Re: Rise of the Capetians
Below is the first set of questions. I think it would be best if you only view your own. It's not hugely important, but it may give me more flexibility in the write-ups if people accept this. Some factions aren't hugely involved yet, and so only have a couple of questions. Next chapter things will really start to heat up as the consequences of these decisions become clear and some diplomacy has taken place. Obviously, you don't have to pick any of my options and you can elaborate on what you wish to do. Plus you can add things that I haven't put in this chapter.
The situation is as described in the original post, so there's not much more to write of for this chapter. The next one will have a write-up similar in length to the OP. It would be great if the decisions could be into me by Sunday evening to allow time to write up the next chapter and release it next Wednesday. The deadline for sending your decisions to me is by Tuesday evening.
Please send these by PM. Also inform me of any agreements, whether formal or informal, which have been reached.
January 1st, 988 AD
The Capetians:
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:1. Now is the time to ensure you have dialogue with your vassals and ensure they recognise your authority. Do you wish to:
a) Summon a council (at Paris unless otherwise stated) and demand all the great lords attend in person.
b) Summon a council (at Paris unless otherwise stated) and demand all the great lords send emmissaries.
c) Demand a small amount of tribute from each vassal as a token of your overlordship.
d) Send emmissaries to each great lord to see if they will achnowledge your overlordship.
e) Do nothing.
2. Several bordering states appear to show loyalty to the Carolignians. Do you wish to:
a) Levy all available troops throughout the royal lands.
b) Levy half the available troops to halt any surpise invasions.
c) Do nothing.
* also specify where to base troops and under whose command
3. Louis of Upper Lorraine is the last Carolingian with a legitimate claim to your throne, and is residing outwith your Kingdom in East Francia. Do you wish to:
a) Attempt an assassination.
b) Send an emmissary to negotiate with him to remove his claims.
c) Do nothing.
4. Several towns within your domain may increase their trade through being granted charters. While this may improve your relations with them, it also gives them more independance. Do you wish to:
a) Grant charters to all towns that ask for them.
b) Grant charters to only the largest and most prosperous towns.
c) Grant charters, but only if immediately granted tribute.
d) Grant charters, but demand the services of the town's militia in times of war.
e) Refuse to grant any charters, and keep the prosperity with the nobles.
5. As King of France, you must consider the claims of Hugh to the County of Maine. Do you wish to:
a) Accept his claims.
b) Deny his claims to the throne.
c) State whether you wish to support either Normandy or Anjou's claims to Maine.
d) Make no comment on the matter for now, although you may appear neglectful as King.
The Duchy of Brittany:
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:1. Celtic Christianity is still influential your Breton population. But converting to the Roman Catholic faith may boost your relations with your neighbours. Do you wish to:
a) Request the conversion of Celtic Christians within your territory.
b) Demand the conversion of Celtic Christians within your territory.
c) Execute the leaders of this faith and supplant them with Roman Catholic clergy.
d) Burn, raid, pillage, and exterminate all Celtic Christians, denouncing them as Heretics before Rome.
e) Convert to Celtic Christianity.
f) Do nothing.
2. In the far-western parts of Brittany elements of tribalism remain dominant over feudalism. Do you wish to:
a) Grant less valuable land in these areas to the lesser sons of nobles to gradually implement a feudal structure.
b) Impose more binding ties of vassalage on the tribal chiefs to consolidate a somewhat more feudal structure.
c) Execute tribal leaders and confiscate their lands.
d) Burn, raid, pillage, and exterminate the barbaric Bretons before ordering a plantation of more civilised Franks.
e) Re-implement the tribal structure throughout the more feudal eastern Brittany.
f) Do nothing.
3. The war with Blois may be over, but Anjou is still a great threat. Do you wish to:
a) Levy all available troops throughout the land.
b) Levy all the Breton troops available (about two-thirds of total).
c) Levy all the Frankish troops available (about one-third of total).
d) Do nothing.
The Duchy of Normandy:
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:1. Pagan practises are still common in the more remote areas of Normandy, remnants of the Norse influence. If left alone, this could lead to disorder in future times. Do you wish to:
a) Request the conversion of Pagans within your territory.
b) Demand the conversion of Pagans within your territory.
c) Execute the Pagan leader and supplant them with Roman Catholic clergy.
d) Burn, raid, pillage, and exterminate these heathens, burned at the stakes for their crimes against God!
e) Convert to paganism and encourage its implementation throughout Normandy.
f) Do nothing.
