All Serve Me

[Mike von Bek]

With the arrival of 1.03a, Crusader Kings at last begins to offer a challenge. As such, I have begun a game as the Duchy of Apulia, headed by the famous Robert 'Guiscard' Hauteville.

The period of the game will cover up to the end of the Seventh Crusade in 1250. At that point the game will most likely cease. So we shall see how we will do.

I will engage in the Crusades during the periods when they were historically active. That is, the following periods:

First Crusade - 1095-1101
Second Crusade - 1145-1147
Third Crusade - 1188-1192
Fourth Crusade - 1204
Fifth Crusade - 1217-1221
Sixth Crusade - 1227-1229
Seventh Crusade - 1248-1250

Outside of those times, I shall not engage in crusading, though I will free to continue wars that started during those periods, and I am allowed to defend myself or my vassals should we be attacked. Obviously, the historical goals of these Crusades are subject to change.

I have no goals beyond establishing a Norman kingdom in Italy, and perhaps claiming a Duchy in the Holy Land for Robert's son, Bohemund.

And if you are wondering about the title, it refers to the incription: 'Apulia, Calabria, Sicily and Africa - all serve me.' used by Roger Guiscard's descendant, Roger II of Sicily. We'll see how we do compared to him.

This will be a graphically intense AAR, 56K'ers ye be fair warned, says I!

[Zeno of Cyprus]

Well as long as you beat the historical crusades it's a victory right? So, even if you lose try and not kill the Eastron Romans!

There's a saying to go along with that, If you expect a kick in the balls and get a slap in the face instead it’s a victory!

[stnylan]

Excellent propositions I must say. I suppose the only question is when will you go east?

[Shaytana]

Good setup. You'll do better than Roger II I am sure. Now get the game rolling.

[Mike von Bek]

All Serve Me: The Norman Crusades

In 1066, the Norman invasion of England began. It ended on October 14, when at the Battle of Hastings, William the Conqueror defeated Harold Godwineson. He would be crowned William I on Christmas Day. England had fallen to the Normans.

However, it was not the only Norman invasion that occurred at that time.

For two decades prior to William’s victory at Hastings, Normans had been fighting in Southern Italy, initially at the behest of Lombardi Lords, but eventually for themselves. These Normans came to be led by the seven sons of Tancred de Hauteville. Tancred’s sons had carved out a large chunk of Southern Italy for themselves, and proclaimed themselves the Dukes of Apulia. The first three brothers, William the Iron-Arm, Drogo, and Humphrey had died in swift succession. Thus it was that in 1057, the fourth brother, Robert ‘Guiscard’ de Hauteville, was proclaimed Duke of Apulia and Calabria.


Robert de Hauteville, Duke of Apulia and Calabria

Robert was a man of strength, of character, and of vision. He was called ‘Guiscard’, because of his shrewd cunning and resourcefulness. Tall of stature, broad of shoulder, with a shock of blonde hair and a big, deep booming voice, he was an imposing figure. He had a vision of a Kingdom here in the South, a Kingdom beholden neither to the Pope, nor to the Emperor of the Romans to the East, or the Holy Roman Emperor to the North. A Kingdom of his own.

He was quite capable of achieving it too. His military skill was almost unparalleled and in 1059, he had defeated a combined Papal and Byzantine army at Civitate. The two powers had attempted to throw the Normans out of Southern Italy. The Byzantines to reclaim their Greek holdings, the Pope to expand his influence in the region. Both had been broken on the field that day, and Robert had enjoyed delivering terms to the two most powerful men on the planet. He revelled in the hatred, anger and fear he saw on the day they agreed to ‘accept’ his presence. Robert was aware, as they now were, that there was nothing they could do to remove the Normans. The Hauteville’s were here to stay.


The Duchy of Apulia, 1066

In 1066, Robert promoted his two younger brothers to positions of authority in his court. William de Hauteville was a capable soldier with a Christian zeal that put his brothers to shame. But where he truly excelled was in the realm of politics. He became Robert’s Chancellor. Despite his arguments against Robert’s move from the supremacy of the church to a more balanced system, he remained a loyal servant of his brother.

The youngest of Tancred’s sons, Roger de Hauteville, was a commander on par with Robert. In many ways, he was the opposite of Robert – he said little, giving great thought to his words and actions before acting or speaking. Introverted and sincere, Roger rarely let his emotions gain the upperhand, whereas Robert was ruled by his. Roger’s aloof nature, combined with an apparent lack of emotion led to his being called ‘the Cold’, though never to his face. But he would make a perfect Marshal, as the next decade would prove.


Roger de Hauteville, Marshal

In February of 1067, Duke Robert, with the assistance of his brother, William, arranged two crucial marriages. Serlo de Hauteville, a distant cousin of Robert’s, was wed to Cundo of Eu, a courtier in the court of Philippe Capet, the child king of France.


