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History of Urcea (800-1098): Difference between revisions
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== Harrenic Succession == | == Harrenic Succession == | ||
In 922, the last male-line heir of St. Julius in the [[Urceopolis (Archduchy)|Archduchy of Urceopolis]], Cumhachtabilis, died without issue. The closest heir was Duke Seán | In 922, the last male-line heir of St. Julius in the [[Urceopolis (Archduchy)|Archduchy of Urceopolis]], Cumhachtabilis, died without issue. The closest heir was Duke Seán of the [[House of Harren]], direct descendant of [[Gaius Julius Cicurinus|Saint Julius of the Caeline]]'s brother who had been made Duke of [[Harren]] in the 8th century. The King of Carolina viewed this to be unacceptable, as the combination of the so-called "Julian Realms' would render him impotent. The King of Carolina attempted to take the Archduchy for himself as a new center for his Kingdom, sparking what historians would refer to as the War of the Urceopolitan Succession between the House of Harren (including loyalists in the vacant Archduchy) and the King. In the end, Duke Seán triumphed and was crowned Archduke of Urceopolis and also Mayor of the Palace (of the Southern Kingdom of the Levantines), elevating House Harren to the true power in the Kingdom. Seán would marry his eldest son to a bride from the direct descent line of Saint Julius, which would eventually bear Niall of House "Julio-Harren". Seán died in 930; he was succeeded by his son Seán II, who was deathly ill at the time of his assent; he would die after two weeks as Archduke. Upon the death of Seán II, Niall, brother of Seán I, seized the Throne, on the basis that the younger Niall (son of Seán I) was too weak to rule. The Southern Levantine King, however, would intervene and the elder Niall was killed on the battlefield after just three months as Archduke, allowing the 7-year old Niall of House Julio-Harren to become Archduke and Duke. The King believed that a young heir would allow the Conine dynasty to reclaim power within the Kingdom, though his death and succession of his own young son meant that they could not consolidate power in time. Nevertheless, the scheme created a situation not repeated again in Urcean history, as 930 became a "Year of Four Archdukes". Niall would reign as a child, primarily with the support of allies of the family in the Duchy of Harren. | ||
The House of Harren only became truly solidified on the dual throne as Archduke Niall II reached the age of 18 in 941, when he became able to rule the lands of the [[Julian dynasty]] without need for a regent. Niall II opted to defy convention and primarily rule from [[Cálfeld]] rather than [[Urceopolis (City)|Urceopolis]], in part due to the favorable political allies he had amognst the people within the Duchy of Harren. Niall married at age 19 and had ten children over the next 15 years, ensuring the continuation of the dynasty. Niall's chief contribution were efforts to integrate trade between the Archduchy and Harren. Several old Levantine roads between the two areas were cleared, and tariffs were lowered on most goods traveling between the realms. In 950, Niall II began an aggressive campaign of trying to expand the Julian lands. In [[952]], Niall campaigned in southern [[Ionia]] with the tacit approval of the Southern Levantine King, clearing out local clan forts and establishing a foothold in the [[Ionian Plateau]] north of [[Cálfeld]]. Next, in [[954]], Niall attempted to campaign against the [[Creagmer republics]], seeking to establish a coastal presence and tap into the profitable [[Creagmer]] trade. This move was opposed by the sitting Southern King, precipitating Royal intervention in the war. Niall fought both the Royal forces as well as Republican mercenary forces in [[955]] and [[956]], but was ultimately defeated in modern [[Westglen]]. Unusually, Niall was allowed to abdicate and retire to a monastery rather than being killed for defying the King. The Julians would not attempt another move against the Republics [[History_of_Urcea_(1098-1214)#The_Republics_and_river|until the 12th century]], after the establishment of the Urcean Kingdom. | The House of Harren only became truly solidified on the dual throne as Archduke Niall II reached the age of 18 in 941, when he became able to rule the lands of the [[Julian dynasty]] without need for a regent. Niall II opted to defy convention and primarily rule from [[Cálfeld]] rather than [[Urceopolis (City)|Urceopolis]], in part due to the favorable political allies he had amognst the people within the Duchy of Harren. Niall married at age 19 and had ten children over the next 15 years, ensuring the continuation of the dynasty. Niall's chief contribution were efforts to integrate trade between the Archduchy and Harren. Several old Levantine roads between the two areas were cleared, and tariffs were lowered on most goods traveling between the realms. In 950, Niall II began an aggressive campaign of trying to expand the Julian lands. In [[952]], Niall campaigned in southern [[Ionia]] with the tacit approval of the Southern Levantine King, clearing out local clan forts and establishing a foothold in the [[Ionian Plateau]] north of [[Cálfeld]]. Next, in [[954]], Niall attempted to campaign against the [[Creagmer republics]], seeking to establish a coastal presence and tap into the profitable [[Creagmer]] trade. This move was opposed by the sitting Southern King, precipitating Royal intervention in the war. Niall fought both the Royal forces as well as Republican mercenary forces in [[955]] and [[956]], but was ultimately defeated in modern [[Westglen]]. Unusually, Niall was allowed to abdicate and retire to a monastery rather than being killed for defying the King. The Julians would not attempt another move against the Republics [[History_of_Urcea_(1098-1214)#The_Republics_and_river|until the 12th century]], after the establishment of the Urcean Kingdom. | ||
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== Late Archducal period == | == Late Archducal period == | ||
