A Portuguese Story~ The Rise To Glory

[Nutranurse]

Yep, so I am starting my story (Look at Beefeaters thread, HRE Vingette). I am using the Portuguese, as their position always intriuged(sp?) me. Right smack dab between the Moors and the Spanish (ooo scary they are). So the story starts :P. Well not now persay, when I finish the first few turns of the campaign. Things so far are looking good however, I have sealed some trade deals with the Moors and Spain, and they are paying me each turn for a year and a half. And due to a slight twitch of the hand I married off my princess :( So welcome a 4th general and 3rd Family member into the thickening plot.

~Toodles till the weekend~

[Nutranurse]

~isclaimer~~

I do not believe any of this to be historically accurate, I just want to tell an interesting story. I also confess to having little knowledge of Portugals actual history, so please do not scream at me for an inaccuracies. This also is just a tease, the real story begins this Saturday. The events that occur in this entry are just the doorway for the main stage.

~~End of Disclaimer


The Empire of Portugal has now risen from small country to a kingdom. At this fledgling period the Empire must either expand to be swept away from the pages of history by larger, established kingdoms. The immanent threat is the Kingdom of Spain, ruled by King Alfonso. The other issue is the Islamic nation to the southeast of Lisbon; the Moors. Faced with two enemies King Henrique must be swift in his decisions to bring the peninsula under his grasp.

The People You Should Know


The current king of the small kindom of Portugal. The civil war his father spurred in order to unify Portugal under his rule has left Henrique with little respect from his people, and he knows this. An intelligent commander and a loyal Catholic he seeks to unify the entire peninsula, eliminating the Spanish to the west and drive out the Moors to the south. Only god knows what he will do from there

Ambitions:
~Gain the respect of his people
~Unifiy the Peninsula
~Eliminate the Spanish



Almost a clone of his father, Affonso's potential is limitless. He has the marks of a great warrior, his stance while he walks betrays this, but the affinity for the cross that he posessess is only on the surface. His position as the Prince of the kingdom is his doorway to glory, and he knows this. He has a deep seeded hatred for the Moors and their religion, and would rather see them exterminated from the face of Gods Earth. For now he acts the subserviant to his father, letting him think he has him under his control, but Affonso's true motive is to claim the seat of power for himself. It seems his father is completely unaware of this. Only his sister, Princess Maria, knows of his plans.

Ambitions:
~Take the throne from his father
~Unifiy the Peninsula
~Eliminate All Muslim Factions



The only daughter of the crown to survive she has been transformed into a hard woman. Her elegance was robbed from her as a child, during one of the many uprising she was accosted by the pesant rebels and served them as their whore before she was rescued. She now carries this shame with her always along with a deep seeded hatred for men. The only exception to this is her brother, whom she is fully comfertable around. The two of them share their plans for glory often, and she is the only person who knows of the treachery her brother is plotting. She has subbmitted herself to her brother many times, the only man she is capable of both physically and emotionally loving. Her only goal in life is to see her brother succeed.

Ambitions:
~The successful execution of Affonso's plans

[Lord Magus]

Great!
More!
More!

[Nutranurse]

July 27, 1080

My Father has ordered me to the Spanish city of Leon, yet the enemies of our good lord lie to the south. The lands that they hold there are more than ripe for the picking...they are...defenseless to the word of god. Yet Fathter orders me still to march upon our christian brothers.

It had to have been done at some point though...the defeat of the Spanish. They are our biggest threat to the unification of the peninsula under the glourious name of the Portuguese...but still...


July 30, 1080

We are drawing nearer to the border between my people and the Spanish. It seems too easy, the invasion of their territory, but it must be the blessing of the lord...for what little that means...

August 2, 1080

Maria, my beloved sister left the army today. She is to follow my fathers orders. She truely is loyal to me, and my plans. Outside of Lopo, she is the only one I may truely trust...

Still...her mind has become wrought with madness...a dire condition, may Gods megar blessings go to her soul.

