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Thread: [Britannia Expansion - Custom Submod] The Isles of Chaos (Roleplay Hotseat)

  1. #1261
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    Default Re: [Britannia Expansion - Custom Submod] The Isles of Chaos (Roleplay Hotseat)

    Welsh trade, businesses and structures slowly open in the cities, while the countryside comes to grips with its new reality. A reality, King Vortipor thought, was far preferable to the alternative. What he'd done, what Lord Ionafal had done, was better for the people than anything from their predecessors. The country flourished, at least in the places that mattered. His reforms slowly introduce a higher quality navy, a new agent network, and an entirely English sense of order.

    He was in fact rather pleased with himself. The last Welsh insurrectionists to the south had been quelled, and there were only the troublesome agents in Ireland, as well as a fleet that was unaccounted for. Between them, it would seem some gold had been lost from the coffers. Ah well. In time, the treacherous agents would meet their end, and King Vortipor was prepared to give a healthy sum to the liege who saw it through.

    A new officer has joined King Vortipor's retinue; Gronw Tewdwr, a native drawn from the King's bodyguard who showed promise, or at least seemed like a better choice at the time. Lord Teon will soon be able to represent the Welsh in England through a military levy following his successful quelling of issues in Montgomery. As of yet, there is no line of nobility, though it isn't from lack of effort on the King's part. In time perhaps, he will succeed.

    Onto the Scots,
    https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachmen...cotland_90.sav

  2. #1262

    Default Re: [Britannia Expansion - Custom Submod] The Isles of Chaos (Roleplay Hotseat)

    All over the realm, the flags are lowered
    People are in mourning

    The liberator of the Lands, the unifier of the People, the defender of the Nation
    The King Of Alba
    Alexander of Scotland is dead

    The Bagpipes play the Amazing Grace, for his Grace
    The Funeral Song of Scotland can be heard throughout the Lands





    --
    With the death of Alexander, who was not survived by a son, the Crown of the mighty Alba was now on the head of Prince Hew, only 21 years of age.
    There were rumour that the young King had arranged for the murder of the Great King.

    The clans were divided like never before.
    Support for Hew was little and his authority was fiercely questioned.






    But the young king, a good and honourable man, like his late father, wants to win the hearts and the trust of his clans.
    It was true that he had tried to have Alexander killed, because he felt the king was getting old and soft in the war against the Irish.

    But the crushing victory against King Griffin made Hew change his opinion of Alexander.

    Unfortunately, for many clans, Hew is still suspicious and the young king knew this.

    In order to appease the tensions, he appointed Nectan of Edinburgh, a popular general and veteran of many wars who was close and trusted by Alexander, as his Prince.
    ---

    Is this enough to avoid a conflict within the kingdom?
    Will Nectan work with Hew for the good of the realm, or will he try to seize power with the support of the clans?

    An icy wind of uncertainty swept across Scotland in the cold and dark winter of 1347...

    ---

    Barons next:
    https://www.mediafire.com/file/g51m6h028cerjsu/TIOC_Barons_90.sav/file


    Last edited by Der Böse Wolf; April 30, 2020 at 07:20 PM.
    Frei zu sein, bedarf ist wenig, nur wer frei ist, ist ein König.

    Current Hotseat:
    Britannia: The Isles of Chaos

  3. #1263

    Default Re: [Britannia Expansion - Custom Submod] The Isles of Chaos (Roleplay Hotseat)



    Jasper Leaner was a lord who had been much been neglected of late, from his current position of managing some of the estates south of Newcastle at Richmond, but with the defeat of Duke Godwin at the battle near Pontefract castle, his situation and fortunes had changed. With the sudden change of power, his position and ranks had lessened, leaving him with some envy and ambitions which had been unfulfilled. With the continual asking of new tax's and now new legislation,which had been put though by York ,giving the merchants better access to move though his lands, and new laws, pushing him to pay for better roads, for those same merchants road travel, Lord Jasper found that was the last straw.

    Taking up arms, he took his retinue out of his base at Richmond castle[this is not a castle on the map but it is of interest-see below] and began to march northwards keeping to the eastern bank of the river ouse,as too prevent himself being outflanked,as he hoped to march to newcastle,gathering what support he could from duke godwin supporters there .Perhaps then to march to the scottish border,to ask the new scottish king for support to free Duke Godwin[still at York] and return him to his position of power with scottish aid.

    Spies however alerted Duke Geoffrey of York to the happenings of this rebellious vassal and after great consideration ,he sent a message to Lord Godwine Lewes who was stationed at Barnard castle which would be on jaspers route to the north , warning him of the potential problems , Lord Jasper might cause ..both to his own claims to Newcastle , the north and at the very worse , a reopening of the civilwar if he didnt act to block the noble.

    Despite the winter cold, the message arrived in good time, to the war commander of the Free cities, and he pondered the situation for himself&his own, for he sensed the political considerations of Duke Geoffrey in this matter, particularly when he had news of his brothers army advancing towards their own area , with the advancement of himself and his own factions within the lands with his arrival, he knew, that Lord Jaspers move would present a severe setback for his own plans. Once he had decided in his own mind, that this move would have to be blocked, he announced to his own bannermen , that they should prepare to travel in the snow of this winter, and that supplies should be collected for the next two weeks to provide for his own personal retinue to ride out and face this foe,thinking that would be sufficient.

    The army of Lord Godwine Lewes , intercepted the army of Lord Jasper , fifty miles south of Barnard Castle, and it was clear from Lord Godwine's cavalry superiority,that Lord Jasper couldnt pin the lord commanders army whilst he pivoted his army around his opponent to keep his movement northwards, so he decided on another tactic , of retreating southwards along the river ouze's eastwards bank until he found a crossing point, where he could change to the western bank and again move northwards, effectively outflanking his opponent [otherwise this was the first combat and Lord Jasper retreated in game terms].

    It was here perhaps the weather put its own mark in the fate of the combatants as the next few days a storm rose up , and in the cold snow storms that hit the area, both sides withdrew to their camps, and at first Lord Jasper was dismayed at the delay , for he knew time was against him to reach Newcastle and with every day lost, Duke Geoffrey could be putting more obstacles in his way. A sudden flash of hope of inspiration hit him, when some of his men commented that the River Ouse had frozen over, but on further examination they found the icy surface of the frozen river could'nt bear the weight of the wagons before breaking, leaving him the problem of,he could move his army across but not the supply wagons and without his supplies , he wouldnt reach Newcastle without his food.

    Whilst Lord Jasper was conflicted about his choices , the third day after the storm arrived with the snow storm dying down , with visibility improving, but with alarm calls from near the camp,took the decision out of the middle aged noble grasp, as his scouts reported that Lord Godwine had already struck camp early in the night ,marched south,and was rapidly marching on his position. There was barely enough time to prepare his positions with his own army and he hurried to use his major advantage being the his 240 longbow troops into position, with his 240 spear militia , and his own personal guard of 60 odd knights on horseback,he still outnumbered Lord Godwine force. Unforeseen problems though had arisen , with the ground covered with a small amount of snow which had to be cleared in part, [to put in the stakes to protect the archers] only to find the ground surface still hard and frozen. This was resolved by a mass pee'ing contest on the archers ground, which sufficiently warmed and wetted the surface enough to dig in the stakes which were sharpened at both ends , making a deadly ground of sharpened points as a deterrence against Lord Godwins cavalry making a frontal attack.

    Moments after the stakes had been placed, Lord Godwine's army arrived, and although lacking in numbers, it made up for that in quality , bringing 300 armoured spearmen with upgraded armour with some areas of plate, and a company of armoured swordsmen , with both of these foot troops,having upgraded weapons , polished and sharpened to a razor'd edge they were a formidable force at arms.These men were totally loyal to him, most of them his , back from the civilwar from a few years ago ,and it they would not break easily. A catapult company had been given to him by Duke Godfrey of York in thanks of his service, and with his monies from his new estates he had recruited some mercenary knights which would prove their worth in the battle to come,he thought.

    The sight of the battle was generally flat with no advantage to either side, and with little tree cover, but with a river on their left flank , Lord Jasper made his lines with his archers at the front with their stake protective wall and the spearmen protecting their backs, and Lord Jasper took the rear with his heavy cavalry,ready to block any enemy cavalry maneuvers on their right after they had received archer damage. For Lord Godrey had taken a different approach , for he didnt wish to lost his best heavy infantry[armoured swordsmen] or cavalry against the longbowmen or stakes ,so he placed his catapult in front, his armoured spearmen behind,protecting the artillery , his armoured swordsmen behind the spears and his cavalry at the rear.

    The battle opened with Lord Godwine using the artillery to bombard the rebels positions, but the rebel army took a loose scattered formation making the inefficient artillery,waste many of its shots. To be sure , the conditions were not perfect, and perhaps the odd longbowman was taken out , by a large boulder tearing his body apart, but for the most part , it did little to influence the battle, forcing Lord Godwine to announce the advance of the heavy armoured spearmen.



    Spearmen moved into position,eager to be moving in their cold armour, as they slowly advanced into a proper formation, but a arrow appeared in the sky all aflame, a signal to jaspers longbowmen to open fire, and realising the danger ,the spearmen began to charge against the bowmen . A great swarm of what seemed black crows seemed to gather band together into a giant black mass in the air before they reigned down into the spearmen, and a great many were injured , with arrows in the knee or in the legs or thighs. A unfortunate few received a fatal hit, but the rest ran on, against what was another wave and then another wave of arrows, but even as they lost more and more men, the sight of the rapidly approaching heavy spearmen sent fear into the longbowmen and they retreated,as the spear miltia moved forwards .There came a great clash of arms as the armoured spearmen slammed into their foes as they fought in one giant melee around the stakes. The archers however,had regained their formation&morale behind the battle and readied themself to fire at any of Godwines men if they advanced in the open, but he still held the rest of his men back , just observing the battle as it developed.

    It became apparent after eight minutes or so, that the heavier and better armed armoured spearmen were far superior to the militia as they begin to reduce the enemy miltia's ranks, and Lord Jasper had to decide what to do next or risk them [the enemy spearmen] breaking the line and advancing on his position,. Rather than risk his own cavalry in the charge and facing a countercharge from Godwines cavalry he made a risky decision, asking the longbowmen to fire over the melee to hit the enemy spearmen whose numbers were becoming vastly superior to the militia in the hopes to right the combat in his favour. But the plan went wrong from the start ,as the arrows began to rain down all over the melee ,arrows indiscriminately hit both sides in the midst of their own personal combats.The stouter armoured spearmen units shrugged off the casualties and continued to fight, but for the desperate losing militia it was the last straw, many broke and ran in the confusion of battle.

    Jasper sent his last throw of the dice ordering the charge of his personal cavalry ,and as they rode towards the armoured spearmen,he jeered at the routing militia spearmen hoping to rally them to stand against his enemies to little avail.

    "Stand firm! ..you lily livered scum of the earth! ...let us face our enemy from the front! not be taken in the back ..like some cowardly dogs!" , cried jasper as his cavalry slowed meeting the miltia spearmen who routed all around him, in the haste to escape. Looking up he saw, Lord Godwine had unleashed his armoured swordsmen who now moved to backup the approaching armoured spearmen and the enemy cavalry had likewise began to skirt the battlefield at a brisk trot, hoping to skirt his position. Looking back over his shoulder he saw the longbowmen had also seen the advance of the rest of Godwine's army, and being the pragmatic men they were,they began to fall back , running for the frozen river, each hoping to make a crossing in their light clothing,to escape the impending doom that Jasper knew that he know faced. Jasper moved down his visor , and swung his sword from side to side ,shouting,battering his own retreating miltia to get out of the way, as the cavalry charged stalled,coming to a crawl in the morass of fleeing spearmen, as the approaching steel wall of enemy spears approached.

    .....

    Lord Godwines men found the armoured body of Lord Jasper on the field, when lifting the visor to confirm it was him, the dead features of Jasper were black and blue from either weapon impacts or from a fall, covered in blood and melted snow water which streamed across his face. Godwine grunted at the sight,not wishing to seem callous to his men, and ordered the body to be taken back to his estates at Richmond. Let them consider and reflect on their actions ,he thought,before i march down and take their own estates for my own..for did not the winner of the field receive the spoils?.

    A Little later he announced to his men after they had rested,that he would be riding back to Barnard castle to secure it for their arrival..but he told the men to be of good cheer, for he would tell the villages on the way back to provide his forces with enough food and beer to celebrate today's victory ...and when the estates of Richmond were his , they would receive a bonus for their efforts. It was in this vein, that Lord Godfrey Lewes rode out from his cheering men, back into the snow, heading back northwards to his wife and estates for now....

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    The guards of the irish merchants had been increased but there is always a loophole if you look hard enough, and waylander had the time , inclination to do so and when he left [the merchant] to deliver his mined goods to the coastline , his convoy narrowed down to three abreast in the tree-y landscape.The collumn of men grew tighter together in their anxiousness to clear the countryside and renter the towns. A sudden pittrap felled the leading horse, and some paid brigand's shouted and harassed the front of column before they fled into the night , that being sufficient for their payment that waylander had provided.In the ensuring darkness and confusion the merchants guards surged foward to eliminate the threat, waylander appeared like a shadow behind the merchant ,and with a looped cord, he slipped it over the merchants head from behind, and strangled him in the chaos.

    After a good quarter of a hour, the merchant guards returned to see the merchant lying dead on the dark damp ground, his bulging eyes looking accusingly at them as the guards began to whisper stories about the killer in the night that stalked the lands.

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    Samuel lewes looked on at annoyance at the irish fleet which had bottled up the duchy of yorks small fleet, against the coastline leaving it little room to maneuver , and shook his fist in the air in the direction of their vessels.

    "Curse these mad irishmen! They have no respect for free trade or those that preach its business!" , he raged

    His second in command passed him a sack of wine and he drunk heavily from it, it working its spell,as some of his temper faded with the warm glow of the alcohol , before he sighed and said.

    "Looks like we are forced into a cross country march... then lads!..courtesy of the bloody irish!", he hollered to his men, and they jeered back , calling various unrepeatable names of the irish for the pain of their troubles.




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    turn to England
    https://www.dropbox.com/s/rvyo463kcl...nd_91.sav?dl=0


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    Richmond


    The town of Richemont in Normandy (now in the Seine-Maritime département of the Upper Normandy region) was the origin of the place name Richmond. Richmond in North Yorkshire was the Honour of Richmond["honour" here is a living or land area] of the Earls of Richmond (or comtes de Richemont), a dignity also held by the Duke of Brittany from 1136 to 1399.

    Richmond was founded in 1071 by Breton Alan Rufus on lands granted to him by William the Conqueror, though it was called Hindrelag initially. Richmond Castle was completed in 1086 with a keep and walls encompassing the area now known as the Market Place.

