Tolouse: : Lords of the South.

[Ernain1111]

I. Duchy of Aquitaine September 1066, Kingdom of France.

Guilhem Duke of Toulouse felt that his house was about to touch the sky. The conversations were long and at times tedious, but he had finally secured the hand of Aines de Potiers. The entire Frankish kingdom had knocked on the door of the Duke of Aquitaine, but finally he decided on his person. Count Raimon de Carcassonne, chancellor of Toulouse, moved calmly through obstacles and gave generous gifts whenever necessary. Guilhem was deeply impressed by his chancellor's skill. To the point of granting him the title of hunting master. The earl, whose little skill with all kinds of martial action was well known, just smiled saying that it was a just punishment for bringing to his lord the disgrace that marriage meant for any man. Guilhem couldn't help but smile at the memory of the scene. The count was now at one of the tables near the dais, eating a good portion of wild boar. When his gazes met he raised his glass in acknowledgment.

Bordeaux was a party. In the wide halls of Aquitaine the banners hung proudly and the wine flowed unimpeded. Partridges stuffed with truffles, deliciously seasoned pork and lamb. One of the troubadours was accompanied by a small trained bear that danced slowly to the beat of the lute. The long table on the dais was presided over by the Duke of Aquitaine.

-I guess you'll be happy, right. -His future father in law, the Duke of Aquitaine, watched him with lips full of fat while he devoured a huge piece of cheese. -Now I have to warn you my young and future relative. If he were to drop dead in some strange circumstance involving you, there are clear orders for you not to marry my daughter.

My dear father in law...

-Yes... yes... you would never do something like that. If you only knew how many times I hear those things every day. -she said in the middle of a laugh without missing an opportunity to devour a sausage with just a couple of bites. -It's enough. I said it and you heard it.

-Husband, don't start nagging before marriage. It gives a bad image.- Duchess Matheode said sitting at the duke's right hand.

Guilhem couldn't help but flinch. This woman was his greatest enemy. If he finally managed to conceive a son, his hope of a house in Toulouse, mistress of all Aquitaine, would be dashed. He couldn't help but smile and raise his glass to his soon-to-be mother-in-law. One of the servants tried to remove the empty plate from the Duke of Aquitaine and received a slap in the face.

- Can't you see we're talking? Bring more pig you piece of useless. -Then I focus his attention once more on Guilhem.- I return to Paris in a few days. I have to keep an eye on those bumbling Franks if we don't want this entire kingdom to blow up. More than one would be willing to dismantle the entire ship in order to keep the rudder while it sinks.

- Is Duke Robert giving trouble again?

-The Duke of Burgundy right now is the least of the problems, he has his claim to the throne but not the force. That asshole William of Normandy is probably crossing the channel as we speak. He wants to be king of the Anglo-Saxons. Good shit he wants, an island full of savages from what he can hear.

-Without a doubt it is to worry, but who can say if he manages to win. I understand that the Nordics are also in the fight....

-Yes, yes...- The Duke of Aquitaine almost choked on the leg of lamb that the servant brought him.

"This man won't be able to ride a horse in a couple of years" Guilhem thought to himself as he looked at him "With a bit of luck he won't be able to ride his wife either".

-But they want to give him land to calm him down. Can you believe it? continued the duke, wiping his fingers smeared with sauce. - The Duke of Flanders and the beloved Robert of Burgundy. That useless man from Flanders, he sees everything as his family's move to the front line, you know his daughter is married to the bastard. If he wins the crown he will be on good terms with a mighty king. If he loses...

-He will have an ally with wounded pride but strengthened by the concessions he helped him get. The strange thing is that he doesn't think that a spear can slice the bastard's throat as soon as he lands.

-My lords! Duchess Matheode interrupted. "We celebrated my daughter's engagement." I beg you to stop these somber talks.

-Women...- said the Duke of Aquitaine looking at his wife and then at Guilhem.- -It's good not to deal with an absolute idiot for a change. The royal council is full of them...

The duke stood up suddenly.

-Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm retiring with my wife. I intend to ruin your plans and produce a male heir to prevent my beloved Aines from leaving all my positions to your children.

I'm sure that's his plan. Guilhem answered with a quite sincere smile.

