The Minority of Mànas Gòrdonach

Ivar av Ivar, Duke of Munster and Chancellor for Scotland, was named regent for young Mànas.

Ainmeil (Notable)

• Mànas Gòrdonach - King of Scotland
• Niall Gòrdonach - Tanist of Scotland and Duke of Northumberland
• Ivar av Ivar - son of Sigtrygg ‘The Silent’, Duke of Munster, and Regent of Scotland
• Hemma Karling - Queen Mother of Scotland and Duchess of Swabia

Cunntas (Events)

The Cathars of York

The Cathar heresy remained a troubling issue in York. The peasants there continued to resist proper Catholic behavior. The visits of Court Chaplains to preach and teach repeatedly failed to sway the populace.

The decisive confrontation with the rebels came in June:

CKS 910.6 The army of Scotland defeated the heretics at Roxburgh.

In August Sælræd, the leader of the revolt, had his head removed in the central square in York.

But word of the revolt, and the heretical population had reached the ears of the Pope, and the Council pledged to root out the heresy.

Albany

Arnfast av Ivar, Duke of Albany, declared war on Ivar av Ivar, Duke of Munster, seeking to exert his claim on the duchy and usurp the title. The councillors of Mànas determined that the ambition of Arnfast was too great to allow him to hold two duchies. In addition, Ivar sat on the Council as Chancellor and was Regent for Mànas. Arnfast could not be allowed to so disrupt the realm, and he was ordered to give up his title of Albany. The retinues and levies of the King prepared for conflict, but Arnfast surrendered this title, breaking his strength and securing the safety of Munster.

King Uilleam I ‘The Handsome’ of Scotland

Ainmeil (Notable)

• Uilleam Gòrdonach - Duke of Moray
• Hemma Karling - bride to Uilleam Gòrdonach and Princess of Swabia
• Niall Gòrdonach - first son and heir of Uilleam
• Màiri Gòrdonach - daughter of Uilleam
• Mànas Gòrdonach - second son of Uilleam
• Ivar av Ivar - son of Sigtrygg ‘The Silent’, Duke of Munster, and vassal of Scotland

Cunntas (Events)

Uilleam had won the crown of Scotland, but was faced with a collection of strong pagan dukes - who were all of the House of Ivar. His rule was hardly secure.

Cumberland

Acting quickly, Uilleam sought to increase his realm and strength by declaring a holy war to free Cumberland from pagan rule. He still had his mercenary forces, and felt he was able to win the fighting before Northumberland would be able to rein in in their rebellious vassal.

Uilleam’s second son, Mànas, was born in March of 895. There was joy that the dynasty was further secured (if muted due to the child’s dwarven stature).

As Uilleam continued to prosecute the sieges in Cumberland, he began working politics to secure the loyalty and faithfulness of his vassals, with mixed success as factions formed. The greatest benefit to the realm was when the Duke of Munster accept Christianity.

FAU 895.8 Ivar av Ivar, son of Sigtrygg, and Jarl of Munster turned his eyes to the Lord  took the Holy Sacrament.

Peasants revolted in Lothian, but they were faced with a raised and ready Scottish force that was fighting nearby in Cumberland. The forces turned north and put the peasant to the sword in January of 896.

Then in April of the same year, Cumberland was secured and brought into Uilleam’s demesne.

Security

Spymaster and Chaplain were given instruction to bring the av Ivar lords to heel. The role of Chaplain, in particular, would be active bringing the word of god to the av Ivar’s for some time.

Meanwhile, Uilleam went to find as many ways to make his vassals happy as he could. He started by pressing Duke Ivar of Munster’s claim on Thomond, in Ireland.

FAU 896.11 The battle of Clonmacnoise between the Scotti and Thomond, in which the Scotti won.

After a brief resistance, Thomond was part of Scotland by the end of 897.

Jorvik

Events in to the south in Jorvik would prove pivotal in this period. There had been an uprising against the Norse and their pagan ways. Jorvik and Durham had successfully broken away. However, their victory did not install Catholicism, instead they installed Cathar heresy. This was shocking, but most of the surrounding Christian lords simply chuckled at the plight of King Ragnarr of Jorvik. Uilleam, however, sought advantage. And in June of 898, Jorvik surrendered Fib to Scotland.