By the late 11th century, the [[Holy Levantine Empire]] had already approached something resembling its territorial peak; the Luciusian Dynasty had conquered the area of modern northern [[Fiannria]], an area that had eluded central authority for nearly a millenia. This area was, at that time, part of a larger region commonly known as Ultramurus, that is, “beyond the wall”, referring to the walls constructed by [[Great Levantia]] to signify their northern borders, which today is referred to as [[Ultmar]]. Within the Empire, the position of the Archduchy-Duchy continued to grow, acquiring several lands and titles outside the traditional geographic boundaries of Urceopolis-Harren. Additionally, the Golden Bull of 1043 also set the amount of electors at 9; neither Harren nor Urceopolis were granted the electoral dignity as it was thought to be a way to balance its power relative to the rest of the Empire. This lead to a | By the late 11th century, the [[Holy Levantine Empire]] had already approached something resembling its territorial peak; the Luciusian Dynasty had conquered the area of modern northern [[Fiannria]], an area that had eluded central authority for nearly a millenia. This area was, at that time, part of a larger region commonly known as Ultramurus, that is, “beyond the wall”, referring to the walls constructed by [[Great Levantia]] to signify their northern borders, which today is referred to as [[Ultmar]]. Within the Empire, the position of the Archduchy-Duchy continued to grow, acquiring several lands and titles outside the traditional geographic boundaries of Urceopolis-Harren. Additionally, the Golden Bull of 1043 also set the amount of electors at 9; neither Harren nor Urceopolis were granted the electoral dignity as it was thought to be a way to balance its power relative to the rest of the Empire. This lead to a century's-long goal on the part of the [[House of Harren]] to acquire a vote for Emperor, either by a change to the law or by inheritance. | ||
During this period, Urcean nobles began their participation in the [[Crusades]] as part of a general effort by the [[Holy Levantine Empire]] to turn back the influence of the [[Oduniyyad Caliphate]] in Sarpedon and elsewhere. Beginning in 1084 with {{wp|Pope Gregory VII}}'s call for the [[Crusades#First_Crusade_(1084)|First Crusade]] - a campaign for the restoration of Christendom in [[Sarpedon]] - the Archduke-Grand Duke of Urceopolis, Riordan II, fought in several campaigns before returning to [[Levantia]] in 1097, accumulating a great deal of prestige for himself and his dynasty following several successful battles fought in northeastern Sarpedon. Simultaneously, the [[Kingdom of Culfra]] began to [[Fiannria#The_Realm_of_Culfra_and_the_Crusades|openly discuss separating]] from the Empire altogether or deposing the [[Collegial Electorate]] in favor of a hereditary northern King, and by 1096 began to march for Corcra. Freshly off campaign and with his resources having been spent for the crusade, Riordan II pledged neutrality, which would have weakened the Imperial cause to the point in which a dissolution of the Empire could have plausibly occurred. The Emperor [[Charles II Luciusian]] began to seek ways of winning the Urceopolitan monarch back to his side, and settled on an offer of Kingship and consolidation. Citing the recent canonization of St. Julius I, the pious prestige accrued during the recent [[Crusades|Crusade]], and the considerable lands and titles his successors had acquired, the Emperor offered Riordan a Kingship of a reduced part of the [[Southern Kingdom of the Levantines]] to be nominally part of a new [[Imperial Kingdom of Urcea|Kingdom of Urcea]]. Riordan accepted, and Emperor Carles II issued the [[Golden Bull of 1098]], which created the Kingdom and consolidated all of Riordan’s holdings under him and compelling the other vassals in the region to be nominally subservient to him. With the support of the new Julian Crown, the Imperial faction won the war. Riordan I (adopting new regnal numbering) styled himself Apostolic King in light of his holy ancestor, and the title remained from that point onward. | During this period, Urcean nobles began their participation in the [[Crusades]] as part of a general effort by the [[Holy Levantine Empire]] to turn back the influence of the [[Oduniyyad Caliphate]] in Sarpedon and elsewhere. Beginning in 1084 with {{wp|Pope Gregory VII}}'s call for the [[Crusades#First_Crusade_(1084)|First Crusade]] - a campaign for the restoration of Christendom in [[Sarpedon]] - the Archduke-Grand Duke of Urceopolis, Riordan II, fought in several campaigns before returning to [[Levantia]] in 1097, accumulating a great deal of prestige for himself and his dynasty following several successful battles fought in northeastern Sarpedon. Simultaneously, the [[Kingdom of Culfra]] began to [[Fiannria#The_Realm_of_Culfra_and_the_Crusades|openly discuss separating]] from the Empire altogether or deposing the [[Collegial Electorate]] in favor of a hereditary northern King, and by 1096 began to march for Corcra. Freshly off campaign and with his resources having been spent for the crusade, Riordan II pledged neutrality, which would have weakened the Imperial cause to the point in which a dissolution of the Empire could have plausibly occurred. The Emperor [[Charles II Luciusian]] began to seek ways of winning the Urceopolitan monarch back to his side, and settled on an offer of Kingship and consolidation. Citing the recent canonization of St. Julius I, the pious prestige accrued during the recent [[Crusades|Crusade]], and the considerable lands and titles his successors had acquired, the Emperor offered Riordan a Kingship of a reduced part of the [[Southern Kingdom of the Levantines]] to be nominally part of a new [[Imperial Kingdom of Urcea|Kingdom of Urcea]]. Riordan accepted, and Emperor Carles II issued the [[Golden Bull of 1098]], which created the Kingdom and consolidated all of Riordan’s holdings under him and compelling the other vassals in the region to be nominally subservient to him. With the support of the new Julian Crown, the Imperial faction won the war. Riordan I (adopting new regnal numbering) styled himself Apostolic King in light of his holy ancestor, and the title remained from that point onward. | ||