Serlo de Hauteville & Cundo of Eu

Robert de Hauteville, William’s son, and Guiscard’s nephew, was wed to Margaret Atheling, sister of the last pre-Norman King of England. She protested, obviously, being sent so far from home, but these were not times when a woman’s word was heeded. In time she grew to love Italy dearly, particularly Calabria, where she would later be a Countess.


Robert de Hauteville & Margaret Atheling

These two marriages bought prestige to the Duchy of Apulia, so much so that Robert felt secure in making the first in a series of moves guaranteed to bring Southern Italy under his complete control.

[Hyzhenhok]

Good start on a good AAR dynasty.

So will you be changing to elective so you can get the obviously superior Bohemond on the throne as I did recently in my own Apulia/Naples game, or will you stick with Roger Borsa?

[Zeno of Cyprus]

Those are real high Martial ratings! Good worl humbling both the pope and the Eastron Romans.

[Mike von Bek]

Originally Posted by Hyzhenhok

Good start on a good AAR dynasty.

So will you be changing to elective so you can get the obviously superior Bohemond on the throne as I did recently in my own Apulia/Naples game, or will you stick with Roger Borsa?

I hadnt thought about it to be honest, though it is a nice idea. If I do, I will have to be very careful about it - I dont want to loose my vassals!

[Mike von Bek]

Originally Posted by Zeno of Cyprus

Those are real high Martial ratings! Good work humbling both the pope and the Eastron Romans.

Sadly, that wasnt me, but the historical Robert, so I take no credit. But yes, between Roger and Robert, I have an insanely high military rating.

[Shaytana]

Good start, by the way keep us posted if Margaret dies in labour. I see you got Cundo, who got Adelais? I keep wondering why no one ever marries Adelais de Ponthieu...I mean seriously she might die in labour and all that but her stats (baring her health) are , and her kids usualy have a high health score...

A combined martial stat of 31 That is no sweat conquest time right there.

[Fall of Stars]

I must join the chorus cheering that Martial stat. And I like the start you've gotten off to. Dragging the Pope and the Byzantines to the peace table scores in anyone's book.

[Mike von Bek]

Originally Posted by Shaytana

Good start, by the way keep us posted if Margaret dies in labour. I see you got Cundo, who got Adelais? I keep wondering why no one ever marries Adelais de Ponthieu...I mean seriously she might die in labour and all that but her stats (baring her health) are , and her kids usualy have a high health score...

A combined martial stat of 31 That is no sweat conquest time right there.

Margaret still lives, and with her child-bearing days behind her, she seems to be doing quite well. Adelais de Pontheiu was married to Etiene-Henri de Blois, Duke of Champagne. She died in 1076, but did bear him five children. Yves de Blois is 8/7/7/9, so she is quite the catch.

As to 31... well, Robert was a remarkable man, and very nearly succeeded in putting his son on the throne of Byzantium. It's a shame history has overlooked his acheivements, in favour of the flashier William. That two-bit punk!

[Mike von Bek]

In 1067, the Duchy of Apulia and Calabria controlled the majority of Southern Italy. Only three provinces remained free of Roberts control. Capua, Salerno and Napoli were all that stood between Robert and complete control of the region. They were all that stood between Robert and his kingdom.

Napoli was safe for the moment, by reason of its relations with the Eastern Roman Empire. Whilst Robert was confident in his ability to defeat the Greeks, as he had done in 1059, his brother Roger had counselled against it. There were easier targets available, he pointed out – Capua and Salerno, for example.

Capua and Salerno were the last provinces held by Lombardi princes. Capua was held by Richard of Aversa, who had married Robert’s sister, Fressende, in an effort to win Robert’s favour, and keep his independence. Capua was also a valuable province in that it formed part of the Duchy of Benevento, which Robert already partially controlled. Control of Capua would enable Robert to claim the Duchy in addition to his existing claims.


Richard de Aversa & Fressende Hauteville

Despite Capua’s importance, Robert was focused not on Capua, but rather on Salerno. The Count of Salerno, Gisulf, had in 1059 been instrumental in forcing Robert to put aside his first wife, Alberada, and thereby disinheriting his son, Bohemund. Robert was then forced to marry Gisulf’s sister, Sigelgaita. The forced marriage, a political union to win the Lombardi princes at a time when Robert had need their support, had stuck in Robert’s craw for almost an entire decade.

In 1067 however, times had changed. Roberts control of Apulia and Calabria was unbreakable. He no longer needed the support of the Lombardi princes, whom he had largely replaced with Norman barons. He was free of their control, and the time for Robert’s vengeance on Gisulf was at last at hand.


