Royal Parliament

[OOC] This thread is for players in the Magna Carta PBM to post in character public deliberations in the Royal Parliament. All out of character debate should be conducted in the OOC thread.

The Parliament has two main functions: to vote taxes, , and to pass petitions for the King ot conside.

The Parliament will be governed by William the Conqueror (Ignoramus) or, in his absence, by his son, Prince Rufus (Cultured Drizzt fan).

Petitions need to be formally proposed as follows:

Petition by (name of baron): I beseech the King to declare war on Scotland.

Petitions need two seconders (who should explicitly use the word "second" when supporting a motion) before they can be put to the vote.

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(OOC: Posting can start as soon as William the Conqueror(that's me) makes his first post)

The newly constructed St. Stephen's Chapel in London was a scene of some activity. King William of England had just called the first Parliament of the English Realm. A few groups of discontented Saxon peasants had attempted to disrupt the meeting, but were dealt with appropriately by the Norman men-at-arms standing guard.

Inside the chapel were the assembled nobles of the realms. At this present time, the only notables present were William Rufus, the favourite son of the Conqueror, Robert Curthose, the eldest son of the Conqueror, and of course the king himself.

Once all the attending nobles had taken their seats, the king rose to speak.

"I have called you here, my vassals and noblemen of the realm, to hear your petitions on the governance of the realm. Since my conquest of this fair land some fourteen years ago, I have had no time to attend to such matters, as the Saxon swine were ill-disposed to my rightful rule.

However, apart from the rebellious Saxons in York, there now exists peace throughout my realm. I am therefore intending to call such parliaments as these when I require advice on pressing concerns.

Now, my barons. Let me hear your petitions!"

Robert had arrived early at the chapel. A day before, dressed as a commoner, he had walked throughout London to inspect the various places of public works his father had instructed only to find nothing to fault.
Typically his father, flawless in all he did. Curse him.

Today, he had walked through the great chapel. Robert found the whole thing rather pompous for a man whose idea of religion was that god was there to act on his wishes.

Robert II, nicknamed Curthose by his father for he was shorter in length than average in their family, reminisced about his youth.
For some reason, his father had never seemed to like him. Or atleast seemed to like his younger brother better.
As he didn't get along with Rufus, there had been much strife between them. And their father always seemed to side with Rufus. Robert had not forgotten.

And when William the bastard decided England was rightfully his and departed on his invasion, Robert had been eager to go along.
Yet his father had deemed his place to be in Normandy. While William the Bastard performed the deed that changed his name to WIlliam the Conqueror, Robert was stuck in Normandy.
Henry I of France already felt threatened by William's marriage to Mathilda of Flanders, one of his barons gaining a whole new kingdom absolutely terrified him. Henry I therefore attempted a few invasions of Normandy, which Robert repelled.
Noble work, yes. But carving out a whole new kingdom would have been somethign Robert excelled at. His military prowesse was known to be up there with his fathers.
Yet it had been William Rufus who had been taken along across the channel.


Years later, Robert II named Curthose, still had not forgotten all the slights at his character, from youth to the present day.

He eyed his brother askance when he accompanied the king into the chapel.
Face composed, he heared the speech his father gave. A silence fell as the king gazed upon both his remainign sons.
As Rufus remained silent, Robert spoke atlast


"Your majesty," Robert had ceased calling his father 'father' at any occassion a long time ago, "Henry I of France is restless. After the last 2 invasions I had to repel, his mind has been distracted by several of his barons showing their malcontent. A few have even openly rebelled."
He studied his fathers face, trying to catch a glimp of his thoughts. "As matters in the new realm have settled down, I would like to request more resources to be dispersed to Normandy.
The castle at Caen needs better training facilities if we are to retain our lands on the main land."
Robert faked some hesitation before breeching the next subject
"Also, I'd like to request receing more men, or the approval of recruiting more men so we can fortify our powerbase on the mainland outside Normandy. Bretania lies for the taking, the bretons are in revolt. To the north, Flanders is yet still independant, but Henry I will not tolerate those peasants to ignore his rule for much longer.

We should strike before Henry does, lest our family lands be endangered by our former souvereign who feels threatened by our secession."

There, it was said. Rufus had his usual grin whenever he and Robert were together, and his fathers face could have been set in stone. Feeling anger rising, Robert smashed it with all his pwoer of will, and only he knew how great the effort was to keep a plain face.


Robert II, Duke of Normandy, requests upgrading of Caen barracks and extra troops to expand into bretagne or flanders.

Henry barges into the council chamber, how can we turn our attention to the french when in the north the scots wait for a chance to destroy us! we must turn the full force of our armies north to end the scots once and for all!
Petition by Henry: I beseech the king for troops be trained at nottingham and used to take york and then move north to take on the Scots.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

drizzt, aren't you supposed to be Henry, about to come of age? ;p I'll assume you are henry, barging in on a meeting he is slightly too young for.

Robert eyed this youngest of his brothers and sighed. Yet another one his father preferred over his eldest son. Irritation crept up his spine. Looking at his father, he couldn't discern anything which might give away his thoughts.

