A Salian England

[leonardocruzbr]

In 1115, the young Empress Matilda, wife of Holy Roman Emperor Henry V (1081-1125), fourth Emperor of the Salian Dynasty, gave birth to a healthy son, named Henry in honor of both his imperial father and his grandfather, King Henry I of England.


When his uncle, William Adelin, drowned at the White Ship disaster in 1120, the young prince Henry suddenly become the next-in-line to the throne of England. While King Henry I remarried in 1121 to Adeliza of Louven, the daughter of Godfrey I of Leuven, this marriage was childless, and in 1122 Henry I declared the then 6-years-old german prince as his heir.

When he was but 10 years of age, his father, Emperor Henry V, died. The Archbishop of Mainz convinced many nobles to support Lothair, Duke of Saxony, as Emperor. But this bid failed, not only because of the existence of legitimate heir, but also due to the action of the fearsome King of England, who landed in northern germany, officially to "pay his respects" to his deceased son-in-law, but actually to ensure the inheritance of his grandson and heir.

The Holy Roman Empire soon had a 10-years-old King of Germany, and an Imperial Regency Council was formed, composed of his kinsmen, Frederick II of Hohenstaufen, Duke of Swabia, and Conrad III, Duke of Franconia, Empress Matilda, King Henry I of England, and also by Henry X, Duke of Bavaria, after his marriage to Empress Matilda on 1128.
The rebellious Duke of Saxony signed a peace treaty with the Regency Council in 1126, and Lothair's 8-years-old daughter and heiress, Gertrude of Supplinburg, became engaged to the young King of Germany.

The marriage occurred in the following year, and the young couple was later sent to England, where Henry lived from 1127 to 1132 in his grandfather's court. His stay in the court of the Lion of Justice greatly shaped him. The young King learned the importance of a centralized government, and of Henry I's social and judicial reforms. When in 1130, during the papal controversy, Pope Innocent II and Antipope Anacletus II attempted to influence the young King of Germans, they found a determinate and focused men. While Henry VI was naturally inclined to support Innocent's claim to the papal throne, he first made sure that Innocent II confirmed his Imperial Investiture Rights, and gave up the papal claims to the allodial property left to the Pope by Matilda of Tuscany in 1115. These same lands were then granted to the Emperor's father-in-law, Henry X of Bavaria, who became also the Margrave of Tuscany.

It was also during their stay at the english court that Gertrude gave birth to their first child, Matilda of Rouen (1131-1174).

Two years later, the now-adult Henry VI raised an army and distinguished himself against Roger II of Sicily, Antipope Anacletus II's greatest supporter, and, in the following year, was crowned Emperor by Pope Innocent II. The Sicilian Campaign was halted in January 1136, when, after receiving news of the death of his grandfather, Emperor Henry VI hastily signed a peace treaty with Roger II of Sicily.

Henry VI arrived in England in march of the same year, and was soon crowned at Westminster Abbey as King Henry II of England. It would be during their stay in London that Empress Gertrude gave birth to their first son and heir, Henry of Westminster (1136-1182). As King of England, Henry II continued his grandfather's works, ensuring a strong, centralized and wealthy England1. He also used of his Investiture rights to form a Lay Priest bureaucracy, forming a centralized government across the Empire.

In 1138 Empress Gertrude gave birth to their second son, Lothair of Northeim (1138-1162), named in honor of the empress's recently diseased father. Two years later was born their fourth child, Richeza of Süpplingenburg (1140-1160).

Empress Matilda was once more widowed in 1139, after the death of Duke Henry X of Bavaria, known as Henry the Proud. Emperor Henry VI declared himself guardian of his 1-year-old half-brother Henry2, the infant Duke of Bavaria and Margrave of Tuscany. While this move allowed Henry VI to control the resources of Bavaria and Tuscany, which greatly increased his power, he was deeply found his younger brother. When, in 1148, Renauld III, the rebel Count of Burgundy, who had, eighteen years before, attempted to proclaim the independency of Burgundy from the Empire, died, he engaged his brother to Beatrice, Renauld's 3-years-old heiress.

Emperor Henry VI become widowed on April 13, 1143, as Empress Gertrude died a couple of months after giving birth to their last daughter, Gertrude of Nuremberg (1142-1197). Having loved her deeply, and already having two healthy sons to ensure his lineage, the Emperor refused to remarry, remaining loyal to her memory.

