Les Rois de la France
~~
Alain I Capet
Part V- One Last Bite
In June of 1153, the Moors mobilized again. They knew that France was poised to strike down their dieing empire. If Islam was to remain alive in Iberia, they would need to defeat the French once and for all. Unfortunately for the Moors, they were led once again by a child. Emir Sami ibn Abbad led his unsteady nation to war once more. The French, led by Alain himself, marched south to meet and defeat the Moorish army. It would be the last battle to decide the fate of Iberia. The Muslims in southern Spain and Portugal banded together and marched a massive army to Cordoba, where Alain drove to meet them.
What followed was the battle of the Aljama Mosque, so called because the Capetian king promised to strike down the crescent and raise up the cross after his victory. In the largest battle of the 12th century, the French and Moors met outside the city of Cordoba. The Muslims, knowing that Alain wanted to end the war quickly, lined up in defensive positions across from Alain, urging him to charge. The Moors controlled not only the high ground, but staved and defended points across the ridge. The Moorish army also organized a large reserve within the wooded area to the east of the field. In all the Moorish army was well prepared for the coming conflict.
Alain was unperturbed. He knew that the Moorish army was tired, and the legacy of defeat haunted them. He felt that a single charge against the Moorish lines would break them and sweep the field. So he took the fight personally to the enemy, and led a daring open field charge. The Moors did not have a large number of archers, and many of those were kept pinned by Philip’s Welsh longbow men, who also rained fire on the dismounted Moorish infantry. He led the center charge, while his brother maintained the charge against the Moorish right flank. Duke Herman charged against the left, while Lord Randall and Philip Mustafa were ordered to maintain the flank and act as a reserve.
When the Moors rushed to strike the French flank, Randall and Philip held, though the latter was knocked from his horse and slain. Randall managed to organized a stiff defense that pushed the Moors back into the woods and kept the French flank protected. Meanwhile the Dutch forces broke themselves against the Moorish lines and were butchered. The Moorish commander threw what he had against the Dutch and broke them, sending them from the field. The Moorish left flank was not as strong, and broke under the pressure of the French knights. When the French secured the flank, Alain slammed into the Moorish center.
Legend has that Alain himself slew 50 Moorish cavalrymen. Regardless of the true number, his presence helped the slightly outnumbered Frenchmen drive the Moors back. Alain won the field, though at a heavy cost. 1/3 of his army was slain, including thousands of nobles. His brother was seriously injured, and would not live out the year. One of his sons took ill from his wounds and succumbed as well. Last of all Alain himself was injured, having been struck many times by a heavy enemy club. Though the injury was not life threatening, it did have a long term effect. Alain’s health slowly began to decline, and the proud conquering king began to suffer bouts of strange illness.
What became of Spain
Regardless, the King of France now ruled Spain. On June 1st 1161, the 37 year old King Alain I was crowned Alain I Capet, King of France, Aragon, Castille, Leon and Portugal, Duke of Asturias, Braganza, Tojo, Almeria, Coimbra, Algarve, Cordoba, and Salamanca. He was the most powerful man in the world, with an Empire challenging Charlemagne’s. Then he decided to give it all up. To his long term advisors and allies, the Tryels, he gave the Kingdom of Aragon. To his second son Charles he gave the kingdom of Castille, and to his third son Bouchard he gave the kingdom of Leon. Finally he granted the Kingdom of Portugal to one of his distant allies. Spain was partitioned in a matter of months, and although France still controlled a great deal of land on the Iberian peninsula, it was only until that land could be given to the Spanish kings.
And thus was the realm when Alain, aged only 38, finally succumbed to his wounds. He left his kingdom, as strong and rich as ever, to his son Guillaume. Had Alain survived to old age, there is no imagining the extent of his success.
~~
Alain I Capet
Part V- One Last Bite
In June of 1153, the Moors mobilized again. They knew that France was poised to strike down their dieing empire. If Islam was to remain alive in Iberia, they would need to defeat the French once and for all. Unfortunately for the Moors, they were led once again by a child. Emir Sami ibn Abbad led his unsteady nation to war once more. The French, led by Alain himself, marched south to meet and defeat the Moorish army. It would be the last battle to decide the fate of Iberia. The Muslims in southern Spain and Portugal banded together and marched a massive army to Cordoba, where Alain drove to meet them.
What followed was the battle of the Aljama Mosque, so called because the Capetian king promised to strike down the crescent and raise up the cross after his victory. In the largest battle of the 12th century, the French and Moors met outside the city of Cordoba. The Muslims, knowing that Alain wanted to end the war quickly, lined up in defensive positions across from Alain, urging him to charge. The Moors controlled not only the high ground, but staved and defended points across the ridge. The Moorish army also organized a large reserve within the wooded area to the east of the field. In all the Moorish army was well prepared for the coming conflict.
Alain was unperturbed. He knew that the Moorish army was tired, and the legacy of defeat haunted them. He felt that a single charge against the Moorish lines would break them and sweep the field. So he took the fight personally to the enemy, and led a daring open field charge. The Moors did not have a large number of archers, and many of those were kept pinned by Philip’s Welsh longbow men, who also rained fire on the dismounted Moorish infantry. He led the center charge, while his brother maintained the charge against the Moorish right flank. Duke Herman charged against the left, while Lord Randall and Philip Mustafa were ordered to maintain the flank and act as a reserve.
When the Moors rushed to strike the French flank, Randall and Philip held, though the latter was knocked from his horse and slain. Randall managed to organized a stiff defense that pushed the Moors back into the woods and kept the French flank protected. Meanwhile the Dutch forces broke themselves against the Moorish lines and were butchered. The Moorish commander threw what he had against the Dutch and broke them, sending them from the field. The Moorish left flank was not as strong, and broke under the pressure of the French knights. When the French secured the flank, Alain slammed into the Moorish center.
Legend has that Alain himself slew 50 Moorish cavalrymen. Regardless of the true number, his presence helped the slightly outnumbered Frenchmen drive the Moors back. Alain won the field, though at a heavy cost. 1/3 of his army was slain, including thousands of nobles. His brother was seriously injured, and would not live out the year. One of his sons took ill from his wounds and succumbed as well. Last of all Alain himself was injured, having been struck many times by a heavy enemy club. Though the injury was not life threatening, it did have a long term effect. Alain’s health slowly began to decline, and the proud conquering king began to suffer bouts of strange illness.
What became of Spain
Regardless, the King of France now ruled Spain. On June 1st 1161, the 37 year old King Alain I was crowned Alain I Capet, King of France, Aragon, Castille, Leon and Portugal, Duke of Asturias, Braganza, Tojo, Almeria, Coimbra, Algarve, Cordoba, and Salamanca. He was the most powerful man in the world, with an Empire challenging Charlemagne’s. Then he decided to give it all up. To his long term advisors and allies, the Tryels, he gave the Kingdom of Aragon. To his second son Charles he gave the kingdom of Castille, and to his third son Bouchard he gave the kingdom of Leon. Finally he granted the Kingdom of Portugal to one of his distant allies. Spain was partitioned in a matter of months, and although France still controlled a great deal of land on the Iberian peninsula, it was only until that land could be given to the Spanish kings.
And thus was the realm when Alain, aged only 38, finally succumbed to his wounds. He left his kingdom, as strong and rich as ever, to his son Guillaume. Had Alain survived to old age, there is no imagining the extent of his success.
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