-The only thing that worries me is not knowing yours. I wouldn't be so stupid to ask you directly either, but I'm the Master of Spies from France... sooner or later I'll find out. Have a good night dear son-in-law. Find yourself a woman to warm your bed among the maids if you wish.

-My lord... please.-said the duchess quite blushing.

-Aines is seven years old dear and it will be almost ten before she can get married. It does not seem to me that our dear relative has a vocation as a monk.

The guests rose to their feet as the earl withdrew, almost shoving the duchess. Certainly, Guilhem thought, the duke had little regard for social formalities leaving his host alone on the dais of his own court. However, he decided to stretch his legs and enjoy the moment looking down on the Occitan gentlemen drinking and talking. One day my son could sit right here as a lord and not as a guest. Who knows, one day I might even be myself.

 

[HistoryDude]

Well, there seems to be a lot of intrigue in France.

I wonder if we will see a Kingdom of Aquitaine in due time?

 

[Ernain1111]

Well, there seems to be a lot of intrigue in France.

I wonder if we will see a Kingdom of Aquitaine in due time?

Hello, welcome aboard!! Yes, definitely some other dagger is flying in France. We may or may not see Aquitaine hehehehe without expoliers about it. Basically I'm taking what the game gives me....

 

[Ernain1111]

II. Duchy of Toulouse September 1066, Kingdom of France.

Guilhem looked at his brother kneeling before the cross and remained silent. Raimon was the second of three sons of his late father, Duke Pons. He was also the one she had always been closest to since childhood because of his easy-going and easygoing nature. Who could think, Guilhem said to himself, that this man who spends hours praying was not made for the monastery. But that was a question only for those who had never seen him carrying a spear at the ready on a stallion or brandishing the mace as if it were a feather. Guilhem remembered those occasions when as children he had to receive a couple of blows from his younger brother.

"If you just stare..." Raimond began to speak, standing up and making the sign of the cross. -You might as well join in and pray.

-I already did my prayers for the day my “little monk”.

Raimond's gaze remained serious for a few seconds, almost angry. Guilhem prayed that he had not offended his brother's piety and had to have breakfast listening to a whole diatribe about the sanctity of the church, accompanied of course by passages from the holy scriptures. He crossed himself before speaking:

-You will be satisfied with the company for breakfast. We have an emissary from Barcelona, a bishop as I understand it. No troubadours, comedians, or those people of dubious morals that bother you so much.

-It's a relief then.-Raimond answered smiling.

The two lords walked the stone halls of the fortress in silence. Despite the jokes with his brother, Guilhem, he felt disgusted by this visit. Bishop Pere de Vic was the chancellor of Duke Ramon Berenguer of Barcelona. The man had dishonored the house of Toulouse by "kidnapping" his mother Almodís de la Marche almost 13 years ago.

Everyone knew that the "kidnapping" occurred with the consent of the victim, which only added salt to the wound. He married the Catalan almost at the moment he landed in Barcelona and that even earned him an excommunication from the pope for Guilhem's father being still alive. The matter had been “finally settled” about ten years ago and his mother had been back in the grace of the church ever since but not quite in Guilhem's.

When they almost reached the solid door that separated them from the living room, his brother Raimond suddenly grabbed him:

-I ask you as your brother to listen to what the bishop has to say without letting the subject of our mother get in the way.

"For such a pious person, you don't care much about the dishonor it brought to this house that she married someone else by breaking her marriage vows with our father."

"If the Holy Father forgives her..." Raimond said, crossing himself on the spot. I can't even dream of not doing the same.

-Good for you.-Guilhem replied, releasing himself from his brother's grip with irritation.

Breakfast was spent mostly in silence after the courtesy introductions. In addition to the two brothers, Count Raimond was also present, in his role as chancellor. While his brother was interested in the military campaigns of the peninsular kingdoms against the infidels, the chancellor tried to relax the bishop who could feel the hostility and was rather sparing with words. It was not so with the food that he ate voraciously.

- Outside of eating as if tomorrow did not exist, my lord bishop, what other reason brings you here. Guilhem regretted almost instantly for being so rude.

The following silence was awkward, but the bishop finally spoke:

- It was a long trip my lord...

