User:Pawl/Sandbox/Wesmandy original history

This was the original early history of Wesmandy, partly copied from the old Wiki, partly a summary of my un-wikified thoughts. It will need changing in the light of changes to Northwest Uletha but I would like to keep it in essence.

Early Devnunii period

The Devnunii - a tribe of Brethanic Celts - was one of the two earliest-known peoples to occupy the Dihobath Peninsula; the other being the more populous Pechts to the west. These two tribes were constantly at war with one another and when, in c.400 CE, Goidalig invaders arrived, the Devnunii allied with them against their old enemies. In the subsequent wars the Pechts were pushed into a small southern area, the Goidaligs conquered most of western Dihobarth and the Devnunii expanded their territory southwestwards.

Knight Venturers and the defeat of the Norðmanni

From about the 10th century, Devnun, along with other Caeltig lands, suffered sporadic coastal attacks by Norðmanni raiders. These attacks increased in frequency and extent in the 11th and 12th centuries, and by the late 1100s the Norðmanni were establishing their own settlements on the north coast of Devnun, and looking as though they could overrun the whole country. The same fate was befalling other Caeltig realms, particularly Ionadàlba, Morionys and Rhysiog, and the Vinnish lands to the east. King Meryn of Devnun turned for help to his father-in-law Richard of Banley, Grand Master of the Order of Knight Venturers.

Although established with noble and holy intentions, the Knight Venturers were, in effect, an army of seaborne mercinaries. The order had a multi-national membership, but its main leaders and working language were Ingerish. It had a number of temporary bases but was frequently pressured to leave by its host countries. Banley's price for coming to the aid of his father-in-law was a permanent homeland for his order. The Devnunii agreed to grant them the Clethmor (Kledh-o-Meur) peninsula as an autonomous duchy.

The Knight Venturers and their armies began arriving in Devnun in 1204. They set up bases on the west bank of the Meur and on the north coast of Devnun, extending westwards into the mountainous territory of Grum and over the sea to the Cambric lands on the Brethan Peninsula. However, they were not successful in establishing a presence in their designated duchy of Clethmor, which was successfully held by the Norðmanni under the warlord Anders Leifsson. Consequently, almost from the beginning the Venturers' de facto capital was at Eskwick near the west bank, rather in Clethmor. They quickly became known as the "West men", as opposed to the Norðmanni or "North men", and in Ingerish "West man" became abbreviated to Wesman. Despite not controlling his designated duchy, the Venturers' Grand Master asserted his ducal status, and became known as the Duke of the Wesmans.

Over the next quarter century the loose alliance of Wesmans, Devnunii and Cambric forces succeeded in driving the Norðmanni out of mainland Devnun and the Cambric lands. The Venturers' unparalleled seamanship and skill at naval warfare were crucial in achieving this. The peoples of Ionadàlba, Clethmor and the Vinnish lands were less successful, and remained subject to Norðmanni domination.

During this period the Wesmans began to dominate the areas around their land bases, and once victory over the Norðmanni was achieved, they were unwilling to return the territories to their former owners. This led to a new and lengthy conflict between the former allies. The Cambry succeeding in ousting the Wesmans, but Devnun and Grum were to suffer a different fate.

The Wesman conquest

The Devnunii attempts to oust the Wesmans were never successful, usually leaving the Wesmans with more territory than they had before. Treaties were signed but soon broken. The only lasting accord was the Treaty of Stoneleigh of 1268, in which borders were agreed, assigning the Devnunian "Northlands" and Grum to the Duke of Wesmandy, but recognizing the suzerainty of the Devnunian leader as King of all Devnun. Grum remained outside the realm of Devnun, so that the Duke of Wesmandy was both an independent sovereign (in Grum) and a vassal lord (in Devnun), but the vassalage was more nominal than real.

The "Stoneleigh Peace" ended suddenly in 1304 when King Rewan "the Reckless" entered into an alliance with King Iolo I of Rhysiog to rid his realm of the Wesmans, in return for which Rewan would then assist Iolo in his conflict with the Lordship of Cwmaur. Rewan's forces attacked the Northlands en masse even when it looked as though the promised Rhysiogan fleet would not sail (Iolo was facing new threats from Morionys, which had allied itself with Cwmaur). Rewan did not receive the support he expected from the local populations, who had become more "Wesmanized" over the previous decades. Devnunian forces were routed at the battles of X and Y, and the Wesman armies poured into the south of the country.

Faced with annihilation, King Rewan was forced into a humiliating treaty in 1305. The Treaty of Ellyton established new borders, extending Wesman territory further, and provided for the marriage of Rewan's 13 year-old elder daughter, Morwenna, to Edgar, Duke of Wesmandy. Since Rewan had no sons, this almost guaranteed that the issue of the marriage would inherit both the royal and ducal crowns. The treaty also included an assurance that the Devnunii language and culture would be preserved in the remaining non-Wesman lands (up to this point, the Wesmans had been methodical in imposing Ingerish/Wesman language and culture on conquered populations).

