The Youngest Prince Of The English Royalty House [EN]: Chapter 119

119. Sack of Paris (3)

―Near Île-de-France, France―

Unlike the relatively peaceful conditions in Asia, America, and Africa during the 12th century, Europe was frequently embroiled in conflicts that often resembled brutal sporting matches.

True to Europe’s bloody history, skirmishes and battles erupted constantly, accompanied by widespread screams. However, this was the first time such desperate, piercing screams had been heard.

“Damn it!”

“Your Majesty, please, calm yourself.”

It was King Philip II of France who screamed.

“Yes, I must remain calm.”

He felt as if the fires of hell were rising within him, threatening to consume him, but Philip II fought to maintain his composure.

‘I wouldn’t be this enraged if it weren’t for John.’

That detestable John Anjou-Plantagenet.

He always claimed to be operating from a safe position, working for the greater good, but to his enemies, he was a constant menace.

Even now, look at him, stirring up feelings in Philip II, a man known for his great patience, that he thought he had long forgotten.

Originally, Philip II was not one to display his emotions readily.

He had learned a harsh lesson from his late father, Louis VII. His father, Louis VII, had been prone to emotional outbursts, which led to him losing both Aquitaine and his wife, Eleanor, to Henry II. On his deathbed, he lamented:

[Son, the reason Solomon and David ultimately failed, despite their glorious reigns, was because they couldn’t control their emotions. Your father nearly ruined the Kingdom of France because of his hatred for that Eleanor.]

Even while confessing his own failings, he stressed the importance of maintaining reason in all circumstances. Philip II was well aware of his late father’s wishes.

But now, he found it impossible to control his emotions, no matter how hard he tried. He couldn’t cling to reason any longer.

That devilish Prince John had marched into Paris through Normandy.

Moreover, news arrived that the Earl of Surrey, one of Henry II’s seven powerful nobles who had been observing the situation from Ireland, had thrown his support behind John, effectively tearing apart the northern region of France.

The Earl of Surrey’s army immediately launched an encirclement and annihilation operation against Prince John.

Philip II had been trying to use the family feud to get rid of that annoying John, but now his own kingdom was under attack.

No one had anticipated Henry II’s sudden appearance in Brittany, and certainly no one expected Prince John to cross Normandy and advance on Paris.

Most shocking of all was the speed of Prince John’s advance.

Now, Philip II didn’t care about the black lion or the white lion [symbols of English royal houses]. He no longer had the luxury to involve himself in their squabble.

“I was a fool to trust that Geoffrey. What are we going to do? My country is more important to me than your family feud. However, I will leave some troops and commanders behind.”

The relationship between Geoffrey and Philip II was quite amicable. In fact, they were close, finding common ground in their shared dislike for John. But now…

Yes, now Philip II had to prioritize the defense of his own country.

“We must move quickly. France is in grave danger.”

Because Paris *was* France.

But there was an obstacle.

“Philip II. You shall not pass.”

He saw the English commander leading the army blocking his path.

“That… that damned English bastard!”

Understandably, given the urgency of the situation, the French commander was furious.

“Earl of Surrey, how dare you interfere with me!”

The old Earl of Surrey, who had already lost his son William (the deceased puppet ruler of Jerusalem, Guillaume I), had nothing left to lose.

In any case, the ‘safe zone’s’ reliable uncle was blocking Philip II’s army, which was trying to retake Paris, on the outskirts of the city, buying time for his looting nephew John.

Moreover, having already lost his reason for living, he would fulfill his duty even if it meant ‘dying in battle’ on this very field.

That duty was to avenge his son’s death.

“Your Majesty, my son is dead.”

‘This bastard believes our Kingdom of France is behind that death.’

The intelligent Philip II immediately understood the Earl of Surrey’s implication.

He suspected that the Kingdom of France was the most likely culprit in the death of his son, Guillaume I.

“We… France had nothing to do with that.”

“Your Majesty, King of France, I cannot defeat your army. However, I can delay your army. What Prince John needs now is time.”

“Are you truly going to stand against me?”

