Reggio, A Crusader Kings AAR - Chapter 8: Family Matters
LJ Cut for Length and Pictures.
The very day we set foot in Agrigento, I received a letter from the Emperor, informing me that he had accepted the marriage proposal I had made. I had surmised that he may have been interested in securing power for the Empire in the south, and so I had proposed marriage between his third daughter, Mathilde, and my son.
He accepted, and the couple was soon wed. As a present I granted my son my old title, Count Reggio. He received my old lands, Reggio and Messina, as well as Consenza. All were safe lands, as safe as could be arranged in this world.
While supping with my daughter I learned of most disturbing news. My Diocese Bishop had arranged things so that he was married to two of my daughters: Herself, and Adelise. And worse, in return for aid in arranging it, he had arranged for her to marry Marshall William! My own daughters! My house, while I was off warring, had turned into Sodom and Gomorrah.
On August 2nd I finally worked up the stomach to do what I must do, what I had to do. I had the Diocese Bishop assassinated.
It was the next day when I started writing this account, and I've added to it steadily since.
My daughter must have known what I did, but it did not change things between us. She still loved me as a daughter should love her father, and I loved her dearly as I do all of my children.
Weeks later she brought me news of my brother, my surviving brother, Count Benevento, Guillaume de Hauteville. It seems he had heard of my misdeed with the Diocese Bishop and was planning to expose me to the Church. Such an act would surely lead to my excommunication, and as a trained clergyman, he could twist the laws to his advantage and easily lay claim to my entire Duchy for himself.
My vision of the angel came to my mind. That prophecy. Three brothers would be murdered. The Saracens had claimed one brother, and now it seems the two remaining sons of Tancred would claim each other. I told my daughter to handle the matter, and she did. I received news several weeks later that he and his spy master had been murdered by a robber gang. They were believed to be ex-Capua loyalists getting revenge for the loss of their count.
Even as I washed the blood of my brother from my hands, I received news that the Zirid heathens were continuing to press my nephew, and hard. They had even declared war on the new Count of Benevento, another newphew of mine. I could not stand by and allow this to happen. I sent one of my daughters, Adelise, to Scipio's court where she would be safe. Emma I made Countess of Tripolitana and Djerba.
Spy Master Mathilde and I spent several evenings in council with Marshall William. We eventually came up with a plan of action. We could save the Duchy of Apulia at the cost of receiving a too-large realm to manage. I had never wanted to rule so much land, but it was the only course open to us. We started our war.
The very day we set foot in Agrigento, I received a letter from the Emperor, informing me that he had accepted the marriage proposal I had made. I had surmised that he may have been interested in securing power for the Empire in the south, and so I had proposed marriage between his third daughter, Mathilde, and my son.
He accepted, and the couple was soon wed. As a present I granted my son my old title, Count Reggio. He received my old lands, Reggio and Messina, as well as Consenza. All were safe lands, as safe as could be arranged in this world.
While supping with my daughter I learned of most disturbing news. My Diocese Bishop had arranged things so that he was married to two of my daughters: Herself, and Adelise. And worse, in return for aid in arranging it, he had arranged for her to marry Marshall William! My own daughters! My house, while I was off warring, had turned into Sodom and Gomorrah.
On August 2nd I finally worked up the stomach to do what I must do, what I had to do. I had the Diocese Bishop assassinated.
It was the next day when I started writing this account, and I've added to it steadily since.
My daughter must have known what I did, but it did not change things between us. She still loved me as a daughter should love her father, and I loved her dearly as I do all of my children.
Weeks later she brought me news of my brother, my surviving brother, Count Benevento, Guillaume de Hauteville. It seems he had heard of my misdeed with the Diocese Bishop and was planning to expose me to the Church. Such an act would surely lead to my excommunication, and as a trained clergyman, he could twist the laws to his advantage and easily lay claim to my entire Duchy for himself.
My vision of the angel came to my mind. That prophecy. Three brothers would be murdered. The Saracens had claimed one brother, and now it seems the two remaining sons of Tancred would claim each other. I told my daughter to handle the matter, and she did. I received news several weeks later that he and his spy master had been murdered by a robber gang. They were believed to be ex-Capua loyalists getting revenge for the loss of their count.
Even as I washed the blood of my brother from my hands, I received news that the Zirid heathens were continuing to press my nephew, and hard. They had even declared war on the new Count of Benevento, another newphew of mine. I could not stand by and allow this to happen. I sent one of my daughters, Adelise, to Scipio's court where she would be safe. Emma I made Countess of Tripolitana and Djerba.
Spy Master Mathilde and I spent several evenings in council with Marshall William. We eventually came up with a plan of action. We could save the Duchy of Apulia at the cost of receiving a too-large realm to manage. I had never wanted to rule so much land, but it was the only course open to us. We started our war.