Sorry, my turn was quite long (56 years I believe), and I didn't have much time as I thought. Anway, here it is.
My half brother Kunos died today, and as such it is an happy day for me, for I took the throne of the Wendish Empire. I have to say I tried to fasten his death, but it appears he didn't even need my help.
I was already Basileus of Carpathia, but this title was worthless, as another brother inherithed the kingdom of Hungary, and was independant. I had an empire, but barely half the lands. By inheriting the Wendish Empire, I received all the lands my glorious family conquered over the centuries. I see there the opportunity to become the Basileus, not only of the Wends and of Carpathia, but of the known world, forming an Empire that would stand for centuries ! But first, I have to get back the lands that had been abandonned to unruly vassals, and to my brothers.
27 February 1142 : Today, my wife gave birth to my son, that I named Tryphon !
Believing that the new Basileus and the small rebellion wars would weaken our glorious empire, the Seljuks decided to wage war on our lands in Russia.
1 September 1143 : I received news that our army crushed the infidels' one !
The despot of Bavaria rebelled, with various other minor vassals. I am coordinating the efforts from the back, as an Basileus, I am irreplaceable, there is no need to expose my life when thousands of warriors are ready to do it for me.*
14 July 1144 : A glorious victory that will mark the end of the war. Victory again !
My palace is currently situated in the frozen wastelands of Finland, that will not do. Hell, there is even an independant lord living nearby, named Van Helsing. I wonder what he is doing here. Anyway, as I have no way of setting my capital in a civilized place, such as Constantinople, I will have to do with Vilnus, which, even populated by those Lithuanian barbarians, hosts one of the most luxurious palace.
My troops will take care of the Lithuanian King which wants to defend this palace, while I'll organize the transport of my court.
14 November 1150 : My beloved mother died today.
With my capital now in Vilnus, I took the liberty to arrange my titles. I am now Wendish Basileus, Basileus of the Carpathia, and not Basileus of the Carpathia, Wendish Basileus. While those wends people are barbarians, it's the roots of my family, which managed to raise above such conditions. The Wend Empire is also more known, and feared.
My son Tryphon astonished me today, by being a little prodige. Glory to the Gods, he will be the next Emperor.
While I helped a fellow Palemonaitis to sit on the Byzantine throne, which is rightfully ours, it appears that my nephew, King of Lithuania died, and let me with the crown. I heard rumors about the power of a Basileus, but I didn't know that by simply wishing to my advisors to inherit the crown, it could be done like that.
I decided that, from now on, the Lithuanian Crown will pass on the the elder son, no matter what. I don't really care for it, but it will be a solid seat for future generations of Palemonaitis Basileus to sit upon.
Another rebellion of a Despot, this time the Russian one. I ordered my advisors to deal with it, so that I'll be able to add another title to my ever growing list. Funnily, it appears the Russian army was defeated at Russ, during a battle where some one hundred thousand warriors fought !
As if it was not enough, the Russians kept fighting, until again another battle, the battle of Zirmuny.
I am now King of Rus, in addition to my other titles
September 1164 : My son Tryphon had a bastard, and he tried to hide it to me ! We'll see to it, I have more urgent matters, but he'll have to deal with it.
24 February 1165 : I studied several maps of the known world, and aided by scholars, I deduced the current position of our Empire. It appears we are indeed the biggest Empire of the world, even without counting the Byzantine Empire, which is a branch of the Palemonaitis. There is two other realms that can compare to our glory. The seljuks turks, barbarians from the east, and that cover a large but poor land. And the Marwanids, that dominate what was formerly owned by the Men of the Cross, Hispania, Francia. Some cartographers says it go very deep on the African lands, but I doubt it. Both realm are what is called Sunni. Which means I am the only Romuva Empire that can deal with them, though the scholars are unsure if we can yield as much men as them, if they happened to ally.
Map of the known world when Butvydas I took the Wendish Throne :5 May 1165 : I can not let this threat on our empire unopposed. The Marwanids are still far away from our lands, as Men of the Cross, while outmatched, still slow them down. The Lotharingian, Burgundian are between our glorious Empire and the Marwanid, while the vile Seljuks are at our border. If we can weaken the Seljuks now, then the Sunni will no longer be a threat to us.
They may have more men, but the courage and superior training of our troops will cross the gap.
24 July 1165 : Today, our troops are crossing the border, and invading the Seljuks. May the gods be with us !
15 January 1167 : Already the Seljuks surrendered ! All the lands taken has been given to cadet branches of the Palemonaitis. I doubt the Seljuks will ever be able to oppose us again, and even if thousands of our troops were sacrified, sometimes vainly, it is for the good of the Empire.
11 August 1167 : My last brother died today, at age 45. I called scholars, and they told me 3 of my brothers died while aged of nearly twenty years. For now, I outlived them all.
I bethrothed my third son, Descanos, to the current Byzantine Basilissa, a Makedon. It appears the previous Palemonaitis in power suffered a tragic accident. Hopefully, my son will bring back the Palemonaitis on the throne.
7 September 1170 : Reports from my strategos indicate that the lands in Lorraine are now ours. Soon enough, we will be near the Marwanids.
9 December 1170 : I had a discussion with my son Tryphon about his bastard, and his responsabilites as the future Basileus. When I told him he had to mentor it, and give him lands when he will be adult, citing as an example my concubine that I set aside, but found a husband for her, he stormed out of the room.