    Richmond was part of the lands of the earldom of Richmond, which was intermittently held by the Dukes of Brittany until the 14th century. John V, Duke of Brittany died in 1399, and Henry IV took possession. In 1453, the earldom was conferred on Edmund Tudor, and it was merged with the crown when Edmund's son became King Henry VII in 1485. During the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, the Covenanter Army led by David Leslie, Lord Newark took over the castle, and conflict ensued between local Catholics and Scottish Presbyterians.

    The prosperity of the medieval town and centre of the Swaledale wool industry greatly increased in the late 17th and 18th centuries with the burgeoning lead mining industry in nearby Arkengarthdale.

    Richmond Castle



    In 1069 William the Conqueror had put down a rebellion at York which was followed by his "harrying of the North" – an act of ethnic cleansing which depopulated large areas for a generation or more. As a further punishment, he divided up the lands of north Yorkshire among his most loyal followers. Alan Rufus, of Brittany, received the borough of Richmond and began constructing the castle to defend against further rebellions and to establish a personal power base. His holdings, called the Honour of Richmond, covered parts of eight counties and amounted to one of the most extensive Norman estates in England.

    A 100-foot (30 m)-high keep of honey-coloured sandstone was constructed at the end of the 12th century by Duke Conan IV of Brittany. The Earldom of Richmond was seized in 1158 by Henry II of England. It was King Henry II who probably completed the keep which had 11-foot (3.4 m)-thick walls. Modern visitors can climb to the top of the keep for magnificent views of the town of Richmond. At the same time that the keep was probably completed, Henry II considerably strengthened the castle by adding towers and a barbican. Henry III and King Edward I spent more money on the site including Edward's improvements to the keep interior.

    In addition to the main circuit of the wall, there was the barbican in front of the main gate which functioned as a sealed entry space, allowing visitors and wagons to be checked before they gained entry to the castle itself. On the other side of the castle, overlooking the river, was another enclosure or bailey called the Cockpit, which may have functioned as a garden and was overlooked by a balcony. A drawing of 1674 suggests there was another longer balcony overlooking the river side of Scolland's Hall, the Great Hall.

    Richmond Castle had fallen out of use as a fortress by the end of the 14th century and it did not receive major improvements after that date. A survey of 1538 shows it was partly in ruins, but paintings by Turner and others, together with the rise of tourism and an interest in antiquities, led to repairs to the keep in the early 19th century.

    The castle was used during the First World War as the base of the Non-Combatant Corps made up of conscientious objectors – conscripts who refused to fight. It was also used to imprison some conscientious objectors who refused to accept army discipline and participate in the war in any way. These included the "Richmond Sixteen" who were taken to France from the castle, charged under Field Regulations, and then sentenced to death, but their death sentences were commuted to ten years' hard labour.

    The original 11th-century main gate arch is now in the basement of the later 12th century keep which was built in front of it; the original arch was unblocked in the 19th century.

    The castle is a scheduled monument, a "nationally important" historic building and archaeological site which has been given protection against unauthorised change. It is also a Grade I listed building and therefore recognised as an internationally important structure.

    According to legend, King Arthur and his knights are sleeping in a cave underneath the castle. It is said that they were once discovered by a potter named Thompson, who ran away when they began to awake. Another legend tells that a drummer boy was lost while investigating a tunnel, and that his ghostly drumming is sometimes heard around the castle

    Alan Rufus [alias "Alan the Red" 1st lord of richmond]


    [ 1067, Alan witnessed a charter of King William to the monks of St Peter's at Westminster]

    Alan Rufus (alternatively Alanus Rufus (Latin), Alan ar Rouz (Breton), Alain le Roux (French) or Alan the Red (c. 1040 – 1093),) 1st Lord of Richmond, was a Breton nobleman and companion of William the Conqueror (Duke William II of Normandy) during the Norman Conquest of England. He was the second son of Eozen Penteur (also known as Eudon, Eudo or Odo, Count of Penthièvre) by Orguen Kernev (also known as Agnes of Cornouaille).William the Conqueror granted Alan Rufus a significant English fief, later known as the Honour of Richmond, in about 1071.

    Alan already held some property in Rouen, the capital of Normandy, and was lord of Richemont in Upper Normandy before September 1066. In 1066 or 1067, William of Normandy assented to the gift by Alan Comes (i.e. Alan Rufus) to St-Ouen de Rouen of the church of Saint-Sauveur without Rouen, and of the nearby church of Sainte Croix des Pelletiers, which had been his gift to Alan.

    Alan was probably present at the Battle of Hastings in October 1066. On the journey to the battle site near Hastings, the Breton forces formed the vanguard, arriving a good half-hour before the rest of William's army. In the battle formation, Bretons are mentioned variously as in the left-wing or in the rear-guard of the army. Geoffrey Gaimar's L'Estoire des Engles and Wace's Roman de Rou both assert Alan Rufus's presence as Breton commander in the battle, and praise his contribution: Gaimar says "Alan and his men struck well" and Wace states that they did the English "great damage".

    A column of Norman cavalry swept into the Cambridge area in late 1066 and built a castle on the hill just north of the river crossing. Alan's first possessions in England were in Cambridgeshire, so he may have obtained them about this time. The Cambridgeshire town of Bourn, west of Cambridge and due north of London, along with several other towns in the area were according to the Domesday Book held in 1066 by the royal thane Almer of Bourn as a tenant of Edith the Fair. Alan's early acquisitions in England included many land titles that had been in the possession of King Harold's wife Edith the Fair, including all but one of her holdings in Cambridgeshire. Alan later favored Almer by giving him two additional manors.In 1067, Alan witnessed a charter of King William to the monks of St Peter's at Westminster.

    In January 1069, Earl Edwin in Yorkshire and his brother Earl Morcar in Northumberland rebelled. In late 1069, the King brought an army north to combat the rebels and recover York. According to the Register of Richmond, it was at the instigation of Queen Matilda, during the Siege of York,that King William conceded to Alan the Honour of Richmond (the Hundred of the "Land of Count Alan" in Yorkshire) in North Yorkshire. Unusually, within the land of Count Alan, King William himself and his half-brother Robert, Count of Mortain received only one manor each: William sharing one with Alan at Ainderby Steeple, on the eastern fringe of the Land, while Robert held one on its southern edge. The wording of the proclamation is:


    Ego Wil(el)mus cognomine Bastardus Rex Anglie do et concedo tibi Nepoti meo Alano Britannie Comiti et heredibus tuis imperpetuum omnes uillas et terras que nuper fuerunt Comitis Edwyni in Eboraschira cum feodis Militum et ecclesiis et aliis libertat(ibus) et consuetudinibus ita libere et honorifice sicut idem Edwinus ea tenuit. Dat(um) in obsidione coram Ciuitate Ebor(aci).


    Philemon Holland's English translation of William Camden's "Brittania" (1607) renders the proclamation:


    "I William surnamed Bastard, King of England, doe give and grant unto thee my Nephew[d] Alane Earle of Britaine, and to thine heires for ever, all and every the manour houses and lands which late belonged to Earle Eadwine in Yorkeshire, with the knights fees and other liberties and customes, as freely and in as honorable wise as the said Eadwin held the same. Given at our leaguer before the City of Yorke."


    Alan Rufus began construction on Richmond Castle in 1071, to be the principal manor and center of his honour. As the first constable of his new castle, Alan chose Enisant Musard, the husband of one of his half-sisters.Richmond Castle overlooks the old Roman fort at Catterick, North Yorkshire. Alan's properties extended over the entire length of Earningas Street, the old Roman road from London to the North, heading to Edinburgh; this road was renamed Ermine Street.

    Geoffrey of Monmouth claimed that Brittany was the place of origin for his "Historia Regum Britannia". In fiction, Alan also has an association with King Arthur: in the tale of Potter Thompson, Arthur and his knights are said to lie at rest under Richmond Castle.

    In Richmondshire, the Domesday Book's "Land of Count Alan", many of the Anglo-Dane lords, or their heirs, were retained in their pre-1066 positions of authority. The locations where this was done were complementary to those owned by the deceased Edwin, Earl of Mercia, whereas many of those where Edwin had been Overlord were given to Alan's Breton relatives: his half-brothers Ribald, Lord of Middleham, Bodin, Lord of Bedale, and Bardolf, Lord of Ravensworth, and their wet-nurse, Orwen. Other tenants of Alan in Yorkshire were English lords from East Anglia.In the 1080s, Alan witnessed several documents of King William in England and Ghent, and one of Queen Matilda in England.

    For the period from about 1083-1086 (the exact dates are uncertain) the formidable Sainte-Suzanne Castle was besieged by the king's army. King William I established a fortified camp at Beugy, about 800 metres north of the castle, manned by William's best household knights under the command of Alan Rufus. The siege did not go well, the castle proving to be well-defended. Wealthy Norman and English lords were frequently captured. After a year, Alan handed command to another Breton, who was later slain, along with many of the king's knights, aggrieving William sufficiently to come to terms with the commander of the castle.

    It is likely that Alan was with King William I and the other members of the King's Council at Gloucester in Christmas 1085 when they discussed preparations for the extensive survey of England, later known as the Domesday Survey. On this survey was based the Domesday Book, which comprises two volumes, Little Domesday and Great Domesday.Through 1086, Alan and Robert of Mortain attended on King William, e.g. at Fécamp in Normandy and in Wiltshire in south-west England.

    By 1086 Alan had become one of the richest and most powerful men of England. Alan is mentioned as a lord or tenant-in-chief in 1,017 entries of the Domesday Book, behind only King William I and Robert, Count of Mortain in the number of holdings. The most powerful magnate in East Anglia and Yorkshire, he also possessed property in London, in Normandy (e.g. in Rouen and Richemont), and in Brittany. Alan Rufus is third (not including the King and his immediate family) among the barons in terms of annual income, which was about £1,200. His income in the year of his death, 1093, was £1,100.

    Alan donated large sums to a number of religious houses, but most famously founded, with King William II, the Benedictine St Mary's Abbey in York in early 1088.

    Alan was among the first four magnates to support William II of England against the Rebellion of 1088 in favour of the Duke of Normandy, Robert Curthose [sighs ..him again!] . The uprising was led by the recently freed Odo, Earl of Kent, Bishop of Bayeux, and joined by several major magnates. Beginning in March 1088, Alan was granted additional territory by King William from the confiscated lands of his neighbours who had rebelled. In or before 1089, Alan Rufus issued a charter at Rochester, Kent, Bishop Odo's former principal manor.

    William de St-Calais had been in the army led by the king against Bishop Odo, but suddenly fled north to his castle at Durham. After the rebellion was defeated, Roger of Poitou, Alan Rufus, Odo of Champagne, and Walter d'Aincourt were sent to persuade St-Calais to surrender. After a lengthy parley during which they waited outside the castle, St-Calais agreed to surrender his person and stand trial, but only once they signed a complex document promising safe conduct before, during, and after the trial. Alan Rufus played a significant role in the subsequent trial of St-Calais, which commenced on 2 November 1088 at Salisbury in Wiltshire.

    Wilmart's interpretation is that in exchange for St-Calais agreeing to submit to the King's judgement, Alan and the other royal officers signed a document guaranteeing St-Calais's safety before and after the trial. When St-Calais cited this in court, there was uproar, but Alan calmly confirmed St-Calais's statement and then said that if there were any fault here, it was his (Alan's). Alan concluded by begging the king not to attempt to coerce him into committing perjury; otherwise, he (Alan) would believe himself obliged to refuse to serve the king.

    St-Calais was held in custody at Wilton Abbey until 14 November. Alan escorted St-Calais to Southampton to await passage to Normandy and exile.

    According to Christopher Clarkson, in 1089 Count Alan persuaded King William II to convene (“assemble”) England's very first “High Court of Parliament” (“under that name”) at York.

    Saint Anselm, in two letters addressed (perhaps in 1093-1094) to Gunnhild the youngest daughter of King Harold II and Edith the Fair, reprimanded her for abandoning her vocation as a nun at Wilton Abbey to live with Alan Rufus, intending to marry him, and after his death living with his brother Alan Niger ("the Black"). The historian Richard Sharpe has theorised that Matilda d'Aincourt, wife of Walter d'Aincourt, was the natural daughter of Alan Rufus and Gunnhild. In the same article, Sharpe also cited Trevor Foulds's suggestion that Matilda may have been a daughter of King William I and Queen Matilda; although Orderic Vitalis does not mention her name in his list of their daughters, Domesday does name a "Matilda, the King's daughter".

    Wilmart thought Alan Rufus's death was sudden and unexpected. There are conflicting sources for the year of its occurrence. Two medieval sources (the 12th century Margam Annals and Stephen of Whitby's brief history of St Mary's, York) indicate that he died in 1089 or shortly thereafter, but scholars have concluded that 1093, perhaps on 4 August, is more likely.His body was transported to the abbey at Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk where he was buried in the cemetery outside the south door. Subsequently, his family and the monks of the Abbey of St Mary in York succeeded in their petition to have him reburied inside Bury Abbey.

    Alan Rufus died childless. As Lord of Richmond, Alan Rufus was succeeded by his younger brothers: Alan Niger who also died without issue, followed by Stephen, Count of Tréguier.


    River Swale



    The River Swale in Yorkshire England is a major tributary of the River Ure, which becomes the River Ouse that empties into the North Sea via the Humber Estuary.

    The name Swale is from the Anglo-Saxon word Sualuae meaning rapid and liable to deluge. Annual rainfall figures of 1800 mm p.a. in the headwaters and 1300 mm p.a. in the lower waters over a drop of 148 m in 32 km, gives proof to its name.The river gives its name to the valley through which it flows, Swaledale.

    The river and its valley are home to many types of flora and fauna typical to the Yorkshire Dales. Like similar rivers in the region, the river carves through several types of rock and has features typical of both river and glacial erosion. The River Swale has been a contributory factor in the settlements that have been recorded throughout its history. It has provided water to aid in the raising of crops and livestock, but also in the various mining activities that have occurred since Roman times and before.The river is said to be the fastest flowing in England and its levels have been known to rise 10 feet (3 m) in 20 minutes.

    The earliest evidence of occupation in the river valley can be dated to the Mesolithic and Neolithic Ages with the discovery of flint tools and arrowheads. Around Harkerside are some small stone circles that date to the Bronze Age and some Iron Age defensive earthworks. Evidence of lead mining has been traced back to Roman times with finds at the Hurst mine.This industry seemed to decline until after the Norse (Danish) invasions of the area. During the major ecclesiastical building of the 12th and 13th centuries, lead became a valuable commodity and mining once again increased in the valley.Evidence of the lead mining can still be seen from the remains of the 18th century practice of 'hushing' that involved creating turf dams across gills that were then released to wash away topsoil to expose the ore veins.

    It was part of the Votadini Celtic kingdom of Catraeth, but in the late Sixth Century the river valley was invaded by Angles who took the settlement at Catraeth (now Catterick). Warriors from the Celtic Gododdin kingdom to the north attempted to dislodge them, but failed to do so at the Battle of Catraeth. The Angles then established themselves at Reeth, Stainton, Grinton Bridge and Fremington. By the mid Ninth Century the area had been invaded by Norsemen who settled first the lower and then the upper valley. After the Norman invasion, the lands of the valley were given to Alan the Red of Brittany who built the castle at Richmond between 1071 and 1091. It was built on a bluff overlooking the River Swale.

