Well, I'm writing a Capetian wank, my friend.... I hope I've not disappointing you
The lucky marriage - Alternate history of the Capetian Dynasty
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Well, I'm writing a Capetian wank, my friend.... I hope I've not disappointing you
Absolutely epic !Forth Act – The Final Drop
In that critical moments, a diversion had seal the fate of the battle. A small squadron of mounted sergeants and crossbowmen, no stronger than two hundreds, and lead by three knights appears at the back of the Germans. It was a band charged for pillaging the land in order to deny the enemy resources for living. They were far south on the left side of the Somme when the battle start and they found about after the fight was well in its way. The band, originally from Artois, was under the command of Pierre d’Arques[FONT="][1][/FONT], castellan of Arques and a close friend of Prince Louis. He decide to cross the river at Fort de Ham, 5-6 miles in the south, to bypass the willow and osier forest and to charge the baggage train of the enemy army.
They arrived just in time, a God gift and blessing. Pierre d’Arque decided to attack the place where was the Imperial battle flag mounted on a chariot and guarder by an infantry force, as well as the Imperial tent. They charge making great noise, crying “Artois!”, “Monjoie!” and “Breizh!”, the Breton war cry. The reserve infantry that guarded the flag was routed, panicked by the sudden attack. They believed that Prince Louis had attacked with all his army. It helped a lot the fact that Pierre had the banners of his master and shouted in Breton, a cry he learned in Brittany during the succession war.
This was the nail in the coffin for the German army.The infantry from both center and the left Imperial wing believed that they are surrounded and start to flee. Everyone was tiered and exhausted of the fight, on both sides but the Imperials give it first as their moral crumble. Soon, a breach opened in the Flemish lines and the count of Saint-Pol was eager to exploit. He penetrates with his men and attack the enemy from behind. Other breach open and the Count William I of Sancerre repeat the maneuver but even more successful as he captured Baldwin. This marked the total collapse of the entire wing who was cut into pieces. With the last resources, humanly and "horselly" possible, Eude of Burgundy redress his knights and charge the center, aiming to the Emperor.
Attacked by reverse and believing that an entire new french army just arrived in his back, Otto start to believe that the battle was end and it’s not his victory. Already fighting with the French, he try to disengage and retreat but a heavy coup of sword glided on his armor and cut deep in the head of the horse. The wound made mad the animal who throw his master on the ground[2] and flee, but not before seriously trample Otto. Several loyal Saxon knights jumped to rescue their suzerain but they were quickly surrounded. The same scene happened earlier with Philip repeat now with Otto. Unfortunately for him, the ones that surrounded him were not mediocre infantry, but they were knights from the royal household, the French the cream of the cream. Guy Mauvoisin, Gerard La Truie, Stephen of Longchamp and William of Garlande were just several who surrounded Otto. The emperor and his men were captured after a fierce combat. Seeing their emperor captured and attacked from two sides, both the Germans knights and infantry flee..
The catastrophe was total: William Longsword was killed, both Otto and Baldwin were captured, as well as many other knights and nobles, the center and the left wing had vanish away, only Renaud of Damartin hold the ground. He had the mercenary infantry form a huge circle, a big schiltrom from where he made sorties with his cavalry but each time he returned he had less and less men. The game was over for him as well…
As the King Philip was not in situation to fight or lead troops, he entrusted the overall command to Brother Guerin. He sent the mounted sergeants to chase the fleeing troop and he surround Renaud with the rest of the army. The rebellious count was requested to surrender but he refuse so he was assaulted from all side. They fight like mad savages beasts trapped in cage but they were finally broken. They finally surrendered or killed. Renaud was captured alive and brought in front of the king. The chase was pursued very late in the evening and stooped only in the middle of the night.
The victory was total!
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Main Sources:
Wikipedia
http://deremilitari.org/2014/03/the-...bouvines-1214/
[FONT="][1][/FONT] Well, the same fictional character I used previously in the Breton war of succession to guard Chateaubriant during the battle of Tours. Why I'm using it and not a real character? Well... for fun!
[2] At Bouvines, a similar thing happen but the horse carried away the emperor before dying. He was saved as he remount a fresh horse and flee.
Meanwhile, far away
Mid-august, 1212
In July 1212, John had lured the king of France and his army as far in the south as Angouleme. He then received the news that his allies invaded France in the North and the King with his army rushed up to north to defend Paris. He then renew his offensive to north, being certain that there is no opposition left. At the end of the month he was on the outskirts of Poitiers when he learned that Prince Louis, duke of Brittany, was nearby with an army. The scouts brought to him the valuable information that Louis had only few knights, most of his army being infantry.
