Part 11: Crusader Kings: Chapter 11 - A Realm Divided: 1139 - 1143

1139-1143: A Realm Divided

The conquests of King Nikolaus were not destined to last. Having spent years draining his vassals dry to fund his wars against France and Bohemia, the seeds of discontent he had sown finally began to bloom in the summer of 1139 as the Duchies of Saxony, Upper Lorraine, Alsace and Provence declared independence, sparking a civil war.


A steady stream of minor and major lords went turncoat, and Duke Werner, never a friend of the King to begin with, started making overtures among the rebels, providing material support while waiting to see if Nikolaus could get the situation under control.



Meanwhile, Werner's brother Heinrich has reached majority. A brilliant strategist and skilled warrior, he is the obvious choice for the position of Marshal of Swabia.


The King of Bohemia, having regained control of most of his realm from the revolters, offers an alliance to Werner, no doubt hoping to tie close relations with the Hohenzollerns, should they return to the german throne.


As 1139 turns to 1140, the Dukes of Lombardia, Bavaria, Austria and most of the italian rulers take up arms against Nikolaus. A full half of the german rulers are now in open rebellion, and when the Bavarian Duke visits Werner and asks him to join in the uprising, Werner realizes that the time to choose sides has come.


He chooses rebellion.


The declaration of war is met by a disorganized attack against Wurttenburg, which is quickly repelled by the Swabian army. Still, having been bled dry in Nikolaus' wars and grossly mismanaged by Werner's father Otto, the Swabian army numbers only seven thousand where it was once thrice that amount, and Werner will have to household carefully with his troops, lest Swabia be swamped by loyalist armies.


The war engulfing Germany is leading to a faster spread of eastern technologies within the realm, and knowledge of Siege Towers is a welcome newcomer to Swabia.


Attempting to even the odds somewhat, Werner puts his knowledge of intrigue to good use, infiltrating the loyalist armies with spies and saboteurs.


A regiment of Occitian mercenaries are also hired to bolster the Swabian ranks.


The Swabia army begins to march on the royal seat of Salzburg, defeating several small loyalist armies blocking the way, and reaching the gates of Salzburg in September of 1140.


Linking up with a small Bavarian siege force, the Swabian army storms the walls of Salzburg and razes the city to the ground, handing the smoking ruin over to the Bavarians afterwards.


Meanwhile, a loyalist army strikes into Swabia, conquering Leiningen but sparing the city from any looting.


Seeing this as a sign of the imminent fall of his Swabian overlord, the Bishop of Baden openly declares himself for the king, revolting against Werner.


Despite these setbacks, the overall war is going badly for King Nikolaus. The loyalist rulers are scattered all over the map, while middle Germany is firmly in the hands of rebels, and only a couple of german dukes still swear loyalty to the faltering crown.


The Swabian army races back to Leiningen, driving out the loyalists, and retaking the city.


Shortly thereafter, the tiny army of Baden is swept aside, its Bishop deposed and its lands seized for Werner's demesne.


Fresh troops are mustered where they are available, but the Swabian army has been badly decimated by disease and battle, now numbering less than three thousand in all, and Werner decides to consolidate his gains and let the troops rest for a few months before continuing the campaign.


In February of 1142, the Count of Fürstenberg, injured fighting alongside his Swabian liege, dies without heir. His lands are inherited by his cousin, the Duke of Lower Lorraine, and Werner can only helplessly watch as a significant piece of the Swabian heartland is lost to the Hohenzollerns.


King Nikolaus still hold several important provinces, but his armies have been decimated during the last year's fighting, and rebel armies begin to converge on his remaining holdings. A massive army from four different duchies seizes Köln, and soon there after, Milan and Dijon fall as well.




In July, a loyalist army of four thousand fresh troops from Bradenburg strike against Wurttenburg, attacking the Swabian army of barely two thousand men holding the city. Leading a heroic defense, Marshal Heinrich manages to throw back the attackers, but suffers a severe injury as a blade cuts through his shoulder.


The cut quickly turns infected, and Heinrich is hurriedly sent back to Castle Wurttenburg to be treated by the family healers, but to no avail. He clings to life for several weeks, but finally succumbs to his infected wound in August. A courtier with some experience at arms by the name of Friedrich takes over his duties, but the loss of its brilliant young marshal is a severe blow to Swabia.


Duke Werner was unusually close with his brother, and wears his grief visibly. Only the news in September that his wife has born him a son and heir manages to shake him out of it. The infant boy is named Aingeru von Hohenzollern.


His other child, Luitgard, is proving to be an unusually bright young girl who seems destined to become something greater than her gender usually allows.


In 1143, the loyalists are on their last legs. Italy and Burgundy are completely in the hands of the rebels, and only a few lords in Northern Germany remain loyal to the crown. After a number of humiliating peace settlements with former rebels, King Nikolaus' own demesne has shrunk to the provinces of Nurnberg, Salzberg and the Swabian-controlled Andernach. Mustering fresh troops once more, Werner decides that the time has come to take his share of the spoils. The Swabian army marches into Nurnberg, scattering its few defenders without a single arrow being fired.


Seeing the way the wind is blowing, the Count of Breisgau, a traditionally Swabian holding, offers to become Werner's vassal in exchange for protection from the ambitious Duke of Lower Lorraine, who has claims on his title. Werner agrees.


Leaving behind a small siege force to hold Nurnberg, the Swabian army attacks Salzberg, where King Nikolaus himself leads the pathetic remnant of his once mighty army in a desperate, but hopeless defense.



Nikolaus' troops are swept aside, he himself captured, and shortly thereafter the last cities in his demesne fall to Swabia.


Sitting down with the captive King in Castle Salzburg, Werner dictates his terms, demanding the title of Nurnberg, formal recognition of Swabian independence and for Nikolaus to give up his claims to the Swabian lands for all time.


Faced with little choice, King Nikolaus agrees.