2. As Norse influence decline, it may be wise to embrace the Frankish culture. This may make your people less warlike, but improve relations with your neighbours, especially the monarchy. Do you wish to:
a) Slowly grant areas of land to Frankish nobles and encourage settlement in them.
b) Execute any Norse nobles and confiscate their lands.
c) Burn, raid, pillage, and exterminate the barbaric Norse.
d) Encourage the influence of Norse culture.
e) Do nothing.
3. A mere nobleman has proclaimed himself Hugh II of Maine, claiming lands belonging to you. Do you wish to:
a) Accept his claim and recognise his independance.
b) Request that he takes back his claims and allow him to return to his home.
c) Allow his to retain his position if he accepts terms of vassalage to you.
d) Raise an army and march to Maine!
e) Do nothing, and act on this later.
The County of Anjou:
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:1. While at war on four fronts, an army must surely be raised quickly. Blois in particular is a great threat, but equally now is an ideal time to make clear your claims to Maine. Do you wish to:
a) Raise an army and enforce your claim to Maine while the province is in revolt.
b) Raise an army and march on the young state of Brittany while it recovers from the occupation by Blois.
c) Raise an army to fight Blois over the disputed area of the Touraine.
d) Raise an army to fight Aquitaine, Blois' southern ally.
e) Disperse your forces to more than one front.
f) Do nothing.
2. This pretender to the County of Maine could be useful in achieving your claims to the area. Do you wish to:
a) Accept his claim and send troops to support him.
b) Reject his claim and send troops to enforce your own.
c) Offer military support against Normandy should he become your vassal.
d) Aid Normandy in suppresing the revolt.
e) Do nothing, holding onto your claims.
The County of Blois:
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:1. You face war on both your eastern and western borders, and must allocate your troops wisely. Do you wish to:
a) Send all troops available to levy to the Touraine, the area disputed with Anjou.
b) Invade the Capetian royal domain and subdue this pretender of a King!
c) Levy troops to defend Blois.
d) Do nothing.
2. You must consider your stance on the revolt in Maine and the claims of Hugh "II". Do you wish to:
a) Accept Hugh's claims. This will likely anger both Anjou and Normandy who have claims to the region.
b) Offer Hugh vassalage in return for your military backing. This will almost certainly lead to war with Normandy.
c) Reject Hugh's claims, improving your relations with Normandy.
d) Say nothing on the matter.
The County of Troyes and Meaux:
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:1. You have stood with Blois in your loyalty to the Carolingians and opposition to Hugh Capet. There are royal lands isolated within your domain. Do you wish to:
a) Raise all your available forces with an eye to taking or besieging them next turn.
b) Since both the areas of Laon and Reims are isolated in your lands, offer them a peaceful changeover to your hands.
c) Cut off all their supplies, perhaps prompting a reaction from the Capetians but hastening a surrender deal.
d) Do nothing.
2. Louis of Upper Lorraine has claims to the throne of France and could restore the Carolingian dynasty. He stays near you eastern border. Do you wish to:
a) Offer him to stay in your lands, showing your support, and getting time to gain support from other regions.
b) Immediately offer to proclaim him King of France and ask him to raise an army to join yours in revolt.
c) Send emmissaries with some token tribute as a symbol of your support of him.
d) Do nothing.
3. Several towns within your domain may increase their trade through being granted charters. While this may improve your relations with them, it also gives them more independance. Do you wish to:
a) Grant charters to all towns that ask for them.
b) Grant charters to only the largest and most prosperous towns.
c) Grant charters, but only if immediately granted tribute.
d) Grant charters, but demand the services of the town's militia in times of war.
e) Refuse to grant any charters, and keep the prosperity with the nobles.
The County of Flanders:
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:1. To the north of your land, the Flemish people have a somewhat different culture to the Franks of the south. Removing this divide may create unity within your realm. Do you wish to:
a) Slowly grant areas of land to Frankish nobles and encourage settlement in them.
b) Execute Flemish nobles and confiscate their lands.
c) Burn, raid, pillage, and exterminate the inferior Flemish population.
d) Encourage the development of the Flemish culture.
e) Do nothing.