The man is definitely an uncontrollable glutton, Guilem thought as the bishop quickly stuffed himself into a slice of meat and downed his drink of wine:

I have a message from your mother. Who entrusted me to convey to her, as she does in the many letters that she sends her, her most sincere congratulations for her commitment and her pride in the man you have become.....

"Not with her help…" Guilhem began.

-Come on Guilhem...- his brother interrupted him.

-As my lord bishop can see the mere mention of our lady Almodis raises passions between her children. It is certainly not indifferent to them that the Duchess may come. He can be sure that no message that comes from him will be discarded and without a doubt that they will be duly advised by those who serve them.

Later at night Guilhem sipped wine in his rooms standing before the fireplace. Sitting to one side Count Raymond was also drinking from a glass. The question was quite simple in appearance once the Bishop of Vic put it. None of the doctors could say exactly what illness was consuming a man of just 43 years so fast, but it was a fact that Duke Ramon of Barcelona's days were numbered. His mother Almodis had given him several sons who could theoretically succeed him, but there was the problem of the duke's eldest son.

From a previous marriage Pere Ramon had the birthright. Almodis had received every signal from the local nobility for her to leave when the duke died. But the woman was willing to dispute the inheritance for her children. The bishop of Vic represented a part of the house of Barcelona willing to support Almodis, but unfortunately they were a lesser branch without lands. Her mother asked him to travel to her south when the time came to support her with the gentlemen of Toulouse:

-Does she think she is a new Helen of Troy?

-It is not unreasonable what my lord asks, it is an opportunity...- Count Raimond began.

-An opportunity for the children she had with that man to inherit, my brothers who don't even have my last name. An opportunity for the gentlemen of Toulouse to bleed to no avail because of that woman's stubbornness. She doesn't realize that not even her husband wants to stir up those waters. He could disinherit her eldest son and solve that problem for her...

-It could be a matter of time, the young Pere will be 16 years old in a short time. Life on the border of the infidel is especially hard. The only reason the bishop and his relatives are willing to take on a regency is because he will give them a chance to rise to power.

-Then you recommend me to stay on the sidelines.

-On the contrary, my lord. I recommend that you approach the subject discreetly and with an open mind. One should never turn his back on any opportunity that presents itself. Why close the door on extending their control in one way or another over Barcelona?

"If the duke's son were to die, the matter would be resolved." Guilhem said, throwing the wine over the flames and sinking heavily into the chair next to his advisor.

Count Raimond hurried to refill his glass and approached him leaning his body on the table:

-All the Catalan nobles would know. And no doubt the Bishop of Vic and his relatives wouldn't mind. But it would be risky without having more information about what is going on in Barcelona, first-hand information for his ears and interest, my lord.

-Do you want to go south then and be my eyes?

I will if my lord orders it.

The Bishop of Vic and Count Raimond left a week later.

 

[HistoryDude]

Ah, scheming.

Guilhem's views actually make sense - the Church frowns upon adultery and bishops marrying. Actually, why is a bishop married? They're sworn to celibacy?

 

[Ernain1111]

Ah, scheming.

Guilhem's views actually make sense - the Church frowns upon adultery and bishops marrying. Actually, why is a bishop married? They're sworn to celibacy?

I don't quite understand the question about bishops hehehehehe Bishops don't get married, at least not the game hehehehe Take from the true story of Guilhem's mother. She did indeed marry the Duke of Barcelona when her husband was still alive and she was excommunicated. By the time the story began, that issue had been settled.

 

[Ernain1111]

III Duchy of Toulouse October 1066, Kingdom of France.

The horses of the three young men crossed the countryside as if they were lightning bolts. Behind them the guards struggled in vain to catch up. Guilhem eventually managed to outbid his brother by a couple of heads.

-I beat you Raimond !!!- he said holding the reins and making the horse stop.

-The chancellor sent you the best horse.-Raimond answered smiling. - I have to admit. I never thought that the horses of the infidels were so fast. They seem to come from another world.

-It's because they come from another world brother. The count let me know in his letters that the infidels bring them from the deserts of Arabia. He would be careful with your praises, who knows if these horses are Mohammedans and are here only to tempt your faith in God.

