Strategikon (Medieval Sandbox) Always open

[Andsed]

I'll finish this up tomorrow. Let me know if anything needs changing.

NationStates Name: Illegal Planets
Nation Name: Kingdom of Sweden
Capital: Skara
Government Type: Feudal
Head of Government: Angeir Ivarsson
Dynasty/Family Name: House of Vargar
Population: 4.1 million
Eligible Military Population: 200,000
Territorial Claims: Angeir controls Sweden, Sami, the north of Norway and the coast of Finland.
State Religion: Norse Paganism
Dominant Religion: Norse Paganism
Minority religions: Christianity, Sami shamanism
Religious Information: Worship and veneration of a variety of deities, but none more so than Odin. Christianity is unpopular but tolerated.
Economy Information: The people pride themselves on their strength, cunning, and craftsmanship, but not necessarily in that order. Though occasionally plundering when it is profitable, the men of Götaland trade along the rivers extending east into Russia, with their neighboring kingdoms and principalities, and even as far west as Britain.
Military Information:
History: In the year 995 when Olof Skötkonung came to succeed his father as king of Sweden, a foul taste was left lingering in the mouths of a few petty kings in Götaland who begrudged the tributes he demanded. After being baptized in 1008, Olof would go on to found several churches throughout Sweden, and eventually sought to tear down the Uppsala temple. Even under the threat of murder by his own people, in an extreme act of hubris Olof ordered the temple to be destroyed. A civil war followed, and the vast majority of christian swedes either renounced their new religion or fled for fear of retaliation by the enraged pagan majority. Those who remained were killed and their churches were burned. The Geats, having seen where Olof's folly would lead, were not idle and united behind the elder of two brothers, King Osgood Ivarsson, who sought to dethrone Olof and take his place.

King Olof found himself in a dire situation. With the destruction of the temple at Uppsala, he had prompted several of his own subjects to join forces with a coalition of Geats united behind King Osgood. He was able to capture Osgood's daughter however, who happened to be married to one of the lord who now fought against him, and sent word to Osgood demanding that he turn himself over in exchange for the young woman's life. Osgood agreed against the pleas of his men. In his absence, his younger brother Angeir took his place and promised to continue the fight. When word of this reached Olof, he had Osgood himself demand that his Angeir lay down his arms and return home. If he did not, his brother and niece would both be executed.

Angeir refused, which earned him the nickname "the Unbent", and Olof made good on his threat. The war dragged on for three more years. With the only allies left to him occupied in the west, Olof was deposed and killed in 1013. Angeir would officially take his place after ending the war in 1016, being crowned King of Sweden and Götaland. Over the next two years he established his capitol in Skara and began working hard at undoing the damage that Olof had wrought upon the social fabric of Sweden, and launched a military campaign to settle the coast of Finland which is ongoing due to resistance from the native tribes.

Ruler's Name: King Angeir the Unbent
Ruler's Personality: Judicious, Stalwart, Amiable. Fierce, Decisive, Shrewd.
Physical Appearance: Lean, long brown hair and blue eyes. Short, groomed russet colored beard. Sharp facial features, unblemished.
Ruler's Family Information: Osgood son of Ivar (killed 1010), King Ivar the Crow (Ivar Kráka, killed 988)
Ruler's History:


Anything I should know about you player wise?:

Just letting you guys know I am not super knowledgeable about Scottish history and I am just going off what I can find on places such as Wikipedia so there will very likely be a mistake or two in here.

NationStates Name: Andsed
Nation Name: Kingdom of Scotland
Capital: Edinburgh
Government Type: Feudal
Head of Government: High King Malcolm II
Dynasty/Family Name: House of Alpin
Population: 1.2 million
Eligible Military Population: 200´000
Territorial Claims: (These give you starting Casus Belli's over territory occupied by another nation that you view as de jure your own)
State Religion:
Dominant Religion:
Minority religions:
Religious Information:
Economy Information:
Military Information:
History: (need not be exhausting, just some details so we can get a bit of your nations past and heritage)


Ruler's Name: Malcolm II
Ruler's: Age: 64
Ruler's Personality: He is an incredibly clever and ambitious man wanting to secure his family claim to the throne. He has no objections to killing political opponents which he had done many times in the past.
Physical Appearance: (Image)
Ruler's Family Information: (describe other important family members)
Ruler's History: Malcolm ascended to the throne in 1005 after killing his cousin king Kenneth III in the battle of Monzievaird.


