The House of Leofricson - A Saxon AAR

[Velasco]

Welcome all!
This is my very first AAR playing as duchy of Cumberland (EDIT: now Northumberland), 1066 scenario, using 1.04a.
My initial goals are to expand the duchy and to place a Saxon King upon the english throne.
I have made the following changes to the original 1066 scenario:

I have changed the cultures of:
York: to Danish
Westmorland & Cumberland: to Norwegian
Northumberland, Durham, Chester, Derby, Shrewsbury, and Lancaster: to Saxon

this is to ensure that I don't end up with anglicized heirs with names like Randolph or Eustace

I have also expanded the Saxon family trees, by adding the following characters:

Algifu Atheling (born 1005), daughter of Ethelred II and mother of Morcar and:

Burgheard Leofricson (1030-1061), who has a son, Godric de Corbi Leofricson (born 1046) (5/5/5/5/9/9)
Leverunia Leofricson (born 1034) (3/6/5/6/10/18)

Lucia Leofricson (born 1040) (6/6/6/6/8/8)

Ealdgyth Leofricson (born 1042) (0/11/8/8/8/8), wise, temperate, midas touched. I have expanded the welsh family tree to include Ealdgyth's first husband Gruffydd of Gwynedd, his father Llywelyn and mother Angharad of Powys, also mother of Bleddyn Cynfyn (in-game duke of Gwynedd). I also added Bleddyn's father Cynfyn and oneof Bleddyn's brothers, Rhiwallon, who has two daughters, Gwladys and Sioned.

I have added Ealdgyth's children by Gruffydd, they have welsh culture but Leofricson dynasty:
Maredudd ap Gruffydd Leofricson (born 1055) (8/6/6/6/8/8), martial education, valorous, and zealous
Idwal ap Gruffydd Leofricson (born 1057) (5/5/5/5/6/6), court education
Nesta Leofricson (born 1059) (5/10/9/8/8/8) court education, indulgent, energetic, wise, and proud

I also added Ealdgyth's marriage with Harold Godwineson, and their posthumous sons, they also have Leofricson dynasty:
Ulf Godwineson Leofricson (born december 1066) (8/7/7/8/9/8) valorous
Harold Godwineson Leofricson (born december 1066) (3/5/2/5/8/8) coward

I have made the Athelings younger, so Edgar is now born in 1050, and Margaret in 1048; I also knocked off ten years from Edgar's wife. I have added their sister Christina (born 1044) (4/8/4/8/8/8) with ecclesiastical education, historically she became a nun at Romsey. I have also added their mother Agatha, as a daughter of Yaroslav I of Kiev.

I have also included Harold Godwineson's children by Eadgyth of Essex:

Gunhila (born 1055) (2/6/6/8/8/8) forgiving, merciful, just, honest, ecclesiastical education
MAgnus (born 1051) (9/9/0/10/8/7) valorous, honest, reckless, indulgent, energetic, zealous, trusting, modest, and court education
Edmund (born 1049) (6/6/9/8/8/8) suspicious, deceitful, coward, cruel, selfish, lazy, sceptical, vengeful, and court education
Godwine (born 1047) (2/3/2/4/5/6) proud and arbitrary.

Lastly, I felt it would be good to have some Norman nobility:

Emma de Rennes (born 1034), daughter of Alain III of Brittany, and sister of Duke Hoel's wife Havoise
I added her first husband Robert de Brugge (1022-1058), historical castellan of Brugge, lord of Brix and/or Briouze in normandy, and a son of Lambrecht van Leuven (he has also been added, so the proper relationships now exist between the counts of Brabant and Boulogne), and their children:

William de Braose (born 1049), he is married to a young saxon girl, Rowena of Northumberland (born 1054)

Alan Bruce (born 1051) who is married to a norman noblewoman, Sybilla d'Aumale (born 1050)

Robert Bruce (born 1053), historical ancestor of the kings of Scotland, I have married him to a young danish girl, Estrith of York (born 1053).

and three daugthers: Philina (born 1053) Hortolina (born 1055) and Amicia (born 1057).

As you can probably tell from the stats I have given them, I am not yet a prolific player, or writer, so hopefully this AAR will get better as I become a better player and writer!

The first chapter will be posted soon, hopefully today!

If anyone has any additional information on the Leofricson dynasty, and on noble families in Yorkshire or Northumberland, around 1066 please let me know!

 

[stnylan]

Okay! Let's see how the English Resistance does.

 

[Velasco]

THE HOUSE OF LEOFRICSON, FOREWORD

Morcar Leofricson obtained the earldom of Northumbria in 1065, when the Northumbrians rebelled against their earl Tostig, and Harold Godwineson (de facto ruler of the land) granted the earldom to Morcar. Morcar was the younger brother of Edwin, Earl of Mercia, and a son of Alfgar of Mercia and Algifu, a daughter of the Saxon King Ethelred II.

