Greetings, all. Without further ado, I shall introduce my first AAR.
Starting as Duke (Earl, technically) Edwin Leofricson, the game is being played on Normal - Normal, v1.03 going through v1.03a.
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Historical Background:
In 1065, Harold Godwinson was Earl of East Anglia, Wessex and Hereford, and the second most powerful man in the Kingdom. He was also the focus of the growing opposition to Norman influence and favouritism in the Saxon monarchy of Edward the Confessor.
Harold married Edith, daughter of Leofric, the Earl of Mercia. Leofric also had two sons - Edwin and Morcar Leofricson.
During 1065, the people of Northumbria rebelled against Harold's brother, Tostig, and Harold supported Morcar against him. The people of Northumbria chose Morcar as their new Earl, strengthening the house of Mercia and Harold's claim to the hearts of the Saxon people, but fatally dividing his own house as Tostig sought alliance with King Harald Hardrada of Norway.
Harold Godwinson was crowned on 5th January, 1066, after the death of childless Edward the Confessor, claiming that he had been promised the crown. Although the Saxons supported his claim, England was invaded by King Harald of Norway and William, Duke of Normandie, who also claimed the English throne.
Edwin (now Earl of Mercia) and Morcar (Earl of Northumbria) were defeated by King Harald in the Battle of Fulford, near York, on September 20th, 1066. Five days later, King Harold's army defeated the Norweigans at the Battle of Stamford Bridge and pushed them out of England.
In spite of his help, Edwin and Morcar did not march with Harold to face William at Hastings, and Harold was defeated and killed.
Edgar Aetheling, a blood relation to Edward the Confessor, was elected as King, but was only supported by Stigand, Archbishop of Kent and Edwin and Morcar, who wanted to tie the crown to their own house. Even these nobles soon realised the inevitable, and Edgar submitted to William in December 1066, uncrowned.
King William treated Edgar well, and kept a close eye on his former supporters, now amongst his vassals. However, in 1068, Edgar joined Edwin and Morcar in a Northumbrian rebellion against King William. The rebellion was crushed, and although Edwin and Morcar were pardoned, they were stripped of their titles.
Edgar fled to the King of Scotland, and married into their royal house. He also found common cause with King Canute of Denmark, who believed himself the rightful heir to the English throne. Their combined forces invaded in 1069; they captured York, but did not proclaim the independence of Northumbria.
A furious King William marched northwards to face them, devastating the land as he went. He paid the Danes to leave, and forced Edgar to flee back to Scotland. Edwin Leofricson was killed trying to raise a Welsh rebellion, and Morcar fled to Ely in Cambridgeshire, where he became an outlaw. He was later arrested, and died in prison.
Edgar Aetheling was sent back to England in the terms of the peace treaty with Scotland, but made his peace with William in 1074. He never fully gave up his claims on the throne (or his impressive knack of picking the wrong side), and supported Robert against William II in 1089, and again found himself fleeing to Scotland. From that point on, the Norman royal lineage was undisputed.
==========================================================
Introduction:
The story begins in December 1066. Edwin is Earl of Mercia and Morcar Earl of Northumbria, the last surviving Saxon houses in England. Although their common cause with Stigand, Archbishop of Canterbury has dissolved, the anti-Norman feeling in northern England is still very strong.
Meanwhile, Edgar Aetheling is a ward of King William, and is to be found either in his court in Normandie, or currying favour with the Scottish King.
==========================================================
Goals:
Edwin and Morcar plot the downfall of William the Conqueror, and the House of Normandie. Their aim is to overthrow the King, and become Kingmakers; placing their own dynasty behind the ruling line.
The former Earldoms of Mercia and Northumbria are becoming less and less meaningful in the changing country, and so they must also see the transition from their Earldoms into the stronger and lasting Dukedoms of Lancaster and Cumberland.
Finally, the AAR will continue to follow the dynasty across time and see what good or evil befalls them.
==========================================================
Writer's Note:
Given the liberties already taken, I'm not going for a historically accurate portrayal of any of the main characters involved, nor replicating their historical efforts. The nature of all characters will be defined by their characteristics in-game.
