The Dynasty ContinuesMy dad is dead. Poisoned, they say.
He was a mighty man...
Not that I'd know... I only met him a couple of times. He sent me off at an early age, before I can remember, to be raised by a Belgrade noble. My mom died when I was three, but that hardly stopped my dad from finding a new wife...
Dad spent most of my childhood travelling the realm or warring.
When I got older my dad was sure to visit me only when I disappointed him. It was not my fault the marshal was a horrible teacher! But I am fine with all that. Dad's dead and I am a gruff diplomat. It is what it is.
I've inherited a realm reaching from Italy to the Black Sea.
I spent the last year in Constantia and Karvuna- perhaps I will finally be able to visit Padua or Karnten. Apparently my dad spent a lot of time at a summer palace in Karnten.
The realm is profitable, but running at 65% efficiency. I've inherited my dad's court, supplementing the small one I kept in Karvuna.
My dead brother's wife's son is now my vassal
The court says he served my dad faithfully in war and should prove to be an important ally.
I have
twelve siblings... Only six live today.
Lazaros, my brother, is next in line to inherit.
He is only 12.
Time to get to work...
I send Lazaros to Naissus as a fosterling
Vysheslav is somewhat disloyal after my dad's death. I will try to strengthen our relations by sending him my brother.
I send Kaloyan, 11, as a fosterling to the Duchy of Bosnia
Visarion Draskovic, the Duke of Bosnia, was my dad's friend
Hopefully I can strengthen our diplomatic ties.
It has been nearly two months, but I finally have realm related issues to deal with
I order a training-grounds to be built in Constantia. I know the province could use better military positioning.
Theophano gave birth to a healthy baby girl!
I need to prove myself as the rightful leader of the Principality. I have a plan to do just that! The province north of Consantia is Galaz.
My clerks say Galaz is where my step mother came from, it was also once a part of the Principality of Karvuna. I am going to retake Galaz from the Muslim occupier, Baybars of Tilis
This will increase my (poor) standing with the church, show me as an honorable man by freeing my stepmother's land, a capable military leader, and a good diplomat when I make peace with Baybar's liege, Danismend Dulo
Taking Galaz will be my path to respect! In due time... in due time... First I will spend a couple of months saving money to fund the war.
Excellent
I believe Irina was behind the plot. She is a capable spy master and my plan to free her home province probably inspired her to support me. Vysheslav is now extremely loyal to me.
1128The year is starting off well
Karnten is prosperous and growing.
I am healthy and well
It is time to act. The treasury is full of gold and the realm is full of capable men.
I raise a regiment in Belgrade and head for Severin.
My marshal, Onorios, joins me in Severin with a regiment of his own
We continue together to Turnu.
A library is completed in Karvuna
The next construction project can wait for my war to be over.
Damned peasants!
How
dare they revolt!
Onorios and I put down the rabble easily enough
I also receive news that the bishop has died. I have no one to replace him.
The Duke of Movaria expressed his desire to form an alliance
His lands are few but powerful,
He is rather young too... I accept.
We arrive in Consantia
I declare war on the Beydom of Galaz- my glorious future starts now
The Emirate of Volga Bulgaria declares war on me in his vassal's support.
They are far from my realm and should be little threat.
We begin marching north.
We engage the enemy in Galaz
They are few and weak! Nothing can go wrong!
Just as the fight was coming to an end I took a ... wound
I am severely wounded, and my... ermmm, loins are a little less enthusiastic, if you get what I mean.
But victory is ours
Now to siege the province.
We take Galaz
Baybars makes a feeble offer of peace. I decline.
and send a new offer of my own; give me 48 gold and install me as count.
Mission accomplished!
Now I offer a white peace to Volga Bulgaria
and wait for a response. I disband our regiments to save money.
The training ground I sponsored in Constantia is complete
I take a couple of days off of touring my new province, Galaz, to visit the new training grounds to the south.
The Emir of Volga Bulgaria has declined my peace proposal. I will wait a bit...
and resume provincial improvement constructions
starting with a Royal Post in Karvuna.
I will honor myself for my military exploits by declaring myself Prince of Karvuna
Now no one can claim I just play with my dad's titles- I've earned this title.
A church has been built in Severin
maybe it will help end the revolt there.
My clerks brought me some interesting international news today
Deja vu
All of the pressure of ruling the realm by myself is bearing down on me
I am stressed.
I look forward to my brothers aging to 16 years. Then maybe they will help alleviate the stress by taking some provinces off my hands.
Small pox has hit Karnten
My wound has been bothering me, so it is not like I had plans to visit there anyways.
There is a new Pope
I can't believe my dad actually warred the Pope once...
1129It is a new year
The realm is silently at war and running at poor efficiency.
My wound hurts and does little to help me stay calm with all the duties involved in ruling a Principality.
