Rule Britannia: A Britannic Empire AAR

[StalinSenpai]

Another update! I'm slowly but surely working through my screenshots.

Also, I've finished the game in CK2. I hope to transfer this game to EU4, but since I don't have any DLCs, I need advice on the most important DLCs if anyone has suggestions.

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Spoiler

The Issue of Duke Scandal mac Tóim Dál Birn, the first of his name, Duke of Laigin and Mumu, Count of Leix, Osraige, Uí Maine and Urmhumhain:

· Duke Scandal had no issue because of his early death, which is why the throne was inherited by his aunt Sébdann upon his death.

Summary:
​

Duke Scandal (“SKON-dul”) begins a period of short reigns. The next three heads of House Dál Birn would rule for a combined 19 years, almost exactly long as the rule of Duke Máel-Caen II. Duke Scandal continued expanding his family’s domains, and he paid for his new territory with his life, dying at the age of 36 due to a head wound he received in the Battle of Bréifne in 842. However, he did almost complete the conquest of Southern Ireland during his reign, and it is because of his expansion that his successor, the Queen Sébdann, could credibly claim the title “Queen of Ireland.” Because of this, he has often been portrayed as a tragic hero, striving and almost achieving his goal and the goal of his ancestors since Chief Tóim, yet dying and failing. Poems, plays and books have all been written by various authors on this theme, and through this, Duke Scandal has taken on a second life.

Expansion:​

“Continuous expansion” might well have been the motto of House Dál Birn. There was rarely a ruler who did not expand their domains by the end of their reign, and Duke Scandal was no exception. Within a year of his ascension to the throne, he declared war on the King of Connachta to the north.

Spoiler: Claim

In the tradition of House Dál Birn, Duke Scandal personally commanded troops in battle, and according to all sources was a good commander. We cannot, however, compare him to other great military leaders like Duke Máel-Cein I, King Niallán I, and Emperor Máel-Cein the Great because of his young death. The war against Connachta was ended quickly, as the King, Fogartach, was captured in battle a few months into the war. King Fogartach was ransomed in exchange for the County of Iarthar Connachta, and peace was declared.

Spoiler: King Captured

After a few years, where the Duke was mostly concerned with domestic affairs (such as an attempt by the Chieftess of Laigin to usurp Mumu from the Duke), Duke Scandal successfully lobbied the Pope to grant him a sanction of the invasion of Tir Chonaill, a county to the north of the Duke’s realms.

Spoiler: It's Treason Then

Why did the Pope sanction this invasion? And why did the Catholic Church have the power to justify a war in far-off Ireland? Partially, Pope Leo IV acceded to the Duke’s request due to the Church’s stance on female rulers; Tir Chonaill was ruled by a chieftess at the time. But The Catholic Church, as the most powerful organization of pre-unification Europe, had great political as well as cultural influence. Intelligent rulers understood this and ensured good relations with both local bishops and the Pope in Rome. The Church could and did provide an ideology which justified monarchy and secular authority, and the monarchy in turn provided protection for the Church, creating special punishments for those who defiled church property or attacked bishops.

The ideology of the church, preached via parish priests to the common people, often emphasized Christ’s respect for civil authorities. In more intellectual circles, supporters of the monarchy argued that the Bible shows that God wanted Christians to support and defend civil authority. This strain of thinking, where part of any Christian’s proper role in society was to support the state, was and even is popular among the Church. A counter-theory, most famously promulgated by the Pope Iohannes X in his papal bull Unam sanctam, proposed that the Pope, as the Vicar of Christ, had authority over temporal issues as well as spiritual ones. This theory was mostly relegated to fringe thinkers after the Papal Wars, as it was declared heretical by the new Pope Iohannes XI after his installation. This theological strain was rediscovered and became important later in the Reformation.

But this religious schism came much later in history; the important point is that all throughout pre-unification Europe monarchs and the Church supported each other. Despite the excommunication of his brother, Duke Scandal evidently had a good relationship with the Church during his short reign. The conquest of Connachta, completed in 883, avenged the excommunication, as it had been King Fogartach who convinced Hadrianus I to excommunicate the Duke in the first place. The sanction of the invasion of Tir Chonaill can be seen, then, as a Papal apology – a sign that Duke Scandal and his house were no longer considered suspect. However, it was during this invasion that the Duke fell, unable to complete the conquest. It was left to his aunt and successor, Queen Sébdann, to complete it.