And then Uilleam followed this with a Holy War against the Cathar leaders to take Durham.

Rebellion

It was while the armies of Scotland were subduing Durham that politics and the security of the realm became... complicated. Öysteinn, Count of Dublin, demanded independence for his holding in Ireland, far from Scotland. He managed, somehow, to entice Duke Ivar of Munster to support his faction despite Ivar’s complete happiness with King Uilleam. But Öysteinn was smart enough to take advantage of the support and declared he would fight for his independence.

Uilleam, patiently, continued his war against the Cathars. He did hire the Irish Band of mercenaries, and used them to harass the encroaching rebels, but secured the surrender of Durham in March of 900 before turning his levies west. In the meantime, Dublin’s forces had been supported by opportunists and adventurers, and were proving of some concern.

They finally met in the field in May of 900:

FAU 900.5 The battle of Armagh between the Scotti and rebels. Uilleam, son of Niall, was victor.

This was followed by a defeat for Scotland at Whithorn, however, and the armies continued to jockey for position. It was a victory at Ath Cliath by Scotland (July of 901) that secured the bulk of the fighting and reduced the conflict to sieges, which ended in rebel surrender in January of 903.

Öysteinn was imprisoned, and then had his title revoked. Duke Ivar of Munster was also imprisoned. Ivar lost his title to Teviotdale, and then was ransomed of his freedom. Duke Gorm of Lothian benefited from Uilleam’s generosity and interest in showing goodwill. Gorm had already converted to Catholicism. Teviotdale was in his de jure realm, and as such it was decreed that:

The honor and lands of Teviotdale are estranged from the royal demesne and granted in freehold to Gorm av Ivar, Duke of Lothian, loyal servant of Uilleam mac Niall.

A peasant revolt in December of 904 spoiled what otherwise was a peaceful period in Scotland. The levies were raised, and marched north to the Isles to face the rebels. A victory at Port Rígh and then at Tain saw the problem quickly sorted. The lowborn Alfr, the Norse leader of the revolt was summarily executed.

Jorvik

Jorvik again entered the attention of Scotland. The County of Jorvik and been absorbed back into the Norse holdings of Jylland (though the populace was still Cathar). However, Bagsecg was in revolt against his liege. It seemed the perfect time for a strike, and Uilleam declared a Holy War to capture the territory from the Norse. Largely unopposed, Jorvik fell under Scotland in November of 907.

Domestic Concerns

Again a period of relative peace descended upon the realm. A cathar uprising in Jorvik was put down with little trouble. Ivar of Munster sent his son Ragnarr to be a ward of the King. The celebration of the birth of Ruairidh, the third son of Uilleam in April of 909 was enthusiastically noted. Hemma Karling, Queen of Scotland, inherited the Duchy of Swabia in 900 and was often away, but the boy was left in the Scottish court.

However, it was June of 908 when it is mentioned that Uilleam was afflicted of the Great Pox. The King took interesting action at this point. The Succession Law of the crown of Scotland was shifted to Tanistry. It is believed that a fear of his own mortality drove him to this action, to secure the dynasty and kingdom beyond him.

Niall was then named the Tanist. Though this immediately engendered some excitement when Spymaster Ximena - the King’s mother still faithfully serving him - discovered that a lowbown Scottish woman named Morag sought the death of Niall (for reasons that have never been made clear). This was notable for the swift and public action taken, with Morag left to live out her days in the dungeons of Scotland.

Màiri, the King’s daughter, came of age at the end of 908. The Council was divided on finding a worthy alliance match of marrying her matrilineally to strengthen the dynasty. A search was begun to find her a husband based on either possibility. Meanwhile, Tanist Niall was named Duke of Northumberland, to gain title and prestige for the family. Finally in September of 909 Màiri entered into a normal wedding with Raimbaut I, King of Aquitaine. This offered a second marriage into the House of Karling and an alliance with a meaningful kingdom.

