Chapter 19

Chapter 19 - 1211 to 1216: Ireland

Over 6 hundred leagues away from Norfolk, in the mountainous county of Monreal in the Holy Land, Monreal Castles falls in the last few months before the year 1211. As the defeated Emir is marched out under the flag of surrender, the English army surrounding him cheers in jubilation. They have been in the land for nearly 8 years, and hundreds had died of famine and disease while fighting the infidels. Two other English armies of equal strength (about 4 thousand men) are besieging castles in the neighboring county of Beersheb and the coastal county of Ascalon. As the army, led by the English King Æthelstan II, readies itself to move and take the city Hurmniz, word arrives that Caliph Ashraf of Fatimid has finally surrendered to Pope Victor III, handing over his hold of the Holy Land. The land is given to its rightful ruler, King Konan II of Brittany, and the defeated Arab Emirs are forced to relinquish control. The three English armies are ordered to the port in the City of Harbijah, Ascalon, where they will be loaded once more into the fleets that brought them here, only this time the destination will be England.

The army is aboard the fleet by February, and the fleets set sail for home. On the way back, the fleet stops in Brittany, where King Æthelstan learns the Konan has given his youngest brother the Kingdom of Jerusalem. However, he has kept 3 counties in the Holy Lands as part of Brittany. This means that Brittany and Jerusalem are now two separate entities.

They arrive in Cornwall in June. There, the army disbands and the fleets are sent back to their home harbors. The Crusade was unbelievably successful for England. To celebrate the victories seen in the Crusade, Æthelstan announces the holding of a Grand Tournament in Thetford, and encourages all brave men of England to participate.

The tournament is a very popular event, with tens of thousands of spectators and hundreds of participants. In fact, Æthelstan's nephew Beornwulf wins third place. In honor of his courage and strength, Beornwulf is made Marshal of England.

The year 1212 passes peacefully and quiet, until 1213 when news arrives from the Mediterranean that the Fatimids, while having lost control over Jerusalem, succeeded in their Jihad to take Sicily.

More bad news arrives in April of 1213. Jerkera, daughter of King Breselueu and Queen of France has died of Pneumonia.

When Æthelstan had first arrived back from the Crusade, he had sent Chancellor Cearl to Ireland in the interest of expanding English lands westward. By 1215, the work paid off as Cearl sends word that he managed to scrap together a feasible claim on the county of Laigin.

The main reason Æthelstan has to expand into Ireland is the increased Scottish presence on the island. In the last century, Scottish territory has grown to engulf much of Northern Ireland.

In June, Æthelstan declares war on the Count of Laigin. He raises 6 thousand levies from his personal demesne and sends them to Wales to begin commute to Ireland. Within a month, an Irish army of 2 thousand lands in Wales and is engaged by the English in Ludlow. It is a victory for the English, and the army captures or kills all the survivors. They then move to Wales and cross to Laigin by October.

At the same time, rumors spread through Europe and reach England in August of 1215. They speak of a threat from the East, a Khan who has gathered together an army of unheard of size.

In March of 1216, Chancellor Cearl, eldest son of Densley Blair, dies a natural death at the age of 66. While he never was given the opportunity to rule England, his Diplomacy skill was second only to his uncle, the legendary Duke Attalus. His replacement as Chancellor is chosen as DKM, Duke of Gwynedd and son of Breselueu.

In July, the Castle of Laigin falls and the Count surrenders.

England now has a foothold in Ireland...