In January 1066 Morcar’s childless uncle King Edward died, and the Witan elected Harold Godwineson, the most powerful man in the country, as the new king. Harold was not descended from the native Saxon kings, but through his mother he descended from the Danish royal house, and a kinsman of King Sweyn I, who had conquered England in 1013; Sweyn’s son Canute had also ruled England (1016-1035), as did Canute’s sons Harold I Harefoot (1035-1040) and Hardeknud (1040-1042). Canute had married Emma of Normandy, the widow of the Saxon King Ethelred II, and she was the mother of Hardeknud; following the deaths of Hardeknud and Harold I without children she recalled her son with Ethelred II, Edward, from Normandy, and placed him on the throne. Edward’s reign was peaceful, as he was not only of the ancient house of Wessex, but also the half-brother of the Danish King Hardeknud. Edward strengthened his position by marrying Edith, daughter of Earl Godwin of Wessex, England’s most powerful magnate, but the union produced no children. Upon Edward’s death, the Norman duke William (a great-nephew of the Queen Emma), who neither descended from the Saxon or Danish royal houses, claimed Edward had promised to him the throne, and invaded England, decisively defeating Harold at Hastings. The Witan attempted to install the young Saxon prince Edgar Atheling, who by right of primogeniture had a greater claim than King Edward to the throne, as king in the capital, with the support of the earls Morcar and Edwin, and the leading Saxon clergymen, but they soon realised the futility of their cause and accepted King William as King.

William restructured the shape of England, creating new lordships and earldoms for his followers, dividing the land into easily administrable provinces, or shires. Edwin retained the duchy of Mercia, which was renamed Lancaster, which comprised the shires of Lancaster, Chester, Derby, and Shrewsbury. Morcar was given the duchy of Northumberland, comprising the shires of Northumberland, Durham, York, and Westmoreland, and roughly covering the lands he had ruled before the conquest. Morcar returned at once to York, where he found the three sons of King Harold, Godwine, Edmund, and Magnus, awaiting him. Also with them was their stepmother Ealdgyth, Morcar’s sister, who had borne King Harold two posthumous twin sons, who were named Ulf and Harold, and her three elder children, Maredudd, Idwal, and Nesta, from her first marriage with the welsh prince Gruffydd of Gwynedd. They were also joined by their cousins, Skuli and Ketil, the sons of King Harold’s brother Tostig, but they soon departed for Flanders, where they joined their Flemish mother and her kinsmen. Morcar welcomed them all, but he bade them all not to talk to him of politics, or Normans, until the Christmas festivities were over.

Morcar’s court was presided over by his mother Algifu, who was renowned throughout England for her wisdom and honesty. Born the daughter of King Ethelred II and his first wife, Aelgifu, she had eventually married Alfgar, the earl of Mercia, and borne him several children, of which three sons, Edwin, Morcar, and Burgheard, survived to adulthood, and three daughters, Leverunia, Lucia, and Ealdgyth. Burgheard was the youngest of the boys, and consequently his mother’s favourite; upon his death in 1061 she took in his son Godric, called de Corbi, and raised him as her own.

Of her daughters, Algifu liked the feisty Ealdgyth the most. At a young age Ealdgyth had been married to the welsh prince Gruffydd, and borne him three children. However, Gruffydd died in 1063, and his lands passed, not to his son by Ealdgyth, but to his half-brother Bleddyn, forcing Ealdgth, widowed, with three children, still in the first bloom of her youth, to return to England. There she seduced the Saxon nobleman Harold Godwineson, and contracted a marriage with him in 1064, despite his prior union with Eadgyth of Essex (who naturally became her chief enemy). When Harold died at Hastings, Ealdgyth, seven months pregnant with what turned out to be twin boys, fled north dressed as a man to York, giving birth to her sons on the way. Fortunately, before she could do much else, news reached her of her brothers’ pardon by King William, and she no longer feared for her safety, and did not attempt to flee to Scandinavia or Flanders, as had she had previously planned. It was to these that Morcar returned, after a somewhat eventful year in the south of the country.



CHAPTER ONE: ALGIFU HEARS WEDDING BELLS

Morcar sat on in his chamber, deeply troubled, holding a letter in his hand. As he mulled over the letter’s contents, he knew that the future of Saxon England depended upon which action, if any, which he would take. King William’s army, even without reinforcements from the continent, would with ease crush any rebellion Morcar could stir up, even with the assistance of his brother Edwin and the Welsh. Morcar considered calling upon for assistance from the Danish king, Sveyn II, but he knew Sveyn II was busy consolidating his hold on Denmark; furthermore, any Danish assistance against the Normans would merely result in the installation of a Danish king, and a new struggle to push the Danes out of England. And even if the Norman were to be dethroned, who should replace him? The senior Saxon pretender Edgar had shown himself to be uninspiring and ineffectual, and he was generally disliked by the common populace. Following him and his sisters, and any issue they might produce, the best Saxon claimant would be Morcar’s brother Edwin, but neither Edwin nor his son Estmond held any regal aspirations. This, in Morcar’s eyes, meant that it was he who held the best claim to the throne. However, he knew the sons of Harold Godwineson all held royal pretensions, and he also knew of the hopes his sister Ealdgyth cherished for her twin sons.

