Reggio, A Crusader Kings AAR - Chapter 7: Scipio
LJ Cut for Length and Pictures.
The situation in the mid-Mediterranean was a fairly strong one for Christian powers. The once powerful Kingdom of Zirid fell apart during its war with the Duchy of Apulia. Now it consisted of two provinces, with two rebel Sheiks having broken away from central authority. To the west, the strong Kingdom of Hammadid maintained its control among the coastal peoples, but it had not taken an interest in the affairs of its Muslim brothers. The Kingdom of Beni Helal claimed kingship over vast territories inland, but few, if any, of the Berbers and vagrants living in the desert wasts would answer the King's call. Indeed only two Sheiks in the Kingdom could be said to rule any kind of organized state. The Sheik of Tripolitana had maintained his independence from Beni Helal on one side, and the mighty Emir of Cyrenica on the other.
Apulia and now Sicily, two great Norman duchies, were a powerful presence, their leaders having routed Muhammedan forces first from Sicily and later drove the Zirids into collapse. Middle Italy was dominated by the Papal States, with the Republic of Pisa and the Counts of Salerno and Napoli playing peripheral roles. Beyond that, the Empire was still strong, France was strong, but the mainland Christian powers were, truth be told, more concerned with fighting each other than fighting in the Crusade for Jerusalem or even the heathens anywhere.
The Pope had called a Crusade, and I answered. First the Sheik of Tripolitana would feel the might of the cross. On the 4th of January, 1086, I began my fourth war against the Infidel.
Marshall William sailed from Agrigento with its regiment, while I led the Reggio Regiment on the same journey 'cross the sea. The battle was joined on April 5th with Marshall William facing down the army of al-Muntasir.
The fighting lasted until the 24th, at which point the renowned Mujahadeen of al-Muntasir fled across the baked sand of the desert. My Reggio regiment arrived soon, and on July 5th the castle surrendered to us. al-Muntasir fled into the wilderness.
That same day I declared war on the Kingdom of Beni Helal and sent for reinforcements from all over my Duchy. We marched against Djerba immediately and routed its defenders. The King of Beni Helal led his men against us repeatedly, but in October Djerba fell to the Cross.
Before the end of the year, the King of Beni Helal would have no lands to his name, and no followers save his family. Four impoverished African provinces had been reincorporated to Christendom, but the Duke of Apulia was having a difficult time against the 'broken' Zirids. One of the breakaway Zirid Sheiks had rejoined the kingdom, and with his extra manpower the King had begun to repulse the armies of Apulia from Tunis. While I wanted to help my nephew in his war, the state of my Duchy's finances were too poor to consider such an action. It would be at least several months before I could intervene.
A scant few weeks later, when the army had put back to sea, I was informed by one of my scribes that my father's, Tancred's, will specified that the County of Bari was to go to me. After verifying that the will was genuine, a messenger was dispatched to the Countess of Bari's court to let her know of my claim upon it. That evening, over dinner on my ship, my son told me that he had decided to change his name. What impudence! A mere bastard, he's lucky I've chosen him to be my heir! I fear he will be the death of me, especially with such an ancient name... Scipio. I decided to humor him. William was thenceforth known as Scipio,
The situation in the mid-Mediterranean was a fairly strong one for Christian powers. The once powerful Kingdom of Zirid fell apart during its war with the Duchy of Apulia. Now it consisted of two provinces, with two rebel Sheiks having broken away from central authority. To the west, the strong Kingdom of Hammadid maintained its control among the coastal peoples, but it had not taken an interest in the affairs of its Muslim brothers. The Kingdom of Beni Helal claimed kingship over vast territories inland, but few, if any, of the Berbers and vagrants living in the desert wasts would answer the King's call. Indeed only two Sheiks in the Kingdom could be said to rule any kind of organized state. The Sheik of Tripolitana had maintained his independence from Beni Helal on one side, and the mighty Emir of Cyrenica on the other.
Apulia and now Sicily, two great Norman duchies, were a powerful presence, their leaders having routed Muhammedan forces first from Sicily and later drove the Zirids into collapse. Middle Italy was dominated by the Papal States, with the Republic of Pisa and the Counts of Salerno and Napoli playing peripheral roles. Beyond that, the Empire was still strong, France was strong, but the mainland Christian powers were, truth be told, more concerned with fighting each other than fighting in the Crusade for Jerusalem or even the heathens anywhere.
The Pope had called a Crusade, and I answered. First the Sheik of Tripolitana would feel the might of the cross. On the 4th of January, 1086, I began my fourth war against the Infidel.
Marshall William sailed from Agrigento with its regiment, while I led the Reggio Regiment on the same journey 'cross the sea. The battle was joined on April 5th with Marshall William facing down the army of al-Muntasir.
The fighting lasted until the 24th, at which point the renowned Mujahadeen of al-Muntasir fled across the baked sand of the desert. My Reggio regiment arrived soon, and on July 5th the castle surrendered to us. al-Muntasir fled into the wilderness.
That same day I declared war on the Kingdom of Beni Helal and sent for reinforcements from all over my Duchy. We marched against Djerba immediately and routed its defenders. The King of Beni Helal led his men against us repeatedly, but in October Djerba fell to the Cross.
Before the end of the year, the King of Beni Helal would have no lands to his name, and no followers save his family. Four impoverished African provinces had been reincorporated to Christendom, but the Duke of Apulia was having a difficult time against the 'broken' Zirids. One of the breakaway Zirid Sheiks had rejoined the kingdom, and with his extra manpower the King had begun to repulse the armies of Apulia from Tunis. While I wanted to help my nephew in his war, the state of my Duchy's finances were too poor to consider such an action. It would be at least several months before I could intervene.
A scant few weeks later, when the army had put back to sea, I was informed by one of my scribes that my father's, Tancred's, will specified that the County of Bari was to go to me. After verifying that the will was genuine, a messenger was dispatched to the Countess of Bari's court to let her know of my claim upon it. That evening, over dinner on my ship, my son told me that he had decided to change his name. What impudence! A mere bastard, he's lucky I've chosen him to be my heir! I fear he will be the death of me, especially with such an ancient name... Scipio. I decided to humor him. William was thenceforth known as Scipio,