Save The Wales! A 769 Ternyllwg World Conquest MisadventAAR

[daird]

Hello, and welcome to my latest One County Challenge, the county of Ternyllwg in Powys, Wales. I'm also setting this up as a WC run, so things will almost certainly go to EU4 at least, if not beyond. As always, I have my rules for the CKII portion.

1. Can't lose Ternyllwg

2. Can't build retinues

3. Must tech in balanced fashion

And away we go!

 

[daird]

Count Iorweth Ternyllwg
769

For three centuries, my family has ruled the lands surrounding the castle of Mathrafal- so long, in fact, that they now bear the name of my dynasty. Yet in all this time, we have never, never prospered like the Karlings of France or even the Icelings of Mercia. It is time to change all that. Time for us to take over not just Europe, but the world. It won't be easy, and it won't be in my lifetime, but I can lay the groundwork.

I admit, I do not seem like the kind of man who would harbor such grand ambitions, or one capable of carrying them out. I am known throughout Wales for my skills in theology, and my knowledge of business is decent, but military and especially diplomatic matters are not my forte. Still, I shall have no choice but to make use of the talents I possess.

My liege Brochfael is a man similar to myself in terms of ability, save for the fact that he never picked up a Bible except at knifepoint. He has made me his Chancellor, a post that I am wholly unsuited for, but I am not stupid enough to pass up the gold and glory that comes with it

Anselm Capet is my Chancellor- unlike my liege, I try to reward the skilled rather than deal out favors by patronage. He has been sent to fabricate a claim on Brycheinog- should he fail, I will simply have to take the county in a border dispute.

Mayor Beli is my Marshal, a man of some military skill. I just wish he was a better businessman- Radnor is my main source of income right now. Still, it could be much, much worse. I have him increasing the local levies, not that there are that many to increase in the first place.

My Steward is named Leodegasti. Like many of the other members of my council, he could stand some improvement. Still, he will do a decent job of increasing the taxes in Ternyllwg.

For the position of Spymaster, I have chosen my own darling wife, Arianwen. She will study the technology of Constantinople- I just hope she isn't also trying to convince some back home to stick a dagger in me.

Last, but most assuredly not least, we have Bishop Ysfael, my Court Chaplain. I have him searching local villages for apostates, as well as performing various ceremonial duties in my court. Anything to keep his taxes going to me and not the Pope, after all.​

 

[streaker77]

Nice work on the title

 

[stnylan]

Looking at the spymaster I think a knife in the back is an all too ready a possibility

 

[daird]

Nice work on the title

I'm a pun addict, I can't help it.

Looking at the spymaster I think a knife in the back is an all too ready a possibility

You know, changing the succession law can make people happy very quickly...

 

[daird]

Iorweth Ternyllwg
769-779

With less than 300 men in my army, any conquering in the immediate future would require the help of allies. King Offa of Mercia is the strongest power in the British Isles, so it was only natural that he be the first one I turned to. Later, the King of Hwicce would also join me.

My first target of conquest was Brycheiniog, known for its great horses. A claim was successfully forged in June of 772, and with Offa's help, I was able to take the county for myself.

Next to fall was Gwent. While not necessarily the most prosperous of long-term targets, with only three holding slots, the castle had a town, stables, and barracks built. Quite possibly the most developed single castle in Wales, if not all Britain. A worthy addition to my demesne.

Meanwhile, my house has grown as well. Where there were only four Ternwyllngs just ten years ago, there are now nine, and the numbers do not seem like they will be stopping any time soon.

All in all, a good start- but there is still so much to do.​

 

[stnylan]

Important first steps

 

[daird]

Iorweth Ternyllwg
769-779

Things continued to advance at a fairly rapid pace. First, my new Chancellor Cydrych told me of the possibility of an artifact hidden nearby, and I ordered him to search it out. Unfortunately, he died in a collapsing ruin within a month. C'est la vie... or is it c'est la mort in this case?

However, I was able to keep expanding swiftly. First Builth fell, and with a fourth county, I was able to successfully declare my independence from Powys. Four counties against one is hardly a fair fight, after all.