Having thus untangled his thoughts, he immediately called a servant, and ordered him to go fetch his mother lady Algifu, to whom he often turned to for counsel.
Algifu entered her son’s bedchamber, and sat herself down beside him.
“I was about to come see you, as I desire to talk. But first of all, what is’t that troubles you son?”
“I have received a letter from King William, informing me that he has granted substantial lands here in Yorkshire and near Durham to his kinswoman, a certain Breton noblewoman, Emma de Rennes, and her three sons. I have met her once or twice, at King Edward’s court, but at that time she was still married to Robert de Brugge, who held some lands in Normandy. She is a pleasing enough woman… King William bids me welcome them to my court, and to give them possession of the lands… lands which are currently held by my thegn Aethelwine of Durham.”
Algifu went to say something, but she felt the anger rise up in Morcar, and she awaited the impending outburst of anti-Norman feeling with considerable agitation.
She did not have to wait long. Morcar slammed his fist onto the table, startling his aged mother.
“These Normans! Even IF we could find some way to defeat them, who should replace them? Edgar Atheling disgraced himself in the capital by his thoughtless behaviour; there is no way he will ever be accepted as king there. You know full well Edwin and Estmond’s lack of ambition, but I fear the Godwineson boys would never truly accept me as king. And Ealdgyth… she has high hopes for her sons.”
“Son, do not let such things worry you. There is no chance of you, or anyone old enough to remember the Danish Kings, will ever be able to send the Norman bastard back to Normandy. Which leads on to what I wished to talk about. Last night I had a dream, in which I saw you married to a woman, and surrounded by children. And indeed it is high time you take a wife and father children.”

Morcar exhaled, emptying his head of his anti-Norman feeling, and focusing on the task at hand. He himself had been giving the matter some thought, it was high time for him to marry and beget children. “So mother, which renowned beauty have you selected for me?”
“Morcar, Morcar! I have noone particular in mind, merely, you are 38 years old, few men, and even more so a weathered warrior as you, could hope to live that amount again. Like you yourself have said, Edwin and Estmond lack ambition, and if your heir was to be a small child, it might well spell ruin for our house.”
“Very well. I have also been giving the matter some thought… I think Eadgyth of Essex..”
“EADGYTH OF ESSEX?!”
“Yes Eadgyth of Essex, she…”
“Your sister would never allow it! You wish to wed Eadgyth of Essex, the concubine of a usurper, a woman of obscure origins and even shadier morals!”
Morcar sighed. “I take it you would never accept her as my wife, or her children as your grandchildren? Very well, mother, have it your way. Who do you propose I marry?”
“Well like I said I have noone in mind, but…”
“That is fine, mother, I will the matter more thought and let you know as soon as I have chosen a…”
“Like I said I have no particular lady in mind, BUT I do believe one of the Atheling girls would suit you best, they are your equal in lineage, pleasing to the eye, and at a good age for childbearing. Furthermore, it would greatly strengthen your children’s claim to the throne.”
“You forget Edgar Atheling, there is still every chance he will father children, who will possess higher claims than those of his sisters.”
“Nonsense! All you have to do is to ensure that any son born to Edgar Atheling is at once entrusted to the church, and remains celibate; therefore allowing the Atheling pretensions to the throne to pass to his sisters’ children.”
“Nevertheless mother, I have observed the Atheling girls, and I believe both would make me a poor consort. They are equally silly and shallow, obstinate, and haughty young women and it is of the utmost importance that the mother of my heirs is a woman I can respect. What say you of Agatha of Kiev?”
“In terms of birth and consequence, there is none better suited. Her sisters have in turn sat on the thrones of Poland, Hungary, Norway, and France, so by marrying her you will at once become the uncle of four kings! And she has certainly, by her humble conduct and kind actions, won my respect as a woman. But I fear she may already be past the age of bearing more children.”
“Well… who is there left?... Of course, mother! Emma de Rennes!”

 

[stnylan]

The wonders of plotting out dynastic marriages, but Morcar is right, he can't take William at the moment.

Just a word of presentation advice, it helps if you leave a clear line between paragraphs to improve legibility.

Looking forward to more.

 

[Velasco]

how do i post screenshots?

 

[Velasco]

Chapter 2: Marriages Galore

CHAPTER 2: MARRIAGES GALORE

The first week of January, 1067, was one of unprecedented joy for the Leofricson family. On the first day of the new year, Morcar granted the hand in marriage of his sister Leverunia to Edmund Godwineson, a malicious fellow, renowned for his cruelty and selfishness. This was followed the next day by the marriage of Lucia and Godwine Godwineson, who was the court's very own lovable fool. On the third day, came the rather controversial union of Morcar's sister Ealdgyth, and her brilliant stepson Magnus Godwineson, and on the fourth that of Godric de Corbi and Christina Atheling.

Finally, on the fifth day, Morcar married the attractive Emma de Rennes, in a splendid ceremony in his private chapel. Emma was aged 33, and renown for her wisdom and justice. Furthermore, Morcar was able to convince her young sons to give her a dowry, which turned out to be the lands which King William had taken from the thegn Aethelwine and granted to them.

By her first marriage, Emma had three sons and three daughters:

William, the eldest son, was called de Braose, as he held the village of Briouze (Braose) in Normandy. Having been granted substantial lands in Yorkshire by King William, he married Rowena of Northumberland, the 12-year-old daughter of a local thegn, and by forcing all of her brothers to enter monasteries he made peace with himself for robbing her father of his ancestral lands.

The second son, Alan, was called Bruce, as were all his other siblings. He married Sybilla d'Aumale, the heiress of a minor Norman nobleman. He exchanged his lands in Yorkshire with his brother, for the lands their father had once held in Normandy. Consequently, he was often away at the royal court or in Normandy, and spent less than half his time at York.

The third son, Robert Bruce, was the most like his father of all his siblings. A capable administrator and fighter, he married for love at the tender age of 13, Estrith, the daughter of a Danish merchant of York. Estrith surpassed even Robert in her command of numbers, and she soon found favour with the duke Morcar, who recognised her as a talented girl, and as a positive influence on his wild-child of a niece, Nesta.

