Crusader Kings II Co-op Game Thread!

AD 1070 On September, the besieged castle of Urgell finally fell. On December, the city of Pallars
AD 1071 : The war rages on. The Catalan army is dispersed. Puigcerda is taken. My general Tancrède of Sicily is killed leading his troops. May God receive his soul.
AD 1072 : The war is longer than expected. I begin to lack money to pay my mercenaries. Only the wealth plundered from seized places keeps me going. The Kings of Leon, Castille and Galicia have came to term, and the Emir of Zaragoza crushed the revolt. On may, the king of Navarra joins the war, siding with my enemy the duke of Barcelona, but his means are limited. I begins to worry about the outcome but nevertheless take Perpinya and Cuixa.

On May, 18, all the bells of the kingdom ring : my wife finally gave me a son. He will be named Sancho, like his father.
AD 1073 On April, I take Cotliure. On May, the final battle of the war takes place in Cerdanya. The duke of Barcelona doesn’t stand a chance. He has 500 men against my 2000. It’s an easy victory, and the duke surrenders following his defeat. His troubles aren’t going to end, though. The count of Empuries rises against him in support of a pretender. Too bad for him.

Meanwhile, I’m now the liege lord of the Count of Urgell, and so doubled the size of my kingdom. The people are pissed off because I kept the city levies on the line for the whole war. As a gesture of good will, I reduce the size of those levies for the time being. A number of Catalans have joined my court. I make sure that all their children are properly mentored by fellow Castillans.

On October, I decide to make a big change to the crown’s laws in order to avoid the division of the kingdom upon my death. The king will now be elected by the de jure vassal dukes (Who happen to be the duke of Barcelona…and myself). I choose my more talented younger sister as heir. I can’t let the kingdom to an 1 year old toddler! Not everybody is happy about this change, but it will be appreciated, in time, by my vassals, although they’re quite unhappy at the moment.
AD 1074 A quiet year of rest. My prestige has significantly risen. On June, my wife gives birth to my daughter Adelaida.

AD 1075 : Some say I’m envious. I must admit that I can’t stand anymore the tough of my brother-in-law lording over the wealthy lands of the county of Urgell. I decide to revoke his title, and expect him to bend to my will. But against all expectations he doesn’t and revolt! :mad: I have to hire again mercenaries at great cost, but this time, I don’t call the levies.

The mountainous terrain is inconvenient to move armies. It’s only in December that we meet on the field. It’s a resounding victory. I besiege (again) Urgell.

Meanwhile, the duke of Barcelona lost his fight against the count of Empuries. A new duke steps in, which is a good thing, since I had signed a ten years truce with his predecessor. If I ever wage war again against Barcelona, nobody will hold me as an oath breaker.
AD 1076 : I find myself again in a difficult situation, money-Wise. Not only I have to pay mercenaries, but the bishop of Barbastro intend to stop paying taxes to me. While my chaplain attempts to convince him of my good intentions, I make him Master of the Swans, which seems to appease him a little, but not enough. Fortunately, Alexander II dies suddenly. His successor Zachary II isn’t nearly as popular with bishops and taxes are paid again.

Urgell finally falls. Plundering the castle helps too with my finances, which is fortunate, because I’m on the verge of being unable to pay my mercenaries.

Another event upset me : Following a war against the duke of Barcelona, the duke of Toulouse has taken the county of Rosello, which should rightfully mine! And I can’t see myself getting it back from the clutch of a kingdom as powerful as France in any foreseeable future.

To relieve my stress, I tend to indulge a bit in the pleasures of life. Some say I’ve become a bit of an hedonist. Did I mention that I’ve taken a mistress? If not I should have, because I’m informed that my wife is plotting her demise :mad: I consider having her arrested and executed but upon noticing that I can’t find a good match to replace her, and considering that she’s still quite young and able to bear more children, I generously grant my pardon (she somehow doesn’t even seem to be grateful, though)

AD 1077 : My brother-in-law surrenders. I’m not as cruel as some say. I grant him mercy and let him leave the kingdom. I take for myself the title of Count of Urgell.

After that, with the exception of a fight with my wife, the year is peaceful. People have finally forgotten about this levy issue they were so upset about. I’m told that one of my courtiers, a very old woman I never paid attention to, might be the oldest person in the known world.

The second war between Leon, Castille and Galicia came to an end with Castille gaining territory.
AD 1078 Today, nothing. Hmmm…somehow I feel like writing that might bring bad luck. So, I’m going to note that this supposedly eldest person in the known world passed away.
AD 1079 The Kings of Galicia, Leon and Castille are again at each other throats. Having accumulated 250 gold, which, I hope will be sufficient this time, I demand that the duke of Barcelona surrenders the Empuries to me, being, as king of Aragon, their rightful lord. A new war has started. With mercenaries, my army numbers 4400 men, which surely is sufficient.