Anything I should know about you player wise?:

Both of your pops seem a tad high, if we're using England as the easiest equivalent that is. England at this period was around 1.5 to 2 million and was a temperate low-lying island with plenty of farm-able areas (even before the great clearances), whereas Scotland and Sweden are noticeably colder with less agricultural land. I'd say Scotland would be at around half a million or even below, and for Sweden probably less than a million.

I'm not sure about the use of the title of High King (as in I genuinely don't know whether it was used over the more common King of Scots), but its usage would probably anger the English as attacking their suzerainty over Scotland held since King Aethelstan. That said it's not as though angering the English and denying their suzerainty is something the Scots would disagree with.

I will edit the population as for the High King well according to Irish annals who had recorded his death he was ard rí Alban with meant high king of Scotland and there is mention to other kings of regions in Scotland. If anyone else knows anything about this let me know.

[Union Princes]

Can we play as a Crusader state or are we too early for that?

[Krugmar]

Can we play as a Crusader state or are we too early for that?

It's definitely too early for the idea of crusades, either in their Urbanite form and definitely too soon for Innocent's style of crusades, but I think there is a possibility to play something akin to what was later set up. Seeing as the Eastern Romans have been more successful in southern Italy in this timeline, it could be possible that they instead directed the Normans (besides those who conquered Sicily) to instead attack the Levant, held by the threatening Fatimid Caliphate.

[Illegal Planets]

Alright, i've reduced my pop

NationStates Name: Illegal Planets
Nation Name: Kingdom of Sweden
Capital: Skara
Government Type: Feudal
Head of Government: Angeir Ivarsson
Dynasty/Family Name: House of Vargar
Population: 570,000
Eligible Military Population: 30,000
Territorial Claims: Angeir controls Sweden, Sami, the north of Norway and the coast of Finland.
State Religion: Norse Paganism
Dominant Religion: Norse Paganism
Minority religions: Christianity, Sami shamanism
Religious Information: Worship and veneration of a variety of deities, but none more so than Odin. Christianity is unpopular but tolerated.
Economy Information: The people pride themselves on their strength, cunning, and craftsmanship, but not necessarily in that order. Though occasionally plundering when it is profitable, they mostly trade engage in trade on the Baltic Sea and along the rivers reaching east into the Kievan Russian Principalities. The Kingdom also engages in the slave trade, taking thralls to market as far away as Venice.
Military Information: While possessing no professional soldiers in a sense, the Geatish lords serve as seasoned commanders and their soldiers are veteran men-at-arms. Angeir has levied the Swedish population for a substantial standing army united under one king. The longships at his disposal are still controlled by the lords to whom they belong.
History: In the year 995 when Olof Skötkonung came to succeed his father as king of Sweden, a foul taste was left lingering in the mouths of a few petty kings in Götaland who begrudged the tributes he demanded. After being baptized in 1008, Olof would go on to found several churches throughout Sweden, and eventually sought to tear down the Uppsala temple. Even under the threat of murder by his own people, in an extreme act of hubris Olof ordered the temple to be destroyed. A civil war followed, and the vast majority of christian swedes either renounced their new religion or fled for fear of retaliation by the enraged pagan majority. Those who remained were killed and their churches were burned. The Geats, having seen where Olof's folly would lead, were not idle and united behind the elder of two brothers, King Osgood Ivarsson, who sought to dethrone Olof and take his place.

