Part 26: Crusader Kings: Chapter 26 - Lords and Lepers: 1300 - 1326

1300 - 1326: Lords and Lepers

In the spring of 1300, a revolt is sparked all across Germany against the rule of Konrad Barbarossa. Konrad's response is swift and brutal, and for over a year, the battles rage as Konrad defeats one revolter after another and strips them of their lands and titles.


Before setting out on the campaign, Konrad bequeaths Swabia and Bavaria to his second son, Augustin.


In October of 1301, Konrad is leading his army into battle against the rebellious Count of Münster. The Count has positioned his army on the far side of a river and destroyed the bridge, but the river has several shallow crossings, and Konrad guides his troops across. As he is crossing himself, he slips on a rock, hits his head, and before anyone can grab hold of the unconscious Emperor, he is swept downstream. Though his body is never found, Barabarossa is proclaimed dead the next day, and the Electors convene to choose his successor.


They elect the Duke of Austria, Rupprecht von Ortenburg. After twenty years of Barbarossa's rule, many hope that the young Ortenburg will prove a more temperate ruler. The rebellion against Konrad dies with him, and a period of unusual calm settles in over Germany.


Augustin von Hohenzollern is now the head of the dynasty. Konrad never expected Augustin to rule, and the young Duke saw very little of his father as a boy, always being passed over for his elder brother Waldemar. The experience has left him a hostile and weak-willed person of little ambition.



Augustin is content to remain in Swabia, hunting, jousting and spending the taxes collected in his demesne. On a sunny day in July of 1305, the now adult King Rupprecht is visiting Swabia, and Augustin takes him out hunting. Augustin and his liege lord quickly find themselves comfortable in each others' company and the two become close friends. Augustin begins to spend large parts of the year in Mainz as King Rupprecht's most trust advisor, earning him much prestige, while King Rupprecht gets a powerful and steadfast supporter.


Their alliance is cemented with the marriage of Rupprecht's brother to Augustin's niece.


More quiet years follow, as Rupprecht and Augustin pay little attention to the dealings of the lesser rulers of Germany, allowing them to handle their own affairs, as long as said affairs do not boil over into war. Little of note seems to occur in the rest of the world, either, until at last some interesting - and concering - news reach Germany in 1208. The King of Sweden has claimed the throne of Norway through force, and now rules over all three of the Scandinavian Catholic kingdoms from the city of Visby on Gotland.


1211 turns out to be a black year. First, Augustin's son and heir Leopold is struck down by Leprosy, and then his brother Hartmann begins to act strangely, speaking to people that are not present, ranting of imagined conspiracies, and from time to time retreating into a state of utter catatonia.


Augustin has little time to worry about his family, however, as war has erupted between Bohemia and Germany over Bohemia's claim to its ancestral lands inside the German border.


Together, Rupprecht and Augustin march into Bohemia, brushing all resistance aside and seizing a half-dozen border provinces. The King of Bohemia is forced to sue for peace, giving up all his claims to German territory.


In 1315, Leopold reaches adult age. Brittle and frail from his leprosy, he has turned his considerable talents to the matters of finance and diplomacy, becoming a genius in the handling of coin, and assuming the role of Swabia's steward.


A string of murders start occuring at the court in 1318. At first, stableboys and servants are the targets, but eventually, courtiers start dying as well. A maid claims to have seen Hartmann leaving the scene of one of the murders, but Augustin scolds her publicly for daring to accuse his brother of such a deed.


Privately, however, Augustin makes preparations to spirit his brother away to a quiet retreat, but before he can act, Hartmann flees the court after killing the maid that fingered him. He finds refuge in Cheb, murdering several more people before he is finally caught trying to kill the Count of Cheb himself. Despite the protests of Augustin, Hartmann is executed by the Count, an event that does much to hurt the prestige of his family.


Shortly thereafter, rumors begin to spread that Leopold's Leprosy is caused by his own use of evil sorcery. Some even go so far as to blame Hartmann's madness on Leopold. With the Inquisition still hunting for Cathars in Germany, these rumors attract the attention of a local inquisitor who demands to put Leopold on trial. Augustin rebuffs the demand with outrage, protesting to the Pope himself. The Pope responds by excommunicating Leopold.


Perhaps weakened by the stress of the accusations made against him, Leopold falls ill in 1324. A year later, his condition has developed into blindness, and though he is a wreck physically, he stoically continues to carry out his duties as steward.


In June of 1236, news reach Augustin that Rupprecht has been gravely injured in a hunting accident. He rushes to Mainz, only to arrive too late - his friend is dead. With the support of the Ortenburgs, as well as many of the Dukes and Counts of Germany who have expanded their influence during Rupprecht's rule, Augustin is elected King of Germany in August.