Greetings all. I had no Internet access over the weekend, so again I have to dump the last fourteen years on you all at once
And yes, Iīm happy to take suggestions and any other creative embellishments you feel like adding. Ideally, Iīll get better at updating frequently so we can decide on courses of action. If youīd like a province/court position/etc to call your own, mention it and maybe I can write you into the story somehow.
Or maybe thatīs enough RP to turn your stomach. Whateverīs clever.
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Iīd thought I would dig my way back into the black without trouble. The debt was nearly resolved when I was forced to sell some assets. Not too big of a deal, really.
In June of 1198 I set out with a few thousand footsoldiers to forcibly replace the weaselly Count of St. Gallen, a vassal of mine whoīd grown too disloyal to be trusted. It was over quickly, and there wasnīt much to see. I replaced his empty castle with a family friend, Hartmann of Swabia. Heīs done very well in that position since, really fixing the place up.
In Sept. of 1199, a rider arrived from the Western edge of the realm with an offer from the young Count of Besancon, my nephew actually. Iīd been trying for years to get his father to come over to our flag. This young chap had seen some sense and was prepared to swear his allegiance to us right away. Besancon is a rich, flat province and a fine addition to our realm.
Two months afterwards, my neighbors in Upper Lorraine divided into a civil conflict. I searched for a chance to snatch up a disloyal count, but none presented the chance to me. The Duke there prevailed in the end. This Lorraine makes a tempting target for our next turf war, though the people there are more French than German - they may be less inclined to keel over to foreign occupiers
In the meantime, my vassal in Baden got uppity with a French count and went to battle. I chose to stay out of this absurd dispute. I couldnīt risk antagonizing France.
The years passed in peace. Our realm grew more stable and productive as the harvests were gathered and fine profits made. I saved a great deal of money. And in 1204, I broke ground on a fine Medium castle the grandiose likes of which had yet to be seen in all Germania (north of the Alps)!
In the same year, I forged a strong alliance with the wealthy, well-armed republic of Lombardia, on my southern border.
Markward was growing up so quickly, and was a promising young man by his 16th year. A shrewd and talented general too, by the look of it. And to be fair, his sisters were all prodigiously capable in other fields diplomacy and stewardship mainly. They made fine ministers, until I married them off one by one.
But by this time peace had grown stale and the conquesting urge was running strong throughout my court. Mainly my antagonism was directed at an old-time rival, the Count of Aargau, upon whom I had long-standing claims. It was a part of the Duchy of Upper Burgundy, in the Alps to the south. In the summer of 1206, the leadership of this duchy was nebulous and rife with internal confusion. The time was ripe for a quick land-grab.
In June 1206, I ended the 10-year ceasefire between Aargau and Swabia, and marched on Aargau from Sundgau. Knowing the war declaration against Aargau would bring the Duke, lord of Shwyz, into the war, I dispatched a few months previous a contingent of troops out of Castle Shwaben into St. Gallen. There they were reinforced by the provincial regiment. In August, the Sundgau troops (under young Markward) arrived in Aargau and fought a triumphant battle. At the same time, my column out of the east arrived in Shwyz and victoriously fought the Dukeīs forces.
By late September, both counties were occupied. The Count of Bern had joined his Duke and in early October prepared to counterattack with a few thousand men. But a larger column dispatched out of occupied Aargau intercepted him in the Alpine passes of Bern. As it happened, the general of this column was one of the very first slain: a lucky arrow during the skirmishing dropped him from his horse. But the battle was victorious, and Bern was besieged.
In early November, with Aargau and Shwyz occupied, the Duke conceded defeat and we annexed both provinces. The troops went home (including an eager column of Lombardians). I granted Shwyz to the County of St. Gallen in return for their valiant participation in the fight.
I returned home to Castle Shwaben and prepared to settle in for the winter. Years passed, and I got older. A double bout of dysentery and typhoid was ravaging our lands east of the Maine (our river), including Schwaben.
In March 1209 our allies in Lombardia went to war with a tiny Italian county. I chose not to attend, not only because our help was unnecessary, but I wasnīt feeling well. In fact, I was rather ill.
[At last, on October 29, 1209 Friedrich von Hohenstaufen died of the consumption. May his callous soul rest in peace.]
Markward took the throne.
He is blessed with a talented wife, a Welshwoman, who is our new steward.
Heīs a man of fidelity. This blonde temptation did not get the better of him.
I find it hard to believe, but somehow thereīs a shortage of bullshitters around the kingdom
Years have passed in peace under Markward. The land has grown rich and orderly. Heīs a real hero to the people.
What lies in store for us? We have a large war chest and our reputation is growing in the world.
Author
Topic: Letīs play Crusader Kings, Deus Vult - Swabian Ascendancy (Read 8355 times)