The Lion of Flanders - Chapter III: The Cat and The Cross

Hello everyone and welcome to my Megacampaign called The Lion of Flanders.
It is heavily inspired by Kingdom come, one of the most amazing playthroughs I have ever seen or read. (Link:https://lparchive.org/Paradox-Games-Kingdom-Come/)
The campaign starts in CK2, will be exported to EU4, continued in Victoria 2 and either be completed in one of the HOI games.

My daughter has sinned, but did Jesus not tell us to forgive each other's sins? The bastard child will recieve an education at court. My daughter will be punished though and I sent her to a nunnery for a few weeks.

I have been raised to the rank of Oblatus in The Dominician order, I write a poem about God and send it to Conversus Umberto.

As a holy woman, it is my duty to be loyal to God alone. I swear a vow of celibacy and reject any pleasures of the flesh.

My daughter has grown up to become an excellent steward. I assign her to help lift some duties of my Court Steward.

An alliance is formed with Léon. They will be a great help in the wars to come.

Another revolt plagues England. Will they ever know peace?

I seclude myself and pray to god for guidance.

Remembering the story of The Creation, I realise that my slothful ways are an affront to God. I will work harder to make Flanders a fair and holy realm.

An Flemish-Irish alliance will secure our position on the world stage!

As I laid my eyes on the Image of Edessa, I was filled with faith and anger. How could this low monastery protect such grand Holy Relic. I decide that The Order of The Claw should be the ones dedicated to protect it and devise a plan to retrieve the Relic.

All my preperations were for nothing considering it just laid there. Apparently I can just grab it.

Taking the relic from its stand I saw Bernat stand in the doorway. Before he could even open his mouth, I dropped the Image and rushed to him.

I grabbed his throat and after a few kicks, he breathed his last breath and I ran away into the night, carrying the Image of Edessa.

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It appears my sin has not gone unnoticed. Luckily, Ádárn is known to be a corrupt man, I arranged a meeting and offered him a royal bribe of 360 golden talents.

My daughter is sick, God is punishing her for breaking her vows of celibacy! I will pray for her soul.

I told my husband to use The Holy Bible against the charlatan priests, he visited me later today, thanking me for my help.

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God has anwsered my prayers and my daughter is healed.

I have found some old books that were eventually not included in The Bible. These books still contain a great deal of knowledge about our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ though.

Raymond, a French count, has been under my guardianship for quite some time now. He speaks dutch and acts completely Flemish!

I feel like a true biblical scholar, I will start memorising it!

The roads of Brugge are once more old and in bad shape. I order my Steward to improve the roads and build new ones where required.

(Western Europe, 1241)

When my friend talked sense into me and said I shouldn't be afraid of people, I went into the crowd and started talking to some nobles. It turns out that I can be quite talkative when I get easy around people.

Along the new roads, a series of outposts is soon built, guarding the peasantry of Brugge.

With the new roads and and outposts in place, Brugge finally has the infrastructure to truly flourish.

A black day for all of Europe, how much longer will the Mongols torture the people? How much longer must we suffer this unstoppable force?

(Map of Europe, 1241 AD)

Building new local shrines will not only make Brugge a more prosperous place, but also encourage the populace to become more godly and pious.

My daughter has grown up, she has become a great steward. I am proud of her.

A revolt breaks out in The Holy Roman Empire.

The French bastard-king has denied the will of God. Surely His Judgement will wreak havoc upon Flanders soon enough.

Raymond, my ward, has become a master of diplomacy and will now rule the County of Hainaut justly.

I tought Raymond one last lesson. He should know that he has a good life, I showed him the poor areas of Flanders. He realises what I am trying to say and he walks away, a content man.

The King of Ireland, bound to the van Vlaanderen's by marriage, has agreed to form an alliance, a great day for both our houses!

Great news as I was raised to the rank of Commissus today!

Conversus Umberto has granted me a holy relic, no person has ever given me such honour.

By implementing primogeniture, Flanders won't be as divided as it used to be in the past.