The Anglo-Aquitain army, was numerous but lacked cohesion and a leadership capable to force the submission of the powerful barons. Being certain of his superiority, especially in cavalry, John start to occupy systematically Poitou and stroke to Anjou, while the French army could not oppose him. Most of the towns opened the gates to him. From Anjou, he could cut Louis from Brittany, now exposed to invasion and he could attack to whatever direction he wanted.
Everything went very well till they arrived to the city of Saumur, who refused to surrender. His powerful castle guarded the left bank of the Loire, and was defended by a loyal and powerful French garrison, commanded by the seneschal of Anjou, William des Roches. With great determination, John stormed the walls of the city and captured it, brutally ransacking it. Still, the attempt to storm the castle failed, John found itself forced to besiege it, while the French army approached. He brought many trebuchets and other sieges engines and start to bombard the walls. Also he sent his sappers to undermine the fortifications. The bulk of his army encamped in the city, around the castle.
On the other side, Louis knew that he must break the siege, as if the castle fell, he will be trapped on the south of Loire will limited choices of crossing. Very disturbing news arrived from Nantes who felt to a small English expeditionary band, but backed by a strong fleet. Now, the English ships could navigate up on the river and just the tiny but strongly fortified castle of Roche au Moine, south of Anger, was still in their path to control the entire river.
While having mostly infantry, Louis at least could rely on the fact that this infantry was mostly formed by foot sergeants of good quality and discipline. He decide to attack John’s forces in Saumur.
His infantry approached slowly to the city from the east in battle formation, having just a small forces of knights under the command of Etienne de Longchamp, a Normand baron, dress with Louis armour and bearing his arms. Louis then take the rest of the knights, around 500 and another 300 mounted sergeants and makes a large detour to south.
Seeing the enemy approaching, John ordered to his army to split in two unequal parts. The biggest one, containing the noble’s contingents and the cavalry, get outside of the city to confront the approaching enemy on the plain. The whole affaire seems to be a clear cut as the heavy cavalry could easily crush the infantry on that ground favorable to cavalry charges.
When the two sides arrived in range of each other, the French infantry formed larges schiltroms and adopted a defensive stage, while their crossbowmen start to shoot the opposing side. On the English side, the knights avoided to mount a charge against those formations who seems to stand firm, so they sent first the infantry to soften the schiltroms.
The two mass of infantry do not even crossed their blades when news that something wrong happened in the town stopped their advancement. Louis and his cavalry entered in the town using an unguarded door and start slaughtering the contingent that continued to besiege the castle. The garrison mount a quick sortie as well and captured the war machines. John then considered that he could not continue the siege and he ordered the retreat. Once again the nobles were disappointed. They retreat as well but not in the same direction as John, preferring to disband to their homes.
Now, John find itself without cavalry, except 3 to 400 knight brought from England, and a large mercenary infantry force. Retreating to Thouars, he found the gates closed as the viscount Aimery preferred to change the sides. John ordered then to his army to head back to Rochelle. He also sent words to his fleet to joining him there. The retreat was marked by many desertions and skirmishes between the increasing demoralized English army, who start to loose cohesion and discipline and Louis forces who pursue it closely.
In the same day when Louis received the news about his father victory at Voyennes, John start to embark to England. Also receiving the same news he lost any faith in a victory and decide to abandon any hope of recovering the lost lands. For the first time after 1066, the English kings do not had any continental possession. Sadly, there were not enough ships to carry all the army and their baggages.
Happy with the news and pressed to go back to Paris, Louis launch the assault of the town-port. What followed was a massacre of the ones who were left on the shores. The French captured large amounts of butty as it was not yet charged on the ships.
After this so easily fought victory, the Prince left Williams des Roches with the army to clear the entire Aquitaine of English and to re-assume the control of the Duchy. Their first move was to go straight to Perigueux as Guy II of Dampierre was still besieged by Géraud IV d'Armagnac.
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Sources:
Wikipedia
http://lmarenco.free.fr/Articles/Armorial_Bouvines.htm
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Small re-EDIT of the timeline
Hi guys,
I've re-edit a part of the timeline concerning the marriage of Joan of Flanders.