The daughters Philina, Hortolina, and Amicia, were jealously guarded by their mother, who was reluctant to see them married. Emma's worry was misplaced, for the girls were neither blessed with looks or any captivating personal qualities, and they were to bring their husbands little by way of a dowry.

 

[Velasco]

Any feeback is welcomed, criticism is always helpful!

 

[Earl Uhtred]

Sounds like thou'd enjoy the partial Northumbrian AAR linked from my signature (PLUG)

 

[Fiftypence]

Good start! So Morcar's wife is 33? Who is your current heir?

To get pictures, press F11 (or Print Screen) in game whever you see a screenshot you want. These will be stored in the Crusader Kings directory. Move them into paint and save them as JPEGs. Then, register with an image hosting site (photobucket and imageshack are popular) and upload your pictures to the site. To get the pictures into the actual post copy and paste the name of the picture wrapped in

 

[Velasco]

The heir at the start of the scenario is Morcar's elder brother Edwin, Duke of Lancaster, followed by Edwin's son Estmond, and then Morcar's nephew Godric de Corbi Leofricson.

Thanks for the advice, will try to post some pics soon!

 

[Velasco]

Chapter 3: The Most Controversial Marriage In Christendom

CHAPTER 3: THE MOST CONTROVERISAL MARRIAGE IN CHRISTENDOM

Following the manifold marriages, Morcar appointed the brothers Edmund and Magnus to be his spymaster and chancellor, respectively. William de Braose was put in charge of the Northumbrian armies, with the office of "Marshal", and Morcar's sister Ealdgyth was made steward and put in charge of the ducal finances and treasury, which at that time contained 1000(C) a generous joint gift from the Danish King Sveyn II and a group of Danish merchants who wished to maitain their own special privileges in York.

In february 1067 the lady Margaret Atheling set sail from York, to Norway, where she married the Norwegian King Olaf. Morcar's mother Algifu feared the fusion of Atheling blood and Yngling might, as it was Olaf's father Harald Hardraade that Harold Godwineson had had to fight off in 1066 before he had learnt of Duke William's arrival in the south. However, Morcar did not heed her advice, and was greatly pleased at the match, which he felt enhanced his reputation.

In february 1-68 Morcar's sister Ealdgyth died in labour. Her husband Magnus was distraught, and it would be some time before he would be himself again. The duchess Algifu never fully recovered from her favourite daughter's death, and isolated herself from the court in a scottish monastery, where she occasionally entertained Magnus and Morcar.

In July 1069 the duchess Emma finally bore a child, the hoped-for heir, Athelweard, thereby reestablishing her hold on Morcar. The court's spirits were somewhat dampened by the birth of a stillborn child to the beloved Estrith in November, yet even that did not impede Morcar's elation at the birth of Athelweard.

In 1069 the count Hendrik of Barbant died, and was succeeded by his son Godfried, whose heir was his cousin William de Braose.

In March 1071 Emma saw her two eldest daughters suitably married off. Philina was married to Morcar's nephew Maredudd, whilst Hortolina was married to Eustache, the eldest son and heir of count Eustache of Boulogne, and a nephew of Duke Godfried of Lower Lorraine.

In december 1071 the infant Athelweard fell ill with pneumonia, greatly distressing Morcar, but (perhaps due to Algifu's constant intercessory action with God, or to Morcar's pleas for mercy to all the local clergymen) Athelweard miracously recovered the next february.

In February 1073 another marriage took place in the Leofricson family, that of Morcar's nephew Idwal and Gunhilda, daughter of Harold Godwineson and Eadgyth of Essex.

Yet again good news was followed by bad news, that of the death of Robert Bruce, from an illness which had plagued him for some years. he left behind the widow, Estrith of York, and two young children, Godfrey and Rikissa. Estrith's fame as an administrator and charming woman had been spread throughout northern Europe by the Danish merchants, and the Irish and scandinavian princes were falling over themselves to propose marriage to the merchant's daugther; however, Estrith refused all offers, and remained at Morcar's court, from where she governed her late husband's lands for their young children.

In October 1074 the duchess Emma's third daughter Amicia was also married off, to Arnoplh, the heir of count Baudoin of Hainaut, of the ancient princely house of Flanders, and great-nephew of Queen Mathilda.

In February 1075 Morcar gave permission for the most controversial marriage in Christendom, that of his head strong niece, Nesta, and the chancellor Magnus. They were not only step siblings, but Magnus had then defied the Pope by marrying his stepmother (Nesta's mother) Ealdgyth, and now he sought to marry her daughter! The union was supported by the Northumbrian populace, and seen as rather unimportant in the scandinavian courts, where similar pagan customs were still rampant, but it brought about fervent calls for repentance and separtation from the staunchly catholic courts of France and Norman England. Morcar defended his niece and nephew, and eventually recognition was won for the union, ostensibly on the grounds Magnus had not fathered any children by Nesta's mother Ealdgyth.

In August 1075 the duchess Emma bore another child, Eadgyd, at the age of 41. She never quite recovered from the strenous birth, and died of a stroke in April 19th 1076, having learnt of the death of her mother-in-law Algifu in december 10, 1075, which fact had been hidden from her.

 

[stnylan]

Ahh, keeping things in the family. Sounds like you've spent the first decade just being dynastic.