But in 909, Niall passed away. Mànas gained favor as the Tanist, despite his dwarven stature. The only other options were younger than he. The King resolved to raise his other children to be worthy and try and sort out the succession as soon as prudent.

Jorvik

King Ragnarr of Jorvik had passed, and his daughter Björg was Queen. Uilleam had gathered claims to lands in Lancaster and felt that in October of 909 it was time to pursue them. War was declared. As the levies mustered, the political situation became more complicated. Jorvik had a strong alliance by family with Gwynedd, and that Welsh kingdom with considerable strength rallied to the defense of Jorvik. Scotland prepared for a fight, and the Council agreed that more attention need to go into taking lands from Jorvik/Gwynedd before they became a serious threat in Britain.

But action in prosecuting the war was interrupted:

FAU 909.12 Uilleam mac Niall, 'The Handsome', fell asleep in the Lord.

Uilleam ‘The Handsome’

As the armies marched to deal with Ce, and Scotland was riven by revolt, Uilleam Gòrdonach came into his majority and the regency ended. Uilleam promptly wed Hemma Karling, daughter to King Karl II ‘The Fat’ of Bavaria, seeking prestige and potential allies on the continent. 

With domestic affairs settled, the troublesome Earl of Ce needed to be dealt with.

Ainmeil (Notable)

• Uilleam Gòrdonach - Duke of Moray
• Sigtrygg av Ivar - Norse King of Scotland
• Hemma Karling - bride to Uilleam Gòrdonach and Princess of Bavaria

Cunntas (Events)

In 886 the revolt in Scotland was successfully put down. Uilleam was regarded as a handsome and scholarly theologian, and his skills were recognized by Sigtrygg as he sought to further secure his throne. Uilleam was given the honorary title of hirdman for his loyalty and skill.

Consolidation

In May of 886, the Court Chaplain reported that the churches and parishes in Orkney were flourishing and that the population there had largely thrown off their pagan ways. In June of that same year, Gilchrist mac Crinan of Ce was defeated and banished, Uilleam taking his title and treasury. Waldeve de Elgin was named Count in Orkney and Farquahar of St. Machar was named Count of Ros in October of 886, to reduce the demesne of the Duke and satisfy some of the concerns of the court.

In further recognition of Uilleam, King Sigtrygg offered to name him Chancellor of Scotland in early 887. Uilleam humbly refused.

It was December of 887 that brought joy, and security, to Moray when young Niall was born of Hemma and Uilleam.

Uilleam’s Claim on Scotland

888 saw two revolts begin for Sigtrygg. Again East Anglia took up arms, and then separately Galloway. With the power of Scotland divided, Uilleam saw a chance to press his own claim for the crown of Scotland, and retrieve it from the Norse invaders. The levies were called up, and the Saxon Band of Mercenaries hired to supplement them.

A series of sieges were quickly begun to reduce the strength of Sigtrygg, and when possible his forces were brought to the field for battle.

FAU 889.7 A battle between the Scotti of Fortriu and the pagans, where the pagans were slain.

The long sieges continued, and confidence grew within the Scots. Further celebrations occurred when, in December of 892, a daughter Màiri was born to Uilleam and Hemma.

Further clashes were held as Sigtrygg managed to reform forces of levies and either secure the smaller revolts that had been draining its strength, or (as with East Anglia) surrendered to free up troops. Yet, Uilleam kept the upper hand.

FAU 893.5 A battle in Melrose in which fell the pagans before the Scotti and Ewyas ap Hywel was carried off captive to Fortriu.

Yet, Sigtrygg called upon allies to aid him and new forces arrived, so Uilleam (his treasury still suitably deep) hired the Catalan Band of mercenaries to further strengthen his force and counter the threat.

This proved an excess of caution however, as Sigtrygg ‘The Silent’ av Ivar surrendered before further significant fighting was to take place.

FAU 895.2 Uilleam named King of the Scotti.

The Minority of Uilleam Gòrdonach

The abrupt, and unsolved, murder of Niall left the north of Scotland in a tenuous position. It was luck, more than anything, that Uilleam had been born 6 months before his father’s death or the line of Gòrdonach would have ended with little remark in history. Ximena, mother to the young Duke, promptly had herself instated as regent to try and insure safety for her son. 