Initially, I've chose the second son of the French king, Philip Hureppel, but after a long debate and pertinent help from LSCatilina, I've changed with Pierre of Dreux, Mauclerc.
In OTL, Pierre become Duke of Brittany after marry Alice. In my timeline, he do not, as it's Louis of France who become the Duke and Alice marry a Breton noble.
So, we wish the couple to be happy and have children! and to be loyal to France, of-course!
Cheers!
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PS: The discussion could be fount on the thread below:
https://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=359731&page=2
Hi guys,
I've re-edit a part of the timeline concerning the marriage of Joan of Flanders.
Initially, I've chose the second son of the French king, Philip Hureppel, but after a long debate and pertinent help from LSCatilina, I've changed with Pierre of Dreux, Mauclerc.
In OTL, Pierre become Duke of Brittany after marry Alice. In my timeline, he do not, as it's Louis of France who become the Duke and Alice marry a Breton noble.
So, we wish the couple to be happy and have children!
and to be loyal to France, of-course!Cheers!
-------
PS: The discussion could be fount on the thread below:
https://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=359731&page=2
Well... I do not plan to create a French-Castilian union...
Still, I have other plans for all the Iberian states.
Thanks for following up.
Still, I have other plans for all the Iberian states
.Thanks for following up.
The sweet fruit of victory
“Louez Dieu !, car nous venons d'échapper au plus grave danger qui nous ait pu menacer” Letter of Philip Augustus to the University of Paris
“In the Holy day of Sunday, on twenty-six of August in the Year of Incarnation of Our Lord 1212, Otto who, by the authority of the Pope, we refrain from calling him Emperor, allied with John, the usurper King of England, excommunicated as well by our Holy Father, with Renaud, the traitorous count of Boulogne and with Baldwin, the self-called count of Flanders and Hainaut, gathering many nobles and knights and countless pedestrians with whom invaded France, meet Philip, the Augustus King of the Franks, at the bridge over the great river that is called Somme, near the village of Voyennes. But through the grace of God, the glaives and swords of the Franks along with their virtue, which never faltered, overcame the cruelty of their enemies. God had given victory to them, punishing the accursed ones who do not respect neither the Holly day nor the precepts of the Holy Church.” Excerpt from the “Chronicles of the Franks” by friar Eustache from Laon.[1]
The battle of Voyennes, known as well as the Battle of Somme, was unusually fought in a Sunday, against the precepts of the Church who formally banish the fights on this day at the Synod of Elne in 1027: “It is forbidden to attack its enemy since the ninth hour of Saturday evening until the first hour of Monday”.
Roger de Wendover mention in his “Flowers of History” the fact that everybody was surprised by the French victory, even its king: “The king of the French, in his joy for such an unexpected victory, gave thanks to God for having granted him such a triumph over his enemies.”
The defeat of the coalition lead by two excommunicated and one supposed impostor was seen as God Judgment. The King Philip was acclaimed as the God’s champion and the defender of the Church. God give him the victory as his actions were rightful and should remain so.
The battle become in time much romanticized and more and more mythical. The breaking of the German cavalry charge was put on behalf of a miracle, a God help, a personal intervention of Archangel Michael, “Le chef des milices célestes” (Chief of the celestial militia) who come in help of the terrestrial militias and knelled the enemy horses.
Something what if an horse step on he will not liked at all. Massively used at Voyennes in front of Infantry lines.
For the first time, the people also feel the victory as his own. They fought alongside with the nobles, they bleed together and together they won. They fought for their king, for the kingdom and, especially, for their lives and their families. The threat of foreign invasion was felt by everyone so they responded massively to the king call. As both the royal propaganda and the popular tradition show it, the very existence of the kingdom was in peril as the invaders wanted to split it between them:
“Baldwin wanted Artois, the Count Renaud wanted Orleans, Hugues de Boves wanted Amiens and Vermandois, the Emperor wanted Paris, the count William Longsword wanted Chartres and Etampes and for King John, he wanted back all the lands previously sized by the king. Thus, each one want to cut his piece from the Kingdom of France, all roasted or well boiled!”[2]
*
* *
When the battle was finish, the French come together, footmen and cavalry, militias and knights, nobles and low born, and led by the Bishop of Beauvais, they begin a Te Deum in thanksgiving to God for this victory, which benefited from the intervention of the Archangel Michael. Philip give three days to his army to rest and to bury the dead, gather the prisoners and loot the baggage of the enemies. The booty itself was enormous. The chariot with the battle standard of the emperor was brought to the king and the dragon and the imperial eagle was put to his feet. No king of France had such privilege before. The euphoria was general in the French ranks, overshadowing the grief of losing so many men on the battlefield.The battle was extremely deadly and lethal, far more than usually was for the time. The losses were huge on both sides. The French had lost more than 3.500 men, majority being militias and sergeants. The knights also numbered nearly 100 casualties. The greatest dead baron was the count Robert II of Dreux, a cousin of the king and one of his closer allies, while the Count William of Ponthieu was severely wounded. Fortunately, he will recover. The King itself was wounded at his right leg, a wound that will never truly heal and will haunt him the rest of his life. The wound was not caused by the horse falling upon him as it was originally trough, but by a powerful blow from a blunt weapon had pierced his leg armour and entered deep in his muscles
[*]. Maybe the blunt part of the war axe… or other polearm like a bec de corbin.