Portrayals in Art:​

The motif of the tragic hero has been extremely popular in various art forms for centuries, if not millennia. The Chronicle records that Duke Scandal was planning to crown himself King of Ireland, with papal sanction, after the war against Tir Chonaill was completed. These preparations were used to crown Queen Sébdann instead in 842. Duke Scandal was so close to achieving the goal of family generations back, yet he was struck down in a chaotic battle just before he could finally attain it. No wonder the Romantic movement so fixated on his story in the 19th-century. His most famous portrayal is in the novel Duke Scandal; or, The Tragic Youth by the early Romantic writer Patrick Devlin, published in 1809, which portrays the Duke as a brooding yet ultimately heroic figure. Duke Scandal is still considered one of the greatest Romantic novels to this day, despite its myriad historical inaccuracies, such as demonizing Queen Sébdann with sexist tropes. She is depicted as a temptress (despite the fact that she was 68 at the time of the Duke’s death) and manipulator, scheming for Duke Scandal’s throne. It is even implied that she sets up the Duke’s death as an assassination in the novel, which is rather improbable given that she lived in Asturias at the time. Despite all of these historical inaccuracies, Devlin’s portrayal of doomed, tragic youth resonated both with contemporary audiences and continues to do so.

Many painters have also used the death of Duke Scandal for inspiration. One of the most famous is the English painter Alfred Marlowe, who shortly after the publishing of Duke Scandal painted a scene inspired by the novel’s climatic scene, where the unconscious Scandal is laid upon his deathbed. While the setting is anachronistic (depicting what was, at the time of the painting, contemporary furniture) the painting proved extremely popular, boosting sales of the book and establishing Duke Scandal firmly in the public mind.

Spoiler: The Death of Duke Scandal

Both of these artistic ventures were tacitly or even explicitly encouraged by House Dál Birn and the Britannic government at the time. Due to resurgent nationalist forces, the Royal House and Britannic government encouraged a Britannic identity through art and popular culture. This portrayal of their distant ancestor, along with comparisons to Alexander the Great (still believed at this time to be direct ancestors of House Dál Birn by many) only benefited the Royal House politically.

Spoiler: The King is Dead, Long Live the King!

Summary:

It is hard to say anything truly definitive about Duke Scandal I. He showed promise as a Duke and a military leader, but his early death means we cannot judge if he was truly great or if his success was just a fluke. His ascension started one of the more unstable periods in his dynasty’s history, as both of the rulers who succeeded him would die shortly into their reigns as well. Ultimately, his greatest legacy is in the art and literature he inspired, not in the laws he enacted or the territory he conquered.

 

[stnylan]

Seems to be the sor to fellow who gets seen through a rather romantic lens.

 

[blitzthedragon]

The painting used is especially interesting, since you noted that it has contemporary furnishings. To my recollection, that was actually fairly common in Renaissance-era paintings. For example, some Biblical scenes would show the characters wearing clothing or in settings that would be more recognizable to people living in the 15th-17th centuries. Probably because most painters had no clue what people actually wore in that time period.

 

[alscon]

A reign, sadly cut short early. At least for some people, it was sad (later romanticists surely didn't complain).

And isn't it ironic? It is the papal stance on the rule of women... which allowed a woman to be crowned queen of Ireland. The Holy See and house Dál Birn certainly have an interesting history binding each other.

 

[StalinSenpai]

A reign, sadly cut short early. At least for some people, it was sad (later romanticists surely didn't complain).

And isn't it ironic? It is the papal stance on the rule of women... which allowed a woman to be crowned queen of Ireland. The Holy See and house Dál Birn certainly have an interesting history binding each other.

Believe me, things get a lot more interesting later.

 

[StalinSenpai]

The Reign of Queen Sébdann:​

Spoiler

The Issue of Queen Sébdann nic Máel-Cein Dál Birn, the first of her name, Queen of Éire, Duchess of Laigin and Mumu, Countess of Leix, Muaidhe, Osraige, Uí Maine and Urmhumhain:

· Countess Siobán nic Witiza Dál Birn, Countess of Bulith. (b. November 10, 800, d. November 14, 822). Married Count Tewdwr of Bulith, a minor county in Wales. She died at the age of 22 due to cancer and left no issue.