At the same time a new holy war starts between Zaragoza and Barcelona. It appears at first to be very convenient for me…Until the king of France shows up with an army of 12 000, then 20 000, then almost 30 000 men to fight the heathens. It’s not that he’s fighting me, its that his huge army, camped in Empuries and launching occasional raids in Barcelona and Larida is living off the land. Which means famine for my own troops if they find themselves in the same area. It’s going to seriously complicate my moves.

I win the first battle against the Catalan army. My adversary losses are massive. I can’t pursue the survivors, though, due to the presence of the French army. Instead, I besiege Barcelona. I captured a bishop, and his poor ability as a commander makes me think I can free him without worry. I ransom him for a nice amount of 25 gold.

Another good new : the Queen is pregnant again.

I will post another AAR when I’ll have played some more.

I’ve played some more (it’s now 1085) and I will post the AAR later. But meanwhile I want an advice, and in particular from the player who will suceed me.

Currently, my (second) wife is the heiress of two duchies and six counties in southern Italy. That’s a big prize, so normally I would designate our only common child as heir. However :

-It’s a girl
-She’s two year old
-She’s slow-minded

(Also, my wife hates me relationship : -89)

I hope that my wife will give me a better suited heir in the future, but meanwhile, I have to decide if I pick her as heir. My current heir is my sister, since my son hasn’t yet reached adulthood and I don’t know if he’ll be worthy. In case I would die, do you think the next player should play :
-A suitable heir, possibly a woman but reigning only over Aragon

-A simple-minded female child, but heiress to the duchies of Sicily and Calabria

FTR : “Slow” means she will have -3 to all char)

I’m not next (I don’t think), but you’ve gotta play it safe and make sure your next of kin has as many titles as they can hold, no?

Do you have the strength or alliances to contest those holdings in Italy?

This is my feeling also.

I’m still relatively new to the game and I’m not sure what you mean by contesting the holdings.

It sounds like Aragon has elective succession. What are the succession laws in Sicily and Calabria? If you have a son with your current wife, would he become the Sicilian heir?

Historically, that part of Italy was held by the Crown of Aragon, so I think you owe it to your dynastic heritage to try to get it.

Bah, don’t ask us for advice. You’re the king, do what you want. :slight_smile:

Your heirs can always press claims against their siblings if need be.

Oh, nothing to do with game mechanics. I just mean to ask, will you be strong enough to hold those Italian province against the other Italian and Muslim powers who will try to take them from you?

She will have have much more than she can handle (not difficult with 0 in stewardship). Currently, my holdings in Navarra count as 4 titles, but one of them is a barony which can be handed out. Calabria (1 duchy+1 county) should count as 1. The big part is Sicily (the duchy+4 counties) which should count as 4. That’s 9
titles for someone who has a stewardship of 0.

She will have to give as fiefs most of her holdings (presumably to people who like her). And without them, where will she find soldiers to fight potential enemies?

The duchy of Calabria is contested. The whole of Sicily has only a couple Muslim claimants, so should be rather safe. The only serious threat is the king of Sicily, who holds most of southern Italy and might want to get the rest. And having handed out most titles, there won’t be much strength left to fight.

Simply people who will want to seize your fiefs and vassals who will revolt

Yes, the latter is a good point. Sicily and Calabria currently are following gavelkind, but they would switch to elective upon transfer to the crown of Aragon.

I like this answer :slight_smile:

Thanks for your comments, they helped. All things considered, I won’t make her my heir. She would have to even give away part of the Spanish fiefs just to try to keep a hold on Sicily (say the duchy itself and one county), with a significant chance of losing them anyway. And then my successor would have the fun of playing a dimwitted underage female. anyway. I will pray for a son instead. And if none shows up, well…there are several centuries left…

AD 1080 : On February, the queen passed away. No more fights, I guess. Amongst the potential new spouses, a very bright Swedish princess was noticed. Very bright, but very young. 10 years old. I can’t wait for 6 years to marry again. So, I betrothed her to my son instead. The duke of Sicily agreed to let me marry one of his daughters. Young, competent, coming from a notable family related to a king and potentially the heir of some holdings in southern Italy. A perfect match. This marriage will be bring to me a lot of prestige.

I won a second battle against the duke of Barcelona with a fraction of my army. And on November, the besieged city surrendered.

AD 1081 : On January, the holy war between the Hudid emirate and Barcelona ended on an Arab defeat. The French army withdrew as a result, allowing me to send half my army to besiege Empuries. On March, Vic fell and the duke of Barcelona surrendered. I’m now the liege lord of the count of Empuries (and control a sea port).

An envoy of Pisa wanted me to consider a trade embargo on Genoa, promising quite a lot of gold if I were to agree. I don’t want to be embroiled in these shopkeeper issues, though. I refused.
AD 1082 : I have now time to think about my wife (and future children) inheritance in Italy. Sicilian law requires the demesne to be shared amongst the lord’s heirs. My father in law has substantial holdings, but also four daughters. Yet unmarried. What if “something” was happening to them? Preferably before they get married and beget children?