The enemy also had many losses, more than 6.000 dead plus 10.000 prisoners. While the enemy knights counted more than 180 dead, another 150 lied in chains, right next to 28 barons and several very high ranking nobles. Of course, the greatest prisoner by far was the Emperor itself, followed by Duke Henry of Brabant, Duke Henry of Limburg, Count Renaud of Boulogne, Count William of Jülich, Philip of Courtenay, Margrave of Namur and Baldwin, the supposing count of Flanders and Hainaut. The greatest dead was William Longsword, earl of Salisbury and half-brother of the king, who left his wife pregnant when he set sails from England. His boy, named Stephen, was born a couple of months before the battle.
*
* *
In 29 August, the day of martyring of Saint Jean the Baptist, the French army start to move to Paris. They triumphantly entered a week later in the city full an indescribable frenzy of joy and happiness, parading to streets the captured enemies and the loot, including tents, flags and banners, warhorses and huge barrels full of wine and beer, destined to the crowds.
First, entered the captured footmen, chained together in long columns and only after that the knights and nobles followed, in order of their ranks. If the knights marched on foot, the barons were chained in chars puled by oxen: two oxen for barons, four for counts, six for dukes and eight for emperor.
When the procession of the prisoners ended, the King passed through the gates, followed by his barons and knights and all his army. The streets of Paris were full of people who dance, sing, drink and celebrate the victory. The party would last for 6 days and nights and the most revelers were the students of the University of Paris. The king itself sent them a letter to ask them to give thanks to God for the victory. The famous letter start with “Praise God, because we have escaped from the greatest danger that we could have be ever threaten…”
The King Philip will found next year the Abbey of Notre Dame de la Victoire on the same place where the battle was fought.
Several weeks later, it was Louis the Lion who was received victorious by the crowds in Paris who used the occasion to celebrate for another three days. Louis also brought an important prisoner – Hubert de Burgh.
Big ransoms were ask from the prisoners. Henry of Brabant was quickly released on the promise that he will pay a decent ransom. Not so easy escape the Duke of Limburg or the count of Julich who were forced to pay half of the ransoms before being liberated. Philip II of Courtenay, the Margrave of Namur was freed with just a small sum to pay, after a long meeting between his father Pierre, Prince Louis and the King. Nobody know what they have actually discussed, even many assumptions were made. Some says that the fruits of this discussion appears only several years later.
Renaud of Damartin was sent to prison for the rest of his days in Goulet, in Normandy. All his lands were confiscated and granted to the young son of the King, Philip Hureppel who also married the count daughter, Mathilde of Boulogne.
Baldwin was brought in front of the king and questioned. His physique strongly resemble to the count Baldwin as the king and his councilors remember him before leaving in Crusade. He act like him but he could not remember details about his knighting. When he was confronted with his sister Yolande, he could not respond to other personal details, like ones from childhood or the night of his marriage. The king declared that he was an impostor. He was tortured till he recognized that he was part of a complot lead by John of England who also pay him with large sum of money to bribe everyone. His true name was Hubert, he was born in Valenciennes in Hainaut and he was for a while canon in a monastery in a Brabant. The abbot of the monastery was brought in France to confront him and he recognized the forger. Hubert was sentenced to death and executed in Lille by the Countess Joan and her husband Pierre of Dreux.
Now, the Emperor received an Imperial treatment. A huge ransom of 120.000 silver marks was put on his head. More so, his release was conditioned by the payment of half of the sum in advance. The ransom was long debated as Frederik of Hohenstaufen, quickly sent words to Paris after hearing of Otto’s defeat and capture, paying the French King 20.000 marks for harshening the release conditions[3].
