Part 25: Crusader Kings: Chapter 25 - Jerusalem: 1294 - 1300

1294 - 1300: Jerusalem

Discontent is brewing in Germany in the wake of the Sixth Crusade. While the ordinary people rejoice at the liberation of Jerusalem, the nobles of Germany had to spend much gold and troops on Konrad's crusade, and the choice of his own son Waldemar as King of Jerusalem rankles. Konrad receives news that the Duke of Tirol is planning an uprising, and his spymaster advises him to deal with the problem in a subtle fashion. Konrad agrees to the plan, and assassins are sent out. They succeed in severly injuring Duke Gebhard, but unfortunately he survives the injury.


In April of 1284, the construction of the new Castle Wurrtemberg stands complete. Wurrtemberg now houses the largest and most well-defended castle in Europe, and possibly even the entire known world, a hideously expensive project financed by tribute gained in the crusade.


In October the same year, the Hammadid Caliphate in Iberia declares a Jihad on the Kingdom of Jerusalem, and several muslim rulers declare war on King Waldemar.


Apparently deciding that half the muslim world is not a challenging enough opponent, King Waldemar also declares war on the Khanate a few weeks later, and Jerusalem is now embroiled in war against enemies easily ten times their number. Cursing his fool son, Konrad quickly begins to raise troops to send overseas to defend Waldemar's fledging kingdom.


Bad turns to worse in May of 1295, as the Duke of Tirol, still suffering from the injuries inflicted by Konrad's assassins, declares war on Konrad and sparks a civil war. A large number of troops heading for Jerusalem are forced to turn back to put down the uprising. Fortunately, no other German vassals join in the uprising, at least for the moment, and Duke Gebhard is quickly defeated.


The first German troops finally arrive in the holy lands in September the same year, and not a moment too early. The outer territories of the kingdom have fallen to the mongols, and a mongol army is besieging Jerusalem itself.


Rushing to its aid, Konrad's forces join arms with Waldemar, and together father and son drive off the besieging army.


Two more attacks on Jerusalem are repulsed with the aid of more German reinforcements, but there is little that can be done for the surrounding territories, which are all in Mongol hands. Waldemar and Konrad are heavily outnumbered, but there is one ray of hope - Egypt and Byzantium are on the warpath against the Khan once more, and if Jerusalem can hold out long enough, the Khanate might be forced to withdraw its troops to defend its heartland.


1295 turns to 1296, 97, and 98, as the stoic defense of Jerusalem continues. Tens of thousands of German soldiers die defending its walls, but a constant stream of reinforcements continues to arrive from Germany, and the city holds out. Meanwhile peace is settled with the various muslim powers at war with Jerusalem, as most of them are too busy with their own wars agains the Khanate to wish to continue the Jihad.


Back in Germany, Waldemar's second son, the future Duke of Swabia Augustin has reached majority. A neglected second son, he has grown up to become a hostile and lazy person.


The mongol offensive finally collapses in August of 1298, having bled itself dry on Jerusalem and now finding itself cut off through offensives from Egypt and Edessa. Spearheading the remainders of the allied armies, Waldemar quickly begins to reclaim lost lands.


By March of the next year, Waldemar has retaken all of the lands lost to the mongols, along with several new territories and peace is negotiated with the Khan. Waldemar's insane gamble seems to have paid off, though only at great cost to his father's realm.


A mere month after the peace, he pays the ultimate price himself, as he is stricken with illness caused by war injuries, and dies. Waldemar's four-year old son is now King of Jerusalem.


In Germany, a half-dozen minor counts have taken advantage of Konrad's absence to declare independence, but so far, none have risen openly in revolt. As the turn of the century approaches, all that is about to change.