elder Paparoni with his son to his right. “Your boy looks to be the same age you were when we met at Kells all those years ago Aed.”

Aed not wanting to waste time quickly changed the subject” Your Eminence, we came as soon as we got your summons. None of my fellow Irish lords were willing to answer the call. The men who came with me here is what we have to call upon.”

Paparoni grimaced for a moment before answering “It seems no one else is willing to answer Holy Fathers call,” he motioned to one of his attendants “ Alexander II has seen fit to aid you in this struggle'


papalsupport.jpg


He continued; “The Sultanate of Africa threatens Rome directly but has yet to assault us, you would be best served by creating an adequate distraction. The Sheikdom of Girgenti is independent of both the Sultanate of Africa and the Emirate of Palermo but connecter to the former. Sheik Sayyid’s daughter is married to the Emir of Apulia. “

Aed paused and referred to a map as he had never heard of such a place. Paparoni continued “Strike a blow for all of Christendom, hold out for as long as you can, perhaps then the rest of Europe will answer the call.”

The next month provisions were procured, ships hired to ferry the host across the Strait di Messina, through the Golfe de Hammamet and into the malta Channel where the Breifne army would make landfall on the shores of Girgenti.



The Seige of Caltabellotta
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The landing was unusually quiet, the men made haste to Caltabellotta and found it to be defended with a token garrison, god is great! Our cause must truly be just as the main levies are out campaigning in what was left of the former Norman strongholds in southern Italy.

The monotony of the siege would soon be broken when the Sheiks host returned to try and break through our barricade around Caltabellotta. Once again the defensive terrain proved immeasurable and the Irishmen held even against superior numbers of the Muslims. The victory was bittersweet with almost half of our army lost we barely outnumbered the defensive garrison.
seigeofgirgenti.jpg



Mercifully the siege concluded without further incident, the Sheik grudgingly conceded Girgenti to the Celtic Crusaders and it appeared for the moment the luck of the Irish would hold out. With the levies depleted they were disbanded and allowed to return home so they could regale their kinsman with tales of Rome; and the “other island’. Over the course of the campaign Ronan matured into a man before Aed’s eyes. He would be promoted forthwith to Marshal of Breifne and ordered to train the levies there. He would not have much time before retribution came.


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As you can see, he is very similar to his father but slightly improved in every area. Traits pictured are brave, cruel, lustful, gregarious and honest.



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3 short months after the capitulation of Girgenti Emir Djafer I “The Fowler” of Cyrenaica sent us a message welcoming us to the neighborhood.
 
Amazing progress so far from that tiny band of Irishmen, but Cyrenaica seems hellbent on ruining the party. Let's hope they don't defy all logic and sail off to Eire.
 
Chapter 2: Conquest and Subjugation of a Different Sort

Chapter 2: Conquest and Subjugation of a Different Sort
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1085-1088



Grigenti, Sicily
Following the conquest of Girgenti Aed stayed behind in the newly subjugated realm while Ronan and the others sailed back to Breifne. He was fascinated by this strange place; architecture, irrigation, the network of roads and the myriad of people who were denizens of this place. The middle man between Aed and Maghreb Girgenti was Isaq banu Suleim, a local scholar. When word came of the approaching fleet from Cyrenaica it became agonizingly clear that he would have to withdraw to Eire. The tactical withdraw was quick and only a handful of maps, manuscripts and knowledgeable artisans would be taken back home. By the time Aed reached Eire local Fedayeen forces had raised up against Irish rule. Ironically the Emir would have to put them down before he could siege Girgenti.


Smelling blood the Emirate of Palermo joined the Gazawat against Breifne in earnest.Thus making the whole island of Sicily hostile and forbidding the irish of any safe staging area on the island. Aed turned to his allies in Eire and sent word to Rome asking for aid but his please fell on deaf ears in Rome and his fellow Earls in Eire polietly refused to send any aid, quietly Aed knew they all took glee in his predicament. His realm was part of Connaught and Ulster by de jure law but Aed resisted any and all pressure for him to yield to either. Neither Ulster or Connaught had the strenght of arms to reign in Breifne and look on with envy as she prospered. The Papal aid sent two years ago paid for an expansion of the keep at Dromahair and local revenue went into the expansion of the docks at Oriel leaving Breifne treasury flat broke. While the steward desperately tried to raise an emergency tax Ronan was hard at work raising and training new levies.