    River Ouse


    The River Ouse is a river in North Yorkshire, England. Hydrologically, the river is a continuation of the River Ure, and the combined length of the River Ure and River Ouse makes it, at 129 miles (208 km), the sixth longest river of the United Kingdom and (including the Ure) the longest to flow entirely in one county. The length of the Ouse alone is about 52 miles (84 km).

    The river is formed at the confluence of the River Ure and the much smaller Ouse Gill Beck at Cuddy Shaw Reach near Linton-on-Ouse, about six miles downstream of the confluence of the River Swale with the River Ure. It then flows through the city of York and the towns of Selby and Goole before joining with the River Trent at Trent Falls, near the village of Faxfleet, to form the Humber Estuary.

    The Ouse's system of tributaries (which includes the Derwent, Aire, Don, Wharfe, Rother, Nidd, Swale, Ure, and Foss) drains a large upland area of northern England, including much of the Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors.The Ouse valley is a wide, flat plain; heavy rainfall in the river's catchment area can bring severe flooding to nearby settlements. In recent years, York, Selby, and villages in between have been very badly hit.

    It has been suggested that the Ouse was once known as the 'Ure', but there seems to be no supporting evidence for this claim. The suggestion that the name derives from the Celtic name of the Ure, assumed to be Isurā from the Roman name for Aldborough, and over time evolved into Isis and finally the Saxon Ouse, would go some way to explaining how the little tributary Ouse Gill Beck usurps the name of the much larger River Ure. However the form Ouse is little changed from the eighth century.

    The York district was settled by Norwegian and Danish people, so parts of the place names could be old Norse. Referring to the etymological dictionary "Etymologisk ordbog", dealing with the common Danish and Norwegian languages - roots of words and the original meaning: Os - the mouth of a river. The old Norse wording oss, gradation form ouso.

    The Ouse is navigable throughout its length. Seagoing vessels use the river as far as Goole, where there is an inland port and access to the Aire and Calder Navigation. At Selby there is access to the Selby Canal. The river is tidal up to Naburn; the resultant tidal bore is known locally as "the Aegir".


    Tidal Bore



    A tidal bore, often simply given as bore in context, is a tidal phenomenon in which the leading edge of the incoming tide forms a wave (or waves) of water that travels up a river or narrow bay against the direction of the river or bay's current.

    Bores occur in relatively few locations worldwide, usually in areas with a large tidal range (typically more than 6 meters (20 ft) between high and low tide) and where incoming tides are funneled into a shallow, narrowing river or lake via a broad bay.The funnel-like shape not only increases the tidal range, but it can also decrease the duration of the flood tide, down to a point where the flood appears as a sudden increase in the water level. A tidal bore takes place during the flood tide and never during the ebb tide.

    A tidal bore may take on various forms, ranging from a single breaking wavefront with a roller – somewhat like a hydraulic jump– to undular bores, comprising a smooth wavefront followed by a train of secondary waves known as whelps. Large bores can be particularly unsafe for shipping but also present opportunities for river surfing.[although i dont think this happened in the medival period..althou you never know [winks] ]

    Two key features of a tidal bore are the intense turbulence and turbulent mixing generated during the bore propagation, as well as its rumbling noise. The visual observations of tidal bores highlight the turbulent nature of the surging waters. The tidal bore induces a strong turbulent mixing in the estuarine zone, and the effects may be felt along considerable distances. The velocity observations indicate a rapid deceleration of the flow associated with the passage of the bore as well as large velocity fluctuations.A tidal bore creates a powerful roar that combines the sounds caused by the turbulence in the bore front and whelps, entrained air bubbles in the bore roller, sediment erosion beneath the bore front and of the banks, scouring of shoals and bars, and impacts on obstacles. The bore rumble is heard far away because its low frequencies can travel over long distances. The low-frequency sound is a characteristic feature of the advancing roller in which the air bubbles entrapped in the large-scale eddies are acoustically active and play the dominant role in the rumble-sound generation.

    The word bore derives through Old English from the Old Norse word bára, meaning "wave" or "swell."
    Last edited by paladinbob123; May 02, 2020 at 01:20 PM.
    "War is the continuation of politics by other means." - Carl von Clausewitz

  4. #1264
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    Default Re: [Britannia Expansion - Custom Submod] The Isles of Chaos (Roleplay Hotseat)

    England



    Plague terrorised the English and by certain reports the disease had almost all of the Isles in their grip. As the dead piled higher in the streets of the cities, in the countryside the fields lay empty, untended crops ready for harvest, just waiting to rot on their stalks. Hunger followed where the farmers would no longer go to the markets to sell their goods or where entire families had died from this ravenous disease and there were no farmers left to go to any marketplace. The cities were quiet and frightful, the natural clamour replaced by the coughing, wheezing and dying screams of the wailing diseased. People were distrusting of each other and crime ran largely unapposed. In the countryside, where the plague hit less hard, bands of dissidents gathered but were easily crushed by the still unaffected armies. The commanders were tasked with giving the large settlements a wide berth. Once the plague hit one in the camps, it would spread like wildfire. It was the one strength England had left, it's strong army.

    Battles against Rebels



    Ireland up: http://www.mediafire.com/file/uecdqn...nd_91.sav/file

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    Default Re: [Britannia Expansion - Custom Submod] The Isles of Chaos (Roleplay Hotseat)

    Filthy English men spread the deadly disease all over the isles. In every city of Ireland, countless people are dying. Once the peace finally came to Isles, why God cursed us with this terrible disease? These were the things common people talk and discuss non stop in this terrible times. Meanwhile, King Sean called his treasurer and asked him to make sure the disease won't destroy Ireland. People need their King more than ever now, and luckily Irish coffers are full of gold. With lots of praying and good organizing, King Sean is hoping Ireland will survive this curse.

    Wales up:
    https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachmen...C_wales_91.sav

  6. #1266
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    Default Re: [Britannia Expansion - Custom Submod] The Isles of Chaos (Roleplay Hotseat)

    Ironic that plague would sweep so soon, dampening the spirits and health of the people of Wales, not to mention the isles at large.

    Thankfully, the Welsh administration is stable and secure enough that even in the light of minor instability, their measures to face the deadly infection have proven successful. It would help that a significant portion of Wales hasn't spent much time out of the house in the first place, from the war and then from the 'reforms'. Some have benefitted greatly, others have not, but few can do more thanpray as the mystical disease sweeps through the people, claiming for God those unlucky enough to suffer from the touch of death.

    Neither the King nor his administrators count themselves among them at this time, and so confidence is generally high that this will pass, as any crisis eventually does. Agents of the state move as usual, and by the presence of various English dignitaries at Montgomery, it would seem the rest of England and its leaders feel similarly, in no small part thanks to effective policies that preserve the English army. Thus far, the Welsh militia has seen little hits of its own... not that Wales is in any way known for its army anymore.

    The rogue agents in Ireland are similarly aware of the crisis and have made themselves scarce. Welsh navies, the rogues as well as the state, have taken a new policy to avoid contact that has successfully spared them from the issues in the cities.

    Onto the Scots,
    https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachmen...cotland_91.sav

  7. #1267

    Default Re: [Britannia Expansion - Custom Submod] The Isles of Chaos (Roleplay Hotseat)

    At the royal camp, near Glasgow...
    --------------------------------

    "Not one, not a single one of the rulers in Britannia has sent congratulation and mourning letters to my court!"
    Young king Hew was clearly upset with the lack of respect and diplomatic sense of his peers.

    Not only does he have to deal with the suspicious looks from the clan leaders, he also was not treated with respect by the other monarchs.

    "But Sire, with the plague all over the lands, travel is restricted. Perhaps the letters and emissaries will arrive, but after this mess is over..."
    The king's adviser tried to calm the king down with good sense.

    "You got a point. The damn plague even reached the far remote islands in the North. Who would have thought..."
    Hew was looking out of the window, yet acknowledged the remark. He continued:

    "But I need to do something, I need to show the doubters what I am capable of!!"

    "Well Sire, the opportunity is there for you. You see, the Irish traitor, Conall O'Driscoll, who left King's Griffin camp, is ravaging the countryside. and..."

    The adviser was explaining when he was abruptly interrupted by Hew.

    "What? He is still in Scotland? I thought he went and joined High King Sean!"
    Hew was surprised.

    "He wanted to, Sire, but he fears that he would not be welcomed in open arms, so..."
    The adviser was cut off again.

    "So he ravages my lands??"
    Hew got in a rage.

    "Assemble the men. We march now!
    The young king was buoyant at the prospect of his first battle.

    ----

    PS: The rebels were defeated but I forgot to take screenshots.

    --

    Barons next: https://www.mediafire.com/file/2afuc0kuchgwjdg/TIOC_Barons_91.sav/file
    Frei zu sein, bedarf ist wenig, nur wer frei ist, ist ein König.

    Current Hotseat:
    Britannia: The Isles of Chaos

  8. #1268

    Default Re: [Britannia Expansion - Custom Submod] The Isles of Chaos (Roleplay Hotseat)


    Waylander observed the merchant who was nonchalant about the threats of a rogue assassin in the area, with a score to settle with irishmen, and such ignorance cost him , much when he went for a walk in the early evening with his dogs...the dogs however returned to his home....the merchant did not

    Click image for larger version. 

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    The only other move was that a minor noble , Robin was married but this was tempered as the trade wagons bought the plague again to York and to Newcastle. Trade was reduced to the bear minimum , and people were advised to stay at home, and only come out for vital business or to obtain food for the family [sounds familiar] .

    Over in wales, Samuel Lewes army group was uncontaminated at the moment , and went upon its merry way , travelling northwards to try and escape the cold but green and pleasant lands of the welsh. The accompanying ship broke past the irish blockade and raced to meet the army on the northside of wales, dodging irish patrols.

    Turn to England
    https://www.dropbox.com/s/k35mwvehi2...nd_92.sav?dl=0


    ---------------------
    {forgive my excess history here..time on my hands i guess }

    Dunamase Castle {Alias The Rock of Dunamase]




    Dunamase or The Rock of Dunamase (Irish: Dún Másc "fort of Másc") is a rocky outcrop in the townland of Park or Dunamase in County Laois. The rock, 46 metres (151 ft) above a flat plain, has the ruins of Dunamase Castle, a defensive stronghold dating from the early Hiberno-Norman period with a view across to the Slieve Bloom Mountains.




    Excavations in the 1990s demonstrated that the Rock was first settled in the 9th century when a hill fort or dún was constructed on the site. The first known settlement on the rock was Dun Masc, or Masc’s Fort, an early Christian settlement that was pillaged in 842 by the Vikings. In 845 the Vikings of Dublin attacked the site and the abbot of Terryglass, Aed son of Dub dá Chrích, was killed there. There is no clear evidence of 10th–11th century occupation.


    The castle was built in the second half of the 12th century.





    When the Normans arrived in Ireland in the late 12th century, Dunamase became the most important Hiberno-Norman fortification in Laois. It was Dunamase where Diarmuid MacMurrough, King of Leinster, brought the wife of O'Rourke, the King of Breifne, after kidnapping her. Enlisting the help of the O'Connor clan, the O'Rourkes and O'Connors drove MacMurrough from Dunamase and he fled Ireland. MacMurrough gave Dunamase and his daughter Aoife in marriage to the Norman conqueror Strongbow in 1170 as part of a deal to enlist his help to regain his lands. The Norman invasion of Ireland then followed when Strongbow accompanied MacMurrough, along with many men, to attack and regain MacMurrogh's lands.




    Later, with the marriage of Strongbow and Aoife's daughter and heir, Isabel, the castle passed into the hands of the Marshal family. William Marshal, who later became Regent of England in the minority of Henry III, had five sons, all of whom succeeded him in turn and died without issue. So in 1247 the Marshal lands were divided among William's five daughters. Dunamase fell to Eva Marshal and then to her daughter, Maud, who was married to Roger Mortimer. The castle remained in Mortimer hands until 1330 when another Roger Mortimer was executed for treason. By the time the Mortimer family was rehabilitated the castle seems to have passed out of the area under Norman control. It seems to have become a ruinous shell by 1350.

    But by the 16th century it was part of the land of the O'More family, and it is so memorialised in a 19th-century poem, Transplanted, by William O'Neill:

    But vain I wait and listen for Rory Og is dead,
    And in the halls of Dunamase a Saxon rules instead,
    And o'er his fruitful acres the stranger now is lord
    Where since the days of Cuchorb a proud O'Moore kept ward.

    After the transplantation of the O'Mores to Kerry, their castle played no part in the Cromwellian wars. It was slighted in 1650 to prevent it being used.




    Diarmait Mac Murchada , King of Leinster



    Diarmait Mac Murchada (Modern Irish: Diarmaid Mac Murchadha), anglicised as Dermot MacMurrough, Dermod MacMurrough, or Dermot MacMorrogh (c. 1110 – c. 1 May 1171), was a King of Leinster in Ireland. In 1167, he was deposed by the High King of Ireland – Ruaidri Ua Conchobair (Rory O'Connor). The grounds for the deposition were that Mac Murchada had, in 1152, abducted Derbforgaill, the wife of the King of Breifne, Tiernan O'Rourke (Irish: Tighearnán Ua Ruairc). To recover his kingdom, Mac Murchada solicited help from King Henry II of England. His issue unresolved, he gained the military support of the Earl of Pembroke (nicknamed "Strongbow"). At that time, Strongbow was in opposition to Henry II due to his support for Stephen, King of England against Henry's mother in The Anarchy. In exchange for his aid, Strongbow was promised in marriage to Mac Murchada's daughter Aoife with the right to succeed to the Kingship of Leinster. Henry II then mounted a larger second invasion in 1171 to ensure his control over Strongbow, resulting in the Norman Lordship of Ireland. Mac Murchada was later known as Diarmait na nGall (Irish for "Diarmait of the Foreigners").

    Diarmait was born around 1110, a son of Donnchad mac Murchada, King of Leinster and Dublin. His father's paternal grandmother, Derbforgaill, was a daughter of Donnchad, King of Munster and thus a granddaughter of Brian Boru. In 1115 his father attacked Domnall Gerrlámhach, King of Dublin, but died in the ensuing battle. The citizens of Dublin buried him with the carcass of a dog, considered to be a huge insult.

    He had two wives (as allowed under the Brehon Laws), the first of whom, Sadhbh Ní Faeláin, was mother of a daughter named Órlaith who married Domnall Mór, King of Munster. His second wife, Mór ingen Muirchertaig, was mother of Aoife / Eva of Leinster and his youngest son Conchobar Mac Murchada. He also had two other sons, Domhnall Caomhánach mac Murchada and Énna Cennselach mac Murchada (blinded 1169). Diarmait is buried in the Cathedral graveyard of Ferns village.