Gisulf of Salerno, Count of Salerno

In August of 1067, Robert arranged for troops from Apulia and Lecce to meet in secret in the province of Benevento, which bordered both Capua and Salerno. Aware of his plans, his brother William urged him to move instead against Capua, to further strengthen his claim on the crown. But Robert would not be deterred from extracting his vengeance. Not when he was so close.

In September of 1067, Robert stormed into Salerno at the head of 1,300 men. Gisulf was able to call up a force of some 900 men, but in a short battle Robert easily surrounded and defeated Gisulf’s men. He then lay siege to the city.

It was not an action without repercussions. Realising that the agreement that had bound them to Robert was now broken, several Lombardi princes attempted to rise up against him. The Norman barons, prepared for such an eventuality, swiftly put down these nascent rebellions, but it was in Robert’s own fief, Consenza, that the rebellion would reach its height.


Rebellion in Consenza!

The Greek citizens of Consenza were aroused by a fiery Lombardi prince, who urged them to overthrow Norman rule, and rejoin Napoli in the bosom of the Emperor. Engaged as he was in Salerno, Robert was unable to deal with the rebellion, which swiftly overtook the province.


Lombardians preach Rebellion in Consenza

It was at this point that Fate turned her golden eyes on Robert and blessed him. The troops of Salerno, having been repulsed several times by Robert in their attempts to break the siege of Salerno, opted instead to head south to Consenza, in the hope of capturing the city, and forcing Robert to peace. Coming upon the rebel Greeks, they mistook them for Robert’s men, and fell upon them. The rebels were not soldiers, and were slaughtered by Gisulf’s men, who celebrated a great victory before laying siege to the city. It would not be until after the war that the true nature of their ‘victory’ would be understood. By a fortunate twist of fate, the rebellion had been broken.


The men of Salerno siege Consenza, having dispatched the rebels

In Salerno itself, despite the attempts by Gisulf’s men to break the siege, Robert was successful, and Salerno fell to the Hauteville’s. Gisulf was forced to abdicate the title, Count of Salerno, in favour of Roger Borsa, his nephew. Roger Borsa remained at his fathers court, however, ‘until such time as he is ready to rule’. In effect, Robert ruled Salerno as regent for his son.


Roger Borsa, Child

With the addition of Salerno, Robert now controlled seven provinces directly. It was a demense that was swiftly becoming unwieldy, and in January of 1068 he created Serlo Hauteville, Count of Foggia. Gisulf of Salerno, who had been welcomed by Sigelgaita to Robert’s court, left with Serlo to become his Marshal. It was not an easy step for the former Count of Salerno, who swiftly turned to wine and women.

The rebellious province of Consenza, returned to Norman control by the misguided Salerno troops, was also elevated to the status of County, under the control of Robert Guiscards nephew, Robert de Hauteville. His wife, Margaret Atheling, came to be loved by the common people of Consenza, and after her death she would be Canonised by the Church for her effort in bringing the Orthodox Christians to the true light of Rome.

With his realm now stable again, Robert was able to begin planning his next conquest: Sicily.

[VPeric]

Nice AAR, so far. I'll be reading...

[Shaytana]

I hope that after Sicily.....It's PAPAL STATES smackdown time... The only good Pope is ...a puppet-Pope... although I guess it's probably going to be Genoa/Venice/Siena.

[stnylan]

Going Roger's route then?

Question: in your opinion would the 'Sicilian' Normans be a good country to play to get the hang of the game?

[Mike von Bek]

Originally Posted by stnylan

Going Roger's route then?

Question: in your opinion would the 'Sicilian' Normans be a good country to play to get the hang of the game?

Well, at least partially following Roger's route. Its impossible for me to quite duplicate all his feats. I wont be taking Sicily with a few dozen men, for example I do after all, have a title to live up to.

As to getting the hang of the game, Id say that the Hautevilles make for quite a good little starter dynasty - a few vassals, a few bishoprics - a few nearby provinces to grab to make up a few tasty titles, not far off a Kingdom, lots of Moslem states nearby - quite viable. Of course, Roger and Robert doesnt hurt either.

Just wondering: Are the graphics too much? Or rather, are there too many of them? Cos I can add more

[VPeric]

I think its too little, even though I have a 56K.

[stnylan]

For me its about right, so long as not more than 2 updates a page, precisely because I have a 56k. To be blunt, nice though screenies are, and useful as they certainly can be, you can have too much of a good thing.

Especially when a fair portion of your readers are likely to be using 56k & have limited time.

But that's just my opinion. What do I know?

[Zeno of Cyprus]

I agree with Shaytana, the only good pope is a puppet!

The amount of screenshots dosn't bother me at all, more would be nice, but the 56k guys might not appreciate that. I just put in the order for ck yesterday, so hopfully the appitite for screenshots will go way down when it arrives