Ainmeil (Notable)

• Uilleam Gòrdonach - Duke of Moray
• Ivar ‘Boneless’ av Ivar - Norse conqueror and ruler of the Western Isles of Scotland
• Constantín mac Alpin - King of Scotland
• Ximena Íñugas - mother to the young duke and Regent of Moray
• Sigtrygg av Ivar - son and primary heir to Ivar ‘Boneless’

Cunntas (Events)

Constantín, King of Scotland requested the hand of Ximena to wed his son Prince Hugh. This would have strengthened ties for the young Duke with his King, and was a prestigious match for the Princess of Navarra. However, Ximena, was fearful for her son. It was unknown who had her husband assassinated, but it was known that the King of Scotland stood to gain the most from an end of the Gòrdonach line - namely reabsorbing all of Moray’s holdings. Distrustful, she rejected the offer and was wed to Robert de Elgin, a courtier within the court of Moray to remain near her progeny and ward off further mac Alpin interest.

The Defense of Orkney

The fate of Orkney remained undecided, but Constantín and the army of Scotland joined in the fray. Moray rushed troops to join the fighting.

However, their efforts proved to be ineffective.

FAU 870.9 Constantín, King of the Scotti, was defeated by the fair heathens at Birsay.

However, no further Norse reinforcements arrived. Moray and Scotland were again able to form their levies and again strike at the Ostlanders, eventually overwhelming them, and then won back Orkney’s holdings. Drained and tired of the fighting, Haraldr and Constantín agreed to a peace in 872, securing Moray’s hold upon Orkney.

Uncertainty

Peace did not last, however. In 871 Jylland declared an invasion of England against Mercia. In 872 Constantín joined the desperate defense. All of Catholic Britain was at war with the Norse in the area, and losing. The councillors of Uilleam urged Moray to refrain from participating.

Earl Morgan in Ros in the North sought to claim the duchy from young Uilleam. He refused to forego this ambition, and was ordered arrested for the safety of the realm. He was captured, and made comfortable in the dungeons.

After having aided in the defense of Orkney, it was learned that Constantín schemed to revoke the county from Uilleam. Likely to weaken his powerful vassal. No action was taken, but tension rose considerably in the court of the young duke.

The Wars of 876

876 was a critical year of activity in Scotland. Constantín moved to expand his territory at the expense of Strathclyde, declaring a war to capture Dail Chluaidh. Norse attackers from Teviotdale struck at Strathclyde at the same time - two invading armies overwhelmed the defense of the Britons in the North.

The Ivar ‘Boneless’ declared a war to take Srath Èireann from Constantín. Weakened and defeated in Strathclyde, Scotland could not resist Ivar who would win his claim.

In late 877 Halfdan, Petty King in Jorrvik, declared an attack to capture Fib from Constantín, who was still too weak to resist. The councillors of Uilleam again refrained from sending direct aid for the fighting, seeing that Scotland was too weak to challenge the invaders.

Revolt of Pictavia

In 877 Earl Crinan in Ce, or Pictavia, to the East sought to claim the duchy from young Uilleam. He refused to forego this ambition, and was ordered arrested for the safety of the realm. He resisted and raised his armed levies in rebellion. There was a short, sharp clash at St. Machar, and then the war became a series of sieges that culminated in the surrender of Crinan and his placement into the dungeons in early 878, where he would perish in September later that same year.

A Changing Crown

FAU 878.6 Ivar ‘Boneless’ was crowned the pagan King of Scotland.

While not unexpected, it must still have been a time of great tension as word arrived that the reign of the mac Alpin’s was ended and Ivar was in fact considered King of Scotland. Moray had lost the protection, such as it was, of the Scottish crown.

The duchy was alone and exposed to any further effort of Ostlandet to take Orkney, to the depredations of Ivar, or to any further northern ambitions by Halfdan in Jorvik. The Lord Councillors of Moray showed little hesitation as the Chancellor for the newly independent Duchy of Moray traveled quickly to Ivar in Suðreyjar.

