Well, finally, Gavelkind was enough, but really, I think our dynasty is cursed. Anyway,
everything will pass on to my heir. I'm not yet finished, but it shouldn't last long (I'm maimed since 5 years ago, I don't think I can go very far). Also, our reigning dynasty should be more competent as from now.
Emperor Butavas I of the Wendish Empire :
(I'm a rather crappy guy, craven, arbitrary, diligent and temperate, and a bit pious (zealous and mystic). I'm relatively old, and have bad stats. Negative prestige, but lots of piety)
I was 40 years old when I got on the Wendish throne. I realized the Empire was the only barrier between the Cross and our Romuvans rites. I asked my wife to convert to my religion, as she was now an Empress.
I called the Council, which was mostly comprised of incompetent. I reformed it, with the help of loyal friends.
The capital was at Praha. As a lithuanian, I decided Vilnus would be more fitting, where the population is both lithuanian and romuvian. Plus, Vilnus is more civilized.
Soon enough, the men of the Cross attacked, as the Kingdom of Lotharingia. I gathered the levies of my vassals, fielding an immediate 12 thousand soldiers against their 17k army. The battle is stalled long enough for reinforcements to come, and the Lithuanian Steel prove its worth. Their army is surrounded, and slaughtered.
This was my first battle as Emperor of the Wends, but not the last.
16 february 964 : My darkest hour. Today, I received news that my elder son, Kantibutas, passed away in the night. He was found inanimate in his bed. I called several doctors, and shamans, but they agreed that it wasn't poison, but seemingly an act of the gods. I wish I could step back to grieve my loss, but I have duties, and we are still at war.
One year after the death of my son, I began the construction of an university, here in Vilnus. It will be named University Kantibutas, and soon, it will spread the romuvians and lithuanians ways.
More men of the Cross come, this time from the British Islands, and from Spain. But their are no match for our soldiers. 2,000 of our soldiers manage to make the Spanish army, strong of 6,000 men, retreat.
27 September 965 : They finally surrendered, and they even had to pay compensations. I decided to celebrate this with an Uzgavenes festival.
A few of my vassals revolted, in Livonia and Moravia. How dare my own family fight me !
At that time, Hungary was going through a civil war. I took the opportunity, and grabbed a few counties. Some of my vassals around here will continue my work thereafter.
In addition of being King of Lithuania and Poland, I decide the title "King of Bohemia" should be added to my titles.
As a warning from the gods, I heard that my third son, Songaila, had an accident, and has been rendered incapable ! (I have no idea how it happened). He died comatose, not long after that accident. Our family is cursed, for it forces a father to watch the deaths of his sons. Hopefully, one is still alive.
My nephew, the son of my beloved twin sister, has decided that the throne is righfully his. He is preparing an host to retake it. I do not fear him, and I will deal with him later.
2 years after his claim, my nephew has gathered a host. I am confident I can crush him with the might of the Wendish Empire.
I hear news from spies at Bryansk, where his army is. They say there is 30 thousands men, following him. If it is true, it is much more than the entire Empire's army.
Fortunately, his armies split, and one meet the royal armies at Minsk. While we are outnumbered at first, reinforcements arrive, lead by me. Unfortunately, a soldier cuts off my right leg, leaving me maimed.
Thanks to the reinforcements, we crush them, forcing them to retreat.
Now of equal forces, but better trained and organised, our armies corner my nephew's army, and will capture him. I will banish him, and seize the gold he gathered to help his conquest. His coffers contained 500 ducats, enough for me to build additions to our capital's castle.
Now that my lands are safe, I decided to wage war against the King of Pomerania, to take back the Holy site of Arkonia. With this holy site occupied by Romuvians believers, surly my family will be liberated of this curse. One of my vassals decide it's a wise moment to rebel, but my soldiers slay him, ending his petty rebellion.
With that taken care of, our armies meet the catholic armies. This time, it's the Lotharingian King that is slain.
Sadly, with rebellions and revolt from my vassals, my war against the men of the Cross is hindered. So much, that the gods decide to punish me again. My last son, Rimvydas, dies in his bed.
All my sons are now dead, but the Wends' throne will go to my grandson, a smart man, which has already children. Of my 7 grandchildren, there is only 4 alives, but our dynasty will not end there.
Finally, after years and years of war, I manage to get hold of the lands I covet for, and the holy site of Arkona is once again ours.
With that done, and our religion strongest than ever, I decide to crown myself King of Pomerania.
I am now an old man, and my wars against the men of the men of the Cross ended. I vassalize some counts that broke their oath of fealty to the old King of Pomerania when I took the title. I also conquer some lands in Finland. Since Sweden is now a Christian Kingdom (they joined against me earlier), and Hungary now in the hands of men of the Cross, we are surrounded by them. Scandinavia is currently divided between the King of Denmark, the King of Sweden, and the King of Ostlandet (Norse), but should they reunite under the Catholic religion, our empire would be endangered.
In others news, rumours of a gigantic army from the east spread like wildfire. I do not know if they are true, or if it will ever reach us. Most probably, it will distract our eastern neighbours.
As my probably last actions, I reform the Empire, creating duchies, giving or retracting vassalages, ordering the kingdoms as much as possible, making the laws for each kingdoms similar. I revoke a few titles of infidels, that I give to nephews or grandsons. I put an end to the Jomsvikings, I also expanded our castle. I also educated my great grandson, a smart little boy, and even though I'm and old man, we became friends. One day, he will lead my empire, after I and his father dies.
1 November 992 : The Emperor Butavas I the Great died in his bed, like his three sons, leaving his grandson, named after him on the throne.
// The situation wasn't great for most of my reign. A lot of vassals, especially of our dynasty, revolted. Also, when I had only 1 son left, Gavelkind decided that my grandson Butavas would inherit Lithuania and Poland, while my son heir would get only Bohemia (and the Empire, but in case of war, my heir was screwed). I also slaughtered thousands of christians to get the last holy site (~70% battle warscore, against east francia, lotharingia, sweden, etc), each time they came back with an army bigger than mine, so I could fight only on my lands, they reconquered the aimed duchy, etc, plus endless rebellion, from one vassal then another. Finally, I conquered it with my retinues alone, at one moment of peace in the empire.
There's an easy county to conquer with de jure cb in Pomerania. I'd go north, especially denmark, it's divided and there's rich lands there (plus, there's now 4 cities in Copenaghen).
And I'd recommend to wait to have better military organization to take on the East (800 supply limit is a bitch), but it can take a while before we get it. Once it's done though, I think we can easily conquer Kiev and Rus.
With defensive religion, it seems like you can take armies twice or thrice your size (though, they crossed a river this time), the +80% defence is really good (in your realm only).
The next player should have a good turn, he's great, he's only 26 years old (though, I reigned 32 years, from being 40yrs old, and surprisingly long for a cripple), and he inherited everything I had.
Save :
https://www.dropbox.com/s/65tod6ksmyxp4od/Wendish_Empire992_11_01.ck2
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Topic: Crusader Kings II: The Old Gods succession game (Read 37359 times)