It cost me a fortune (161 gold) to bribe Sicilian courtiers. But it was well spent money. One of my sisters-in-law was bitten by a poisonous snake. Only some months (and 91 gold) later, my second sister-in law almost fell off a balcony. And I somehow was suspected. I take note that pushing people out of Windows isn’t a good plan. My wife is pissed at me for having tried to murder her sister. What a lack of gratitude!

The Sheik of Zaragoza revolts once again. The Kings of Galicia, Leon and Castille fight each other once again. Routine.

AD 1083 : I revoked the title of the count of Empuries to take it for myself. More reasonable than the former count of Urgell, he submitted.

The husband of my lover confronted me about the adultery. I don’t have much feelings left for her anyway, and she almost twice as old as my hot wife. I will put an end to this affair. It is to be noted that the young Elvira Sanchez is most probably my illegitimate daughter.

God blessed me for renouncing to my sins : the Queen is pregnant!

During the summer, my second sister-in-law died of a snake bite. Sicilian snakes seem very dangerous. Her youngest sister drowned in a freaky boat accident. My wife doesn’t believe it’s a freaky accident, though. She hates my guts now. :frowning: . But she (and our soon to be born child) will be the heiress of the duchies of Sicily and Calabria, and of six dependent counties.

I had my spymaster, who until now was studying technology in Italy, coming back to the court. I think I might need now to protect my wife from resentful relatives and my older children and myself from my wife.

The king of Galicia somehow convinced pope Zachary II to excomunicate me. Excomunicated? Why?

On December, my daughter Judith was born.
AD 1084 : The Sheik of Zaragoza is doing very well. Both himself and his liege are severely weakened. They won’t be able to fight my armies and I’m preparing for war. Then suddenly, I receive a call to arms from my relative the king of Leon. I’m about to ignore it as usual, but I’m told that this time the issue is serious. The king of Castille, allied to the king of Galicia, is claiming the crown of Leon. And the king of Leon is on the verge of collapse. I can’t let the crowns of Castille and Leon to be united. I have to renounce to Zaragoza and side with my cousin in a war that probably will last long.

As I was riding with my banners men through the streets of the capital, the crowd cheered : “Sancho the Great! Sancho the Great!” Sancho the Great? Hmm…I guess it’s fitting.
AD 1085 ON January, my army is regrouped. On May we meet the army of the king of Castille, and I lead the charge myself. This daring action will bring me much fame. I win, and capture an enemy leader, but it’s a costly victory.

The rest of the year will be spent chasing around the remains of the Castillan army, until I begin the siege of Burgos. The situation of Leon is a little better, but the Kings of Galicia and Castille are much more powerful opponents than the duke of Barcelona was. It will be a difficult war.

Toward the end of the year, I’m informed that my youngest daughter, the potential heir of Sicily might be…let’s say dim-witted. After listening to the opinions of my advisers, I decide not to made her my heir. Instead, I chose my son. He’s only 13, but his future spouse came to age, and she’s obviously very talented. Even if he turns out to be a disappointment, he will be able to rely on his wife to help him rule the kingdom.

AD 1086 : War, war, month after month. I eventually have to once again hire mercenaries to maintain the pressure on Castille.

I’m informed that my half-brother the bastard, is plotting against me and intend to raise an army to overthrow me. Several times he had requested to be granted a fief, requests that I had denied. Someone subtly hints that I should have him killed, but besides being family, he’s also a talented general, and in fact my Marshall. So I decide instead that a generous monetary gift, along with the title of Master of the Hunt might be sufficient to calm him. It will turn later to have been a mistake.

The son I expected, the future duke of Sicily is born. A premature joy. In the coming years, it will appear that he’s even more disabled than his sister. An imbecile. Is there something wrong with my wife’s bloodline?
AD 1087 The emir of Hudid is now allied with the even more powerful emir of Hunnunid. Both the Sheikh of Zaragoza and the duke of Barcelona who had joined the war are crushed. A 8 000 men strong Arab army is taking back lost castles. So went my hopes of seizing Zaragoza…

My brother-in-law is again heir to the kingdom of Denmark. This country’s king seems to pick a new heir about twice a year. With some luck, he will die at the right moment and my nephew might become Kings of Denmark in turn. If it were to happen, I will have to envision making him my heir as well.

My administration is now better organized, which I’m sure could make me able to rule a larger demesne. I regretfully have to replace my Chancellor. He served me well, but his talents were a bit limited. I promise him a bishopric and his own son will replace him, which I hope will make him proud. This Young man is very good at his job, which allows me to give him a challenging task : going to Navarre and searching for evidences that I might have some rightful claim on this crown.

While I’m at it, I raise as much as possible city taxes. Burghers seem rather satisfied with my rule, so I hope they won’t protest too much. And I need money.