 

[Velasco]

Yes it was important to have all the saxon brood mares suitably married off, pumping out the annual high stated Saxon children. Even if it did take me a whole decade

Military expansion should come soon, Morcar starts the scenario with no prestige, gold, and piety, and I forgot to edit the gamefiles giving him some. I now have about 115 prestige, and before I can go to war against a Christian opponent I need to grab at least 2 titles, costing 150 prestige each. So Lithuania it is then!

 

[Velasco]

Chapter 4: The Death Of Morcar

CHAPTER 4: THE DEATH OF MORCAR

After a suitable period of mourning, Morcar decided to remarry and sire more heirs. Having married once for poltical reasons (chiefly the recovery of the thegn Athelstan's lands and the siring of children) Morcar decided to marry this time for love. However, Morcar was not the sort of man to fall hopelessly in love with a woman; for him love was deep admiration and mutual respect. And so he proposed marriage to Estrith of York, who had replaced the duchess Emma as his steward. Estrith, the daughter of Danish merchant of York, and the widow of a Norman knight, by who she had two young children, was not in a position to deny Morcar, and so she accepted his marriage proposal. The couple's mutual physical attraction soon became evident as the Duke was increasingly absent from his court, which was followed by the expected announcal that Estrith was with child. However, the couple's marital bliss was shattered in early November, when Morcar was suddenly taken ill, and became bedridden, dieing on the 11th. On his deathbed he was absolved of all his sins. He bade his nephew Godric take good care of Estrith and her child, and also of his succesor Athelweard, a boy of 7 years old.

Morcar was greatly mourned by the people of Northumberland, by whom he had been genuinely reverred and beloved. He was remembered as Morcar "the Strong", who in the aftermath of the Conquest managed to hold on to his lands and pass them intact to his son. His reign marked the start of the second period of Saxon history, clearly distinct yet very much the successor to the first period, which was marked by the unification of the country under the Kings of Wessex. It was in Morcar's reign that the language spoken by the Saxon peasantry of Nothumberland and Yorkshire underwent the change from Old Saxon to Middle Saxon, which was heavily influenced by the Danish and Norwegian tongues, which for some time had exised somewhat separately in the north of England. It was also in Morcar's reign, under the guidance of his mother Algifu, that spelling in the monastical chronicles became standardised, and no longer phonetic. This was put into effect by the creation of a large abey near York for a group of Benedictine monks, who compiled a comphrensive dictionary of words in the Saxon language.

 

[Velasco]

Stynlan, Earl Uhtred, and Fiftypence, thanks for stopping by and checking my AAR out! It's an honour considering how great your own AARs are!

Uhtred hadn't seen your AAR before! Btw your BIGDIC ( :rofl: ) is partially responsible for this AAR, I have implemented alot of similar changes (cultures, etc).

The death of Morcar was a bit of a bummer, I was just about to grab a claim on the second title necessary for me to go to war, so in terms of prestige I had to start from 0 with his sucessor, who is 5 years old, but it all turns out well, as you'll see in the next update!(coming soon)

 

[Velasco]

Chapter 5: The Minority Of Athelweard

CHAPTER 5: THE MINORITY OF ATHELWEARD

The succcession of Athelweard went by unoposed, and he was invested as Duke of Northumberland in York cathedral. His investion was attended by King William, and the lands chief magnates, including the Dukes of Norfolk, Lancaster, and Warwick, and even foreign princes such as Bleddyn of Gwynedd and King Malcolm of Scotland.

Following this ceremony, the lady Estrith rejected marriage offers from several noblemen, and entered the cathedral school, to mourn the death of Morcar, whom she had grown to genuinely love during their short marriage. She went into labour on January 25th 1077, however the baby became lodged inside her, and when he was forcibly extracted from her, he was strangled by the umbilical cord, and died. Estrith, bereft of two husbands, and her stillborn child, stayed on at the monastery, and was seen rarely at court, although she visited the child Athelweard and his sister Eadgyd from time to time, and remained in nominal charge of the duchy's finances. When Estrith resolved to return to the court, jealously immediately flared up amongst her enemies, one of whom took the chance to settle an old score and smothered Estrith's son Godfrey. Many marvelled that Estrith did not go mad, having lost all those closest to her. Despite the court's best attempts, the murder's identity was never discovered, and Godfrey's death went uanvenged. Throughout all her troubles, Estrith never neglected her remaining child, Rikissa, who was now heiress to her father's lands in Yorkshire.

In 1079 news arrived that the Holy Roman Emperor Heinrich and his ally, King Boleslaw II of Poland, had attacked the pagan Wends to the north of their lands, the tribe of Prussia. This immediately caused panic at Athelweard's court as the Danish merchants of the prosperous city of York had long ago established a monopoly of trade with the Wends, and consequently been able to assert their influence over the entire Baltic trade. The regency council, who largely depended on the support of the powerful Danish merchants, immediately agreed to go to war to establish a Saxon outpost on the Baltic; yet the problem remained of the King William, who no doubt would steal as much glory, and land, for himself and his Norman fellows. Therefore it was arranged that the brothers, William de Braose and Alan Bruce, were sent to visit the english court, ostensibly on way to visit their lands in Normandy, but in reality to pass on the false information that the Northumbrians were about to launch a Crusade to liberate the Canarias, where it was believed lay the Holy Grail. Immediately King William rallied his liegemen, and sailed across the channel to Normandy, from Normandy he marched through southern France, where he was forced to pay huge sums to the count of Narbonne to use his ports from which to sail to North Africa; having marched across the Western Sahara, he then sailed to the Canarias, which he believed housed the Holy Grail. There he encountered a small native force, which he crushed; he then spent the next few months searching the islands high and low for the Holy Grail.