newlevies.jpg





Battle of Breifne
In september of 1087 the Muslim host finally arrived on the shores of Oriel, the levies of Oriel and Breifne were raised and combined to defend Dromahair. Aed’s greatest fears came to fruition, no one would stand with Breifne, all of Christendom and Eire looked on without the slightest care of the plight of the Breifnemen. Attrition, a short and violent battle with the Fedayeen and the voyage to Eire reduced the Emirs numbers but they still outnumbered the Irishmen by 60%. Aed, Ronana and the other nobles readied the men and fortified Breifne as best as possible and waited for the onslaught. Once Oriel fell the Emir gave the command to march on our ancestral homeland
.

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Deprived of adequate funding mercenaries were out of the question, there would be no last minute cavalry showing up. They were alone, outnumbered but determined to fight. Aed refused every plea for surrender Beatrice made; emboldened by his son’s bravado they took to the field; convinced that if they did enough damage the enemy would be weakened to the point that they would be unable to siege Castle Dromahair. The battle raged on and as valiant at the Irishmen were the left flank column of oriel folded from a hellish charge of Maghreb cavalry. Aed would be injured in the carnage that followed. When the Breifne host was driven from the field the Muslims turned and tried fruitlessly to seige Dromahair. But sadly it was too late. (war score was at 100% after the battle and they did not have to take Breifne to win)

The Aftermath

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Broken and beaten Aed was taken to meet with Emir Djafer I “The Fowler” of Cyrenaica The negotiations that followed were the first evidence of Gaelic-Arabic synchronization in history. The terms were merciful. Djafer respected and admired Aed’s courage and conviction and in concordance with established Sharia law offered him Dhimmi status. Under sharia law, dhimmi status was originally afforded to Jews, Christians, and Sabians. The terms are as follows.

1. Dhimmis have the same social responsibilities and rights as Muslims
2. They are excused or excluded from specific duties assigned to Muslims, and otherwise equal under the laws of property, contract and obligation.
3. The right for their own chiefs and judges, with their own family, personal and religious laws
4. The pledge of protection granted the freedom to practice their religion and spared them forced conversions
5. The collection of the jizya tax
6. The security (dhimma) of God is equal for all groups
7. Non-Muslim members have equal political and cultural rights as Muslims. They will have autonomy and freedom of religion.
8. Non-Muslims will take up arms against the enemy of the Emir and share the cost of war. There is to be no treachery between the two.
9. Non-Muslims will not be obliged to take part in religious wars of the Muslims
10. Non-Muslims cannot raise arms against a muslim without legal cause and approval
11. Forfeit of all claims to Gregenti

Irish Customs added​
12. The eldest daughter of Breifne will be wed to a member of Djafer's house
13. The second son of Aed's house will marry a daughter of Djafer's house



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Glossary of terms:
1: Gazawat : holy war, not a jihad as those are called by the caliphs


2:Fedayeen: are any of various groups of people known to be volunteers, not connected to an organized government or military, in the Near East. They are usually deployed for a cause where the government has been viewed as failed or non-existent. They are associated with the role of resistance against occupation or tyranny. The name "fedayeen" is used to refer to armed struggle against any form of enslavement with actions based on resistance

3:The jizya tax: Payment of the jizya obligated Muslim authorities to protect dhimmis in civil and military matters. Sura 9:29 stipulates that jizya be exacted from non-Muslims as a condition required for jihad to cease. Failure to pay the jizya could result in the pledge of protection of a dhimmi's life and property becoming void, with the dhimmi facing the alternatives of conversion, enslavement or death (or imprisonment, as advocated by Abu Yusuf, the chief qadi — religious judge — of Abbasid caliph Harun al-Rashid).
Taxation, from the perspective of dhimmis who came under Muslim rule, was "a concrete continuation of the taxes paid to earlier regimes" Lewis observes that the change from Byzantine to Arab rule was welcomed by many among the Dhimmis who found the new yoke far lighter than the old, both in taxation and in other matters, and that some even among the Christians of Syria and Egypt preferred the rule of Islam to that of Byzantines.
.