King Olof found himself in a dire situation. With the destruction of the temple at Uppsala, he had prompted several of his own subjects to join forces with a coalition of Geats united behind King Osgood. He was able to capture Osgood's daughter however, who happened to be married to one of the lord who now fought against him, and sent word to Osgood demanding that he turn himself over in exchange for the young woman's life. Osgood agreed against the pleas of his men. In his absence, his younger brother Angeir took his place and promised to continue the fight. When word of this reached Olof, he had Osgood himself demand that his Angeir lay down his arms and return home. If he did not, his brother and niece would both be executed.

Angeir refused, which earned him the nickname "the Unbent", and Olof made good on his threat. The war dragged on for three more years. With the only allies left to him occupied in the west, Olof was deposed and killed in 1013. Angeir would officially take his place after ending the war in 1016, being crowned King of Sweden and Götaland. Over the next two years he established his capitol in Skara and began working hard at undoing the damage that Olof had wrought upon the social fabric of Sweden. The former Geatish kings now must serve Angeir as lords, but in exchange are granted lands extending outside of Götaland.

Ruler's Name: King Angeir the Unbent
Ruler's Age: 36
Ruler's Personality: Judicious, Stalwart, Amiable. Fierce, Decisive, Shrewd.
Physical Appearance: Lean, long brown hair and blue eyes. Short, groomed russet colored beard. Sharp facial features, unblemished.
Ruler's Family Information: Osgood son of Ivar (killed 1010), King Ivar the Crow (Ivar Kráka, killed 988)
Ruler's History: Angeir was a Viking explorer who lead a host of men up and down the Baltic Sea sometimes trading, but often plundering settlements and wayward trading vessels. Before the civil war, his route extended far up the waterways of the Kievan Russian Principalities where he bartered for foreign merchandise. Called home by his brother Osgood for the impending disaster brought on by the destruction of the Uppsala temple, Angeir would prove to be a competent leader and a fierce warrior respected by his people.

[Imperialisium]

Can we play as a Crusader state or are we too early for that?

It's definitely too early for the idea of crusades, either in their Urbanite form and definitely too soon for Innocent's style of crusades, but I think there is a possibility to play something akin to what was later set up. Seeing as the Eastern Romans have been more successful in southern Italy in this timeline, it could be possible that they instead directed the Normans (besides those who conquered Sicily) to instead attack the Levant, held by the threatening Fatimid Caliphate.

Aye Krugmar is right. It is too early for the historical Crusades (which was a massive response from Muslims persecuting Christians in the Holy Land and the appeal of the then Byzantine Emperor Alexios I Komnenos to the Pope for aid).

However, players are free to start their own *Crusades* for whatever plausible reason they wish.

As for High King of Scotland. Thats a nomenclature issue which is still debated upon scholars. The generally accepted evolution of the title was Kingdom of the Picts===>Kingdom of Alba===>Kingdom of Scotland. By the early 11th century though the title would roughly translate as King of Scots.

[Andsed]

It's definitely too early for the idea of crusades, either in their Urbanite form and definitely too soon for Innocent's style of crusades, but I think there is a possibility to play something akin to what was later set up. Seeing as the Eastern Romans have been more successful in southern Italy in this timeline, it could be possible that they instead directed the Normans (besides those who conquered Sicily) to instead attack the Levant, held by the threatening Fatimid Caliphate.

Aye Krugmar is right. It is too early for the historical Crusades (which was a massive response from Muslims persecuting Christians in the Holy Land and the appeal of the then Byzantine Emperor Alexios I Komnenos to the Pope for aid).

However, players are free to start their own *Crusades* for whatever plausible reason they wish.

As for High King of Scotland. Thats a nomenclature issue which is still debated upon scholars. The generally accepted evolution of the title was Kingdom of the Picts===>Kingdom of Alba===>Kingdom of Scotland. By the early 11th century though the title would roughly translate as King of Scots.

Ah alright I will change to King of the Scots.

[Imperialisium]

Aye Krugmar is right. It is too early for the historical Crusades (which was a massive response from Muslims persecuting Christians in the Holy Land and the appeal of the then Byzantine Emperor Alexios I Komnenos to the Pope for aid).

