[AltHistory] A Prosaic History of the Old Franco Empire

[The Counter Cultist(Sawyer)]

((So, this came about as I was playing Total War: Medieval 2 as France a few days ago(yeah, yeah, throw all the "ha did you surrender at the start of the Grand Campaign?" jokes out, get em out of your system) as I progressed on words, I decided randomly that I would write a series of Alt History stories about the direction this campaign takes, in prose form.))

((...yeah, that's basically it. Let's get it started yo.))

((Oh...quick disclaimer! As this is an Alternate History, I will be taking some pretty extensive liberties and there will be changes to suit the greater story. For example, Guillemot De Lyon starts off as a simple Captain who is granted Lordship, instead of already being a Lord and already controlling Angers around the time Louis came to power. Just getting that straight right here and right now)



Table of Contents(More will be added on as I go through the campaign.)

Volume I: The Rise of Guillemot De Lyon(1080-1084

1. The Reunification
2. The Spanish Affair
3. The First Peace
4. The Marriage of Guillemot and Lady Mhairi of Ireland
5. Spain's Revenge

Volume II: Phillip's Madness & The First Crusade(1084-1098)

1. Phillip's Descent
2. Guillemot and Louis
3. The Invasion of Iberia
4. The Second Peace
5. The First Crusade

Volume III: Rise of the White Rose(1098-1103)

1. Phillip's Rise
2. The Conquest of Spain
3. The taking of Antioch
4. The Egyptian Campaign
5. Unlikely Friends

Volume IV: The First Civil War(1103-1106)

1. Guillemot Lands in Italy
2. Phillip prepares for war
3. The Second Crusade
4. Fire on the High Seas
5. The Battle at Bern
6. The Razing of Milan
7. The March to Paris(Alternate; The Battles at Dijon and Marseille)
8. The Siege of Paris

[The Counter Cultist(Sawyer)]

Volume I: The Rise of Guillemot De Lyon

Foreward

When tracing the roots of the Old French Empire, you need look no farther than the year 1080 CE. This was the year that King Louis the Chivalrous came to power in Paris, and unified Rheims, Marseille, Toulouse, and Angers under his control. But all was not quite right, due to the rest of France(most notably Bordeaux, Rennes, and Norman controlled Caen) not recognizing his rule. As such while Louis controlled the heart of France and the south, he had no real power along the northern coast and the west. So how did Louis eventually unify this country? Well the reason you can't answer that isn't because you're looking at the wrong date, it's because you're looking at the wrong person.

Well, to be fair, Louis did have significant influence in France's ascension from mere kingdom to empire(he was still king when the first places outside the country were taken after all) but in reality this rise is the result of four people. First of course is Louis himself, but the other three have are the ones these volumes will follow. They are Guillemot De Lyon of Angers, his wife Lady Mhairi De Lyon of Ireland and Louis' own son and trueborn heir Phillip. In fact it was Guillemot who actually first set off the unification, by going against his orders and following some rebel bandits he repelled to Rennes while he was still merely a Captain. The story of his bravery and ability to inspire his meager band of militia to victory in taking the small town, while facing superior forces no less, kicked off sieges against all the various rebel towns and castles. This culminated with the newly made Lord Guillemot marching with the King himself against Bordeaux. After witnessing the young general's bravery himself, Louis was so impressed that he adopted Guillemot after the battle was over, and gave him a guaranteed spot as the second in the line of succession. Meanwhile, Phillip attempted to please his father by plotting a foolhardy incursion into Spanish territory, while he did attack Spanish rebels his foolhardiness would kick into motion events that would lead to a rivalry between him and Guillemot, a battle for the affections of a foreign woman, and war with Spain.

Now, using various sources, I George De Lyon; descendant of the great Lord Guillemot will put these events into prose. As time goes on, I will release additional volumes, charting the rise and eventual stagnation of the Old Empire. I do this so we may finally have an accurate look at the emotions of these great heroes and non heroes, and what led them to the choices they made. I do this to give my ancestor the due he is deserved. I do this because I love this great nation of France, and I believe that by looking to the past we can recapture our old glory.


Our story begins in a fort in Northwestern France...

[The Counter Cultist(Sawyer)]

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