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Roland I, Thrice-Crowned Emperor
  • Roland 'Ironside'
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    Lived: 1067 A.D - 1128 A.D
    Reigned: 1092 A.D - 1128 A.D

    "Ironside! Ironside! Long Live Roland Ironside!." - Le Prince Audacieux

    Titles:
    (Given the vast amount of titles the de Merohingi had from this point on, only the most important will be listed for each entry.)

    Duke of Holland and King of Frisia ( 1092 A.D - 1109 A.D)
    The Thrice Crowned Emperor: (1092 A.D - 1128 A.D)

    Spouse:
    Stéphanie Welf, Princess of Italy (Married 1090 A.D, Died 1093 A.D, Pneumonia)
    Yekaterina Fydyorov, Princess of Russia (Married 1096 A.D)


    Issue:

    Stéphanie (Born 1092 A.D)
    Jacques (Born 1093 A.D, Died 1127 A.D, Fever)
    Clovis (Born 1098 A.D (Later Clovis I))
    Héloise (Born 1099 A.D. Died 1126 A.D, burned as heretic)
    Sigismond de Hainault (Bastard. Born 1100 A.D. Later King of Jerusalem)
    Roland (Born 1101 A.D, Died 1103 A.D, Dysentery)
    Jean (Born 1106 A.D)

    Charles (Born 1108 A.D, Later Baron of Chranów)


    Even before his reign began, Roland had earned a reputation for being a front line commander, and war hero. This was of course due to his defense of Moskva during the Russo-Caspian War, which earned his moniker: Ironside. Unsurprisingly, his early reign was marked by a series of swift military campaigns to reclaim lands owned by foreign nations within the borders of L'Empire les Trois Couronnes.


    In 1104 A.D, Pope Innocentius IV declared the Sixth Crusade. What followed was two years of one sided victories on behalf of the Three Crowns. After the Crusade, he granted the Kingdom of Jerusalem to his bastard son, Sigismond, who later formed the cadet branch of the Merovingian dynasty, the House of Hainault.

    Roland's reign saw massive political changes throughout the Islamic world. The Kingdom (Later Empire of) of Mali was brought under the
    Kharijite faith by Caliph Kisha Gao. It didn't take long for the entirety of Western Africa (save the Duchy of Tangier) to fall to his armies. In East Africa, after the Umardin dynasty renounced the Messalian faith, they took up the Yazidi heresy. Meanwhile, the Abbasid's faced rebellion and unrest on the part of the Nasrid Sultanate within their Empire. The Nasrid's patriarch, Najib, was in possession of the Seal of Mohammad, and was seen as his rightful successor.
    Najib Nasrid is usually seen as Roland I's opposite, the great Islamic and Christian faiths Champion's.
    The Jibrilid's actually fell for a time, to the rebel Nizam ibn Nizam Banu Tamim. Although his reign was short, and within two years the Jibrilid's once again ruled. The event nonetheless shocked the Islamic world, that such a great and storied family could be so easily toppled.

    In 1095 A.D, the Imperial ally, the Kingdom of the Caspian, after conquests pushing East, proclaimed itself the Empire of Tartaria, led by the Kuilis dynasty, with Paulicianism as the national faith. Their first years were marked by conflicts with Russia and the Jibrilid's. It also resulted in the Caspian Sea being the border for five different Empires: The Abbasid Empire, The Russian Empire, The Empire of Tartaria, The Jibrilid Empire and L'Empire les Trois Couronnes.

    Roland's later years were spent promoting a new 'Couronnian' culture, to properly unify the Empire, rather than many Kingdoms as Vassals to an Emperor, he sought a universal Imperial culture. It would be another four hundred years before something resembling a single culture would arise.

    Late in 1127 A.D, after a short illness had weakened him, he received news that his son and heir, Jacques had died to fever. This news devastated the old war hero, and barely two months later, Roland Ironside, the Hero of Moskva and the Sixth Crusade was dead. He was 61.

    His grandson, Roland II, succeeded him. With Roland I's death, the peace of his reign came to an end, and the 'Crisis of the 1100's' began.

    He was the subject of Philippe de Sáble's 1770 opera, Le Prince Audacieux.
     
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    Roland II, Thrice-Crowned Emperor
  • Roland the Mad
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    Lived: 1112 A.D - 1133 A.D
    Reigned: 1128 A.D - 1133 A.D

    "Sisterfucker, Devilspawn, Empire's Shame." - L'union du diable

    Titles:
    (Given the vast amount of titles the de Merohingi had from this point on, only the most important will be listed for each entry.)

    Duke of Holland and King of Frisia ( 1127 A.D - 1133 A.D)
    The Thrice Crowned Emperor: (1128 A.D - 1133 A.D)

    Spouse:
    Yasmin de Prague (Married 1129 A.D)

    Issue:
    Alain (Born January 1129 A.D, Died Fever, November 1129 A.D)
    Héloise (Legitimatised Bastard. Born 1133 A.D.)


