The Youngest Prince Of The English Royalty House [EN]: Chapter 17

[Episode 17, The Great Army of Lions (4)]

Let’s examine the situation in Ireland just before the ‘Safe Zone’ was about to be activated.

In truth, Ireland was in a pitiful state.

They were constantly subjected to plunder and conquest by the devilish Vikings.

They were also conquered by William the Conqueror, a descendant of the Vikings.

And they were defeated by Henry II, a distant great-grandson of William the Conqueror.

During the Middle Ages, England, unlike its distant descendant, the British Empire, was far from achieving complete conquest.

Rather than the sophisticated ruling methods of their descendants, who engaged in divisive ‘hate-mongering,’ they demonstrated the ‘difference in power’ directly, seizing useful territories and extorting tribute – a raw form of conquest.

And recently, there was a reason why the Irish harbored such anger, like ‘I want to kill England!’

Henry II, the shrewd monarch of England, could not stand by as Ireland gradually stepped out of line. He moved an army led by the Norman noble family of Clare to devastate Ireland.

Henry II, who made a deal with Pope Adrian IV, who was also from England, announced an English version of ‘Nae-sun Ilche’ (Japan and Korea are one body) through a [Papal Bull – an official decree issued by the Pope],
saying,

‘His Holiness has also acknowledged that the island of Ireland is clearly one of my territories.’ He added the title of Lord of Ireland to the English monarch’s new title.

However, due to a lack of administrative power, he only effectively ruled some areas of Ireland, such as Dublin, and told the rest to submit on their own.

But the lords of Ireland, who submitted on their own, did not forget the English invasion and were sharpening their swords to take revenge at any time.

“Henry II is cruel.”

“Why are they tormenting us like this?”

“Those wretched Germanic bastards!”

The Irish lords gnashed their teeth at England.

It was right for Celtic nobles to legitimately rule over Celtic serfs, but it was absolutely wrong for English nobles of Germanic descent to directly rule over Celtic serfs.

“But you can’t beat England!”

However, the difference in power between England, which possessed vast territories in West Francia [roughly modern-day France], and Ireland was significant.

The English lords pressured the Irish lords to submit willingly, and just when the Irish were suppressing their resentment and trying to conform to reality, a tongue as cunning as a snake, and just as capable, moved.

[Soon, England will be divided as the former Frankish Empire was. That will be the time for heroes to rise.]

King Philip II of France, swish, wagged his long tongue.

Of course, this message spread widely not only to the Irish but also to the Welsh and Scots.

Since England was likely to be weakened by civil war anyway, the idea was to join forces with France to defeat that evil empire of England.

It wasn’t an impossible idea.

In England, the exclusive territories where milk and honey flowed were limited, but the princes’ greed soared to the sky.

Judging by the looks of it, the brothers would soon grab each other by the collar and fight, and the moment Henry II intervened, crash! It was clear that England’s success story would end like this.

A plan to create an inspiring success story for France and neighboring countries by working together to exploit England’s weaknesses!

The lords of Ireland and Wales, as well as the King of Scotland, slapped their knees at the plan and shed tears of emotion.

Then, Henry II convened a great council.

Everyone suspected that Henry II knew about this great conspiracy, but nothing significant happened.

Then, strange rumors spread, starting from the big cities.

‘The princes are trying to save Eleanor, the Archduchess of Aquitaine, who was the true owner of Aquitaine.’

The news that her sons were once again rebelling with one mind and one heart to save Eleanor, the original owner of Aquitaine.

If such rumors had emerged in another country, they would have dismissed it as ‘nonsense.’

However, wasn’t the English royal family the notoriously dysfunctional Plantagenets? When onlookers were eagerly preparing to watch the family feud, the Irish were troubled by this news.

Unless Henry II’s sons, who had been suppressed in the Great Revolt, were crazy, they would not attack their father, who still showed no weakness.

However, Prince Henry the Young King, followed by Prince Richard and Prince Geoffrey, were seen leading troops to land on the English mainland, and Philip II of France gave the Irish lords the expectation that ‘this rebellion will be a more severe civil war than the last Great Revolt.’