~Excerpts from Prince Affonso's Personal Journal

In The Name of Unification

Summer~1080~

As the civil war in the Protuguese territory of Lisbon slowly ceases under the rule of King Henrique he quickly orders his son, Prince Affonso, to cross into the Spanish region of Leon and quickly seize their capitial.

Affonso, who would rather take the Muslim city of Cordoba to the south, reluctantly follows his fathers orders. The destruction of the Spainsih had to come about at some point, Affonso just wished for it to be after the Moors were pushed out of the peninsula.

His father quickly sets out to build a church in the capital city to combat the ever spreading atrocity that went by the name of Islam. Though the leaders of both the Moorish lands and Henriques father agreed to the peaceful facilitation of both religions, this is quickly coming to a halt. Stories of the raping of christian women and razing of christian settlements on the border seperating the two nations are rampant throughout the many inns that dot the countryside.

The last living Princess of Portugual, Maria, sets out to make contact with the Moors her brother loathes and stops to rest at an Inn a little ways into the region of Cordoba. Here she briefly crosses path with her brothers close friend, and personal spy, Lopo.



With great caution I took the first steps into the rustic Inn. At first I was meet with glances of curiosity that soon turned into lecherous stares at the contours of my body. How men disgust me.

Most of them seemed to be of Moorish decent, bearing tanned skin, hair black as coal, and monsterous beards that envoloped their chins. A few good Christian men sat towards the back, as if trying to hide their presance from God in the shame that they must mingle with such...unholy creatures.

I moved towards them, my personal guards forming a crescent blocking the hands of any man who tried to touch my flesh.

"Mi'lady." One of the guards, Adao. A fair man, little older than I, with a crown of earthly brown hair atop his head and a mustache to match warming his upper lip."I think that is Lopo," He points to a man who is roaring with laughter seated at a table to the dark corners of the Inn.

"Hmm," Memories of him rushed into my mind, "Yes...I do believe that you are right Adao," His face brightened with pride, for I had remembered his name, "That is Lopo."

A few rushed steps brought me to the man. His hood was down, careless of him, revealing his lightly tanned face to all. His devilish charms, and they are quite devilish for many a woman has succumbed to his face and months later bear his child, in plain view.

"Lopo." My voice shard as the steel he wore at his hip.

"Ahhh...seems as if you have made it my fair Princess."

Princess, the word stopped all conversation stopped. Ears pricked to listen intently. How I abhor men and their foolish curiosity.

"Lopo, have you no tact!? Annoncing my royal blood to these...creatures, have you not thought of what harm may come to me and thus my mission!?" I had bent over, whispering the words harshly into his ear.

This prevoked him to nudge me back a step or two, though he may not look it he is quite strong.

"Relax," his voice as soft as the fabric from the odd yellow men who spoke in tounges I had heard tales about, " These men," he smiled, "Are all under my thumb."

He quickly stood, "Isn't that right!" He shouted. All the men replied in a chorus of decadence "Yes!" Even a few tarts at the bar spoke up, their high-pitched shrills rising above all.

"Ugh," I said as I dropped my formal stance and sat down across from him, pushing a Moorish warrior he had been questioning out of the seat.

"Come we must discuss my brothers plans." I exclaimed in a low whisper as the noise picked up, drowning out our perfidious plans.

Across the kingdoms on the fringe of the known world lies the castle of Pamplona. Originally it had not been under the name control of King Henrique, but after the sudden deaths of two formal lords the current governer, Johao, allied himself and his fiefdom with the Kingdom of Portugal. Due to his sudden ascension to the seat of power, he was the second son of the previous lord, he knows little of governing. He quickly sets out to build roads throughout his domain and hopes to complete them by the end of the year. An emissary dispacthed from the King brings him orders to claim the city a half a years march to the south, Zaragoza. Quickly wanting to please his new lord he sends a small force to lay siege to the settlement.

Winter~1080~

Maria reaches the city of Cordoba. She belives her brother begins to see the cause for her borthers hatred; these men truely are the one true mistake of God, worshipping their false God 'Allah' and prophet 'Muhammad'. She however is surprised to see Catholic churches in the city, "A true act of God to bring the word of Christ to these men." Is what she calls it. She hastily sets up trade agreements with their Sultan for a mere 700 Florins and leaves the city, seeking the Christian lands to the north, but makes a detor back to the capital under the summons of her father.

