The Long March: A CKII -> EUIV AAR

[mambaman]

Do love your writing Monk. Used to also love EU games before time then playing the Total War franchise took over. Having read all of this and seen the screenshots I'm really tempted to invest.

What's CKII though? Was a bit confused as to what this game is and how the AAR is suddenly going to switch to EUIV halfway through?

[rickinator9]

What's CKII though? Was a bit confused as to what this game is and how the AAR is suddenly going to switch to EUIV halfway through?

CKII is another game by Paradox Interactive. You can export a CKII game to EUIV and then play the game in EUIV.

[mambaman]

Ahhh I see-yes had a look-used to love EU games but not played since EUII. May have to repurchase though amazingly expensive

[Monk]

Last time on the Long March:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

And now the continuation:

Germany Rises

The History of the Kingdom of Germany during the Reign of:
Serhilda I 'the Conqueror', Daughter of Leopold IV of Germany.

Reigned c. August 29. 1062 – October 15. 1125

Disaster at Havelberg.

The King is dead, cut down by the heathen forces of the Polish Warlord, his men launch a fierce counter attack in a desperate attempt to recover the fallen king's body. Unleashing a decade of anger and frustration for their kingdom's plight, the tired men of Germany manage to route the defending Poles through much bloodshed. The body of Leopold IV is recovered and the war is declared over. Brandenburg is once more under the control of Germany...

But the corpse of the king is barely cold before the schemers descend upon his family. The young Queen Serhilda cannot hope to command the respect of the powerful German Dukes. A small faction of the ruling council, loyal to the Ludolfinger line, steals the young ruler away to the province of Anhalt for her own safety. The intrigues of the court are quickly building.. it's only a matter of time until tensions explode.

December 27. 1062. The Duke of Meckleburg leads a number of the northern vassals against the crown in an attempt to establish old rights lost under Leopold II's reign of madness.. The Battle of Walbeck decides the fate of the war, but even though Royalist forces claim ultimate victory, the insurrection sparks a new period of instability for Germany.. for three years and many terrible battles, the once great Gatekeeper of Europe is locked in a bitter internal struggle.

The royal family flees the capital in the fighting, the Queen rules in Anhalt in secret while many others of the family take to refuge in the south. Sixty long years of internal power struggles had left the Ludolfinger line nearly wiped out by the reign of Serhilda I. Reduced to living beneath a rock like a common beetle, the young queen never forgets this valuable and ignoble life lesson... Germany was being punished for the sins of her family. For the sins of her grandfather and great grandfather, the realm had torn itself apart as every man and woman who held a sword thought they could scrap together a claim on the throne. Yet still loyalist forces remained resolute. Never wavering in their duty, they put down every last rebellion. Every last squabble of the nobles. Unfortunately, by January of 1065 as internal issues began to subside.. the Norseman returned.

Germany was in no position to resist this latest part of Northern Aggression. It seemed as if this would be the end, the royal family in hiding, a weak regent keeping the peace, and a standing army in shambles...

But fate had other designs for Germany..

Levies from Bavaria, France and Bohemia arrived in the capital lead by their kingdom's respective nobles to lead the defense of Germany's tired and ragged defenders. Standing united, the four great Kingdoms of Europe stood against the Norse

The battle of Dithmarschen marks the turning point for Germany's fortunes. It was here in August of 1065 that Germany, battered and regretful, stood with its brothers and sisters of Europe against a common enemy. 17,000 troops smashing the Norse invasion and reversing the terrible spiral that the Kingdom had been caught in.

The people of Germany were jubilant at the news of victory, even more so by the return of their Queen from hiding. The young girl sat upon the German throne to receive the formal emissaries of her equals from across Europe. With their support, Germany had stood once more..

For the next 6 years the under aged girl would rule in her capital, earning a reputation for bravery and kindness in ways that her great grandfather and grandfather could never hope to be. But she would not truly come into her own until her 16th birthday in July of 1071. Her coming of age was marked with great celebrations all across her kingdom. At last.. Germany had a true ruler again.

The only surviving child of Leopold IV, Serhilda had few aunts and uncles. Her father had died in battle and her brother had died at the age of 6. What had remained was a woman who had grown seeing her nation wrapped in turmoil. She had seen the power of Germany laid low by scheming Dukes. The results of over sixty years of war.. The nobles were disunited, only brought together by their desire for more power.. but Serhilda was a woman unlike any monarch who had come before her in Germany's History. She was not a warrior. She was not a plotter.

She was a diplomat.

Through tireless work the new Queen put to rest decades long feuds between the various factions all vying for power in Germany. In just a few months, Serhilda had solved issues that decades of war could not see set right. The vassals were given new honorary titles to compensate the loss of their feudal rights and the growth of the obligations to the throne. Cathar heretics were expelled from the council, and new building projects were ordered through the kingdom to remake the fortifications laid low from so long a civil war.

Within six months.. Serhilda had united Germany anew. She would need their power for her growing ambition.

For too long the German people had been divided into two Kingdoms. The North of Germany, and the South of Bavaria. Both had been born out of the demise of East Francia. Both claimed the ultimate right of succession to that noble legacy of leading the Germany people, and both had been locked in a continuous struggle for that right since their foundations. At times the two kingdoms were friends, other times they were enemies.. Serhilda sought to bring that relationship to an end.

She petitioned the Pope for the right to invade Bavaria. Her cause was noble, so she argued. With the fall of the Karlings from power, Bavaria had been dangerously unpredictable entity. Expanding into Hungary like a ravenous beast, destabilizing the Carpathian basis in the process. For years, Bavaria had battled the Hungarian Kings for control of the basis, only leading to tens of thousands of deaths on boths sides.

Germany would see that put to an end. Serhilda would see it ended. The Pope agreed, and the war was launched.

Bavaria had been engaged in border skirmishes with the Hungarian nobles when the news of war came.. German knights at the head of a vast army. A newly united Germany, come to avenge the loss of Thuringia. Come to see the two kingdoms unified, once and for all...

The war would be the greatest victory in Germany history up to that point. Bavaria, weakened by the war against the Norse, weakened by continuall attacks by Hungarian forces to regain De Jure land, fell before the northern attack. North and South were now united.. and Serhilda was hailed as the greatest monarch in the history of Germany – barely two years after she had come of age. The 18 year old Queen was hailed 'the Conqueror' upon the defeat of Bavaria..

Making good on her word to put an end to the power grabs in the east, many of the Hungarian territories were released as independent duchies..

Germany was now truly Kingdom of the Germans.