    After the death of his older brother, Énna Mac Murchada, Diarmait unexpectedly became King of Leinster. This was opposed by the then High King of Ireland, Toirdelbach Ua Conchobair (Turlough O'Conor) who feared (rightly) that Mac Murchada would become a rival. Toirdelbach sent one of his allied Kings, Tigernán Ua Ruairc (Tiernan O'Rourke) to conquer Leinster and oust the young Mac Murchada. Ua Ruairc went on a brutal campaign slaughtering the livestock of Leinster and thereby trying to starve the province's residents. Mac Murchada was ousted from his throne, but was able to regain it with the help of Leinster clans in 1132. Afterwards followed two decades of an uneasy peace between Ua Conchobair and Diarmait. In 1152 he even assisted the High King to raid the land of Ua Ruairc who had by then become a renegade.

    Mac Murchada also is said to have abducted Ua Ruairc's wife Derbforgaill (English: Dervorgilla) along with all her furniture and goods, with the aid of Derbforgaill's brother, a future pretender to the kingship of Meath. Other sources say that Derbforgaill was not an unwilling prisoner and that she remained in Ferns with Mac Murchada in comfort for a number of years. Her advanced age indicates that she may have been a refugee or a hostage; in any case she was under his protection. Whatever the reality, the "abduction" was given as a further reason or excuse for enmity between the two kings.

    Church builder
    As king of Leinster, in 1140–70 Diarmait commissioned Irish Romanesque churches and abbeys at:

    Baltinglass – a Cistercian abbey (1148), Glendalough , Ferns (his capital – St Mary's Abbey Augustinian Order) , Killeshin


    He sponsored convents (nunneries) at Dublin (St Mary's, 1146), and in c.1151 two more at Aghade, County Carlow and at Kilculliheen near Waterford city. The abbey of St. Mary Del Hogge in Dublin was named after the Hoggen Green or Haugr meaning gravesite in old Norse. This site later became 'College Green' after the Reformation and the establishment of Trinity College. It's said that in the late 1600s that Viking graves were still to be seen at Hoggen Green.

    He also sponsored the successful career of churchman St Lawrence O'Toole (Lorcan Ua Tuathail). He married O'Toole's half-sister Mor in 1153 and presided at the synod of Clane in 1161 when O'Toole was installed as archbishop of Dublin.


    Exile and return
    In 1166, Ireland's High King and Mac Murchada's main ally Muirchertach Ua Lochlainn had fallen, and a large coalition led by Tigernán Ua Ruairc (Mac Murchada's arch enemy) marched on Leinster. The High King deposed Mac Murchada from the throne of Leinster. Mac Murchada fled to Wales and from there to England and France seeking the support of Henry II of England in the recruitment of soldiers to reclaim his kingship. Henry authorised Diarmait to seek help from the soldiers and mercenaries in his kingdom. Those who agreed to help included Richard de Clare and half-brothers Robert FitzStephen and Maurice FitzGerald [welsh marcherlords]. Robert was accompanied by his half-nephew Robert de Barry. Strongbow was offered Diarmait's daughter Aoife in marriage and promised the kingship of Leinster on Diarmait's death. Robert and Maurice were promised lands in Wexford and elsewhere for their services. In Mac Murchada's absence, Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair had become the new King of Ireland.

    On returning to Wales, Robert Fitz-Stephen helped him organise a mercenary army of English and Welsh soldiers. Landing at Bannow Bay, they laid siege to Wexford which fell in May 1169. After a period of inactivity, they went on to raid the Kingdom of Ossory. They then launched raids in the territories of the Uí Tuathail, the Uí Broin, and Uí Conchobhair Failghe. Mac Murchada gambled that King Ruaidrí would not hurt the Leinster hostages which he had, which included Mac Murchada's son, Conchobar Mac Murchada. However Ua Ruairc forced his hand and they were all killed. Although he had been distracted by disturbances else where in the kingdom, King Ruaidrí could no longer ignore this powerful force.

    He marched his forces into Leinster and, with the mediation of the Church, the commanders of the two armies began negotiations at Ferns, Diarmait's political base. An agreement was reached, whereby Diarmait was allowed to remain King of Leinster with Diarmait for his part recognising Ua Conchobair as High King. Some historians maintain that the treaty with Ua Conchobair included a secret agreement whereby Diarmait undertook to bring in no more foreign mercenaries and to send away Robert FitzStephen and his men as soon as Leinster was subdued. It's possible that Mac Murchada's hand may have been forced by the arrival at Wexford in May 1170 of Maurice FitzGerald, Lord of Lanstephan and his force of 10 knights, thirty men-at-arms and a hundred archers and foot soldiers. Mac Murchada and FitzGerald marched on the Ostman Norse–Gaelic city of Dublin which surrendered. Within a short time, all Leinster was again in Mac Murchada's control. Emboldened by these victories, he sent Robert FitzStephen to the assistance of his son-in-law, Domnall Mór Ua Briain, the King of Thomond.

    In the opinion of some historians, Mac Murchada's plans may have been limited to the recovery of his throne; only later when the superiority of the mercenary arms had overawed the Gaelic nobility of Ireland did he consider tilting at the high kingship itself. According to the contemporary, Gerald of Wales, he was advised by Robert FitzStephen and Maurice FitzGerald to write to Strongbow requesting assistance. Strongbow sent an advance party under Raymond le Gros, arriving himself 1170 at the Ostman Norse-Gaelic settlement of Waterford. Following the fall of Waterford, the promised marriage of Aoife and Strongbow took place. As a result, much of Richard FitzGilbert, count of Strigoil, became lord of Leinster. The marriage was imagined and painted in the Romantic style in 1854 by Daniel Maclise.

    Mac Murchada was devastated after the death of his youngest son, Conchobar, retreated to Ferns and died a few months later.


    Later reputation
    The scholar Áed Ua Crimthainn was probably Diarmait's court historian. In his Book of Leinster, Áed seems to be the first to set out the concept of the rí Érenn co fressabra, the "king of Ireland with opposition", later more widely adopted. This described Diarmait's ambitions and the achievements of his great-grandfather Diarmait mac Maíl na mBó.

    In Irish history books written after 1800, Diarmait Mac Murchada was often seen as a traitor, but his intention was not to aid an English invasion of Ireland, but rather to use Henry's assistance to become the High King of Ireland himself. The imperialism of the English, and later British, empire must not be placed anachronistically on to the events of 1166. The adventurers who answered Diarmait's call for help were reacting to the opportunity for land and wealth. Henry II did not wish to invade Ireland, he was forced to react to earl Richard's aggrandisement. The counts of Strigoil had been supporters of King Stephen, and Henry II did not forget easily.

    Gerald of Wales, a Cambro-English cleric who visited Ireland in 1185 and whose uncles and cousins were prominent soldiers in the army of Strongbow, repeated their opinions of Mac Murchada:

    Dermot was a man tall of stature and stout of frame; a soldier whose heart was in the fray, and held valiant among his own nation. From often shouting his battle-cry his voice had become hoarse. A man who liked better to be feared by all than loved by any. One who would oppress his greater vassals, while he raised to high station men of lowly birth. A tyrant to his own subjects, he was hated by strangers; his hand was against every man, and every man's hand against him.


    After Strongbow's successful invasion, Henry II mounted a second and larger invasion in 1171 to ensure his control over his subjects, which succeeded. He then accepted the submission of the Irish kings in Dublin in November 1171. He also ensured that his moral claim to Ireland, granted by the supposed 1155 papal bull Laudabiliter, was reconfirmed in 1172 by Pope Alexander III, and also by a synod of all the Irish bishops at the Synod of Cashel. He added "Lord of Ireland" to his many other titles. Before he could consolidate his new Lordship he had to go to France to deal with his sons' rebellion in 1173.

    Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair was soon ousted, first as King of Ireland and eventually as King of Connacht. The Lordship directly controlled a small territory in Ireland surrounding the cities of Dublin and Waterford, while the rest of Ireland was divided between English lords and court curiales. The 1175 Treaty of Windsor, brokered by St Lawrence O'Toole with Henry II, formalised the submission of the Gaelic clans that remained in local control, like the Uí Conchobair who retained Connacht and the Uí Néill who retained most of Ulster.

    Diarmait's male-line descendants included Art Óg mac Murchadha Caomhánach (d. 1417), who revived the kingship of Leinster, and Cahir mac Art Kavanagh (died 1554) who continued to rule parts of Leinster independently of the English until the Tudor conquest of Ireland in the 16th century. The last proclaimed King of Leinster, Domhnall Spáinneach mac Murchadha Caomhánach, died in 1632. Later senior who descendants retained the position among the Irish upper-classes included Arthur MacMorrough Kavanagh (1831–1889) and his son, Walter MacMurrough Kavanagh 1856–1922). Dermot McMorrough Kavanagh (d. 1958) was recognised as Chief of the Name of Clann Caomhánach (Kavanagh) in his lifetime.

    Diarmait died about 1 May 1171 and was buried in Ferns Cathedral, where his grave can be seen in the outside graveyard.



    Willaim Marshal {Reknowned knight}




    William Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke (1146 or 1147 – 14 May 1219), also called William the Marshal (Norman French: Williame li Mareschal, French: Guillaume le Maréchal), was an Anglo-Norman soldier and statesman. He served five English kings – Henry II, his sons the "Young King" Henry, Richard I, John, and John's son Henry III.

    Knighted in 1166, he spent his younger years as a knight errant and a successful tournament competitor; Stephen Langton eulogized him as the "best knight that ever lived." In 1189, he became the de facto Earl of Pembroke through his marriage to Isabel de Clare, though the title of earl would not be officially granted until 1199 during the second creation of the Pembroke Earldom. In 1216, he was appointed protector for the nine-year-old Henry III, and regent of the kingdom.

    Before him, his father's family held a hereditary title of Marshal to the king, which by his father's time had become recognized as a chief or master Marshalcy, involving management over other Marshals and functionaries. William became known as 'the Marshal', although by his time much of the function was delegated to more specialized representatives (as happened with other functions in the King's household). Because he was an Earl, and also known as the Marshal, the term "Earl Marshal" was commonly used and this later became an established hereditary title in the English Peerage.

    William's father, John Marshal, supported King Stephen when he took the throne in 1135, but in about 1139 he changed sides to support the Empress Matilda in the civil war of succession between her and Stephen which led to the collapse of England into "the Anarchy".

    When King Stephen besieged Newbury Castle in 1152, according to William's biographer, he used the young William as a hostage to ensure that John kept his promise to surrender the castle. John, however, used the time allotted to reinforce the castle and to alert Matilda's forces. When Stephen ordered John to surrender immediately or William would be hanged, John replied that he should go ahead saying, "I still have the hammer and the anvil with which to forge still more and better sons!" Subsequently, a pretence was made to launch William from a pierrière (a type of trebuchet) towards the castle. Stephen could not bring himself to harm young William.William remained a crown hostage for many months, and was released following the peace resulting from the terms agreed at Winchester on 6 November 1153, by which the civil war was ended.

    Knight-Errant

    As a younger son of a minor nobleman, William had no lands or fortune to inherit, and had to make his own way in life. Around the age of twelve, when his father's career was faltering, he was sent to the Château de Tancarville in Normandy to be brought up in the household of William de Tancarville, a great magnate and cousin of young William's mother. Here he began his training as a knight. This would have included biblical stories and prayers written in Latin, and some exposure to French romance literature to confer precepts of chivalry upon the future knight. In Tancarville's household he is also likely to have learned important and lasting practical lessons in the politics of courtly life. According to his thirteenth-century biography, L'Histoire de Guillaume le Marechal, Marshal had enemies at Tancarville's court who plotted against him — presumably men threatened by his close relationship with the magnate.

    He was knighted in 1166 on campaign in Upper Normandy, then being invaded from Flanders. His first experience in battle received mixed reviews. According to L'Histoire, everyone who witnessed the young knight in combat agreed that he had acquitted himself well. However, as medieval historian David Crouch remarks, "War in the twelfth century was not fought wholly for honour. Profit was there to be made..." In this regard Marshal was not so successful, as he was unable to parlay his combat victories into profit from either ransom or seized booty. L'Histoire relates that the Earl of Essex, expecting the customary tribute from his valorous knight after the battle, jokingly remarked: "Oh? But Marshal, what are you saying? You had forty or sixty of them — yet you refuse me so small a thing!"

    In 1167, he was taken by William de Tancarville to his first tournament, where he found his true métier. Quitting the Tancarville household he then served in the household of his mother's brother, Patrick, Earl of Salisbury. In 1168, his uncle was killed in an ambush by Guy de Lusignan. William was injured and captured in the same skirmish, but Queen Eleanor, whom they were escorting, and who was the target of the ambush, was able to escape. It is known that William received a wound to his thigh and that someone in his captor's household took pity on the young knight. He received a loaf of bread in which were concealed several lengths of clean linen bandages with which to dress his wounds. This act of kindness by an unknown person perhaps saved Marshal's life as infection setting into the wound could have killed him. After a period of time, he was ransomed by Eleanor of Aquitaine, who was apparently impressed by tales of his bravery. He would remain a member of Queen Eleanor's household for the next two years, possibly attending a few tournaments during this time as well.



    Service to Young King Henry
    In 1170, Marshal was appointed as Young King Henry's tutor-in-arms by the Young King's father, Henry II. During the Young King-led Revolt of 1173-1174, little is known of Marshal's specific activities besides his loyalty to the Young King. After the failed rebellion, Young King Henry and his retinue, including Marshal, traveled with Henry II for eighteen months, before asking for, and receiving, permission to travel to Europe to participate in knightly tournaments. Marshal followed the Young King, and from 1176-1182 both Marshal and the Young King gained prestige from winning tournaments. Tournaments were dangerous, often deadly, staged battles in which money and valuable prizes were to be won by capturing and ransoming opponents, their horses and armour. Marshal became a legendary tournament champion: on his deathbed he recalled besting 500 knights during his tournament career.

    In late 1182, Marshal was accused of having an affair with the Young King's wife, Margaret of France. Historian Thomas Asbridge has stated that while the affair very strongly appears to have been fabricated by Marshal's political enemies within the Young King's service, it cannot be proven either way. David Crouch has suggested that the charge against William was actually one of lèse-majesté, brought on by Marshal's own arrogance and greed, with the charge of adultery only introduced in the Life of William Marshal as a distraction from the real charges, of which he was most probably guilty. Regardless of the truth of the accusations, by early 1183 Marshal had been removed from the Young King's service.

    Young King Henry declared war against his brother, Richard the Lionheart, in January 1183, with Henry II siding with Richard. By May, Marshal had been cleared of all charges against the Young King, and returned to his service. However, the Young King became sick in late May, and died on 11 June 1183. On his deathbed, the Young King asked Marshal to fulfill the vow the Young King had made in 1182 to take up the cross and undertake a crusade to the Holy Land, and after receiving Henry II's blessing Marshal left for Jerusalem in late 1183.Nothing is known of his activities during the two years he was gone, except that he fulfilled the Young King's vow, and secretly committed to joining the Knights Templar on his deathbed.