FAU 878.6 Uilleam of Moray meekly swore fealty to the crown of Scotland in Innse Gall (Suðreyjar).

Transition

The Earl of Ros, Morgan, was still languishing in the dungeons, where Niall had placed him following his revolt in the early 870s. The Councillors of Moray sought to raise funds by ransoming him, but instead elected to banish him and his family in April of 880 - taking the title to Ros and seizing the treasury therein.

Fall of the mac Alpin

In June of 882 Ivar, King of Scotland, acted to press his de jure claim upon Fotla, held by a count under Duke Constantín mac Alpin of Albany. Scotland won the war, and Fotla fell back under the crown. However, during the fighting, Ivar ‘Boneless’ passed in September of 882. The realm was divided amongst his many sons, Sigtrygg took the Crown of Scotland, and the capital was relocated to Srath Èireann.

At the start of the fighting for Fotla, the Chancellor of Moray was recalled from that county, wherein he had been seeking to find record of a claim by the Gòrdonach. Robert, a talented lowborn courtier, was named the new Chancellor and sent to Circinn, again to find proof of a Gòrdonach claim. He promptly produced appropriate documentation. Young Uilleam’s Council rapidly approved action to take advantage of the weakened Constantín with his armies destroyed fighting Ivar, and war was declared. It was a brief affair, amounting only to a couple of sieges before Constantín mac Alpin ‘The Unready’ surrendered the last of his holdings in Scotland. Unlanded, he fled to the continent.

Coupled with conquests Ivar had won in Ireland, Norse Scotland continued to grow strong.

Turmoil

Sigtrygg attempted to lead and conquer as had his father, and to continue adding further territory in Ireland. But his vassals saw him as weaker, and felt they had stronger rights. Jarl SigfroÞ of East Anglia, his brother, was one such and declared rebellion in August of 883. Other Norse lords were also drawn into the fighting. The Scots, under Moray, refrained from joining the fray at first. But when levies from the rebels marched north and laid siege in Ros, Moray called up its troops and drove them out. They then crossed to lay siege to the Isles - seeking compensation for the ravages of the invasion.

It was July of 885, as this fighting was underway, that Gilchrist of Ce thought he had an opportunity, and (has had his father before him) he raised his banner in revolt against Moray when the Council ordered his arrest.

"Be polite; write diplomatically; even in a declaration of war one observes the rules of politeness."
- Otto Von Bismarck


For an old quote (Bismarck lived 1815–1898) it is very accurate, and perhaps more important than ever in today's world of ubiquitous electronic communication.

Niall Gòrdonach

History of the Gòrdonach

Being an after action report a game of Crusader Kings 2 using an 867 start, Custom Ruler instituted in the Northern reaches of the British Isles (namely Scotland).

AAR Introduction

I enjoy the ‘The Old Gods’ content for CK2, I love Scotland, and the two go hand-in-hand. I played a game as a King of Scotland which got quite odd, namely from inheriting the Byzantine Empire and conquering Britain quite smoothly and easily. I wanted something with a more reserved pace and appropriately tense. So, I began this as the Duke of Moray, under the Scottish King.

General Goals

• When able, I find Tanistry to be a fun inheritance method (and which should keep me on my toes with identifying individuals and tracing lineages)
• Limit the Norse culture in favor of Scottish, ideally removing them from my realm completely by the time the game gets to the standard 1066 starting period
• Expand south in England as much as possible - get ahead of any unifying force in the south so that Scotland dominates the isles
• The consistent usage of a set of preferred Gaelic names for family members

That is it for the goals of play, no world conquering plans or anything beyond securing the Scottish Isles. The rest is all organic from game play.

Naming Caveat

I made a point of entering the game very early as other key top level liege lords just long enough to rename counties to those I preferred to see in this game. Also, I periodically conducted some light editing of game files in the background to keep desired names in use. (Why PI changed the Scottish naming from Gaelic to English I do not understand. I tried to figure out how to mod the names into the system, and it did not work. Eventually I just ignored the English versions, and wrote the Gaelic equivalents in here - hence the screenshot names may not match the typed version.) There are certain names I picked out in advance that I wanted to be core to the family heritage and will take steps to ensure their continuation, even when I do not have direct control over the naming of Gaelic children. You will have to forgive me that conceit.