A new side joins the war : the duke of Portugal leads a revolt against the king of Galicia. Castille finally throw the gauntlet. The war end…for a short time.

Toward the end of the year, Castille starts a new war, this time claiming the kingdom of Galicia :rolleyes: . Galicia calls for help. This being a defensive war, I can’t refuse without tarnishing my reputation. And besides I still don’t want two of the crowns to be united. So I have to raise again my armies. Some diplomatic maneuvers later I’m allied with Galicia and Navarra and fighting two technically different wars : one against Castille, and another against Portugal and Leon (the latter having been my ally some months earlier)

As soon as my armies are gathered in Alto Aragon, my decision to spare my half brother comes back to haunt me. He ambushes me there, with a significantly larger army. I have to flee the battlefield. Fortunately, I was amassing money in the hope of improving my demesne. So I can hire two large mercenary bands to fight back.
AD 1088 My half brother’s army turns to be much weaker than I expected. I bring to the fight 8 800 soldiers against his 6 500. But the battle is much more one-sided than expected. My commanders are competent, his…not so much. In fact, two of his wings begin to flee the field as soon as they’re targeted by my archers. The rest is quickly crushed during the subsequent fight. Nevertheless, I’ll spend most of the year chasing around the remains of this army, while my allies in the actual war are doing badly. I disband one of the two mercenary companies to spare money.

Once I captured him I mercifully free my half-brother after making him swear solemnly that he renounces forever to any claim to the throne of Aragon.

In may, my eldest son comes to age. He turns out to be exceptionally gifted with money and all this chancellery business I never had been much interested in myself. I’m proud of him. The next month, he marries the princess of Sweden as planned, a most prestigious alliance.
AD 1089 : I can finally take part in the real wars. I choose to completely ignore the war waged by Portugal and Leon against Galicia, since I don’t care who rules in Galicia as long as two crowns aren’t united. So, I attack in Castille. My army being large enough, I lay siege on Soria in January, Burgos in February, Santilla del Mar in March.

On September, a counter-attack by a Leonese army forces me to abandon the two latter sieges to regroup my forces. I barely win this battle, and possibly only thanks to the timely appearance of a small Galician company. I nevertheless show a lot of strategic sense by not acting impulsively, and as a result I’m praised for my patience. On December, Soria surrenders.

Meanwhile, Barcelona lost its war against the emirates.

A delegation of mayors came to complain about the taxation level in cities. Their luxurious garments tell me what I need to know about their supposed hardships, and I dismiss then abruptly.

On December, my preferred niece dies at the tender age of 19. It’s a very sad new. I had so much hopes for her.
AD 1090 : Pope Zachary II called a crusade for Jerusalem. God bless the crusaders. And may he bless pope Zachary too. He passes away on May. Pope Formosus II succeeds him, putting an end to my excommunication.

The enemy kingdoms raising new forces, I need to reunite my armies and fight them on the field rather than laying sieges. On February, I capture the king of Leon!

I make my son my Chancellor. He seems to be very pleased. I can’t help noticing his wife’s beauty…but eventually decides against making any moves. That could end badly.

My feeble-minded daughter is now stuttering. Such misfortunes with these two children can’t just be bad luck. It must be God’s punishment for the crimes I ordered when I hoped that they would rule Sicily one day.

During the summer, I marry several of my most promising courtiers to equally promising Castillan ladies. A whole new young generation is populating our castles’ halls. I don’t feel that old, though.

A lot of changes happen in July. The king of Castille dies in a suspicious way. The king of Brittany and the duke of Toulouse join the war on Leon’s side. His vassal waging war outside the borders of the kingdom makes me suspect that the authority of the king of France must be severely weakened. It seems indeed that several of his vassals have gained independence.

However, we will never see any Breton or Tolosian on the field. Galicia lost her war against Portugal and Leo putting an end at the same time to the Castille/Galicia war. Then only I realize that I obviously made an enormous mistake. Rather than having the duke of Portugal becoming king of Galicia, it’s the king of Leon who takes over both demesnes. I missed something important at some point. The large united kingdom I tried to avoid the creation of is there. The king of Leon now reign over 12 counties. To add insult to injury, I have to free him without a ransom.

At this point, I have to completely change my stance. I need to make of this powerful prince an ally. Fortunately, I already had good relations with him for having saved his kingdom during the previous war. He proposes to cement this friendship by marrying my eldest daughter to his brother. I demand more. I want him to marry my daughter. Which he agrees to. This will ensure that our alliance will last through the next generation too. My chaplain mentions that the newlyweds are second cousins but I tell him to shut up.
On the overall, my involvement in these two wars didn’t prevent what I feared and cost me a lost of money that I hoped to put to a more profitable use. They brought me fame, however. I’m now one of the most renown prince in the Christian world, my fame being only eclipsed by the kind of Sweden and of course the Holy Roman Emperor and the Emperor of Byzance.

On the following January, the new king of Castilla would request my support to attack Leon. His envoy is very lucky to still be alive.