In 1146, Bernard of Clairvaus started preaching for the Second Crusade. When the Emperor, who was then in England, heard about Bernard's preaching, he promptly supported the crusade, giving his blessing to all his vassals who desired to take the cross, although he declined to join. As an explanation, he declared that, while he could not "leave his land at the mercy of faithless enemies". Both his uncle, Duke Conrad III of Franconia, and his cousin, the future Duke Frederick III of Swabia, took the cross.

Later, it became a constant rumor that the Second Crusade could have successfully liberated Jerusalem if only Emperor Henry VI had taken the cross. The Emperor's diplomatic skills, witch allowed for the german crusaders to travel trough sea across the enemy Kingdom of Sicily, could have avoided surely aided, stopping the disunion and leadership clashes which doomed the Crusade. We'll never known.

Nonetheless, many agree, grumbling, that Emperor Henry VI was only capable of maintaining the complete extension of his possessions if he had been not only present, but also constantly traveling through them. Only an energetic, fearless, obsessive and, to use a modern term, a workaholic3 like Henry VI could have kept united such distant lands as then were Germany, England and Normandy.

Emperor Henry VI arranged the marriage of his oldest son, Henry of Westminster, to Judith of Lorraine (1140-1173), daughter of Duke Matthias I of Lorraine, marriage which occurred in 1152. Two years later, Henry of Westerminster left to Milan, where the Archbishop crowned him as King of Germany. This ensured the succession when Henry VI suddenly died4 in 1160.

Unlike previous Emperors, Henry VI left all his possessions to his firstborn son, Henry of Westerminster.


1 The consequences were far-reaching. Without the anarchy of OTL, the English barons were further weakened, avoiding the Baron Revolt of 1173-1174. Unlike OTL Henry II, TTL Henry II (also Emperor Henry VI) recognized Malcolm IV of Scotland as Earl of Cambria and the future William I of Scotland as Earl of Northumbria.

2 Duke Henry XI of Bavaria (1138-1175) was a paradoxical man. A remarkable theorist who left many great philosophical treaties, he was also known as a deeply violent man. Henry the Bull was known for falling in fits so fearsome, and for inflicting such atrocities in his enemies, that the mere thought of having to face his wrath caused many dissatisfied dukes to dutifully obey his half-brother and suzerain, Emperor Henry VI.

3 Records stat that, constantly, Emperor Henry VI worked through sleepless nights, working on some problem or another. He surely spent little time on himself, having once declaring that he found only joy in the challenge of rulership.

4 Emperor Henry VI was simply found dead a certain morning at his castle in Northeim by a servant. It was determinated that he had died of natural causes (most likely a hearth-attack), although rumors of poisoning appeared from time to time.

[Jammy]

Originally Posted by leonardocruzbr

When he was but 10 years of age, his father, Emperor Henry V, died. The Archbishop of Mainz convinced many nobles to support Lothair, Duke of Saxony, as Emperor. But this bid failed, not only because of the existence of legitimate heir, but also due to the action of the fearsome King of England, who landed in northern germany, officially to "pay his respects" to his deceased son-in-law, but actually to ensure the inheritance of his grandson and heir. - brilliant lol

The rebellious Duke of Saxony signed a peace treaty with the Regency Council in 1126, and Lothair's 8-years-old daughter and heiress, Gertrude of Supplinburg, became engaged to the young King of Germany.

he engaged his brother to Beatrice, Renauld's 3-years-old heiress.

Emperor Henry VI become widowed on April 13, 1143, as Empress Gertrude died a couple of months after giving birth to their last daughter, Gertrude of Nuremberg (1142-1197). Having loved her deeply, and already having two healthy sons to ensure his lineage, the Emperor refused to remarry, remaining loyal to her memory.

Emperor Henry VI arranged the marriage of his oldest son, Henry of Westminster, to Judith of Lorraine (1140-1173), daughter of Duke Matthias I of Lorraine, marriage which occurred in 1152. Two years later, Henry of Westerminster left to Milan, where the Archbishop crowned him as King of Germany. This ensured the succession when Henry VI suddenly died4 in 1160.

Although i like those last paragraphs it dose seem everything goes his way, no deaths of his children arranging marriages that are fine.