Style

The AAR style is loosely an ‘historical’ analysis with quotes and citations from ‘primary sources’ and annotations. Any failure in the tone of the work are my own. In support of the style you will see these abbreviations as a fictional sources of historical material:

• FAU = False Annals of Ulster
• CKS = Chronicles of the Kings of Scotland

Niall Gòrdonach

FAU 867.1 Constantín son of Cinaed traveled to Circinn to secure his command of the Scotti. His captain, Niall Gòrdonach, was left in Fortriu.

Ainmeil (Notable)

• Niall Gòrdonach - Duke of Moray
• Ivar ‘Boneless’ av Ivar - Norse conqueror and ruler of the Western Isles of Scotland
• Constantín mac Alpin - King of Scotland
• Ximena Íñuga - Princess of Navarra and bride to Niall Gòrdonach
• Uilleam Gòrdonach - son and heir to the Duke of Moray
  

Cunntas (Events)

As Niall took command in Moray, he was surrounded by potential foes. To the north was remote Orkney under the control of a minor Norse house. To the west, Ivar ‘Boneless’ av Ivar, a Norse conqueror and great warrior. It was Ímar, among others, who so plagued Constantín with raids and assaults that he made the move south to try and strengthen his rule of the kingdom. Southwest was the petty Kingdom of Strathclyde under Artgal. To the south lay Northumbria, and it’s Saxon petty king who was under a Norse invasion from Ivar Boneless and Halfdan ‘Whiteshirt’ from Jorvik further south. Ivar also was assaulting East Anglia at the base of Britain. A great alliance of the Irish, Saxons, and Britons was in opposition to Ivar and his invasions, but reports told stories of only victories for the Norse.

The Conquest of Orkney

Þorgil, the Norse ‘jarl’ of Orkney was isolated, and without allies. Niall declared a holy war to oust the pagan from the isles and claim them for Moray. He gathered his levies and marched north. Forces from Orkney boarded ships and sailed around into Fortriu and laid siege.  The war was largely unexciting, except Ximena was seized when the castle in Fortriu fell to siegeh, but she was freed unharmed when Orkney fell to Niall in April of 868.

Revolt of Cait

Constantín had joined the fighting against Ivar’s invasions, but Niall refrained from sending troops to his aid. This proved wise as Malbride, Earl of Cait, plotted against Niall to seize the duchy from him. Niall sent his men-at-arms to take Malbride under guard, but he escaped and called his levies in a declared rebellion.

FAU 868.11 A skirmish at Rosemarkie between Niall and Malbride of Cait.

In July of 869, the fighting with the rebellious Cait ended and Malbride imprisoned. Niall had been wounded, and the strength of Moray weakened at a time when it could not be afforded. In punishment, Malbride was banished, his title and wealth forfeited to Niall.

War for Orkney

The fall of Orkney to Catholic Moray had been noted in Scandinavia. Haraldr ‘Fairhair’ ruled in Ostlandet, and aspired to form the kingdom of Norway. Orkney fell within that de jure realm of that kingdom, and so fit nicely into his plans. An Ostlander war was declared upon Scotland in early 869 to conquer Orkney, and return it to the fold of the Norse, and support his aims of forming the kingdom of Norway. A host arrived at Orkney and laid siege. The levies of Moray were near equal in strength, but the crossing to attack in Orkney would be challenging. Niall held off on such a risky move.

A son, Uilleam, was born to Niall and his bride in August of 869 to the great joy of the Duke and his court.

In September Niall’s forces finally met the Ostlanders in battle:

FAU 869.9 The Picts encountered the fair heathens in battle at Kirkwall, and a great slaughter of the Picts resulted.

Falling back from the disaster, the forces of Moray were scattered following another defeat in October at Dornoch. It appeared that Orkney was going to fall back into the hands of the Norse. Niall returned home, and sought to recover his levies through the winter and prepare to return to the fighting in the spring.

FAU 870.2 Niall of Fortriu was deceitfully slain of assassins foul.