I am worried, everywhere an assassin could spring out of the darkness. I begmy friend for help.

I have grown more and more paranoid. Every shadow looks like an assassin, all food smells and tastes wrong. I am sure someone wants to kill me!

I recieved a beautiful poem today from Engelbert, reading it I was filled with emotion, he truly encapsulates the meaning of Faith in a few words. Despite this, God seems like a cruel being, which he defenitely isn't!

I am not as young as I used to be, I feel weak and often don't have the power to get as mad as I used to.

Considering the poem is really beautiful, I write to him, telling him that he should add it to the Order's collection.

Multiple discussions about poetry have made me feel closer to Engelbert. I feel like I can call him my friend.

The Pope calls for our aid! The vile sinners of the Ayyubid Sultanate try to assault The Holy City once more. Such thing will not be allowed.

I immediately sent a letter to The Pope, expressing my will to join this crusade. It makes me think about my father. Am I treading in his footsteps? I shake my head, no, I will not abandon my homeland for some far-eastern empire, that much is certain.

Before we can completely join the Crusade, I have to end this war with the Duke of Champagne, and bring Champagne under Flemish rule!

On the tenth of March 1247, The Battle of Sens begins. It is clear the Flemish forces will win and they quickly rout the enemy.

People have started calling me Johanna 'The Carless'. Perhaps because of the two failed Flemish rebellions. We'll see who laughs last.

The French pig has enforced realm peace, ending our war with Champagne before the Duke could sign his surrender. Another clear sign that the bastard-king is indeed a Tyrant. Having no reason to keep the Flemish Army in Europe, I send them to Alexandria, the crusade must be won!

Alexandria is quickly surrounded and The Order of The Claw makes quick work of any smugglers trying to supply the city. In the meanwhile, The Flemish Navy surrounds the port of Alexandria, preventing any boats from relieving the city.

A Jewish man becomes my physician, it is known throughout Europe that they posess great skills in the field of medicine.

For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, Ephesians 2:14

I believe this means that men and women are equal. After support from the female nobles and peasantry who stayed at home, I enact a law, bringing men and women closer to each other.

The Siege of Alexandria is won, after hearing reports of a large heathen force heading for the city, The Flemish Army decides to leave and are quickly brought to the ships. A small force of soldiers from Jerusalem is left behind as garrisson. I fear the worst.

Tales of a so called Crusader-Duchess are told far and beyond. I am proud to be called a Crusader.
Deus Vult!

My husband and friend has died, this is a black day. I spent a day and night in fast and prayer. Begging the Lord to let my husband into His Divine Kingdom.

A defeat of The Flemish army on the border of Jerusalem has brought an end to Flemish participation in the Crusade.

My noble ally calles me to battle! I quickly join his fight, though There are not a lot of soldiers to send.

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No parent should bury her children.

Apparently she was a friend of my son. We spend the evening drinking and talking about him.

As if it was a miracle, Robrecht's wife gave birth to a son, I name him Balderik. I will raise him personally.

Disease rages through Flanders, camp fever is spreading through the countryside.

After sending a convincing letter to The Pope, he excommunicated the French pig, a victory for both Christendom and Flanders!

Another tyrannical decision from the French Bastard. Without the council to keep him in check, who will stop him from executing whomever he wants?

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The castles protect the citizens, therefore I found it more important to improve relations with the local lords. A few weeks after sending my Chancellor away, I get a message. It appears his mission was a succes.

Controlling a Duchy is a stressful job. As the pressure mounts up I feel like I can't do anything of my own anymore!

After rushing out of the council meeting, I went to the chapel to seek guidance. Kneeling down, I felt as if God himself put his hands on my shoulders.

After the recent miracle, I felt his presence flow away again. It fills me with sadness, not feeling His Love. I feel depressed and lost.

It is time for me to make Flanders a Grand Duchy. After the dictatorial realm peace, I can finally claim the whole duchy of Champagne.

The Siege of Sens begins. It is quickly surrounded by Flemish Forces. Our goal will soon be reached.