Overall i did enjoy it though

[leonardocruzbr]

Although i like those last paragraphs it dose seem everything goes his way, no deaths of his children arranging marriages that are fine.

Overall i did enjoy it though

In truth, it was a bit of luck. I actualy randomly roll for childbirths and for children longivity. Other characters will not be quite so lucky.

About the marriages, well, I had't considered Judith of Lorreine such a good match, I was just searching for match of a suitable age in the HRE. Did I underestimate the duchy of Lorraie?

[leonardocruzbr]

Henry of Westerminster was crowned King Henry III of England in 1160 and Roman Emperor by Pope Alexander III in 1162. He also inherited the duchies of Normandy and of Saxony, where he reigned as Duke Henry III.



Soon after his coronation as Emperor, Henry VII helped King Louis VII of France put down the 1159-1162 Rebellion, which had started when the Duke of Aquitaine and the counts of Anjou and of Champagne had invaded the County of Toulouse in 1159.


It was also in 1162 that Lothair of Northeim was killed during a skirmish on the borders of Normandy and Anjou. Count Geoffrey VI of Anjou immediately executed the responsible1 and apologized to the emperor, making peace to him.



In 1067, Dermot MacMurrough, the exiled King of Leinster, arrived at Rouen and pleaded for the Emperor to help him reassert control of his kingdom. Intrigued and seeing an challenge, Henry VII promptly agreed and gathered an army composed mostly of young landless knights from England, Normandy and Saxony. By 1069 Dermot was once more King of Leinster, and the Emperor had seized large amounts of lands from Ireland, which he granted to the young knights who had distinguished themselves during the war. Not satisfied, Henry VII continued the irish war, and in 1072, Rory O'Connor was forced to acknowledge the Emperor as his suzerain.



Another crisis occurred in 1168 Guy de Luisignon and his brothers ambushed and murdered Patrick of Salisbury, 1st Earl of Salisbury2, a vassal of Emperor Henry VII, who formally complained with both Theobald V of Blois (also Theobald I of Aquitaine) and King Louis VII. Threatened by both Henry VII and King Louis VII, Theobald had no option but surrender the Lusignon brothers to Henry VII, who imprisoned them until 1180, when their families finally raised the money to pay for the heavy ransom demanded by Henry VII. This money was given by Henry VII to Patrick’s nephew, the famous and prestigious William the Marshall, who by then had became the Emperor’s High Hand and married Isabel de Clare, heiress of Richard de Clare, 2nd Earl of Pembroke, by Eva MacMurrough, daughter of Dermot MacMurrough.



In 1170, Henry VII arranged the married of his son and heir, Henry (1153-1194), to Marguerite of France (1158-1197), the daughter of King Louis VII of France by Constance of Castile. The following year, Emperor Henry VII took as ward Constance of Brittany, heiress of the duchy of Brittany and the earldom of Richmond, and arranged her marriage to his nephew, Phillip of France, the oldest son and heir of King Louis VII of France. This arrangement was greatly aided by the involvement of Lord Chanceller Thomas Becket3.



Emperor Henry VII died in 1182, and was succeeded by his oldest son Henry, who was crowned King Henry IV of England in 1182 and Emperor Henry VIII in 1187 by Pope Clement III4, after a disagreement with previous Popes Lucius III and Urban III, on the matter of the papal claim to the lands of Matilda, which Lucius III attempted to resurrect, even though they had been surrendered by Pope Innocent II.



In 1186 Henry XII of Bavaria5, cousin and most loyal vassal of Emperor Henry VIII, married Constance of Sicily (1154-1198), the niece and heiress of William II of Sicily. But on William’s death in 1189, Tancred of Sicily (?-1194) usurped the throne of Sicily. This caused the Invasion of Sicily (1190-1194).



While Emperor Henry VIII successfully conquered Sicily for his cousin, who was crowned King Henry I of Sicily in March of 1194, the campaign resulted in tragedy. Two days after his cousin’s coronation, both Emperor Henry VIII and King Henry I of Sicily felt sick and died.

Henry VIII’s only child, Henry of Rouen (1172-1218), was crowned King of Germany in 1194, King of England as Henry V in 1195, and finally Emperor Henry IX by Pope Celestine III in 1197.




1 Actually, it’s believed that those executed were not Lothair’s killer, but unruly vassals who Geoffrey used as scapegoats.



