Part 3: Crusader Kings: Chapter 3 - Of War and Marriage: 1088 - 1091

1088 - 1091: Of War and Marriage

Ruling the entire Duchy of Swabia with its demesne of four provinces is a very different challenge from ruling a mere County like Schwaben. Unlike Schwaben with its skeleton court, Swabia has multiple skilled men and women fighting for each of the important appointments. Wurttemburg and Furstenburg are a valuable source of both tax revenue and technological discoveries: A number of advancements in the ways of farming and siege technology have spread to Swabia via the German trade routes and are being put to good use. However, with all that wealth and power comes the attention of other powers, and a bitter rivalry with the liege lord who secures its independence.




Count Friedrich of St. Gallen and Count Hartmann of Schwyz are the sworn vassals of Swabia. Friedrich is an old friend of Mathias' father, while Hartmann is a bitter rival to the Hohenzollerns and Hohenstaufens both. Mathias has a legitimate claim to the title of Schwyz, and only a strong sense of what is proper for a liege lord to do keeps him from deposing Hartmann and giving the county to someone more loyal.

The fortunes of war have turned in England. A massive English counterattack has driven the French troops back to the coast and liberated the English royal seat of Essex. Sussex has also been taken back from the French count who stole it, though six thousand German troops have just arrived there and are making their way inland.


One of the first concerns for the young Mathias following the death of his father is to arrange for the marriage of his eldest bastard brothers. Friedrich is a melancholic and sickly young man that regardless is known for being a charismatic negotiator, while Konrad is a proud, vengeful and selfish wastrel to whom little Christian humility seems to have stuck, despite his theological education.


Two talented French young women from Champagne and Gevaudan are located, and marriage arrangements are quickly made. Konrad's wife is appointed Steward in his place, while Friedrich's wife becomes Swabia's Spy Master. Konrad is appointed Diocese Bishop instead.



Whatever else may be said about the late Friedrich von Hohenzollern, his numerous sons all looked up to him, and his sudden death had some profound effects on them.


One of the many dutiless courtiers at the Swabian court requests Mathias' permission to seek his fortunes elsewhere. Mathias gregariously allows it.


It is suggested to Mathias that Heinrich might be open to reconcilliation, if the young Duke were to publically take back his harsh words about the German King's piousness. Mathias refuses, replying that he is merely speaking the truth as the Holy Lord would see it.


The Bishopric of Trent, situated just south of the Duchy, has remained independent since it broke free from Germany during the Italian revolts. Hoping he might be able to persuade the pious Bishop Heinrich into pledging his allegiance to the Duchy, Mathias sends one of his younger sisters as a fosterling, and arranges to marry the third-oldest of his bastard brothers and a widower uncle to courtiers in Trent.


Despite the now considerably improved relations between the Duchy and Bishopric, Bishop Heinrich proves unwilling to give up his independence, though there is always the hope that me may change his mind should the Duchy attain higher prestige and renown in the realm.


An opportunity presents itself as the Archbishop of Cologne, a friend and mentor to Duke Mathias, claims to have found evidence that the lawful ruling rights to the County of Piemonte, currently ruled by an outspoken skeptic, lie with the Hohenzollern family. Mathias is quick to make use of the claim, though for now the godless ruler of Piemonte is protected from holy retribution by his liege lord.


In 1090, Mathias reaches maritable age and completes his education. To the surprise of noone, he has become a fantatical devotee of the Catholic Church, a true believer in God, the Pope and the Crusades. Mathias is presently courting the fifteen-year old daughter of the French King Philippe, hoping to marry the Hohenzollerns into the French royal house of Capet.


Despite his generally kind nature, Duke Mathias is also a hostile man, an outspoken enemy of all whose faith can be said to be lacking - and by Mathias' standards, that is a fairly large percentage of all the rulers in Europe.