However, players are free to start their own *Crusades* for whatever plausible reason they wish.

As for High King of Scotland. Thats a nomenclature issue which is still debated upon scholars. The generally accepted evolution of the title was Kingdom of the Picts===>Kingdom of Alba===>Kingdom of Scotland. By the early 11th century though the title would roughly translate as King of Scots.

Ah alright I will change to King of the Scots.

Either way you're sure to piss off the English

[Toaslandia]

Ah alright I will change to King of the Scots.

Either way you're sure to piss off the English

If you do piss off the English, feel free to hire the Genovese army as mercenaries.

[Andsed]

Ah alright I will change to King of the Scots.

Either way you're sure to piss off the English

Well pissing off the English is what we Scots do best.

[Imperialisium]

Alright, i've reduced my pop

NationStates Name: Illegal Planets
Nation Name: Kingdom of Sweden
Capital: Skara
Government Type: Feudal
Head of Government: Angeir Ivarsson
Dynasty/Family Name: House of Vargar
Population: 570,000
Eligible Military Population: 30,000
Territorial Claims: Angeir controls Sweden, Sami, the north of Norway and the coast of Finland.
State Religion: Norse Paganism
Dominant Religion: Norse Paganism
Minority religions: Christianity, Sami shamanism
Religious Information: Worship and veneration of a variety of deities, but none more so than Odin. Christianity is unpopular but tolerated.
Economy Information: The people pride themselves on their strength, cunning, and craftsmanship, but not necessarily in that order. Though occasionally plundering when it is profitable, they mostly trade engage in trade on the Baltic Sea and along the rivers reaching east into the Kievan Russian Principalities. The Kingdom also engages in the slave trade, taking thralls to market as far away as Venice.
Military Information: While possessing no professional soldiers in a sense, the Geatish lords serve as seasoned commanders and their soldiers are veteran men-at-arms. Angeir has levied the Swedish population for a substantial standing army united under one king. The longships at his disposal are still controlled by the lords to whom they belong.
History: In the year 995 when Olof Skötkonung came to succeed his father as king of Sweden, a foul taste was left lingering in the mouths of a few petty kings in Götaland who begrudged the tributes he demanded. After being baptized in 1008, Olof would go on to found several churches throughout Sweden, and eventually sought to tear down the Uppsala temple. Even under the threat of murder by his own people, in an extreme act of hubris Olof ordered the temple to be destroyed. A civil war followed, and the vast majority of christian swedes either renounced their new religion or fled for fear of retaliation by the enraged pagan majority. Those who remained were killed and their churches were burned. The Geats, having seen where Olof's folly would lead, were not idle and united behind the elder of two brothers, King Osgood Ivarsson, who sought to dethrone Olof and take his place.

King Olof found himself in a dire situation. With the destruction of the temple at Uppsala, he had prompted several of his own subjects to join forces with a coalition of Geats united behind King Osgood. He was able to capture Osgood's daughter however, who happened to be married to one of the lord who now fought against him, and sent word to Osgood demanding that he turn himself over in exchange for the young woman's life. Osgood agreed against the pleas of his men. In his absence, his younger brother Angeir took his place and promised to continue the fight. When word of this reached Olof, he had Osgood himself demand that his Angeir lay down his arms and return home. If he did not, his brother and niece would both be executed.

Angeir refused, which earned him the nickname "the Unbent", and Olof made good on his threat. The war dragged on for three more years. With the only allies left to him occupied in the west, Olof was deposed and killed in 1013. Angeir would officially take his place after ending the war in 1016, being crowned King of Sweden and Götaland. Over the next two years he established his capitol in Skara and began working hard at undoing the damage that Olof had wrought upon the social fabric of Sweden. The former Geatish kings now must serve Angeir as lords, but in exchange are granted lands extending outside of Götaland.