2 It was this murdered that, in OTL, caused Richard Lionheart to exile the Lusignon brothers from Aquitaine. Two of them, Amalric and Guy de Lusignon, made their way to Jerusalem, where both became Kings through marriage.



3 Unlike OTL’s Henry II, Emperor Henry VII was not that found of Thomas Becket, considering him a competent Chancellor, but not a close friend (as OTL Henry II seemed to consider), and so he did not influence the 1162 election for Archbishop of Canterbury. Thomas Becket remained Lord Chancellor until his death, on 1189, when he died of natural causes, and therefore, in TTL, Thomas Becket was never canonized.



4 And even so, Clement III only crowned him to avoid a full invasion of Rome, as the Emperor had already placed his army on northern Italy, near Milan. Clement III also created trouble later, when he crowned Tancred of Sicily as King of Sicily, against the wishes of Emperor Henry VIII.



5 Henry XII (1157-1194), Duke of Bavaria (1175-1194), known as “Henry the Loyal”, or “Henry the Reluctant”, was the most loyal vassal of both Emperors Henry VII and Henry VIII. In contrast to his fearsome father, Henry XII was a funny and peaceful man, devoted in service yet not a capable Duke (or King), been reluctant and pessimist. He was also Margrave of Tuscany (1179-1194), and Count of Burgundy (1184-1194), lands which he inherited after the death his childless brothers, Margrave Otto I of Tuscany (1166-1179) and Count William IV of Burgundy (1163-1184).

[Jammy]

Quick note, any chance of a map

[leonardocruzbr]

Quick note, any chance of a map

I'm trying, but I'm not having any sucess, drawing is just not something I'm good at. Okay, I'm dreadful at it. I'll keep on trying, but don't think I'll have any success.

If anyone capable of drawing a map feals like to try, please, be my guest!

[leonardocruzbr]

In 1153, King Louis VII of France and Duchess Eleanor of Aquitaine divorced, who was then courted by Count Theobald V of Blois. They were married the following year, and Theobald V of Blois became Duke Theobald I of Aquitaine. This marriage formed an alliance between the duchy of Aquitaine and the counties of Blois and of Champagne, the last which was held by Theobald’s brother, Henry I.

Louis VII declared war against Theobald for having married without his authorization, but after some time he obtained an indemnity from Theobald and gave up his claim over Aquitaine. This only caused further tension between the French King and the Counts of Blois and of Champagne, whose father, Theobald II of Champagne, had waged a two years war against Louis between 1142 and 1144, which had resulted in the occupation of Champagne by the royal army and the and burning of the town of Vitry. Neither Theobald I nor Henry I had forgiving Louis VII1.

When their cousin William of Blois, Count of Boulogne and Count of Mortain, died in 1159 without child, Henry I and Theobald I were approached by Geoffrey VI of Anjou, who requested that their cousin, Marie of Boulogne, be removed from the convent she had been placed at a young age and married to him. This move allied the Houses of Champagne, of Aquitaine and of Anjou, which was of a great aid when Theobald I, under the instigation of Eleanor, invaded Toulouse.

Louis VII promptly went to the aid of his vassal and brother-in-law, Raymound V of Toulouse, but the French King was unable to successfully counter the combined forces of Aquitaine, Anjou, Blois and Champagne. After a year of war, Louis VII turned to his only vassal capable of helping him: Duke Henry III of Normandy, also Emperor Henry VII.

Henry VII agreed to help Louis, and to seal their alliance, the widowed Louis VII married Henry’s youngest sister, Gertrude of Nuremberg (1142-1197), while Henry’s sons, Henry of Nuremberg (1153-1194) and Lothair of Normandy (1154-1183) were married to, respectively, Marguerite of France and Alys, Countess of the Vexin.

Henry VII turned the tide of the war. The rebels were unable to face the combined might of the Emperor and the King of France, and they surrendered in 1162. Eleanor and Theobald I formally renounced their claims to Toulouse2, and the rebels renewed their oath of vassalage to Louis VII, paying heavy fines.

In 1191 Theobald was succeeded by his oldest son, Theobald (1160-1200), who became Duke Theobald II of Aquitaine and Count Theobald VI of Blois.


