This is the story of a 5 generation rise. The time is 1204 and I look upon the lineage's glory. The county of Bourges sits in the middle of France, generates low gold and is directly vassal to the king. Etienne de Bourges, the first of his line, wanted great things for his name. He rode with the french king in Spain and took Albaccin for himself. While France was growing into Spain, he seized a weaken Mercia! Access to the sea! But Granada got tired of that and in a rapid war, took back Mercia. Only thing Etienne could do was to surrender when these 5000 men arrived...Not able to raise large armies, the rest of his long reign reside on developping his land and on treachery. Not happy of his wifes, he got rid of 2, before being able to get children at 55! The second one was so chaste that she allowed him once a year in the bedchamber, until an assassin showed up instead of her husband on the given night. With a 16 year old lusty wife things got on and the count was finally satisfied. With a first son only few years of age, Etienne had to make sure his heretic sister (who was the next in line) would not become countess. Nothing better than the elective law! These vassals voted the right way and chose his first son, Renaud. But the count lived long enough to have 3 children...In a ruthless move, he stole Tours from his king, killing his way to succession after a well prepared mariage (yes a 4th wife!). Bourge was still a small, 3 province county, but rising. The second part of his reign, all revenues were invested in the land, and no longer in useless wars. when Etienne died at 77, the county was suddently divided between his 3 sons! Wow, after all this work, Bourges was back to one province...at least with 2 allies.
The second count was weak. Married to the countess of la marche, he gained a third ally. Upon dying, Etienne let him a huge sum of money and a province in good shape. What to do with all that. War was roaming in France. Artois, had revolted and seize Paris from his lord. That duke took half of Spain at the sametime and was the lord of the hour. When Toulouse and Aquitaine declared war on a diminished French king, time was right to claim Tours back into our fiefdom. But this war turned ugly. Artois peaced with France, letting that poor puppet only 2 provinces but then followed him vs Aquitaine, Toulouse and...I. After beating the French and Tours (yes, my brother's land) army, Bourges suddently saw a huge army of Artois coming to the king's aid. And then, all north of France rallied to the king to crush the south. In a crusade like this, it's never good to be in the middle. The poor Renaud was destroyed, his land plundered and Bourges besieged...Finally, this weak minded fool had to surrender to the king who put him in jail for good. His wife became regent of a diminished kingdom with no direct heir...She managed the regular business, trying to plot for Bourges, getting rid of unwary vassals, and mostly, developping her lands and making prestigious weddings. When after 15 years in jail, Renaud finally fell ill, I finally rejoiced! The successor was the count of Albaraccin, his younger brother and finally, the county of Bourge was getting Spain back!
The third count moved the capital to Spain. The Bourges affairs were of lesser importance. The king of France, since his victory in the south, was back on the map and with age, had manage to regroup his vassals around him...Beside Albaraccin, was lying the Duchy of Aragon, property of the king of Navarre and Aragon. This duchy had the particularity of having a vassal count, the one of Zaragossa. And this count made the error to wage war on us. With the 15 years of inactivity, the treasury was full, levies and mercenery bands came to help. A good thing the capital was now in Spain! After the defeat of the traitor count, a claim was fabricated. Furious, the third count of Bourges put a contract on his head and just before the war was declared, the count of Zaragossa died...This war was ruthless. Grabbing well defend town with small armies can take a while. And during the siege, the count died to an arrow on the final assault...without a proper heir (he was 5 years in power), his sister took place!
The fourth countess was, by far the greatest. This fierce women proved well worthy of her name and brought a new title to the Bourges. She was born countess of Bourges and she died duchess of Aragon! She was not only a brillant strategist but also a ruthless intrigant. She had 5 husbands: some to make children, others to give her prestige and precious allies, others to simply help her in her affairs. This women was so great she even made her 21 years old fith husband fall completly in love with her at 70! Yes, the first move was to break the duchy of Aragon, with a nice claim (alto Aragon). Other wars in Spain proved unefficient: no lands were gained, because Leon and Navarre took it all before. Being a lesser member of Spain, she only waged war when her preys were already weakened by other campains. While Aragon armies were fighting over Castille, they suddently saw their claim to the title contested. And yes, they lost it all. The title was usurped in a third war and the count of Catalud became her vassal. But the countess knew he was plotting. And her spymaster revealed it all. That was the perfect timing to throw that guy in jail. Then, to assassinate his heir, gaining the claim on his county. But now, what to do? With fragile internal peace, an angry liege (yes many plots to cut the french kings rights were followed, not to forget the one to reclaim Tours) cutting his head was not a choice. Releasing him would be worst. What would happen if this snake remarried and got new heirs? The best deal remained to call the local thugs to do the dirty work. Her uncle and spymaster (with 25 skill!) made the job right. He called upon his newly founded ring and the count died in jail of a misterious disease. The day after, the duchess made an official denoucement of the situation and send her personnal guards to investigate. Few days after she installed her intendent in her fifth province. At 72, she died just before gaining the trait the great.