    Unlike his namesake, the second Roland to rule L'Empire les Trois Couronnes was completely insane. His court was dominated by his chancellor, Faruk Omanid. Omanid was a follower of the Messalian faith, and supposedly converted the impressionable Emperor. He married Yasmin de Prague in the beginning of 1128 A.D, although the marriage was unhappy. The couple only produced a single child, a son, Alain (named after a hero of the Sixth Crusade, Alain Capet). Before the year was out, the boy would be dead, and Roland's madness would only continue to grow in intensity.

    His single military achievement came in 1131 A.D, where he assisted his Uncle, King Sigismond of Jerusalem, with the invasion of Damietta, although this victory is likely better credited to Duke Besar of Carinthia. Roland meanwhile, enacted a law requiring a hole in the walls of every building in the Empire. It was, predictably, not taken seriously.

    Perhaps the best known demonstration of his madness is his attempt to create a 'Divine Bloodline', akin to the ones in Ancient Egypt. His affair with his elder sister, Héloise was open and obvious. In the Imperial Court, it was no longer Roland's wife that sat by his side, but his sister-lover.

    Their relationship has , predictably, been the inspiration for dozens of books and operas over the centuries. Perhaps the most notable of these was Philippe de Sáble's final opera, L'union du diable, written in 1779, and first performed just three weeks before de Sáble's 1780 A.D death.

    Mercifully, in 1133 A.D, Roland II died of a fever, although it might well have been poison. His legitimised bastard daughter, born earlier that year to his sister, succeeded him as ruler. Faruk Omanid would rule as regent in her stead.

    The infant empress would rule for just six months.
     
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    Héloise I, Thrice-Crowned Empress, and Faruk Omanid, Lord Regent
  • Héloise de Merohingi and Faruk Omanid
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    Lived: 1133A.D - 1133 A.D (Héloise)
    1098 A.D - 1133 A.D (Faruk)
    Reigned/Regency: May - November 1133 A.D

    "The youngest ruler, the worst regent." - Unknown, often attributed to the adventurer, Charles de Bayeux

    The short reign of this infant Empress was marred by controversy and discontent, mainly due to the Messalian Regent left in power by her father. Faruk Omanid had been Roland II's Chancellor for his entire reign, and trusted enough to be one of the first non-familial related Regents.

    H cracked down hard on heresies, and crushed the peasants revolt that broke out in Prague in the August of 1133 A.D. He tried to institute the Messalian faith as the national faith of the Empire, but ultimately failed. He tried to march of Oppland, the hunting lodge maintained by the Imperial Family, but his soldiers refused to follow him, forcing him to return to Krakow in disgrace.


    On the morning of the 7th of November, 1133 A.D, the infant Empress was found dead in her crib. The Count of Oppland and son of Roland I, Clovis de Merohingi, was chosen as her successor by the Council. Faruk Omanid was arrested and charged with treason. The accusations of him trying to seize the throne for himself are likely false, however. He was found guilty, and burned.

    Faruk had made plans to be interred at the Imperial Mausoleum in Agen, in the plots for the most loyal of servants. Instead, his body was dumped into the Vistula River.
     
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    Clovis I, Thrice-Crowned Emperor
  • Clovis the Confessor
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    Lived: 1097 A.D - 1159 A.D
    Reigned: 1133 A.D - 1159 A.D

    "Clovis allowed for decades of peace and good times for all." - Unknown, often attributed to the adventurer, Charles de Bayeux
    Titles:
    (Given the vast amount of titles the de Merohingi had from this point on, only the most important will be listed for each entry.)
    Count of Oppland (1126 A.D - 1159
    Duke of Holland and King of Frisia ( 1133 A.D - 1153 A.D)
    The Thrice Crowned Emperor: (1133 A.D - 1159 A.D)

    Spouse:
    Pernelle Karling (Married 1132 A.D, Died 1134 A.D)
    Wilmot Nerking (Born 1134 A.D, Died 1149 A.D)

    Issue:
    Gunnhildr (Born 1134 A.D)
    Marie (Born late 1134 A.D, Died 1156 A.D, Rabies)
    Astolfo (Count of Zeeland, Born 1137 A.D. Legitimised on deathbed.)
    Roland (Born 1137 A.D)
    Alphonse (Born 1139 A.D)
    Ogier (Later Captain-Master of the Order of St. Julien, Born 1141 A.D)


    Made Count of Oppland, the Merovingian Hunting Lodge by his father, Emperor Roland I, it was thought that Clovis would simply start another minor branch of the Merovingian dynasty. But thanks to the disastrous reign of Roland II and the Regncy of Faruk Omanid, Clovis found himself wearing the Three Crowns.

    Barely eight months after taking the throne, his first wife, Pernelle Karling, died suddenly. With a month, he had married Wilmot Nerking, of the Vestlandet branch of the family. The marriage was perfect, and is often the basis of medieval love stories. When she died in 1149 A.D, the Emperor only ever wore mourning clothes until the day he died. He was the one that started the building of the Cathedral of St. Julien from the Church of St Julien in the Imperial Capital of Krakow.

    In 1136 A.D, Pope Stephanus V declared the Seventh Crusade to recapture Jerusalem for King Gelduin de Hanault. This is often considered the beginning of the end of the Abbasid's, who, 1150 A.D, were overthrown by their Nasrid rivals. Caliph Abdul-Wahab II showed mercy to the remaining Abbasid's, allowing them to live and rule lands within the Empire.
    In addition, King Gelduin started to conquer lands as the Abbasid's fell, and by the end of his reign, Jerusalem held territory from Beirut to Alexandria.