This was really ‘the moment.’

The Great Revolt was just a slightly larger family feud for England, but to foreigners, it was a sign of division.

The powerful lions would drive out the old lion who had intimidated them, and in the end, they were likely to ruin everything by fighting among themselves.

The variables were the son-in-law and the youngest son, Duke Henry the Lion and John.

Duke Henry the Lion, who had already lost his base. What could the ‘good Count’ in the rural backwater do?

With such expectations, the anti-English alliance began to move.

‘Preparation complete in the north.’ Scotland, which had suffered much from England.

‘Preparation complete in the east.’ Wales, which had been treated as mercenaries by England.

‘Our France is also ready.’ The Kingdom of France, seeking to recapture the West French territories occupied by England in this opportunity.

‘The Low Countries teams are also ready!’ The revenge of nations surpassing the Avengers was about to begin, and several lords of Ireland, who already thought victory was certain in their calculations, began to discuss rewards before even winning the war.

Of course, in Ireland, which was made up of various duchies and counties rather than a kingdom due to the English invasion decades ago, the interests of each territory were the most important, so inevitably, begging would come before compromise and concession!

“I can’t concede any further.”

“Where is such a law?”

“This is slander!”

“Then bring it on!”

“No, you guys! What are you going to do about England?”

“We don’t need them. It’s a territorial war!”

They had already started a territorial war, thinking they had already won, and the damage fell on the lower classes.

“Knights, please save us.”

“We’re really going to die like this.”

“I’d rather have the English bastards.”

“They haven’t even won the war, and they’re already grabbing each other by the collar.”

Of course, the lords weren’t fools either, so they didn’t turn the territorial war, which was more like a power struggle, into a full-scale war, but now was the time to unite and crush the English forces stationed in northern Ireland. Instead, they were wasting time unnecessarily.

‘Those crazy bastards.’

With things in this state, there were bound to be people who had ‘other’ thoughts.

Then news came that the English expeditionary force was invading.

At that time, rumors spread about how terribly the English princes had ‘handled’ the rebellious countries.

People were terrified. They had a premonition that the fearsome lions of Anjou-Plantagenet would brutally slaughter their Ireland.

However, there was good news.

“Fortunately, the commander-in-chief of this expeditionary force is said to be Prince John.”

“Prince John?”

“Oh, God.”

John, the good Count of Mortain.

The one who devoted his pure heart to Princess Agnes.

The great minstrel.

A friend to persecuted bastards and the great youngest son.

The master of Mortain, a haven for serfs.

The one who accepted the pitiful Duke Henry the Lion.

Then, people remembered what kind of person Prince John was.

And with the news that neighboring Wales and Scotland had been thoroughly crushed by the other English princes, the people of the territory thought with sweat.

‘Still, the good Prince John is the conqueror.’

‘John might be better than those lords.’

The Irish serfs naturally hated the English bastards, who were like enemies.

But look at the state of the native lords who claimed to be of the same race!

Decades ago, there was hatred for the English who had devastated Ireland, but if they treated them well, what did it matter whether they were Irish or English?

The names of that great prince who reduced taxes for the serfs and distributed bread and beer made not only the Irish serfs but also the knights flinch.

‘Prince John is better than those who don’t even give us a salary or a small territory.’

**

-Ireland, Leinster-

I, who loved the foolish Bourbon Dynasty France more than the treacherous British Empire, don’t know English history well, but in French history,

‘Your king, the foolish John, couldn’t even properly conquer Ireland, which his father, Henry II, openly spoon-fed him.’

The Irish conquest.

In the original history, it was an opportunity given by Henry II for his favorite youngest son. Go ahead and conquer the spacious Ireland. Our cute youngest son.

I, too, like the original Prince John, was about to embark on the conquest of Ireland.

“Ugh.”

“My brother-in-law, who has traveled to France so much for love, is so weak…”

“That sea route and this sea route are different.”

Unlike the comfortable French route, like a VVIP course, the somehow twisted route was Ireland. To not know the difference.

Besides, even my brother-in-law Heinrich, who was so proud, was heading to the bow like me.