The fifth descendant was again a women. And she coutinued her mother's duty. The first enemy to reduce was Navarre. And again, another province was seized this way, while the king was fighting his vassal of Toledo. A few years after, she joined the king to supress his vassal (Duchess of Toledo) and to gain Toledo as a claim. But that war proved inconclusive because peace was made before the claim could be pressed. I actually helped that king save his land withtout gaining nothing! In the meanwhile, Seville is getting bigger and bigger. They crushed Leon and Castille and now, they sending massive armies in French and Navarre lands. We all need to unite to defend Spain! In 2 wars, the catholic kings and ducs were able to cut down the invasion. Navarre barely saved themselves with the help of templars and, around the year 1200, the scale of wars is changing. Even I can raise over 2000 men in levy and thousands more by other means. But the enemy can now raise ten of thousands men, so I need to watch out! Cannot think strictly about my own profit but need to preserve what is left of christianity in these lands (I don't want to be be the sole left defending agains't these hordes of troops). Still, a mighty family like the Bourges diserve no less then a kingdom to rule! Navarra have a weak king. He must be replaced and will be, before the year 1300! Then Leon, Toledo, and Artois needs to bow down to the king too!
In 1204, a new Duke is now in power, married to an Irish princess. This make things interresting, with claims all over that Island, and all over Hungary too! Hungary is too far for now, sending troops there would be too long and costly. And Séville-Granada-Sicily-Marocco are very strong: wars break out every year and we need to defend the lands to finally reconquer Spain. Will the Bourges rise to the top? Or crumble into pieces? The fact that it took me over 150 years to slowly rise, that internal divisions, invasions, succession, a badly plan war etc... can destroy decennies of work in one moment is impressive. Not sure if it is possible to rise more: like you can see on this screenshot, Leon has an army of 19 000 men, way beyond my reach and they still lost 2 wars in a row... My impression of the game now? Complete greatness. Very deep and always something to do. Even with one county, I could plan weddings, develop my land, plot, send my intendants on jobs, educate the children, and just watch the overall progression of vassals, sibblings and of the general political map etc so the game never seemed boring. Only once I pressed on the very fast speed, when that useless count got in jail. After 10 years there wasn't nothing left to do (not able to claim, or having child, or changing my wife-my plan was to seize lamarche by supressing the countess and her heirs etc.) in that small county. Good thing he died 5 years after and yes, I held a huge fest after his death! Here's a screenshot in 1204. And sorry for the mistakes, english ain't my first langage.
The second count was weak. Married to the countess of la marche, he gained a third ally. Upon dying, Etienne let him a huge sum of money and a province in good shape. What to do with all that. War was roaming in France. Artois, had revolted and seize Paris from his lord. That duke took half of Spain at the sametime and was the lord of the hour. When Toulouse and Aquitaine declared war on a diminished French king, time was right to claim Tours back into our fiefdom. But this war turned ugly. Artois peaced with France, letting that poor puppet only 2 provinces but then followed him vs Aquitaine, Toulouse and...I. After beating the French and Tours (yes, my brother's land) army, Bourges suddently saw a huge army of Artois coming to the king's aid. And then, all north of France rallied to the king to crush the south. In a crusade like this, it's never good to be in the middle. The poor Renaud was destroyed, his land plundered and Bourges besieged...Finally, this weak minded fool had to surrender to the king who put him in jail for good. His wife became regent of a diminished kingdom with no direct heir...She managed the regular business, trying to plot for Bourges, getting rid of unwary vassals, and mostly, developping her lands and making prestigious weddings. When after 15 years in jail, Renaud finally fell ill, I finally rejoiced! The successor was the count of Albaraccin, his younger brother and finally, the county of Bourge was getting Spain back!