    In one of his last major acts, in 1157 A.D, he reorganised the 'Sons of Charles' free company into a holy order, the Order of St. Julien. For their first commander, Clovis named his youngest son, Ogier. The man would one day be known as 'The Sword of the Lord'.

    He sired a bastard, Astolfo in 1137 A.D. He was made Count of Zeeland, and was later the designated regent of his younger brother. He was legitimised on Clovis's deathbed, with the consideration that Roland would succeed him.

    The longest lasting legacy of Clovis' reign was the 'Clovian Roads', modelled off of old Roman roads. They stayed in common use until late into the 1700's.

    He died in 1159, at the age of 62. He was succeeded by Roland III, Roland the Norman.
     
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    Roland III, Thrice-Crowned Emperor
  • Roland the Norman
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    Lived: 1137 A.D - 1189 A.D
    Reigned: 1159 A.D - 1189 A.D
    "Conquest after Conquest. The Norman presided over many." - Unknown, often attributed to the adventurer, Charles de Bayeux

    Titles:
    (Given the vast amount of titles the de Merohingi had from this point on, only the most important will be listed for each entry.)
    Duke of Lesser Poland (1174 A.D - 1189 A.D)
    Duke of Holland and King of Frisia ( 1153 A.D - 1180 A.D)
    The Thrice Crowned Emperor: (1159 A.D - 1189 A.D)


    Spouse:
    Paykëlti Dulo (Married 1157 A.D, Died 1160 A.D)
    Ibahid Inænggi (Married 1161 A.D)


    Issue:
    Bohemond (Later Pope Martinus IV, Born 1158 A.D)
    Andre (Born 1159 A.D, Died 1176 A.D, Likely murdered)
    Gohilde (Born 1160 A.D, Died 1175 A.D, Fever.)
    Wilmot(Later Wilmot I, Born 1162 A.D)
    Hermine (Later Queen Consort of Lapland, Born 1163 A.D)
    Henri (Later Henri I. Born 1164 A.D)

    Stephanie (Born 1170 A.D, Died 1189 A.D, Dysentery)
    Matilda (Later Queen Consort of Jerusalem, Born 1170 A.D)
    Alexander (Born 1177 A.D, Died 1189, executed as a traitor by Henri I)



    Roland III was, as a Prince, known for his fondness of his mother's Norman culture, and adopted it when he became King of Frisia and Duke of Holland. This appreciation would remain with him throughout his life.

    Roland III's reign began with tragedy. Barely six months after his coronation, his wife, Paykëlti Dulo, Princess of Wallachia, died giving birth to Princess Gohilde. Roland was devastated. But a year later, on the urging of his advisor's, he married again, this time to a Princess of China, Ibahid Inænggi. With her came the famous strategist, Šielu Šielu.

    During the 1170's, he led a series of invasions against the Nasrid Caliphate, taking back lands once owned by the Byzantine Empire, and assisted with the Kingdom of Jerusalem's expansion onto the African continent. This coincided with the Eighth Crusade (1171 - 1179) to take Anatolia. He placed Šielu Šielu in command of this new area of the Empire, but only (initially) for the duration of his life, Šielu became first Viceroy of Al-Jazira.

    In the 1180's, the Emperor of Britannia, Dugald, made a radical conversion to the Fraticelli faith. For a deeply Catholic Empire like L'Empire les Trois Couronnes, this was deeply troubling, and in 1184 A.D, King's Hugues II of Austrasia and Alain II of Sweden invaded the British Isles. Called to Krakow to answer for attacking a formerly neutral nation, Roland III eventually joined the so-called "British Crusade". By 1188 A.D, the Isles had fallen, with four more vassal Kingdoms added to the Empire. The Empire of Britannia, which had existed for two centuries, was left with a smattering of islands (Orkney, Shetland and Færeyar).

    In January 1189 A.D, Princess Stephanie died of dysentery, causing Roland to spiral into grief. His health declined rapidly, and barely a month after his Daughter's death, Roland III died.

    He was succeeded by Henri I. Alas, two generations after his death, during his grandson's time, the Empire he fought so hard to expand was brought to the brink of collapse during the First Couronnian Civil War.

    The largest change outside Imperial borders came from the reemergence of Tartaria as a major power. After the Empire fell in 1155 A.D, the only authority left was the Paulician Patriarchate. It was the Patriarch Metrophanes II that, (due to a plague in the East that had decimated the lands around his) started to expand his dominion. Whilst Couronnian troops fought in Britannia and the Eighth Crusade, the Patriarchate fought and conquered a great deal of land, thanks in part to Patriarch-Commander Ioannes' efforts and tactics. In 1186 A.D, the Theocracy of Tartaria was born.
     