Summary:
​

At the time of the unfortunate early death of Duke Scandal, the Tanist selected by the lords of Laigin was Queen Sébdann, aunt of the Duke and at that time the only adult member of the house other than Scandal. Scandal did not have children before his death, and his only other relative was his younger brother Ioseph, who would eventually succeed Sébdann upon her death. Some preferred Ioseph for king, to allow a regent to manage the country in the interest of the nobility, but due to the instability of the period after Scandal’s death Sébdann was viewed as the best choice. The nobility preferred an adult as ruler, even if she was 68, a woman, and previously married to a faraway King.

Sébdann’s reign, although short, was a watershed moment in the history of House Dál Birn and the British Isles. In her short 6 years on the throne, The Chairte Anbháil was ratified, to this day the foundational document of Britannic law. Another monumental event in Sébdann’s reign was her declaration of the Kingdom of Ireland on July 20, 842. Because of this, she is generally considered to be the first monarch of Ireland. However, there is still contention about this, as she was never crowned by a member of the Church during her reign, despite many negotiations between her and various clergymen. Her successor, King Ioseph, was crowned by Pope Leo VI in an extravagant ceremony on May 12, 849. Because of this, some consider King Ioseph to be the first true monarch of Ireland. During much of the medieval era, Ioseph was considered the first king for this reason (especially by those who thought that female rulers were an affront to God).

Although she is most known for her constitutional reforms, Sébdann also waged further wars to conquer territory. Since she claimed authority over all Ireland, she waged various wars to complete the conquest of northern Ireland. She completed, for instance, the war against Tir Chonaill within a month of her ascension, avenging her nephew’s death. She also waged war against King Fogartach of Connachta, who had also been defeated by Duke Scandal, and also King Dálach ‘the Usurper’ of Cill Dara, although she died before this conquest was completed. Her coronation, reforms and wars will all be covered in more detail in this chapter.

Sébdann’s Reign:
​

Upon Duke Scandal’s death, a brief interregnum occurred as Sébdann was at the time living with her husband in Asturias. Scandal died on March 24, 842, and it was almost the end of April before Sébdann arrived in Laigin. Due to the nature of medieval travel, it took weeks for messengers to travel by boat down to the Iberian Peninsula, inform the future Queen, and convince her to return and assume the ducal throne. Chieftess Eithne and her troops, however, were not particularly understanding of this situation, and attempted to take advantage of the confusion after the Duke’s death.

At the time of the Duke’s death, he was besieging a hillfort in the region of Tir Chonaill. As he had personally led his troops, the command structure of his army was disarrayed, and the besieged soldiers attempted a sortie to weaken the attacking army. However, despite the death of their Duke, most of the soldiers were battle-hardened veterans who had fought in one war or another for House Dál Birn, whereas the sortie was poorly executed and outnumbered. The ducal troops rallied to the ducal banner and defeated the sortie, and soon managed to capture the hillfort. This capture marked the end of the campaign against Tir Chonaill, as Laigin had defeated their army and captured several forts. Chieftess Eithne swore fealty to the Duchess Sébdann on June 29, 842.

Spoiler: The War Continues

With Duke Scandal’s war completed and his death avenged, Sébdann prepared to make a proclamation that would forever change the history of Ireland and the British Isles. Seeing that her House controlled over half of the island, and that no other Irish ruler could compete or contest her claim effectively, she resolved to create a Kingdom of Ireland (Old Irish: Ríoghacht Éireann), with herself as its first queen. In an elaborate ceremony on July 20, 842, Sébdann declared herself Queen of Ireland, created this title (with a gold harp on a blue background as its heraldry, supposedly inspired by a folk tale) and claimed dominion over all of Ireland. She also, quite unintentionally, created a dispute which continues to this day – who is the first monarch of Ireland?

Spoiler: Long Live the Queen!

Those who support Sébdann as the first monarch point to this declaration as their main piece of evidence. She not only explicitly used the phrase “Kingdom of Ireland” for the first time, she also created the traditional symbol of Ireland (the gold harp on a blue field, still used today) and claimed her and her heirs’ right to rule the island. She also, as will be discussed later, enacted reforms to create a more centralized government, most especially the Chairt Anbháil. As the Chairt Anbháil is a foundational document of the Britannic constitution, it is argued that Sébdann was the first monarch.