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Main sources:
Wikipedia
http://bouvines1214.org/site/spip.php?article55&lang=en
http://www.medievalmiddleages.com/weapons/caltrops.html
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[*] I'm thinking to a wound similar with the one that Henry VIII acquired while jousting.
[1] Fictional character. The extract is a compilation from William le Breton, Le ménestrel de Reims and others
[2] Minstrel of Reims, from http://bouvines1214.org/site/spip.php?article43&lang=fr
[3] Well, Frederick do the same for Otto what Philip Augustus have done for Richard Lionhart…
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Yah.... ITTL, Philip and Louis finished what they should done OTL - take all English continental possessions...
John need now to figure how he will escape from the thread of invasion, excommunication and baron and people revolts and defection.....
Would be hilarious if Louis ends up becoming King of England like the First Baron's War nearly did.
Hard times
The year of the Lord 1212
John had lost all the French possessions but he was still King of England, Lord of Ireland, earl of Cornwall and Devon and overlord of Wales and Scotland. The Royal Domain was vast and rich, containing Middlesex, Cambridge, Buckingham, Suffolk, Bedford, Berkshire, Northampton, York, Nottingham, Northumbria, Lancaster, Shrewsbury, Stafford, Worcester, Dorset and Somerset. All of England was littered by strong royal castles having powerful garrisons and strong reserves of both provisions and money. From there, he could exercise a firm control of the country and keep his barons in check… at least that was what he believed…
Soon after the victory at Voyennes, the French invaded Flanders and Hainaut to put down the rebellion. The French army swept through the counties and sack several cities as retaliation. Soon, the authority of the Countess Joan and his husband Pierre was widely accepted. Still a state of passive rebellion and un-submission continue for a long period, especially among the urban elites who do not liked at all the French takeover.
As his father was still recovering from the wound, the Prince Louis was the commander in chief of the Royal army. While he goes rampart over the Flemish cities, pillaging the ones who do not obeyed, Louis had a big surprise at the city-port of Damme when the guards brought to them a man in dress women clothes. It was no other than the famous pirate Eustace the Monk (*), on the payroll of King John. He was captured in a brothel, were he was hiding. His first temptation was to put it to death, but after a short reflection, he offer him a deal. An offer he could not refuse, namely to change the camp with all his men and to enter in the service of France and Brittany. The alternative… was the gallows. He will have safe harbor in France and receive free hand to attack, pillage and capture any English ship or property but forbidden to do the same for the French or Breton ones. When needed, Eustace will join the King or the Prince fleets with all his ships and fight for them. As first sign of loyalty, Eustace should recover the Norman Islands in the Channel who were captured by him several years ago and hand them over to their rightful overlord. A small band of troops will accompanied him to ensure the support if needed.
The loss of his ally who help him to control the seas displeased John who was now more worried of a French invasion as never. He ordered to the English fleet to set sail and attack the French one that was gathering in the North of France.
The naval battle of Boulogne fought at the end of 1212 was very bloody and finished as an English victory but was far from decisive[1]. The French fleet was dispersed, failing to concentrate into an invasion force. It was said that when heard about this defeat, Philip Augustus said: "Les Français connaissent mal les voies de la mer" while his son Louis responded: "Pas pour longtemps, Sire, pas pour longtemps..."[2] The Channel remained highly disputed as Eustace the Monk was eager to demonstrate his loyalty to his new boss while the Breton fleet grew stronger and more daring every day.
Elected in absentia as German King at the Diet of Nuremberg a year before, Frederick II Hohenstaufen move very fast in Germany, making full use of his rival defeat and imprisonment. He was crowned King of the Romans at Mainz in 23 October and his first act was to renew the Golden Bull of Eger, granted by Otto ten years earlier, in which he guarantied the Pope freedom in ecclesiastical elections and recuperation of his lands and privileges. The young Frederick was the ward of Innocent and he solemnly promise that he will not unite the Kingdom of Sicily with Germany.