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    Henri I, Thrice-Crowned Emperor
  • Henri I

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    Lived: 1164 A.D - 1190 A.D
    Reigned: 1189 A.D - 1190 A.D
    "Henri I is an enigma. His reign was too short to warrant much writings, but it's effects? They lasted generations." - Thomas Baptiste, Royal Historian, 1987 A.D

    Titles:
    (Given the vast amount of titles the de Merohingi had from this point on, only the most important will be listed for each entry.)
    Duke of Lesser Poland (1189 A.D - 1190 A.D)
    Duke of Holland and King of Frisia ( 1180 A.D - 1190 A.D)
    The Thrice Crowned Emperor: (1189 A.D - 1190 A.D)


    Spouse:
    Helewisa de Kalmarhus (Married 1181 A.D)


    Issue:
    Adéle (Born 1182 A.D, died 1189 A.D, Smallpox)
    Loup (Bastard, born 1189 A.D)
    Henri (Born 1190 A.D (Three months after Henri I's death. Later Henri III.)



    Taking after his mother with his Jurchen appearance, Henri was reportedly often thought of as an odd, if harmless ruler that was a puppet of his mother. A deep rooted suspicion of others and their opinion of his appearance led him to hang his brother, Alexander for treason.

    In January of 1190 A.D, the Gao Empire declared war on L'Empire les Trois Couronnes. Under Caliph Reidja, they sought to claim Tangier, the only land the Empire had in Africa. Allied with Sultan Berold de Hainault , he led an army twenty thousand strong into Africa, with ten thousand men being led by Da'ud of Meknés, a famous Jerusalemite commander.

    Henri I died in suspicous circumstances on campaign in the Kharijite Gao Empire in ate 1190 A.D, in West Africa. He was succeeded by his sister, Wilmot I, later known as Saint Wilmot. His son, Henri, was born three months after his fathers death, and was granted the County of Oppland by his Aunt. As history would prove, he would repay her with treachery.

    His most lasting legacy was the granting of the Durendal Castle to the Varangian Guard. In late 1189 A.C, a revolt broke out in Kalisz. The rebels sacked the city, and marched on the Imperial capital, Krakow. According to legend, a lone Guardsman named Hemming held the North Gate alone against the majority of the rebels whilst the remaining Varangian Guard readied themselves. Hemming supposedly held the army back for a full three hours before falling, only for the rebels to be met by the full might of the Varangian and Royal Guards. For his valour, Henri I named the North Gate 'Hemming's Gate', and had the man buried at The Imperial Mausoleum at Agen. Today, Hemming's Gate is an entrance to the Old City in Krakow.


    Today, Durendal Castle is known as the Durendal Barracks, home of the Varangian Regiment, the elite special forces of the Empire, as the Varangian's have been since their creation by Basileus Niketas I in 793 A.D.
     
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    (Saint) Wilmot I, Thrice-Crowned Empress
  • (SAINT) Wilmot I
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    Lived: 1164 A.D - 1190 A.D
    Reigned: 1189 A.D - 1190 A.D


    "Playing her was an experience. One cannot explain the challenge of portraying a Saint of such renown on screen" - Tyan Tuwæri, Actress. 1994 A.D


    Titles:
    (Given the vast amount of titles the de Merohingi had from this point on, only the most important will be listed for each entry.)
    Duchess of Lesser Poland (1190 A.D - 1209 A.D)
    Duchess of Holland and Queen of Frisia ( 1190 A.D - 1208 A.D)
    The Thrice Crowned Empress: (1190 A.D - 1209 A.D)


    Spouse:
    Étienne de Merohingi (King of Aquitaine, married 1187 A.D, died 1209 A.D)


    Issue:
    Wilmot (Born 1188 A.D)
    Henri (Later Henri II. Born 1191 A.D, pulled apart by horses in 1211 A.D on the orders of Alexander I)
    Théoderic (Later Théoderic I, Born 1193 A.D)
    Alexander(Later King of Aquitaine. Born 1194 A.D, pulled apart by horses in 1211 A.D on the orders of Alexander I)
    Béatrix (Born 1196 A.D)


    Like her brother, Empress Wilmot took after her mother in appearence. When she took the throne, she was already married to the King of Aquitaine, Étienne de Merohingi (descended from a grandson of Saint Julien) The pair did not get along, and the Empress and her Consort more often than not kept separate courts. Despite this, they still managed to sire five children, two of whom would reign as Emperor's in their own right (and Alexander tried to claim the throne, but ultimately failed.)

    For a number of years, there was peace, art and culture flourished. The Grand Library of Krakow began its construction during Wilmot's reign, and few rebellions occurred.


    In 1195 A.D, Sheikh Khalil of thte Umardin Empire declared a Jihad against the L'Empire les Trois Couronnes. The Empress herself led the armies, one of the last great 'Warrior Queens' of history. and won a string of victories throughout the Empire. Her greatest victory came in 1196 A.D, at the Battle of Sennar. The battle itself was unimpressive. However, the prize the Empire claimed made the Battle of Sennar a pivotal part of Imperial History.

    Empress Wilmot claimed the Ark of the Covenant.

    At the news of the Ark's loss, Sheikh Khalil surrendered. He was eventually hacked to pieces in the streets of his Capital in Gondar a decade later. The Ark was later stored in the vaults beneath the Cathedral of St. Julien where it remains to this day, only leaving the vaults to celebrate the beginning of each new century.



