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The Crown of Venice

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Dec 6, 2008
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  • Crusader Kings II
  • Heir to the Throne
  • Europa Universalis: Rome
Christmas, 1066.

Berthold Von Zahringen, the 47 year old Duke of Karten, was sitting on his throne when he heard the news. William De Normandie, illegitimate son of the De Normandies, had conquered England. Immediately, the German court went into an uproar.

Hermman von Zahringen, 15 year old son of the Duke, shouted above the clamor. "Silence! I have something to say!"

The nobles and courtiers lapsed into quiet at the request of the respected young Dukeling.

"Father, if a Norman brute can become King, then why can't I?"

Duke Berthold laughed deeply. "King? Where do you suggest we get the crown? Germany? Ha! Our five thousand men could never hold against more then a small portion of our liege's soldiers. Croatia? Ha! They may be weak, but we are still weaker? Or even Hungary? Hermman my son, the King of Hungary may be as young as you are, but he is still more dangerous then a mere Duke. So, which crown do you desire?"

Hermman had waited patiently while his father made fun of his ambition. When the old Duke was done talking, Hermman smiled. "Venice, father. We could take Venice from that pathetic Doge."

Berthold laughed again. "Ha! My son, Venice is a fortress! Even if we had superior troops, we would have no chance to take it! And where would we find the claims to it?"

Again, Hermman smiled as he outlined his plan for domination of the Ventian Republic. "It's simple, father. Declare yourself Duke of Steirmark. That should give us enough prestige and honor to... heh, 'rescue' some old claims we might have on the County, Dukedom, and most importantly Kingdom of Venice. Then we prepare our lands for war. After, say, a year or two, we declare war on Venice. As King Heinrich must protect his vassals, he will send his thousands of troops to aid us. But he neither has nor, I suspect wants claims to the city of Venice.

Thus, father, using Heinrich's troops, we take Venice, strip the Doge of his money and titles, and thus create the mighty Kingdom of Venice, with a ready-made capital in Venice. Taking Venice itself will also allow us to hold all of it's advances in war, medicine, and building."

Berthold, impressed with his still-adolescent son's ambition and audacity, laughed once more. But this was not a normal laugh. This was a hungry laugh. Hungry for the riches of Venice. "Very well, Hermman. But of course, you realize that I will be the first King of Venice, not you?"

Hermman just smiled once more. "Of course, father, of course."

And so began the preparations for the invasion of Venice. The Venetian traders would have no idea of the war that awaited them.

So, for my first AAR, I'll be playing as the Duchy of Karten/the Kingdom of Venice. I don't know if I'll be using this style for the entire AAR. Comments are appreciated. In any case, I do not know how to take acceptable screenshots and then resize them, so this AAR will feature no screenshots unless someone informs me how to take them correctly.
 
March 25 1070

The newly made Marshal, Hermman von Zahringen smiled. While there wasn't enough time to ensure Venice's defeat AND create a series of new barracks across his father's domain, they would not be needed. Two forestries had been built; that was enough to ensure that the economy of Karten would not be left at the wayside. Hermman's father was now also the Duke of Steirmark and Krain, easily gaining enough prestige to be taken seriously when claiming the city of Venice and all its titles.

All that was left to be done was to raise the armies of the duchy, and thus the armies of Germany, and declare war on Venice.

Sure enough, Berthold von Zahringen sent a proclamation of war upon Venice to all peasants, nobles, priests and so forth in the Duchy. Using the cunning of Hermman, who was now nearly the equal of the much hated William De Normandie in millitary matters, the armies of the Zahringen family, which numbered now almost ten thousand strong, marched on Venice.

The war was short. Using his troops to smash the Venetian armies, and the Kingdom of Germany's troops as a screen to prevent any retaliation, Berthold von Zahringen slaughtered the soldiers of Venice. The peace was concluded on June 11, 1070, humiliating the Italian Doge.

Berthold was given the crown of Venice, granting him all its titles and lands, and 165 gold ducats.

The Kingdom of Venice was proclaimed through the former Duchy, and the von Zahringens rejoiced, for they no longer had to kneel to Heinrich von Franken and his realm's instability. Already the Duchess of Toscana had declared independence. Her lands could be ripe for the taking.

However, despite this, and despite being a tough old soldier, Berthold was not so ambitious as his son. He was content to sit and rule a small kingdom for the rest of his life. Indeed, he was so content that he waved off Hermman's demand for even a county. In Berthold's eyes, his son was a better Marshal then Count.