1 Ironically, both conflicts were caused by Eleanor of Aquitaine. The 1142-1144 war had been caused by Eleanor, who convinced Louis VII to allow Raoul I of Vermandois to repudiate the niece of Theobald II of Champagne, and marry Eleanor’s sister, Petronilla of Aquitaine.

2 Although this did not meant the end of the Aquitainian ambitions over Toulouse, as it would later be proven four decades later, during the Albigensian Crusade.

[leonardocruzbr]

In 1130, Geoffrey V, Count of Anjou, called "Plantagenet", married Alice of Namur, the sister of Henry the Blind, Count of Luxembourg and of Namur. They had five sons and four daughters. When Plantagenet died in 1151, he was succeeded by his oldest son Geoffrey VI (1134-1204).

When, in 1159, William of Blois died, Geoffrey VI married his sister and heiress, Marie of Boulogne. With this move, Geoffrey obtained the counties of Boulogne and of Mortain, as well as producing an alliance between Anjou and the powerful counties of Blois and Champagne.

After the disastrous invasion of Toulouse, the counts of Blois and of Champagne gave their sister, Adèle of Champagne, in marriage to Geoffrey’s brother, Fulk of Anjou, and Henry I of Champagne married Geoffrey's sister, Emersinda de Anjou (1144-1186), renewing and strengthening the alliance of the Houses of Anjou, of Blois-Aquitaine and of Champagne.

In 1163, Geoffrey VI was appointed as successor of his childless uncle, Henry the Blind, from whom he inherited the Counties of Namur and of Luxemburg in 1189.

Geoffrey VI died in 1204, been succeeded by his third son, Henry I of Anjou (1167-1205), known as Henry the Brief, who was in turn succeeded by his younger brother, Theobald I of Anjou (1170-1215).

[Jammy]

nice update, you've been playing around England, France and Germany mainly:
Whats happening with Spain?
Whats happening with Scotland?
Whats happening in Scandanvia?
The three S's lol

[leonardocruzbr]

nice update, you've been playing around England, France and Germany mainly:
Whats happening with Spain?
Whats happening with Scotland?
Whats happening in Scandanvia?
The three S's lol

Thanks! Well, I'm working by cause and consequences, and England, France and Germany are the first affected. I still have some articles to post about France, about Jerusalem and about the Albiginense Crusade.

Spain, well, I'm still working on Spain and the Reconquista. See, by eleminating the birth of Leonore of Spain (OTL daughter of Henry II and Eleonor of Aquitaine), who married Alfonso VIII of Castile, I've found out that I caused major spanish butterflies! I'm having to completely rework all the 13th century dynastic successions of Castile, León, Aragon and Portugal!

By the way, maybe you could help me. Where would a King of Portugal who is yet to have a son (although he hopes for one, as his Queen is still on her fertile years) atempt to find a match for his oldest daughter? In Castile, León, in Portugal, or somewhere far away?

Scotland? The relashionship between England and Scotland are far calmer than in OTL. After all, all the Anglo-Scotish conflicts caused by David I were in defense of Matilda's right for the throne, during the Anarchy (which does not exist in TTL). The ones by Malcolm IV and by William I were over their rights as Earl of Northumbria, which in TTL were not denied but confirmed!

But something is troubling me. As there was no Revolt of 1173-1174, there's also no Treaty of Falaise, so William I would not be forced to acept a bride choosen by the english. So, who would he marry? I haven't had the time to study this matter. Any sugestions?

What about Scandinavia? I confess that I wasn't even thinking about there. Anything I should be aware of? Any obvious butterflies I seam to unaware of?

[Jammy]

Originally Posted by leonardocruzbr

By the way, maybe you could help me. Where would a King of Portugal who is yet to have a son (although he hopes for one, as his Queen is still on her fertile years) atempt to find a match for his oldest daughter? In Castile, León, in Portugal, or somewhere far away?

I don't know i would think you would have to consider;
1) Whats the situation in portugal?
a - is it stable
b - is it unstable - if thats the case then he might chose a powerful Lord with a son to help him gain completer control over the country.
c - is certain parts unstable, if so same principle as in b.

2) Whats there releations like with the other countrys do they need to patch things up or anything.