    Outside Imperial borders, Berold de Hainault, Sultan of Jerusalem and North Africa, declared the formation of the Empire of Jerusalem, with himself as its first reigning Badshah. Elsewhere, the Empire of Tibet, which had long controlled large parts of the East, had all but fallen by the same time, with barely enough land to surround the salt lake of Lop Nor. The Tartar Theocracy made its capital in Samarkand, and won a number of minor conflicts with the Jibriid Caliphate. Greta Bolt, Petty Queen of Iceland launched a daring raid on the remnants of the Empire of Britannia. It is unknown how much wealth she and her raiders seized, but modern estimates put the total at around three and a half million Imperial Dollars. They even managed the steal away the Britannian Crown, which remains missing to this day. In all likelihood, it was placed on Greta's funeral ship when she died.


    The Empress was the first Monarch of L'Empire les Trois Couronnes to openly prefer lovers of the same gender. In all, seven lovers are known: Avelina FitzStephanie, Anne van Loon, Bertrada Çorpan, her former sister-in-law Helewisa de Kalmarhus, Stéphanie de Vaudermont, the Queen of Burgundy, Adelaide Symvatikes and Eudokia Adrianos. This was prominently shown on television in the 1993 series Sept amours de Wilmot. The series is of course controversial for being the first drama series to show a lesbian relationship on screen prior to the watershed. Wilmot was played by actress Tyan Tuwæri.


    Empress Wilmot died suddenly in 1209 A.D, the cause never fully established. She was Sainted in the late 1700's.

    Barely a year later, one of the largest civil war's in Imperial History broke out...

    The War of Four Emperors
     
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    The World in 1200 A.D
  • The World in 1200 A.D

    In the two centuries since the turn of the millennium, the world had seen the rise of a number of great Empires, including our own L'Empire les Trois Couronnes. The Islamic world saw heresies gain great influence and force Empires of their own, and the Christian World saw the rise of the first Christian Theocratic Empire in the Tartar Theocracy.


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    Iceland remained a Petty Kingdom under the Bolt Family. It remained lost to the wider world, its ships harassing shipping lanes of both L'Empire les Trois Couronnes and the Empire of Britannia, which, after the British Crusade under Roland III, had been reduced to a smattering of islands north of Scotland.

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    Giffard de Lusignan would eventually lose his own Imperial Crown to raiders of Queen Gyda Bolt, and is tiny nation would see repeated attacks from both Icelandic, and Imperial foes.

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    To the east, surrounded by Imperial land, the Teutonische Enklave der Bruderschaft, the Teutonic Enclave, still held power. It was the most powerful of the Knightly Orders that supported the Papacy. It's influence was so widespread, its Hochmeister at the time, Ituk Bönekid, hailed from as far afield as the Uyghur Plains.


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    Russia was split. Its then Tsar, Pyera Danililovich Fyodyorov worshipped the ancient Norse Gods, whilst at the time, the majority of the Russian people followed the Messalian Faith. Tsar Pyera's advocacy of the old faith would plague his family later, when Novgorod declared its independence in its defence.

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    The Kingdom of Jerusalem, in the years leading up to it becoming an Empire, hurriedly started a period of intense building and goodwill under the direction of the Jerusalemite Sultan, Berold de Hainault. The Sultan also declared the Bishop of Alexandria, Gaspare Ursingi, as an Antipope (Gaspare took the name Pope Marinus II)


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    South of Jerusalem, in Mali, the Gao Caliphate remained in a limbo between Tribal society, and what was considered 'Civilised' society. Before Caliph Reidja would die, the Kharijite Faith would become more powerful and accepted than the Ibadi faith, which it broke away from.

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    Far to the east, the Western Protectorate held sway. The Emperor of China, Ibahid Daizong having near unrivalled influence. Now famous for his twenty-one daughters, Daizong oversaw a Golden Age, and a short period of war against the Jibrilid Caliphate.

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    The Jibrilid Caliphate itself saw a period of massive building and military advancement. It is little surprise then, that within a period of seventy-five years, the Caliphate had completely invaded the Indian Subcontinent, confirming its place as the second most powerful nation in the world at the time.

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    The Umardin Caliphate continued its war with the Nasrid's over control of its lands. At one point, even allying with the Kingdom of Jerusalem to battle of the expansionist desires of the Sunni's.

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    Meanwhile, the Nasrid's were losing influence. Its neighbours slowly ripping chunks out of the once powerful nation.

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    The Tartar Theocracy, whilst never expansionist, often fought over control over what it saw as its capital, Samarkand. In 1200 A.D, they were the richest nation in the known world, almost twice as rich as L'Empire les Trois Couronnes, the second richest.


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    Finally, L'Empire les Trois Couronnes. A period of greatness under Wilmot I. A period that was followed by a bloody conflict. The War of Four Emperors saw one of the bloodiest periods of Imperial history, one that was followed by one of the longest periods of peace in Imperial history, at 41 years, broken only by a terrifying revelation.

    One brought about by invaders from the West.


    Independent Countries of Eurasia and North Africa in 1200
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    The War of Four Emperors (1209 - 1212)
  • War of the Four Emperors:
    1209 A.D - 1212 A.D

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    (Henri II, Alexander I, Alexander of Aquitaine, Henri III)

    What would become known as the War of the Four Emperors began in late 1209 A.D, the day after the official mourning period for Wilmot I was over.