The vassals of Bavaria were surprisingly easy to control. They bent their knees to the new ruler of Bavaria and welcomed the unified German kingdom. In one fell swoop, Germany had reasserted its power as the greatest successor state of the Karlings.. for many, this would have been enough. For many monarchs they would have rested there, but for Serhilda, this was just the start.

Denmark had fallen more than twenty years ago to the Heathen King of Sweden. Its people were still catholic and cried out for liberation. Serhilda used this as a pretense for war. With a newly united German Kingdom behind her, she declared war upon King Halsten of Sweden, sending 36,000 men north to claim Jylland.

Swedish forces were ultimately crushed and Jylland liberated. Germany was now master of the center of Europe without peer.. but there were still things out of reach.

October. 1080. Bohemia declares a reconquest of lost territory to Poland.. spirals out of control whem Germany backs Bohemia, and Poland is supported by Galich. The East is set on fire in the coming months with German forces clashing with Polish troops numerous times.. but it isn't until the entry of Galich into the fighting and the battle of Glatz that the war is truly decided.

Over 50,000 men from both sides of the conflict meet at Glatz. The Bohemian/German forces win initial skirmishes but as the battle is truly joined, the military brilliance of the Galich troops is revealed in their commander's great skills. Boasting some of the finest warriors and commanders of Europe, Galich smashes the German attack and forces a terrible route. Germany is forced to withdraw from the fighting shortly after, a month later, Bohemia capitulates and signs a truce.

Beaten but hardly broken, Germany turns its attentions to rebuilding for the next decade. Serhilda, even though she had not been able to turn back the tide at Glatz, is seen as the greatest hero of the century. The woman who united Germany and Bavaria. The woman who had defeated the great Swedish King and reclaimed Jylland.

It would be a reputation the Queen welcomed in earnest. Using her popular image as reason to further liberate Denmark, she declares a second war in 1089, this time for Sjaelland.

Germany's power cannot be denied.

Serhilda has united Denmark, Germany and Bavaria beneath the rule of a single person. No King, no matter how great, had done so. Not since the reign of the Karlings themselves had any dynasty been able to make such a claim. In 1090 Serhilda declares that a new age of peace had arrived for Germany. She had won the nobles. She had won the people, and although defeated in the east, the had won wars in the North and South. Now she intended to win the peace. Her building projects, initiated upon her first assesion to power, were continued. The Fortifications that had been rebuilt were upgraded. New barracks for the soldiers were created. New temples and places of prayer for the church..

For ten years Serhilda reigns in peace. For ten years she oversees the greatest reconstruction efforts that Germany had ever seen. For the first time in over 70 years, Germany and her people live in harmony with themselves. No great war to be fought. No injustice to right. Simple peace.

Germany was now the strongest kingdom in Europe. Its rivals laid low, her people happy, and her nobles well taken care of. The long night had ended.

That is.. until the Pope gives an impassioned sermon on the plight of Europe's brothers of the faith in Jerusalem. His call for a crusade sways many, the Queen of Germany included! Serhilda commits nearly her entire standing forces to the effort, including her second and third sons, Christian and Emerich respective.

The forces make first landfall in late April. 1101, and after nearly 8 months of campaigning the great Arabian Caliphate is laid low. His standing armies destroyed. His hope for victory dim. It seemed as if Jerusalem would be taken!

Unfortunately, the independent satropies of Persia were not to stand idly by as their ally in Arabia fell. They launched a powerful counter attack, completely annihilating the Western Christians in the battles that followed.

Unable to accept the defeat. Christian and Ererich Ludolfinger lead a daring seaborn invasion of Arsuf, attempting to reopen the beachhead and allow western forces a port for reinforcements. Their attack goes down in history as a moment of celebrated glory for the crusaders. Even though defeated and forced back into the sea, the brothers win tremendous fame for their bravery against all odds. They are held up as an example of all that Germany represents..

The crusade for Jerusalem is called off after three years of terrible fighting. But even in defeat, many of the West look upon the experience as a heroic and noble act. Many soldiers and commanders return home having earned great fame..

Germany's soldiers return home. Defeated in the east, they march north to retake Skane and finally unite Denmark beneath their Queen's command. Commanded by the crusading sons of Serhilda, the battles that follow are completely one sided. Sweden's defense cannot hold and Skane falls to the German invaders.

Having secured nearly all of lawful Denmark, Serhilda bestows the Kingdom of Denmark onto her son, Emerich I..

With the act.. this puts her dynasty in control of four kingdoms in Central Europe. Bavaria. Germany. Bohemia and Denmark are all controlled by the Ludolfinger dynasty. Where only twenty years ago the dynasty appeared on the verge of death, Serhilda the Great. Serhilda the Conqueror, Serhilda the Bold, has restored the glory of Germany and elevated the kingdom to heights it has never seen before. Could it be that hers was a dynasty to eclipse even that of the Karlings?

For the next twenty years Serhilda reigns in peace. Having united so much, brought peace to so many, the Queen herself finally takes time to enjoy the hard won victory that she alone had made possible. She had saved Germany from the brink of collapse. United the Germany people beneath one throne. Placed her son on the throne of Denmark, and supported the first Crusade despite its defeat.

Twenty years of peace was far too little for such a great Queen.

Next up: the reign of Konrad I.

[mambaman]

Superb! I'm really up for buying this game. Which version of CKII is it?

[mambaman]

And also how did you get to start in 867AD? As far as I can see all versions of CK2 starts in 1066..

[rickinator9]

And also how did you get to start in 867AD? As far as I can see all versions of CK2 starts in 1066..

@mambaman: He's playing with the Old Gods DLC. It grants another start date, at 867 AD

Rock on!

[mambaman]

Thanks Rick!

[Monk]

In my haste to bang out the Sunday update I forgot to give you guys an update. Well, here's a brief world overview before we head into Konrad's update tomorrow/thursday.

Another big thank you to everyone who reads and gives feedback. This is a lot of fun to play and write up. The biggest issue most days is just getting the time to play

This screenshot was taken 10 days after Konrad's reign started so there are no spoilers, just a world overview.



Things to note:

Slavic tribes have united under two powers, Galich which is an old enemy of the West and the relatively untested Lithuania, who formed a few days before Serhilda's death. Lithuania was formed by Livonia who has been a power in the north for decades but could never get their act together. Well now they do..

Byzantines are largely static, which I think is an issue with CK2 as a whole. Most mods I've played don't seem to address the issue of the Byzantines never wanting to die. Usually when they do it's out of a fluke. Still! There they are. Their borders have grown a bit since the last shot but they really aren't that powerful. I think most powers of the game simply have no interest in fighting them, and those that do aren't powerful enough to do much.