Supporting Texts and ideals:
1. There is no compulsion in religion…", from [Quran 2:256]

2.Religious pluralism existed in medieval Islamic law and ethics. The religious laws and courts of other religions, including Christianity, Judaism and Hinduism, were usually accommodated within the Islamic legal framework, as exemplified in the Caliphate, Al-Andalus, Ottoman Empire and Indian subcontinent.

3.In medieval Islamic societies, the qadi (Islamic judges) usually could not interfere in the matters of non-Muslims unless the parties voluntarily chose to be judged according to Islamic law. The dhimmi communities living in Islamic states usually had their own laws independent from the Sharia law, such as the Jews who had their own Halakha courts.


4.Dhimmis were allowed to operate their own courts following their own legal systems. However, dhimmis frequently attended the Muslim courts in order to record property and business transactions within their own communities. Cases were taken out against Muslims, against other dhimmis and even against members of the dhimmi’s own family. Dhimmis often took cases relating to marriage, divorce or inheritance to the Muslim courts so these cases would be decided under sharia law. Oaths sworn by dhimmis in the Muslim courts were sometimes the same as the oaths taken by Muslims, sometimes tailored to the dhimmis’ beliefs.

5.Islamic law and custom prohibited the enslavement of free dhimmis within lands under Islamic rule.





Author’s Notes:
Ronan's first child, a daughter named Sioban is born in 1088
During the siege of Oriel the event fired for fabricating a claim for Ulster pictured below.
ulster-1.jpg





Immediately after the war ended I went to the diplomacy screen, that is when I noticed I could swear feality to the Emir. I did so for plot reasons. Feeling betrayed by his allies and church. He will cling on to his catholic faith though, no conversions if I can help it.
Little did I know what being a vassal of an Emir entailed, no more holy wars vs Muslims, every war would have to be via claim or vs a pagan (not gonna happen, wont go to Estonia to grab land!)
Minor Spoiler: Christian nations can HOLY WAR the emir for your land even if you are catholic and you lands are catholic.​
 
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Conversion, wow! I didn't expect that. A bit bizarre, but no less than the muslims sailing all the way to Eire!
 
He didnt convert, the irish are still catholic but under the "protection" of the Emir ;)

Er, vassalization, yes. :p That's what I get for late-night AAR comments.
 
Chapter 3 A synopsis of the reign of Sheikh Aed of Breifne 1088-1110

Chapter 3 A synopsis of the reign of Sheikh Aed of Breifne
1088-1110

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1088
To the commoner in the territories under Sheikh Aeds control life went on as normal, there were very few differences under the Emir’s rule. Aed relied deeply on Beatrice and Ronan during the early years as Aed was constantly called to Benghazi for one event or another. Beatrice would continue solidifying her families grip in northeast Eire; while Ronan continued to lead the armies of Aed. Ronan seethed with anger when he learned about his father’s oath to Emir Djafer and his younger brother Flan openly plotted against Aed and Djafer resulting in his imprisonment for several years when Aed would finally return to Breifne.


to my surprise the relationship between Aed and Djafer was astonishingly good. The first year under the Emir’s rule he was invited to Benghazi to celebrate with a feast.

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During which he was given the honorary title of High Almoner….

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And the two of them would stay up late into the night talking about everything from religion to cultural advances made in Islamic lands. This is what inspired him to send his Spymaster to Cordoba to learn.


In 1089 the move paid dividends as the knowledge of cultural flexibility came to Breifne.
sharingiscaring.jpg



When Aed returned in 1090 he was ready to begin conquest of Ulster in earnest.

wewon.jpg


As much as Emir Djafer respected Aed; his two sons did not. They would consort to send Sunni missionaries to Eire upsetting the locals in Ulster and converting a few members of the court.

