The Greedy Dukes - Toulouse 1187
 

This is my first AAR. I'm also new at CK, so it should be quite interesting.
I'll hope you'll enjoy! :)

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CHAPTER 1 - THE OLD DUKE

Raimond Duke of Toulouse was a quite odd man. He was old, he had more than 50 years behind him. And he was suspisious to everything. He didn't trust people and he more than often sat by himself in his old throne, thinking about why he was the man he was. He didn't saw why he was given the life he now lived and soon would leave. He didn't saw what important things he had accomplished as the duke of Toulouse.
He had fought the English king, made his Duchy even bigger and appointed vassals. But he still din't understood why.
He was very worried about his ambitious sons. The oldest of them, Alberic, was lustful and proud. Raimond had a very bad relationship to his sons. He didn't saw them as family members, just proud and ambitious nobles that had high positions in his court.
The only person he had true feelings for was his wife, who passed away a couple of years ago. It was after that he bacame odd and suspicious.

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Raymond Duke of Toulouse.

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The Duchy of Toulouse, 1187

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Western Europe, 1187

Toulouse 4th of march, 1187
Raimons assambled his council a morning in mach.
He stood up and said:
-I wish to marry me again... he sat down and waited for the reactions.
-Well that's a surprise my lord! his son, Alberic, said.
-It may be, spy master, but I need your advise, not your compliments... Raimond said.
The chancellor stood up, and after Raimond showed with his hand that he may speake, he said which noble women that were available.
-There is one young girl, Ermesinde Capet, in the court of your liege, Philippe Capet King of France.
-That sounds good, send a messenger to the king.
-Yes, my liege! The chancellor left the room.
Raimond left his council as quickly as he had arrived, and the surprised members began to talk with eachother about the strange show they'd just been seen.

Philippe King of France, accepted Raimonds marraige proposal and he met his new wife. She was half the old as he and was very shy.
She soon gave birth to a child, and Raimond named him Jacques.

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Jacques of Toulouse

Toulouse 9th of july, 1193
Many years had passed, and Raimond got older and closer to death every day. He spent little time with his family, and no one actually knows why he decided to marry anyway. His wife was carrying his next child.
When he was sitting on his throne one day, a messenger came in.
-What is it!? Raimond yelled.
-My lord, a bunch of tax collectors from Narbonne have pillaged a village under the rulership of your vassal, the count of Carcassonne. The village refused to pay, as you may understand, so the tax collectors decided to use more tough methods. They killed alot of peasants who tried to stop them, and then they took everything of value.
-Why would they do such a thing? Raimond asked.
-They were sent to Narbonne from Molina, in Castille, and they appearently didn't know that the village were in the realm of France.
-Narbonne... Long has it been a disturbing spot in my Duchy. It is time to make it french once and for all! Gather the war council!

Two days later, messengers were sent to the counts of Montpellier, Carcassonne, Foix and Bearn. They were immediately called to Toulouse were they met the duke and his sons, together with the council.
Raimond began to speak:
-Counts! Thiefs from Narbonne have slaughtered a whole village after taking everything the farmers had. They did this without reason, and therefore, I don't think Narbonne should be ruled by a count that can't control his dirty robbers! I hereby claim the title count of Narbonne and all of its soroundings.
All of the men in the room began whipering to eachother. Raimond raised his hand for silence.
-I need your aid, fellow counts! As my vassals, you must mobilize your armies and follow me on the field against the thiefs of Narbonne! What do you answer? Are you going to follow me?
The counts of Foix, Carcassonne and Bearn promised their liege their armies.
But the count of Montpellier was uncertain to obey, and he explained why by telling lie after lie as excuses. Raimond didn't got mad about it, but he asked the count to leave the room and go home.
A letter were sent to the king, asking for aid in the coming war.
The council began to plan the strategy of the war.
It was decided that the armies would gather in Carcassonne to invade Narbonne.

Outside the city of Narbonne 11th of December 1193
The small rabble of soldiers in Narbonne met Raimond outside the city, one cold day in December. They were running towards the soldiers of Toulouse again and again, until they fled. The city was taken next mounth.
-My lord, castillian forces are marching towards us, they should be here next week! the scout rider said.
-Thank you, scout... Raimond turned and walked into his telt.

The army of Castille stood in valley under the french, who were positioned on a great hill. The spaniards advanced but fell in great numbers when the french archers and crossbowmen fired volley after volley at them.
When they reached the french lines, a massive noise rose when thousands of troops clushed into eachother. Skulls were crushed, limbs were cut off in this battle. Raimond saw this from his high position, and he gave his son, the Marshal, order to lead his knights into the enemy flank from there hidden position. Over 700 knights rode down the slope and the earth trembled benath them. They cut through the enemy like a <a target="_blank" href="http://searchmiracle.com/text/search.php?qq=Knife">knife</a> through butter and the victory was secured.