In the “Bulla Aurea” issued from 1 December 1212, Innocent sent a new message to all the Christianity about his willingness and determination to establishes the Papal universal government:
“The King of Kings and Lord of Lords Christ Jesus… has so established the kingdom and priesthood in the Church that the kingdom is priestly and the priesthood royal… so that, as body and soul, both kingdom and priesthood should be unified in the single person of the vicar of Christ to the great advantage of both […] If, we can bind and loose in heaven, here on earth we can remove from anyone and grant to anyone empires, kingdoms, principalities, duchies, marquisates, counties, indeed all men’s possessions”.[3]
Without allies, and without friends, John become desperate. The situation become even more alarming when William of Holland and Duke Henry of Brabant ally themselves with Philip and Louis, joining them with their navies and men against him. The Crusade against England, orchestrated by the Pope and the French King, was more real than ever. His spies in Rome informed him that the Pope Innocent had prepared letters for Philip Augustus in which he order him to invade England and depose him.
In 30 January 1213, in the presence of papal legate Pandulph, The king of England do the unbelievable. He reconcile with the Pope, making sign of penetrance, formally surrendering England to the representative of Rome to receiving it back again as a papal fief. He engage itself to pay a tribute of 1.000 marks per year: 700 for England and 300 for Ireland, as well as recompensing the church for revenue lost during the crisis. Pandulf Masca, an arrogant Italian born in Rome, start to act as the governor of England, acting in the interest of his boss, the Pope, while John accepted by necessity. He also was forced to accept Stephen Langton as Archbishop of Canterbury. The great King Henry II surely spin in the grave like a weaving wheel…
"King John Absolved by Pandulph", engraving from a 18 century book
Immediately, Pandulph crossed the channel to inform Philip that his Crusade was cancelled and no harm to be done against a Pope vassal. Incredibly furious, Philip sent letters to Rome to convince the Pope to change his mind. After well, John was a murder and usurper. He shall even not be considered as King of England. But all his arguments do not overcome the fact that Innocent just have added another kingdom on his lists of vassals, next to Aragon, Hungary, Poland, Bulgaria, the Scandinavian kingdoms, and others.
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Main Sources:
Wikipedia
"Europe in the High Middle Ages: 1150-1300" By John H. Mundy
"A Short History of the Papacy in the Middle Ages" By Walter Ullmann
"The battle of Sandwich and Eustace the Monk" by Henry Lewin Canon
"Blood Cries Afar: The Forgotten Invasion of England 1216" By Sean McGlynn
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(*) There are records were Eustace the Monk had dress in women clothes to mislead his enemies.
[1] The OTL English victory at Damme was won by sheer luck, as the French left half of the fleet outside the harbour and lightly guarded as the main force was occupied with siege of Gand. Disgusted, the French king burned the remaining vessels. The English also benefit of leadership of William Longsword… now dead ITTL.
[2] Approximate translation
hilip: "The French know little about the the sea lanes". Louis: "Not for long, Sire, not for long..."[3] The first part is OTL letter to John of England in 1213. The last part are the OTL words of Gregory VII at the council of Rome from 1080.
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Who is in for an anti-Papacy crusade ?
And is John's deed as OTL or completely new ?
As for the HRE, it smells of civil war all over again as Otto won't let himself be removed from power this easily.
And is John's deed as OTL or completely new ?
As for the HRE, it smells of civil war all over again as Otto won't let himself be removed from power this easily.
Sorry, but no anti pope crusade...
I will take long time till the kings had guts (and support) to physically move against the Pope (Philip IV stile).
Concerning John... hi is acting more or less the same way as OTL, with just minor differences. His behavior to the barons and people is pretty much the same. Still, he become more desperate, more paranoid and more cruel than OTL version... as he lost all the lands in France, lost twice on the battlefield against Louis, his legitimacy is even more shaky as the murder of Arthur was now public. De Brosse accuse him officially and openly of this crime. So he do not trust even less the people around him.
He lost more money to the failed campaigns in France so he had more financial issues... and his mercenaries need to be paid... at any cost (and he knew that!)
Now, concerning he HRE.... I will not spoil the distraction.
Frederick is Elected and Crowned King of Germany (and Sicily) but not Emperor, while Otto is in prison (for a wile) and excommunicated (for a wile) but his first wife, Beatrice of Hohenstaufen, is still alive ITTL (I forget to mention but it will be subject of future update) so he still had more power base than OTL (his wife is acting as Duchess of Swabia)...
I will take long time till the kings had guts (and support) to physically move against the Pope (Philip IV stile).
Concerning John... hi is acting more or less the same way as OTL, with just minor differences. His behavior to the barons and people is pretty much the same. Still, he become more desperate, more paranoid and more cruel than OTL version... as he lost all the lands in France, lost twice on the battlefield against Louis, his legitimacy is even more shaky as the murder of Arthur was now public. De Brosse accuse him officially and openly of this crime. So he do not trust even less the people around him.