There are those, however, who support Sébdann’s successor, King Ioseph I. The main points argued are that Ioseph was crowned by the Pope in an elaborate ceremony which confirmed his authority and divine right, as opposed to Sébdann’s self-declaration. It was also Ioseph who ordered a royal crown to be forged, although this crown was lost after his death and has never been found. Ioseph, especially in the centuries directly after Sébdann’s reign, was considered to be the first King of Ireland. This was partially due to that period’s reverence of the Pope, although also based on medieval patriarchal attitudes. Famously, the theologian Richard of Essex denounced Sébdann’s reign as “contrary to the teachings of our Lord” in his Sapientia Stultis, published in 1124, although many others also denounced female rule. More recently, feminists have adopted Sébdann as a hero or even a mascot of sorts, along with her distant descendant Empress Lucia I ‘the Noble.’ It is interesting to note that two of the most important events in Britannic history (the creation of the Kingdom of Ireland and the creation of the Empire of Britannia) were both instigated by female rulers at the time.

Regardless of which monarch is truly the first, Queen Sébdann’s act forever changed Ireland and the British Isles. All of Ireland would, within a few decades, be ruled by House Dál Birn, and this rule has continued mostly uninterrupted since. Ireland provided a launching point for House Dál Birn to invade the other British Isles; first crossing the Irish Sea into Wales, then the Scottish Inheritance, and finally the Conquest of England. A Dál Birn has ruled Ireland for nearly 1,200 years now, and it historically has been very supportive of the monarchy and its rights, perhaps because of this long history.

The new Queen recognized, at least partially, the magnitude of her decision. Within a year, she convened a council of her vassals to win their approval for a series of reforms she proposed. Feudalism had already replaced the old tribal system, due to the hard work of the Dukes Máel-Cein I and II, but Sébdann wanted to codify a new system of rights and obligations with her new kingdom. In addition to her vassals, she also consulted with churchmen, mayors, and monks about her reforms. It is likely that the very idea of a written, codified set of laws comes from Roman manuscripts stored in Irish monasteries.

The first reform was the codification of obligations. Previously, an ad hoc system of various taxes and troop requirements had ensured that administration was complicated and resulted in less taxes and troops. This system existed in part due to a lack of a state aside from the Duke and his retainers, another issue Sébdann attempted to deal with, but it also resulted from various conditions that different vassals had sworn fealty under. For instance, the region of Tir Chonaill, just conquered by Sébdann, payed one half the land tax as other regions, due to the terms of Chieftess Eithne’s fealty. Sébdann swept away this system of exemptions and contradictions and instituted a simple system that lasted for centuries afterwards. Noblemen were taxed at a rate of 20% (the “royal fifth”) while merchants and cities were taxed at a rate of 30%, to offset the lack of an obligation to provide troops.

Another crucial reform was the recognition of three estates. The estates were at first rough, informal divisions of society, but were codified by the Chairt Anbháil, which stipulated their political representation, powers, and rights. The Chairt recognized the estate’s legal rights, which included the right of habeas corpus and the right to a trial before being punished. It also provided a mechanism for their consultation in matters of state – the Comairle Airecha (“Council of Noblemen”). The Comairle Airecha could be assembled and dissolved by the Queen’s command and had limited legislative authority – the right to approve or deny executions and imprisonments, the right to declare war, the right to approve or deny the revocation or granting of titles.

The first estate was the nobility, the landed vassals who inherited land and swore an oath of fealty to the Queen. As previously mentioned, they were obligated to provide levies when necessary as well as to pay taxes. The second estate was the clergy. The clergy at this point were not particularly developed; there was no Irish Archbishop as the Anglo-Saxons had in the Archbishops of Canterbury and York. However, as the interactions between previous dukes and the Church proved, the bishops and the Pope could wield great power. In addition to rich estates and lands, the bishops wielded immense ideological power – as the representatives of God, they could withdraw His sanction from an ostensibly impious ruler. The third estate was essentially the rest of society, but the most important of these were mayors. The relative stability of House Dál Birn’s rule had allowed the economy to flourish, with extensive trade links to the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms, Francia, and beyond. As this became more lucrative, the mayors became more politically powerful.

It should be noted here that these estates lost power and autonomy over time, as Dál Birn rulers continued to consolidate power in the hands of the royal family. It was during this early period where the nobility and mayors especially had the most power, but the political history of the ensuing centuries is a largely a struggle between landed aristocrats and the Crown, a struggle the Crown eventually won, at least temporarily. The Comairle Airecha was formally abolished by its own authority; its main influence lies in the seeds it planted for future republican and liberal movements much later in history. While there were, of course, later revolts against royal and imperial authority, these were successfully crushed by the Crown. However, as the Empire later expanded into Europe, its sheer size ensured that the viceroys and kings who ruled under the Emperor had great autonomy.