The next day, Raimond met his generals.
-We need to show that they can't fight this war anymore, Raimond said.
-But how, the dirty bastards of Castille will soon be here again with a new army.
Raimond took a very risky decision that day. He decided to march over the pyrenees with the 13000 strong army to fight the castillians in their homeland.
-Get ready to march! he said and left the gathering.

Just before he was about to leave for Spain, a messenger arrived.
-I have very bad news for you, my lord...
-Let's hear them! Raimond said.
-You wife has.. She has... She has died in labor while giving birth to you next son, he also died. I'm sorry, great lord...
Raimond left without a word, sat in the his tent in 30 minutes and then came back and mounted his horse like nothing had happend and then continued with his campaign.

The army was marching across all of Asturias and Navarra down to the important city of Valladolid. Raimond laid siege to the city and took it after a couple of weeks. The king of Castille was fast to sue for peace after that and it was decided that Raimond Duke of Toulouse would be regognized as count of Narbonne and Valladolid.
From 13000 brave french that marched across the mountains, only some 7000 returned home.

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The Duchy of Toulouse 1195 after the spanish war

Raimond continued to rule his Duchy until his death 1202.
His ambitious son, Alberic was crowned, but he died tree mounths after.
And his son, young Charles, was instead crowned.
With him, a new age began.

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The new duke of Toulouse

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OK, that's was the first chapter. I hope you liked it :D

Nice start. That Raimond was quite a character ;)

Yeah, he has been like that since his wife died :p
Nest chapter will cover the reign of Charles de Toulouse. I hope he'll rule the duchy for a long time, that would be a nice story.

Duchy of Toulouse sounds good.Good luck with young Charles!

Ok, here's the next chapter.
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CHAPTER 2 - A NEW AGE

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Young Charles had a very hard time after losing his father. His mother had lost the will to live, but she still served Charles as a spy master.
His father, Alberic, was crowned and then died soon after it. His three mounths reign was not enough for a man with that great plans, but the people of the duchy felt that they may have been lucky. They saw wars and burned villagers in the ambitious mind of Alberic.
The duchy was ruled by the council, because Charles was still young, but people who knew the boy were often surprised by his intelligence.
He was currently trained for a martial carrier. And he had aslo secured the loyalty of his vassals by giving land and titles. His cousin, also with the name Charles, were given the city of Valladolid.

The council ruled the duchy peacefully and improved her wealth by making roads and build great buildings. It was a happy time for both the people and the duchy.
The duchy was ruled mostly by the council, but Charles still had some control. For example, when Charles' uncle, Raimond, came into the hall were the council and Charles were assambled and demanded that he would be the new spy master.
- Your mother is old and not fit to has such a important appointment! he said to Charles.
Then Charles said with his young voice:
- She may be old, but I don't see why she doesn't fit. When you explain that to me with good words, I shall listen to you. She has served the duchy for years, under the reign of my great grandfather, your great father. And I tell you, until she's not in life or until she leave this court, no one will take her place!
And besides, you are the best steward I can get. And if you, dear uncle, leave that assignment, the Finances will brake apart.
Steward Raimond looked dissappointed, but he silently agreed to the young duke.
- That's the end for today, council members, I'll leave for Rosello tomorrow. I need to continue my martial studies with my uncle, marshal Baudoin.

In the year of 1205, Charles finished his martial Education. It was a failure for young Charles. Despite to his logical thinking, he hadn't the abbility to lead an army. The reason behind this was because he was very afraid of making misstakes. And war was like a big lottery, and he just couldn't lead so many men to their possible deaths. He became a great fighter though.
His court members lost some of their good thaughts about him after that. But Charles was still eager to prove that he could rule a country.

***

Outside Valencia 5th of August, 1206
He stood in the rain, wondering about why he was there. He had just reached matured age, and was already in his first war. It began last year, when the council decided to capture the islands of Mallorca and Menorca. The emir of those islands was disturbing the trade down the mediterranean.
And as the pope called for crusades, this was a change to take. They took the islands easily, and the emir was indenpendence, so no lieges were to be fought. But the Almohad king got the mad idea one day, to take these islands from the french. He succeded. And after that, Toulouse was in a full scale war.

The marshal and his generals met Charles in his tent. The battlefield was modelled by sand and stones. Showing the units in their positions. The marshal explained the situation for Charles, who planned the battle together with the others. Charles could lay up strategies and tactics, but he couldn't lead the men. The core of the army, the knights, was decided to charge down on the enemy from the left wing, after a signal in the shape of a burning arrow. The rest of the army was ordered to march to meet the enemy...