The third count moved the capital to Spain. The Bourges affairs were of lesser importance. The king of France, since his victory in the south, was back on the map and with age, had manage to regroup his vassals around him...Beside Albaraccin, was lying the Duchy of Aragon, property of the king of Navarre and Aragon. This duchy had the particularity of having a vassal count, the one of Zaragossa. And this count made the error to wage war on us. With the 15 years of inactivity, the treasury was full, levies and mercenery bands came to help. A good thing the capital was now in Spain! After the defeat of the traitor count, a claim was fabricated. Furious, the third count of Bourges put a contract on his head and just before the war was declared, the count of Zaragossa died...This war was ruthless. Grabbing well defend town with small armies can take a while. And during the siege, the count died to an arrow on the final assault...without a proper heir (he was 5 years in power), his sister took place!
The fourth countess was, by far the greatest. This fierce women proved well worthy of her name and brought a new title to the Bourges. She was born countess of Bourges and she died duchess of Aragon! She was not only a brillant strategist but also a ruthless intrigant. She had 5 husbands: some to make children, others to give her prestige and precious allies, others to simply help her in her affairs. This women was so great she even made her 21 years old fith husband fall completly in love with her at 70! Yes, the first move was to break the duchy of Aragon, with a nice claim (alto Aragon). Other wars in Spain proved unefficient: no lands were gained, because Leon and Navarre took it all before. Being a lesser member of Spain, she only waged war when her preys were already weakened by other campains. While Aragon armies were fighting over Castille, they suddently saw their claim to the title contested. And yes, they lost it all. The title was usurped in a third war and the count of Catalud became her vassal. But the countess knew he was plotting. And her spymaster revealed it all. That was the perfect timing to throw that guy in jail. Then, to assassinate his heir, gaining the claim on his county. But now, what to do? With fragile internal peace, an angry liege (yes many plots to cut the french kings rights were followed, not to forget the one to reclaim Tours) cutting his head was not a choice. Releasing him would be worst. What would happen if this snake remarried and got new heirs? The best deal remained to call the local thugs to do the dirty work. Her uncle and spymaster (with 25 skill!) made the job right. He called upon his newly founded ring and the count died in jail of a misterious disease. The day after, the duchess made an official denoucement of the situation and send her personnal guards to investigate. Few days after she installed her intendent in her fifth province. At 72, she died just before gaining the trait the great.
The fifth descendant was again a women. And she coutinued her mother's duty. The first enemy to reduce was Navarre. And again, another province was seized this way, while the king was fighting his vassal of Toledo. A few years after, she joined the king to supress his vassal (Duchess of Toledo) and to gain Toledo as a claim. But that war proved inconclusive because peace was made before the claim could be pressed. I actually helped that king save his land withtout gaining nothing! In the meanwhile, Seville is getting bigger and bigger. They crushed Leon and Castille and now, they sending massive armies in French and Navarre lands. We all need to unite to defend Spain! In 2 wars, the catholic kings and ducs were able to cut down the invasion. Navarre barely saved themselves with the help of templars and, around the year 1200, the scale of wars is changing. Even I can raise over 2000 men in levy and thousands more by other means. But the enemy can now raise ten of thousands men, so I need to watch out! Cannot think strictly about my own profit but need to preserve what is left of christianity in these lands (I don't want to be be the sole left defending agains't these hordes of troops). Still, a mighty family like the Bourges diserve no less then a kingdom to rule! Navarra have a weak king. He must be replaced and will be, before the year 1300! Then Leon, Toledo, and Artois needs to bow down to the king too!
In 1204, a new Duke is now in power, married to an Irish princess. This make things interresting, with claims all over that Island, and all over Hungary too! Hungary is too far for now, sending troops there would be too long and costly. And Séville-Granada-Sicily-Marocco are very strong: wars break out every year and we need to defend the lands to finally reconquer Spain. Will the Bourges rise to the top? Or crumble into pieces? The fact that it took me over 150 years to slowly rise, that internal divisions, invasions, succession, a badly plan war etc... can destroy decennies of work in one moment is impressive. Not sure if it is possible to rise more: like you can see on this screenshot, Leon has an army of 19 000 men, way beyond my reach and they still lost 2 wars in a row... My impression of the game now? Complete greatness. Very deep and always something to do. Even with one county, I could plan weddings, develop my land, plot, send my intendants on jobs, educate the children, and just watch the overall progression of vassals, sibblings and of the general political map etc so the game never seemed boring. Only once I pressed on the very fast speed, when that useless count got in jail. After 10 years there wasn't nothing left to do (not able to claim, or having child, or changing my wife-my plan was to seize lamarche by supressing the countess and her heirs etc.) in that small county. Good thing he died 5 years after and yes, I held a huge fest after his death! Here's a screenshot in 1204. And sorry for the mistakes, english ain't my first langage.
