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Post by Lorn on Feb 4, 2016 2:22:39 GMT -6
Returning to our story, as you may recall Duke Ludwig von Tyrol had just embarked on a pilgrimage to the eternal city of Rome... Ludwig's journey to Rome was mostly uneventful, but things would change upon reaching Rome. While Kaiser Heinrich IV had set up an Anti-Pope in the Duchy of Ravena, Ludwig still paid homage to the Holy Father in Rome, and his experiences would change his life.  With his faith affirmed, Ludwig would later mock the Hashashin when they arose in in Western Persia before returning to gathering funds for war. Like his father, Ludwig began extorting money from both Tirol and Saint Gallen, but this time he pledged that that the peasants would be compensated with tax exemption for five years. During this time Ludwig finally married Princess Cecilie Salian, the daughter of Kaiser Heinrich IV, thus linking their families into an alliance. By 1091 Ludwig had gathered enough funds to finally hire a mercenary company before declaring the second de jure war over Innsbruck against Duke Otto III von Nordheim of Bavaria. After four years of fighting Duke Otto III surrendered Innsbruck to Ludwig in December of 1095.  Ludwig, like his father before him, would request to be placed on Kaiser Henrich IV's council. Two years would pass with no reply before the Kaiser appointed Ludwig to the position of Steward in September of 1096. Ludwig immediately overhauled the taxation system done by his predecessor, while also trying to gain more power for the council. It would prove to be a slow process. In the meantime, Ludwig was almost assassinated by Count Berthold von Andechs of Innsbruck, which quickly led to the end of the counts rule. Matters were further complicated in 1098, when Ludwig's mother, Princess Gunhild Haroldsdohtor of England, discovered that Cecilie was having an affair with Count Fusco 2of Saluzzo. Ludwig contemplated having Celcile assassinated, but he later decided against it in order to avoid angering the Kaiser. By 1117, Duke Rudolf von Rheinfelden of Swabia, Alsace, and Carinthia levies had been bloodied after a series of revolts throughout his territory allowing Ludwig to finally retake the prince-bishopric of Chur for the Duchy of Tyrol. In 1122 at the age of 72, Kaiser Heinrich IV died leaving the Empire to his second born son Radbot. It was also during this time that Ludwig was able to fabricate claims throughout Duchy of Bavaria. Duke Gunzelin von Nordheim of Bavaria's finally surrendered after his heir Heinrich, was captured after the siege of Niederbayen. With the majority of the duchy of Bavaria subdued, Ludwig would move on to fabricate and claim the duchy of Austria from Duke Ernst II von Babenberg.  On 31 March, 1126 after 234 years the kingdom of Bavaria was reformed by King Ludwig V von Tyrol effectively making him one of the most powerful men in the Empire. By 6 August, 1126 Kaiser Radbot Salian died childless at the age of fifty three leaving the empire to his twelve year old brother, Siegmund. As it turned out, Siegmund was the last living male Salian, if something were to happen to Siegmund the Empire would be inherited by his regent King Ludwig V of Bavaria...  However, Ludwig feared what would happen to his soul if he were to order the death of a child, and would continue to do his best to peacefully govern the Empire until Siegmund came of age. Unfortunately, the Court Chaplain managed to gain enough support on the council to oust Ludwig as both steward and regent. Ludwig would return to his castle at Oberbayen and would spend the next five years trying to unify the de jure territory of Bavaria. In 1134 Ludwig succeeded in fabricating a claim on the duchy of Carinthia and would launch a campaign against the von Rheinfelden's. On 1 November, 1134 Duke Baden von Rheinfelden was captured after the first skirmish bringing a quick end to the war. By May of 1134, King Ludwig began organizing a campaign to finally vassalize Count Gunzelin von Nordheim of Nurnberg when he was found unresponsive in his chambers.  At the age of 38, Liutbert von Tyrol ascended to the Bavarian throne, and he began his rule by launching a military campaign to vassalize the von Nordiheim's. To no one's surprise, besides the von Nordheim's, Count Gunzelin finally became a vassal to the von Tyrol's. |
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