Hermman of course was angry at this, but could not do much to change the way the Kingdom was run until his father's death.

Using the limited pull he had with his father, Hermman simply decided to prepare for his own rule. He persuaded his father to build barracks all across the Kingdom, to start constructing roads for troops, to build mighty castles for defence, and other advances. While his father still lived, Venice would be peaceful, but Hermman dreamed of war, new lands, and glory.


Unfortunately for the scion of the Zahringens, a wave of sickness swept throughout the royal court, laying low the wives and many of the children of the young Zahringen brothers. It even caused Hermman to fall ill. Worse yet,

Remarrying to ensure that his surviving young son had a mother, but still concerned for his dreams, Hermman called for his father to visit him at his bed.

"Father, I know we haven't always got along, especially with your refusal to grant me even a county. Neither have we agreed on the path to take the Kingdom. None of that matters now. What matters is that at one of my dreams be fulfilled before I die. If I am to pass from this infernal sickness, then I need to be able to look back on my life with at least a little pride, for you received the glory and crown of my plan. If you cannot do even this for me, then I curse you and all this family."

Berthold, while it was correct that he did not agree with his eldest son often, looked upon him with compassion. "Of course, my son. What is it you wish?"

Hermman grabbed his father's tunic, in both an act of desperation, and a childish act of wanting his father close. "Father, the Pope has called a Crusade, to free Jerusalem, has he not? But to try and take Jerusalem would be folly, as the mighty Fatimids control it, and their allies the Seljuks are not far behind. Both would be on our throats if we even attempted to free the Holy City."

Hermman paused, and immediately fell into a coughing fit. When he had recovered from the fit, he continued.

"*cough* So, we take a Muslim territory closer to us, and richer to boot. Palermo, father. With Venice in our hands, it's Muslim fool of a ruler stands no chance against us. We gain standing in the Church, and a holding on the island of Sicily. That will help us against the Hautvilles as well. I fear they plan to establish a strong kingdom, that may work against our interests. Will you do this, father?" The young military genius let go of his father, falling back upon his bed.

Berthold von Zahringen nodded. "Yes, my son. I swear I will take Palermo."

And thus, preparations were made to land on Sicily for a new conquest. A conquest that would potentially change Italy forever.
 
Well, no one has commented, so I guess I'll keep going.

Hermman's Madness

While the conquest of Palermo was more then successful, allowing the Kingdom of Venice to take Palermo and Ariganito from the Sheik of those lands, it came with a price. A price of sanity, in fact. Hermman von Zahringen, though ill and deeply stressed, had been allowed to join his aging father in the Sicilan conflict. After peace had been achieved, the ailing heir to the Venetian throne went completely insane, babbling about how the Croats were half goats, half butterflies, and that he should collect them all and place them in the canals of Venice, so that the Muslims would not take his hat.

Berthold was deeply sorrowful for his son's madness, and immediately removed him from the position of Venetian Royal Marshal. Though the young millitary genius was still the best Marshal in the Kingdom despite his afflictions, keeping him in his job would be folly, as it would probably deepen both the madness and the sickness of Hermman.

The King of Venice appointed his second eldest son, Berthold II, into the position of Marshal, removing him from his previous duty of Cansoller. Berthold II was no match in millitary matters against Hermman normally, but with his brother's insane state, he was nearly as skilled as the madman. Furthermore, he was merciful, a trait which endeared him to the Church over his mad brother. Having good standing with the church always helped.

Except in the case of Hermman, who, before his insanity, gave two separate miracleworkers in the church money to cure his illness. Both failed.

Besides a few deaths of children, the Madness of Hermman, technological advances being discovered, and Muslims gaining a foothold by conquering a Duchy in nearby Hungary, there was not much of note happening in the Kingdom of Venice since the 1076 conquest of Palermo.

That is, until 1078. In July of that year, the Republic of Genoa became independant, and declared war on Germany. Normally, Berthold I would have ignored Genoa, figuring correctly that it would probably be reannexed by Germany, but the unlikelist voice of reason convinced him otherwise. The mad Hermman, in a fit of ludicity approached his father the day Genoa declared independence.

Hermman, shuddering and shaking with every other word, talked to his father.

"Father. While my studies on the Croat half-men half-goat.. Heh, Croat goat, Croat goat... Were unsuccessful, I need a task accomplished."