“…We must show the king of a foreign land, who interfered in our family feud, the terror of England! Charge!”

The Earl of Surrey was utterly resolute.

“Dodge! Dodge!”

“Don’t underestimate him just because he’s old! That man is the legendary knight who single-handedly beheaded a hundred men in the British civil war!”

“Ugh… Ack!”

And he was still a human weapon with extraordinary power.

Philip II, observing from a distance, remarked,

“Isn’t the Earl of Surrey Henry II’s half-brother?”

He wasn’t questioning their known blood relation, but rather their ages. How could an old man, older than Henry II, fight with such vigor?

“Your Majesty, there is nothing more terrifying than a father who has lost his son.”

“Damn it… break through quickly! Paris is in danger!”

Philip II felt as if he was losing his mind.

* * *

―Paris, Kingdom of France―

The outer cities surrounding Paris had all fallen, and even the coveted city of Paris itself had been captured.

Paris.

It was inferior compared to Constantinople, the world’s foremost city, but it was still a well-known metropolis in Western Europe, and now the English army was rampaging through the capital of France.

“The Anjou bastards are coming!”

“The English devils have arrived!”

Some called them Anjou, others called them English, but everyone was terrified. They never imagined that they would directly target Paris.

The fact that Prince John, the reckless fool who used to confess his affections to Princess Agnes, had come to attack them shattered the pride of the haughty Parisian citizens, who still looked down on the English as second-rate Britons.

It was similar to how, in the distant future, the Qing Dynasty’s arrogant scholar-officials were defeated by the ‘power’ of Japan, which had risen to become a great power, shattering their worldview.

Moreover.

The Irish Iron Brigade, clad in magnificent plate armor and even barding [horse armor], roared:

“Prince John has come to collect his debt!”

“We have come to avenge Rollo!”

“The descendants of Rollo have come to avenge their ancestors!”

“Saco de Paris! [Sack of Paris!]”

The citizens of Paris were speechless. What kind of outrageous claims were these?

Rollo became the son-in-law of the Frankish king at the time and protected France from his former Viking brethren, not plundering it like this!

* * *

―Paris, Black Lion Camp―

In the Middle Ages, or rather, in the pre-modern era, looting was a fundamental means of recouping expenses. Frankly speaking, France’s involvement in this civil war had further strained the finances of our already impoverished Black Lion army.

Fortunately, beautiful Paris was spared from being burned to the ground.

I had no desire to turn a beautiful city like Paris into a smoldering ruin, as ‘Nazi Germany’ did when occupying it. If we were to burn this place, which still had many wooden buildings, wouldn’t that make us look like barbarians ourselves?

Well, it’s not as if we didn’t break anything at all. We simply dismantled some of the foundations of the pro-Philip nobles.

I moved busily, managing the situation in my own way.

Of course, I ordered my vassals to carry out systematic looting, but it was crucial to maintain discipline. To that end, I had a looter who had crossed the ‘line’ executed right before my eyes.

“Execute him!”

“Yes, sir!”

“Ugh…”

“Please, grant me beheading…”

“Shut up! Prince John has enforced military discipline. It’s your own fault that you’re dying so ignominiously!”

Now, this condemned man was sentenced to hanging instead of the honorable death of beheading. In this era, ‘beheading’ was considered a noble’s death.

I established three local laws for the commanders to ensure proper looting.

Those who assaulted, raped, or murdered people in Paris would be sentenced to forced labor, slavery, or death, depending on the severity of the crime.

“Your Highness, did you really have to go that far? You could have just finished him off with an ax.”

Charles asked, looking puzzled.

He wasn’t criticizing the killing itself, but rather why I was executing him in the French manner instead of the English way. England traditionally offered both nobles and commoners the mercy of an ax.

He found it strange that I was hanging him.

“When in France, you must abide by French law. Besides, didn’t he cross the line too much? The best looting is that which extracts the core valuables without any loss of life.”

“Ah, as expected, my lord understands the ways of Gaul [ancient France].”

Charles smiled, seemingly pleased with my answer.