Another reform of the Chairt Anbháil was the establishment of a rudimentary royal bureaucracy. As with taxation, governance had been very decentralized and unorganized under previous rulers. Sébdann established the beginnings of the Royal (later Imperial) Chancellery, which controlled correspondence to and from the Queen. While this started merely as a few scribes sent from a local monastery, within decades it became the most sophisticated bureaucracy in Europe since the Roman Empire, successfully helping to manage the affairs of one of Europe’s leading powers.

This package of reforms took significant persuasion, cajoling and bribery to gain the assent of the majority of the assembled estates.

Spoiler

Many powerful men benefited greatly from the unequal obligations imposed on them and fought tooth and nail to prevent their taxes from being increased. However, Sébdann was evidently a canny politician, as the Chairt was formally signed on May 21, 843 after a month of debate and political maneuvering.

Spoiler

Some overzealous historians almost entirely attributed these reforms to Sébdann’s genius. While she certainly deserves credit for her political instincts and ability, many of these reforms were continuations of what previous rulers had done. Duke Máel-Cein I had started to introduce more obligations; Sébdann did, however, continue them and perhaps more importantly codified them. Sébdann’s rule still has great significance to this day because of the Chairt and her establishment of Ireland.

Shortly after this new system was ratified and implemented, Sébdann convened the first Comairle Airecha in October 845. She convened this in order to convince them to approve a declaration of war against King Fogartach of Connachta, a perennial enemy of House Dál Birn. Even after two defeats, he still held territory in the region known as Muaidhe, the northern part of Connachta.

Spoiler

The war lasted for roughly a year and marked the final defeat of Connacht and King Fogartach. The two parties concluded peace in September 846, and Muaidhe was annexed. Still, northern Ireland still remained outside of Irish rule. Fortunately for the Queen, the Kingdom of Mide fractured after a succession crisis. This presented an excellent opportunity to invade the newly independent County of Cill Dara, which she did in 847.

Spoiler

However, this was not finished until after her death. Like many previous rulers, she left a war raging as she passed away. Queen Sébdann passed away on March 10, 848 at the age of 74. The Chronicle records that she died peacefully in bed after six years on the throne. The throne passed to her great-nephew, Ioseph, at the age of 20.

Spoiler: The Queen is Dead, Long Live the King!

Summary:​

Despite her short reign, Queen Sébdann changed the course of history. She bound together a new kingdom that would go on to conquer all of Ireland, the British Isles, and even more territory. She enacted the Chairt Anbháil, a firm legal foundation that would anchor this new kingdom, even as it dealt with succession crises, plagues and wars; and she also created the Comairle Airecha, which would assist in governing this new kingdom. And, what is perhaps most remarkable, she did all of this as an old woman, almost entirely unknown in her kingdom when she ascended the throne. Thus, despite her short reign, she truly ranks as one of the most able monarchs in the history of House Dál Birn.

 

[stnylan]

She sounds like a tough old stick - and I mean that as a compliment. Because only a tough old stick would likely be able to "persuade" the various Lords to go along with her innovations.

Typically the monarch that does all the hard work is disputed, whilst the one after who benefits tries to take the credit

 

[Nikolai]

Summary:​

Despite her short reign, Queen Sébdann changed the course of history. She bound together a new kingdom that would go on to conquer all of Ireland, the British Isles, and even more territory. She enacted the Chairt Anbháil, a firm legal foundation that would anchor this new kingdom, even as it dealt with succession crises, plagues and wars; and she also created the Comairle Airecha, which would assist in governing this new kingdom. And, what is perhaps most remarkable, she did all of this as an old woman, almost entirely unknown in her kingdom when she ascended the throne. Thus, despite her short reign, she truly ranks as one of the most able monarchs in the history of House Dál Birn.

That is quite the resume!

 

[DKM]

Nice job so far Greek. Good luck, and thanks for the link!

 

[StalinSenpai]

Author’s Note: Listen to this while reading the update.

Spoiler: This

The Reign of King Ioseph I
​

Spoiler

The Issue of King Ioseph mac Máel-Cein Dál Birn, the first of his name, King of Éire, Duke of Laigin and Mumu, Count of Leix, Iarthar Connachta, Muaidhe, Osraige, Uí Maine and Urmhumhain:

• Duke Ioseph had no issue due to his early death; his throne was inherited by his brother King Tóim II upon his death.