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1093-1096


In the year of our lord 1093 the merciful Emir Djafer passed from this world not so suddenly at age 76 leaving his son Hina the Emirate, who was much less forgiving of his Irish catholic vassals. The next three years were blissfully uneventful. But all the goodwill Djafer built with Aed was forever shattered in 1096 when Aed went to the first feast of the new Emir. He would be informed that Hina had judged that the Mayor of Barca; Is ‘Mail had a rightful claim on Breifne, this blatant power grab was the straw that broke the camels back.

notgoingasplaned.jpg


Beatrice and her eldest son Ronan would convince Aed to plot to reform the laws of the Emirate in 1098; an eye for an eye or so they say. If Hina wanted to take the Ua Ruairc ancestral he would do the same to the banu Suleim lands.


elections.jpg
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Aed would nominate himself of course and would be tied with Hina’s eldest son Abdul-Wahab.
In a different vein that same year the spymaster reported another success in Cordoba; bringing Breifne religious flexibility.

tech2.jpg


One year after the election reforms in the Emirate; Hina would hold another feast, Aed went as he always did, but this time his rival Is ‘mail would be there to meet him. All etiquette failed Aed as he saw the sneer on Is ‘Mail’s face, he drew his sword and challenged him to a duel right then and there.

duel.jpg


After slaying the Mayor of Barca, Aed would quickly return home and never see Benghazi again. All hope of reconciliation with the emirate died with Is ‘Mail; as he was a close friend if Hina’s second son, the moderate one who had not nominated anyone for the emirate until Aed killed his friend. With succession secured for Hina’s brood Ronan the heir of Aed began to plot on his own.



Armed Conflicts and marriages

1101-1108

With the death of Ronan’s first wife Froizza di Lozi (one child Sioban) , he was remarried to Princess Maria Trpimirovic of Croatia securing a crucial ally in the following years.
The second son Flan married the eldest daughter of Emir Djafer
The 3rd son Aed the Younger married Katrine of House Ylving
The 4th son Fedelmid married Miroslava, she is Maria’s sister also a Croatian Princess.
Tracing the line of my original heir my 11 year elder nephew, his grandson a competent man Donnchad is also married into the Ylving line.
In total we have 4 members of house Ua Ruairc married into the banu Suleim line (the worst in-laws ever and ruling family of the Emirate)​


1101 The conquest of Palermo
Aed and Ronan never forgot Sicily and when the opportunity presented itself they pressed a claim for war. Outnumbered they would rely on their more powerful allies in Croatia.


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1103 We earn a claim on Dublin; we will use it later of course!

1104 Aed goes insane the same year Ronan’s only child Sioban turned 16 a charismatic Negotiator she was married to Spymaster Tuathal de cavan, who was promptly imprisoned after being caught trying to steal technology in Cordoba in 1108, the Sultan refused to ransom him as well adding to her troubles.

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1107 conquest of Siracusa took place

1108 Scottish holy War for Ulster
The conflict ended with a white peace, Scotland has a long history of internal problems. House Dunkeld in this alternate timeline acts a lot like the Crovans. Civil war and assassination are commonplace.

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1110 death of aed, an oath fulfilled, his debt to Djafer is paid in full.

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Our next Chapter will be with Ronan at the helm. (I am going on a lot of old screenshots as I have not played this save game since I started the AAR.)
 
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I am about 20 years away from my save file, hoping to catch up in the next 2-3 updates, so there will be a lot of cramming in them so please understand. I want to play the dang game but do updates when everything is still fresh on my mind... not looking at my notes and screenshots -_-
 
Understandable, it can be tough to keep up sometimes. I'm sure you'll get there soon enough!

Hopefully Ronan has more luck than Aed.
 
My mind is fully blown, well done sir.

Here's hoping for catholic Irishmen to be elected rulers of a Bedoin emirate.
 
Chapter 4 A Good old fashioned Irish Insurrection; Succession Worries

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1110-1125

Timeline of events



In February of 1110 the King of Scotland started the second Scottish Holy War for Ulster but this time he had a powerful ally, the French! One month before the death of Aed the Elder hostilities commenced. The Emir not wanting to lose his grip in the area sent his personal levies to Scotland while Ronan’s army defended Ireland proper, not wanting to aid the Emir directly but wanting to defend Ireland. Initially the Emir’s army had success and the first Scottish army was pushed back trying to cross into Ireland by Ronan. The next several months the war was pretty much a stalemate with the exception of the Emir laying siege to the Isles.