Arabia is still the monster blob they usually are but they're a paper tiger. If it wasn't for the persian Satropies jumping in on the first crusade we would have had Jerusalem. I had the points to make the claim easily, 2nd place was Venice who had hired up like 15,000 mercenaries for the crusade...

Christian hopes in Spain are falling apart. The north is divided between two powers of equal strength, Asturias and Navara, while the south is controled by a united Sultan. France has been meddling there for around 30 years but they haven't been able to win any victories.

England has become the land of broken Conquerors. Ireland, Scotland and Wales were uniterd beneath a powerful Celtic dynasty and were waging war against England, but it all fell apart for them. The Norse still have a few enclaves in the British Isles and have somehow managed to survive for centuries. Not sure how.

England has turned Frankish and lost its Anglo-Saxon roots. Around half the vassals are now Franks from intermarrying into the French nobility.

The Capets have lost control of France. France spiraled into a pretty serious civil war when I was fighting Bavaria for the fate of Greater Germany, they lost and have been on elective since the late 11th century. Despite that, France remains the second greatest Kingdom of Western Europe, with Germany now claiming the top role.

Italy, once a powerful successor to the Karlings, is on the verge of losing total control in the boot. The Dukes are tearing away at the King's powers and they re getting further decentralized.

The Seljuks got wrecked somewhere in the last century or so. I'm not sure what happened to them, honestly! As far as I can tell they didn't declare on Arabia. I think they went into the Steppes but there's litterally no trace of them. Their title has no holder.


All in all? This is shaping up to be a fascinating world. It's been a while since I had the drive to play a long game, I'd nearly forgotten the fun of watching the world build around you. Germany struggles and toils in Central Europe, but she is very much just one part of the larger world.

The realms of Europe are starting to stabilize as we exit the chaos of the Dark Ages. However... we're also now (officially) only 100 years from the rise of the Mongols. That should shake things up QUITE a bit. Remember that the nature of the Mongol Invasion is random, in some campaigns the Mongols do not march West and you never get the invasion.. I was considering forcing it with console commands at the right time. With how awesome this world is, it'd be a shame to spare it such a calamity...

[mambaman]

Building very nicely indeed Monk

[Visor]

@Monk

[rickinator9]

@Monk you have got until 18th of November before the save becomes incompatible.

[Monk]

@Monk you have got until 18th of November before the save becomes incompatible.

Next ruler is halfway done. I hit a pretty busy point in my life in October. Things are settling down though so I am playing again

Steam is set to never update. As long as I don't verify my cache integrity I think I can remain self-contained.

[Monk]

DEADLINES BROKEN. READERS LEAVING. FIRE AND BRIMSTONE COMING DOWN FROM THE SKY. RIVERS AND SEAS BOILING. FORTY YEARS OF DARKNESS. THE DEAD RISING FROM THE GRAVE.

HUMAN SACRIFICE.

DOGS AND CATS. LIVING TOGETHER.

MASS HYSTERIA.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Sorry for the delay. October sucked.

we now return to your regularly scheduled updates.

On the Hunt: The Second Crusade

The History of the Kingdom of Germany during the Reign of:
Konrad I 'the Hunter', grandson of Serhilda I 'the Conqueror'.

Reigned c. October 15. 1125 – Feburary 27. 1158

The light of the dawn had broken the long nightmare which had gripped Germany for almost a century. The time of troubles had, at long last, ended. And to the shock of many it wasn't at the point of a sword or the dagger of an assassin, but the words and quilled pen of a diplomat: Serhilda, the great Queen of the Germans. She had risen from a house divided to shepherd her dynasty through its most tumultuous crisis since its founding nearly three centuries prior. Glory and legitimacy was once more restored to the throne, Germany had ascended to its rightful place as the strongest of all the Karling successor states. When the cold winter of 1125 eased the passing of the good Queen many feared that the great Kingdom would slip back into its previous state of violence, but it was not so.

Konrad I. Son of Konrad the Ill, Grandson of Serhilda the Conqueror, came to power at the death of his grandmother on a cold October day in 1125. His father had passed many years before from a terrible small pox outbreak in the capital, leaving the young nobleman directly in line for the throne. In days passed, this may have put the young master squarely in the sights of scheming uncles.. but with Serhilda's great success in the expansion of her dynasty's grip on Europe, Serhilda had ensured that her many sons were quite sated in their need for glory and honor. Indeed. Konrad's uncles included the King of Denmark and three famous knights of the First Crusade... to say Konrad got a military education would be an understatement!

But upon Konrad's ascension to the throne there were no great wars to fight. No great enemy to vanquish. The Slavic tribes, finally united, who had managed to block German ambitions in the east in generations passed were now falling to infighting once more. The terrible Norseman who had struck fear into the northern coast lines with their endless wars, turning Germany into the Gate watchers of Europe had been pacified by holy men. Denmark was beneath the firm control of a Ludolfinger King, and Norway and Sweden sworn allegiance to the cross toward the end of Serhilda's reign. Konrad instead used his martial ability to hunt game. Organizing great contests between the nobles almost yearly. By the time he had been sworn in as King, Konrad was known all across his realm as The Hunter. It was a prosperous time for his dynasty, and for Germany as a whole. Scholars believe that through almost a sustained civil war had strengthened the resolve of the people who called these lands home. German knights, known through the centuries for their devastating skill at arms, were now said to be even deadlier on the field of battle.


Germany's soldiers had been hardened through ruthless conflict, but its people even more so. In a realm where death could come at any moment with marauding knights of the rival lord's demesne come to pillage your land, society begins to mold to fit the circumstance. There was not a single man or woman left in Germany who did not see themselves as a warrior of some kind by Serhilda's time, and finally, Konrad's. Skill at arms, skills of the hunt.. they were mandatory learning for all citizens of the kingdom. Germany's people had learned the hard way: if you cannot use a sword, you will most certainly die by the sword.

This was the Germany of Konrad I. A kingdom ready for a war. A society turned to respect and honor it. It was this society that was built for the Second Crusade.

The terrible aftermath of the First Crusade and its failure had caused the Pope and his council to rethink their plan of attack in regards to the March of Islam. Jerusalem must be retaken. Jerusalem was the key. But the power of the Arabian Caliphate was far too much fr Europe's combined strength. Only two realms truly had the manpower to even stand a chance against the Caliphates, and Germany and France alone was not enough to win. Therefore it was decided that the Crusades would have a new purpose: the recruitment of new soldiers. The pope delivered a zealous sermon in Rome to an enthralled crowd which sent a fire through all of Europe. He demanded a new army be raised. An army of the faithful, to lead the light of the cross into Iberia and reclaim it for Christendom. It was there, he argued, that the manpower to free Jerusalem would come from. It was there that the new army of the faithful would find tens of thousands of new brothers and sisters to wage the next war. The true war. Europe heeded the call, and Konrad I, King of Germany, was among them with every soldier he could muster.