Summary:​

King Ioseph mac Máel-Cein Dál Birn, the first of his name, King of Éire, Duke of Laigin and Mumu, Count of Leix, Iarthar Connachta, Muaidhe, Osraige, Uí Maine and Urmhumhain assumed the throne on March 10, 848 at the age of 20. The son of Duke Máel-Cein II, nephew of Scandal I and the great-nephew of Queen Sebdann, he inherited the new legal system instituted by the Chairt Anbháil as well as a war with the County of Cill Dara. Ioseph showed promise as a ruler; he was renowned in his time for his sense of justice and moral rectitude and was also a good battlefield commander. However, just like the previous three rulers of House Dál Birn, he died young; an infection contracted from a battlefield wound killed him at age 28. These young deaths had a destabilizing influence on the Kingdom of Ireland; this led to a war between Countess Aroc of Thomond and the King for control of Thomond. His younger brother Toim I inherited the throne and ruled successfully for almost 30 years, starting a period of long-lived rulers who vastly expanded Ireland’s power and influence, particularly in Scotland and Wales.

However, this lies in the future. Ioseph’s reign is notable mostly for being the first King of Ireland to be crowned by a clergyman. The coronation became one of the most important rituals for any monarch to undergo before assuming power. The first coronation set precedents that continue to this day, and it is the most important development of his reign.

Aside from the coronation, Ioseph’s reign saw a civil war break out due to his attempted revocation of a title from Countess Aroc of Thomond (then called Tuadhmhumhain). King Ioseph attempted to revoke it because Aroc’s son was also the heir to the Kingdom of Strathclyde, a small Scottish state across the Straits of Moyle from Ireland. When Aroc died, her lands would go to her son, the future King of Strathclyde, and would thus no longer swear fealty to Ioseph. Ioseph succeeded in seizing part of Aroc’s territory but did not complete taking all of the territory before his death. Aroc died, and Ioseph’s fear came to pass. His successor had to fight a war with Strathclyde to reclaim the lost territory, which is generally seen as the end of the period of instability starting with the death of Duke Máel-Cein II.

Ioseph’s reign was short and bloody, and he died in agony because of this. He was wounded in a battle, losing an eye during the Starweaver’s War. This wound never truly healed, and this infection eventually killed him after years of agonizing pain. Such infections from wounds were common before modern antiseptic technique was developed.

This brief chapter will delve into the symbolism and development of the coronation ritual as well as the wars that Ioseph fought to maintain his realm.

The Coronation:
​

Once Queen Sebdann made her historic proclamation of a Kingdom of Ireland, she immediately set about attempting to convince the Pope to crown her as such. Being crowned by the Pope was a great honor that confirmed a ruler’s power and piety. After all, if the Vicar of Christ himself crowned you, you had a pretty good claim to rule over your kingdom. Sebdann understood this and sent an emissary to the Pope within days of her proclamation.

However, relations between the Holy See and House Dál Birn were still testy due to previous incidents such as the excommunication of Máel-Cein II. This was additionally complicated by the Church’s position on female rulers, which was disapproving at best. Pope Leo IV responded to Sebdann’s emissary by requesting an extravagant donation to the Holy See. Sebdann’s coffers were empty at the time due to the war with Breifne, which had ended only months ago. Sebdann decided that she was not going to make the donation, and the Pope never crowned her before her death in 848.

Ioseph viewed his coronation as essential to secure not only his divine right to the throne, but his families’ as well. He immediately began preparing a lavish coronation, and in doing this set precedents which last till this day.

Spoiler: Coronation

The first part of the ritual was the embassy to the Pope (or a vassal bishop, not all rulers were crowned by the Pope himself) which was traditionally an honor given to the ruler’s heir, or a powerful vassal if the heir was too young. This emissary would formally deliver a letter, written and sealed by the monarch, requesting the Papal presence at the cathedral of Cluan Mhic Nois for the coronation. All coronations occurred here until the Emperor Máel-Cein ‘the Great’ moved his royal residence to London in 1180, after which all coronations were held in Westminster Abbey. This tradition has continued to the present day even as the Empire has expanded. The Pope never gave such a boon without exacting compensation. Much of the time this was a donation to the Church, but other times this included a request to join a Crusade, depose an excommunicated ruler, or to change a law that the Pope found objectionable. This request often lead to political jockeying, as emissaries made the trip from Waterford to Rome, exchanging offers and counter-offers. Emperor Niallán II ‘the Missionary’ famously requested five separate times to be crowned but found the price too high each time. This event is generally regarded as the spark of the Papal Wars.