Mathias has been spending the substantial tax revenues of Swabia to build Courts of Justice in all of Swabia's provinces, a much-needed effort to deal with the thieves and ruffians that have been swarming in ever greater numbers to Swabian cities, forming guilds and smuggling rings.


King Heinrich of Germany has made peace with the English, and though the French are still in the fight, they have been pushed off the British isles altogether, though they still control English Normandy.


A god-given opportunity presents itself for the Hohenzollerns in February of 1091, as the Duchy of Upper Burgundy revolts against Heinrich. Mathias has a valid claim to the title of one of the Burgundian Duke's vassals, the Count of Aargau. The Swabian army, though not fully recovered from losses suffered in the French-Anglo war, numbers close to five thousand men, while the entire Duchy of Upper Burgundy can only call on half of that. Mathias spares no time in declaring war on the Count of Aargau and sending mobilization demands to the counts of Schwyz and St.Gallen.


As expected., the Duke of Upper Burgundy declares war in defense of his vassal.


The combined army of Schwyz and St.Gallen arrives early in Aargau, beginning to besiege its old hill fort. Before the main Swabian army can arrive, a superior Burgundian army descends on them and scatters the Swabian troops.



Despite this momentary victory, the Duke of Upper Burgundy knows that four thousand men will soon arrive to take the place of the seven hundred he sent packing, and both he and his vassal offer tributes for peace. Mathias sends an offended reply explaining that a rightful claim cannot be bribed away. There can be no peace until Aargau is under uncontested Hohenzollern rule.


As the army of Swabia enters Aargau, the Burgundian troops retreat without offering a fight and Mathias begins laying siege to the province.


While camped outside the walls of the Count of Aargau's fort, Mathias deals with the matters of state that have piled up. First are two petitions by local Swabian barons asking permission to levy extra taxes and to be granted hunting rights on church land in Furstenberg. Both petitions are firmly rejected.



Duke Mathias also receives news that Jerusalem has fallen to the Egyptians, and the Pope has called another Crusade to liberate the city anew. Mathias swears that once the current war against Upper Burgundy is over, he will lead the armies of Swabia to the holy lands and free Jerusalem from the yoke of the Muslim heathens.


Werner, youngest of the three true-born sons of Friedrich von Hohenzollern, succumbs to a spell of illness, further adding to the grief of his widowed mother.


Aargau finally falls in June of 1091, and in the subsquent peace deal, its Count is stripped of both his title and the contents of his treasury.



Again, the Duke of Upper Burgundy tries to offer tribute for peace, but Mathias is insistent on taking Bern to force him to rescind any claims on Aargau. 2500 men defend Bern against Mathias attacking force of 4000. Mathias is at the forefront of his army, leading the charge of his knights.


Though the Burgunian army is crushed, losing half their number and scattering in wild retreat, disaster strikes as a Burgunian lance strikes Duke Mathias in the stomach as he leads the Swabian nobility in a charge against the Burgunian cavalry. The young Hohenzollern refuses to leave the battlefield until the battle is won, and once his wound is finally examined, infection has already set in.



Bern is captured and Mathias can impose the peace deal he desired on its Duke, but there is little celebration as the Swabian army begins the long trek back to Wurttemburg. Mathias' health is steadily growing worse, and it is becoming clear that he is likely to join his father in the heavens above before long.



The last acts of Duke Mathias are to marry his bethrothed, Princess Eve of France, and to use the influence gained from his Burgundian victories to lay claim to the neighbouring province of Nurnberg, long considered a rightful part of Swabia. He also makes his brother and heir, Waldemar von Hohenzollern, promise to wed Princess Eve when he comes of age, that the Hohenzollern ambition of ties in both the German and French royal houses not be wasted.



Having fulfilled his duties to House Hohenzollern, he offers up his soul to the judgement of the almighty in December of 1091, leaving only one spoken regret: That he never got to set foot on the holy land.


Duke Mathias von Hohenzollern, Lord to Swabia and its surrounding lands, is dead. Long live Duke Waldemar von Hohenzollern!