Berthold I, wary of his mad son, but unable to simply brush his heir off, raised a hand for Hermman to continue.

"Father, Genoa is a source of great riches. If we conquer it before the Germans, wait, are we not still Germans? Alas, Germans ruling Venice. If we conquer it before the German Germans do, we could have another foothold in Italy and gain a great deal of money as well. We simply need the claims to Genoa, which we could easily fabricate."

Berthold nodded. His son was making an unusual amount of sense for a madman.

Hermman grinned a madman's grin. "Besides, Republics like Genoa are a Turkish plot to steal our skin."

There was the madness. Still, Hermman's first words about Genoa made sense. Berthold would be a fool not to annex Genoa, no matter how much the aging warrior wanted to simply sit content until he died.

Thus, in July 1078, claims were mysteriously found on the Republic of Genoa. Many cried that the claims were fake, but were ignored. The armies of Venice marched to war once again.

Unfortunatly, in August 1078, Heinrich, King of Germany, defeated the rebel Genoa, taking all of the Republic's territories, and declared himself the Duke of Genoa. All this before Venice could send her soldiers to Genoa. Their plan to enrich Venice was foiled. The disappointed Venetian soldiers went back to the Kingdom. Hermman, in particular, was enraged at the loss of Genoa, ranting all the way back to Venice about how the Kingdom of Germany must be made to pay for their taking of rightful Venetian land.

However, Hermman would not be denied conquest. Shortly after the failure at Genoa, the Archbishopric of Romaga, led by the questionably Italian John Henry, declared war on and independence from Germany. The Romagan lands were only a short distance away from Venice, so the mad Hermman, before anyone could react, drew up claims on Romaga, declared war on them, and mobilized his regiment of troops to attack the rebel Archbishopric. Forced to help by Hermman's declaration of war, his father Berthold's troops marched to war as well.

The Archbishopric fell quickly to the Venice, ceding it's titles and land. However, during that war, a Sicilian Sheik to the west of the Venetian holdings on that island declared war on Venice, as did the only other remaining Sheik.

When the mad Hermman heard of this, he held up his sword weakly and pointed it in the direction of Sicily. "Deus Vult is Ego Vult! I am the earthly Messiah! And my commandment is to slaughter those Muslim dog-men in Sicily!"

Of course, word spreads fast when Rome is only a few hundred or thousand miles away, and the Pope, upon hearing this, immediatly declared Hermman a Heretic.

If Hermman the Heretic was perturbed by this, he did not show it. He simply let his actions speak for him, by invading the two Sicilian Sheiks' lands.

And, true to his actions, all of Sicily but the Apulian De Hautville county there belonged to Venice by the end of the year 1079.
 
A great start, both in story and game wise. Though an insane heretic warmonger is not the optimal choice as heir. :p
 
The Long Silence

Peace reign for a decade in Venice. King Berthold refused to conquer any more land, despite Germany being ripe for the picking. The once proud nation had many rebellious dukes and counts rebelling against it's rule.

The most noteworthy was the Duchess of Toscana. Bordering the mighty kingdom of Venice ever since the Venetians had annexed Romaga, Toscana was in a precarious state, having declared independence in 1080, and at war with the Kingdom of Germany ever since. The only thing that saved the Duchy from complete anniliation was Venice's refusal to attack it. The Duchess sent many letters of thanks to King Berthold, praising him immensely for his just ways.

However, this would change in 1089, when King Berthold, now an ancient 70 year old, became the Papal Controllor. Berthold, while a peaceful man, knew the stirrings of conquest very well. And now, as he was clearly blessed by God, the King of Venice had the right to take whatever land he chose. And why not the lands of the so called 'Rebel Duchess'? Everyone needed a king, after all. Otherwise it would be like old Venice and Ragusa. Utter chaos and rule by peasants! Furthermore, the lands of the Duchess were rich, and would strength the Venetian rule.

So, the armies of Venice, dormant for years, rose up again, to make the rebellious Duchy of Toscana kneel before them. And if more Duchies rose up in rebellion from Germany, so be it. They were simply more riches for the taking.

The lands of the Duchy fell quickly to Venice, all except it's capitial. While the Duchess had no armies to oppose King Berthold, the most unlikely foe, with 4000 soldiers, battled with Venice. The Pope, who was an ally of Toscana, despite Berthold being the Papal Controller.

And so the most pious man in Europe battled the embodiment of the Catholic Faith. Berthold's 7000 troops from the city of Venice, and the Papal 4000.