    Duke Alexander of Antioch, a cousin of the Emperor Henri II, declared war, intent to claim the throne. He was backed by the Viceroyalty of Al-Jazira, Imperial Cyprus, Greece, and the Empire of Jerusalem for he had married a daughter of Badshah Berold. In total, he is estimated to have had one hundred and seventeen thousand men under his command.

    Henri II retaliated, his loyal army, made up of the central Kingdoms, met half of the the traitorous army outside Targoviste. Against the commander, Narses Klados, Henri's army only managed to force a draw. The other half of Alexander's army slipped behind Henri's army, and marched on the capital, Krakow. The Varangian Commander, Refr, led the defense. For a full six months, the Varangain's, with assistance from the Duchy of Bohemia and Kingdom of Poland, held back the rebel assault.


    It allowed time for Henri II to march and surround Alexander's army. On the 19th of June, 1210 A.D, the Battle of Cieszyn occurred. In all, fifty thousand men died. Alexander of Antioch escaped, returning to Constantinople to regroup. It seemed like the rebellion was all but over.

    In the north, however, the Count of Oppland, Henri, son of Henri I, raised his army, and those of his allies, the Kingdom's of Scandinavia, and became the second Emperor-Declarant.

    In the West, on the Iberian Peninsula, Henri II gave command over to his brother, Alexander. Naming him King of Aquitaine, he hoped his brother would halt the advance of the Jerusalemite army across the strait of Gibraltar. King Alexander betrayed his brother, becoming the third Emperor-Declarant within Imperial borders.

    Judging that his brother was the real danger, Henri II marched to deal with him in person. After only two battles, at Navarra and Urgell, Alexander of Aquitaine was captured, and dragged back to the capital in chains.

    It was March, 1211 A.D.

    Upon arrival at the capital, Henri II was met by a force of ninety thousand men under Alexander of Antioch. Henri's men were tired and bloodied. They stood little chance against the forces of the Emperor-Declarant. Both Emperor Henri II and his brother were captured, and sentenced to death. They were pulled apart by horses.

    The now Basileus Alexander turned his attention north. Henri of Oppland. Henri, now backed by the Kingdom's of the British Isles and the Iberian Peninsula, marched against Krakow. Modern estimates are that eighty-five thousand men in total made the march,
    and whilst he achieved a series of victories, Alexander was soon force back to the Imperial Capital. The war ended with the Battle of Hemming's Gate. Alexander was defeated and captured. His army surrendered without much resistance. The exact manner of Alexander's execution is not known, but by the time that the war came to a close, he was confirmed to be dead. Henri III was grievously injured during the final fight, sustaining a wound that reportedly included the lost of his right arm just below the elbow. He had had to be supported by a servant during his coronation.

    Twenty-two days after the Battle of Hemming's Gate on the first of August

    1212 A.D,
    Emperor Henri III died of his injuries. The Empire, in disarray, needed a ruler. The Imperial Council selected the last son of Wilmot I, Théoderic, to take the Three Crowns. The War of Four Emperor's was over. Théoderic had spent most of the War in Durendal Castle, having publicly declared that, as the Ruler of the Empire was in doubt, he would not support anyone until the War was over. Little did the unambitious man know that, by the time the war was over, he would be the Thrice-Crowned Sovereign. The Council, pleased with their choice, persuaded the man to take power.

    C8Aui9d.png


    It would prove a wise choice. Forty-One years of peace would follow, broken only by the onset of the Sunset Invasion. Théoderic the Last would forever after be held up alongside figures like Charlemagne, Constantine, Roland Ironside and Alexander the Great. No Merovingian ruler would ever bear his name again, as no ruler with his name would ever be able to match his achievements.
     
    Holy Fury Question
  • Alright folks. As Holy Fury approaches with it's major changes, I had a rather large question to ask(This is of course only if the MoF save goes through to Holy Fury) :

    Should the Merovingian's become Pagan's to gain the power of religious leadership? (Yes, I am aware of the irony of that question)

    And if so:

    Wich Pagan faith would suit the Empire of Three Crowns best?

    This is down to you guys, if you want me to go for it, I'll give it a shot (although I'll probably save before I do so, in case I fuck up).

    Also, I've been playing a Tyrell game, and have nearly reached the point where I will be doing an AAR. It's a world where Mace Tyrell seized the throne in 301 A.C, and the Tyrell's (will have) ruled ever since. The game will start in 500 A.C. Shouldn't be too long for that.

    Lastly, before I post Théoderic's entry, I'd like to do a 'answer questions about the world' post. So, if you have any questions about the setting of this AAR, go ahead. I'll wait until this coming Wednesday (14th of November 2018) before posting that one.

    Until then, thanks for staying with this for so long, and I look forward to hearing your thoughts and your questions.

    -Rem
     
    AUTHOR'S NOTE
  • Hello guys!

    I've got some sad news for you all following this AAR.

    The Save has not liked 'Holy Fury'. At all.

    So, after a year of work, it is with a heavy heart that I will be calling time on this AAR. You'll still get the Famous Faces and Theoderic entries, and a 'possible look' into how this world turned out, but then that'll be that.