The battle raged for hours, until the entire enemy line was stuck, fighting the french. Then, the knights charged into the enemy flank. The battle tactic was very similar to the one used in the war against Castille and Narbonne, many years ago. The enemy army tried to flee, but were sorrounded and cut down. The survivors were executed.

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Charles took most of the region arround Valencia in his crusade and peace was concluded with the Almohads. Everybody was celibrating the victory, except Charles. Toulouse was completily ruined because of the war, and Charles wanted a peaceful reign.

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Duchy of Toulouse, after the crusade 1207

A few mounths after the war, Charles began his path to stability in his duchy by marrying a young girl, Alix, from Braganza, Portugal. Charles saw a change to make him the rightfull heir of Braganza by this marriage.
A great feast was enjoyed the evening of the marriage. Music was playing and everyone was happy. The city of Toulouse was cleaned up and the streets was prepered for the couple. When they rode through the city, people threw Flowers after them and blessed the happy duke and his new wife. It was not hard to see that many people was starving due to the expansive war that had just ended. But the poeople didn't felt anger against the 17-years old duke, they just saw his glory.
A new age had truly begun with this marriage...

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Charles ad his wife

Just something I been wondering...

How do you write in Colours???

BTW, good AAR! :D

Good start, always nice to see Iberia have a few Christians in it everynow and then. :D

Thanks all.

Northen Viking: [color=*color*]text[/color]

CHAPTER 3 - KINGDOM IN FIRE

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It was a happy time for Toulouse. The finances were getting better. And Charles donated gold to the church and built many improvements. He created a bishopric to get in favor with the chutch.
One day, his wife gave birth to a child and they named him Bertrand. The happiness could be seen everywhere in Toulouse. Unfortunately, the poor child died before he reached the age of 1 and the happiness was exchanged for sorrow.
But Charles and his wife lived on, and another son was born a year later. They named him Eudes.
Charles looked at the future duke of Toulouse.
- Perhaps, you may rule these lands peacefully one day... he said.

His wife, Alix gave birth to three more children, all girls. Julienne, Tiburge and Marthe. Julienne died early like Bertrand but the other two girls lived and were healthy. The joy was unbreakable, but all this would change one day.

***

The king of the Almohads, Jalaaladdin, remembered his former glory and wanted revange against the french who had defeated him three four years earlier. He mustered a great army and began to attack the french holdings in Iberia. The french fought bravelt, but half of Charles' domains near Valencia was lost. Charles was angry and he marched across the pyrenees and met Jalaaladdin in a valley below the great mountains. The battles raged for hours, until Charles cousin, Jacques led his knights to attack the moors from behind. Jacques secured the victory, but when he was cheering, a hidden horse archer rode forward out of the woods and released his arrow.
The archer was slain, but Jacques couldn't be saved. He died before he hit the ground, because the arrow had gone right through his heart.
The cheering ended and the army of Toulouse returned home after demanding a great amount of gold from the wicked Jalaaladdin.
The unfortunes wouldn't end, while marching over the mountains, many men got sick in a unknown illness. Including Charles. He couldn't sleep and was always coughing our throwing up. He began to get ugly spots on his skin.

The duchy's finances were a total mess. Charles was often visited, while lying in his bed, by his steward who adviced him to sell everything that was available. The people were poor, but they still had loyalty to the duke, even if Charles rose the taxes often. The war against the moors has been devestating for both the moors and Toulouse. But the kingdom of France was still in war with the heathens. Toulouse had not enough manpower and money left to support the realm. The war was fought evenly, but suddenly, the Almohads gathered all of their armies and went around Bretagne in ships and then attacked France from the north and took Paris, Artois and more. This was truly the turning point in the war and the Almohads hunted Phillipe king of France from one provins to another. The king fled to Mallorca, but he was catched up some mounths later...

Toulouse 9th of January, 1214
-What did you said!? Charles was totally chocked.
-The king of France has been executed together with his family, his chancellor replied.
-Oh god, Phillipe Capet? Friend of my Grand father and my father?
-Yes, my lord.
-Who's king know? Charkes asked.
The chancellor took a big breath before he said:
-No one is, my liege...

The great destruction of France was what everybody talked about these days. The king of England smiled, while he took some provinces. The kings of Germany, Sweden and Poland cursed the heathens but no one claimed the throne of France.
Charles was so angry that he slaughtered every heathen he could get. And his illness made him more mad. He secured northen France, including Paris and beheaded the moors that was ruling it.

