The heretics of Toulouse

[Dogia]

In this ARR I will being playing as the Duke of Toulouse.

At the first opportunity I will convert my ruler to the Cathar religion, and strive to survive in a hostile Europe, and take every opportunty I can to defend and spread the truth of the Cathar Faith.




The Duke of Toulouse is young and single, with a multitude of siblings hanging around the duchy in the south of France. It looks like a powerful starting position, but only two of those provinces are held directly by the duke. The rest by counts loyal to him. To the North and West lies the powerful Duke of Aquitaine.



The laws of the duke call for gavelkind inheritance. This is going to be difficult to change snce the king of France needs to have High crown authority in order for me to do so. This means i will have to do everything posible to support the young boy king of France.

I set the laws start collecting small feudal taxes, and order the construction of a wooden palisade in Toulouse, the only province i intend to invest in until i can change succesion laws.

The young Duke is unmarried, so i send my ambassadors out to look for a bride.



A norwegian princess seems like the best option. She will provide the duke with an Heir.



She has great Martial stats, something i certainly need to breed into Toulouse if it is to survive the future onslaught.

Anyway, been dreaming about playing this game for over a year... Back to the game

 

[Dogia]

After the wedding Guilhem got down to the business of ruling, and more importantly insuring that he had an heir. News of evil and wicked heretics flourishing in a french province filled him with disgust.




Although the King of france keeps a nation in an almost constant state of war, not much occurs in the Duchy. Plots start, and fail. And counts begs for forgiveness. But it was a happy time for the Duke and his Duchess, leading to the birth of 4 children. None of whom would ever rule Toulouse.




News arrives of some serious trouble brewing. But the duke will wait until the claim is acted upon before he gets his revenge. He had bigger problems, to the south the duchy of Barcelona had fallen to the infidels. Feeling it was his christian duty to go slay infidels and take their land, he raised his levies and hired a band of mercenary saxons and marched south in search of Glory.




The war looked like it should be a cake walk, the newly conquered lands were rebelling. But the Duke had greatly underestimated the power of his foe.




A large enemy army appeared, And even though outnumbered the Duke stood his Ground. Taking up defensive positions the battle started to turn in favour of the would be crusaders.

But then a fleet appeared on the coast bringing in 2000 more men for the Sultan.




The tide of battle shifted, Although the muslims were taking heavy losses the Dukes army could not hold them off. His men started to retreat, being cut down by the sultans Cavalry.

Ordering a general retreat the whole of the army tried to run back north towards home. They would never make it.




Getting back to Toulouse with his army destroyed, and his treasury empty, he realized the war was lost. And sued for peace. The gracious sultan accepted.




The Ducal family of Toulouse was demoralized, a week after the signing of the peace. The beloved duchess passed away. In order to lift spirits, the Duke searched for brides for his eldest son and Heir. He was then betrothed the the Kings own Daughter, bringing much celebration.




Sensing that the duke was weak, the count of Gevaudon goes to war over his claim. The civil war lasted just under a year.




After he had sufficiently mourned, he found a pretty young courtier from Italy and married her. She was meant to be no more than a plaything, a charming campanion in his later years. With the gavelkind laws in place he certainly did not want more sons. But history would have a different take on the young duchess Giovanna. Either she as evil manipulative mastemind, or the woman who single handedly saved the Duchy of Toulouse.

 

[Count Lake]

Great start to the AAR! Bad luck with the reinforcements in Spain but hopefully you can recover and launch another attack soon. Giovanna is a great name for a intrigue heavy female by the way!

 

[Saithis]

Nice try in Catalonia, pity it didn't go to plan. At least you made a bold statement to start it off. Here's hoping you can survive when the heresy begins to spread!

 

[Nikolai]

Interesting idea for an AAR, spreading the Cathar faith!

 

[Dogia]

Count Lake: Yeah, win some and lose some. I should have researched my enemy more before i went to war. As well i went to war with a very low treasury. A Major mistake.

Saithis: Ive never been great at the military side of things in paradox games. When i win its usually because my economy allows me to swallow allot of defeats. But i had better get in gear, i doubt the catholics will be as merciful as the sultan was.

Nikolai: Yeah it was dream to do this as an arr for a very long time, mostly because i want to test explore all the religious options and dynamics.




The Dukes new wife was very skilled in certain arts... Ones that will serve Toulouse and the Catharism well.





Yes thats the daughter of the King i just killed.... Let me explain the series of events that led to this. I was so ingrossed in the game that i forgot that i was making it an aar. But bringing Giovanna to my court set off a bloodbath.

Within a few weeks after the weding to Giovanna, she was pregnant with child. My younger son was inplicated in a plot to kill His older brother, my Heir. I asked him to stop and he agreed. Then Giovanna gave birth to a son.

