NationStates Jolt Archive

Map:

http://www.beachmaps.com/map/FLANDERSBERTIUS.jpg

Flag:

http://www.theodora.com/flags/new11/flanders.gif

Social Information:

Population: 258,000 Citizens

Ethnic Groups: Flemish, Walloon, French, Frisian, Dutch, and Burgundian

Primary Religious Sect: Roman Catholic Church

Primary Languages: French, Frisian, Dutch

Political Information:

Offical Long Name: The County of Flanders

Offical Short Name: Flanders

Status: Independent State

Type of Government: Feudal Monarchy

Seat of Power: Ghent

Head of State: Count Robert I

Head of Government: Count Robert I

Military Information:

Total Forces: 9,000 Infantry

Organization: The Flemish Army is primarily made of town militia that is fairly well equipped and armoured, but lacking in training and organisation. They numbered about 9000, of which 400 were nobles. The biggest difference from the French and other feudal armies was that the army only consisted of infantry.

OOC: ...but that infantry was propably the best in Europe, untill the Swiss came in the picture.

Letter to Robert I, The Count of Flanders

I am officially proposing an alliance between our two countries. We have nothing to lose from this, but have a common threat between us, which means that we have plenty to gain from mutual aid and protection.

Sincerely Yours,

Jacques d'Gascony

Brugge, Flanders

"The King does have a valid point, sire. The French and their petty threats plague us increasingly with each day. To have an ally, especially one on the Frenchman's own borders could provide with much needed leverage." said the Count's host, Duke Hermman of Brugge as he gazed upon the letter from Gascony.

After taking a sip of wine from the golden cup placed upon the small stool near his ornate seat, Robert examined the letter in detail before making a decision.

"Indeed he does. If the men of Gascony wish to bond themselves with the noble subjects of Flanders, then they shall, as I have no objections." The Count replied slowly.

"Excellent!" The Duke voiced, a grin stretched across his gaunt face. "I shall have an attendant fetch you pen and paper at once!"

At that moment, the Duke turned to face a small servant, clad in chainmail and the bright yellow tabbard of the Kingdom. With a flick of his two fingers, the servant departed and returned with haste, bringing with him fresh sheets of coarse, tanned paper, along with a quill and bottle of dark black ink.

"Thank you, young leige. You may return to your post." said Hermann politely while he took the items from the attendant's hand.

"Shall I take a dictation for His Majesty?" The Duke asked, readying himself.

To His Majesty, King Jacques d'Gascony,

My dear monarch, it is with light heart and good intentions do I announce the consumation of alliance between our two great Kingdoms.

Let us go forward by the Lord's good graces and defeat the bold tyranny of our French oppressors.

With Highest Regards,

Count Robert I of Flanders

From the Chancery of King Philip I and King Louis VI of France

We request of Count Robert the First, by Our grace Count of Flanders, his presence at the Cathedral of Rheims at the celebration of Christmas Mass this year, to affirm his fealty to Our august lordships and reassert our long-held rights on this joyous day.

Philippe et Louis, Rois de France

OOC: Obviously, I know nothing of your alliance with Gascony... And theoretically, you're actually within my borders, not that it makes any difference to your ruler.

Letter to Robert I, King of Flanders

Your Majesty,
Though our nations are separated by the English Channel, nonetheless, we have much in common. Would you agree to an alliance?

His Majesty King William the Conqueror of England and Normandy

Brugge, Flanders

"Damned Frenchman, for Flanders is no vassal to your devilish schemes!" remarked Robert in deep contempt as he read the French request.

"But sadly, My Lord, we our bound to the French by the tendrils of vassalship, a slave to their every want and desire." Duke Hermann pointed out, a melancholic look augmenting his old features.

Acknowladging the truth of the claim, the Count of Flanders fell back in his seat, seething with anger. So long as Flanders was a possesion of France, Robert could not satisfy the ambitions of his inner psyche, ambitions that would make Flanders a force to be reckoned with, ineed!

Grasping the French request with his left hand, he crumpled it into a little ball and cast it into the bellow fireplace before him. At once, the fragile page ignited and was soon no more than ash.

Bah! There shall be other means to our independence. Robert thought, looking around the chamber in slight distress.

But just as he went to assume his normal position, Robert noticed another sheet of paper upon the table nearest him, the seal of Normandy placed upon its exterior in hard red wax.

"Why, what is that tender slip that beseechs my precense over yonder?" asked the Count, directing the Duke's vision towards the letter upon the table.

Surveying the letter himself, the Duke quickly snatched it from its quiet place and delivered it to the Count, who tore it open in curiousity. After a few moments of skimming the page, Robert smiled quite broadly.

"Well my fellow Duke, it seems we now have quite a trump card."

The Duke, with increasing interest, gazed upon the English letter, grinning his same sly smirk.

"Ineed, so." said the Duke. "But will William fight his fellow Frenchman for such a...neglected crown as ours?"

"If granted with due reward, then perhaps he just may." replied Robert, preparing himself for another dictation.

To His Majesty, King William of England and Duke of Normandy,

My dear King, how much your tender words do please me. An alliance among subjects of our two Kingdoms would surely set a precedent of good intentions among the whole of Europe and offset the draconic devices of the sour French Kingdom before us and thus, it shall be agreed to by my Holy Grace.

With Highest Regards,

Count Robert I of Flanders

OOC: Am I to assume that Count Robert will not be answering, yeah? I have a bit of RP I want to continue with, and I'm assuming he won't be in the cathedral on Christmas Day...

(Hey Lach, incase you missed it... I just found an excuse for you not to go to Christmas Dinner)

http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=458790

This message was sent back:
To Count Robert I of Flanders,

Your letter fills me with gladness. Although I am significantly occupied on the isles for the moment, and must confess to you I have a plan for an eventual unification of them in mind, I have noticed the plight of your nation and Gascony, forced to the whims of the French crown. We are in an interesting position, being both vassals of France as dukes of Normandy, but peers as Kings of England, and I believe a triumvirate between myself, you, and Gascony is in all of our best interests.

I have noticed that you have recently been attacked by the godless Vikings. Though we are descended from them, we bear no love for their pagan ways. Perhaps I could offer you a force of English longbowmen to counter this threat? Though we are very busy with the Welsh at the moment, I can spare a few troops to aid my allies across the channel.

Sincerely,
William the Conqueror, King of England and Duke of Normandy

His Grace, the Duke of Saxony, wishes to express his concern both for the rising power of the French King and the new threat of Norse piracy, and would like to propose an alliance of mutual protection to the estemed Count of Flanders.