Ruler's Name: King Angeir the Unbent
Ruler's Age: 36
Ruler's Personality: Judicious, Stalwart, Amiable. Fierce, Decisive, Shrewd.
Physical Appearance: Lean, long brown hair and blue eyes. Short, groomed russet colored beard. Sharp facial features, unblemished.
Ruler's Family Information: Osgood son of Ivar (killed 1010), King Ivar the Crow (Ivar Kráka, killed 988)
Ruler's History: Angeir was a Viking explorer who lead a host of men up and down the Baltic Sea sometimes trading, but often plundering settlements and wayward trading vessels. Before the civil war, his route extended far up the waterways of the Kievan Russian Principalities where he bartered for foreign merchandise. Called home by his brother Osgood for the impending disaster brought on by the destruction of the Uppsala temple, Angeir would prove to be a competent leader and a fierce warrior respected by his people.

Accepted

[Union Princes]

I'm considering apping as the Holy Roman Empire and try doing those Imperial reforms, but I figured that would be OP so I'll maybe app as a German duchy

[Strala]

I want to be one of the Swiss Cantons but I have to wait 200 years later for that to happen . I mean I could take up the current area of the cantons also what do you think the population of Schwyz would be at that time

[Imperialisium]

I'm considering apping as the Holy Roman Empire and try doing those Imperial reforms, but I figured that would be OP so I'll maybe app as a German duchy

Due to the nature of the Holy Roman Empire I wouldn't allow anyone to app as the whole Empire. This isn't due to it being OP, rather, just like France's own starting position the HRE is a realm were the various regional and local lords have equal or more power. As such a player will not only have to contend with outside influence but also internal issues from regional powers capable of putting together armies rivaling their own. They can app as the Emperor and have direct control over his personal demesne. Or as a vassal of the Empire like a Duchy and vie for Imperial control. Or break away. Or anything in between.

@Strala, probably 50k-60k or so. Switzerland is very defensible (trust me its just a few hours drive from where I was born) but not exactly a good place for large populations. One of the reasons the Swiss became widespread mercenaries was that they had way more young men than there was land/jobs with decent gains/pay to work. So what can be a good paying job that also gets you out of the village were several generations of your family lived and died in? Soldiering!

[Strala]

I'm considering apping as the Holy Roman Empire and try doing those Imperial reforms, but I figured that would be OP so I'll maybe app as a German duchy

Due to the nature of the Holy Roman Empire I wouldn't allow anyone to app as the whole Empire. This isn't due to it being OP, rather, just like France's own starting position the HRE is a realm were the various regional and local lords have equal or more power. As such a player will not only have to contend with outside influence but also internal issues from regional powers capable of putting together armies rivaling their own. They can app as the Emperor and have direct control over his personal demesne. Or as a vassal of the Empire like a Duchy and vie for Imperial control. Or break away. Or anything in between.

@Strala, probably 50k-60k or so. Switzerland is very defensible (trust me its just a few hours drive from where I was born) but not exactly a good place for large populations. One of the reasons the Swiss became widespread mercenaries was that they had way more young men than there was land/jobs with decent gains/pay to work. So what can be a good paying job that also gets you out of the village were several generations of your family lived and died in? Soldiering!

Got it so can I app as just one canton or the whole of the old Confederacy

[Union Princes]

Is it then possible to unify the Holy Roman Empire into a single centralized state?

[Imperialisium]

@Strala, you can app as either. Mind if you chose to app as the Swiss Confederacy, you would need to explain how it came into existence between the years 1000-1018. Alternatively you can app as a singular canton and try to form the Confederacy in the IC.

@Union Princes, yes it is possible. Just very difficult to do so. So if you want a hard challenge then I say go for it.

[Strala]

Is it then possible to unify the Holy Roman Empire into a single centralized state?

Never, I'm not letting my precious cantons or canton to become yours

[Union Princes]

@Strala, you can app as either. Mind if you chose to app as the Swiss Confederacy, you would need to explain how it came into existence between the years 1000-1018. Alternatively you can app as a singular canton and try to form the Confederacy in the IC.