"My Lord. I agree with young Henry here that your attention should turn north. Although I have no evidence about these so-called warmongering Scots and will await until Henry furnishes any to judge them as an enemy.
Yet the Saxon remnants at York must be destroyed undoubtedly.
As My Lord's spies can tell him as good as I can, taking York will not take all the men My Lord has in his service. Therefore, why not lash out in 2 directions? Creating a powerbase on both the Island as the mainland.
We should not neglect our family estates in Normandy, nor should we refrain from using the current weakness of Henry I of France. If we do not strengthen our hold on the mainland, we will suffer retribution from the French king once he puts down the current revolts. He still has not forgiven us for abandoning our vassalship and go gallavanting on our own. If he doesn't strike at us, we will serve as an example for his other vassals, and could inspire them to break away aswel. He must and will act.
This is a certainty, whereas the Scots have yet not given any cause for enmity.

If I may suggest My Lord, you can take York with but a fraction of the army here. Whereas I need more resources to expand and prepare for French retribution." Robert concluded with an irritated glare at his youngest brother.

(ohh If I can be henry that would be fine, I just assumed I couldnt RP him until he came of age, I will change it.)
Henry smiles Mischeiviously at his brother, I was not proposing we let our estates be neglected I just question the wisdom, nay Sanity of someone who would provoke french anger at us before we are secure in the Isles.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Well, since you are a son of the king, you can barge in on a meeting like this.
It will be a few turns only until he comes of age anyway. So why not play it out like this from the start :)

At Henry's interruption, William grimaced.

"Ah, er, young Henry..." he stuttered, "...shouldn't you be with your tutor, Roger?"

Reflecting for a moment, the king's face suddenly brightened.

"Nevertheless, I am sure you will benefit from being in attendance here. And I agree, my boy, that the Scots are disgusting creatures, and too Caledonian for my taste. But go and sit with Roger."

Turning to Robert, the king's face showed considerably less warmth to his eldest son.

"So you desire the fair land of Bretagne? Well, I am not sure how this house will take such a suggestion, but I am sure the Bretons won't be too serious a challenge for you to learn of war.

As for Northumbria, I can all of you here that the Saxon banner will not fly over it's buildings for long."

Robert wasn't even suprised at the reactions of both his brother and his father.

"Henry, I am provoking French anger?" Robert gave a harsh laugh.
"Let me remind you that not 10 years ago, our father was a vassal to the king of France. On his own authority, he invaded England, and made himself King and thereby breaking his vassalship to the King of France.
So it is not me who has angered the French King. What I am trying to do, is prepare our family lands against retribution from the French.

The only way to do that, is creating a stronger powerbase on the mainland. If the French only have to invade Normandy, we will have less power to repell them.
I am confident in your abilities to capture York Mylord, and I might be able to take Bretagne with the abyssmal smal army I have in Normandy right now.
But I'm not asking for reinforcements to capture Bretagne. I ask for reinforcements to guard Normandy while I am away. I ask for resources to strenghten our fort in Caen, so it can withstand anything the French throw at us.
I ask for barracks so I can raise new troops to fight the French when they come.

I have but long realised you bear no love for me father, but let your feelings not cloud your judgement"

Robert but barely managed to hide his anger. He glanced at WIlliam Rufus, wondering when he was going to speak, and what he would say. No doubt it would be in Roberts disadvantage.

Henry laughed, His brother sure could act angry, come now brother if you weren't so easy to bait I wouldnt have to make things up. I agree with you, Our lands in Normandy have to be defended, But I am not sure I agree with expansion, not yet anyway... well I had better go learn whatever Roger is huffing about... Henry Frowns and stomps out of the room
(hey somebody has to play the light hearted one. Henry is blissfully unaware of how much his family hates eachother! :beam:)

Robert watched Henry dart out the room. Uncomfortably aware that Rufus had not psoken yet, he turned his eyes to the king once more. Were there undercurrents here he was not aware off? Sometimes Robert wondered why he even bothered with politics anymore.


"Your majesty, the best defence against French retribution is an expansion on the mainland. If we are able to make an iron fist there, Henry will think twice before confronting us. If it's only Normandy he has to consider, he will not hesitate..."

Prince Rufus, who had so far remained quiet in one corner, waited until Robert and Henry had left. His father looked exhausted upon his throne, tapping absent mindedly with his fingers upon the throne's arm. Rufus, meanwhile, walked slowly to the window, of which he looked down upon the figure of Robert as he saddled his horse and left, presumebly for Portsmouth, and from their a boat back to Normandy.

Rufus had been thinking over what his brothers had been saying. Robert, the fiery and unloved fool, simply could not hide his emotions in court. It was one of the reasons why his father had never favoured him. He was too quick to anger, too impatient to act, where sometimes careful planning and thinking over a situation was needed. He was however a strong and heroic character, who always had striven to win his father's heart. It was not Robert's fault that William favoured Rufus.

The young Henry may have a stout heart and caring nature, however he was as yet untested and untainted by the troubles of war and suffering. He had yet to kill a man or see one die, or lead men into battle. His carefree views of the world and the trust that good would always triumph over evil were one day going to fade. It was never that simple.