3) Englands oldest alliance is with portuagal signed in 1200's prehaps you could do something like that and have her marry into Henry's family

William not so sure about sorry but if releations are calmer maybe one of Henry's family just to safe guard his kingdom. Sounds like france won't be much help if Henry decides to invade.
Or you could have the portugese forming an alliance with the eldest daughter idea

I mentioned Scandiniva because it seems a logical place, near Germany and we've had historical links there so just wondered - i can't think of anything.

there the only ideas i have though, sorry if there no help

[DuQuense]

I mentioned Scandiniva because it seems a logical place, near Germany and we've had historical links there so just wondered - i can't think of anything.

?How is this affectting the "Hansantic League" ?

[leonardocruzbr]

Originally Posted by DuQuense

?How is this affectting the "Hansantic League" ?

Still sometime before it's begins, but they'll likely form far earlier. After all, the most important Hanseatic city is Lübeck, which is in Saxony, and so is part of the Emperor's personal fiefs.

Some Emperor (not sure each yet) will just make a declaration stating that, as England, Normandy, and Saxony are his personal properties, then why difficult trade between their cities? Lübeck and Hamburg most likely will get charters in London far earlier than 1266, and probably get also one in York. There will likely also be more englishs Kontos. Any sugestion?

Depending of the emperor's who follow, I might even get France and Champagne to sign treaties with the Hanseatic League!

[leonardocruzbr]

Originally Posted by Jammy

I don't know i would think you would have to consider;
1) Whats the situation in portugal?
a - is it stable
b - is it unstable - if thats the case then he might chose a powerful Lord with a son to help him gain completer control over the country.
c - is certain parts unstable, if so same principle as in b.

2) Whats there releations like with the other countrys do they need to patch things up or anything.

3) Englands oldest alliance is with portuagal signed in 1200's prehaps you could do something like that and have her marry into Henry's family

There's no suitable match in Henry's family at the time, but I found out that Portugal was then very stable, although only because of the current King.

The King (Alfonso II), I found out, is the sort to make far away matches, the types will hopefuly not get involved in his reign. He's the centralizer, jealous type, you see. During his yearly years as King, he outlawed and exiled most of his kin!

Originally Posted by Jammy

William not so sure about sorry but if releations are calmer maybe one of Henry's family just to safe guard his kingdom. Sounds like france won't be much help if Henry decides to invade.
Or you could have the portugese forming an alliance with the eldest daughter idea

By the dynastic arrangements that I'm making, it might even became so that, if Scotland invades, the french will declare war on the scots!

Not that they would send troops, but the Auld Alliance will not get even imagined.

[/quote] there the only ideas i have though, sorry if there no help[/quote]

Don't worry, you are been of great help.

[leonardocruzbr]

In 1174, Baldwin IV, known as The Lepper, becomes King of Jerusalem. In October of the same year, William of Montferrat arrived in Jerusalem and married princess Sibylla, been then created as Count of Jaffa and Ascalon. This was a political move, as Count William was related to both King Louis VII and Emperor Henry VII, and King Baldwin IV hoped that this would bring foreign aid to Jerusalem.

But William of Montferrat died in June 1175, leaving Sibylla pregnant with a son, Baldwin (1175-1186). For Baldwin IV, it was important to marry Sibylla and Isabella to foreigners, so as to bring reinforcements to the Kingdom of Jerusalem, so it was that an attempt was made to engage Sybilla and Hugh III of Burgundy, Duke of Burgundy, but the plan broke down.

Without a suitable foreigner match, and under the pressure of the Haute Cour of Jerusalem, , Sibylla was remarried in 1180 to Baldwin of Ibelin1, Lord of Ramla, whose younger brother Balian of Ibelin had married the Dowager-queen Maria Comnena in 1177. As a move to counter the influence of the Ibelins, Baldwin IV had his 8-years-old sister, Isabella to Humphrey IV of Toron, Lord of Toron, Kerak, and Oultrejordain, and stepson of Raynald of Chatillon. This marriage also served to repay a debt of honour to Humphrey's grandfather, Humphrey II, who had, in 1177, been mortally wounded saving Baldwin IV's life.

When Baldwin IV died in 1185, he was succeeded by his nephew Baldwin V, who ruled under the regency of Raymond III of Tripoli, Count of Tripoli and Prince of Galilee and Tiberias, until his death on 1186. Baldwin V was succeeded by his mother, Queen Sibylla of Jerusalem, with Baldwin VI (1130’s-1195), Count of Jaffa and Ascalon and Lord of Ibelin as King Consort.