In any case, the public execution was over. It was a humiliating execution that dragged on for a long time.

I orchestrated this public execution as a warning that disgraceful deaths awaited those who crossed the line, and my subordinates understood my underlying message.

After that, the looting resumed. Of course, we primarily targeted anti-English noble families and the middle class rather than private residences.

To be honest, I wasn’t entirely satisfied. Or rather, Paris in the Kingdom of France disappointed me. I had expected a sparkling treasure trove, but it turned out that there weren’t many treasures in the warehouses.

The reason was simple.

Philip II, that bastard, had used most of the funds as military expenditure to meddle in other people’s family feuds.

Still, we couldn’t lose hope.

“Is there nothing more here?”

“That’s all, Your Highness.”

It was disappointing.

I had thought Paris in the Kingdom of France was rich, but it was poorer than I had imagined. Cowardly Philip II!

“Let’s have a feast. For the veterans.”

Whether they were hired mercenaries or cooperated with me for political reasons, the distinction didn’t matter. In the Viking tradition, they were comrades who had shed blood and tears together.

Although, unfortunately, those who crossed the line had met their end.

Our celebration must continue.

For the Kingdom of France!

* * *

It had been quite some time since I arrived in Paris.

Of course, it had only been two days, even though I said ‘quite some time.’

My heart was heavy. It was because the spoils were less than expected.

‘Philip will be coming soon.’

Philip II was no fool. He would surely rush to recapture the stolen Paris as quickly as possible.

Godfrey spoke with a serious expression in response to my question.

“According to our calculations, we can retreat tomorrow.”

“Looting takes time.”

“Even with the division of labor looting system that Your Highness created, it is difficult to transport everything systematically. But we have a solution, don’t we?”

“I didn’t realize that befriending the Venetians would be so beneficial.”

If things went wrong, they would turn into robbers instead of merchants and devour the whole world – the axis of evil. The proud Republic of Venice was always at the forefront of things that made money and things that aligned with their interests.

Dandolo.

In the history I knew, he was a treacherous hero of a turbulent era who ruined the Eastern Roman Empire, but now he was a person who had partnered with me for the ‘economy’ of the Atlantic Ocean.

Of course, I knew that there were no eternal allies, but it was good to be close to people who had shared interests.

Anyway, I was conversing with my brother-in-law, the Earl of Hartford, while pretending to hunt after a long absence.

“I didn’t expect Your Highness to summon me separately.”

“Haven’t you been working hard for me?”

“I was merely fulfilling my duty.”

I said to my brother-in-law,

“I know that Mary, no, Anna, is not your real sister.”

―Phew.

A wild boar fell, pierced by the arrow I had shot.

But the Earl of Hartford next to me remained unfazed.

So I repeated,

“That Mary’s real name is Hannah (Anna).”

―Phew.

This time, a deer fell.

But the Earl of Hartford’s expression remained calm. He probably knew that I had discovered Mary’s true identity.

“She is a sister I gained through affection. And I knew that Prince John would eventually uncover her identity.”

―Phew.

The Earl of Hartford fired an arrow, and a small rabbit tumbled to the ground.

Then, I looked at my brother-in-law and said,

“We need the cooperation of the Claire family. Now that the civil war is drawing to a close, it is time to rebuild.”

“As Your Highness says. Now is the time to rebuild. Our family is more loyal to Your Majesty than ever before. If Your Majesty knew the identity of my sister, wouldn’t our family be vulnerable in many ways?”

“I wouldn’t necessarily call it a weakness…”

Just then.

“Your Highness, the Earl of Surrey has arrived!”

Godfrey’s shout echoed, and after a short while, I met my uncle.

“Your Highness, I have bought you considerable time. But now it is time to retreat.”

“I understand, Uncle.”

I acknowledged my uncle’s words, as he rushed to Paris covered in blood.

“The hunt is over, so we will now retreat.”

The Paris hunt is over, and the hunt for wild animals is over.

“Yes, Your Highness.”

―Doo doo doo doo.

Soon, a multitude of horses began to move.