Raimond's face turned serious at once and Guilhem thought that it had not been the best of jokes.

-Don't let yourself be provoked.-Adalaida Bonsoid was the wife of his brother Raimond. She was approaching at a light trot on the white mare. -His jokes about her are usually not so good after exercise.

-Although I have to admit that a cavalry charge on these animals must be something to see. Adalaida said, stopping his mare a few steps from the brothers. -I'm sure the little one won't forgive you for not letting him ride one of these.

She spoke of the younger brother of Guilhem and Raimond, the young Uges de Toulouse. Who would no doubt now be unloading his bad mood on some well-stocked plate of food.

-My brother is right now the most precious of my possessions, dear sister-in-law. Guilhem replied, bringing his horse closer to his sister-in-law's mare.

-In any case, you will say that his virility is your most precious possession. Be careful brother, sodomy is a mortal sin.-his brother told him in the middle of a laugh.

When the guards finally caught up with them the three lords were laughing uncontrollably. The return to the keep was quite spirited. Adalaida had the occasional joke about the virility of horses and the good omen that they would arrive just as Ugues's marriage to the Duchess of Tuscany was being negotiated. Unbelievably her brother Raimond de ella did not object to the unmerciful joke. Although between fits of laughter she continually crossed herself. They arrived at the keep with the night on their heels and hurriedly washed before going to the more intimate room where they ate when no visitors were received. The table is generously laid out, lamb chops and sauce, cheese, fruit and of course fine wines. Young Ugues had already eaten a good portion when they entered. Just as Guilhem expected, the food had tempered his mood.

-Is my fiancee beautiful? Ugues asked, taking some rolls and dipping them in the lamb sauce.

-I'm sorry to tell you that I have no idea, but she is a woman and that should be enough.-Guilhem replied laughing.

-I heard that she is a very pious woman. Once you are there you will be able to visit her holiness very often since her lands are very close. Raimond narrowed down drinking a little wine.

-Your two brothers, despite the basics of their answers, are right. You know that my brother Bertrand is Duke of Provence...

Adalaida had paused her speech for a moment to take a sip of wine that Guilhem thought made her cheeks turn terrifyingly red:

-As subjects of the emperor. -Continued Adalaida -We traveled several times to pay homage to the imperial court, in the time of my late father. I remember her as a very discreet and certainly pious girl, while some watched the jousts or listened to the troubadours, Matilda from Tuscany spent her time listening to mass. I can't fool you into saying she's an absolute beauty but she didn't seem like the kind of woman who would grow up to be a warty monster. On the other hand, Italian women have an especially cheerful skin tone and character. You shouldn't have a problem with that... not even when you're in Rome, visiting the Holy Father.

-Woman...-Raimond was visibly upset.

-I'm sorry, my dear husband, but it is better that I travel to Italy with a fairly open mind....

-Stop!!

Raimond's outburst caught Guilhem quite off guard, to the point that he spilled some wine on the table.

-It's enough, it's enough, for both of us. he-he was quick to intervene.

-I have no idea why my wife insists on disobeying me at the slightest opportunity....

-I said enough Raimond. Also your Adalaida, if finally the commitment is carried out I'll take care of talking to Uges.

Guilhem woke up with a start later that night. His body was on fire from the dream of him. He had dreamed of Adalaida of course, with her cheeks flushed and her body sweaty from the journey on horseback. In the dream, his brother Raimond had turned around to go to mass and they continued the race alone. Then they were already under a tree and he possessed her like an animal.

She drank some water to cool off, then opened the windows to let in the approaching winter air. He tried to concentrate his mind on preparing for the trip to Paris. He would travel north to spend Christmas in the hospitality of the boy king. His father-in-law had written to invite him, it was said that much of the nobility would be there to renew their vows of fidelity to the crown now that Phillip's regency was nearing its end.

I mentally review the number of provisions, guards, gifts, the nobles who would accompany him. Count Raimond had written to say that he would return for the winter from Barcelona, some other member of his privy council.... of course his brothers Ugues and Raimond.... Adalaida....

