*The First Adventure*
7th May 1071.
The decision to declare war was not fully thought through. The Duke had decided that to make the best impression on the Pope for future purposes, the Duke decided a quick inexpensive military campaign against one of the Muslim sheiks to the South, would place him in the good books of the Pope, and secure his influence in the Mediterranean as well. The Emirate of Mallorca would provide a satisfactory focus for the Duke ambitions. War was soon enough declared, as the local regiments were mustered, the horses fed and ships prepared for sailing.
9th May 1071.
It was the night before the ships sailed from Narbonne. The candles flickered in the slight breeze. In a villa of a local noble family, the Duke, who would not see his wife for some time during the coming campaign. During the long night, after the Duke had spent time with his Marshall and the Count of Foix planning the coming campaign, the Duke and his wife, entered into the throws of passion before the departure of his army South. Soon, just as before, it was not long before Sadiqa was showing the signs of motherhood once again.
9th August 1071.
After much time at sea, the advance guard of Guillaum's Army put ashore on the island of Menorca. Soon, the beaches were to be filled with man and horse, and the Army, which numbered nearly 3000 men and 800 horses and totally surpassed any of the Emirs army on the island, which informants reported as numbering merely 300 or so. The Emir was a lazy man in his Emirate, but a tough and wizened soldier and was soon seeking battle with the Duke's army. The Emir's forces sortied from their castle in order to seek battle, and not willing to parlor with his enemy, small skirmishes would be fought between the advanced guards of both armies.
10th August 1071.
“Let us pray, before our victory.” The Duke led his men in prayer before the battle was toe begin proper. Both armies appeared before each other. To the rear of the Duke lay his ships and the sea, to the back of the Emir al-Amiri lay his castle, which lacked suitable provisions for a long siege. The day would begin with sporadic fighting and skirmishes until around midday, under the blazing sun, the 67 year old Marhsall Hugues charged directly into a body of the Emir's light infantry breaking the line. The elderly Marshall, however during the charge was severely wounded by the Emir's archers, which began pouring arrows into the sprawling mass. Struck down, he continued to led – the old soldier showing great skill and determination. By the end of the day, the forces of the Emir has retreated back to the castle, with only the dead, the wounded and a token force, left defending the exterior battlements. A siege now enveloped the island, with the Emir and the Duke at the center of the evolving drama.
3rd November 1071.
“Food was exhausted, as was any will to fight within the castle. The Emir was unexpected and before the water supply was finally consumed made a final sortie in an attempt to life the siege. With only 40 able men, with many more sick and dying, a final sortie was made against the Duke, and was repulsed in totality.” Or so the later description of the battle in a Nineteenth century textbooks would ascribe. Soon after, the fortress surrendered to the Duke, and the dying men and starving population were afforded some relief, though not much. The island was now under the Dukes total control, however, word had arrived that the remaining forces loyal to the Emir were amassing on the island of Mallorca under a still loyal shiek. Further word arrived a day later than an army of great mass led the King of France's own Marshall was reportedly sailing for Mallorca. Leaving only the barest of garrisons in the looted countryside, the Duke, the Count of Foix and the wounded Marshall along with their men boarded ships and ferries and began a short journey to Mallorca, the last remaining island vestige of a fading Emirate. The journey was short, and the men and horses were given time to recuperate, with fishing supplementing the diets of many.
The Aging Marshall was wounded at Menorca.
They arrived to find the island deserted of an army, with only a small garrison in the fortress. The Duke presumed it would be an easy siege.
2nd February 1072.
Mallorca would soon fall. The fortress was low on food as the harvests had been poor the previous year. The Duke waited, whilst his men kept a close eye on the fortress, without skirmishing the defenders. Soon, water was depleted, followed by the last meager food stuffs. The surrender was greeted with celebration, and with the campaign over, two more counties had come under the control of the Duke. The armies were returning home, victorious. The Duke had received praise from the Pope for defeating and pushing back the Muslims, and his men have proved themselves in combat.
15th February 1072.
“Another daughter, not the most perfect of campaign presents, but a gift nonetheless.” Dolça was born, the sixth child of the Duke, and his forth daughter.
The Growing Toulouse Family - yet only a single heir.
He gets an heir, but will its not entirely for the best.