    I've got an idea for an AAR in the same 'History Book' style. An Exiled Chinese General conquering India. The Tyrell AAR is also in the works, but is probably a little ways off.

    Thank you all for your support and patience, and I hope to see you again soon.

    -Rem
     
    Théoderic I, Thrice Crowned Emperor
  • Théoderic the Last
    SvXIGZz.png


    Lived: 1193 A.D - 1264 A.D
    Reigned: - 1212 A.D - 1264 A.D
    "The man that rebuit the Empire from the ashes of one of our greatest conflicts." - Thomas Baptiste, Royal Historian, 1987 A.D

    Titles:
    (Given the vast amount of titles the de Merohingi had from this point on, only the most important will be listed for each entry.)
    Duke of Lesser Poland (1212 A.D - 1264 A.D)
    Duke of Holland and King of Frisia ( 1212 A.D - 1232 A.D)
    The Thrice Crowned Emperor (1212 A.D - 1264 A.D)

    Spouse:
    Savtilek Dulo (Married 1214 A.D, died 1254 A.D)

    Issue:
    Sophie: (Born 1216 A.D, Died 1249 A.D. Likely due to poison)
    Eve: (Born 1223 A.D)

    Offered the throne in the wake of the War of Four Emperors, Théoderic de Merohingi set out to rebuild the Empire after its near collapse in the War of Four Emperors.

    For Forty-One years, peace reigned. Whilst he faced some criticism for not participating in what would be the Last Crusade, it didn't last long. Once Pope Eugenius IV realised that his crusade would fail (as the Jerusalmite Empire recognised a 'Pope in Alexandria'), he called it off. He tried to excommunicate Théoderic, but his declaration was repealed by his successor.

    The most famous, or infamous event that occured during Théoderic's reign was the so-called 'Sunset Invasion'. In 1251 A.D, strange ships were seen around the Iberian Gap, now known as the Strait of Gibraltar. Four years later, in 1255 A.D, these ships attacked the coastal city of Malaga in masive number.

    The Emperor deployed his Varangian's as a shock attack force, under their Commander, a man known as Botulfr Sartacid. The 'Aztecs' met them at Algeciras. The battle is known to history as 'The Disaster at Gibraltar'. Out of the eight thousand, six hundred and seventy eight men deployed, only one hundred and twelve men returned. The damage done to the Varangian Guard was so extreme that Théoderic is known to have considered disbanding the Guard. He decided against it, but it would only be in the mid 1500's until the Varangian's would reach the same manpower.
    In response, Théoderic, in one of the only times in Imperial history, called all of his Vassal King's to arms. Four hundred and fifty thousand troops marched against the Aztecs. Backed up back Jerusalemite and Teutonic forces, and a reinforcements from the Gao and Nasrid Caliphates, the total number of soldiers that stood against the Aztec's was likely more than a million.
    The conflict lasted until 1259 A.D, when the combined forces of Europe anihilated the Aztecs at the Battle of Navarra. Not one Aztec soldier returned home.

    Peace would once again reign, for a time.

    Théoderic the Last died in 1264 A.D. According to popular myth, he died whilst walking in the Imperial Gardens with an old hunting hound of his. In truth, he died in bed after a week long coma. The idea of his death in the garden likely comes from the Philippe de Sáble opera, Le Règne Glorieux, widely considered the greatest of de Sáble's works.

    He was succeeded by his grandson, Augustus I.
     
    Final Authors note
  • And so, all good things must come to an end. Thank you all so much for your support this past year. I has been so much fun exploring this alternate world.

    The Famous Faces/Theoretical Ruler stuff is on the way, but sifting through five centuries of alternate history takes time and I had Theo's entry complete.

    I hope to see you in my next AAR(s):

    'History of the Howda Throne' (That's a working title): Exiled Chinese General, Dai Yong, flees to India after a failed rebellion. Witness the tale of how his tiny state came to rule over all of India, and start the so-called 'Howda Dynasty'.

    'The Rose Throne'. (Another working title): House Tyrell has ruled from Iron Throne for two centuries. But just because the Others are gone does not mean that intrigues and power plays have ceased. But as a young King takes the throne, will he manage to hold on to power, as the Lannister's rise once more?


    Until next time!

    -Rem.
     
    Last edited:
    Theoretical Merovingian Rulers, 1
  • Here it is folks, a little later than I had hoped, but part one of the Theoretical rulers of this alternate world. Part two should follow a lot quicker than this one.

    Augustus I
    ‘The Builder’ and ‘The Bald’

    Grandson of Théoderic the Last. Restored two ancient wonders, the Lighthouse of Alexandria and the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus. Warred with the Principality of Novgorod for a decade. Died in 1301 after a hunting accident. Faced difficulty due to his lack of traditional Merovingian long hair.
    Reigned: 1264 - 1301



    Astolfo I
    ‘The Wise’

    Oversaw the rebuilding of the Varangian Guard after the disaster at Gibraltar in his grandfather’s reign. Spent final years warring with the Mongol Horde, who had finished laying waste to the Jibrilid Caliphate (and wiping out around a fifth of the total world population at the time).
    Reigned: 1301 - 1330



    Roland IV
    Warred with the Mongol Horde for the majority of his reign. Died in Battle of Five Emperors. Married a Russian Princess, Yevdokiya.
    Reigned: 1330 - 1363