    Royal favour
    After his return from the Holy Land in late 1185 or early 1186, William rejoined the court of King Henry II, and now served as a loyal captain through the many difficulties of Henry II's final years. The returns of royal favour were almost immediate. The king gave William the large royal estate of Cartmel in Cumbria, and the keeping of Heloise, the heiress of the northern barony of Lancaster. It may be that the king expected him to take the opportunity to marry her and become a northern baron, but William seems to have had grander ambitions for his marriage.

    In 1188 faced with an attempt by Philip II to seize the disputed region of Berry, Henry II summoned the Marshal to his side. The letter by which he did this survives, and makes some sarcastic comments about William's complaints that he had not been properly rewarded to date for his service to the king. Henry therefore promised him the marriage and lands of Dionisia, lady of Châteauroux in Berry. In the resulting campaign, the king fell out with his heir Richard, count of Poitou, who consequently allied with Philip II against his father.

    In 1189, while covering the flight of Henry II from Le Mans to Chinon, William unhorsed the undutiful Richard in a skirmish. William could have killed the prince but killed his horse instead, to make that point clear. He is said to have been the only man ever to unhorse Richard. Nonetheless after Henry's death, Marshal was welcomed at court by his former adversary, now King Richard I, who was wise to include a man whose legendary loyalty and military accomplishments were too useful to ignore, especially in a king who was intending to go on Crusade.

    During the old king's last days he had promised the Marshal the hand and estates of Isabel de Clare (c.1172–1220), but had not completed the arrangements. King Richard however, confirmed the offer and so in August 1189, at the age of 43, the Marshal married the 17-year-old daughter of Richard de Clare (Strongbow). Her father had been Earl of Pembroke, and Marshal acquired large estates and claims in England, Wales, Normandy and Ireland. Some estates however were excluded from the deal. Marshal did not obtain Pembroke and the title of earl, which his father-in-law had enjoyed, until 1199, as it had been taken into the king's hand in 1154. However, the marriage transformed the landless knight from a minor family into one of the richest men in the kingdom, a sign of his power and prestige at court. They had five sons and five daughters, and have numerous descendants.William made numerous improvements to his wife's lands, including extensive additions to Pembroke Castle and Chepstow Castle.

    William was included in the council of regency which King Richard appointed on his departure for the Third Crusade in 1190. He took the side of John, the king's brother, when the latter expelled the justiciar, William Longchamp, from the kingdom, but he soon discovered that the interests of John were different from those of Richard. Hence in 1193 he joined with the loyalists in making war upon him. In Spring 1194, during the course of the hostilities in England and before King Richard's return, William Marshal's elder brother John Marshal (who was serving as seneschal) was killed while defending Marlborough for the king's brother John. Richard allowed Marshal to succeed his brother in the hereditary marshalship, and his paternal honour of Hamstead Marshall. The Marshal served the king in his wars in Normandy against Philip II. On Richard's death-bed, the king designated Marshal as custodian of Rouen and of the royal treasure during the interregnum.

    King John and Magna Carta
    William supported King John when he became king in 1199, arguing against those who maintained the claims of Arthur of Brittany, the teenage son of John's elder brother Geoffrey. William was heavily engaged with the defence of Normandy against the growing pressure of the Capetian armies between 1200 and 1203. He sailed with King John when he abandoned the duchy in December 1203. He and the king had a falling out in the aftermath of the loss of the duchy, when he was sent with the earl of Leicester as ambassadors to negotiate a truce with King Philip II of France in 1204. The Marshal took the opportunity to negotiate the continued possession of his Norman lands.

    Before commencing negotiations with King Philip, William had been generously permitted to do homage to the King of France by King John so he might keep his possessions in Normandy; land which must have been of sentimental value due to the time spent there in his adolescence. However, once official negotiations began, Philip demanded that such homage be paid exclusively to him, which King John had not consented to.When William paid homage to King Philip, John took offence and there was a major row at court which led to cool relations between the two men. This became outright hostility in 1207 when John began to move against several major Irish magnates, including William. Though he left for Leinster in 1207 William was recalled and humiliated at court in the autumn of 1208, while John's justiciar in Ireland Meilyr fitz Henry invaded his lands, burning the town of New Ross.

    Meilyr's defeat by Countess Isabel led to her husband's return to Leinster. He was once again in conflict with King John in his war with the Braose and Lacy families in 1210, but managed to survive. He stayed in Ireland until 1213, during which time he had Carlow Castle erected and restructured his honour of Leinster. Taken back into favour in 1212, he was summoned in 1213 to return to the English court. Despite their differences, William remained loyal throughout the hostilities between John and his barons which culminated on 15 June 1215 at Runnymede with the sealing of Magna Carta. William was one of the few English earls to remain loyal to the king through the First Barons' War. It was William whom King John trusted on his deathbed to make sure John's nine-year-old son Henry would get the throne. It was William who took responsibility for the king's funeral and burial at Worcester Cathedral.

    On 11 November 1216 at Gloucester, upon the death of King John, William Marshal was named by the king's council (the chief barons who had remained loyal to King John in the First Barons' War) to serve as protector of the nine-year-old King Henry III, and regent of the kingdom. In spite of his advanced age (around 70) he prosecuted the war against Prince Louis and the rebel barons with remarkable energy. In the battle of Lincoln he charged and fought at the head of the young King's army, leading them to victory. He was preparing to besiege Louis in London when the war was terminated by the naval victory of Hubert de Burgh in the straits of Dover.

    William was criticized for the generosity of the terms he accorded to Louis and the rebels in September 1217, but his desire for an expedient settlement was dictated by sound statesmanship. Self-restraint and compromise were the keynotes of Marshal's policy, hoping to secure peace and stability for his young liege. Both before and after the peace of 1217 he reissued Magna Carta, in which he is a signatory as one of the witnessing barons.

    Death and legacy


    {temple church, london}

    Marshal's health finally failed him early in 1219. In March 1219 he realised that he was dying, so he summoned his eldest son, also William, and his household knights, and left the Tower of London for his estate at Caversham in Berkshire, near Reading, where he called a meeting of the barons, Henry III, the Papal legate Pandulf Verraccio, the royal justiciar (Hubert de Burgh), and Peter des Roches (Bishop of Winchester and the young King's guardian). William rejected the Bishop's claim to the regency and entrusted the regency to the care of the papal legate; he apparently did not trust the Bishop or any of the other magnates that he had gathered to this meeting. Fulfilling the vow he had made while on crusade, he was invested into the order of the Knights Templar on his deathbed. He died on 14 May 1219 at Caversham, and was buried in the Temple Church in London, where his tomb can still be seen.

    Other castles of note near dublin [not chosen] :-

    Lea Castle



    On the outskirts of the parish lies Lea Castle. The remnants of a Norman castle built in 1260 by William de Vesey. It changed hands many times during its history. For example, it was burned by Fionn Ó Díomasaigh's men in 1284, rebuilt by de Vesey and given to the king. In 1315 Bruce came to Lea, on which occasion the church and castle were burned. About this time it came into the possession of the O'Dempseys. In 1346 the castle was burned by the O'Moores. In 1452 the Earl of Ormond took it from the O'Dempseys. In 1533 it was in the possession of the FitzGeralds. In 1598 it was re-taken by the O'Moores., burned by the O'Moores in 1346, captured by the O'Dempseys in 1422 and then lost to the Earl of Ormond in 1452, used by Silken Thomas Fitzgerald as a refuge in 1535, mortgaged to Sir Maurice Fitzgerald in 1556, and leased to Robert Bath in 1618. It was used by the confederates as a mint in the 1640s rebellion until Cromwellians blew up the fortifications by stuffing the stairways with explosives. The castle was never used as a fortification again.

    Treascon Mass Rock lies just outside the town in an area known as Treascon. This mass rock (Carraig an Aifrinn in Irish) is located within a wooded area, and is a large stone used in mid-seventeenth century Ireland as a location for Catholic worship. Isolated locations were sought to hold religious ceremony, as Catholic mass was a matter of difficulty and danger at the time as a result of both Cromwell's campaign against the Irish, and the Penal Laws of 1695, whereby discrimination and violence against Catholics was legal.

    In 1642 it was occupied by the Confederate Catholics, from which they were driven by Lord Lisle. In 1650 the castle was taken by Hewson and dismantled; the confused masses of towers and broken arches show the havoc made. The last person who took up his abode here was the rapparee, Charles O'Dempsey (Cahir na gCapall), the lineal descendant of the once powerful Chiefs of Clanmaliere.

    The church, which stood close to the castle, was built in 1307 by FitzGerald. Only a small portion of the masonry remains. Lord Galway, Earl of Arlington, planted a regiment of French Protestant emigrants near the Barrow. The Hollow Blade Company of Sword Cutlass in Dublin afterwards obtained this portion, and other purchasers obtained parts.

    In the end the company's part was demised to Ephraim Dawson, ancestor of the Dawson Damers, Earls of Portarlington. The O'Dempseys became famous as horse-stealers and rapparees, and were ultimately beset in a pass in the wood of Monasterevan and forced to surrender to a posse under the Sheriff.

    The rebellion of 1798 resulted in several local men from Lea castle, being apprehended and subsequently put to death by hanging in the town's market square. A memorial in the shape of a Celtic cross with the rebels details was commissioned and erected in 1976. The memorial stands close to the perimeter wall of the French church in the market square.

    Kilkea Castle


    Sir Walter de Riddlesford built a motte and bailey on the site of Kilkea Castle in 1180. A granddaughter of his married Maurice Fitzgerald, 3rd baron of Offaly, and so the Manor of Kilkea came into the possession of the Fitzgeralds and was to remain in the family for over 700 years.Sir Thomas de Rokeby, the Justiciar of Ireland, used the castle as his military base, and died here in 1356.

    In 1414 the O'Mores and O'Dempsies wasted the English pale. According to Francis Grose's Antiquities of Ireland, "to curb their outrages, Thomas Crawley, Archbishop of Dublin and Lord Justice, set out from Dublin, but proceeded no farther than Castledermot; the troops went forward under military leaders, he remaining engaged in processions and prayers for their success". According to Grose, the "enemy were defeated with great slaughter at Kilkea". Later, in 1426, John FitzGerald, 6th Earl of Kildare reputedly "strengthened Kilkea with so many new works, that he might be said almost to have new built it.

    The castle is particularly associated with Gerald, the 11th Earl of Kildare known as the "Wizard Earl", who became the eldest male representative of the Geraldines when only 12 years of age after his half brother "Silken Thomas" the 10th Earl and five uncles were executed at Tyburn in 1537. The "Wizard Earl" escaped Ireland being sent to the continent to be educated, and following his return to Kildare and restoration to his titles his interest in alchemy caused much interest among his neighbours around Kilkea Castle and he was said to possess magic powers.[citation needed] The 11th Earl (the "Wizard Earl") died in 1585 and is supposed to return to the castle every seventh year mounted on a silver-shod white charger. In 1634 the castle was leased to the Jesuit Order by the widow of the 14th Earl of Kildare and they remained there until 1646.


    Woodstock Castle

    Woodstock Castle was built in the early 13th century by Robert de St Michael, a Norman lord who was granted Rheban Castle and the surrounding area by Richard de Clare (Strongbow). It is sited near the "ford of Ae" which gives Athy its name. Initially the fortifications consisted of earthen banks topped with palisades but these were later replaced by stone walls in the form of a hall-keep, a rectangular structure with a large hall and underground storage. The Crutched Friars established a monastery next to Woodstock Castle in the 13th century. On at least four occasions during that century the village of Athy, including Woodstock Castle and the monasteries, was attacked and badly damaged by the displaced Gaelic Irish.In 1417, John Talbot, 2nd Earl of Shrewsbury built White's Castle to guard the bridge, a and the centre of gravity of the town of Athy shifted to the south, leaving Woodstock Castle isolated.

    Around 1424, the castle passed from the Barons of Rheban to the Earls of Kildare when Thomas FitzGerald, 7th Earl married Dorothea of the Ó Mórdha.

    In the 16th century the castle was altered, with a tower added to the southeast angle and, on the west end, a pair of circular gunports set within rectangular openings. Gunports of this type were invented in England in the 1520s. Also in that century, the walls were raised to add a third storey and several windows with hood mouldings were added. In 1530, Gerald FitzGerald, 9th Earl of Kildare garrisoned and fortified the castle.

    Woodstock Castle was an important site during the Irish Confederate Wars (1641–53); originally commanded by Pierce FitzGerald, in 1642 it was taken from the rebels by James Butler, 1st Marquess of Ormond; it was in turn taken by Eoghan Ruadh Ó Néill in 1647, and he massacred the garrison. Murrough O'Brien, 1st Earl of Inchiquin retook Woodstock in 1648.
    Local legend claims that a tunnel linked Woodstock Castle with White's Castle.
    Last edited by paladinbob123; May 11, 2020 at 09:59 AM.
    "War is the continuation of politics by other means." - Carl von Clausewitz

  9. #1269

    Default Re: [Britannia Expansion - Custom Submod] The Isles of Chaos (Roleplay Hotseat)

    I love your history posts!

    And how old is Waylander?? the guy has been killing people for the last 30+ turns!!!

    It seems the damn plague has put warfare on hold on the isles of chaos...However I have a feeling this is the calm before the storm...
    Frei zu sein, bedarf ist wenig, nur wer frei ist, ist ein König.

    Current Hotseat:
    Britannia: The Isles of Chaos

  10. #1270

    Default Re: [Britannia Expansion - Custom Submod] The Isles of Chaos (Roleplay Hotseat)

    Quote Originally Posted by Der Böse Wolf View Post
    I love your history posts!

    And how old is Waylander?? the guy has been killing people for the last 30+ turns!!!

    It seems the damn plague has put warfare on hold on the isles of chaos...However I have a feeling this is the calm before the storm...
    heheh only 39 years old..plenty of time for more kills and disasters in his middle age

    yeah the plague is lowering all the monies everybody receives ..it will reduce troop numbers and defences ..but once it lifts..and those defences are lessened...who knows? [winks]
    "War is the continuation of politics by other means." - Carl von Clausewitz

  11. #1271
    Turkafinwë's Avatar The Sick Baby Jester
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    Default Re: [Britannia Expansion - Custom Submod] The Isles of Chaos (Roleplay Hotseat)

    England



    Leonard wiped his sword clean from the peasant's blood that had soiled it. Another band of rebels dealt with, an easy victory. Towards him a large blonde man walked. Leonard's knights went to intercept him and escorted him towards Leonard. The man towered at least a head's length above the Norman knights. He introduced himself as Hafthor, the Norseman. He had witnessed the battle and lauded the Normans on their victory. Hafthor explained he had travelled from Norway to the British Isles in search for battle and glory. King Magnus had been that man, but he was long gone so Hafthor had crossed the Isles until he came to England, instead of returning home to Norway. Hafthor explained he had nothing left in Norway. Leonard was intrigued by this man. He was a veteran there was no doubt about that, his scars told enough stories. He was still strong and the sword that was on his buckle was not for show. Leonard could use such a man, like a personal bodyguard.