35,000 men marched into Aragon led by the King himself to see the Pope's vision fulfilled. Aragon was to be liberated!

Breaking almost thirty years of peace, Konrad leads his forces into Muslim occupied Iberia and clashes with the Sultan of Andalusia in the Battle of Empuries. Modern estimates put this battle as the single largest engagement of opposing forces since the time of Rome. Some 80,000 men and horse take the field at Empuries in fighting that last for nearly three weeks.

Western crusaders arrive in the North of Aragon after the long march over the mountains in late August of 1133, taking up position near the town of Empuries.. no sooner had their camp been made than does news reach them that the Moors are gathering in Valencia, reading their forces for an assault. What's more, Muslim forces are estimated to be at a full 40,000.. outnumbering Konrad's host by a fair margin. The King decides to hand command of the expedition over to his uncle, Christian, Son of Serhilda the Great and veteran of the first crusade. Now in his mid 50s, the aging knight is a formidable and shrewd battlefield commander. He pushes the arrayed strength of Germany, who had arrived in Spain far ahead of the French and Lotharingian crusading detachments, to dig in near Empuries and construct great earthwork defenses. By the time the Sultan arrives near the Crusader's position on October 1st, they find a well entrenched army waiting for the coming attack..

The first assault comes on October 15th, 1133. Three days of fighting sees the Sultan's initial attack utterly broken by the Stalwart defense of the Crusaders. Christian rallies his forces and leads a counter attack, but his men are unable to press their advantage when a terrible storm turns the hills into a mudslide. The dreaded power of the German knights is rendered almost useless in the loose terrain, and the crusaders are forced to hold their position. For two weeks, both sides push against one another unable to win traction in either direction, but neither side willing to surrender a single step. The Sultan pushes his brave, holy warriors in the defense of his Kingdom, to hold the line eat every assault, and the combined Konrad and Christian equally inspire the Crusaders to never give an inch. It isn't until three weeks after the battle's start, with the arrival of French and Lotharingian forces, that the Crusaders gain a noticeable advantage in the struggle near Empuries... but not in the traditional way.

With news of Frankish forces just a week away, Christian rallies his men for one last assault on the Sultan lines. He attacks, and in a daring move, orders his cavalry to dismount and lead the charge directly against the Moorish center. Battlefield reports claim the dismounted German knights reaped a sickening toll on the enemy force, who was unable to bring their cavalry to its fullest advantage due to poor terrain and the earthworks of the crusaders. The Sultan's forces are obliterated, and by the time Western reinforcements arrive, the war is essentially won...

Christian is celebrated a hero a second time across all of Christendom for his leadership in the Crusades. For destroying the power of the Andalusian Sultanate and forcing an utter route of the Muslim defenders, Germany is granted the spoils of war. Aragon shall be ruled by the Ludolfinger dynasty. It shall be ruled by a Son of Serhilda, Christian Ludolfinger.

Europe stands in awe. If there was any doubt as to their legitimacy as successor of the Karlings, it could never be disputed now. In the spirit of Charles the Hammer himself, Konrad I had 'led' his men to great victory in Iberia, routing the Andalusian sultan and raising a new Kingdom on the eastern coast of the peninsula. But while the crusade was indeed over, the battle for Iberia was just starting. Enraged at his defeat by the Crusaders, the Sultan of Andalusia launches a surprise attack on Valencia two years later. Local defenders under the command of (now King) Christian are hopelessly outnumbered and wiped out, with the King barely escaping north to his capital. The city of Valencia is razed.. and the call to arms is sent across Europe. A call that all of the Ludolfinger dynasty heeds.

Bohemia. Denmark. Germany, they all answer the call and set sail for Aragon. 30,000 men arrive and meet the combined forces of the Sultan at the battle of Denia.. it is another crushing defeat for the Muslims.. The power of Konrad's dynasty cannot be denied.

Konrad returns home to great jubilation. Not only had he led the effort to win Aragon in the first place, but he had defended her from certain doom as well! The other Karling successor states could only look on in fear at the powerful alliance that was building around them. Denmark. Bohemia. Germany. Bavaria, and now Aragon, were all controlled by the Ludolfinger's. As long as they stood together, none could break them.. as long as they stood together.

In the aftermath of the Second Crusade, Konrad turned to domestic policies and continued the long program of building that had been started by his grandmother. Historians have noted that Konrad made a change from his predecessors, and often came down on the side of the Town's rights as opposed to those of the castle. His focus on increased trade and taxes strengthened the economy of his Kingdom. His reforms would allow an even greater level of prosperity for his people, who by now were absolutely drunk from the long peace enjoyed from Serhilda's reign. The glory that came from the Second Crusade would only deepen the growing sense of pride the Germans began to hold.

As Germany entered a new golden age, the power of the far off caliphs was weakening.

The defeat of the Iberian Sunni at the hands of the Crusaders allowed a new following to take root. The Rise of the Shia sent shockwaves through the great Arabian Empire, which had long oppressed the 'heretical' sect. This was not the first great rebellion of Shia.. but it was the first which succeeded..

The Arabian Empire split in two, with Mesopotamia and Arabia proper being seized by a powerful faction of the rebels... the Middle east was ripped apart by war as the vassals of the Arabian Empire took the chance to rebel and strike out in a bid for independance. Though many of the rebellions would fail.. the Empire had been sundered. A new power had risen in the East.. a power that future Kings of Germany would have to contend with..

Next week: The reign of Konrad II

A bit of a quiet reign, but this is mainly because Germany needs it. 80 years of civil war had me on the verge of collapse. Even after I pulled the queen of hearts herself (Serhilda the Greatest ) There were some powerful factions in my Kingdom that required constant policing. They never turned to be much of a threat, but you cannot be too careful. If I had had it my way I've have spent 50 years building and assassinating threats to the throne, but the Crusade called. Deus vult!


Here is something a bit extra:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Say hello to the Finnish 'Empire'. Completely AI made, this reallm has merged Finland, Novgorod and Lithuania. They have reformed their religion and are asserting complete dominion of the steppes, one tribe at a time.

I am going to fight them. It's time Germany began to assert its dominance on the Baltic coasts.