Affonso continues his march to the city of Leon, now well into the Spanish territories. Along the way he stops his army to 'visit' a nearby settlement. While there he and his personal guard of knights go into town, stopping momentarily at an Inn for drinks before moving onto the small brothel located on the outskirts of the Spanish settlement.

Johao, the roads now complete, begins construction on a Garrison Quarters to enlist infantrymen to combat any enemy that may arise to threaten the royal family. During the onset of a rather cold November morning a Spanish Princess wanders to the gates of the castle, seeking refuge for a few months to wait out the winter till spring when she can continue her journey to the French Kingdom to the Northeast. Johao greets her warmly and openly, not knowing the Prince marches on the very city she hales from. Over the course of the remainder of the year and into the next year he befriends the Princess and become a close friend to her. She laments often about the troubles of traveling and Johao offers her a solution to her problem; The marriage to Prince Affonso. She delights in the idea, for it would promise her years on end of rest, and agrees immediately.

Here lies the dire mistake of both King Henrique and Johao. King Henrique has kept Johao from the inner war circle, letting onto nothing of his plans to take Leon to Johao. He even went as far as to tell Johao he would be attacking the Moors, not the Spanish. For Henrique, who trusts little in other men outside of his family, does not trust Johao who has only recently joined into the Kingdom. Johao sought only the best intentions, believing that an alliance between Spain and Portugal would facilitate an easy defeat of the Moors. Sending an emissary to King Henrique which lead to the bewilderment of the King. He however, using his sharp mind, saw this as an opening. A weak point in the armor of the Spanish. He could use this alliance to secure a safe journey to the Spanish capital, even better if he could gain military access along with it.

The only problem was whether or not his son would consent.

King Henrique quickly sent his own messenger to Prince Affonso, urging him to accept the hand of the Princess. Affonso, who was a week or two away from Leon was shocked by his fathers willingness to give up his son all in the name of 'unification'.

Does he not have honor?! Affonso thought, his desire to overthrow his father mounting even higher. No...the man does not...He was born from war...his honor died with him soon after Grandfather died...All the more reason to kill the man. I will make a better ruler.

Affonso, however, did acknowledge the genius in his fathers plans. It would ensure a smoother assimilation of the Spanish regions. And the marriage would give Affonso the right to rule over the people. The next morning he quickly turned his personal guard back to the palace where his bethroed was awaiting him, reaching during the month of Feburary.

Summer~1081

Affonso, who had spent the past few months in Lisbon with his wife, now sets back out to join his army who must be impetueous as the Leon is well in their sights. He had ordered them to wait for him to return before laying siege and his loyal men obeyed. During the hard ride back into the Spanish territories Affonso contemplates what his next movements shall be. Should he continue to feign love for his wife Teresa, who truely was nothing remarkable. No. The time for their 'love' was soon comign to an end. Love was for the men not born to rule. His only love could be war, and the horrid children that war birthed from her bloody loins. My father seems to be aging well...too well. While in Lisbon Affonso could not belive that his father still was healthy, more than healthy, the man was ready to lead his men to fight many wars. Henrique had even bested his son in a friendly display of swordsmenship, which did not sit well in Affonso's mind.

Affonso's mind soon turned to his sister, his sister whom he sure was beyond madness. He had not heard from her since last year, around June. Whatever could she be up to? His worry was genuine. His sister was one of the few people who still possessed value in his mind. Not even all his knights could amount to the trust and love he placed with the woman. My one weakpoint if I possess any. The thought echoed in his mind as he rode on to join his men.

Winter~1081

September 11, 1081

To the eyes of my Lord Prince Affonso,

May it be known that I, Lopo Periz, have infiltrated the captial city of the Moors, Cordoba. It took little effort, just a wagon and a sheet to wrap myself with to appear as a dead body. It was as you predicted my lord, the city is sparsely garrisoned. Only two hundred men at the most are trained soldiers, the rest lambs to the slaughter.

