Royal Parliament

[mini]

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.