[Ishmael]

It's good to have this back! I've always found spreading my dynasty far and wide to be one of the most fun parts of CKII, so it's nice to see the Ludolfingers moving into Iberia. I really ought to get the Old Gods DLC, but after all this time I still don't feel like I've exhausted the possibilities of the base game.

Incidentally, what date is the point of conversion to EUIV?

[Monk]

It's good to have this back! I've always found spreading my dynasty far and wide to be one of the most fun parts of CKII, so it's nice to see the Ludolfingers moving into Iberia. I really ought to get the Old Gods DLC, but after all this time I still don't feel like I've exhausted the possibilities of the base game.

Incidentally, what date is the point of conversion to EUIV?

The way the converter works is pretty neat. You can actually convert anytime you like. There's an "export" button which will directly port any date to EUIV. For the purposes of this game I am going to try to hold off until 1450 to convert. Which means we're effectively halfway there

[rickinator9]

Did Finland inherit Lithuania? That's a pretty big blob. They might be trouble later on.

[mambaman]

Great post. Love this game. A couple of tips on your writing. It's rout not route in this case and readying not reading. Small points but don't let a couple of bad bits of English spoil what is an enthralling story. I'm definitely going to purchase this game for Christmas (and get my partner EUIV )

[Monk]

Did Finland inherit Lithuania? That's a pretty big blob. They might be trouble later on.

The path went Livonia -> Lithuana -> Novgorod (PB's version of Rus) and finally -> Finland. Finnish nobles backed the Lithuanian king in a factional power play. The King of Finland couldn't stand against them and abdicated his power, he's currently a duke and pretty upset at the new king.

[Monk]

The Lion's Pride

The History of the Kingdom of Germany during the Reign of:
Konrad II 'the Chaste', Son of Konrad I 'the Hunter' Ludolfinger.

Reigned c. Feburary 27. 1158 – October 4. 1185

The idea of the Ludolfinger dynasty being successors of the Karlings had been whispered ever since Serhilda the Conqueror united North and South Germany. The fall of Bavaria to the northern dynasty and and the subjugation much of central Germany had seen the Saxon based Ludolfinger's rise in prominence on a greater scale than the founder, Otto I, could have ever dreamed. But her victory was left incomplete at her death. For so long Germany had fought traitors within its own ranks, it could not truly make the claim that it so rightfully deserved..

But by the time of Konrad II, son of the grand hunter Konrad I, Germany could finally claim herself the true successor of that great legacy. The Ludolfinger dynasty now held direct control of five great kingdoms across Europe. Germany, leader of this grand alliance, had been struggling to rebuild, to mend over a century of internal bloodshed.. and at last, by Konrad II's reign, her efforts were finished. The old fortresses which had weathered great sieges against Norseman and kinsman alike were rebuild. Tournaments were once again held in honor of the great defenders of Germany, and lavish feasts and faires could once more liven the faces of the peasants and nobles alike. Germany was whole once more.


But Europe of the 12th century was a turbulent, violent place, and beyond the frontier in the snowy plains of the north, a new threat had risen. The Suomenusko faith had been forged anew in the fires of conquest by the Lithuanian king. Through ruthless subjugation of his neighbors, dangerous factional power plays and murderous betrayals, he had united the kingdoms of Novgorod, Lithuania and Finland. All of the North bent a knee to this great heathen warlord, and with the conversation of the Norse to Christianity some years before, he sensed an opportunity.

Who should be next if the Norse should fall? Who among Europe alone could stand against such fury..? None wished to find out. Great longships were sent out in all directions along the North Sea to call for aid. The Norwegian king pleaded for aid, he pleaded for help. Many in Europe were content to turn a blind eye to the plight of the Norse. The French were campaigning in the south, attempting to expand in to Asturias. The Anglo-Saxon warlords of England battled against the power of the resurgent Irish.. it would seem none would answer the call, none except for Konrad II.

The German king threw in his support for the Norwegians and pledged the support of his kingdom, as well as Denmark and Bohemia. The Ludolfinger Alliance stood in Norway's defense, with the three kings marching north together at the head of a huge army. 30,000 strong. To oppose them was a force from the East, almost equal in number..

The Finnish warriors split their army in two, with half of their men ravaging the northern reaches of Norway while the other half laid siege to the capital of the kingdom. Konrad led his forces south, trapping the eastern warriors from moving further in their conquests. But the move to attack stalled as the Eastern crusaders had incredibly favorable terrain. The German King instead waited for the moment to strike...

That moment would come in 1161. With the news of a great victory coming back from the North as the Bohemian King smashed the invader's forces as they tried to spush into Sweden, Konrad launches his attack on the other half of the invasion army, resulting in the Battle of Kinsarvik. Despite having a huge numerical superiority, Konrad nearly loses his entire center to the ferocity of the combined strength of the three eastern kingdoms. The allied force beneath Konrad, consisting of Danes and Germans both, suffer heavy casualties at the battle.. but Konrad is nevertheless able to carry the day. The battle is so terrible it's said the invading forces are killed to a man, pushing the estimated loss of life for both sides being somewhere in the neighborhood of 20,000 men killed at the battle...

With the devestating defeat at Kinsarvik the Suomenusko warlords are forced to concede defeat. Eastern warriors withdraw back to the northern steppes and Norway is saved. Konrad II and the rest of the Ludolfinger kings in Europe are hailed as heros for their defense of Norway by the Pope himself.

Swelled with Catholic zeal, the Pope uses the Suomenusko Holy War as proof of Europe's power. Three Kings had come together to defend the North from an unimaginable threat.. and they had won. Who could contend with the might of Europe when it was arrayed against them? Who could defeat an army, bolstered by His cross? These were the words used to ignite the Third Crusade...

The Great Suomenusko Holy War ended in October of 1163, the Third Crusade was launched that December. There cannot be any doubt that one inspired the other.. and despite the weakened state of Germany in the aftermath of the northern war, Konrad II lept into the fray once more. He declared his support for the Crusade the very day he heard the news and began to gather his forces for the long voyage to the Holy Land. It isn't until July of the following year that he arrives in Egypt at the head of a huge army, estimated to be around 23,000 men from his Kingdom alone. Meeting initial success near and around the capital of the Egyptian Caliph, Konrad withdraws and links up with the main crusader forces, who have reached landfall further up the coast.

The Battle of Qatna smashes the Arabian Empire's defenses in the north. The Crusaders manage to defeat the Muslim forces in detail while taking few losses. After the battle many of the commanders for the Crusade, still arriving from Europe, propose seizing Antioch as a way to break the Caliph's defenses, but Konrad II disagrees, arguing for an all out attack on Jerusalem itself. He is outvoted in the war council and plans are drawn up to attack Antioch, which is one of the largest cities in the region.. But when news arrives that the Caliph is gathering his forces near the coast in Arsuf, Konrad, King of the Germans, breaks off from the siege force and leads 18,000 of his men into the south.