His mind drifted back to sleep once more and he couldn't help but feel his manhood expanding. She threw a cloak over her shoulders and abruptly stepped out into the corridor startling the half-drowsy guard and motioning for him to remain at his post when the man showed intentions of following him.

"What are you doing Guilhem" she thought when his footsteps brought him closer and closer to his brother's rooms... "Come on Guilhem, what are you doing". He stopped and abruptly changed direction to return to his rooms. A girl bumped into him by dropping a pot of water on the stone floor. The woman was half scared to death when she realized that she had bumped into the duke and she did nothing but blush and apologize as she bowed. Guilhem looked at the channel her breasts made under her dress, the messy blonde hair…her rosy cheeks. He quickly bent down to lift the woman:

-If you want to come with me... I have no intention of forcing you...

The girl barely seemed surprised and she nodded emphatically as she let him kiss her.

 

[HistoryDude]

Well, someone's lustful! And wants to have sex with his brother's wife! For shame.

I think I misread the title of the man who their mother married

 

[Ernain1111]

Well, someone's lustful! And wants to have sex with his brother's wife! For shame.

I think I misread the title of the man who their mother married

Ohh I understand. I'm not really a native English speaker. If you watch the game everything is in Spanish lol Guilhem's mother is married to the Duke of Barcelona, the bishop who visited Tolouse is from Barcelona and also belongs to the dynasty with the same name.

 

[Ernain1111]

IV County of the Marche November 1066, Kingdom of France.

There was no other word to describe it. The trip to Paris at the moment could only be called “miserable”. The muddy roads, the gray skies, the slow pace under almost constant rain and occasional snow. They left Toulouse accompanied by almost 300 men including guards and servants, an almost indeterminate number of carts loaded with provisions and luggage. They spent the odd night in inns or in small fortresses whose owners watched in horror as their winter reserves dwindled with visitors.

On the other hand, his brother Raimond and Adalaida seemed more reconciled since their discussion at that dinner after the ride. Reconciled at my expense, Guilhem thought. Continuous attacks for the madness of starting this trip so late in the year exposing herself to inclement weather flashed through her mind, for the delay every night when one of the carts with the clothes got stuck in the mud miles back and Adalaida she had to wear the same dress as the day before. Her Ugues complaining about how little food was to be found up north and how bland and basic it was.

To make matters worse, now he knew that the great meeting in Paris that her mother-in-law spoke to him about so much in letters would not be such. He looked at his uncle Adalbert, Comte de la Marche, who was picking her nose lazily. They had come to his fortress to escape a torrential storm with their bones and clothing deeply soaked.

-What do you mean that we will be the only ones on the Ile de France?

While the rest of the group retired to rest, Guilhem had stayed with his uncle in the great hall drinking some hot wine.

-Not as much as the only ones... but in the end most of the lords decided to spend the winter in their own halls. There is the Duke of Flanders, of course, and I understand that Geoffrey of Anjou is also hanging around.

-The enemy of my father-in-law and an excommunicated duke. I can't stand the emotion.... What happened? -They gave the Duchy of Picardie to William the Bastard. Now Flanders and Normandy control all of northern France... my feudal lord... your father-in-law... he must not be happy at all. The boy king must have waited for the lords to gather for the oath. Once the land was allocated, no one had anything to look forward to. He missed his chance for the big show.

-Bad news without a doubt, but it's for the boy king. He is putting a sword to his head.

-He already has one to the south that gives him more than another to the north. Most likely he wants to be sure he gets to choose...

-I don't understand you uncle... Are you talking about the Saracens in Hispania?

The men looked at each other for a moment and chuckled. Later, during dinner, Guilhem was able to get rid of his brother Ugues's complaints about the food. His uncle's wife, the Countess Unia, was obviously a lover of fine cuisine, and it was the first time they had found such a well-laid table since leaving Toulouse.

-The secret of this lamb...-said the countess to a spellbound Ugues.-I learned it from one of the queen mother's cooks when we traveled to Paris last summer. It is a recipe from the land of Rus... very common there...

-Then in the kingdom of Rus they eat like kings. -Ugues answered licking his fingers.

-Therefore, you also eat like a king, my lord.-replied the woman smiling.-I understand that you will marry, God willing, Duchess Matilda of Tuscany. This meal will then seem like a simple matter.