Also, I have no convenient way of taking screenshots.
Starting as Duke (Earl, technically) Edwin Leofricson, the game is being played on Normal - Normal, v1.03 going through v1.03a.
=========================================================
Historical Background:
In 1065, Harold Godwinson was Earl of East Anglia, Wessex and Hereford, and the second most powerful man in the Kingdom. He was also the focus of the growing opposition to Norman influence and favouritism in the Saxon monarchy of Edward the Confessor.
Harold married Edith, daughter of Leofric, the Earl of Mercia. Leofric also had two sons - Edwin and Morcar Leofricson.
During 1065, the people of Northumbria rebelled against Harold's brother, Tostig, and Harold supported Morcar against him. The people of Northumbria chose Morcar as their new Earl, strengthening the house of Mercia and Harold's claim to the hearts of the Saxon people, but fatally dividing his own house as Tostig sought alliance with King Harald Hardrada of Norway.
Harold Godwinson was crowned on 5th January, 1066, after the death of childless Edward the Confessor, claiming that he had been promised the crown. Although the Saxons supported his claim, England was invaded by King Harald of Norway and William, Duke of Normandie, who also claimed the English throne.
Edwin (now Earl of Mercia) and Morcar (Earl of Northumbria) were defeated by King Harald in the Battle of Fulford, near York, on September 20th, 1066. Five days later, King Harold's army defeated the Norweigans at the Battle of Stamford Bridge and pushed them out of England.
In spite of his help, Edwin and Morcar did not march with Harold to face William at Hastings, and Harold was defeated and killed.
Edgar Aetheling, a blood relation to Edward the Confessor, was elected as King, but was only supported by Stigand, Archbishop of Kent and Edwin and Morcar, who wanted to tie the crown to their own house. Even these nobles soon realised the inevitable, and Edgar submitted to William in December 1066, uncrowned.
King William treated Edgar well, and kept a close eye on his former supporters, now amongst his vassals. However, in 1068, Edgar joined Edwin and Morcar in a Northumbrian rebellion against King William. The rebellion was crushed, and although Edwin and Morcar were pardoned, they were stripped of their titles.
Edgar fled to the King of Scotland, and married into their royal house. He also found common cause with King Canute of Denmark, who believed himself the rightful heir to the English throne. Their combined forces invaded in 1069; they captured York, but did not proclaim the independence of Northumbria.
A furious King William marched northwards to face them, devastating the land as he went. He paid the Danes to leave, and forced Edgar to flee back to Scotland. Edwin Leofricson was killed trying to raise a Welsh rebellion, and Morcar fled to Ely in Cambridgeshire, where he became an outlaw. He was later arrested, and died in prison.
Edgar Aetheling was sent back to England in the terms of the peace treaty with Scotland, but made his peace with William in 1074. He never fully gave up his claims on the throne (or his impressive knack of picking the wrong side), and supported Robert against William II in 1089, and again found himself fleeing to Scotland. From that point on, the Norman royal lineage was undisputed.
==========================================================
Introduction:
The story begins in December 1066. Edwin is Earl of Mercia and Morcar Earl of Northumbria, the last surviving Saxon houses in England. Although their common cause with Stigand, Archbishop of Canterbury has dissolved, the anti-Norman feeling in northern England is still very strong.
Meanwhile, Edgar Aetheling is a ward of King William, and is to be found either in his court in Normandie, or currying favour with the Scottish King.
==========================================================
Goals:
Edwin and Morcar plot the downfall of William the Conqueror, and the House of Normandie. Their aim is to overthrow the King, and become Kingmakers; placing their own dynasty behind the ruling line.
The former Earldoms of Mercia and Northumbria are becoming less and less meaningful in the changing country, and so they must also see the transition from their Earldoms into the stronger and lasting Dukedoms of Lancaster and Cumberland.
Finally, the AAR will continue to follow the dynasty across time and see what good or evil befalls them.
==========================================================
Writer's Note:
Given the liberties already taken, I'm not going for a historically accurate portrayal of any of the main characters involved, nor replicating their historical efforts. The nature of all characters will be defined by their characteristics in-game.
Also, I have no convenient way of taking screenshots.