    "Hafthor the Norseman, I will take you in my service. I will give you war and blood and glory beyond your imagination."



    Battle against rebels
    I forgot to take a screenshot of the results. It was, obviously, a clear victory


    Ireland up: http://www.mediafire.com/file/yofyvt...nd_92.sav/file

  12. #1272

    Default Re: [Britannia Expansion - Custom Submod] The Isles of Chaos (Roleplay Hotseat)

    Reminder sent to Ireland.
    Frei zu sein, bedarf ist wenig, nur wer frei ist, ist ein König.

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  13. #1273
    Jadli's Avatar The Fallen God
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    Default Re: [Britannia Expansion - Custom Submod] The Isles of Chaos (Roleplay Hotseat)

    Yes, I sent him a reminder yesterday as well, he says he forgot, so hopefully he shall play soon

  14. #1274
    zender9's Avatar Domesticus
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    Default Re: [Britannia Expansion - Custom Submod] The Isles of Chaos (Roleplay Hotseat)

    I apologise. I was busy with homework and still am busy. I forgot to play this one.

    Wales up:
    https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachmen...C_wales_92.sav


    Bells in Dublin was ringing for King Sean. His body fell to plague and he walked to heaven. Plague doesn't differ the poor from the rich, it is indeed God's doing. His reign was short but peaceful. With the king's death, and the plague all over the country, even without the war, the chaos still goes on in Ireland. Council of advisors are favoring Sean's brother-in-law who is currently in the fortress of Isle of Mann. Sean only had daughter who recently got married, but the young man isn't capable to rule the country. When the plague is over, King Lochlainn will sail to Dublin and crowned as High King Lochlainn.

  15. #1275
    Jadli's Avatar The Fallen God
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    Default Re: [Britannia Expansion - Custom Submod] The Isles of Chaos (Roleplay Hotseat)

    what happened to the pace guys?

    Reminder sent!

  16. #1276
    Dismounted Feudal Knight's Avatar my horse for a unicode
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    Default Re: [Britannia Expansion - Custom Submod] The Isles of Chaos (Roleplay Hotseat)

    I know I had this written, save uploaded, etc... but the thread does tend to be a bit of a as far as actually posting for me. So whoops. Here we are.

    Far from our worst slog or an unusual shift in pace, that said.

    ------------

    For the posturing of the Welsh regime in handling the Plague, it has brought an end to Lord Thomas Teon, governor of Montgomery. King Vortipor and aides have taken increased measures. Though the regime remains stable, it is among the weakest in Britannia for endurance, and so it must be doubly cautious against such a curse as it has showed no signs of abating in the near future. The King has taken to presiding over legal matters, an act surprisingly less problematic than it would sound at a glance. Such has given him a mild reputation for fairness as he takes to balanced outcomes, even loosening on the crackdowns that marked the beginning of his reign. In such times, his more liberal tendencies on individual matters makes him a touch more popular.

    News of the Irish King's death was met with some sadness in Wales; regardless of current affiliation, those that made it through the turnover and those too far from the towns to care still hold their Irish kin in high regard.

    The agents about Ireland have taken keen note of the plague and have taken measures to protect themselves, likely to be subversive to their Welsh regime once more when the plague has passed.

    Onto the Scots,
    https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachmen...cotland_92.sav

  17. #1277

    Default Re: [Britannia Expansion - Custom Submod] The Isles of Chaos (Roleplay Hotseat)

    The cold snow swept through the lands, the winds blew non-stop, the coffers are empty and the people are dying...

    The reign of new King Hew could not have started so dramatically.

    Scotland has been a Christian land for centuries now. But ancient superstitions still exist in the Highlands.
    The people are still mourning the death of King Alexander, who had brought them prosperity, security, pride and glory.

    But since his death, the lands are ravaged by this plague, food is scarce and death roams the lands.

    They curse King Hew and point the finger at him.
    The fact that he plotted to have Alexander killed still lingers in the populace's minds.

    Moreover, none of the other monarchs of the Isles have come to pay homage to the strongest king in Britannia.
    "Alexander would not have accepted such insolence"...that as what the people were saying.

    When news of the death of High King Sean arrived, the royal adviser prepared pen and paper for King Hew to write his condolences.
    But Hew threw it all away.

    "The new Irish King must first pay his homage to me before I do to him!"
    Hew is growing increasingly furious at the situation.

    But this show of anger pleased some of the clansmen.
    "He is showing character. He is only 20. He must be strong as I have the feeling the vultures are preparing to fly north, to Scotland. A weak king smells like blood..."
    The oldest clansman spoke in the Clans council, as the leaders decide on the next steps.


    ----

    Barons next:
    https://www.mediafire.com/file/7wh7nzxx5l3i7ju/TIOC_Barons_92.sav/file
    Frei zu sein, bedarf ist wenig, nur wer frei ist, ist ein König.

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  18. #1278

    Default Re: [Britannia Expansion - Custom Submod] The Isles of Chaos (Roleplay Hotseat)



    Waylander observed the guards slipping into sleep , lured into blissful oblivion with doctored grog, which allowed him to shape his purpose at the town of Athenry , where he had designs of sabotage. Whilst the guards where slumbering, he transfered the pots of dark power into the drill square, with all its training mechanisms , and slight blacksmithy to enable all the town guard its equipment, before lighting a fuse , he got to his horse, and took his leave of the town.

    But he did underestimate one irishmans resistance to drink [and drugs] as one of the guards awoke from his slumber, and seeing the fuse brning away, near to some dark ominous looking pots, he leapt at the burning fuse, knocking it out of the pot , and breathing a slight swear word under his breath, that he had thwarted whatever dastardly plot had been hatched. As the guard wiped his brow, and breathed a sigh of relief he, saw a slight ember, that had been knocked out of the fuse,floated on the air, as it drifted slowly down into the gunpower within the pot.

    The guardmans had just time for a half hearted "By the blood of Jesu....." , before the ember ignited the powder and a massive explosion rocked the town.....but the disruption to Waylanders plans and the sacrifice of the irishguard had knocked the plan somewhat of kilter, and only half of the drill square had been wrecked, allowing perhaps it to be rebuild...

    Click image for larger version. 

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    --------------------
    As for the rest of the men of the Yorkish and Newcastle estates, all was lockedup tight, as they endured the plague [again], the economy dropped, and with it , its politics within the isles vanished as well, as nobles sort to keep what they had and looked worriedly at their poor peasant farmers and serfs.

    Turn to England
    https://www.dropbox.com/s/uw6kwrxjjv...nd_93.sav?dl=0


    --------------------
    Kirkwall

    Kirkwall is the largest town of Orkney, an archipelago to the north of mainland Scotland,the name Kirkwall comes from the Norse name Kirkjuvágr (Church Bay), which later changed to Kirkvoe, Kirkwaa and Kirkwall.

    The town is first mentioned in Orkneyinga saga in the year 1046 when it is recorded as the residence of Rögnvald Brusason the Earl of Orkney, who was killed by his uncle Thorfinn the Mighty. In 1486, King James III of Scotland elevated Kirkwall to the status of a royal burgh. At this time, Kirkwall was referred to by its original name Kirkjuvagr - from the Old Norse meaning 'Church Inlet'. Back then, Kirkwall was merely a cluster of dwellings around a natural harbour formed by the Peerie Sea and the sand bar known as the Ayre.

    But contrary to popular belief, the town does not take its name from St Magnus Cathedral but probably the smaller church of St Olaf, the only remainder of which is an unassuming doorway in St Olaf's Wynd - an apparantly insignificant little lane branching off one of Kirkwall's old main streets.

    After 1137, once the construction of St Magnus Cathedral was under way, the settlement began to increase in size as craftsmen and artisans moved into the area to work on the new cathedral.
    This influx of people settled to the south of the original dwellings, above the shore of the Peerie, now known as Peedie, Sea. At this time, the shore of the Peerie Sea came up the edge of what is now Broad Street, Albert Street and Victoria Street.

    [you can see the Aire with a road on it, at beginning and the Bishops&Earls palace and cathedral at 1:54- ]

    The transfer of St Magnus's relics from their previous resting place, Birsay, to St Magnus Cathedral marked the beginning of a new era for the growing town.
    From the thirteenth century onward, the process of land reclamation claimed more and more of the area to the west of the old shore. By the 1930s, the shoreline had reached, more or less, its current position.

    In 1486, King James III of Scotland decreed that Kirkwall be elevated to the status of Royal Burgh.
    In his declaration he referred specifically to the two areas of the town known as the Burgh and the Laverock.

    The Burgh was the older, northerly section of Kirkwall, the Laverock being the land surrounding the cathedral and under the control of the Bishop. It is this traditional split between the north and south of the town that may lie at the origin of Kirkwall's annual Ba' games between the Uppies and the Doonies.

    Until the early part of this century, Kirkwall comprised of little more than one main street that stretched from the shore and wound its way south, past the front of the Cathedral, and into what is now Victoria Street. This area is still Kirkwall's main commercial centre and known to locals as "up the street" or "doon the toon" depending on the position of your home. The phrase is yet another reminder of the old town split, acted out annually in the Ba' competition.

    Kirkwall Castle



    In the 14th century, Henry Sinclair, Earl of Orkney, (c. 1345 – c. 1400) held the Earldom of Orkney from King Haakon VI of Norway. Sinclair built the castle at Kirkwall soon after being granted the Earldom in 1379. In the early 17th century Patrick Stewart, 2nd Earl of Orkney, feuded with Laurence Bruce, Sheriff of Shetland. Stewart was arrested in 1610, and in May 1614 his son, Robert, rebelled against King James VI. Robert and his supporters occupied Kirkwall Castle, along with the Bishop's and Earl's Palaces, and St Magnus Cathedral. In August the Earl of Caithness led royal troops against the rebels, and Kirkwall Castle surrendered in September. On 26 October 1614 the Privy Council of Scotland ordered that Kirkwall Castle be demolished, although this was not carried out until the following year. The ruins stood until 1742, when James Douglas, 14th Earl of Morton, granted the stones to the Town Council to build a new town house and jail. By 1865 only a 55-foot (16.8 m) section of wall, 11 feet (3.4 m) thick remained, and this was removed to improve access to the harbour. The castle's ruins were finally demolished in 1865. As such, nothing remains of the Kirkwall Castle, apart from a commemmorative plaque on a building in Castle Street.


    St Magnus cathedral


    St Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall dominates the skyline of Kirkwall, the main town of Orkney, a group of islands off the north coast of mainland Scotland. It is the most northerly cathedral in the United Kingdom, a fine example of Romanesque architecture built for the bishops of Orkney when the islands were ruled by the Norse Earls of Orkney. It is owned not by the church, but by the burgh of Kirkwall as a result of an act of King James III of Scotland following Orkney's annexation by the Scottish Crown in 1468. It has its own dungeon.
    St Magnus had a reputation for piety and gentleness. On a raid led by the King of Norway on Anglesey, Wales, Magnus refused to fight and stayed on board singing psalms. King Eystein II of Norway granted him a share of the earldom of Orkney held by his cousin Håkon, and they ruled amicably as joint Earls of Orkney from 1105 to 1114. Their followers fell out, and the two sides met at a thing (assembly) on Orkney Mainland, ready to do battle. Peace was negotiated and the Earls arranged to meet each other on the small island of Egilsay, each bringing only two ships. Magnus arrived on 16 April 1116 (or 1117) with his two ships, but then Håkon treacherously turned up with eight ships. Magnus was captured and offered to go into exile or prison, but an assembly of chieftains insisted that one earl must die. Håkon's standard bearer refused to execute Magnus, and an angry Håkon made his cook Lifolf kill Magnus by striking him on the head with an axe.




    Magnus was buried in the Christchurch at Birsay. The rocky area around his grave miraculously became a green field, and there were numerous reports of miraculous happenings and healings. William the Old, Bishop of Orkney, warned that it was "heresy to go about with such tales", then was struck blind in his Birsay cathedral and subsequently had his sight restored after praying at the grave of Magnus, not long after visiting Norway (and perhaps meeting Earl Rögnvald Kolsson).

    Gunhild, sister of Magnus, had married Kol, and the king of Norway granted their son Rögnvald Kolsson the right to his uncle's earldom in 1129.

    In 1135, Magnus was canonised, with 16 April becoming St Magnus' day. His remains were moved east to St Olaf's Kirk in the small settlement known as Kirkjuvágr, meaning "church bay", now Kirkwall.

    The story of the founding of St Magnus Cathedral is well documented within the pages of the Orkneyinga saga.In a tale of political intrigue and dirty deeds, the saga tells us that the cathedral was built on the instructions of Earl Rognvald Kolsson, who had been advised, by his father Kol, to:-

    "build a stone minster at Kirkwall more magnificent than any in Orkney, that you'll have (it) dedicated to your uncle the holy Earl Magnus and provide it with all the funds it will need to flourish. In addition, his holy relics and the episcopal seat must be moved there."
    The Orkneyinga Saga - Chapter 68

    However, Rognvald's intentions in building the cathedral were not entirely honourable.Born in Agder, Norway, around 1100AD, Rognvald was the son of Kol and Gunhild, the sister of Saint Magnus. He changed his name from Kali Kolsson in honour of Earl Rognvald Brusison - the earl of Orkney from around 1037 until his murder in 1045.Before long, Rognvald turned his attention to his uncle Magnus’s half-share of the Orkney earldom. In 1129, his chance came when he was handed the earldom by the Norwegian king, Sigurd the Crusader.At the time, Rognvald did nothing about claiming his share. In fact, he did nothing for some time, until King Harald, Sigurd’s successor, ratified the claim.

    Then, Rognvald assembled a fleet and set sail for Orkney, with the intention of overthrowing Paul Hakonsson, the existing earl of Orkney. After battling severe weather, Rognvald and his men finally landed in the islands, but were met with fierce resistance.Not surprisingly, Paul had no intention of giving up his earldom without a fight.It was then that Rognvald's father, Kol, had an idea.Rather than wage all-out war, he suggested that Rognvald should try and secure the earldom by other, less direct, means. Kol instructed Rognvald to tell the people of Orkney that once he became earl, he would raise the finest church the north had ever seen. This church was to be in memory of his saintly uncle, Magnus, a man whom the islanders venerated above all.

    While Rognvald was capturing the hearts of the Orcadian people, behind the scenes he had Earl Paul kidnapped in Rousay and spirited from the islands.The Orkneyinga saga is unclear as to the fate of the dispossessed Paul.
    Sweyn Asleifsson is said to have reported back to Rognvald that Paul had been blinded and incarcerated – upon the instruction of Paul who had decided to remain in Scotland.

    However, it adds:-

    “But some men tell a story which is less seemly, that Margaret had led Sweyn Asleifsson, by her counsel, to blind earl Paul her brother, and put him into a dark dungeon; but after that she got another man to take his life there.”

