Consulate War, Chapter I
Recap Post
First War of the Consulate 802-812
The First War of the Consulate was a regional conflict fought in the early 9th century in Western Europe primarily on the soil of the Kingdom of the Franks and the Kindgom de Spania. At the same time it was taking place the Byzantine-Arab war of 800-808 occurred.
Participants
On one side were the Kingdoms de Spania and of Francia, on the other were the Peppinists (Occitan Rebel Franks) and Johannines (Spaniard Rebels) and the Lombard Kingdom of Italy. At various times the Ahmarid and Idrisid muslim states in North Africa were involved on varying sides. Denmark took part in the way in a very limited extent and Vikings raided all sides indiscriminately taking advantage of the use of military forces elsewhere than the coasts.
Causes:
After the foundation of Spania in 767 by Abd ar-Rahman (Avidus I) the kingdom conquered most of the peninsula and expanded into the Maghreb. While invasion of Idris I was a set back for the Kingdom, by the time of King Salamon’s reign, even more of the Maghreb was under Spanish control and the proportion of Muslim residents had dropped to some 35-44% of the total population. Extensive trade links with Harun al-Rashid resulted in a great deal of Arab customs, knowledge and techniques transmitted to Spania that was put to use and adapted by them. These changes also flowed through to the Frankish Kingdoms through the jointly-administered Zaragoza region.
That region was administered by the youngest son of Avidus, Jon, and Charles's discredited son Pepin the Hunchback (by his first "wife" put aside for Gerberga). Jon looked on in dismay at the Arabization of the Spaniard culture even without the religious elements. As his discontent grew he made common cause with the nobility of the old Asturian lands who had been with Avidus since the beginning and resented the centralization of power in the hands of the King and the cultural changes that were making more and more of their subjects troublesome to be ruled. It was now incumbent upon the Spanish lords to have an extensive education and strong literary skills and to many this was an annoying waste of time and incredibly played no small part in their discontent.
Pepin however, was good natured and he and Jon became quite close. Pepin was able to restrain Jon’s angry urges toward his brother Salamon but the Frankish nobles themselves were also discontented at Charles’ own rise to power and dominance. So too they saw the increasing centralization of the realm based on the principles passed on from Spain and saw their own power growing less. Many of the discontented lay in Aquitaine, a restive province as was most of the south due to the harsh measures used in subduing the region. Using Pepin as a figurehead they conspired against Charles and put their plan into motion when he absent while being crowned Consul. He would be assassinated along with his other sons, Martinus and Adalger, and the easily led Pepin would take the throne. Charles survived the assassination as did Martinus, and the rebels faced a choice between hanging or rebellion.
Salamon’s long absence from Spania proper had emboldened his brother and after speaking with the Frankish nobility both sides rose up at the same time, aiding each other against the monarchs. Much of old Asturias rallied to Jon, not a bastard child as Salamon was and not nearly so Arabized, a major rallying point (though even Jon had been influenced by the burgeoning Mozarabic culture). When Salamon and Charles learned of the rebellion they made haste to their own lands and swore an oath together to assist each other.
At the same time, the disturbances caused by Adelchis, Desidarius son, and his own son Alboin with Imperial assistance bore fruit. They had begun in Benevento and much of Lombard Italy had risen in revolt by the end of AD 802, eagerly taking advantage of the Frankish distraction. However no single person led the revolt, it was based on regional lords of the urban centers. Many however managed to send congratulations to Pepin and much of the rhetoric was couched in a pledge to the new King of the Franks to give themselves a whiff of legitimacy. Benevento alone declared independance openly allying themselves with Adelchis and recieving Imperial funding.
Spaniard Flag (first used by Salamon in the First War of the Consulate)
Recap Post
First War of the Consulate 802-812
The First War of the Consulate was a regional conflict fought in the early 9th century in Western Europe primarily on the soil of the Kingdom of the Franks and the Kindgom de Spania. At the same time it was taking place the Byzantine-Arab war of 800-808 occurred.
Participants
On one side were the Kingdoms de Spania and of Francia, on the other were the Peppinists (Occitan Rebel Franks) and Johannines (Spaniard Rebels) and the Lombard Kingdom of Italy. At various times the Ahmarid and Idrisid muslim states in North Africa were involved on varying sides. Denmark took part in the way in a very limited extent and Vikings raided all sides indiscriminately taking advantage of the use of military forces elsewhere than the coasts.
Causes:
After the foundation of Spania in 767 by Abd ar-Rahman (Avidus I) the kingdom conquered most of the peninsula and expanded into the Maghreb. While invasion of Idris I was a set back for the Kingdom, by the time of King Salamon’s reign, even more of the Maghreb was under Spanish control and the proportion of Muslim residents had dropped to some 35-44% of the total population. Extensive trade links with Harun al-Rashid resulted in a great deal of Arab customs, knowledge and techniques transmitted to Spania that was put to use and adapted by them. These changes also flowed through to the Frankish Kingdoms through the jointly-administered Zaragoza region.
That region was administered by the youngest son of Avidus, Jon, and Charles's discredited son Pepin the Hunchback (by his first "wife" put aside for Gerberga). Jon looked on in dismay at the Arabization of the Spaniard culture even without the religious elements. As his discontent grew he made common cause with the nobility of the old Asturian lands who had been with Avidus since the beginning and resented the centralization of power in the hands of the King and the cultural changes that were making more and more of their subjects troublesome to be ruled. It was now incumbent upon the Spanish lords to have an extensive education and strong literary skills and to many this was an annoying waste of time and incredibly played no small part in their discontent.
Pepin however, was good natured and he and Jon became quite close. Pepin was able to restrain Jon’s angry urges toward his brother Salamon but the Frankish nobles themselves were also discontented at Charles’ own rise to power and dominance. So too they saw the increasing centralization of the realm based on the principles passed on from Spain and saw their own power growing less. Many of the discontented lay in Aquitaine, a restive province as was most of the south due to the harsh measures used in subduing the region. Using Pepin as a figurehead they conspired against Charles and put their plan into motion when he absent while being crowned Consul. He would be assassinated along with his other sons, Martinus and Adalger, and the easily led Pepin would take the throne. Charles survived the assassination as did Martinus, and the rebels faced a choice between hanging or rebellion.
Salamon’s long absence from Spania proper had emboldened his brother and after speaking with the Frankish nobility both sides rose up at the same time, aiding each other against the monarchs. Much of old Asturias rallied to Jon, not a bastard child as Salamon was and not nearly so Arabized, a major rallying point (though even Jon had been influenced by the burgeoning Mozarabic culture). When Salamon and Charles learned of the rebellion they made haste to their own lands and swore an oath together to assist each other.
At the same time, the disturbances caused by Adelchis, Desidarius son, and his own son Alboin with Imperial assistance bore fruit. They had begun in Benevento and much of Lombard Italy had risen in revolt by the end of AD 802, eagerly taking advantage of the Frankish distraction. However no single person led the revolt, it was based on regional lords of the urban centers. Many however managed to send congratulations to Pepin and much of the rhetoric was couched in a pledge to the new King of the Franks to give themselves a whiff of legitimacy. Benevento alone declared independance openly allying themselves with Adelchis and recieving Imperial funding.
Spaniard Flag (first used by Salamon in the First War of the Consulate)