Glywysing, Pengwern and Rhos soon fell to my forces, allowing me to declare myself Duke of Glywysing and Powys, but events on the continent caught my attention as well. First, the tree sacred to the pagans at Paderborn was torched by King Karl of France, who soon prevented dissolution of his lands upon his death by declaring himself Holy Roman Emperor.

The Pope granted me a claim to Ergnyng, the last county I need to declare myself King of all Wales, and I will need to press it soon. With a massive empire now right next door to me, every second is precious.​

 

[stnylan]

Ahh, you have surely nothing to fear from King Karl

 

[daird]

Iorweth Ternyllwg
789- October 20, 799

On the 19th of February, 790, I was crowned King of all Wales, a local bishop placing a ring of purest gold around my head. Although my realm was much smaller than other kingdoms, the idea of allowing me to hold a large personal demesne made me their equal. This will be a hallmark of Welsh governance throughout the ages, and the key to its success.

With the kingdom established, I turned my attention eastward, to England. First of the duchies to fall was Mercia, as the Pope granted me a claim to the title in question. I would give it to the the count of Lincoln, securing a powerful vassal for the rest of my reign.

Next to fall was Northumbria. The lands of northern England were already riven by fighting, and it was an easy thing to step in and vassalize the whole region in one fell swoop.

I have done much in nearly sixty years on this earth. I have established the Welsh state, and seen my family's lands grow from a tiny outpost in the middle of nowhere to a great power and the envy of all Catholicism. Corf, I leave the kingdom in your hands now. Guide it well.

 

[stnylan]

Ah, the tricky moment to find out if the heir is any good

 

[daird]

Ah, the tricky moment to find out if the heir is any good

Oh, he's pretty good. His heir, though...

 

[daird]

Corf Ternyllwg
20 October 799-3 January 806

Unlike my predecessor, who focused on growing the kingdom, I preferred to spend my time improving it internally. Wales had been in a near-constant state of war for thirty years now- the people needed time to recover and turn their attentions towards building. Sadly, it seemed that the Swedes had other ideas.

The war was long and bloody- the Swedes were the greatest enemy Wales had faced in her brief existence, but with the aid if my fellow Catholics from across the British Isles, we were able to destroy them. I only settled for a white peace because the gains from an enemy surrender would be too little.

However, the Great Swedish Invasion had another effect as well. There was no longer any benefit to holding the realm at peace, so I declared war for the Duchy of Seisyllwg. We have caught up to the enemy at Rhos and outnumber them greatly. It should be an easy fight...

 

[stnylan]

Oh, he's pretty good. His heir, though...

Ah

I see what you mean

 

[daird]

Idnerth Ternyllwg
806-816

Iorweth and Corf had focused their internal efforts towards money and the Welsh economy, relying on their large lands to provide them with troops, but I could not afford to do so. The realm's military situation needed to be strengthened, and it would soon be tested by the Danes. However, they could not put as many troops in the field as the Swedes, and victory was a simple matter.

Other than that, however, it was a very quiet decade. I simply do not have the strength yet for foreign adventures... but I will soon.​

 

[stnylan]

Good to see the invasion off though

 

[daird]

Idnerth Ternyllwg
816-21 June 825

The past 9 years, honestly, have been rather boring. Internal politics have kept me from declaring offensive wars, but I have been able to keep myself from facing open revolt. The electors have told me that they wish Tudwallon to succeed me; it should have been him taking the throne in the first place, not me. He will do a better job than I did; he can hardly do much worse, after all.

 

[stnylan]

Another placeholder monarch by the sounds of it.

 

[daird]

Idnerth Ternyllwg
825-September 28, 832

My predecessors had conquered most of Britain, but Wessex still remained untaken. I tried to hold off and continue improving my demesne, but the lure proved too much to overcome. A quick battle and a few hostages later, and Wessex was my vassal within the year. Shockingly easy, I must admit.

Yet I got my start too late, it seems. Corf was right- I should have held the throne instead of him. The voters have told me that Idwallon is to succeed me; it seems they do not wish to make the same mistake twice. At least Wales will be in good hands, I think.

 

[stnylan]

Wessex absorbed - not much of England left to go