Guilhem remembered Countess Unia's brother, Baron Bertrán de Comborn. They had rested in his fortress a few days ago. He could almost swear that his purse was outraged when the man charged them for animal fodder as if horses ate precious stones. More than once it almost occurred to him that if the baron had more armed men he would have tried to rob them.

"Your brother the Baron was not so generous, my lady." Adalaide began to speak without hesitation. -One of the carts got stuck in the mud when we were leaving his fortress. It contained some possessions that are precious to me. He said that he would send them to me in Paris as soon as they managed to save her from the mud and he charged me for that promise.

"I hope it wasn't anything really valuable, my lady." Because I am sure that her positions have already been lost. Although if they were so valuable, I'm sure she wouldn't have left them behind.-the countess answered without flinching.

"They were enough…" began Adalaida when the Count of La Marche interrupted her.

"If you think you had problems with my brother-in-law, you won't want to listen to the Count of Limousin, her mistress." It is said that they came to blows a few months ago. Bernart is not satisfied with his place in the world. If he had the means he would at least get to count.

"From Limousin?" asked Adalaida.

-Wherever it was.... I have no doubts about that. The Count of Limousin has recently served as our duke's butler, he is no fool, he fired Bernart from his post as spymaster in the county before he left for Bordeaux. That has my brother-in-law more unleashed than usual.

-Your brother was also fired. said the countess to Raymond.

-Did they fire Hugues from the council?-Raimond answered somewhat surprised

Hugues was in theory Guilhem's older brother. Though he never thought of him that way. He had been her mother's firstborn son in her first marriage to the Earl of Lusignan. Finally, that marriage was annulled as they were close relatives and she married her father leaving three children behind. The Count of Lusignan, the Duke of Toulouse and the Duke of Barcelona, was already the third marriage of her mother. Luckily he's older so he'll probably be the last, Guilhem thought.

-I understand that my brother has a reputation.... ungodly.... has something to do with that? Raymond asked.

"They call him Huges the Devil of Lusignan, right?" Adalaida asked interested.

-The duke was afraid that if Hugues continued as spymaster now that Guilhem is engaged to Aines they could conspire to....

-My dear... please...- the count said taking his wife by the hand. "We must not assume the motives of our lord... the duke."

Guilhem was almost stoned. He remembered the conversation during the engagement banquet and the duke telling her that if anything happened to her he would never marry his daughter. He thought it was a protocol warning but obviously the duke took it quite seriously.

"I guess I won't be in my brother's prayers…" Guilhem began to speak.

-Your luck was his misfortune, at least for now. -said the count. -Have you news of my sister?

- The Duchess of Barcelona is well. My chancellor wrote to me from Barcelona to say that apart from the normal problems of age, she is in good health. Guilhem said curtly and disgusted at having to talk about his mother.

"What is your chancellor doing in Barcelona, my lord?" His uncle's wife asked him.

Guilhem cursed himself. His reluctance to talk about his mother and his exhaustion had left him talking without thinking. He was thinking how to get out of the subject without having to talk about the problems in Barcelona and how he was looking for a way to get something for Tolouse from all that when his brother Raimond stood up:

-Uncle... my lady countess. he said, bowing. "It's late and I hope you'll forgive me if I withdraw." Tomorrow, God willing, we must continue on our way.

-Of course nephew of course. said the count, beckoning to one of his servants. -I'll take you to your rooms, I hope you rest.

Adalaida also stood up:

-I would also like to retire to rest my gentlemen. Believe me, this is the first time since we left Toulouse that she hoped to have a restful sleep.

Guilhem looked at them trying to figure out if they were intentionally bailing him out. Countess Unia looked at Adalaida and then at Guilhem laughing as if he had a very particular joke in mind. Guilhem thought to ask him what was causing him so much laughter once the couple left in the company of the servant. When he began to part his lips to speak he was interrupted:

-The Duke of Barcelona is very ill and my mother wants us to help her put our brothers in control of her. The chancellor is there to examine the matter. -said his brother Ugues smiling at the countess.

Guilhem could do nothing but curse under his breath.

 

[HistoryDude]

France looks like a it might suffer through a civil war soon. What was the king thinking?