Dùghall Gòrdonach

Dùghall mac Uilleam was the grandson of King Mànas, and had experienced a complex and eventful life beyond his years.

His father had been made Duke of York following the Yorkish Wars with Queen Björg, but Duke Uilleam had died when Dùghall was in his minority and Lleuca Aberffraw (Björg’s daughter) had driven the young lord from his title and lands. But, when they fled, the family sent Dùghall not to the court of Scotland but to Asturias in Hispania. He reached his majority there still firmly Scottish in his manner (considered a blessing by those that had elevated him to Tanist of the realm). But he steadfastly refused all invitation extended by Ruairidh to return to Circinn. On his own merits, he rose in the court at Asturias, achieving a position on the Council as Steward.

Despite his personal success, he did not marry. Ruairidh extended a couple of options - solid Scottish members of his court, but Dùghall would not accept. The family had become large enough that Dùghall failing to have children would not have been as much of a concern, but it would still have caused some consternation as the future head of the dynasty. Despite being a bit of a black sheep for staying away and remaining unwed, the realm remain determined that Dùghall would be the next king.

Dùghall relocated from Asturias to Nantes, where he again was given a seat on the council as as Steward. Ruairidh tried one last time and extended the hand of Muireall, a Scottish  (though lowborn) lass . Such a move would have brought no small amount of gossip to the court as Muireall had born Ruairidh a bastard son, Aonghas, which he had recognized. Ruairidh was probably trying to get her away from the court as much as anything else when he offered her to Dùghall. To everyone’s surprise, Dùghall accepted. He probably realized at last that his position was going to bring additional responsibilities into his life, and a wife would only benefit his long term role. Un-phased by Muireall’s past, he took her as wife. Even so, he continued to live in Nantes until Ruairidh’s passing.

Ainmeil (Notable)

• Dùghall Gòrdonach - King of Scotland and Germany
• Muireall - first bride of King Dùghall
• Nyala Metkourios - second bride of King Dùghall
• Uilleam mac Dùghall Gòrdonach - first son of Dùghall
• Flann Dál Birn - son of Lleuca Aberffraw, Duke of York & Mecklenberg, and brother-in-law of King Dùghall
• Uilleam mac Ruairidh Gòrdonach - Tanist of Scotland and Germany, and Duke of Lancaster
• Aonghas mac Ruairidh - bastard son of Ruairidh Gòrdonach and Muireall

Cunntas (Events)

Attention Upon Wessex

Dùghall resolved to continue his predecessor’s attention on Wessex. Earl Balthere of Leinster offered a suitable claim against the County of Oxford, so Scotland again entered into conflict with King Æthelweald of Wessex. There was little resistance, and Wessex surrendered in September of 961.

Ireland

While fighting Wessex, the Chancellor was busy in Ireland gaining claims upon the final free Irish counties. It was in 962 that the first action resulted, with war declared upon Earl Murchad of Kildare. They fought back, but were overwhelmed at Knockaulin, and the sieges brought their surrender in February of 963.

Earl Róen of Breifne received the same treatment in the following May. The Battle of Clones, and some sieges resulting in Scotland’s victory in May of 964.

The young Mànas was named Duke of the new title of Meath.

Gelre

The Duchy of Gelre bordered the lands of Germany to the west along the coast, and had been conquered by a Norse adventurer named Suni. It was decided that this was unacceptable, and war hastily declared to drive the pagan out. 

The German levies were raised, and the King’s retinues and personal levies called up to support them from Scotland. Frantic reports soon arrived though, that Suni ‘The Conqueror’ still had far more of his invading forces left than anyone had expected. A host of Norse warriors was descending on the unprepared German forces. In a panic of embarrassment the Council sent out a call for all the levies of the realm, and hired the Saxon and Breton Bands. It was to prove sufficient, barely.

After being chased across northern Germany, and handed mutiple defeats, Scotland finally brought it’s force to bear at Nijmegen where it won a hard fought victory.

CKS 965.4 Nijmegen, where many fell.

More battles were fought over the following year and Dùghall made a name for himself on the battlefield, and but it was at Nijmegen that Gelre had been broken, and Suni surrendered in April of 966.