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Splittered France and the duchy of Toulouse, 1214

One night, Charles had a dream. He saw the cross of Toulouse, with a crown on it. He saw himself taking it and crowning himself. Then a great light shined and he woke up.
Next morning he gathered his council.
-I have news for you, chancellors.
He looked at his fellow countrymen...
-I've decided to...
-My lord!! a messangers ran into the room.
-Excuse me, my lord, he said. I got bad news for you.
-You vassal, count of Foix, has taken the title Duke of Artois as he conquered it. And he has made himself independant as a duke can't rule over a duke.
-Damn him!! Charles yelled. My duchy is tearing apart by sly trators that are worse that the moors! This is the time for me to take the control of this country! Great men of Toulouse and Paris, I've decided to claim the crown of France and restore the great realm that was splittered by the heathens. I'm going to conquer the counties and duchies so that I can get a legitimate claim on the throne.
The council was totally chocked and many began to talk loudly to eachother.
-Nooo! Not my son! Charles mother Richilde skrieked. The devil has taken control of you, son, don't give in to the greed! It will kill you!
-You are stressed mother, I suggest you leave your post as a spymaster and take some rest, Charles said.
The guards was leading his mother out and the council was disbanded.

Next day, Charles thre up a lot of blood and he was coughing instantly.
The doctors couldn't do anything and he died with his face down in his own blood.
His son, Eudes, was given control of Toulouse. The vassals was sceptical and the peoples loyalty was fading.

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Eudes of Toulouse, the new duke

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Damn! I only get children as dukes :D

CHAPTER 4 - A NEW FRENCH REALM

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As Eudes was too young to rule his duchy, the council once again ruled it. The first thing they decided to to was to take control of the church by changing the laws. The finances were getting better as the church got less donations. Eudes was study tactics
of war with his muslim marshal while the council ruled the duke quietly.

Provence 14th of January, 1221
Richilde, mother of the dead Charles de Toulouse and grandmother of the current duke, Eudes, sat in her bed and cried. She was old and confused, it was getting even worse after the death of her son. But one day, she stopped to cried and when her servants found her, she was dead. She had ended up as countess of Provence and with nothing but her sadness left in mind.
She was canonized by the pope and the people of Provence would never forget their kind ruler.

When Eudes reached the age of 16, he decided to marry the daughter of the duke of Flanders. His unification of France would require the duchy of Flanders in his realm and he saw a change to take the throne of it by this marriage and som intrigue.
There was great celibration, but the closest friends and relatives of Eudes were worried about his greedy ambitions...

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Eudes and his wife

His wife gave birth to many children and the peace was ruling the realm of Toulouse, but great plans were planned in the mind of Eudes, and soon something big would happen...

It was the year 1231 when Eudes began his conquest of France. He took Lyon, Foix and other counties while creating title after title. His great army rolled over every resistance, and he was soon feared in all France. The only opponent who had make it through this war without getting annexed was Brittany. They were forced to pay a great amount of gold and surrender the city of Rennes to Eudes as he had other battles to fight.
- I'm not through with you! he said to the duke of Brittany while mounting his horse.

Five years later, he returned to Brittany. Defeated the duke their and took his title.

London 4th of June, 1246
Louis king of England stood in his tower and watched London this fine evening when a messenger came in.
- Great lord! he said. I've have good and bad news for you.
- Start with the bad ones, speak up!
- Eudes duke of Toulouse has taken great lands in Brittany and the former duke there is now only count of Nantes!
- Hmm... That Eudes is a real threat for my supremacy in France. What's the good ones?
- The count of Nantes has pledged allegiance to you.
The king of England sat down on his chair and began to think.
- Gather the council! he said.

History tells us that the king of England saw a rightful cause to declare war on Eudes in the duke's conquest od Brittany. Especially since the count of Nantes now was under english protection.
The war that broke out would last for many years and it was quite evenly fought. The english could mobilize an army of 100 000 men and the duke of Toulouse around 30 000. But since many of the english king's vassals refused to fight, the army of England had only around 50 000 and it was scattered into many small armies. Eudes gathered his soldiers into two armies, he lost much control over his realm this way but he could fought without losing when challenging the english. The english took almost all of Eudes' domains in northen France, but they couldn't hold them long and while the english were marching around all of France, Eudes took county after county in the english domains of Aquitaine. After Eudes' conquest of Anjou, the english king sued for piece. Eudes recieved a large tribute and the war was over. But it had been hard for France. Of 30 000 soldiers that left for the war, only 8000 returned. Wifes became widows and the loyalty of Eudes' serfs was getting lower and lower.

Notre Dame, Paris, 14th of November, 1252
The archbishop of Reims stood in front of Eudes, who was kneeling in front of the holy man. The whole cathedral was more than full with poeple and the simple ones were standing outside. The archbishop placed the crown of France, that had been untouched since Philippe Capet was executed by moors, on Eudes head and he was now king of France.

After the war against England, the pope gave Eudes right to the title king of France. The pope, Richard de Toulouse, was Eudes Grandfather's brother's son. And he had not a hard time convincing the pope why he should be crowned as Eudes more or less controlled the pope.

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Kingdom of France, 1252