Morwenna gave birth to a son, Richard, in February 1306. She died from complications following the birth, leaving the young baby in the sole care of his father, Duke Edgar. In June, King Rewan died, supposedly from a fall, but few doubt that he was murdered. The four-month old Richard became King of Devnun and Edgar assumed the regency, bringing an end to Devnunii rule.

King Richard I assumed personal rule as both king and duke at the age of 17 in 1323 (his father had died three years earlier). After a Devnunii rebellion in 1330, he revoked the legal protection of Devnunic language and culture and instituted a policy of complete "Wesmanization", proclaiming "I shall rule one people in one realm, speaking one tongue". From that point on no public business could be conducted in Devnunic language and all children had to be taught Ingerish. The policy was ruthlessly imposed and was eventually successful; the last known native Devnunic speaker died in 1496. [I'll change this - the Devnunic language will survive in at least parts of Wesmandy]

With the adoption of his Wesmanization policy, Richard began using the title "King and Duke of Wesmandy and the Devnunii", instead of "King of the Devnunii and Duke of Wesmandy". Thus the kingship became associated with the name "Wesmandy", and by 1400 references to Devnun had been dropped entirely from official use.

The Knight Venturers were reduced from a powerful fighting force to an honorific society after they had been defeated in a rebellion against the Crown in 1365-69.

During this Venturers' War, the Earl of Grum proclaimed the secession of his domain from Wesmandy and declared himself "Prince of Grum". Initially, he claimed the Grand Mastership of the Order of Knight Venturers, but surrendered this as part of an agreement in which Wesmandy undertook not to challenge the prince's title (at least for the time being).

Fifty Years War

In 1402 King Edgar II died without a direct heir (his wife and sons had died of plague two years earlier). Two rival claimants came forward - his sister's son Mechwyn, heir to the throne of Morionys (in Tircambry), and his cousin Henry, Earl of Darlmouth (now called Aberdarl). They both seized parts of Wesman territory and the war dragged on for decades. In 1419, Henrik Duke of Norhavon, another of Edgar's nephews, also laid claim to Wesman and the conflict became a three-way dispute. It finally resolved in Henrik's favour and he was proclaimed King of Wesmandy, as Henry II, in 1450.

Post 1450

Up until the Fifty Years' War Wesmandy was divided into a jigsaw of fiefdoms. The king, the church, and major lords held discontiguous lands across the kingdom, which created difficulties coordinating military strategy during the Fifty Years War. To overcome this during the war, Henrik of Norhavon started appointing Lord Marshals as military commanders across contiguous areas of his territories which became known as shires. This arrangement continued after the war, with the whole country being divided into shires and Marshals and other royal officials acquiring more power and influence at the expense of the feudal lordships (although, initially at least, most Lord Marshals were also feudal lords).

Despite losing much power and responsibility, lords continued to claim their feudal dues and taxes which became a major burden on ordinary people and the rising merchant class. As a result of protests and rebellions which started in 1518, non-noble landowners and towns acquired representation in a new assembly called the Folkmoot, which became an additional house in the Parliament (Parliament had consisted only of the King, Council, and Witanmoot (House of Lords)).

...

