The third of the After Action Reports (AAR) following my direction of the Irish Empire, tracing the dynasty of the Briain dynasty through the Middle Ages. The previous AARs can be found here: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3.

... and so it passes. The Kingdom of Ireland passes from the great and noble King Artucan to his slightly less kingly son, King Donn. King Artucan has left a legacy of a vastly expanded and powerful Irish Kingdom, with large conquests into Scotland and Wales, with England being ripe for amalgamation into the great Irish Empire. The Succession laws have been passed allowing for the great Irish Kingdom to remain under a single ruler and there has been a new religious awakening amongst the enlightened with the embrace of Catharism, allowing for a more inclusive acceptance of the abilities and rights of the female half of the population.

However, during this glorious time, the future King Donn has spent his time travelling around Europe and bedding as many women as possible... developing his skills as a master seductionist. It appears that his rule will be vastly different in style to his forbears... opting for a less diplomatic and martial style, and one that will require some cautious juggling of backroom and bedroom antics.

As King Donn ascends his throne, it is quite clear that he is universally dislike and despised by the majority of his vassals and court. A combination of growing independence movements, jockeying for power amongst the powerful vassals and difference in religion has all contributed this distaste.

King Donn never converted to Catharism, instead remaining Catholic. This means that roughly half of his vassals view his beliefs as borderline heretical, and vice versa. A sort of proto-modern America then...

Meanwhile, in order to get the Succession laws passed and the change in official religion, the previous King had to curry the favour of the powerful vassals. This meant that their power grew unchecked, and now they are taking the opportunity to exercise this power under a weaker and less respected King.

Interestingly enough, although King Donn is a master of seduction and his bedroom conquests are legendary throughout mainland Europe... he is completely without influence with his own High Queen. A marriage that was arranged by the previous High King... it appears that the High Queen is completely disinterested in the male sex. This might prove a problem.... unless she agrees to produce heirs regardless.

The Scottish vassals are the first to revolt... in a brutal rebellion, the vassals are supported by the common Scottish folk... and there are two revolutions being fought here in the North. The court revolt in addition to the peasant revolt. The Peasants are quickly brought to heel... but the nobles prove harder to put down. Overseas allies are called and mercenary companies are bought with gold... and eventually they are put down and stripped of their titles.

Meanwhile, in the conquered Wales region... the revolts begin just as the Scottish are put down. This time, there are supporters in the Irish nobility and this proves to be a much tougher revolution as much of the Irish army has been split between the loyalists and the rebellion. Eventually, they are put to heel with the remnants of the European allies and the mercenaries.

At the end of the two revolutions, there are some examples that need to be made. The execution of the first born heirs of the revolting nobles... a tough decision, but there needs to be some consequence for such a terrible disobedience!

So, for now... the revolts have been broken, and the power of the nobles have been diluted marginally. It appears that the rest of King Donn's reign will involve the consolidation of the existing empire, diminishing the centralisation of power amongst the more powerful nobles and the continuing conversion to Catharism. Outward expansion might have to wait as the internal peace is still very fragile.

The coming decades will be a tough time... many of the most trusted advisors have fled or been imprisoned or executed. King Donn will have to rebuild a court that will respect his rule... whilst avoiding any dark plots or revolts. Although, perhaps a new King might be the best way forward for the long-term survival of the Irish Empire....

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