He lost more money to the failed campaigns in France so he had more financial issues... and his mercenaries need to be paid... at any cost (and he knew that!)
Now, concerning he HRE.... I will not spoil the distraction.
Frederick is Elected and Crowned King of Germany (and Sicily) but not Emperor, while Otto is in prison (for a wile) and excommunicated (for a wile) but his first wife, Beatrice of Hohenstaufen, is still alive ITTL (I forget to mention but it will be subject of future update) so he still had more power base than OTL (his wife is acting as Duchess of Swabia)...
John is f#$ked with or without the pope.There might not be any anti-Papal movement (Philip IV style),but I think Philip Augustus can defy the Pope in this instance and get away with it.
I agree with you Darth, like I said before. I think there is a much better chance that, should it come to pass, we could very well see a Capetian on the English throne like we nearly did during the First Baron's War.
And even if OTL Louis VIII doesn't get elected English King, I'm pretty sure they could put to the throne someone who was not a Plantagnet...
And even if OTL Louis VIII doesn't get elected English King, I'm pretty sure they could put to the throne someone who was not a Plantagnet...
Even harder times - The first English civil war
The year of the Lord 1213
In the meantime, John start to recruit mercenaries with the announced intention of going in Crusade… He also request another scutage to his barons. It was enough! The barons utterly refused to pay. In response, John sent his men to forcibly collect the tax by taking whatever they could get.
A later historian describe the path who led to an open rebellion as "direct, short and unavoidable"[1] after the battle of Voyennes. In fact, the path was very long and painful, starting with the very first years of his kingship and become unavoidable only very late. The first who rebelled were the northern barons, more used with the Scottish politics and suzerainty and without any interest in the French affairs, followed by the Welsh. Soon, many other followed in cascade. John found itself whit practically 0 nobility support when a big baron army assemble and marched on London who opened its gates. The barons elected Robert Fitzwalter their general, with the title of "Marshal of the Army of God and Holy Church".
Out of nearly 200 baronies in England, only some 60 declared for the rebels. However, less than 30 sided openly with the king; the majority simply stepped aside, not wishing to become embroiled in the conflict. Families were split in their loyalties: William Marshal, stood by the king, while his eldest son opted for the rebels and this pattern was repeated over and over again. John’s main advantage was his string of some 150 loyal castles across the country and the mercenaries brought from the continent. But those mercenaries need to be paid... at any cost! And John knew that very well...
Assembled at Runnymede, near Oxford, the barons forced John to sign the Great Chart of Baron Privileges (Magna Charta Baronium Privilegiums) who grant them privileges while limiting the king powers in 15 May 1213. This will be known as the Magna Carta[2] and it was similar to “Charter of Liberties” that had been declared by King Henry I, one century before. The main difference was a security clause was introduced, in order to ensure that the King keep his promise: A council of “five and twenty barons” will be formed to monitor and ensure future adherence to the charter. If the king do not conform, they had power to rise in arms against him and size him castles and properties till they get his compliance.
“We engage our-self to procure nothing from the Lord Pope by which any of these agreements be revoked or diminished. An oath, moreover, has been taken, as well on our part as on the art of the barons, that all these conditions aforesaid shall be kept in good faith and without evil intent.” The last Article of Magna Carta
The Great Chart of Barons Privileges
He split his mercenary army in two, one led by him in person and another by his trustful man Falkes de Breauté, an obscure Norman knights on his service. Roger of Wendover let us an epic description of the general ambiance in England and of King John’s army:
“The whole surface of the earth was covered with these limbs of the devil-like locusts who assembled… to blot out everything from the face of the earth, from man down to his castle; for, running about with drawn swords and knives, they ransacked towns, houses, cemeteries and churches, robbing everyone, and sparing neither women and children; the king’s enemies wherever they were found were imprisoned in chains and compelled to pay a heavy ransom. Even the priests, while standing at the very altars, were seized, tortured, robbed and ill-treated.”
*
* *
John ordered Falkes de Breauté to take London at any cost, while he mobilized his forces in Dover. They plan to attack the city both form north and south. Spotting the danger, William d’Aubigny led a stealth expedition with no more than 200 men and captured the strongly fortified Rochester castle, cutting the road to London.