Meanwhile, in May 1079 the Northumbrian army, led by Walcher of Durham, earl of Westmorland, set sail from York, not to the Canarias, but for Prussia. As Polish and German armies attack the pagans in chelminskie, the Saxon army landed in Marienburg, and by November were in full control of the surrounding land. The Polish firmly established themselves in Chelminskie, but the Polish King Boleslaw had been severely wounded in the fighting, and died soon after, of his battle wounds and of the pneumonia which had plague him for some time. The army mutinied and installed his mistress Aldono Bogoria as countess there, and forced the Queen Consort and her children, including the young King Stanislaw, to flee back to Poland.

The army returned to Northumberland, elated at their military conquest; for the vast majority of the men involved this was their first experience of fighting. The county of Marieburg was granted to the earl Walcher of Westmorland, who sometime after granted it to his son Aldwin. Marienburg and the surrounding land henceforth became the Saxo-Dane headquarters on the Baltic, from where trade could be conducted not only with the neighbouring pagans, with Scandinavia, and the Empire, but also with the Russian princes and the eastern European monarchies of Poland and Hungary. The next year the first Saxo-Dane ships sailed down the Dnieper and Don, establishing a reliable trade route from York to Marienburg to the Byzantines, and the pagan tribes of Pecheneg and Cuman.

In September 1080 the lady Christina Atheling went mad, and began to hear voices in her head. Neverthelles, this did not stop her husband from getting her pregnant the next month.

In October the infant Matilda Bruce, daughter of lord Alan, died. She was buried in the graveyard of York Cathedral, beside the other dead children of the ducal court, which included the lady Estrith's baby and her son Godfrey Bruce. She was joined the following February by Ceridwen, son of Athelweard's cousin Idwal.

In July 1082 Athelweard's sister Eadgyd fell ill, at the tender age of 7. Athelweard, now 13, spent much of his time by her bedside, and did his best to procurr some form of treatment for her mystery ailment. However, without being able to discern exactly what it was Eadgyd had, the clerics summoned could do little for her.

On September 3rd 1082, the lady Sybilla d'Aumale, mother of the dead babe Matilda, once more went into labour. The baby was breached, and the midwife was unable to remove him from Sybilla. As the hours passed, Sybilla asked for Estrith, who had long been her closest friend at the court, but now lived at the cathedral at York. Estrith left the cathedral immediately upon been visited by the messenger, and she arrived in time to console Sybilla before she became unconcious, and subsequently died. Estrith then remained at the court, where she did her best to assist Sybilla's widower Alan, and even took charge of Sybilla's children, in some form helping herself overcome the deaths of her husbands, son Godfrey, and stillborn child.

In december 1082, four days before Christmas, Athelweard granted his assent to the marriage of the lady Estrith, now aged 29, and his cousin Ulf, aged 16, the son of Harold Godwineson and Ealdgyth, sister of Morcar. This was followed by the marriage the next March of Ulf's twin Harold and Mathilda Atheling, daughter of Edgar Atheling and Margaret of Scotland.

In March the court was thrown into anarchy when the mad Christina Atheling murdered in cold blood Madog, the son of lord Idwal ap Gruffydd. Christina was at once banished to a monastery, and her husband Godric was shunned and reprimanded for many years after by the court.

In April 1083 the Kings of Scotland, Ulster, and Gwynedd united and attack Donnchad of Glamorgan, who ruled a tiny portion of south Wales, inbetween Deheubarth and the enroaching English in Gwent. Athelweard, who had grown into an intelligent child, at once order his council to offer his protection to Donnchad of Glamorgan, who immediately accepted. Before sending the promised armies to protect Glamorgan from the Scotland-Ulster-Gwynedd alliance, Athelweard sent a delegation of Saxon thegns along with a large bodyguard to Glamorgan, where they seized Donnchad's hillfort and boarded him on a ship to Ireland. In July the Kings of Scotland, Ulster, and Gwynedd, returned to their homelands, and recognised Athelweard as ruler of Glamorgan.

In May 1083 Godfrey de Braose went mad, and was put in to a forced isolation: noone wanted a repeat of the incident earlier that year. As Godfrey went mad, Christina Atheling recovered, and by October she was fully recovered. Nevertheless, she was no longer welcome at court, whcih she visited only rarely, and then only to visit her father and mother.

In February 1084 the Kings of Sweden, Denmark, and England united and attacked count Algot of Finnveden. Athelweard's Danish merchants at once intervened, and offered Northumbrian protectiont to Algot, before seizing his lands and handing him over to the Danish King Bjorn. The county of Finnveden was then granted to William of Durham, who in return ceded his rights to his lands in Yorkshire and Northumberland.

Back in Northumberland, the health of Athelweard's sister Eadgyd worsened, and she died on July 10th. Athelweard was now well and truely alone, having lost his mother and father aged 7, and now his sister at 15. He fell into a deep mourning, but he recovered soon after with the marriage of Ecgwynn, the daughter of the shunned outcasts Godric and Christina Atheling, and Athelweard's cousin Waltheof, son of Godwine Godwineson and Lucia (sister of Morcar).