To meet him at Arsuf, the Caliph has sent 21,000 of his finest troops up from Egypt and Arabia Felix. The two forces meet near the coast of Arsuf at the Battle of Lydda. Outnumbered and on flat terrain which no clear advantage.. Konrad II utterly destroys the forces sent against him, killing two of the greatest generals of the Muslim forces. It is through the skill of the King of Germany alone that the battle is won. Battlefield reports claim a faint by the center of the line leads the opposing forces of the Arabian Empire in, only to be encircled and annihilated by the crusaders..

Konrad and his men are jubilant at their victory, but they have sustained heavy losses. over 6,000 crusaders die in the battle of Lydda, prompting the King to send a call north for reinforcements. The reply is a disappointing one, as the Crusaders near Antioch are both engaged in heavy fighting and need every soldier they can spare. Konrad is alone in the south.. and just as he weighs his options, a second army of the Caliph advances on him.

Incredibly, Konrad wins a second round at Arsuf! Outnumbered almost two to one, Konrad routs the encroaching forces and keeps his foothold in Arsuf, but the German soldiers beneath his command are becoming weary of this fight.. the wounded and dead are mounting on his side. Konrad knows he can't survive without reinforcements. With his allies of the Crusade in the north still claiming to be unable to support him, Konrad instead sends his fleet home. He calls for any man willing to answer the Pope's call to come to his aid. Any Mercenary who has a love of gold, to rise to the occasion. The call is answered.. and just in time..

8,000 mercenaries arrive to bolster his forces and throw back another assault by the Caliph's men. The casualties for the Arabian Empire are rising at an astronomical rate. It is estimated by the time Konrad wins the Third great battle at Arsuf, the Arabian Empire has lost 30,000 men in the fight near Jerusalem alone. By now a strange kind of myth is cropping up around Konrad. His unbreakable defense in Arsuf had thrown back every attempt by the Arabian Empire to punch through. He is called "the Lion of Arsuf" for his many victories near the fabled holy city by his enemies, and with their third defeat in the south.. the Empire's forces are unable to mount another offensive against Konrad. The Lion stands victorious..

In the north the fight is more even with both sides going back and forth, but in the south there can be no denying.. Konrad II is in a position to threaten Jerusalem itself, which is exactly what he does. He detaches 10,000 men from his well fortified camp and leads them in a daring assault on the city itself.

Jerusalem is seized by Western forces in 1166, igniting a passion in the hearts of every crusader, just a year later in August of 1167.. the Crusaders declare victory.

With their numerous defeats in the south at the hands of the embattled king, Konrad II, the Arabian Empire is forced to withdraw its forces. The West proclaims total victory and establishes the first Kingdom of Jerusalem, in the heart of the Levant. The German King is awarded the honor to decide who shall rule in Jerusalem, and he chooses his brother, Thietmar I.

Konrad returns home a hero. The Lion of Arsuf. The Crusading King. A titan of combat.

Konrad the Chaste. Konrad the Lion. Konrad the Hero. The German Monarch held the line in the south of the Levant against overwhelming odds, allowing his brothers the freedom to fight on equal footing in the north. His attack on the City of Jerusalem had broken the back of the enemy defense.. and by the time he returns home, news reaches Europe of a terrible civil war breaking the Arabian Empire apart. Germany had stood on the world stage and battled the greatest power of the known world.. and she had won. After winning fame and glory on the far off battlefields in the middle-east the power of Germany ony grew, one year later, it would be tested by its greatest rival - the Kingdom of France.

Denmark had claimed much of the Duchy of Holland many years ago in the chaos that had come from Lotharingia's collapse. But in the wake of two huge holy wars that had seen all of Europe embattled, Denmark was a shell of its former self. Having lost much in both the North and in Jerusalem, the Frankish lords pressed attempting to take Zeeland, but Konrad intervened in the conflict, setting the stage for the first confrontation between the two powers in a half century..

The battles of Doornik and Damme decide the conflict, which sees over 60,000 men on both sides under arms in the region. Konrad invades the Duchy of Flanders in a preemptive attack, taking the pressure off of his dynastic ally. German forces are astounded to find Frances' army is almost completely intact despite the great religious calamity of the past ten years. Of course, France had held back from the fighting completely! Now they pressed their claim to Zeeland, hoping to play the opportunist?

Konrad utterly annihilates the Frankish forces in Flanders, but not before losing a significant portion of his campaigning army. Between the war in Norway and the Crusade for Jerusalem, it is estimated that, by the time of the Flanders campaign, Germany had lost close to 1/3 of its standing levies. Despite his win at the battles of Doornik and Damme, Konrad is forced to withdraw to Germany and demand a peace from the French. Fortunately, the Lion had inflicted such terrible losses onto the French that they could not hope to refuse. The war for Zeeland ends with Germany and Denmark claiming victory, but at a heavy cost. Konrad returns to the dynastic stronghold of Luneburg and finally rests. By the end of the Zeeland war, Konrad II had been campaigning for over ten years. His travels had taken him from the frozen forests of Norway to the arid sands near Jerusalem. He had fought warlords, commoners, kings and princes.. and he had triumphed over them all.

In the East news arrives that the King of Finland dies, and no sooner does he than his kingdom is carved up by his sons. Three great Kingdoms rise from the death of the King, Finland, Lithuania, and Novgorod. Though the presence of the powerful heathen faiths of the steppes unnerve most of Europe, the clouds of war disperse, if only slightly, at the news of the great realm's division.

Konrad leads his people in peace for ten years without the threat of war. He raises his children and loves his wife, but it is not the image that history remembers. History remembers the Lion, the warrior, the commander, and in 1179, the warrior returns.The Ludolfinger dynasty has been overthrown in Denmark! Worse still, the man who now calls himself King of the Danes is Frankish, German authority and influence is severely weakened by his rise. Konrad demands that Nandor, King of Denmark, abdicate to the rightful ruler, Emerich the Fat.

But the demand is refused rather strongly as Konrad's emissary has his head returned to Germany in a basket. It is most certainly war..

The war in the North lasts only a year as Konrad marches ten thousand troops into Denmark and breaks Nandor's defenses. Denmark can only muster half of that, and in the wake of the powerful German assault, the defense crumbles. Emerich Ludolfinger is declared King, thus cementing the power of the German dynasty.

