Version 1.03b
VH/F
1066 Scenerio
Milano starts as a two province duchy with four single province vassals.
We begin our chronicles in the year 1066, just months after the death of our leader Aso d'Este, leaving his 5 year old son Fulco d'Este (5, 9, 5, 10) in control of the lands of Milano. Though the year may be of no import to others of the civilized world, it is of great import to us. We are in a time of flux, ruled over by a regent council and controlled by a foreign king many hundreds of miles away.
Throughout the first decade proceeding the chronical's start Milano was virtually paralized. Though we used income gained from our people and from our vassals to improve the development of the area, not much was actually accomplished; for one can do only so much without a strong guiding figure. And all the while forces struggle in the background of our small duchy. Some seeked to gain control over the land and make our rightful lord, young as he was, an effective puppet leader. These plots and counter-plots came to a head when the chancellor Carlo Enzio was murdered late on an October day in 1072. Quickly after did the uproar die down, as Enzio's followers faded into the background of court life or hastily departed for lands which still hadn't experienced vile treachery.
So it was that our young duke's regency was completed without further commotion and when, on January 1st, 1077, he gained his majoirty a stable land was his for the taking. Still we moved forward but slowly, not ready to expand for fear of retributions from those around us and for lack of money to fund such expansion. Though our ambitions may have been denied, our spirits sagged not, for Lord Fulco was quickly proving himself a great man for Milano.
In 1082 Fulco married Richgard von Weimar from the Duchy of Krain, a rather homely, but hugely intelligent woman. Within a few years she had provided Fulco with the most important of resources for any nation, besides that blemish on the world to our south, a heir. Indeed a son Innocenzo was born in 1083, a daughter Adalgisa in 1084 and another son Silvano in 1086. All three quickly showed remarkable intelligence gifted upon them by this glorious pairing. Another son, Sante would follow in 1092, but by this time other things were on our minds.
A claim had been achieved on the county of Cremona to our southeast, in 1091, when the bastard count of the area had the audacity to raid our lands. Following that action we had no choice but to mobilize the full might of our and our vassals armies. The Count of Cremona and his "lord" in Modena where to be no match for our might. Gathering our might in Pavia and gaining the aquisence of the King, we led our forces east.
As the troops entered Cremona, the enemy force met our host. Perched upon a hill I am sure the leader of that army imagined himself as some sort of bird of prey spying upon its dinner, but what a stupid bird of prey this one turned out to be. Arraying our forces, we shot but a few volleys of arrows into his lines before he gave up his high ground, charging forward into the valley between our positions. Now it was us who had the high ground and we made quick work of these unskilled warriors.
While the centre held fast, the banner of Fulco d'Este proudly displayed, our left flank slammed into the enemy from the side, causing all manner of confusion among their ranks. So it was that they were all but defeated when Annibale of Saluces led the right flank into the fray. Finally the reserves, under Hesso of Grisons were committed and the day was won. The levies of Cremona flowed from the battlefield like a flood, scattering pell mell back to the safety of prepaired fortifications. It would take us but a short month to clear the resistance between us and our objective, the Citadel of Cremona.
We would lay siege to the count's castle in May 1092. Within a few short months the castle had indeed fallen and the land was clamied as our own. The Duke and his henchmen were left to our liege in Germany and the levies were sent home.
In 1097 Fulco was presented a fourth son, Aligihiero. By far was his patrimony secure; for what, short of wrath of god, could destroy four sons? The land was secure, the people were happy and our levies were rested and fed.
But news was not so happy elsewhere.
Across the width and breadth of Germany, lords were letting their ambitions tangle with their good sense and were raising flags of rebellion against our liege. Though Modena, so close to our home, even became one of this rebellious lands, we were content simply to watch. What use the death of so many peasants for a king we never wished to have? And seeing as our lord showed no interest and asking for our help, we could be secure in our convictions. The majority of these rebellions were quickly put down but each time new lords felt their blood boil. we knew it was but time before the problems became unaviodable.
So it was that by the year 1100, though Germany was no longer trully strong, Milano was well established. Our lands were fairly rich and Innocenzo, the first son of Fulco, had reached majority. We were content in our roles, or so we thought. How the world would change in 1101, when the Pope called a grand crusade to liberate holy lands from the Muslim threat. Even our lord Fulco, long a respected member of the nobles classes felt the pressure to join this grand crusade.
Our gaze turned not to the holy land, so far from our lands and our power, but to the lands of Zirid to the south and especially to their hold on Sicily. Let the others lose thousands sending men across the width of the Mediteranean! We had the greatest goal mere steps from our doorway and we had the means to take the prize.