“Ugh…”

“Even my brother-in-law is throwing up now.”

“Hmm… this is an inevitable test of Satan.”

“Ah… it’s a test of Satan.”

By the way, I can’t see the enemy’s fleet?

A fleet battle firing cannons from battleships was unimaginable in the Middle Ages.

Of course, during this period, the Eastern Roman Empire was said to have had some fun with a pseudo-flamethrower called Greek fire [an incendiary weapon that could burn on water].

Compared to the modern battleships that spewed fire, the galleys were just shooting arrows a few times and boarding the enemy’s deck for melee combat, which was naval warfare.

If I were a truly talented reincarnator, I would easily make a gunpowder weapon or two, but in the first place, it is difficult to make gunpowder weapons in this era without various foundations.

Even if I could make it, it would be better not to make gunpowder weapons.

This is Europe!

There is a high probability that the technology will be leaked or imitated by other countries.

Just as I was finishing my thoughts on gunpowder, Charles, one of the members of the youngest son club and the youngest of a prestigious French naval admiral family, said.

“I can’t see the enemy’s galleys.”

“Huh?”

“What?”

My brother-in-law and I looked at each other’s faces.

Why?

Were the Irish not the brave Celts themselves?

Even if England came at them fiercely, there was conquest, but no surrender!

Ireland, weren’t you the best nation when it came to patriotism?

This shouldn’t be happening.

“I see a galley over there.”

“The enemy’s galleys are running away.”

“…”

We landed safely.

Why? Did Ireland run away without resistance?

I looked at the Earl of Hartford, the head of the Clare family, who was the vanguard in the conquest of Ireland just a few decades ago, and asked.

“Was Ireland this weak?”

“I don’t know what’s going on either.”

“…”

“Long live the good Prince John, long live, long live!”

“The good Lord of Ireland that God has given to England!”

Suddenly, the people of Ireland were shouting cheers towards me.

I, who listened to the end of the words with patience, saw the Irish people coming from afar like a crowd of beggars without weapons.

“Sob, sob, I’m so glad. I’m so glad it’s Prince John.”

Why are the people of the territory and the serfs looking at me so sweetly?

In the first place, the English nobles in Ireland are mostly from the Clare family or from towns full of the Clare family’s influence.

The Earl of Hartford, who had been pondering here and there in silence for a moment, said.

“Count of Mortain, this is an opportunity. A large territory has come under your control.”

“Brother-in-law, now the conquest of Munster and Connacht is easier than eating a piece of bread.”

Is it that easy?

“…?”

Godfrey, who had been watching the situation quietly, said to me.

“Count, just take your lance and order a charge.”

Suddenly?

But there was nothing I could do.

I just rode my horse and sent the enemy’s infantry, who recklessly charged, to the island of Ireland.

“Ireland has been conquered by the prince’s hand.”

No, already?

Why?

**

After Ireland was subtly conquered.

An army came from mainland England.

Looking at the flag, it seems my father has come in person.

“Father King. It’s been a while.”

Since there were other nobles, I addressed him as Father King rather than Father.

Then my father said.

“You are the only prince among your brothers who can call me Father.”

If it were a private meeting, it would be fine, but Father in front of the nobles watching from afar like that.

Yes, Father is right.

Of course, I’m Father’s youngest son, aren’t I? There’s no need to stand on ceremony, just do as you please.

“You conquered Ireland in one day? Well done, my son!”

“I didn’t do anything.”

I really didn’t do anything.

The original Prince John at least ran while shouting ‘Giddy up!’ with a knight who fought well. I didn’t do much, and they did everything on their own.

What is this, not even a misunderstanding? Isn’t that right, brother-in-law?

“Ahem…”

But Duke Henry the Lion cleared his throat and avoided my gaze.

“Hahaha, have you seen, gentlemen? Our son is so humble.”

Why is Father suddenly looking at me with such a kind expression?

What happened while I was in Ireland?

“This father made a bet with the Holy Roman Emperor. Whether John, you, would conquer Ireland or not. But I won.”

“…”

Our father. Is he senile?

Became a Duke (1)