In Ioseph’s case, Pope Leo IV merely requested a lavish feast, which Ioseph willingly paid for, as he was on better financial footing than Sebdann had been.

Spoiler: Money

Coronations were generally lavish affairs, as rulers sought to showcase their wealth and power to their new vassals, as well as neighboring kings. Ioseph started a tradition of lavish feasts, in which the guests toasted the success and health of the new king. A chronicler records that Pope Leo talked to Ioseph during the feast, which was responsible for his great zeal.

Spoiler: Feast

Ioseph also organized a month of festivities for the people of Laigin, with tournaments, fairs and other diversions funded by the crown. This endeared the common folk to their new monarch, just as the feast endeared the clergy and nobility.

Spoiler: Festivities

The essential elements of the coronation have remained largely the same since this first one, although various music was added by later monarchs. All of these rituals were carefully choreographed well in advance to show the power and piety of the new ruler. On the night before the coronation, the King was cloistered in a plain robe in the cathedral chapel. There, he kept a vigil as he prayed for his success and divine favor over his reign and realm. At dawn, he washed, and was dressed in a coronation robe. Then began a procession through the streets of Waterford, wherein crowds lined the streets and shouted for their king. Ioseph then re-entered the Cathedral, where the Pope, his vassals, and several other Catholic kings awaited him. The King then swore oaths in Latin, with the Pope questioning him and the King responding:

Pope Leo IV: “Will you solemnly promise and swear to govern the peoples of this realm [later changed to list imperial and royal titles] in accordance to their respective laws and customs?”

King Ioseph: “I solemnly promise so to do.”

Pope Leo IV: “Will you to your power cause law and justice, in mercy, to be executed in all your judgements?”

King Ioseph: “I will.”

Pope Leo IV: “Will you to the utmost of your power maintain the laws of God and the true profession of the Gospel? Will you preserve unto the Bishops and Clergy and to the churches there committed to their charge, all such rights and privileges, as by law do or shall appertain to them or any of them?”

King Ioseph: “All this I promise to do. The things which I have here before promised, I will perform, and keep. So help me God.”

These three declarations all show the medieval view of monarchy: as an executor of laws and as a defender of the church and faithful. After Ioseph swore these oaths, the Pope anointed him with holy oil, reciting a verse from 1 Kings 1:38-40:

“Zadok the Priest, and Nathan the Prophet anointed Solomon King. And all the people rejoiced, and said: God save the King! Long live the King! May the King live forever, Amen, Alleluia.”

This verse was famously later set to music, and Zadok the Priest has been a traditional coronation anthem of House Dál Birn since at least the 10th century. The King then sat upon a throne, and was invested with his symbols of authority: the Ducal Crown and the Ducal Scepter (both now lost). After the anointing, the King presented himself on the steps of the Cathedral to the people. Cathedral bells were rung, and a great celebration took place. The date of the coronation, May 12, 848, was regarded for centuries as the official beginning of the Kingdom of Ireland.

Spoiler: Medieval Art of the Coronation

Spoiler: Zadok the Priest

Ioseph as a Military Leader:
​

Ioseph’s first task upon ascending the throne was not his coronation, however. Like every ruler since his ancestor Duke Máel-Cein I his successor had left him a war which needed to be won. Luckily for him, Queen Sebdann had defeated the King of Cill Dara in battle already, and all that was necessary was some brief mopping up.

Spoiler: Peace

After the conclusion of the war, Ioseph’s attention was focused on organizing the coronation - an event of such expense and grandeur required good stewardship to be successful. After he was crowned in May 849, he focused on consolidating his rule. His greatest obstacle to this was the troublesome inheritance of Countess Aroc ‘the Starweaver’ of Thomond.

No one is quite sure how Countess Aroc earned her distinctive epithet which gave her revolt its name. What is known, however, is that her son stood to inherit substantial amounts of territory in southwest Ireland as well as the Kingdom of Strathclyde on the other side of the Irish Strait through his father. Given Aroc’s advanced age (she was 73 at the outbreak of the war), it was only a matter of time until her grandson inherited large amounts of territory. This would’ve created a new rival power, as well as weakening Ireland’s tax base and population. King Ioseph saw the writing on the wall and prepared to revoke the titles Aroc held. His first move was convincing the Comairle Airecha to pass a law affirming the King’s right to revoke the titles of his vassals. This law was famously later invoked when Emperor Máel-Cein III ‘the Great’ seized the County of Middlesex.