Upon my first day of entry I quickly seeked to gain entrance into the Kings Palace. They call him Sultan here. It took a few days before a proper contact was set up, a servant girl who served in the palace was 'convinced' and helped me to gain entry.

As I have not much time I will put it bluntly my lord; I am amazed this man is even in power. Much is spoken about him, little of it is praise. He amounts to even less than your father my lord. He is an old man, death's embrace only a few years away, yet he still has much youthful 'vigor' to him. Or so I am told by the women. He does, however, hold some control over his men in battle. Though nothing of your caliber.

I must make much haste, the servant girl has alerted the guard and they are closing in. My next report will be from Toledo or the Moorish Castle to the south-east, Grenadea I think.

Also I met up with your sister not too long ago, still mad as ever.

~Signed in the hand of Lope Periz

Far from Lopo the rebels of Zaragoza marched forth a ragged band of half-starved, demoralized men.

The Battle Of Zaragoza
The battle took place on a clear September afternoon. Captain Rodrigo was quite surprised to see the rebels march forth, having just become 'aquainted' with one of the women who followed his men. Captain Rodrigo's men had little time to prepare a formation as much of them were expecting a peaceful surrender. None the less the men quickly donned their armor and made makeshift formations, waiting for the rebels not too far off.


The rebels quickly charged enmasse in hopes of breaking the line of the Milita closest to them. They were met by an onslaught of arrows.

Breaking back quickly they stopped out of the archers range and prepared themselves again, this time with the help of their captain's unit and the cover of their javilinmen.

This time the rebels attack succeded, the Milita broke their line and the bloody battle began.


The rest of the battle went uneventful. Much to the distress of Rodrigo, who believed that if he has to fight it should be ntertaining at least. As he stood atop a freshly made corpse, pulling his bloddied spear from the mans spine he saw not to far from him the enemy collapsing and retreating.

"A waste of me time" He scoffed, then turned back around to gouge a wounded rebels eyes out.

Summer~1082

Affonso, who now had rejoined his army resumes his march on Leon, its walls becoming cleared each day. He had bloseted his forces with the dowery he was given during his wedding, now they welcomed a troop of mecenary Crossbowmen and Spearmen. The leader of the Spearmen had said he knew the layout of Leon like the back of his hand. He even claimed that he had once been the Captain of the Guard till he fell out of favor with the Prince who governed the city. Affonso, who was intrigued by the mans information, quickly hiered him. As for the crossbowmen...he just enjoys the company of those men who delighted at the idea of marching against the Moors and their Islamic brothers.

The news of the assimilation bringsm much pleasure to the ears of Johao. He dispatches an emissary to King Henrique letting him know of his success. In the mean time he sends orders to Captain Rodrigo, who has taken notice of the rebel castle to the south, to stay his spear hand and to begin to govern the city, much to Rodrigo's distress. Johao orders the contruction of roads to connect the city to its neighboors and potential trade partners, along with ordering the clearence of the land in his own province to feed to newly recurtied troops.

Winter~1082

Affonso lays seige to the city of Leon. News spreads like wildfire, reaching Lisbon within weeks, bringing a smile to Henrique's face and a look of placid horror to Teresa's. Affonso himself was reluctant about seiging the walls, doubt planting its seeds in his mind. As he waits for the enemy to come forth, for he knows that there will be no peaceful surrender, his mind drifts to the whereabouts of his sister. Last he had heard of her she was making her way into the Southern French territory. Lopo's message, which had reached him some time ago, only instilled more fear into his mind, but he was sure to shake this fear from his mind till after teh seige. It is a terrible thing to led to battle by a man with the fear of others in his heart.

[Nutranurse]

I apologize for any spelling errors in the story. I forgot to run the post through Microsoft Word before posting. So once again I apologize for forcing you all to read my horrid grammer mistakes.

If anyoen has any constructive ways at to how I may imporve the composition of the story, or just the story itself then please feel free to PM me :D

[Beefeater]

Looking good. Keep at it, please!