Thanks for the action reports!

The Iberian peninsula is always a fun place to play. With no central authority and being on the religious front line, wars are plentiful. Many chances to expand and no safety net for failure.

Really enjoying the play by play!

AD 1091 Our truce having ended I declare war on the duke of Barcelona, claiming his last county as my own, as king of Aragon. The duke doesn’t have much strength to oppose me and I begin the siege of Barcelona.

I spend a lot of time tutoring my daughter. Despite her limitations, she makes some progresses and becomes very diligent.
AD 1092 : I turned 50. I can see my hair has already completely whitened. Too many worries, I guess.

On March, I capture Barcelona, and the wife and daughter of the Duke. He surrenders, but not before having paid a ransom for his family. I added the county of Barcelona to my demesne. I maintain my policy of having the children of Catalan nobles tutored by Castillans.

On April, my first grandson is born. He will be called Sancho, like his father and grandfather. Thinking that this toddler will maybe one day sit on the throne feels weird. Some months later, my wife becomes pregnant. I’m not that old, apparently ;). I send my hopeless son to be “tutored” at the court of the king of Leon. I couldn’t stand anymore watching him drolling. I even considered a merciful death for him but refrained. My wife says I’m cruel with him. Well…everybody thinks I’m cruel, and it helps keeping them in line.

Whoever is the current Sheikh of Zaragoza revolts again. How many times has this sheikdom revolted? I lost the count. The allies of the Emir of Hudid must be tired of helping him put down rebellions. Only the ruler of Aftasid answers to his calls for help, and he’s weak, his lands remote, and he’s fighting a civil war himself. Latter the sheiks of Calatayud and Almeria will revolt too. The Emirate is ripe for the taking. I gather 3 000 men and attack Lerida

The king of Brittany, allied with Castille, joined her war against Leon. France is plunged in a civil war.
AD 1093 My daughter keeps making some small progresses. She’s a really nice girl, very honest and just. Quite unlike me, I must admit. My 6th child is born on February. She’s been named Abosinda.

On March, Jerusalem is taken. The holy land is again in Christian hands! In German hands, to be more exact. The Holy Roman Emperor’s name is blessed in all churches. Somehow it irritates me. Am I not fighting the infidels too? Aren’t they at my very door?

The duke of Aquitaine has conquered Navarra. There’s no more point in trying to establish a claim on it, now. I send my Chancellor to Najera, the only piece of land still held by my pitiful cousin, the “king of Navarra”, Antso the “bewitched”, as they call him. He would want to marry one of my nieces. No way, she’s too good for him and I intend to keep her at my court. She does want to marry, though. I’ll have to search for someone suitable. I’m attracting some gifted Castillan noblemen to my court with generous gifts. Maybe one of them?

The war between Castille and Leon ends with a white peace.

I crush a weak attack on Barcelona. Lerida falls on September.
AD 1094 : I take Cervera on February. The Emir abandons the fight. I added the county of Lleida to my demesne. Since I now hold most of the old duchy of Barcelona, I recreate the title. Costly, but it significantly adds to my prestige. I have the Walli of Solsona chased from the town, and rededicate the mosque as a cathedral, making my chaplain his first bishop. The Church rejoices, but my vassals feel uneasy. Didn’t they notice that the man I revoked was a Muslim? I grant the empty title of Master of the Hunt to the most worried of them to assuage his fears. Not wanting to create more concerns, I keep the Muslim mayor of Cervera. He’s an old man, anyway.

On January, Leonese noblemen demand the institution of an elective monarchy in this kingdom, surely inspired by my example. The king of Leon flatly refuses and the country is plunged into civil war. On September, the Count of the Asturias revolts against the king of Castille. Both kingdoms are again in turmoil. And the king of Castille has been excommunicated, which doesn’t help.

During the summer, I welcomed to the court numerous hedge knights and organized a lavish feast, putting an end to my reputation of greediness. I will also have many marriages celebrated during this year between vassals, courtiers and guests. The most difficult will be to find a good match for my niece. After lengthy searches, I will choose a gifted son of the count of Paflaz? Pzalf? Someplace in the Roman Empire, anyway. This young man might have a weird accent, but he’s very talented. He will replace my son as steward.

My Chancellor succeeded in “finding” evidences that I have a rightful claim on the county of Najera. I publicly displayed the documents and sent my Chancellor to Viscaya, in case he would find some “evidences” there too. My “bewitched” cousin is very upset and states that I’m a liar and have no honour.
AD 1095 My father-in-law, the duke of Calabria, passed away, leaving a late male heir, a 4 months old toddler who didn’t survive him for long. As my chaplain said “This world is too cruel for children”. I didn’t even had to pay the spymaster of Calabria, this time. He was fully aware that the duchy wouldn’t survive a long regency. My wife is now duchess of Calabria and Sicily, countess of Reggio, Palermo and Messina. These titles will be shared after her death between my two younger sons. Fortunately, the best parts, in particular the duchy of Sicily will be my young Antso heirloom. Maybe there will be something to do to unite the Italian lands to the crown, but that will be my heir and his half-brothers problem.
I reduced the city levies to the minimum. I hold firmly the reins of the mayors, but my successor might face problems with them, so I preferred to anticipate and reduce the pressure on our good burghers.

