[SSHIP - England] The Plantagenet Princes
THE PLANTAGENET PRINCE - THE THIRD CRUSADE
As King Henry Plantagenet sits upon the throne of Britannia in London, Conqueror of Ireland, he seeks the support of Pope Innocent to crown him as King of Britannia after the Scottish and Irish conquests. In return for the crown of Britain, King Henry sent his younger brother Prince Jacob off to attend the Third Crusade in support of the Pope. In the 1160's the Crusader States wrote and requested help to the Pope due to the increasing power of the Fatimid Caliph and capture of Jerusalem in 1160 by the Caliph himself. In the next following two years preparations were set by the Pope for a Crusade in the Holy lands to help relieve pressure from the Crusader states and recapture Jerusalem. King Henry responded to the call of arms by the Pope, In 1164, Prince Jacob, set sail from Toulouse to the Holy Lands, arriving on the shores of Tripoli. The Prince took his army East of Tripoli and besieged Damascus, and surrounded the city, assembling a battering ram as well as siege towers.
In fears of Muslim reinforcements arriving, Prince Jacob commanded his army to storm the walls and take the city by force. On the morning of October Third, 1164 the Crusaders readied to the cross the walls of Damascus. The siege towers pushed forward by the Crusading army, as they approached the walls all that responded was light arrow fire alas the Crusaders pressed on. Once the siege tower mounted the wall and the ramp dropped, instead of being met with fierce screams and roars they were met with petty town militia whom most of ran away from the crusaders. As the crusaders entered the city some units attempted to repeal them in the streets, they were butchered down by the crusaders. The gates were busted open and the Prince entered the city on horse back, watching as his men looted and burned the city. The army busted through the streets, entering homes, temples, and stores taking whatever they wished. Almost four hours of looting took place in the city once the walls were breached. After hours went by, Prince Jacob rallied his crusading army on the market square before marching to the Great Mosque of Damascus.
Once arriving at the Mosque, Prince Jacob delivered a zealot driven speech outside the Mosque speaking of the Crusades 'Road to the Holy City'. After the speech went on for about ten minutes, it was ended by the crusaders kicking open the doors of the Mosque. Once inside the crusading army began looting the Mosque of all valuables and items, this carried on for over three hours before the Mosque, built in 715, was caught on fire and destroyed. After a day of burning, the Mosque was left in a pile of rubble.
A young Prince Jacob Plantagenet, shortly after conquering Damascus. He is the youngest son in the Plantagenet family, often regarded as arrogant and stupid however a seemingly handsome young man. Unlike his older brothers he was left to his own devices and was often to get in trouble. Sometimes it said that King Henry sent his younger brother on a Crusade just to get rid of him from the Royal Court. Others suspect he was sent to the Crusade due to him sleeping with the Duke of York's wife, a rumor that was frequently told in the Royal Court.
In a page taken from the Prince's personally diary, he describes the feeling of storming Damascus as he writes "When we approached the walls I had a sense of fear seeing battle for the first time, however when we took the walls and entered the city I felt like a King. However, there is a long road ahead to the Holy City. I cannot await to return to Britain as a hero."
Please note this is my first AAR, and my attempt to showcase my role playing in the mod SSHIP following the rise of the Plantagenets as Kings of England and in my case as the rulers of a unified Britain.
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Prince John Plantagenet was fourteen years old upon his introduction to the Royal Court of England, as well as his marriage to his twenty seven year old aunt. Oldest son of King Henry and heir apparent to the throne of Britain, John Plantagenet, Prince of Britain and Wales married his aunt Edmugene at the age of fourteen. His father, mother as well as the Dukes of England attended the Royal wedding. Upon arrival all subjects paid tribute to their future King in forms of gold and gifts. While the wedding was set up by John's father King Henry, it is said that the wedding was arranged due to John's aunts experience in the royal courts of Europe as well as her understanding of the royal court. Edmugene was highly regarded as Charming, Beautiful, Wise and Charming. As John would be the first to inherit a kingdom or rather an Empire of a unified Britain, leading it would be no easy task. John was highly recognized as an intelligent individual since a young age, the two despite the nearly thirteen year age difference was lethal in the courts of Britain.