Within the week my oldest son an heir was dead. Who did i suspect... my second son offcourse. With the betrothal to princess sophie called off, due to my heirs death, i decided to forgive and forget. And had her betrothed to my second son and heir. They were happily married when she came of age and i granted them a county.

My wife Giovanna however kept informing me of plots by the Princes and my son. Finally an assasin killed my third son who i had had with the duchess Giovanna. Filled with anger at my heir, i had him arrested and beheaded within days.

Soon Duchess Giovanna gave birth to twin boys. Princess sophie had fled to a court in germany. She was still plotting againts me, so i had the duchess arrange an accident.

After this things semed to settle down. Giovannas children were now heirs to the duchy of Toulouse. Then my duke died in mysterious circumstances. Leaving Giovanna as regent for a good 15 years and effectively the ruler of Toulouse.





The elder of the two twins, by a minute or so, was raised and tutored by his mother. When he came of age, I saw an interesting opportunity. The young duchess of normandy was soon to come to age as well. I finally got them to accept a non matrilineal marriage.




Not really a keeper, but ts her title i want. If we have an heir he will rule both duchies.




Two weeks after the wedding, the event i had been waiting for finally occured.. The duke offcourse conceded that Catharism was the true faith. A Heretic now ruled in Toulouse.






I had worried that my conversion would make things complicated with the Duchess.. But a son was born. The future Duke of both Toulouse and Normandy. Sadly the world would not be so kind to little Bonaventura.




Takes one to know one. My mother is so caring of her children. I tell her to make sure the duchess is dead.




My son Bonaventura is now the duke of Normandy.




As well other members of the court are starting to see the wisdom in the Dukes adopted religion. Catharism starts to spread like a wildfire among the nobility of Toulouse. But still has yet to make headway amongst the serfs.

 

[Davisx3m]

Awesome

 

[morningSIDEr]

I like the concept of a heretic attempting to survive and prosper and reading the exploits of Giovanna, a cunning schemer if ever there is one, I am all the more intrigued. I'll keep an eye on this.

 

[Dogia]

Davisx3m: Thanks!

MorningSider: Yeah, I hope i can eek out a safe place for the Cathars. it might be difficult.




The Duke remarried a week after the death of the Duchess of Normandy. I nice Local Cathar girl. Who provided him with many Daughters and sons.





My eldest son the Duke or Normandy was residing in the north of France. Even though he started off as a cathar, a tutor appointed to him converted him to the catholic faith.

Thats a big problem. If he ever became duke he could seriously slow or even stop the spread of catharism. I now had good cathar sons with my new wife, and if my eldest were to die....





Dont judge me harshly. Any of you in the same situation would have dont the same thing.





It seems the King has started to notice the changes taking place in Toulouse and Normandy. I repectfully decline.






Enough of he Nobility is Cathar now that i start a purge of Catholic barons, and bishops. I give them all the option to convert before i fire them. Some agree. It seems that if you give a gift before you ask they are more likely to accept. Just a tip for those trying to convert their realms.







Great news, Catharism is really starting to pick up. I send my bishop up to normandy to start converting the people there.






Looks like the King is really starting to get uncomfortable. I really should have started preparing for war at this point. More to the point saving up money for war. Instead i kept spending money on building some neat castles...




My Nephew the Duke of Aquitaine has decided to invade using his claim. I am flat broke, haveing just ordered a 300 gold archery range or something.

Always keep ample money in your treasury people!!! Dont spend it all... Keep an emergency fund. My policey was always to have 300g, but i stupidly broke it at the very worst time.




The levies are called from north to south. At first my Nephews army does not look impressive. But he suplements them with mercenaries. He ends up with a 7000k army. While my whole army is about 3k. Along with his allies he outnumbers me 4 to one.






I send my main army to try to pick off the smaller stacks. I have two victories against his allies armies. Hoping that attrition will take its toll as he seiges my very expanded castles in Toulouse.




After Toulouse falls, he main army hunts down my army, and destroys it. All hope is lost, unless. I wait until my gold reaches 50. And send my spymaster to his work.





I pray to god that he will see me through this, those are not good odds.





I fail. Am caught, and the king imprisons me.




I sign a peace with my nephew cedeing the Duchy of Toulouse to him.

But hey at least i still have the duchy of Normandy! Morale of the story is that sometimes killing your first born son is the right thing to do!

 

[Nikolai]

Ouch. That stinks. But who say's the North might not be the true saviour of Catharism?

 

[hjarg]

Very interesting development though!
Hope you can get your Duchy back- you still have the claim!

 

[LordTempest]

One little demense is a small price to pay for keeping the flame of Catharism burning. God willing you shall reclaim it in time.

 

[morningSIDEr]

I do really rather like that the decleration of war started, 'Dear uncle...' before descending into insults. Painful stuff but you have survived and Catharism is still in with a chance of spreading thus it could be far worse.