One of my nieces, who had been schooled by my chaplain, became a masterful theologian, I’m told. She must indeed be good, since I don’t understand anything she say anymore. Not that I am an ignorant. On my spare time, I study astronomy, and it’s a fascinating topic. I already observed two comets.

The opponents in the Emirate of Hudid seem exhausted and there seems to be no end in sight to this war. Which annoys me greatly, since I’m hoping to pick up the pieces once the Emirate will have broken apart.

AD 1096 Coming from southern France, a sort of deathly consumption is spreading. People die by the hundreds in the Empuries and in Urgell. God preserve us!

A call to arms comes from Castille, still at war with Leon. In order not to tarnish my reputation, I decide to answer to my so-called ally request. Since I’m raising armies and leading them westward, I declare war on Navarra too. This is going to tarnish my reputation. But I’m much more interested in conquering Najera than in fighting the king of Leon. In the Pyrenees mountains, movement is slow. Before my armies even cross the border, Castille and Leon have agreed to end the hostilities :confused: . Anyway, this is none of my concern. I disperse the small Navarese army and besiege Najera.

On June, I’m informed that my Chancellor discovered new evidences : my claim on Najera in fact extends to Biscaye too. Those old charters are quite pricey, and many claim that they’re fake. I can clearly see the ancient seals and read the Latin words. That’s enough evidence for me. My chancellor is a godsend.

During the summer, something odd happens. A plot is discovered. The mayor of Huesca, Keeper of the Swans of Aragon, intends to murder my heir apparent. This doesn’t make any sense. My son’s death would not benefit him in any way, and besides, despite being an infirm, a drunkard and notoriously incompetent, he has always been very faithful to me. But I can figure out the explanation. He is possessed. Some devil whispered this scheme to his ears. I get him arrested, seize his property (how did he get that rich?) and banish him from the kingdom. I must find a new mayor. I choose bastard brother’s son : he’s Young, Castillan, acceptably competent, but not so bright that I would want to keep him at the court.

On August I order an assault. I take the castle, but it was premature. I lose almost a thousand men. Fortunately, I’m not in any difficult situation but in other circumstances, this mistake could have been deadly. I take as prisoners two sons of the bewitched. On September, he surrenders and leaves to Brittany with his family. The kingdom of Navarra is no more, and I’m count of Najera.

I notice that the king of France has become a very weak sovereign. His demesne has been reduced to the duchy of Burgundy, and he doesn’t even control most of it. The real power in France is held by the dukes of Valois, Aquitaine and Toulouse.
And two of them are my neighbours.
AD 1097 The old baron of Puigcerdá is dead. There are less and less men of my generation still alive.

I’m told that heretics are spreading their evil lies in my newly acquired county of Najera. They call themselves “Cathars”. The issue is so serious that the pope sends a legate. I swear to him that I won’t tolerate any of this, and that all heretics will be dealt with without mercy. I immediately sends my chaplain. Before the month is over, he informs me that the heresy has already been uprooted. How could he succeed so quickly? This man must be a saint. Nevertheless, he tells me that there are still some heretics in the hiding, and that the populace is agitated.

I have a number of family matters to attend to. In particular two nieces and a nephew to marry. All are bright, but the latter is so gifted with money that they say he has the touch of Midas. And this is nothing. My grandson Sancho is simply a genius. He’s barely four, and he already can read the scriptures. My chaplain even began to taught him Greek. My nieces will marry a German and a Frank nobleman. My nephew a young Occitan lady from the notable Armagnac family, as intelligent as my grandson and as talented with money as her new husband. I rejoice.

On November, my spymaster is mysteriously murdered. I replace him with the husband of one of my nieces. He dies suddenly within the month. I’m told it’s a natural death, but I find this quite strange. One of my nephews takes over the job. I hope he won’t face the same fate.

Finally I have enough money to fulfill an old dream. I will have a new chartered town build. I tell my Steward not to bother with taxes anymore and to concentrate on this project. I want to see the city before I die.

On December, the consumption spreads to Alto Aragon, and to the court…
AD 1098 : On January, I marry matrilineary my recently widowed niece with an impressive Norwegian nobleman. Her mother, my sister Sancha cannot attend the wedding. The consumption. Soon, my Grandson feel ill too. I pay for masses, organize processions, candles are lighted night and day. I don’t want this promising child to die.

The impetuous king of Castille calls for a holy war against…the Dhunnunid Emirate. No less. By far the most powerful Emirate of Hispania. And allied to the Hudid Emirate. He requests my support, but there’s no way I will follow him in this suicidal endeavour. My reputation be damned.