In 1186, Raynald of Châtillon, Prince of Antioch, raided a rich caravan and had its travelers thrown in prison. Saladin, Sultan of Egypt and Syria, demanded that the prisoners and their cargo be released, but Raynald refused, even under the pressure of King Baldwin VI.

This gave Saladin the opportunity to take offensive against the kingdom of Jerusalem and laid siege on Tiberias. Raymond III of Trípoli, who was Lord over Tiberias, advised caution, claiming that a march from Acre (as proposed by Raynald of Châtillon) was what Saladin desired them to do.

Baldwin VI, agreeing with Raymond III of Trípoli, chose instead to fortify Sephoria and there await Saladin’s army. Saladin, who knew that he could only defeat the Crusaders in the open field, chose instead to retreat.

In 1191, Saladin began the Second Siege of Karak, overrunning it and killing Raynald of Châtillon. Saladin also defeated the Crusaders at the Battle of Tripoli. But Baldwin VI, aided by Conrad of Montferrat (mid 1140’s-12083), brother of William of Montferrat and former brother-in-law2 of the Byzantine Emperor Isaac II Angelus, defeated Saladin at the Battle of Acre in 1192. After Acre, Saladin signed a five-years truce with Baldwin VI. It’s widely believed that Saladin intended only to strengthening his forces for a later attack. But Saladin died in 1193, and his sons felt to squabbling over the division of his Empire, and Jerusalem was, for the moment, secure.

Baldwin VI died in 1194, and Queen Sibylla was remarried to Conrad of Montferrat, who was then crowned King Conrad I of Jerusalem.


1 While in OTL Sibylla married Guy de Luisignon, both he and his brother Almaric only went to Jerusalem after been exiled by Richard Lionheart in 1168, who in TTL does not exist. And as they had been exiled for the murder of Patrick of Salisbury, 1st Earl of Salisbury, a vassal of TTL Emperor Henry VII, their were instead given to the Emperor and only released in 1180, after their families had paid a heavy ransom to Patrick’s nephew, William Marshal.

2 Conrad of Montferrat married Theodora, sister of Emperor Isaac II Angelus, in 1186, but their marriage was annulled for unknown reasons sometime before 1190.

3 In TTL, Conrad of Montferrat was not murdered by Hashshashin at Tyre in 1192, been instead in Jerusalem at that year, and so living for 16 more years.

[Jammy]

Enjoyed it again and can't think of anything else to say lol although might the kingdom of Jerusalem attempt to gain some more land (and bzyantines) if the sons of Saladin are squabbling

[leonardocruzbr]

Originally Posted by Jammy

Enjoyed it again and can't think of anything else to say lol although might the kingdom of Jerusalem attempt to gain some more land (and bzyantines) if the sons of Saladin are squabbling

And that's why TTL's Third Crusade will go to Egypt, breadplace of Saladin's holdings, as OTL Fourth Crusade originaly intended to. Just don't know yet if they will succeed.

[leonardocruzbr]

At the end of the truce in 1197, King Conrad I of Jerusalem besieged and conquered Damascus. Emboldened by the success, Conrad I decided o resurrect old plans for an attack on Egypt. He started communicating with his brother, Boniface I of Montferrat (1150-1226), Marquees of Montferrat (1192-1202), who, together with their brother Frederick, Bishop of Alba, started calling for a crusade against Egypt.



In 1198, the movement gained papal approval, as Pope Innocent III declared an crusade against Egypt. The recently widowed Emperor Henry IX soon declared his intention to join the Crusade, and was soon joined by King Philip II of France (1162-1207), King Henry II of Sicily (1183-1205), Duke Leopold VI of Austria (1176-1230), Duke Conrad III of Bavaria (1184-1213), and Count Henry I of Anjou (1167-1205).



Henry IX entered negotiation with the Doge of Venice, who agreed to supply transport for 30,000 Crusaders from England, France and Italy, while Henry, who had raised an army of 80,000 german crusaders, would have to travel through land.



In 1199, the Crusader left for Egypt, heading for Damietta. On March 3 the Siege of Damietta started, and the city surrendered on April 25. An Archbishopric was then established in the city, under the authority of the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem. The Crusaders then marched on to Cairo.