Six Kingdoms were now directly controlled by the descendants of Otto Ludolfinger, former Duke of Saxony, the once vassal of East Francia. Denmark, Germany, Bavaria, Bohemia, Aragon and Jerusalem were all controlled by the Ludolfinger dynasty, but as the power of Germany began to rise the other kingdoms were increasingly distant. When Konrad assumed his crown, the other branches of the family would leap to his defense at a moment's notice, but three decades of war had begun to fracture the family. The shadow that Germany cast was long, perhaps long enough for others to disappear into...

In the east, the Arabian Empire finally collapses whole as the Fatimids in Egypt throw off the power of the Caliph and declare their independence. This, combined with decades of internal strife after the third crusade, signals the end of the Empire of Arabia, which by now only controls small holdings in Persia and in Oman...

For six more years, Konrad rules in peace up until his death in 1185. Though he ruled in peace for almost 15 of his 27 year reign, there is not a single chronicle which remembers Konrad as anything other than a warrior. His campaigns had sent him from one side of the known world to the other, his battles had laid low his rivals from the East and West both, and his life would be celebrate by his people for many decades to come. Upon his death a great statue was erected in his honor at the capital in Luneburg. May the Lion always watch over Germany and frighten away her enemies...

Sunday's edition: Emerich I

What do you call a character with 32 martial? God.

[Ishmael]

Good stuff. Do you have any grand plans for expansion in the future, or are you just going to sit tight and maintain Germany's influence? Any plans to form the HRE?

[mambaman]

What do you call a character with 32 martial? God.

Was that what Konrad had? Is that like near the top?

Great update. Love this story (small nit picky point: it's feint not faint when talking of military manoeuvres)

KUTGW

[Monk]

What do you call a character with 32 martial? God.

Was that what Konrad had? Is that like near the top?

Great update. Love this story (small nit picky point: it's feint not faint when talking of military manoeuvres)

KUTGW

I try to edit these but sometimes mistakes like that get through.

And yes. Konrad had 18 when he first took the throne. He was a Misguided warrior, but thanks to the "Combat is the best teacher" events which improve your education after each major victory, he was a brilliant strategist when the crusades ended. Final martial ability was 32. There's no set cap, but anything above 25 is essentially Alexander the Great/Hannibal Barca levels.

Good stuff. Do you have any grand plans for expansion in the future, or are you just going to sit tight and maintain Germany's influence? Any plans to form the HRE?

No current plans to form the HRE. The biggest mid-game objectives was to win the Crusades and get a member of my dynasty on the throne of Jerusalem. We've done that! (hurray!) I may form the HRE but I sort of like the idea of being "Germany."

Current plans for Expansion are still on the Baltic coast. I want to expand into the Pagan Homelands but I haven't had a good base to do so. My Kingdom was pretty worn out after three huge wars. If I can't get the manpower to send expeditions east I'll likely overthrow Hungary or re-institute German rule in the Lotharingia. I still have my honor to avenge after losing it, afterall..

[mambaman]

Thanks Monk and sorry about the nitpicking. I will stop now lol-just me being picky. The story is excellent . Which version of CK is this?

[Monk]

Thanks Monk and sorry about the nitpicking. I will stop now lol-just me being picky. The story is excellent . Which version of CK is this?

No need to apologize. Me and my 'murrican education probably deserve it

This is 1.11 with pretty much all the DLC active, sans the Aztec Invasion. I also have a mod running: Project Balance, which is pretty great for overall balancing and helping to keep AI and player blobbing in check. The Muslim factions are still a touch too strong in PB than I'd like, but overall it's a better experience than vanilla.

[mambaman]

Haha. Ok well I just treated myself to CKII Gold edition and I think I'll buy The Old Gods DLC. Not sure which others but looking at Steam total cost of all the DLCs is about £70!!! Don't think I'll be paying that lol

[Ishmael]

Haha. Ok well I just treated myself to CKII Gold edition and I think I'll buy The Old Gods DLC. Not sure which others but looking at Steam total cost of all the DLCs is about £70!!! Don't think I'll be paying that lol

It's probably best to just wait for the next Steam sale. I only have the two DLCs myself (Legacy of Rome and Ruler Designer), and as I say I've still got a backlog of rulers I want to play as. The base game will keep you busy for a long time....

[mambaman]

Awwwww thanks Ismail. Well I got it free from Amazon who were selling it at £12.99 and I had a voucher so it's not cost me anything as yet. I wanna get The Old Gods because of extended years of game. All grist for the mill

Thanks

[Monk]

The Shadow of Pride

The History of the Kingdom of Germany during the Reign of:
EmerichI 'the Just', Son of Konrad II 'the Chaste' Ludolfinger.

Reigned c. October 4. 1185 – April 7. 1194

With the watchful protector of Germany, the Lion of Arsuf, watching over the kingdom, many felt that the greatest days of the kingdom were still before it. With the victory of the crusades and the immense prestige that came with a dynasty member on the throne in Jerusalem, the Ludolfinger family was in a unique position when counted among the dynasties of Europe. With the fall of the Karling empire and the rise of the successors, few had cemented their power so thoroughly as the Ludolfingers had. But it is quite dangerous to be the tallest tree in the forest, for that is inevitably where the woodsman's axe shall fall first.

Upon Emerich's ascension to power in 1185, the borders of the newly forged Kingdom of Jerusalem were already being tested by the expansionist Fatimid Sultanate of Egypt. The Fatimids, a successor state in their own right, claimed to be the truest continuation of the now shattered Arabian Empire and sought to press their influence further into the Holy Lands. By 1186, large potions of the southern kingdom were lost to the encroaching, and ever powerful, armies of the Sultan.

But Emerich I, Germany's newly crowned king, was supremely confident that his dynasty could turn the tide in the Levant. Born out of hundreds of years of sustained conflict, Germany had been molded into an increasingly militaristic society. Not only was one expected to know how to fight for the inevitable time when the local lord should summon the levy, by 1186, Germans of all classes were expected to excel at the grim business of warfare. Few other peoples and cultured of Europe had weathered so many great and terrible storms as they, and in every aspect of society it began to be reflected. Grand tournaments between the realm's many knights, at one time a once-in-a-lifetime event, was becoming an almost expected annual spectacle. It was not uncommon for Knights of three or four neighboring duchies to be summoned, once a year, to display their skill at arms in wargames and jousts, much to the revelry of ever growing crowds. Tradesmen and Merchants, once thought to be a thoroughly 'German' occupation, were increasingly foreign as the young men of Germany focused their attentions more to the militia training squares.. which were being constructed in ever growing numbers.. Even the king's own personal retinue expands considerably during this time, under the direction of Emerich I, who finds their number to be lacking.