On May, it’s my wife who is calling for help. She created a faction with the intent to replace the Queen of Sicily with a young damsel of the Hauteville family. I can’t understand why, but I guess I’ve no choice if I want to secure our dynasty holdings. I have to join this war.

Before leaving, ceding to his insistence, I grant my son the title of count of Barcelona. At least, it’s a safe city to live. Maybe thanks to the good air blowing from the sea, the consumption didn’t make any victim there. In fact my Grandson will quickly recover. His young uncle, my son Antso, will fall ill too, and he also will survive. My sister won’t. Before the end of the year, God be praised, this frightening disease will disappear on this side of the Pyrenees mountains.

On October, I have gathered all the armies of my demesne, leaving behind the levies. 4400 men. And 46 galleys. The host of Aragon will sail for the first time. I’ve no idea what to expect. My dear daughter Judith, who follows me almost everywhere bids me farewell. She has overcome a lot of her difficulties and even become quite ambitious.

Crossing the Mediterranean sea is frightening, but surprisingly quick. I discover that the Queen of Sicily faces another rebellion and a war with Venice. This adventure could be less difficult than I had expected. I land in Catanzaro, and begin besieging castles and cities. My wife’s army does the same in Siracusa.

I learn that my “bewitched” cousin died in exile in Brittany. My old chaplain, who served me so well, also passes away in his 65th year. I won’t ever find another man like him.
AD 1099 My spymaster suggests the assassination of my Grandson so that the county of Barcelona would return to me. What? :eek: Did he catch a brain consumption? I tell him that instead I will personally take care of Sancho’s education. And that my youngest daughter Adosinda will in return be tutored by my son in Barcelona. Regarding my spymaster, I send him to Firenze, to study the local building methods, or do whatever else he feels like doing providing he refreshes his mind.
The new chartered city is founded in Alto Aragon. The first settlers are coming. It will be named San Sancho, to honour my patron saint, and so that I will be remember for the centuries to come. I choose my late sister’s son as its first mayor, counting on his efficiency. Only later would I realize I overlooked something. He’s extremely ambitious. He won’t dare doing anything against me, but this might be a problem for my heir. I order the building of a town market to improve trade and taxes.

While my host is in Italy, the common people rises up in Najera. This county is definitely a lot of troubles. It’s fortunate that I left behind the levies, along with my son’s troops in Barcelona. The peasant army will be dispersed in October. But there are still heretics dug up there.

The war will continue the whole year without any event, only sieges. This war is almost boring. I take Cosenza and Umbriatico, my wife Caltagirone and Syracusa.

Judith is now 16. For all my original fears, she’s not the brightest of my relatives, but she is quite able, possessing many qualities, and I wouldn’t be afraid of giving her a fief to rule. I’m extremely proud as much of her as of my role as her tutor. Alfonso the Silent, the king of Leon, at the same time my son-in-law and my first cousin once removed, would want her to marry his brother. It’s totally excluded. This man (his brother, I mean) is a complete tool and certainly doesn’t deserve my daughter.

AD 1100 I have a strong suspicion that my niece’s husband is cheating on her. I can’t accept that. I confront him, but he denies so firmly that I begin to have doubts. Maybe I was mistaken? I’m getting old. In fact, at the court, only my Marshall and my bastard brother are as old as myself. When we’re bored, we pass the time recounting the battles we fought together and against each other, even. My Grandson is more difficult to handle that Judith was. I manage to get him rid of his gluttonous tendencies (“don’t spare the rod”) but he’s a bit too cynical for my taste for a child so young.

Having some money available, I order the improvement of my main castle’s keep.

On March, my wife’s army takes Lanterini. But on April, the young lady we were fighting for dies suddenly, putting a sudden end to the war. While my wife reconciles herself with the Queen of Sicily, and join her to crush the other revolt, I have my fleet sailing again to bring us home. This has to be the most pointless war I fought.

Upon my return, I find Castille in disarray. Not surprisingly, the war against the Dhunnunid Emirate turned badly. And on top of that, the duke of the Asturias, a vassal of the king of Leon attacked too, claiming his ancestral rights to the county of Burgos. If I want my share of the pie, I must act now, while there’s still some pie left. I lay my claim on Viscaya and declare war on Castille, having my generals lead my somewhat depleted army.

On November, I’m soundly defeated near Burgos. I have to hire a large (and costly) mercenary band.

AD 1101 After my chaplain, my old Marshall. We bury him on January.

My reformed army fights back in Najera. A 12 000 strong army from the Dhunnunid Emirate soon joins the fight. The army of Castille is crushed, and while the Arabs wreak havoc, my mercenaries besiege Palencia and my army Viscaya. I order an assault against Palencia on September. It’s a failure, but dead mercenaries don’t need to be paid, do they?