    The saga concluded:

    “…we do not know which of the two stories is more true; but all men know that he never afterwards came back to the Orkneys, nor held he any rule in Scotland.”

    Paul's murder, or abdication, saw his three-year-old nephew Harald Maddadsson made joint-earl. And back in Orkney, despite the underhand tactics surrounding the fate of Earl Paul, Rognvald was good to his word.

    With the earldom in Rognvald's hands, work on the cathedral started. Under the direction of the wily Kol, construction work began in 1137.The ambitious project was to be built on a prime site by the shore - which at that time came up as far as the current Kirk Green.However, a project on this scale was not cheap and Rognvald's grandiose construction scheme soon ran short of money.
    Kol stepped in again, this time advising his son to restore the rights of tenure to Orkney's "ødallers" in return for a cash payment.

    Rognvald agreed, the scheme was a success and construction continued.Unfortunately, Earl Rognvald never saw his cathedral reach a state anywhere near completion. In 1158, he was murdered by a rebellious Scottish chieftain.
    Rognvald's bones were returned to Kirkwall, where they were eventually placed within the cathedral he had founded.

    He was canonised in 1192, but some doubts exist as to the validity of his sainthood, because no existing records seem to confirm it.However, Saint Rognvald's relics were discovered in the 18th century, set into a stone pillar opposite the one that would, in 1919, be found to contain Saint Magnus' holy remains.Built from alternating bands of local red and yellow sandstone, the cathedral of Saint Magnus gradually grew, and with it the village at its feet. Upon its completion, three centuries or so after the first foundation stone was laid, it towered over Kirkwall - by now a thriving town.

    The cathedral has been justifiably described as "one of the finest and best preserved medieval cathedrals in Scotland" and it is not difficult to see why.

    Even now, over 860 years after the initial building work began, St Magnus Cathedral still dominates the Kirkwall skyline - a familiar, and comforting sight, to Kirkwallians around the world.

    Bishops Palace


    The Bishop's Palace, Kirkwall is a 12th-century palace built at the same time as the adjacent St Magnus Cathedral in the centre of Kirkwall, Orkney, Scotland. It housed the cathedral's first bishop, William the Old of the Norwegian Catholic church who took his authority from the Archbishop of Nidaros (Trondheim). The ruined structure now looks like a small castle.

    Originally, it is thought to have been like a typical Royal Norwegian palace, with a large rectangular hall above store rooms and a tower house as the Bishop's private residence. King Haakon IV of Norway, overwintering after the Battle of Largs, died here in 1263, marking the end of Norse rule over the Outer Hebrides. The neglected palace had fallen into ruins by 1320.

    In 1468, Orkney and Shetland were pledged by Christian I of Denmark and Norway for the payment of the dowry of his daughter Margaret, betrothed to James III of Scotland, and as the money has never since been paid, their connection with the crown of Scotland has been perpetual. In 1526, the palace came briefly into the possession of William, Lord Sinclair, before he was ordered to return it to the Bishop of Orkney. When King James V of Scotland visited Kirkwall in 1540, he garrisoned his troops in the palace and in Kirkwall Castle. Soon afterwards, extensive restoration was begun by Bishop Robert Reid, the last of Orkney's medieval bishops, who also founded the University of Edinburgh. Reid added a round tower, the Moosie Toor.

    Ownership passed to Robert Stewart, 1st Earl of Orkney, in 1568, then to his son Patrick Stewart, 2nd Earl of Orkney who planned to incorporate it into his Earl's Palace, Kirkwall, but debts forced him to return it to Bishop James Law. Earl Patrick's son Robert seized both palaces in 1614, and a siege followed, though it is not known if this caused damage to the structures, both of which are now ruins.

    Thorfinn the Mighty
    Thorfinn Sigurdsson (1009?–c. 1065), also known as Thorfinn the Mighty, (Old Norse: Þorfinnr inn riki) was an 11th-century Earl of Orkney. He was the youngest of five sons of Earl Sigurd Hlodvirsson and the only one resulting from Sigurd's marriage to a daughter of Malcolm II of Scotland. He ruled alone as earl for about a third of the time that he held the title and jointly with one or more of his brothers or with his nephew Rögnvald Brusason for the remainder. Thorfinn married Ingibiorg Finnsdottir, daughter of Finn Arnesson, Jarl of Halland.

    The Heimskringla of Icelandic historian Snorri Sturluson, and the anonymous compiler of the Orkneyinga Saga wrote that Thorfinn was the most powerful of all the earls of Orkney and that he ruled substantial territories beyond the Northern Isles. A sizeable part of the latter saga's account concerns his wars with a "King of Scots" named Karl Hundason whose identity is uncertain. In his later years he went on a pilgrimage to Rome and he was instrumental in making Orkney and Shetland part of mainstream Christendom. On his death in the latter half of the 11th century he was followed as earl by his sons Paul and Erlend.

    Thorfinn was the youngest of the five known sons of Earl Sigurd Hlodvirsson, but the only son of Sigurd's marriage to an unknown daughter of King Malcolm II (Máel Coluim mac Cináeda). His elder half-brothers Einar, Brusi and Sumarlidi survived to adulthood, while another brother called Hundi died young in Norway, a hostage at the court of King Olaf Trygvasson.

    Earl Sigurd was killed at the Battle of Clontarf on 23 April 1014. Before setting out for Ireland, he had sent Thorfinn, then aged five, to be fostered by his maternal grandfather, the King of Scots. When the news of Sigurd's death came, Thorfinn's older half-brothers divided Orkney and Shetland between them. King Máel Coluim set Thorfinn up as ruler of Caithness and Sutherland with Scots advisors to rule for him. Earl Sigurd had also been a ruler of the Suðreyar but these holdings appear to have escaped the control of the earls of Orkney at the time of his death or shortly thereafter.

    The Orkneyinga Saga provides this description of Thorfinn:


    He was unusually tall and strong, an ugly-looking man with a black head of hair, sharp features, a big nose and bushy eyebrows, a forceful man, greedy for fame and fortune. He did well in battle, for he was both a good tactician and full of courage.


    {The locations of Orkney, Shetland, the Hebrides, Mann and various mainland territories in the late 11th century}

    Joint earldoms were a frequent feature of the Norse earldom of Orkney, although the Orkneyinga saga is less than explicit about how these shares were divided up geographically. Sumarlidi died in his bed not long after his father, most likely no later than 1018 and Einar took his share, ruling two-thirds of the earldom with the remaining third held by Brusi. Einar soon became unpopular, demanding heavy taxes and frequent military service from the farmers, and gaining little booty on his raids. He was, the saga says, "a great bully", whereas Brusi was "well liked by everyone".

    The farmers of the isles opposition to Einar's rule were led by Thorkel Amundason and, in danger of his life, he fled to Thorfinn's court in Caithness. He became his foster-father, hence his by-name, "Thorkel Fosterer". After Sumarlidi's death the disposition of his third share in Orkney and Shetland became a matter of dispute when Thorfinn claimed it as his. While Brusi was willing to grant it to him, Einar, who was "ruthless and grasping, a hard and successful fighting man" and somewhat like Thorfinn in temperament was not. Einar and Thorfinn each began raising an army to settle matters by force, but Earl Brusi made peace between them by raising his own men to come between them and then persuading Einar to give Thorfinn what he asked for. It was also agreed that on the death of either Brusi or Einar, the surviving brother would inherit the other's share.

    Thorfinn appointed Thorkel Fosterer as his tax-gatherer in the islands, but Einar had not forgotten their earlier dispute and Thorkel again left the islands in fear of his life, returning to Thorfinn's base in Caithness . Thorkel then travelled to Norway with Thorfinn's support, to meet with King Olaf Haraldsson. He was well received there, for Olaf bore his own grudge against Einar for the killing of his comrade Eyvind Aurochs-Horn some years earlier. Olaf invited Thorfinn to Norway, and he too was welcomed to Olaf's court. Thorfinn and Thorkel returned to Orkney to find Einar raising an army against them. Brusi again made peace between them, and it was agreed that Einar and Thorkel would entertain one another to a feast.

    In October 1020 Einar attended Thorkel's hall at Hlaupandanes in Deerness in a sour mood. On the last day of the feast Thorkel was supposed to travel with Einar for the reciprocal event, however his spies reported to him that ambushes had been prepared against him along his route. Thorkel therefore delayed his departure, leaving Einar to wait for his arrival by the fire in his great hall. Thorkel arrived by stealth, walked into the hall with one of his men and they killed Einar. Thorkel then escaped to Norway.

    The death of Einar did not end the dispute over Sumarlidi's third of the islands. Brusi considered that it belonged to him, as he and Einar had agreed when Thorfinn received a third of the islands. Thorfinn thought that the islands should be divided equally. However, Thorfinn could count on the assistance of his grandfather, King Malcolm, while Brusi had only the forces he could raise from his share of the islands, making any conflict a very unequal one. Brusi went to Norway to have King Olaf judge the dispute, and Thorfinn joined him there. Brusi surrendered the earldom to Olaf, who granted a third to each brother, and kept a third for himself. Thorfinn attempted to use his relationship with the King of Scots as a means to avoid acknowledging Olaf as his overlord in Orkney and Shetland, but Olaf threatened to appoint another to rule Thorfinn's share. Following Thorkel Fosterer's advice, Thorfinn agreed to Olaf's settlement. After Thorfinn left Norway, Olaf gave Brusi the disputed third to rule on his behalf, but kept Brusi's son Rognvald in Norway as a hostage. These events have been dated to 1021.

    This arrangement lasted while Olaf was king but in 1030 he was overthrown by the Danish king Cnut the Great at the Battle of Stiklestad. After this Orkney was raided by Norwegians and Danes and Brusi agreed to give the King's third to Thorfinn in return for his seeing to the defence of the islands. This agreement lasted until Brusi's death, some time between 1030 and 1035. After that, Thorfinn was sole ruler of the Orkney earldom as a vassal of the King of Norway and as Earl of Caithness responsible to the King of Scots.

    The Orkneyinga Saga says that a dispute between Thorfinn and Karl Hundason began when the latter became "King of Scots" and claimed Caithness, his forces successfully moving north and basing themselves in Thurso. In the war which followed, Thorfinn defeated Karl in a sea-battle off Deerness at the east end of the Orkney Mainland. Then Karl's nephew Mutatan or Muddan, appointed to rule Caithness for him, was killed in Caithness by Thorkel Fosterer. Finally, a great battle at "Torfness" (probably Tarbat Ness on the south side of the Dornoch Firth) ended with Karl either being killed or forced to flee. Thorfinn, the saga says, then marched south through Scotland as far as Fife, burning and plundering as he passed.

    At some point around 1034 Thorfinn is said to have conquered the Hebrides and he is likely to have been a de facto ruler of the Kingdom of the Isles, in whole or in part until his death (although the assumption of Echmarcach mac Ragnaill as "King of Mann" from 1052–1061 may have encroached on his territories).

    Thorfinn ruled alone in Orkney until the return of his nephew Rognvald Brusason in about 1037. Rognvald had received the favour of King Magnus "the Good" Olafsson, who granted him Brusi's share of the islands and the third which Olaf Haraldsson had claimed after Einar's death. Thorfinn agreed to this division, but presented the transfer of the third claimed by the Norwegian king as a gift to Rognvald in return for aid in Thorfinn's wars in the Hebrides and the Irish Sea.

    King Sigtrygg Silkbeard had died c. 1036, and the kingship in Dublin had come to Echmarcach mac Ragnaill, who was challenged by Imar mac Arailt and driven out in 1038. This instability in Dublin can only have helped Thorfinn and Rognvald, who raided far and wide and established their rule over various lands around the Irish Sea. They are said to have won a major victory beside Vatzfjorðr, perhaps Loch Vatten on the west coast of Skye, and to have raided in England, with mixed success.


    {Kalf Arnesson with the young Magnus at the Battle of Stiklestad: 19th century illustration by Halfdan Egedius}


    In time, Thorfinn and Rognvald fell out. The vivid account of the war between Thorfinn and Rognvald in the Orkneyinga Saga which survives may well be only a part of a much longer saga now lost. Their enmity arose with the arrival of Kalf Arnesson and his followers in Orkney. Kalf was the uncle of Thorfinn's wife Ingibiorg and he had been instrumental in the death of King Olaf. He later left Norway to escape King Magnus Olafsson. Rognvald, with Kalf's brothers, had shared Magnus's exile in Kievan Rus under the protection of Prince Yaroslav the Wise and the saga says that when Kalf and Einar Belly-Shaker came to Ladoga to invite Magnus back to Norway, Rognvald had been on the brink of attacking Kalf until Einar explained the reason for their visit and that Kalf had repented for his part in overthrowing Olaf.

    Thorfinn found hosting Kalf and his men a burden, and in time asked Rognvald to return the third of the earldom "which had once belonged to Einar Wry-Mouth". Rognvald refused, saying that it was for King Magnus to settle matters. Thorfinn began raising an army, and Rognvald's islanders were unwilling to fight Thorfinn, so Rognvald sailed to Norway where King Magnus supplied him with ships and men. He returned to the islands, facing Thorfinn and Kalf Arnesson in a sea battle which Arnór the skald commemorated in verse. The battle went Rognvald's way to begin with, but in the end he was defeated and forced again to seek refuge with King Magnus.

    King Magnus offered to fit out another expedition for Rognvald, but he decided to take just one ship and a picked crew. He sailed to Shetland in winter and, learning that Thorfinn was staying on a farm on the Orkney Mainland with only a few men, he set out at once to attack him. Rognvald's men surprised Thorfinn, and set the farm ablaze. The saga says that Thorfinn had to break down a wall and escape, carrying his wife in his arms, flying south to Caithness for safety. Rognvald ruled in Kirkwall over the winter, believing Thorfinn dead, but in the spring, while staying on Papa Stronsay, Thorfinn and his men turned the tables, taking Rognvald by surprise, just as he had surprised Thorfinn. Rognvald escaped the house Thorfinn had surrounded, but was tracked down, given away by the barking of his lap dog, and killed by Thorkel Fosterer

    Even with Rognvald dead, Thorfinn was not entirely secure. The saga recounts an attempt to make peace with Magnus Olafsson, who had sworn vengeance for the death of his men in Thorfinn's attack on Rognvald. Magnus was at war with the Danish king Sweyn Estridsson, and died before he could take any action. Magnus's uncle and successor, Harald Hardrada, was more friendly towards Thorfinn, and made peace, accepting Thorfinn's gifts.

    Thorfinn had two sons, both by his wife Ingibiorg, and unlike a number of his predecessors he appears to have married only once. Furthermore, unlike his brothers, Thorfinn had been raised as a Christian. Among the signs of the changes in Orkney society was Thorfinn's pilgrimage to Rome, which took place after his meeting with King Harald, probably beginning in 1048. The saga says that he travelled through Saxony, meeting with Emperor Henry III on the journey. It is thought that he also met with Archbishop Adalbert of Hamburg-Bremen.

