An era too brief
February 20, 1132: Queen Áine's spymaster discovers a plot by Duchess Alis of Leinster to undermine royal authority. The queen orders her seized, but the duchess escapes and raises a rebellion.
I'm starting to notice a pattern in Crusader Kings at this point. A powerful leader rises and captures a bunch of territory. That leader dies. His successors have to put down rebellions for the next several years and place loyal people in charge of all the important fiefdoms. Repeat.
April 14, 1133: After several decisive engagements in the field, the rebel stronghold of Leighlin is captured by the queen's men.
November 19, 1133: Duchess Alis surrenders, and is jailed for treason. She is stripped of the title Duchess of Connacht (which rightfully belongs to the queen anyway), but is allowed to retain her familial title, Duchess of Leinster. From prison, of course.
March 29, 1134: Queen Áine is pregnant for a third time.
What did I tell you about victory?
August 29, 1134: The Oxford-Gloucester rebellion in England is put down by King Trond.
October 28, 1134: The queen's third son is born, named Énna.
And she was just getting started, too. Well, you know what they say. Only the good die young.
I am now King Gilla-Íosa I of Ireland, a 12-year-old gregarious cynic. I was Queen Áine's first son, and her only child with her first husband, Brian macÉnna. My parents were first cousins, my father being the son of Énna macBrian and my mother that of Fáelbe macBrian. That puts me in a uniquely strong position to rule as, though my seat and inheritance is in Breifne, I am also directly descended from Énna's Munsterian branch of House ua Brian.