@Union Princes, yes it is possible. Just very difficult to do so. So if you want a hard challenge then I say go for it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjDvdGvYbqg

>getting Imperial Authority intensifies
I might fail spectacularly but lets do this

[Strala]

so if I apped as the old Confederacy would it be fine if I had a population of 80,000 and how many would be eligible for military service

[Union Princes]

Is it then possible to unify the Holy Roman Empire into a single centralized state?

Never, I'm not letting my precious cantons or canton to become yours

relax mate, I'm perfectly fine with you being independent as long as Switzerland sticks to its historical borders. As well as being neutral AF in future conflicts

[Strala]

Never, I'm not letting my precious cantons or canton to become yours

relax mate, I'm perfectly fine with you being independent as long as Switzerland sticks to its historical borders. As well as being neutral AF in future conflicts

Mate, let me tell you this is the start of the great Swiss empire. I'll start as the old confederacy then I'll conquer take over the current area of Switzerland, and then I'll take over the local German duchies or something like that.

[Union Princes]

I have question: Can I start off as the Holy Roman Emperor or do I have to get elected first ICly?

[Imperialisium]

@Strala, yes that would be fine. Eligible population under Feudalism is 5% for a Feudal Levy (land owners with their attendant retinue of knights and men-at-arms along with whatever forces from the peasantry lumped together to give a rough statistic). So 5% of 80,000 would be your starting levy of what is advisable to mobilize. You can mobilize more but that is when the economic and social repercussions begin to mount.

@Union Princes, whichever you prefer. Mind the current Emperor is Heinrich II/Henry II who historically was the last Emperor of the Ottonian Dynasty (the descendants of Otto I The Great) who also historically died childless. With the 18 year window I give players to make up their own history (plausible history mind) you could write him having children if you choose to start with him and the Ottonian Dynasty. However, if you want your own dynasty or a dynasty that never held the Imperial Title then I'd go with the elected in IC option.

[Union Princes]

NationStates Name: Commonwealth of the Union princes
Nation Name: Duchy of Lotharingia
Capital: Aachen
Government Type: Feudal
Head of Government: Ottokar von Degurechaff
Dynasty/Family Name: von Degurechaff
Population: 900,000
Eligible Military Population: 72,000
Territory: Upper and Lower Lorraine
Territorial Claims: Holland, Flanders, Frisia
State Religion: Roman Catholicism
Dominant Religion: Roman Catholicism
Minority religions: Judaism
Religious Information: Despite being integral in Lotharingian society, the overall influence of the Pope is lesser compared to France and the Italian states.
Economy Information: Agricultural focus but income is also gained through trade and taxation of urban centers
Military Information: 800 knights and 1,200 mounted horsemen, and 6,000 men-at-arms and 10,000 peasant soldiers
History: The Duchy of Lotharingia was destined to form Ottokar's father married the Duchess of Upper Lorraine in 992. When his father died due to illness in 1010, Ottokar became the new Duke of Lower Lorraine at age 18 until his mother died 3 years later from the same illness that took his father. As such, Ottokar revived the old title of the Duchy of Lotharingia upon his ascension.

(need not be exhausting, just some details so we can get a bit of your nations past and heritage)


Ruler's Name: Ottokar von Degurechaff
Ruler's: Age: 26
Ruler's Personality: Ambitious, Strict, and Martial
Physical Appearance: Young, firm, and tall with blue eyes and brown hair
Ruler's Family Information: Wife: Duchess Maria of Lotharingia, Daughter: Tanya
Ruler's History: Born in 992, became Duke of Lotharingia in 1013, been working tirelessly trying to sway the Elector Counts to elect him as the next Holy Roman Empire.


Anything I should know about you player wise?:
I like the idea of forming Empires but the problem is that I'm a very defensive mentality and sometimes don't take the initiative. I play nation RPs like the to get a sense of waging war but I end up being very peaceful and focusing more on economic growth. So hopefully I won't die from my mistakes and actually learn to do warfare for once.

[Historikal]

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