    The Orkneyinga saga suggests that, as a result of Thorfinn's request, the first Bishop of Orkney was appointed at about this time. Named Thorulf, he may have been the same person as "Roolwer", Bishop of the Isles. The original seat of the bishops of Orkney was Thorfinn's new Christ Kirk at Birsay, (or perhaps the Brough of Birsay), near the Earl's palace where Thorfinn had his residence in his later years.

    The Orkneyinga saga dates Thorfinn's death no more precisely than placing it "towards the end" of Harald Sigurdsson's reign, who died at the battle of Stamford Bridge in 1066. Thorfinn was buried at the Christ Church he himself had built. He is known to history as "Thorfinn the Mighty", and at his height of power, he controlled all of Orkney and Shetland, the Hebrides, Caithness and Sutherland, and his influence extended over much of the north of Scotland. The saga also makes a grander and more unlikely claim – that he controlled a total of seven earldoms in Scotland.

    He was followed as earl by his sons Paul and Erlend and his widow Ingibiorg the "Earls' Mother" later married Malcolm Canmore, King of Scots. St Olaf's saga states that following Thorfinn's decease "many of the dominions that the earl had laid under himself were lost".

    Rognvald Brusason
    Rognvald Brusason (died 1046), son of Brusi Sigurdsson, was Earl of Orkney jointly with Thorfinn Sigurdsson from about 1037 onwards. His life is recorded in the Orkneyinga Saga.
    Rognvald was taken by his father to Norway, to the court of Olaf Haraldsson, when Brusi and Thorfinn went there to have the inheritance of Einar Wry-mouth's third-share of the Earldom settled. Olaf kept Einar's share for himself, appointing Brusi to administer it, and kept Rognvald at his court.

    The Orkneyinga Saga says of Rognvald:

    Rognvald was one of the handsomest of men, with a fine head of golden hair, smooth as silk. At an early age he grew to be tall and strong, earning a great reputation for his shrewdness and courtesy ...

    Rognvald was a supporter of Olaf Haraldsson, later Saint Olaf, sharing his exile in Kievan Rus, and helping his brother Harald Sigurdsson, better known as Harald Hardraade, escape after the Battle of Stiklestad in 1030. While Harald went on to Constantinople, Rognvald and other exiles remained in Rus, in the service of Yaroslav the Wise. Rognvald returned to Norway with Olaf's son Magnus the Good in 1035.

    While Rognvald was abroad, his father had died and Thorfinn Sigurdsson was ruling all of the Earldom of Orkney. Rognvald asked King Magnus for his third part of the Earldom, and Magnus agreed, giving him three ships and granting him the stewardship of Magnus's own third share. When Rognvald arrived in Orkney, he sent to his uncle Thorfinn asking him for the two thirds of the Earldom which Magnus had given him. Thorfinn agreed to give Rognvald his father's third, and the third which Magnus claimed into the bargain, although he claimed not to recognise Magnus's claim and presented this as a gift in return for Rognvald's assistance. Thorfinn and Rognvald worked closely together for eight years, fighting against enemies in the Hebrides and raiding Scotland and England.

    However, the earls eventually fell out. The proximate cause of their quarrel, according to the saga, was the arrival of Kalf Arnesson, the uncle of Thorfinn's wife Ingibiorg Finnsdottir.
    Kalf had a large following which placed a heavy burden on the Earl's finances. Plenty of people told him that he shouldn't let Rognvald have two-thirds of the islands, considering his heavy outlay.

    Rognvald and Kalf Arnesson were not friends. The Orkneyinga Saga reports that Rognvald, a staunch supporter of Saint Olaf, came close to attacking Kalf in Rus, who alone among the Arnessons had betrayed Olaf, when he came to pledge his support to Magnus. For that reason, if for no other, Rognvald refused to hand over the third which Thorfinn asked for. From then onwards, relations deteriorated. Rognvald was defeated in a sea-battle and sought refuge in Norway with Magnus while Thorfinn took control of the earldom.

    With a single ship, and a crew of picked men, Rognvald returned to Orkney hoping that surprise would enable him to retake the earldom. He succeeded, but not entirely as Thorfinn was able to flee to Caithness. However, soon afterwards, Rognvald was surprised in his turn, but was killed by Thorkell the Fosterer while escaping, given away by the barking of his lap dog.

    Rognvald was buried on Papa Westray. The Orkneyinga Saga offers this assessment of Rognvald:-
    'Everyone agrees that of all the Earls of Orkney he was the most popular and gifted, and his death was mourned by many.

    Henry Sinclair

    Henry I Sinclair, Earl of Orkney, Lord of Roslin (c. 1345 – c. 1400) was a Scottish and a Norwegian nobleman. Sinclair held the title Earl of Orkney (which refers to Norðreyjar rather than just the islands of Orkney) under the King of Norway. He was sometimes identified by another spelling of his surname, St. Clair. He was the grandfather of William Sinclair, 1st Earl of Caithness, the builder of Rosslyn Chapel. He was best known today because of a modern legend that he took part in explorations of Greenland and North America almost 100 years before Christopher Columbus. William Thomson, in his book The New History of Orkney, wrote: "It has been Earl Henry's singular fate to enjoy an ever-expanding posthumous reputation which has very little to do with anything he achieved in his lifetime."

    Henry Sinclair was the son and heir of William Sinclair, Lord of Roslin, and his wife Isabella (Isobel) of Strathearn. She was a daughter of Maol Ísa, Jarl of Orkney. Henry Sinclair's maternal grandfather had been deprived of much of his lands (the earldom of Strathearn being completely lost to the King of Scots).

    Sometime after 13 September 1358, Henry's father died, at which point Henry Sinclair succeeded as Baron of Roslin, Pentland and Cousland, a group of minor properties in Lothian.

    Although the Norwegian Jarldom of Orkney was not an inheritable position, successive appointments had operated as if it had been. After a vacancy lasting 18 years, three cousins – Alexander de L'Arde, Lord of Caithness; Malise Sparre, Lord of Skaldale; and Henry Sinclair – were rivals for the succession. Initially trialling de L'Arde as Captain of Orkney, King Haakon VI of Norway was quickly disappointed in de L'Arde's behaviour, and sacked him.

    On 2 August 1379, at Marstrand, near Tønsberg, Norway, Haakon chose Sinclair over Sparre, investing Sinclair with the Jarldom or Earldom in the Peerage of Scotland. In return Henry pledged to pay a fee of 1000 nobles before St. Martin's Day (11 November), and, when called upon, serve the king on Orkney or elsewhere with 100 fully armed men for 3 months. It is unknown if Haakon VI ever attempted to call upon the troops pledged by Henry or if any of the fee was actually paid.

    As security for upholding the agreement the new jarl left hostages behind when he departed Norway for Orkney. Shortly before his death in summer 1380, the king permitted the hostages to return home. In 1389, Sinclair attended the hailing of King Eric in Norway, pledging his oath of fealty. Historians have speculated that in 1391 Sinclair and his troops slew Malise Sparre near Scalloway, Tingwall parish, Shetland.

    It is not known when Henry Sinclair died. The Sinclair Diploma, written or at least commissioned by his grandson states: "...he retirit to the parts of Orchadie and josit them to the latter tyme of his life, and deit Erile of Orchadie, and for the defence of the country was slain there cruellie by his enemiis..." We also know that sometime in 1401: "The English invaded, burnt and spoiled certain islands of Orkney." This was part of an English retaliation for a Scottish attack on an English fleet near Aberdeen. The assumption is that Henry either died opposing this invasion, or was already dead.

    Henri Santo Claro (Henry St. Clair) signed a charter from King Robert III in January 1404. It is supposed that he died shortly after that although his son did not take the title until 1412. Therefore, he died somewhere between 1404 and 1412, killed in an attack on Orkney, possibly by English seamen.

    Intertwined with the Sinclair voyage story is the claim that Henry Sinclair was a Knight Templar and that the voyage either was sponsored by or conducted on the behalf of the Templars, though the order was suppressed almost half a century before Henry's lifetime.

    Knight and Lomas speculate that the Knights Templar discovered under the Temple Mount in Jerusalem a royal archive dating from King Solomon's times that stated that Phoenicians from Tyre voyaged to a westerly continent following a star called "La Merika". According to Knight and Lomas, the Templars learned that to sail to that continent, they had to follow a star by the same name. Sinclair supposedly followed this route.

    The theory also makes use of the supposed Templar connection to explain the name Nova Scotia ("New Scotland" in Latin). It is based on the 18th-century tale that some Templars escaped the suppression of their order by fleeing to Scotland during the reign of Robert the Bruce[23] and fought in the Battle of Bannockburn.

    Claims persist that Rosslyn Chapel contains Templar imagery. Andrew Sinclair speculates that the grave slab now in the crypt is that of a Templar knight. According to author Robert Lomas, the chapel also has an engraving depicting a knight templar holding the sword over a head of an initiate, supposedly to protect the secrets of the templars. Rosslyn Chapel was built by Sir William St Clair, last St Clair Earl of Orkney, who was the grandson of Henry. According to Lomas, Sir William, the chapel builder, is also the direct ancestor of the first Grand Master of Masons of Scotland, also named William St Clair (Sinclair).

    According to Lomas, the Sinclairs and their French relatives the St. Clairs were instrumental in creating the Knights Templar. He claims that the founder of Templars Hugh de Payns was married to a sister of the Duke of Champaine (Henri de St. Clair), who was a powerful broker of the first Crusade and had the political power to nominate the Pope, and to suggest the idea and empower it to the Pope.

    However, a biography of Hugues de Payen by Thierry Leroy identifies his wife and the mother of his children as Elizabeth de Chappes. The book draws its information on the marriage from local church cartularies dealing chiefly with the disposition of the Grand Master's properties, the earliest alluding to Elizabeth as his wife in 1113, and others spanning Payen's lifetime, the period following his death and lastly her own death in 1170.

    I have found my own research that the orkleys isles you would think to be the quietest of places considering its locations...but its not so, i encourage others to look at whats out there,for there is more history there than i can cover here!...and finally one last notable castle to finish:-

    Cubbie Roo's Castle
    In the western side of Wyre are the ruins of one Scotland's oldest stone castles.Known as Cubbie Roo's Castle, the site takes its name from the best-known giant of Orkney folklore. This has led to the widespread connection between the mythical Cubbie Roo and the castle's actual builder, the Norse chieftain, Kolbein Hrúga.Although there are no distinctive features to allow the experts to conclusively date the structure, it is generally agreed to be have been built around 1145 AD.

    This date is corroborated by the Orkneyinga Saga, which relates that:

    "[Kolbein Hrúga] had a fine stone fort built there, a really solid stronghold"
    The island, and its famous castle, is mentioned in other Icelandic sagas, with Kolbein referred to as
    "the most haughty of men …who had a good stone castle built there that was a safe stronghold."

    The original structure was a simple stone tower, roughly eight metres square, with walls 1.7 metres thick. A series of ramparts, consisting of a ditch, earthworks and a stone wall, provided the stronghold's outer defences.

    The castle's first line of defence was an earthen rampart encircling a two-metre deep ditch. Those who made it past the ditch would then have been confronted by a towering stone wall.Today, the wall survives to a height of 1.2 metres but the sheer thickness of its base (2.2 metres) implies that it once rose to a considerable height.Access to the security of the castle's courtyard was via a "bridge" spanning the outer ditch. This was made up of flat stone slabs laid over two drystane supports.A second set of supports lie immediately to the north but their function remains unclear.

    The castle walls survive to a height of around two metres, with only the ground floor remaining. Given the lack of an entrance in the surviving walls, it seems likely that the entrance to the keep was on a higher level – probably the first floor.Although there is no evidence of an entrance surviving today, an account written in 1688 does make mention of a door high in the walls.

    The castle's defences appear to have done their job well.In Haakon's Saga, for example, we learn that it was under siege in 1231 after the murderers of Earl John took refuge there.

    Archaeological excavations, in the 1930s, revealed that the stronghold was in use, and maintained, for some time, with at least five external building phases identified. Over time, extensions were added to the main tower and a series of buildings constructed around it.These external buildings eventually spilled out over the site's defences, which were levelled to make room. This shows that, by this stage of the its development, defence was clearly not as important as it was when the castle was first built.

    The giant, Cubbie Roo
    "In the days of miracles and other supernatural appearances there lived a mighty giant named Cubbierow beside the Fitty Hill of Westray. He seems to have had a feeling of enmity towards some unlucky individual, and was determined to punish him severely.
    Although his foe had fled to Rousay, a distance of about eight miles, the giant took up his position on Fitty Hill; and seizing the huge slab, he hurled it at his enemy across the intervening sound....the marks of Cubbierow's fingers are to be seen on that stone unto this day."
    R. Menzies Fergusson - Rambles in the Far North - 1884


    Orkney's best-known giant was Cubbie Roo, a creature of such monstrous proportions that he was said to use Orkney's many islands as stepping stones.
    Cubbie Roo's traditional home was the island of Wyre, but there are many tales of his exploits and these were not restricted to that small island. Evidence of his deeds can be found throughout the North Isles in the form of "Cubbie Roo" placenames, such as Cubbie Roo's Burden and the Cubbie Roo Stone.In an exact parallel to the tales of the Norse jotuns, and their bridge building exploits, Cubbie Roo was renowned for his numerous attempts at building stone bridges to link the islands - a strange obsession for a creature supposedly large enough to stride across the stretches of water separating each island.

    In all these cases, however, Cubbie's bridge building efforts wer in vain. The basket he strapped to his back to carry the stones nearly always breaks and the stones fall, later becoming some well-known landmark, mound or skerry.
    For example, Cubbie Roo was responsible for attempting a bridge between Rousay and Wyre. The stones for this structure fell and formed the mound now known as Cubbie Roo's Burden.

    While creating a bridge to Eynhallow, Cubbie inadvertently created the "Skerry o the Soond", while a failed construction attempt between Eday and Westray formed the Red Holm. Dane's Pier in Stronsay was said to be the result of a failed attempt to build a bridge between Stronsay and Auskerry.
    Last edited by paladinbob123; May 26, 2020 at 09:47 AM.
    "War is the continuation of politics by other means." - Carl von Clausewitz

  19. #1279
    Turkafinwë's Avatar The Sick Baby Jester
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    Default Re: [Britannia Expansion - Custom Submod] The Isles of Chaos (Roleplay Hotseat)

    Ireland up: http://www.mediafire.com/file/slti0q...nd_93.sav/file

    Apologies for the delay. RP will follow later, nothing much happened, it's all fluff basically but will do it tomorrow.

  20. #1280
    zender9's Avatar Domesticus
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    Default Re: [Britannia Expansion - Custom Submod] The Isles of Chaos (Roleplay Hotseat)

    Wales up:
    https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachmen...C_wales_93.sav


    As the plague continues, so does chaos in the Ireland. Throne is still empty and new king isn't crowned. Communication is lost all over the Ireland as cities and castles locked down their gates not letting anyone or anything to get inside or out. People are dying non stop, yet food shortage isn't an issue still. Everyone is praying for this deadly disease to pass.

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