The victory was won, but many Scottish lads lay in the fields of Gelre.

The Decline of the Saxons

King Æthelweald of Wessex had suffered an invasion from Tjudmund, a Norse noble who had formed a new realm and usurped the title of Wessex. This opened the way for Scotland to strike in the Saxon South.

Events were begun in April of 966 when Duke Flann of York declared a holy war against Tjumund of Wessex. Scotland was reluctant for Flann to gain yet that much more power, and declared their own holy war for Wessex. With the opposition engaged with York, Scottish armies poured south and began winning sieges, until Tjudmund abruptly converted and cancelled the casus belli for the war.

Ireland at Last

Thwarted in Wessex, Scotland turned to Ireland, where it was found that that Duke Mànas of Meath held claim upon the county of Connacht. A short war was waged upon Earl Mugrón and Connacht was brought into the Scottish realm. The last free Irish Lord of Ireland had fallen.

Nyala

In early 969 Dùghall’s wife Muireall died after an illness. The King remarried a short time later, but his controversial social practices continued. He married Nyala Metkourios, an Ethiopian. She arrived at the court, converted to Catholicism and settled in. The first of multiple children of the union was a daughter - Catrìona - born in 970.

Byzantium in Scotland

The Byzantine inheritance continued. Lotharingia had, indeed, gone to the Eastern Roman Empire, and then the Duchess Gyla of Susa inherited Airer Goídel in Scotland. There was nothing to be done about the issue, however.

The Chester War

Pagan Denmark still controlled the County of Chester, and Scotland proceeded to declare a holy war to reclaim it for Christ in April of 970. German levies marched north and invaded Denmark itself to lay siege. A hasty defense by Denmark was defeated at Mansfield by the British levies, and then the conflict became a matter of siege. Denmark surrendered the county in the middle of 971.

Aonghas mac Ruairidh Gordon

CKS 973.6 Aonghas mac Ruairidh named Duke of Gelre by King Dùghall.

When Aonghas mac Ruairidh came of age, Dùghall granted him the title and lands of of the Duchy of Gelre. The Council advised against this course of action - Aonghas was ambitious and perhaps not to be trusted, but Dùghall was not to be swayed. Aonghas took to bride Magdolna, a princess of Hungary. When his own son, Aonghas, was born in 976 King Dùghall sent a missive of congratulations and recognized him as Aonghas Gordon, founder of a new Scottish dynasty.

The Duke of Galloway

Uilleam, the King’s oldest son, had come of age. The King found him a strong wedding match in Ildégarde, a Princess of West Francia. The King sought to further strengthen the Gòrdonach and the Realm, and an opportunity presented itself in the fact that pagan beliefs and practices of the Norse had again entered the realm in the form of Tolir Styr, Duke of Galloway. Dùghall was disgusted by this turn of events and proceeded to revoke all of Tolir’s holdings - duchy and counties. In turn, the lands and titles of all of Galloway were granted to his son Uilleam. (In particular, having rewarded Aonghas, he likely could not have been seen to favor his step-son over his actual son.)

Saxony

Dùghall and Scotland next turned to the region around the German kingdom and the pagans to the east. It was decided to bring Saxony into the realm, and a holy war was duly called.

Scottish forces entered Pomeranian territory with confidence, and quickly won a small battle at Rugard in June of 978. They continued with another minor victory at Havelberg, wherein they encountered the mercenary Finnish Band which, unprepared for battle, routed and their commander was captured. Victory at Drezdany followed, and people spoke with confidence of victory.

Then defeat at Brennaburg in November, followed by a loss at Uznjöm disturbed the confidence of the realm. July of 979 brought victory at Dohna, however, and the Pomeranian resistance was broken.

CKS 979.7 Dohna, where the warriors of Scotland routed the Slavs and cut them down as they ran.

Sieges and patience bought the surrender of King Aron I of Pomerania in August of 979.

Succession

Next Dùghall began working out how to continue the consolidation of Britain and politically a faction requested gavelkind inheritance for the realm had developed. A claim war upon Dorset was declared, and troops placed in action. His further plans, however, never came to fruition as in January of 980, he passed away unexpectedly.