In June 1085 Athelweard's education finished, and such was his improvement in administration that the lady Estrith called him "Midas touched", a humours description that was henceforth used at the Northumbrian court to denote someone skilled in finances. In August 1085 he married Ingerid Knytling, daughter of King Bjorn Svendson of Denmark. The marriage was purely political (the couple had never met); Ingerid had two brothers, the eldest, Peder was insane and thus barred from the throne, whilst the youngest Hemming had been entered into a monastery and taken vows of chastity before a great assemble of nobles and princes. Although Athelweard was under no allusions, he hoped that upon King Bjorn's death, he might be able to seize the Danish throne, using military force, and legitimising his claim by his marriage to Ingerid. The marriage also marked the end of Athelweard's minority, and the true start of his reign as Duke of Northumberland.

 

[stnylan]

That's a very clever trick to deal with siege-stealing William. I especially liked your reasons for intervention in the Baltic, it's a nice weaving of elements. Also the Finnveden matter.

Oh in case you haven't worked it out yet you post screenies using the

 

[Velasco]

OK, this AAR is now well and truely underway! Hoping to post at least 2 more updates today, as tomorrow I go back to school and so will be updating less often (every 2 or 3 days).

Again, thanks everybody for taking the time to read this AAR!

 

[Velasco]

Chapter 6: A Mighty Prince

CHAPTER 6: A MIGHTY PRINCE

Unlike his father, Athelweard's hopes and ambitions were not centred solely on the British Isle. After centuries of Viking encroachment on english shores, the time had come for the tide to be reversed, and for the emergence of a strong, united, Saxon empire, stretching from Northumbria to the Baltic, in the likeness of the empire once ruled by the Danish King Canute. From an early age Athelweard strove to establish close ties with the Viking princes, and even travelled to Scandinavia in 1086, where he visited in turn the Kings of Norway, Sweden, and Denmark (his father-in-law). He then sailed to Marienburg, with his cousin the lady Ecgfrida, daughter of Godwine and Lucia (sister of Morcar), who subsequently married the count Aldwin. Whilst there, he also took the opportunity to seduce the famed polish courtesan Aldona Bogora, countess of Chelminskie, and extracted a special form of homage from her.

He then returned to Norway, where he met with the grieving King Olaf, whose brother Magnus had just died. This also placed the Norwegian succesion in jeapodary, as King Olaf had no legitimate sons, and few were eager to recognise his bastard Ivar, or even less so Magnus' mad son Halfdan of Trondelag. Much worse, was that Olaf's eldest daughter Ethelhilda was married to Stanislaw, King of Poland, who made no secret of his intentions towards Norway upon Olaf's death. There was little Athelweard could do in this situation, except provide a more suitable candidate for Olaf's second daughter Snofrid; the amiable Thorolf, son of earl Walcher of Westmorland, who himself had no aspirations to leave Westmorland, even if it was to become a king in Norway.

The Northumbrian court of Athelweard was somewhat different from that of his father. Whilst in Morcar's reign the court consisted of the Duke, his family, and close advisors, Athelweard's was a bustling centre of commerce, composing of the land-hungry children of his father's advisors. Every month brought a new dispute over land, usually amongst the Bruce and Braose brood, but also not unheard of amongst the Godwinesons. This was further complicated by the constant intermarriage between the families.

In June 2nd Wihtgils, the year old son of Harold Godwineson the Younger (son of Morcar's sister Ealdgyth) and Mathilda Atheling, died of poor health. Athelweard dismissed the boy's nurses, but it appeared the replacements mde no difference, with the death of the girl Eadflaed, a daughter of Edmund Godwineson and Athelweard's aunt Leverunia, on the 28th.

In October Athelweard arranged the marriage of his two cousins, Torctgyd (daughter of Edmund Godwineson and Leverunia) and Thorkell, the eldest son of his cousin, Earl Estmond of Shrewsbury.

The next few months passed by quietly, the courtiers preoccupying themsleves with their own lands and children. In April 1sy 1087 the lady Rowena died in labour, as did her child, leaving her husband William de Braose to care for their horde of children. Despite the death of Rowena, Athelweard continued with the preparations for the marriage of his kinsman Uhtred, son of his cousin Godric de Corbi and Christina Atheling, and Clenenza, daughter of Alan Bruce and the deceased Sybilla d'Aumale. Clenenza's dowry consisted of three manors near Durham, on which the young couple spent much of the first few years of their married life.

On the 19th, Athelweard summoned a war council, and announced his desire to attack the pagans of Dalarna, and establish a Saxon foothold in Sweden. On the voayge to Sweden, he took with him his heavily pregnant wife Ingerid, who bore a daughter in July. The child was christened, aboard ship, as Eadgyd, in honour of Athelweard's sister who had died some time before. As Athelweard approached Dalarna, news reached him that in September the Teutonic Knights had seized Marienburg, and expelled the count Aldwin and the Saxo-Dane merchants. Infuriated, Athelweard chanelled his energy against the pagans of Dalarna, and by October was in full control of the country. It was rumoured that King William and his men had set sail after Athelweard, but having heard of Athelweard's complete sucess in Dalarna they had slipped back discreetly to England. Pleased with this, Athelweard next moved against the pagans of Angermanland, and King William promptly set sail from England, and met Athelweard in Angermanland, which by April 1088 was fully under Saxon control. King William stayed two months in Angermanland, and inquired as to why the Saxons were not returning home, to which Athelweard first replied that he was awaiting the completion of his wife Ingerid's gestation; when she bore a healthy boy, Aelfric, on the 26th of July, Athelweard then replied he and his army wished to convert the pagans to Christianism. Uniterested in coverting the pagans, King William returned to England, allowing Athelweard to move into Vasterbotten, which he controlled entirely by November. He then moved against the tribe of Western Sames, who could not rally much of an army, and by May 1089 was in full control of Lappland. During this last campaign, Athelweard was severely wounded, and unable to move east into Finland, and forced to return home. Nevertheless, he was greatly pleased with these conquests, and before returning home encourage large numbers of Danes and Norwegians to settle in his lands and convert the pagans.