10 December 1170 : One of my advisors told me that said concubine is now my son's wife. I apparently married them, since our blood must stay Palemonaitis (and she is one), and she was the perfect wife, as she had shown she could carry children. Anyway, I have more important matters than petty things like that.
27 May 1171 : My son Diogenes is already eager to fight for the Romuva Gods ! What a spirit !
26 January 1172 : I received news from the High Priest Pelagios I. He declared that Sweden was rightfully Romuva, and that all Romuva believers able to fight should do so. I sent a few thousands men.
3 July 1173 : I have a grandson, named Adrianos ! I should add this one is legitimate, and fully Palemonaitis.
18 October 1173 : The troops I sent to Sweden seems to have won the war. Another Crown added to our Empire it seems.
16 March 1175 : That bastard of Vizgirdas decided to rebel. I have no time for this. Diplomats have been sent.
2 April 1175 : Diplomats seems to have been successful. The rebellion disbanded. Also, Vizgirdas died.
13 April 1175 : Today, I celebrated the marriage of my son with the Byzantine Basilissia. What a glorious day for our family.
24 April 1175 : My strategos told me that war has been declared on the Marwanids, good.
31 May 1175 : The whole Sunni world seems to want to destroy our glorious Empire. The Seljuks, the Egyptian, the Levantine promised to help the Marwanids. I called the Byzantine Empire to arms, but we will be victorious.
19 April 1176 : A huge battle happened near a city named Paris. Our troops seems victorious so far, even if I heard some bad news from the Seljuk front.
23 May 1176 : The Marwanids gave in, seeing our overwhelming armies fighting them in Francia !
5 November 1180 : I am quite tired of coordinating every move of the Empire. I am getting old and deserves some well earned rest. I ordered my advisors to deal with most matters, and to continue expanding our glorious Empire.
I emptied our jails, anyone who couldn't pay a ransom was either castrated, or either blinded, depending on his sex. I also ordered to send the bodies of a Sunni family to the Seljuks lords.
Also, I have lost faith in the Byzantine Empire. While symbol of greatness, it has fallen in decadence and civil war. Each time a legitimate Palemonaitis gets on the throne, the Empire is scattered in civil war and pettyness. I guess the Greeks are not ready for the greatness of the Palemonaitis, but we are ready for them.
The treasury of the Empire seems to have fallen quite low. I increased the taxes on the cities, and took various measures. I have to admit that I probably overspend, but such is the way of great men.
9 June 1183 : For the birth of his little brother, my little Theodoros was so jealous, I decided to give him the Carpathian Empire. He will be well protected by our Empire, and that will satisfy his jealousy. He will learn to rule an Empire as a true Palemonaitis does !
28 August 1187 : Diogenes, my idiot son, married himself without my permission, and worse, to a non-Palemonaitis ! That will not do. Later he asked me for a fief to govern. I told him no, and banished him from my palace.
29 October 1190 : Alas, my son Diogenes died. I can not say that I miss him, but I regret that we weren't in better terms.
5 November 1190 : I realized that my end is near, so I decided to call my son, Tryphon. I explained to him the principles that he will have to follow as a ruler of the Greatest Empire :
Protect our family
Protect our blood
Protect our faith
Protect our Empire
I also told him that even though we are Lithuanian from our ancestors, we must learn from the Greek. As an example, he would be skinned alive if our vassals ever learned that he is homosexual, while this is seen as perfectly normal for a Greek. I believe I convinced him. The Greek civilization is better, and we must leave our barbarian ways.
1 January 1193 : People now refers to the Kingdom of Rus as part of the Wendish Empire, while they used to say it was conquered lands. Our Empire influence grows.
4 January 1193 : Terrible news, my son Tryphon, died today. What will happen to the Empire when I die ? My son Descanos seems to be the natural heir, but I don't know if he'll be able to keep the Empire strong.
My advisors deal with all the matters, now, peasant rebellion, vassal rebellion, conquest, assassination, diplomacy. I grow weaker and weaker, but people respect and fear me. There should be no issue as long as I live. I will try to educate Descanos in the way of ruling an Empire.
Vassals keep rebelling, and I keep crushing them. I am old, but I hold the Crown of Lithuania, Bohemia, Pomerania, Rus, Germany, and Bavaria. Why don't they learn from the errors of their ancestors ?
19 August 1198 : While I could barely move since a few years, I am not entirely paralyzed, and I have servants to carry me everywhere. One of them must even write in my place.
1199 : My niece .... wounded because of swords. Palemonaitis should not risk their lives, we are too precious.
A new century is coming, I feel old, and sick. I want to die now. I served our glory enough. Please the gods take me back with them !
22 November 1200 : Theodorus, my advisors told me he is sick or something. My poor child.
1 December 1200 : I called my son, Tryphon, he seemed happy to see me. I told him that I had to go now, and that he should take care of our empire and of his little brother Theodorus.
The Basileus Butvydas I died the 3 December 1200, a few days after his beloved son Theodorus. Long live his son Descanos I !
Map of the known world at the death of Basileus Butvydas I :Save here :
https://www.dropbox.com/s/exq86wq7m6lqzx5/Finally%20dead%20!.ck2
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Topic: Crusader Kings II: The Old Gods succession game (Read 37331 times)