550 AD
The Breton conclude a treaty with the Saxon community
of Bayeux to stave off any further aggression by Neustria. Taking advantage of
the period of peace with Reims, the Frisians also expand their community surrounding
Boulogne.
551 AD
Bavaria is still in a state of flux as no acceptable
leader is chosen by the various tribes. This comes as welcome news for
Theudebert as he moves forward plans to annex Burgundy as its inclusion would
ensure the safety of its southern border and join that isolated part of Lower Austrasia
bordering Aquitaine. Many of the Burgundian elite resistant to the idea are
more than satisfied to resolve the issue on the battlefield and so plans are
made for the following year.
552 AD
In late spring of the new year, Theudebert led his
army into Burgundian territory and both armies deployed for battle near Lyon close
to the river Dubis. The battle was a decisive victory for Theudebert and before
terms could be finalised news arrived of a Visigothic invasion of Lower
Austrasia, included in their force are disaffected Neustrian nobles. Gathering
additional forces, Theudebert marches his army from Vienne toward Toulouse.
The battle near Albi as it was later to be known was
desperate, but Theudebert prevailed and won a victory against the Visigoths. The
Visigoths retired to Aquitaine leaving Theudebert to ample time to recover his lost
territory. Returning to Vienne (Burgundy) he sets into motion the necessary changes
to bring Burgundy on par with the Austrasian kingdom and these included reforms
for the military {1}.
After strengthening the garrisons in Lower Austrasia,
Theudebert stopped in Orleans and Paris to have their civic and military
leaders make preparations for a spring campaign. Theudebert then departs to Soissons
to see his uncle, Chlothar as he was in ill health.
553 AD
The Austrasian army gathers near Orleans to begin
their campaign against the Visigoths. Marching south, Theudebert encounters the
Visigothic host encamped near Poitiers. The battle that followed turned
disastrous for the Franks losing nearly half the army and their king,
Theudebert. This brought an abrupt end to the campaign in Aquitaine.
The question of succession was left to the inner
council, Frankish nobles and church leaders and most agreed that the son of
Theudebert, Theudebald would logically ascend the throne; however, there was
one better qualified, the sole surviving son of Clovis, Chlothar of Soissons
{2}.
Epilogue
In the summer of 553, the four fiefdoms became united
under the rule of Chlothar I. The kingdom of Frankia would experience a number of
external conflicts during his reign, conflicts with the Bretons, the continued feuding
between Bavaria and Thuringia but these were minor compared to events happening
in Aquitaine. Recalcitrant nobles in Hispania invited the Byzantine to aide
them with their struggle against the Visigoths. With increased activity by
Eastern Rome and a civil war spreading throughout Hispania, the Visigoths reduced
their presence north of the Pyrennees. This presented Frankia with a golden opportunity;
unfortunately, Chlothar would die in 561 leaving the kingdom to his four sons
{3}. And so the game begins again.
Notes:
{1}. DBA players will note the end and start dates of
Burgundi (II/70) to Burgundy (III/5a) are changed to coincide with campaign
events.
{2}. According to Gregory of Tours, Theudebert I has
employed the office of ‘maior palatii’ or mayor of the palace to administer the
kingdom while he was on campaign.
{3}. Chlothar actually died of pneumonia nine years
later, but this seems an ideal moment to mention he was not loved by the
church. He taxed the churches and exiled one bishop for his inflexibility with
canon law and no doubt there were many among the clergy praying for his soul to
be spirited away to heaven.
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