Chapter 25

Chapter 25 - 1255 to 1265: Empire and Council

As King Æthelstan III ends his speech, silence responds. Never before has a king of England relinquished control of the crown voluntarily. Always death or force parted the two. There have been a few abdications in Europe in the last two centuries, but very few of note. Despite this, Æthelstan III retires from the kingship, leaving it to his son and heir Æthelstan IV, the third Æthelstan in a row on the throne.

The abdication is unprecedented in that Æthelstan III, while quite old, is still healthy and capable. It is unforeseeable what effects this will have on the future of England.

Æthelstan IV is like his father in his ability to govern a realm. He lacks diplomatic finesse, but he is a capable leader in war. At the moment, he has 7 children, his oldest and heir Ælfweard being 20. Upon ascension to the throne, the King grants his heir the title Duchy of Meath.

A few years pass with peace and quiet. Slowly, Chancellor Uhtræd of England cobbles together several claims on Scottish counties.

In April of 1259, former King Æthelstan IV dies in bed at the age of 66. Although he died not a king, his 34 years on the throne will be remembered well by all Englishmen.

In 1263, after 8 years of silence, King Æthelstan IV of England declares war on King Farquhar of Scotland, pressing his claims on the counties of Carrick, Argyll, Strathearn, and Lothian, and the Duchy of Man. Victory would mean another chunk of Scotland transferred to  England, and a much weaker enemy to the north.

The levies are raised and organize into 2 armies of 15 thousand each. Luckily, Scotland is involved in an overseas war in the Middle East and has very few defensive troops. The first army, led by Duke Eadwulf of Lancaster, heads to Carrick, intent on taking Turnberry Castle, and the second, led by King Æthelstan, moves to besiege the Scottish capital of Gowrie.

Unfortunately, a harsher winter than usual forces half of Æthelstan's army to withdraw from the siege of Gowrie, moving south to Lothian to avoid catastrophic attrition. in January of 1263, a Scottish force returning from the Middle East lands in Lancaster, forcing the King to lead 14 thousand men south to intervene.

The two armies meet in April and the Scottish army is defeated, losing most of its troops. The victorious army returns to Lothian.

The castles of Gowrie and Carrick both fall in autumn of 1264. It appears this will be another fast victory of England.

Holding after holding falls in the next year and, eventually, the Scottish King admits defeat. He cedes the claimed counties and duchy to King Æthelstan.

England now consists of nearly 200 castles, temples, and cities, and is the fourth largest realm in the known world. With England now stretching further than ever before, King Æthelstan invites his vassals to Norfolk for a special conference.

As the vassals arrive in Norfolk, they are welcomed graciously by Æthelstan. On June 23rd, the conference begins. The King announces the formation of the Kingdom of Wales, and welcomes it officially into the Union with England and Ireland.

The King of now England, Ireland, and Wales then announces the creation of the Empire of Britannia, the true empire of Britain, and vows to unite the islands under one flag.

The Emperor, as his vassals are stunned by this chain of events, then proceeds to his final point; he declares the formation of a Council of Britannia.

Although the kings of England in the past have taken advice from their councils and, in some cases, their vassals, the creation of a formal inner council with the main purpose of convening to advise the Emperor is just as unprecedented as Æthelstan III's resignation. Both actions showed the treatment of vassals as equals, inviting them to a hearing where they are made aware of the changes to come.

And thus the Empire of Britannia is formed. Will this Emperor keep good on his promise to unite Britain?