Yet Rufus had voiced none of these opinions upon his brothers, or indeed his father, who he now stood alone with in the audience chamber. It would do his father, nor the rest of his family, any good should Rufus' personal feeling's about others' strengths and weaknesses be spoken. Everyone was aware, thus nothing needed to be said. Rufus knew he had his own good and bad points, but always strove to correct them when possible.

William sighed heavily, and Rufus turned, finally breaking the silence.

My lord, forgive me for not contributing to the discussion just now. I did not feel it my place to begin another argument in an already strained arena.

We set sail from Normandy all of thirteen years ago, when I was but a young boy. We have carved ourselves a beautiful and strong kingdom, from the County of Cornwall all the way to the Midlands. Yet our conquests have made other jealous, and those of our island as yet to come under our control quake, and make plans to defend what land of theirs remains. The King of France was always angry at our breaking of the protectorate, and although we have managed to defend our Dukedom through the security you left it in, we are not safe.

I have a tough question for you, my lord, one of which answering may require sacrifice. M question is thus:

Are you a Duke? Or are you a King? Because to be both is to lie and neglect, and to be one is to abandon. But is our country England, or Normandy? Only you can decide this, my king, my father. I will stand by you whatever your decision, as I am sure your other two sons will as well. But you must choose. What say you?

The king gazed steadily at his favourite son for a moment. "This is why I have chosen him to be my heir," he thought.

"To put it simply, son, I am both King of England and Duke of Normandy. The throne is England is mine by blood right, however, due to the foul oath-breaker Harold and our subsequent invasion, the land is also mine by conquest.

At the moment, Normandy and England are equal in importance, the former being our birthplace and loyal to my rule, while the latter will prove in time to be the fairer of the two possessions.

However, if force to choose between the two, I would relinquish the ducal cornet of Normandy, for the kingly crown of England."

Rufus nodded. He knew his father would have chosen this path.

Then our way is set, my lord. You have chosen the far harder and more difficult route, though it is the one that will, if surpassed provide the greatest rewards. We have risen above the simple dukedom that we once were. We are now officially no longer vassals, who answer to the foreign kings on the continent. We have accomplished what our northern ancestors failed to do so many times previous; conquer Britain.

But we cannot go at this lightly; to survive in such treachourous times requires a strong leader, a brilliant warrior and a clever diplomat. There is no doubt that King Henry will demand either Normandy to be returned to loyalist French control, or he will demand England for himself, claiming it to be his right by conquest.

We now have to decide whether to dig ourselves in in our new homeland, or to take the war straight to France. But I warn you, my lord. Do no fight a war on two fronts, not at such an early stage of our freedom. It will be the death of us. Enemies and possibilities surround us. We do not need more.

The remnants of the Saxons still cower in the north before the border. It is of my opinion that these should be dealt with first. We can then strengthen our hold on the region, while sending small groups of forces further north to the Wall, and examine the state of the kingdoms beyond it.

The Celts hide in their Welsh mountains, freqently sending raiding parties across the border to ravage the countryside. This issure needs to be dealt with also, to protect our backs. Wales must either be pacified or at the very least subjigated before we embark in any other campaign. We cannot afford problems at home. I would suggest that, if not a military exbidition, than the strategic placement of castles and forts to watch over the land and the border, controlled by our nobles.

The French must be dealt with, though personally I would attempt to disuade you from an early exbedition back across the Channel. Robert can hold Normandy for as long as is necessary, but I would suggest we do just that: hold it. Not expansion against the other French vassal states; this will only cause greater problems, and stretch our already thin line. Our forces in Normandy are numerous and strong, while our forces in England are battered, bruised, and spread thin. We can barely draw together an army. I suggest we contact Robert, and demand reinforcements from Normandy to be sent here.

That should be our military strategy, sire. Now we must move onto diplomatic measures. As a new kingdom, we will appear weak and unimportant, looked down upon by those older factions. We must accept that we will have little say in foreign politics for now, at least until we can prove ourselves. But I have an idea of how to do just that: send forth dignitaries to the greater European powers, such as the Holy Roman Emperor and the Italian states. If we can get patronage from either of these areas of strong influence, we can quickly become much more feared and respected. I also suggest we send word to the Pope, displaying our will to become a strong and just Christian Kingdom, ridding the island of the Saxon heathens. With the Pope's support, not even Henry would dream of attacking us. We took this island with God's Will, as I am sure you remember, flying the Pope's banner over the Channel. We should repay his blessing.

With trade and information from the European states, we can begin to stabalise our young and vulnerable kingdom. We must build our strength, but also remain pure and good meaning, especially to his Holiness. Only with his ultimate blessing will our Kingdom be secure.

These are my humble ideas, sire. What say you of them?

The king rose and smiled as he spoke.

"I can assure you that I have no bone to pick with the Franks - yet. Indeed, I intend to strengthen our grip on my new realm, and see it prosper before I start a quarrel with Philippe.

You are wise, my son. I am glad to see that at least one of my sons has the head of a king on his shoulders.

Go and show those Saxons at York who there king is."

Having concluded his address, the king turned and left the chamber.