Spoiler: Law Change

Ioseph first attempted to blackmail the Countess, although with what is lost to history. This served as the proverbial carrot, whereas the law change was the stick. However, the Countess called the King’s bluff, declared independence, and called her banners. The war began in 852, with King Ioseph rode at the head of an army into her territory to quash the revolt.

Spoiler: War Were Declared

Since ancient times, winter had been a season when warfare simply wasn’t conducted. Ioseph, however, decided to press his numerical advantage and marched out to find and destroy the Starweaver’s army. In December, the armies met at the Battle of Thomond. Ioseph’s superior forces managed to inflict a devastating defeat, but this was not without its costs, for this was the battle where Ioseph lost his eye. As was expected, Ioseph fought in the battle himself and apparently did quite well against the foe. However, his armor made him a distinctive target, and a soldier from Starweaver’s army managed to slash open Ioseph’s face, mutilating his right eye.

Spoiler: Wounded

This wound would continue to fester for years, eventually killing Ioseph in 855.

However, while the King recuperated in Osraige, his vassals successfully prosecuted the rest of the war and had occupied the southern portion of her territory by the summer of 853. This was when a truce was signed and the war finished. In the peace settlement, Ioseph only managed to seize the northern portion of Aroc’s territory, the county of Urmhumhain (modern Ormond). It is unclear why he didn’t seize all of her territory at once. Some have blamed incompetent negotiators, since the King was attempting to recuperate and was not personally involved. Others have stated that Ioseph was attempting to seem magnanimous in victory. This decision would lead to another war in the reign of Ioseph’s successor, Toim II.

Spoiler: Peace

Death and Summary:
​

The Chronicle records that the kingdom entered “a state of languidness” after the end of the Starweaver’s war. The King, much like the realm, was languid - bedridden with pains and fatigue from his wounds, and they only continued to worsen as time continued. Despite the best efforts of Sebdann, there still was no true royal bureaucracy - power still lie almost entirely in the personal relations and characteristics of the sovereign. Since the sovereign was spending most of his time unconscious or in terrific pain, nothing much happened in the years until his death.

However, this was not completely true, as Ioseph did find enough strength to order a set of crown jewels made. He contracted a goldsmith in the winter of 854 to construct a crown, a scepter and other symbols of power. They were supposed to confirm the growing grandeur and power of House Dál Birn. A large sum was paid to the goldsmith for this task, but the goods were apparently never delivered, since the first records of the Royal Crown Jewels are from early in the reign of King Toim II. These Jewels still exist and are stored in the Imperial Museum of History, but no record has been found of Ioseph’s crown jewels. Dozens of folk tales, most of them certainly fake, exist to explain their disappearance: they were cursed items, and are the true reason for Ioseph’s death, they were buried in a mine after the King died and stolen by treasure hunters, a later King or Emperor melted them down in times of financial stress. The most likely explanation is that the goldsmith simply pocketed the fee he was paid and made an escape.

Spoiler: Goldsmith

The disappearance of so much gold continues to attract treasure hunters and fortune seekers who periodically claim to have finally found the Crown Jewels, but these have all been conclusively shown as frauds. This is no mere recent phenomenon; the birth of archaeology as a science involved many fruitless searches for the artifacts. They have also been an inspiration to novelists and directors who seek a MacGuffin for their characters to pursue in high-octane chases. Films such as "The Lost Jewels" and novels such as "Dashiell Steele and the Crown Jewels" continue to thrill readers and viewers.

Much like Duke Scandal, it is hard to accurately evaluate Ioseph due to his young death. He ruled fairly ably in his time, but his achievements were of no great consequence (save the coronation). He showed promise on the battlefield, but was struck down too quickly for us to know if this was a fluke or a sign of true talent.

Spoiler: The King is Dead, Long Live the King!

 

[stnylan]

A very nice coronation

 

[blitzthedragon]

A lovely coronation indeed, though that Handel composition strikes me as awfully English for a Brittania united under the Irish.

 

[Nikolai]

The Irish, ruled by an Irish Emperor from LONDON? What is this heresy?

 

[blitzthedragon]

The Irish, ruled by an Irish Emperor from LONDON? What is this heresy?

I know, right?

When I was playing CK II as an Irish character, I moved my throne to the Isle of Man, since it takes up a central position in the combined British Isles, and I liked to envision it becoming one big island fortress that would be very difficult to assault.