VH/F
1066 Scenerio
Milano starts as a two province duchy with four single province vassals.
1066 to 1101
Laying the Foundation
We begin our chronicles in the year 1066, just months after the death of our leader Aso d'Este, leaving his 5 year old son Fulco d'Este (5, 9, 5, 10) in control of the lands of Milano. Though the year may be of no import to others of the civilized world, it is of great import to us. We are in a time of flux, ruled over by a regent council and controlled by a foreign king many hundreds of miles away.
Throughout the first decade proceeding the chronical's start Milano was virtually paralized. Though we used income gained from our people and from our vassals to improve the development of the area, not much was actually accomplished; for one can do only so much without a strong guiding figure. And all the while forces struggle in the background of our small duchy. Some seeked to gain control over the land and make our rightful lord, young as he was, an effective puppet leader. These plots and counter-plots came to a head when the chancellor Carlo Enzio was murdered late on an October day in 1072. Quickly after did the uproar die down, as Enzio's followers faded into the background of court life or hastily departed for lands which still hadn't experienced vile treachery.
So it was that our young duke's regency was completed without further commotion and when, on January 1st, 1077, he gained his majoirty a stable land was his for the taking. Still we moved forward but slowly, not ready to expand for fear of retributions from those around us and for lack of money to fund such expansion. Though our ambitions may have been denied, our spirits sagged not, for Lord Fulco was quickly proving himself a great man for Milano.
In 1082 Fulco married Richgard von Weimar from the Duchy of Krain, a rather homely, but hugely intelligent woman. Within a few years she had provided Fulco with the most important of resources for any nation, besides that blemish on the world to our south, a heir. Indeed a son Innocenzo was born in 1083, a daughter Adalgisa in 1084 and another son Silvano in 1086. All three quickly showed remarkable intelligence gifted upon them by this glorious pairing. Another son, Sante would follow in 1092, but by this time other things were on our minds.
A claim had been achieved on the county of Cremona to our southeast, in 1091, when the bastard count of the area had the audacity to raid our lands. Following that action we had no choice but to mobilize the full might of our and our vassals armies. The Count of Cremona and his "lord" in Modena where to be no match for our might. Gathering our might in Pavia and gaining the aquisence of the King, we led our forces east.
As the troops entered Cremona, the enemy force met our host. Perched upon a hill I am sure the leader of that army imagined himself as some sort of bird of prey spying upon its dinner, but what a stupid bird of prey this one turned out to be. Arraying our forces, we shot but a few volleys of arrows into his lines before he gave up his high ground, charging forward into the valley between our positions. Now it was us who had the high ground and we made quick work of these unskilled warriors.
While the centre held fast, the banner of Fulco d'Este proudly displayed, our left flank slammed into the enemy from the side, causing all manner of confusion among their ranks. So it was that they were all but defeated when Annibale of Saluces led the right flank into the fray. Finally the reserves, under Hesso of Grisons were committed and the day was won. The levies of Cremona flowed from the battlefield like a flood, scattering pell mell back to the safety of prepaired fortifications. It would take us but a short month to clear the resistance between us and our objective, the Citadel of Cremona.
We would lay siege to the count's castle in May 1092. Within a few short months the castle had indeed fallen and the land was clamied as our own. The Duke and his henchmen were left to our liege in Germany and the levies were sent home.
In 1097 Fulco was presented a fourth son, Aligihiero. By far was his patrimony secure; for what, short of wrath of god, could destroy four sons? The land was secure, the people were happy and our levies were rested and fed.
But news was not so happy elsewhere.
Across the width and breadth of Germany, lords were letting their ambitions tangle with their good sense and were raising flags of rebellion against our liege. Though Modena, so close to our home, even became one of this rebellious lands, we were content simply to watch. What use the death of so many peasants for a king we never wished to have? And seeing as our lord showed no interest and asking for our help, we could be secure in our convictions. The majority of these rebellions were quickly put down but each time new lords felt their blood boil. we knew it was but time before the problems became unaviodable.
So it was that by the year 1100, though Germany was no longer trully strong, Milano was well established. Our lands were fairly rich and Innocenzo, the first son of Fulco, had reached majority. We were content in our roles, or so we thought. How the world would change in 1101, when the Pope called a grand crusade to liberate holy lands from the Muslim threat. Even our lord Fulco, long a respected member of the nobles classes felt the pressure to join this grand crusade.
Our gaze turned not to the holy land, so far from our lands and our power, but to the lands of Zirid to the south and especially to their hold on Sicily. Let the others lose thousands sending men across the width of the Mediteranean! We had the greatest goal mere steps from our doorway and we had the means to take the prize.