I knew I couldn’t find a chaplain nearly as good as my old friend. The new chaplain wants to convert me to the Waldensian heresy. :mad: I get him thrown in jail where he abjures. By the way, I noted the presence of a Cathar heretic at my son’s court!

My cousin Garcia the cruel, duke (and former king) of Galicia, dies in the jails of the king of Leon. There’s no much love in our family.

On December, I have a third grandson, called Enrique. I taught the meaning of justice to his elder brother (“do what I say, not what I do”).
AD 1102 : My sister Urraca dies on February. My nephew the mayor of San Sancho on November, aged only 21. My heir won’t have to deal with his personality, as I feared. My imbecile son came back from the court of Leon, supposedly an adult. He has no ability altogether except that he somehow learned how to lie. He spends his time eating and is frightened by everything. And he is supposed to become duke of Calabria. I should have had him killed after his birth. Now, doing so would be complicated and risky. I won’t try.

On May, the king of Castille surrenders. I become count of Biscaya and duke of Navarra. I would have wanted to recreate the kingdom of Navarra, but it seems that the Basque people won’t let that happen. The duke of the Asturias also won his war and seized Burgos. Castille is now reduced to two counties separated by lands belonging to the kingdom of Leon. I find a bit difficult to handle three different dukedoms.
AD 1103 I lost a lot of men during the two successive wars in Italy and Castille. I will need to rest a bit, recruit, and train now. I will spend most of the years planning marriages for my courtiers and vassals, but most importantly also for my children.

I will use my daughter Judith to seal an alliance that will benefit me now as well as her siblings in the future. A great alliance. She is betrothed to the eldest son of the Holy Roman Emperor.

My son’s case is more difficult. I decide for a marital alliance in Italy. His mother, his brother and himself will certainly need any support they can get. He will marry the daughter of the duke of Benevent. Poor girl.

Castille not surprisingly surrenders to the Emir too on April. The last vassal of the king rises against him to put his brother on the throne. And the villains revolt. It’s the agony of Castille. I send my Chancellor to Soria, asking him to document possible claims I could have on this county.

I have a wall build to defend San Sancho. And I improve again the keep of my own castle.

My grandson barely knows he own father. I send him back to Barcelona. I don’t want them to feel like strangers. It could be bad for the throne in the future. At least I have taught him what he needed the most : patience.
AD 1104 : My castle’s halls and courtyards are filled again with children, now. The third generation. I have a hard time finding proper mentors for all of them, but what is there not to enjoy? I now reign over a large kingdom. My name is famous all over the world. Gold flows into my coffers. My courtiers love me, all my vassal are faithful. It feels good to be the king, now. I begin tutoring my second grandson, Neño.

There’s no end in sight for the king of Castille’s troubles, on the other end. He’s excommunicated.

My army now numbers again more than 5 000 men. Toward the end of the year, the opportunity I was waiting for presents itself. The Emirates of Dhunnunid and Barghawatid attack the Emirate of Hudid. It is time to claim Zaragoza. I don’t know yet what I’m putting myself into.
AD 1105 On March I gather all my armies and levies. My 5 200 men will attack Saraquste, and the 2 900 men of my vassals Albarracin. I expect a short war. But one month later, the king of Leon request my support for his war against the Aftasid Emir. Wanting to keep good relations with him, I agree. The Aftasid Emirate is on the other side of the peninsula, and I shouldn’t even have to fight.

Unfortunately, the powerful Almoravid Sultan sides with the Aftasids. The Sheikh of Turtusha revolts against the Hudid rule. The Abbadids (in the South-west) and Hammadids (in North Africa) declare war on the Dhunnunids. The king of Castille joins the king of Leon. The Emirate of Tlemcen sides with the Hudids. The duke of Aquitaine fights his vassal, the duke of Gascony, who holds the county of Navarra. Christians revolt in Alcantara. The Almoravid Sultan declares war on the Abbadid Emirate. I send a fleet along the coast to North Africa and Gibraltar to try to make sense of the situation and predict whose armies might attack whom where, but I can’t. What I’m informed of, though is that a huge Almoravid army is crossing the straits of Gibraltar. I can only hope it won’t come my way.

By the end of the year, The Hudid Emir will have lost Catalayud to the Dhunnunids, and the Leonese army will have been defeated by the Aftasids. The king of Leon loses his mind, is declared incompetent, and the Queen Mother is chosen as regent.

There are only two bright moments during this year : Judith marries the crown prince of the Holy Roman Empire. I might need that alliance sooner than I expected. And a child is born to my idiot son. It sems that he knows how to do that at least. Alvar is my 8th grandchild, if I include the children of my daughter the Queen Consort of Leon.

It looks like the Kingdom of Aragon is well on the way to taking over a good portion of the Iberian peninsula. It remains to be seen whether the king’s successor can sustain the Reconquista.

What’s the state of the rest of Europe? Have the Muslims been chipping away at the Byzantines? Who is ruling England? How is the big blue blob across the Pyrenees to your north?