    Pavel I
    ‘Emperor for an Afternoon’

    Eldest son of Roland IV, Died in Battle of Five Emperors.
    Reigned: June 12th, 1363



    Roland V
    Crushed the Mongol’s at Samarkand in 1365. Last Emperor to war with the Mongols. Declared that his brother had been a legitimate ruler.
    Reigned: 1363 - 1389



    Pepin I
    Seized the throne from Roland V’s designated heir (Crown Princess Anna) and started the so-called ‘Pepinian Era’. Originally Duke of Kent.
    Reigned: 1389 - 1394



    Pepin II
    Most fondly remembered Pepinian Emperor. Restored the Clovian Roads. Created the ‘Couronnian Inclusion’ Doctrine, whereby the various peoples of the Empire were brought into the ‘Corounian culture, regardless of country of origin or religion.
    Reigned: 1394 - 1402



    Pepin III
    ‘The Fat’

    Known for his feasts and numerous illegitimate children (records estimate around thirty). Died of a bad belly in 1405, although most modern experts believe it was poison.
    Reigned: 1402 - 1405




    Pepin IV
    ‘The Black’

    Deposed, executed for treason against the state after selling secrets to both Russia and the Tartar Theocracy.
    Reigned: 1405 - 1407




    Interregnum
    An interregnum occured for one year as the Imperial Council debated on the succession. The Lords Regent ruled in place of a Monarch.
    Reigned: 1407 - 1409



    Alexander II
    Former Duke of Austria and husband to the former Crown Princess Anna. Chosen to succeed Pepin IV. Banned the use of Pepin as a regnal name. Mended wounds caused by predecessor.
    Reigned: 1409 - 1450



    Alexander III
    Grandson of Alexander II. Caused the collapse of the First Russian Empire due to a vicious trade war.
    Reigned: 1450 - 1473



    Roland V
    During Roland’s reign, the continent of America was ‘discovered’ by famed explorer and diarist, Charles de Bayeux.
    Reigned: 1473 - 1497



    Alexander IV
    Became Emperor at age five. Grandson of Roland V. Had the longest reign of any Merovingian Monarch at seventy-seven years. Suffered a great tragedy in 1533, when the ‘Great Fire of Krakow’ occurred, burning down the Imperial Palace.
    Reigned: 1497 - 1574



    Guy II
    Great Grandson of Alexander IV. Founded first permanent colony in the Americas, New Vlaadingen (1585). Helped the Orlov family from the Second Russian Empire. During his reign, the Empire of Britannia, then still comprised of the Shetland, Orkney and Faroe Isles became a Republic, the Union of the Isles.
    Reigned: 1574 - 1603



    Roland VI
    Plagued by illnesses for most of his life. Died without issue. The Kingdom’s of the Iberian Peninsula declared independence under the de Montfort’s of Aragon. This ‘Iberian Empire’ would last barely a century.
    Reigned: 1603 - 1617



    Héloise II

    Sister to Roland VI. Implemented cognatic succession, with the stipulation that all Imperial Consorts had to be of the House de Merohingi or give up their family name. Her navy discovered a number of countries, but did not colonise the majority of them.
    Reigned: 1617 - 1658



    Astolfo II

    Spent ten years of his reign warring with the Second Russian Empire. Saw the expansion of American Colonies. Invaded and destroyed the Gao Caliphate, angering the Islamic World.
    Reigned: 1658 - 1679



    Alexander V

    Reconquered the Iberian Empire. Passed many army reforms. Faced rebellion in the American Colonies, placated only by granting the colonies limited home rule.
    Reigned: 1679 - 1702



    Roland VII

    Led the Thrice-Crowned Empire into the Great African War (1713- 1724). Won a number of colonies from the Umardin Caliphate before being assassinated by his lover, Xenobia.
    Reigned: 1702 - 1724



    Clovis II (First Reign)
    Faced rebellion by Imperial Council, stacked full of his mother’s (Elisabeth de Montfort) lickspittles. Forced to abdicate after five years of rule.
    Reigned: 1724 - 1730



    Héloise III
    Forced into a long regency by her Grandmother’s machinations. Finally took control at the age of twenty. Died a year later, likely to poison. Her father took the throne once more.
    Reigned: 1730 - 1745



    Clovis II (Second Reign)
    Took the crown for a second time after the assassination of his daughter. Kept the Empire stable, and oversaw the combining of the Thrice-Crowned Empire with that of Jerusalem via a marriage between himself and the young Empress of Jerusalem. They would have a single child, Augustus.
    Reigned: 1745 - 1758



    Roland IX
    Spend most of his reign at the Oppland Hunting Lodge where he built a small Palace, Versailles. Left rule to his brother. Died without issue in a hunting accident.
    Reigned: 1758 - 1770



    Guy III
    Effectively ruled as regent for his brother. Reformed the currency, reforms that remain in use today. Considered a hard man, it is believed be died of severe stress. Succeeded by his half-brother, Augustus de Merohingi-Hainault.

    Last Merovingian Monarch.
    Reigned: 1770 - 1778


    Part two will feature Monarchs of the de Merohingi-Hainault family.