In the end, despite Pope Anslem's greater martial skill, the Papal legions were defeated, and a white peace was settled with the Papal State. (a side note: I don't even know what happened here. The Papal armies attacked me, but when I checked, it said we weren't at war. Weird.)

The peace settlement with the Duchy in September of 1089, however, was harsh, forcing the Duchess to give up the title of Duchess of Toscana (making her the Duchess of Spoleto), and the countys of Cremona, Mantua, and Ferrara.

Berthold immediatly made Ferrara a Bishopric, to allieviate any damaged feelings towards him from the Pope, whom he defeated handily. He also promoted a minor courtier to Bishop of Mantua.

Finally, the most important giving of titles Berthold undertook was giving his second eldest son, Berthold II, the titles of Count of Cremona, and Duke of Toscona. This act infuriated Prince Hermman, the eldest son, who, due to his madness had only the title of Count of Ravenna, gained from the Archbishop of Romaga those ten years ago.

And despite his many wars (most of which were instigated by the mad Hermman), due to his creation of several bishoprics, King Berthold I became known throughout Venice as "Berthold the Pious".

After the Conquest of Toscana and the dividing of the Duchy, the weeks were quiet for a short time, until an inevitable, but shocking event happened.

King Berthold I the Pious died of old age.

The Mad Prince Hermman, Count of Ravenna, became King of Venice.

The kingdom would cower in fear of the indulgent, reckless, heretic, and most of all, mad Hermman.

As always, keep on commenting and critiquing, please. This is my first AAR, and I hope it is good.
 
You're doing fine. :) Better than many.
 
Morsky, Teep, and demokratickid: Thanks, that means a lot to me. I don't have much confidence in my writing skills, you see.
Teep: Certainly! In fact, I will put the current ruler and the previous ruler on every update from now on. (Which, I warn you, might not be many).

CKpicture.jpg

Berthold I the Pious, First King of Venice, in a portrait alongside his eldest son, Hermman the Mad

The Conquest of Greater Venice

Surprisingly, the first year and a half of Hermman's kingship were quiet. Hermman, though mad, proud, and a reckless warmonger, was cautious enough to placate his vassals, giving them money and land to prevent their rebellion. Even then, his madness hampered this, as his vassals still slowly grew discontent with his rule.

However, despite all this, Hermman was still mad, still hungry for conquest. On March 1st of 1092, this was to come to pass. Hermman arose at a late hour, and claimed that he experienced a strange dream. A dream in which he saw the lands of Venice, and more besides, ruled by the old Venetian Republic.

Hermman declared that in the dream, it was the year of Our Lord, 1399, and the Republic of Venice owned Athens, Corfu, and the Island of Crete.

As King of Venice, Hermman believed he must control all and more of what the Republic in the dream controlled. He called this area "Greater Venice."

So, the call went through Venice, that Mad King Hermman marched to war yet again. Venice declared war on the Count of Corfu first, as it had no allies, but had still escaped the weak grasp of the Byzantines.

However, Hermman was forced to turn back his attention to mainland Venice first, as Ulrich Von Weimar, Duke of Karnten, and former vassal of the Kingdom, declared war.

This would be a less lopsided fight then usual, as the armies of the city of Venice (the usual division to attack first) had dwindled to less then 4000, from Hermman's insanity.

Hermman still won, however, and quickly stripped Von Weimar of all titles and gold. He gave the title of Duke and Count of Karnten to his 1 year old son, Ludburt, to prevent any more sizable uprisings from there.

Unfortunately for Venice, Weimar had pledged allegiance to the Kingdom of Germany, and thus by crushing the rebel, Hermman had gotten into a war with Germany.

Even worse, the Duchy of Steirmark declared independence, and to avoid over-extending himself, Hermman was forced to let the rebel Duke go.

Finally, after fighting for several months, Venice was allowed to not cower before Hermman any long. The Mad King, ruler for only two years, was dead, apparently from poisoned bread that some peasant had presented to the king. (A side note: Actually, he just died suddenly, so I added a plot point in as to why.)

The new king was far more talented then Hermman, even at war, Johann, only son of Hermman. Perhaps he could save Venice from the madness of his father. Perhaps this lazy, but merciful and just young man could stop the destruction of his lands.

The first thing Johann did as King was to approach the German King Heinrich with offers of peace, even offering to give up his father and grandfather's claims on Genoa.

CKpicture2.jpg
 
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