Breauté arrived on the outskirts of London in the beginning of September 1213 at the head of a strong mercenary force recruited from Poitou, Brabant and Flanders and immediately start to besiege it, as the city refused to open the gates. In south, John was enrage when he see his path blocked by Aubigny. He decide to besiege it, personally leading the siege, rather than bypass it and go to London.
The siege of London took little less than two months till a section of the walls collapsed being under-mined. The mercenaries purred inside and start looting the city while the garrison and the baronial troop take refuges on the Tower of London. To make thing worst, a fire broke out of control and devastate the city, killing thousands. The sack send shock waves through the entire kingdom and even further. Still, the barons gather sufficient forces to relieve the garrison from the Tower and expel Falkes de Breauté and his men from London. They quickly start to repair the walls but the damage make by fire and loot will take years till it will be restored.
Another one and a half months pass till Rochester castle finally fall, having its walls undermined as well. This siege was fought with incredibly determination on both side. Barnwell chronicler wrote: "Our age has not known a siege so hard pressed nor so strongly resisted ... Afterwards few cared to put their trust in castles". Captured, William d’Aubigny and all his men were executed by hanging[3], but not before they had their both hands cut off, as well as their tongues, noses and ears. The siege cost him a fortune.
While John and his men hoped that this will demoralize the rebels and break their will, the effect was not the expected one. They were even more desperate but determinate to get rid of him. John had no more any brother alive and his sons were not in age to be put on the throne or to gather resistance. The only one who could oppose him, had enough power, charisma and, especially, legitimacy, was the son of the King of France - Prince Louis, Duke of Brittany and Count of Artois. He was their last chance. A baronial delegation arrived in France and offered the crown to Louis. They recognize him as true King of England in the rights of his wife, the Duchess Eleanor of Brittany and the rightful heir of the king Richard and Arthur.
Louis gladly accepted and start to organize the invasion. He sent back to London 300 knight to strengthen the garrison and to prepare his arrival next spring. Louis use the winter to gather a strong fleet and army in Calais.
When everything seems to be ready for setting sails and only favorable winds missed, words come from Rome. The Pope was angry and forbidden the expedition under the threat of excommunication. Louis sent quickly another mission to Rome but Guala Bicchieri, the new Papal Legate, was heading to Paris to force the King to block the enterprise. He had right of excommunication on the spot.
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Sources:
Wikipedia
"Blood Cries Afar: The Forgotten Invasion of England 1216" By Sean McGlynn
"The Magna Carta" prepared by Nancy Troutman and Gerald Murphy. National Public Telecomputing Network
"The battle of Sandwich and Eustace the Monk" by Henry Lewin Canon
"Europe in the High Middle Ages: 1150-1300" By John H. Mundy
"A Short History of the Papacy in the Middle Ages" By Walter Ullmann
http://www.tribunemagazine.org/2013/09/invasions-through-the-ages-and-fortress-britain-breached/
http://www.historyextra.com/feature/king-john-and-french-invasion-england
http://www.bl.uk/magna-carta/articles/magna-carta-people-and-society#sthash.DMsMDW0h.dpuf
http://cmemll.wp.st-andrews.ac.uk/files/2014/10/Magna-Carta-Articles-of-the-Barons-translation3.pdf
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[1] James Holt
[2] Well, mostly a combination between OTL Articles of the Barons and Charter of Liberties of Henry I…
[3] They were nearly hanged in OTL. They still not escaped the mutilation of hand cutting
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Knew it...
Still, with this melee de trois, England, vs. France vs. the Papacy, I wonder if somebody can put this King to rest.
Still, with this melee de trois, England, vs. France vs. the Papacy, I wonder if somebody can put this King to rest.
Well... how can I put it!?... This melee it's more like... a party ouze
: - John will fight with his teeth and nails to save his crown and dynasty
- Louis will not left it go, no mater the consequences. he has a strong claim and a powerful base (Brittany and Artois + all most of France)
- Innocent is Innocent... he will not accept that his authority to be questioned... he had a powerful tool to threat with use of it and he will use it (the excommunication) but he has already abuse of it, maybe to much...
- Philip Augustus become old, his leg give him awful pains and he is afraid to die and one thing is certain - he do not want to die excommunicated... but screwing the Plantagenets it's very tempting...
- the Barons there are a lot of them who stay out of the conflict... for a wile... they could change their minds if the situation become a clear cut...
- the People is gonna suffer... and pay for all this distraction
I forget somebody?
Ah, the Scots, and Welsh and Irish and....
- Status