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 
. 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.
. 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.