Terrible news from the East. The Crusade for Jerusalem has failed. I feel guilty and spent the day in prayer and fast.

I realised the small pleasures on earth are gift from God. Realising His love is actually everywhere, I don't feel as alone and depressed.

A splinter force from the Flemish Army defeats the Champagnese forces in battles.

The Duke of Champagne signs the surrender and Johanna van Vlaanderen is declared Grand Duchess of Flanders and Champagne.

William de Ferrers, King of Ireland, has usurped the Throne of England and Aquitane. With the consolidation of the whole English throne, King William the Fifth is now an even more powerful ally of the Flemish people. Not everyone welcomes the new king though, and soon rebellion breaks out.

Believing Flanders stands stronger than ever, I, Grand Duchess of Flanders, declare The Second War of Independence. With the help of The English and The Leonese forces, victory should be swift.

A coalition of Flemish and mercenary forces. defeat the French at Paris, The Siege soon begins.

Forgive me Father, for I have sinned.

The Siege is won! The French capital is in Flemish hands!

While the French army progresses to the south, the French start besieging and killing in Flanders, I must intervene to protect my people!

The stress returns, I grow sick of it, I have too much to worry about!

God has blessed me, The Sign of Christ sires my hands and feet.

This holy act has amazed everyone within The Dominician Order. I have been raised to the rank of Conversus, one of the highest standings in The Order.

I am sick, cramps all over my body. It hurts to even move. But I have to fight on, for my people, for The Flemish.

The French are once more deated at Boulogne. If the war continues like this, The Grand Duchy of Flanders will soon be independent.

Perhaps my Physician is right, I have been working too much. Following his advice, i feel better, less pushed around.

With The French in retreat, we can start liberating the occupied provinces.

The French king has died, this is great news, if it weren't for his heir, the king of Aragon to inherit France. With France and Aragon combined, Flemish independence impossible.

I send an envoy to the new king. The Flemish will have to bide their time, but one day, The Dream will be achieved.

The Aragonese King has accepted the peace. Perhaps now, The French will understand what it feels like to live under a foreign King.

Another friend dies, I resort to alcohol, not even God can help me now for I have sinned.

The Lords of Flanders decided that it would be in their best interest to create a stronger centralised state. Respecting the will of my council, I sign the law.

Revolts rage through England, Castille, Hungary and The Holy Roman Empire.

A French minorty group is trying to tear apart my realm. I will NOT allow it! The Flemish army is raised and sent to deal with it.

The Order has confronted me about my sinful ways. They told me that I have a leadership role as Conversus. Realising this, I felt ashamed, I told them to punish me and later that day I was flogged. In the Light of God, I rejected alcohol.

The Flemish Levies assemble at Vermandois.

With the forces assembled, we are prepared to meet the rebels at Sens.

Another diplomatic mission to the local lords. A letter soon arrives, informing me that the mission was another succes.

The rebel forces are defeated at Sens and their leaders imprisoned. The cramps have not gone away. I lay down in my bed, afraid of what is to come. My eyes close, darkness starts to set in as I feel my body fall into a dreamless slumber.

My grandmother was found dead in her bed today, a book lying on her lap. She was the woman who raised me, not my father, not my mother but her. I learned my lessons from her, both good and bad. She was the princess of The Latin Empire, Liberator of the Flemish people, Crusader-duchess, and Grand-Duchess of Flanders-Champagne. But she couldn't face the truth. God was not with her, nor with the Flemish. If the Flemish want freedom, it is not in the hands of God, but in the hands of The Grand Duke! I start reading my Grandmother's diary, she was an overzealous woman, incapable of seperating church and state. After the funeral I go to the council meeting, my regent and councillors surprised to see me. Knowing about my Grandmother's "Only God's laws-act", replacing the cities' charters with the ten commandments, I tell my steward to send letters to the cities, informing them to draw up new, fair charters. A new era will start for Flanders and its people.

Grand Duke Balderik of Flanders-Champagne takes his place on his throne in the Ducal palace at Brugge.

Thanks of reading part 3 of The Lion of Flanders!