While Athelweard was away in Sweden, his childhood friend Valdrade de Braose had left England, to marry Alphonse, the eldest son of Conrad, duke of Luxembourg. Athelweard was greatly upset at the prospect of never seeing Valdrade again, yet he understood such a union was greatly favourable for her father. He also learnt that during his absence Mael-ruanaid, ruler of Mayo in Ireland, had visited Northumberland, in the hope of meeting Athelweard, and of marrying the lady Gwerfyl, daughter of Maredudd ap Gruffydd and Philina Bruce. Gwerfyl, who had no say in the matter, at once went to Mael-ruanaid and told him in no uncertain terms she refusedto marry him, and much less bear his children, and was so forceful in her arguement that he left York that very night, in tears. Displeased with this outcome, Athelweard then married Gwerfyl to her mad cousin Godfrey de Braose, as a form of punishment for her treatment of Mael-ruanaid.

Athelweard's wounds failed to heal effectively, and it soon became evident they never would. He was often confined to his bed, and was unable to travel to Chester to attend the marriage of his cousin Cynric, the fifth (and youngest) son of his uncle Edwin of Lancaster, and Athelweard's stepsister Rikissa Bruce, who brought to the landless Cynric substantial holdings in Yorkshire and Northumberland. Athelweard was greatly upset by the failure to heal of his wounds, although he was somewhat pleased to hear the duchy's income (due largely to the new lands in Sweden, which had once again boosted the mercantile income) had increased to over 10(C), ten times more than it had been in his father's reign.

In October Athelweard was visited by the Archbishop Stigand of Canterbury, who prayed for him to be healed. Stigand had grown to hate the impious King William, and suspected (rightly, it turned out) he would find a willing ally in the Saxon Athelweard, who no doubt longed for independence. Athelweard eagerly signed a secret alliance with Stigand, who although a cleric, also ruled substantial lands and was able to field his own personal army. Stigand stayed in York a while longer, and presided over the union of Guillaume Bruce ( a son of lord Alan) and Gytha Leofricson, daughter of Athelweard's cousin Godric de Corbi and the once-mad Christina Atheling (who had now clawed her way back in to northumbrian polite society, by the marriages of her children).

In January 1090 King William united with King Olaf of Norway and attacked the rebellious counts of Hdemark and Trondelag, and it pained Athelweard greatly he could not return to Scandinavia and join in on the fighting. He consoled himself somewhat by the marriage of his welsh kinsman Rhys, son of Idwal ap Gruffydd, and Constance de Braose, daughter of William de Braose and Rowena of Northumberland, and a few days later that of Egbert, son of Edmund Godwineson and Leverunia, and Christina Leofricson, daughter of Maredudd ap Gruffydd. Athelweard, no longer able to adminster all his lands effectively, also gave the lands of Glamorgan and Angermanland to the church, and installed Asclettin Bruce and Gilchrist Atheling (second son of Edgar) as bishops there.

In February news arrived that the ever faithful and ambitious Saxo-Dane merchants, who had made huge profits not only from trade but also from usury (a sin they had no qualms about commiting), had placed Skofte Ogmundsson of Giske, count of Trondelag, and Orm Eilifsson, count of Hdemark, under their protection. Athelweard was greatly pleased by this, and ordered them not to throw the counts out just yet.

In August 1090 Athelweard attempted to leave his fort, but this merely aggravated his wound and made ill further. He was now unable to leave his chamber, even to attend the birth of his second son, Cuthred, on the 20th. He was also unable to see off the lady Felicia Bruce, who left York a few days later for the south of Italy, with her new husband Alessandro de Hauteville, eldest son of count Bohemund of Apulia, who awaited her at the english court.

Around this time, the mad Godfrey de Braose acted like a true sociopath. He became increasingly selfish, deceitful, arbitrary, and cruel, mainly towards his wife Gwerfyl, who now wished she had gone to Ireland.

In October news arrived that as Norwegian and English armies had occupied Trondelag, and then Hdemark, the Dansih merchants, unable to make contact with Athelweard, concluded a separate peace with the Norwegian King Olaf, paying him handsome sums of gold, a yearly tribute, and also handing over the counts Skofte and Orm, in return for a continued Saxon presence in Hdemark and Trondelag. Athelweard was greatly pleased at this, but he soon regretted it when he became afflicted by worms, perhaps as a punishment from God. Athelweard did as much penance as his health could endure, but remained afflicted with worms; in reparation he even attempted to invite Skofte and Orm to his court, but they refused. Eventually he realised that there was a price for everything: the price for his ruthless expandsion and greedy liegemen would be his health, and, sooner or later, his life.

 

[Velasco]

I've taken a number of screenshots, but when i cant upload them onto Imageshack, its uploads and then the screen freezes and never opens the "my images". And for some reason i cant log on to Photobucket. so no screenies for the foreseable future...

Have played the next updated, should be posted tomorrow morning before i go to school, fingers crossed!