Although not officially decreed by the King, a new Holiday is slowly being adopted around the Kingdom. At the end of every August, on the 20th of the calendar, all of Germany unites in celebration. They celebrate the fall of Jerusalem and the triumph over the Eastern Caliphates, the first ever in European history. The day when the Lion delivered Europe from the threat of the East, and crushed his enemy on the walls of Jerusalem. The propaganda soon finds root in the large hearts and simple minds of the common people, and it isn't long until every year.. the day is marked, and celebrations are held.

But Germany's focus on martial importance and strength was draining power of its economy. With the increasing reliance on foreign merchants and credit to keep her economy running, the wealth of the German nobles was slowly dwindling. Perhaps she had the most powerful military, but compared to the rest of Europe, Germany's nobles struggled to justify their elevated status from the rest of society. Many were now no better than knights in fancy clothes...

For many families of the Kingdom, families who had ruled since the end of the time of troubles, this sudden downturn in wealth was increasingly unacceptable. Whispers of new factional politics roamed the halls at Luneburg, as the new King struggled against the powerful forces at play, forces he himself was something of a slave to.

Many historians recount Emerich as a man of law and virtue, who guided Germany from the aftermath of the crusades toward the start of the 11th century, but that's perhaps a shallow view of things. King Emerich was just, by many accounts brave and tactically gifted, but he was not his father. Konrad II was a mythic figure. A presence which sucked life from each room he entered, Emerich could only hope such an ability could be his. He lacked the presence, the sheer force of will that his father had, and in many respects, was unable to distance himself from that fact. He succumbed to the lure, the shadow, that The Lion's reign cast upon Germany.

Factional plots would only grow stronger in the coming years as Emerich lead his people down the path of a militaristic society, lined with steel and iron. The phenomenon gripping the populace, turning it toward the hawk of war, is so potent that it leads Pope Vigilius II to lend Emerich the authority to found a new religious order. One to be made up solely of Germany's greatest, her fiercest and most skilled warriors to protect Jerusalem from the encroaching Sultanates of the East. The Order of Brothers of the German House of Saint Mary, or otherwise known as...

The Teutonic Order... Overnight, the ranks of the Order, which are initially barely above 50 members, swell with recruits from all of the many duchies and counties of Germany. Knights, militia men, town guardsmen, farmers, and many more all hear the call of the Teutons. No sooner do they become commissioned than the knights see action in defense of Jerusalem against the Fatimids, attempting to retake the fabled city. In a desperate defense, the Teutonic order smashes the invaders and saves the fledgling Kingdom of Jerusalem... securing their place in the hearts of all Germany.

But Germany's celebrations are halted as news of a renewed attack slowly trickles in from the east. With their defeat at the walls of Jerusalem itself, the Fatimid dynasty has collapsed and been overthrown in Egypt. To replace them, a new dynasty has arisen. Riding out from the deep desert, a new leader has reforged the Sultanate of Egypt into a powerful weapon, a weapon he seeks to use against the crusader kingdom in the Levant.

The Hashimid dynasty declares war for Jerusalem. The call for help goes out to any who will hear, and Emerich can hardly refuse.. battle is joined.

Landfall is made in mid-November, 1193. The German King arrives at the head of a huge army, numbering by many modern estimates to be in the range of 30,000 men. They arrive to find a Kingdom divided in civil war. The King's own brother, Ludwig I, has seized the throne of Jerusalem from its rightful Queen, Gerhild Ludolfinger, the Crusaders are split in support of Gerhild and Ludwig!

The war has paved the way for the Hashimid invasion forces, who hope to claim Jerusalem while both sides struggle for control of the petty kingdom. Emerich can scarcely believe it. The hard won victory his father had earned is being squandered by his family's infighting! The traitors must be dealt with, but first.. there is the matter of the invaders. And turning back the Hashimids will be no easy task. 23,000 men under the command Sultan Aghlab I have surrounded the holy city itself and are subjecting it to a brutal, relentless siege. With little time to spare the King attacks the siege force...

with disastrous results.. Both sides fight to an absolutely bloody stalemate, with neither side truly able to best the other. Though the Hashimid army withdraws and the German forces claim victory, many agree it is victory in name alone. Modern estimates put German casualties as high as an appalling 60%, with nearly two thirds of the western force either dead or maimed as a result of the battle...

When news reaches Germany of the aftermath the nobles pounce, sensing weakness! They demand the King, who is fighting in the far off holy land, restore many of the rights confiscated by the crown centuries before. They claim these rights are a necessity with the dwindling of Germany's wealth, to maintain a certain level of prestige of the upper class.. The King will never have a chance to answer this demand.

April 7, 1194. Nearing on 5 months on campaign, Emerich meets the Hashimid forces in battle once more at Lydda.. the site of his father's greatest triumphs. The sight where the Lion of Arsuf had vanquished the great host of the Arabian Empire again and again. Here was where he would end the war for Jerusalem. He would turn back the tide of the Hashimids and then turn east, to deal with his brother's seizure of the Kingdom...

The King is slain in battle by one of the Sultan's greatest lieutenants in the coming battle. Battlefield reports are surprisingly sketchy of this moment in history, but many come to the conclusion that Emerich launches a preemptive attack when his forces simply aren't ready. Though he has the numerical advantage at Lydda, his army was devastated from the "victory" outside the walls of Jerusalem. The King of Germany attacks the immovable center of the Hashimid invaders and is defeated with terrifying efficiency.

The defeat at Lydda and the death of their King breaks the crusading German's morale, unable to keep fighting, the remaining generals of the fallen King lead their men home shortly after the final skirmishes of the battle subside... Germany must welcome a new King, and bury the old...

Next Time: Otto III

As you grow your military tech in PB, you have to deal with higher tax penalties to offset your military focus. Keeping the max level of retinues is also punished by a much higher upkeep than in vanilla. Being top dog in the yard now is punished by a much less robust economy, and an increasing penalty that only goes up as you raise your levy cap.

Germany is a machine of blood and iron, little gold runs through her veins these days..


The duel events are a stand alone module, written for the Game of Thrones mod, but have since been made a universal plugin that anyone can use. It creates some real tension as it's very likely your ruler will get in fights with other commanders unless one of you is a coward or doesnt have the traits that line up the fight. Sometimes your character wins and it feels awesome, but you can't roll the hard six every time...

[mambaman]

Great update Monk. Question: how does one go about applying the PB mod? I have the game. Going to launch on Sat or Sun