I send another offer of peace to the Emirate of Volga Bulgaria
Dobroslava thinks prestige and skills should be rewarded
She is a very capable chancellor, yes, but she holds little sway over me. My wife is a fine diplomat herself and with Nephon dead I hold not real relation to Dobroslava...
But to be just, I must admit that everybody earns his/her due, no less, no more.
I pay my courtier fairly
That's fair and square.
The Emir of Volga Bulgaria declined my peace proposal,
againOnorios suggests we march north, but I am hoping to end this cold war peacefully and cheaply.
There was no convincing the court- they are set on war
I mobilize regiments across the main realm. Being wounded, I leave the army under Onorios's command.
They march for Galaz- with plans to continue north to engage the enemy and
hopefully win battle(s) which will in turn make peace more convincing to the enemy.
7770 men gather in Galaz
then march on north, towards Smolensk
To victory!
Back in Belgrade I thankfully discover my wounds have not left me infertile
Theophano is expecting another child.
This is why I did not want to propagate the war!
Why could my court not follow my lead?! Why did I let them convince me to send Onorios north?!!?
While my army marches to war I am left with domestic issues to take care of
I accept Burgher demands that peasants in Consantia be forbidden to sell good within the city walls. That is the job of the Burghers.
The popular revolt in Severin has shows signs of compromise
I give in to the demands, at a cost of 30 prestige. I cannot have unrest in the realm while trying to focus on war abroad...
Of the 7770 men that departed Galaz, 6476 have arrived at the enemy's doorstep
The Emirate of Volga Bulgaria has an initial force of 3309 garrisoned in Smolensk.
While receiving a report that Onorios has engaged the enemy in battle, a courtier has informed me that Karnten is in revolt
That is most unfortunate.
My army in the north is victorious
Onorios will siege and try to take the province- then I can renegotiate peace.
Karnten is plagued with small pox and revolt
I am forgiving and give in to their demands.
I will not have domestic unrest!Onorios reports Smolensk is under our control
My army has seen no enemy opposition since the initial battle- and even that army has retreated north
As such, my court has convinced me to let Onorios' campaign continue to further establish an upper hand against the enemy. If we can take another province before negotiating peace we may be able to walk away from the negotiating table with gains, not just a white peace!
Regarding domestic issues: I am sending a proposal of marriage between my niece Kyra and Koneg de Gael, the marshal of my ally
I want good relations with my ally while half of the realm's manpower is off fighting in the north.
War fatigue is affecting the realm
That's too bad. it would cost me nearly 600 gold to attempt to do anything about it. The realm suffers a stability drop to -1.
My ally has accepted the marriage of his marshal and my niece
My army continues campaigning in the north.
Onorios reports Moskva is under our control
Still no sign of further enemy resistance beyond passive provincial defense. Volga Bulgaria is involved in other wars, so perhaps all their armies are busy or destroyed?
I have given Onorios permission to continue his campaign... should the enemy make a show I will initiate peace proceedings
Dobroslava wants further rewards
I rebuff such an outrageous demand! We are
broke! She takes it well, though, and remains my chancellor. I think she knows I can just replace her with my only slightly less skilled wife.
1130My new year celebration has been made better with news that Onorios has taken Pereyaslavl Zalesky
He has suggested splitting his force to take more passively defended land faster
I grant him permission.
The realm is secure but broke.
My wound still pesters me, and the constant worry of war and domestic revolt has kept me stressed...
Belgrade is suffering from a lack of capable field hands
Every war has its price. The men will be back soon to help gather harvests. Once this war ends.
Theophano gave birth to another baby girl
she will be named Beronike
My wound is aggravating and painful
I've fallen ill.
I spend most of my time in bed, in pain... But I still receive news of the realm and my army to the north
Onorios has taken Rostov.
Uglich was captured by the Turnu regiment
The way things are looking, I may soon be known as 'The Northern Conquerer'
Vladimir fell to Onorios as well
He reports
no enemy contact. The army is marching on. I have been deferring most of my duties to the court recently, due to my illness- but today the court warned me that Volga Bulgaria may have an army readied in their capital. Wincing at the pain in my groin, I assured them I would consider offering a peace before reaching Silyar. Perhaps after taking their second to last province, Ryazan- which Onorios is en route to at the moment.
Theophano tells me she sent our daughter Anastaso to be raised by a local noble
She says Anastaso was too sneaky and she wants her to be more diplomatic, like her mother.
I have barely the strength to move any more. My body is weak and tired... when a zealous firebrand started preaching rebellion I had no tolerance of it
I am not known for my standing with the church as is- the last thing I need is some firebrand preacher trying to raise Severin against me.
Revolts are widespread, now
That is most unfortunate... I swear, once I am feeling better
I will shut them down.