Reaction among the Islamic was slow and divided. Since the death of Saladin, his relatives were fighting for power. Al-Aziz Uthman, then Sultan of Egypt and younger son of Saladin marshaled an army to fight the crusades in June, in a attempt to break the First Siege of Cairo, but they were intercepted by troops under the command of Conrad I of Jerusalem, and Al-Aziz was captured in battle. But the Crusaders had not anticipated the flooding of the Nile, and were forced to retreat to Damietta in September 20, where they remained until January 1200.



By then a younger brother of Saladin named Al-Adil I, who had been governor of Egypt under his brother and was then Governor of Damascus, had returned to Egypt under the command of an army and deposed Al-Afdal, another of Saladin's sons, and was then declared Sultan of Egypt.



In mid-January, the Crusaders faced a huge islamic army at the First Battle of the Nile, under which they were forced to retreat once more to Damietta. But the german army of Henry IX arrived in march, and the Crusaders defeated the forces of Al-adil at the Seconda Battle of the Nile. Al-adil was then forced to retreat, and the Crusaders marched to Cairo, starting the Second Siege of Cairo, which surrendered six months later, in September 4.



By the time of Cairo's capitulation, news of the death of Queen Sibylla of Jerusallen had already reached the Crusaders. Conrad I of Jerusalem mourned the death of his wife, and his brother, Frederick of Montferrat, led a mass in her honor.



On January 1201, the Crusaders divided their armies. Leopold VI of Austria and Henry I of Anjou marched to Alexandria, capturing the city after a three-months siege, while Philip II of France and Conrad I of Jerusalem remained in Cairo, conquering nearby cities and strengthening the Crusade’s position. Emperor Henry IX, Henry II of Sicily and Conrad III of Bavaria marched deeper into the Nile Valley, chasing the muslin armies. Henry IX faced off Al-adil’s Mameluk army and thanks to the brilliance of Henry II and Conrad III, they captured Al-adil in September 1201.


The Crusaders met once more in Cairo on December 1201, to decide the fate of Egypt. Some proposed that Egypt be annexed to the Kingdom of Jerusalem, but the Kings refused. Not only Jerusalem did not currently hold enough strength to hold both Egypt and its own territory, but with the death of Sibylla of Jerusalem, the throne of Jerusalem had passed to the six-years-old Conrad II of Jerusalem.



The Crusaders then elected Boniface I of Montferrat as King of Egypt, under the condition that he would renounce his title of Marquees of Montferrat for his oldest son, William VI of Montferrat (1173-1225).

[fortyseven]

Good timeline leo

[leonardocruzbr]

When Raymound VI of Toulouse was excommunicated for refusing to suppress the Cathars in May 1207, and Pope Innocent III called upon King Phillip II of France to act against the nobles who permitted catharism, Theobald III of Aquitaine (1185-1210), Duke of Aquitaine and Count of Blois, son of Theobald II of Aquitaine (1160-1200) and Blanca of Navarre (1170-1229), came to believe that this was the chance of accomplishing his grandmother Eleanor’s ambitions. Theobald raised an army in preparation to invade Toulouse, when the papal legate Pierre de Castelnau was killed. This time, Theobald felt, it would not be like in his grandfather’s time, for, now, not even the King of France would be able to stop him! Because, this time, he had the ultimate trump - Pope Innocent III had issued bull a declaring a crusade against Languedoc, offering the land of the heretic to all who would fight.

Raymound VI had no time to react, as Theobald invaded Toulouse and besieged him in march of 1208. Raymound attempted to contact the Pope and promise his aid against the Cathars, but Theobald stopped his messages to reaching the Pope, and on November captured and executed Raymound himself.

Raymound’s son then claimed Toulouse as Raymound VII, raising a cathar army and resisting the crusaders offensive. In 1210 Theobald III was killed by Raymound VII in battle. As Theobald had left no child, Blois and Aquitaine were inherited by his younger brother, the 14-years-old Henry I of Aquitaine and Blois (1196-1247). This temporarily halted the ambitions of the House of Blois, leaving the crusade under the command of Simon de Montfort.

Simon de Montfort was killed in 1218 while besieging Toulouse. Henry I of Aquitaine, the now 22-years-old Duke of Aquitaine, took command of the Crusade, which ended in 1223. Under the pressure of Pope Gregory IX, King Phillip III of France recognized Henry I of Aquitaine as Count of Toulouse and Duke of Narbonne.