March 9th Aed dies 1110 (details and image available in previous chapter)
Everything changed in early March when the French finally arrived; they quickly drove the Emir from Scotland with help from the Scots and marched directly towards Ireland. Once in Ireland; King Henri the second of France gave Ronan an ultimatum. If Ronan would not liberate his god fearing catholic countrymen from the yoke of heathen rule, that he Henri would be happy to do it for him and add his demesne to his own. Faced with 6,000 Franks already in Ireland or fighting the Emir in Africa… he made his choice.


On March 9th 1110 Ronan raises his sword in rebellion noticing the fact the Emir’s levies had been annihilated. Ronan quickly mustered all available galleys and levies and set sail to Palermo where he would gather all of his realms forces and embark to Africa directly hopefully before the Emir could recover.



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Independence won September 29, 1111
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After more than a year of fighting in Africa the Emir yielded to the Irishmen, and in doing so ended 23 years of foreign rule in Ireland. There was much rejoicing back home in Breifne as Ronan won much prestige in winning his independence. The same day the war was won he was crowned Duke of Ulster!
(he seizes the title)
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With the war of independence over Ulster was free to manage its own affairs and would see relative peace for the next 9 years. The treasury was shot, manpower was depleted and the threat of domestic rebellion in Sicily too great to engage in anything but strengthening the realm. The rest of de jure Ulster quickly swore allegiance to Ronan after a few skrimishes. Of great concern was that Ronan still only had one child. A daughter, and was on his second marriage to Maria; princess of Croatia. As lustful as he was she had not given him a single child.



Notable Events, Gaelic culture spreads!


It is important to remember that these Irishmen were more culturally and religiously flexible than other Christian rulers of the day. 2 decades of Muslim influence and stolen ideas from Cordoba made for integration easier on the newly conquered Muslim lands.

Janurary 5th 1116 Palermo converts

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March 28th 1116 Syracuse becomes Irish

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Let’s take a at the family tree in 1118


Direct Line is 1-2, Flanns line 3, Aed the younger’s line 4, Fedelimd’s line 5-6
1. Ronan’s marriage to his second wife Maria, Princess of Croatia has produced no children (he is 49 with 1 child; a daughter named Sioban)

2. Siaban’s husband is still in prison in Cordoba (no children she is 30 )

3. Agnes daughter of Flann, granddaughter of Emir Djafer she is 6 *claim on the Emirate*

4. Ailbhe age 6; granddaughter of King Knud the 3rd of Denmark *will have claim on Denmark*

5. Mael-Caran; Age 18, married to Haldora Princess of Norway, son of Miroslava Princess of Croatia and sister of maria (Ronan’s wife)

6.Colman: age 7, he is the son of the same pair as Mael

Dec 6th 1118 Sioban husband dies in a Cordoba prison at 30 she has no children
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She finds a matrilineal marriage in Patrick Dunkeld, nephew of King Duncan the second of Scotland, he was in the court of Munster after an apparent exile.



Maria “The Barren” wife is dead 1120
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She produced 0 children for Ronan; he would remarry again, this time looking for a young noble woman with a strong desire to make an heir. He found Gudrun von Greyerz an unusually talented German noblewoman; who was quick, gregarious, deceitful, wroth, envious and lustful. Through her he would have 4 more children; none of them a son, leaving Ronan with 5 daughters.



1120 Conquest of Dublin, claiming of titles of Duke in Meath and Leinster, the conquest of malta and claiming the duchy of Sicily.


In 1123 two important things happened; firstly With the addition of a 4th Duchy in Sicily he would save up to form the Kingdom of Ulster in 1123.


Secondly; The Holy War for the reconquest of Girgenti, and annexation of Trapani was at hand. It had been 38 long years sence the Emirate took Girgenti but Duke Ronan was determined to take it back. This was the very same place Ronan first saw a real battle.
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With Ronan personally commanding the center levies and his kin on both flanks the Irishmen from Ulster had the clear advantage in leadership. The battle was bloody but quick as the marshal from the Emirate was killed in battle, causing the center pillar of the Muslims to crumble, the remaining forces were quickly driven from the field and Ronan was able to siege the remaining emirate holdings in Sicily unmolested.


Noverember 3th 1125 Palermo becomes irish
Integration was smooth on the Northern half of the island of Sicily, with both Palermo and Syracuse firmly Catholic and Irish Ronan would move the capital to Palermo after this.

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