2. Several towns within your domain may increase their trade through being granted charters. While this may improve your relations with them, it also gives them more independance. Do you wish to:
a) Grant charters to all towns that ask for them.
b) Grant charters to only the largest and most prosperous towns.
c) Grant charters, but only if immediately granted tribute.
d) Grant charters, but demand the services of the town's militia in times of war.
e) Refuse to grant any charters, and keep the prosperity with the nobles.
3. Urbanisation is happening far more noticably in Flanders than other areas of northern Francia. Do you wish to:
a) Encourage urbanisation, creating prosperity but creating more independent cities.
b) Decourage urbanisation, maintaining the control of the rural nobles but leaving a backwards economy.
c) Pillage all heavily settled areas and disperse the populations.
d) Do nothing.
The Duchy of Burgundy:
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:1. Many dispute your brother Hugh's claims to the throne of France. Do you wish to:
a) Support your brother as his loyal vassal.
b) Offer him your support, but negotiate demands for this.
c) Threaten to claim the throne from Robert as his successor.
d) Align yourself with the southern powers, rejecting Capetian authority.
2. Burgundy is culturally divided between the Frankish north and the Occitan-speaking south. Do you wish to:
a) Forcefully impose the Frankish culture.
b) Peacefully encourage the development of the Frankish culture.
c) Forcefully impose the culture of the Romanised south.
d) Peacefully encourage the development of the Romanised southern culture.
e) Do nothing.
The Duchy of Aquitaine:
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:1. Your enemy Fulk of Anjou is surrounded by enemies. Now may be the time to strike and expand into the Frankish heartland. Do you wish to:
a) Levy all the available forces occupy the Touraine, disputed between Anjou and Blois.
b) Levy half the available forces and occupy the Touraine, disputed between Anjou and Blois.
c) Levy forces to plant near the borders of Anjou, displaying your might to the north.
d) Do nothing.
2. There is a small Frankish population within your Occitan-dominated lands. Do you wish to:
a) Expel all the Franks and push them northward.
b) Confiscate the land of Frankish noblemen and give it to your own.
c) Devastate the Franks lands and keep the loot.
d) Execute all Franks and order a plantation of the Occitan populace into the area.
e) Do nothing.
3. You are ruler of the most powerful single territory within France, and a head of the Occitan south. Do you wish to:
a) Declare yourself King of France.
b) Declare yourself King of the southern territories.
c) Retain your support for the Carolingians and maintain relations with Blois.
d) Declare support for the Capetians, perhaps after negotiations.
e) Do nothing.
The Duchy of Gascony:
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:1. Recent Viking raids have left many small Viking settlements dotted across your coastline, creating a potential for disorder. Do you wish to:
a) Slowly grant areas of land to Occitan nobles and encourage settlement in them.
b) Execute any Norse nobles and confiscate their lands.
c) Burn, raid, pillage, and exterminate the barbaric Norse.
d) Tolerate these settlements if they will achnowledge you as their overlord.
e) Grant them their own territory with a noble title of its own, in return for their vassalage.
f) Do nothing.
2. You yourself are of Basque origins, while the Occitan-speaking populace still slightly outnumber your people. Do you wish to:
a) Continue to embrace the Basque culture.
b) Begin reprisals against the Occitan populace by confiscating the land of nobles.
c) Burn, raid, pillage, an exterminate the inferior Occitans.
d) Visibly embrace the Occitan language and culture, while taking no actions against the Basques.
e) Begin reprisals against the Basque populace by confiscating the land of nobles.
f) Burn, raid, pillage, and exterminate the inferior Basques.
e) Declare your toleration for both peoples.
g) Do nothing.
The County of Toulouse:
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:1. As trade flourishes within your lands, it may be worth investing some of the profits into securing longer term prosperity. Also, you must consider where future wealth will lie. Do you wish to:
a) Develop the Meditterranean ports to continue trade with the Italian states and other nearby coastal areas.
b) Develop roads to increase trade with your neighbours Gascony and Toulouse.
c) Invest around your heartland of Toulouse and focus on self-sufficiency and internal trade.
d) Do nothing.
2. Your noble family is currently limited to yourself, with no heir nor a wife to produce one! Under these circumstances, if you should die the King will be free to appoint your title to whoever he pleases. Do you wish to:
a) Marry a suitable woman of minor nobility.
b) Consult the great lords (players here) and arrange a marriage or even plan a future marriage with any daughters they should have.
c) Hope a concubine produces and heir, although he/she will lack legitimacy in the eyes of many.
d) Do nothing.
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Originally Posted by Sooh
- for "On this day in History"
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