Timeline

Date	Country	Country then	Event location	Event
400-	Wesmandy, Ionadàlba	Morcanal Bay area	Morcanal Bay area	Goidalig invasions of the Dihobarth Peninsula. Allied with the Devnunii against the Pechts, who are reduced to the central south area only.
760 approx	Wesmandy	Devnun	Devnun	Arrival of Christicism in Devnun
1204	Tircambry, Wesmandy, Ionadàlba, Vinnmark	Morcanal Bay area	Morcanal Bay area	Knight Venturers arrive and set up coastal bases, having been invited into
1268	Wesmandy	Devnun / Wesmandy	Stoneleigh	Treaty of Stoneleigh establishes clear borders for the Wesman duchy.
1304	Wesmandy	Devnun / Wesmandy	Cilveyster	King Rewan the Reckless of Devnun signs Treaty of Cilveyster with Rhysiog and attacks Wesmandy.
1305	Wesmandy	Devnun / Wesmandy	Ellyton	Rewan defeated and forced to agree to the Treaty of Ellyton. His daughter, Morwenna, has to marry Duke Edgar of Wesmandy.
1441	Wesmandy	Wesmandy	Wesmandy	Last Darlmouth claimant to the throne defeated and killed at the Battle of ???
1450	Wesmandy	Vinnmark	Vinnmark	King of Vinnmark declares Norhavon forfeit to the Vinnish Crown, because the Duke has claimed the Wesman Crown
1450	Wesmandy	Vinnmark	Vinnmark	A Vinnish Court rules that the transfer of the duchy to Richard is legal. The King demands that the new duke come and pays homage for it.
1450	Wesmandy	Wesmandy	Eskwick	William I of Wesmandy nominally transfers the dukedom of Norhavon to his young son, Richard
1105	Ingerland	Ingerland	Ingerland	Foundation of the Order of Knight Venturers.
1206	Wesmandy	Devnun	Devnun	First known use of the term 'Wesman' to describe the Knight Venturers
1216	Wesmandy	Devnun	Eskwick	Alfred Canvey is elected Grand Master of the Knight Venturers in succession to his father. Beginning of the Canvey dynasty.
1227-1268	Wesmandy	Devnun / Wesmandy	Devnun / Wesmandy	Sporadic conflicts between the Wesmans and their Devnunii hosts. The Wesmans gradually increase the territory they control.
1235	Wesmandy	Devnun	Eskwick	Robert II (Canvey) succeeds his father Alfred as Grand Master, re-enforcing the Canvey's control of the Order
1278	Wesmandy	Devnun / Wesmandy	Devnun / Wesmandy	Duke Alfred III of Wesmandy seizes the King of Devnun's estates which lie within the Duchy
1306/02/16	Wesmandy	Devnun / Wesmandy	Caerlyn	Morwenna gives birth to son Richard, but she dies from complications.
1306/06/20	Wesmandy	Devnun / Wesmandy	Caerlyn	King Rewan dies (almost certainly murdered). The baby Richard becomes King of the Devnunii, with his father as Regent.
1320	Wesmandy	Devnun / Wesmandy	Eskwick	Duke Edgar dies, leaving 14 year-old Richard as both king and duke. 5 Knight Venturers form a Council of Regency.
1323	Wesmandy	Devnun / Wesmandy	Eskwick	17 year-old Richard dismisses the Council of Regency and begins his personal rule.
1330/04/07	Wesmandy	Devnun / Wesmandy	Devnun / Wesmandy	A Devnunic rebellion begins.
1330/07/18	Wesmandy	Devnun / Wesmandy	Climton	Devnun rebels defeated at the Battle of Climton.
1330/09/15	Wesmandy	Devnun / Wesmandy	Eskwick	King Richard promulgates the Charter of Unity, revoking Devnun rights and starting a policy of 'Wesmanization' throughout his lands. He proclaims 'I shall rule one people in one realm, speaking one tongue'.
1365	Wesmandy	Wesmandy	Grum	The Earl of Grum renounces his allegience to Wesmandy, and war ensues.
1365-03-15	Wesmandy	Wesmandy	Eskwick	Death of Edgar I of Wesmandy; succession of 8 year-old Richard II, with his uncle Geoffrey Earl of Darlmouth as regent.
1365-06-12	Wesmandy	Ionadàlba, Wesmandy, Grum	Vyeguard	Rebel Knight Venturers elect Athe Raggarth, Earl of Vyeguard, as Grand Master.
1365-1369	Wesmandy	Wesmandy, Grum	Wesmandy, Grum	The Venturers' War, between Wesmandy and Grum and their rival Venturer orders
1367-04-16	Wesmandy, Ionadàlba	Wesmandy, Ionadàlba, Grum	Vyeguard	Athe Raggarth proclaims himself Prince of Grum, ending allegiance to Wesmandy.
1369-09-24	Wesmandy, Ionadàlba	Wesmandy, Ionadàlba, Grum	Aiston	Treaty of Aiston. Grum is recognized as an autonomous principality owing fielty to the Wesman Crown. Prince Athe gives up his claim to the Grand Mastership of the Knight Venturers.
1378-1385	Wesmandy	Norhavon	Norhavon	Vinnish-Norhavon War, ends in Vinnish victory
1382	Wesmandy	Wesmandy	Eskwick	Richard II issues new Charter of the Knight Venturers, removing their military rights and role
1383	Wesmandy	Wesmandy	Marshleigh	Clare of Westrijk, future bride of Edgar II, arrives in Wesmandy
1392	Wesmandy	Wesmandy	Eskwick	Death of Richard II, King of Wesmandy. Succession of Edgar II
1394	Wesmandy	Wesmandy	Eskwick	Edgar II commissions the Great Census
1396	Wesmandy	Wesmandy	Tatlyn	Death of last known native Devnunic speaker
1400/06/24	Wesmandy	Wesmandy	Eskwick	Presentation of the completed Great Census to King Edgar II
1400/08/27	Wesmandy	Wesmandy	Ellasbrook	Death of Prince Gerald, younger son of Edgar II and Queen Clare
1400/09/03	Wesmandy	Wesmandy	Ellasbrook	Death of Queen Clare
1400/09/05	Wesmandy	Wesmandy	Ellasbrook	Death of Richard, Earl of Eskwick, elder son of Edgar II and Clare, heir to the throne
1402/10/06	Wesmandy	Wesmandy	Eskwick	Death of Edgar II of Wesmandy
1402/10/20	Wesmandy	Wesmandy	Caerarthen	Mechwyn, Prince of Caerarthen, is formally proclaimed King of the Devnunii and Wesmans
1452-1457	Wesmandy	Norhavon	Norhavon	The Duchy War, between Wesmandy and Vinnmark over sovereignty of Norhavon
1457/08	Wesmandy	Wesmandy	Ellasbrook	Treaty of Ellasbrook ends the Duchy War and transfers Norhavon to Wesman sovereignty