The Youngest Prince Of The English Royalty House [EN]: Chapter 72

72. The Victory of the Crusades (2)

—1187, Middle East—

The Third Crusade concluded with a resounding victory for Christianity.

Conversely, the Islamic forces were utterly defeated, despite their attempts to exploit the divisions among the Christians to turn the tide.

The fall of the Western Liao to the Jin dynasty, whose population was largely composed of Turkic Muslims and had been lenient towards Islamic forces, left them with no choice but to negotiate a truce. Ultimately, the Sword of Ismail [a pan-Islamic alliance] dissolved along with the cessation of hostilities.

The defeated Islamic forces returned to their homelands in bitterness. Tekish, one of the returning commanders, asked his son,

“Son, what did you learn from this defeat?”

“…Father, I learned much on the battlefield. Truly, a great deal…”

Ala ad-Din Muhammad, the prince of the Khwarazmian Empire, had to maintain his composure in response to his father, Sultan Tekish’s question.

Prince Ala ad-Din had assisted his father Tekish in ousting his uncle Masud from the sultanate and was a young commander who had been active on various Central Asian fronts. His resulting pride made him believe he could handle any Christian infidel who came his way.

But it was arrogance. He was still a fledgling who had much to learn.

[I… don’t know either… I just wanted to save a promising future……]

The last words of Safadin, who had died in his place, still echoed in Ala ad-Din’s ears.

“…”

Tekish, who had been silently observing his son’s complex expression, turned his head and asked another Muslim.

“General Quchlug, what will you do? Your mercenary days are over now.”

“Will Khwarazm accept me? After all, my Naiman tribe is collapsing and has nowhere else to go.”

Quchlug had belatedly heard of the Naiman tribe’s destruction, but there was nothing he could do.

‘With even the Western Liao fallen to the Jin dynasty, we cannot defeat the allied forces of Temujin, Ong Khan, and Jamukha. Now is the time to build strength… Khwarazm will be the nation to convert to Islam.’

“I will accept you as our warrior.”

As the Khwarazmian army returned home, the Kingdom of Jerusalem was bustling with activity.

Unlike Safe Zone, who had used the Scottish rebellion as an excuse to take only his Irish territorial forces and slip away, the remaining commanders had much to sort out.

First, it was important to properly divide the acquired territories, and then the goal was to safely retreat.

Of course, there were tedious disputes over territorial claims.

Henry II, having entrusted the troublesome matters to his aide William Marshal, was busy boasting about his son.

“Oh, my John, you see. He is a knight sent by God.”

“My son John is a truly remarkable man.”

“Well, didn’t he go to suppress the rebellion before receiving his sweet reward?”

“Where would you find a father as happy as I am?”

In the original history, Henry II was the father who loved the incompetent Prince John only to be betrayed. How much more lovable would Super Safe Zone be, doing so many pretty things on his own?

Around that time, Baldwin IV suggested to Henry II that he wanted to make Sir William the husband of the next Sibylla and the heir to the Kingdom of Jerusalem.

‘Whether William takes Jerusalem or Egypt, Philip II, that guy is suspicious as ever. That vile fellow who tormented our John!’

Henry II, tired of boasting about his son, had no time to worry about William’s matter, as he was preoccupied with thoughts of Philip II, who was now no less than an enemy to John.

* * *

—Kingdom of France, Paris—

Philip II, who had used the Kingdom of France’s signature move—‘The situation in my homeland is difficult, so I must withdraw’—which countless French kings had used when they wanted to abandon the Crusades, had recently returned to the Kingdom of France.

Although Prince John, who had been underrated among the young commanders, had unexpectedly made a contribution and emerged as a hero of the Crusades, Philip II himself had also achieved many feats, almost unbelievable for a commander experiencing international warfare for the first time.

No noble would dislike a monarch who generously distributed territories and allowed them to plunder treasures. Especially to the second or youngest sons of French noble families.

Even if they tried to use the title ‘King of France’—a slightly disappointing title from the nobles’ perspective compared to the Frankish king, who was an elected king—what did it matter?

As long as the monarch who actually granted them benefits did not openly wield the iron fist of ‘centralization,’ the nobles would love the King of France—of Paris.

Of course, the common people also had no reason to dislike a practical monarch who managed to get everything he could from those English bastards.

Above all, Philip II did not come empty-handed but brought with him the ‘wealth’ of the Middle East, which was more than enough to satisfy the French people.

Henry II and his sons had caused him much heartache in the Middle East for several years, but the young King of France felt his heart warming as he watched the welcoming crowd.

This era is the Middle Ages! Of course, the King of France knew better than anyone that if he had come empty-handed, there would have been a rebellion instead of a welcome.

‘These are… the people I must protect.’

In any case, Philip II returned and diligently handled the backlog of kingdom affairs when a welcome guest arrived.

“You must have gone through a lot, Philip.”

“From now on, we will help you. Your Majesty, the King of France.”

It was the Count and Countess of Blois, privately Philip II’s half-sister and brother-in-law.

“Sister, and Count of Blois, have you been well?”

Of course, Philip II knew that they were treating him well because they wanted to inherit his political ‘power,’ but he also knew that they were sincere.

“We are doing well thanks to you. But I have a question. So, Philip, did you start the Scottish affair [the Scottish rebellion]?”

Alix, who was also a princess of France before being the Duchess of Blois, openly stated the main point.

Clearly, the Scottish rebellion could not have been achieved without the support of external forces, and wasn’t it Philip II, who had many grievances against Prince John and the Angevin family, who had instigated the rebellion?

But Philip II quickly denied it.

“Sister, if it were me… I would aim for a better opportunity to move the internal forces of England. But not now.”

“What do you mean?”

“It is not yet time for our France to move. Now is the time to continue to induce the nobles who are recklessly running wild to exhaust themselves in ‘territorial warfare.’”

Alix thought for a moment, then looked at her younger brother and said,

“Yes, you never moved unless you were sure… Anyway, I understand. Philip, my brother, the great King of France, I will be on my way.”

Leaving those words, Princess Alix left.

“Your Majesty, our Blois territory is always ready to stand for you. Please give us your orders at any time. Our territory will at least give as much loyalty as we have received from Your Majesty.”

As the Count and Countess of Blois, his most intimate relatives, left France,

Philip II came outside and looked at the clear French sky. It was the sky he had watched with the late King Louis VII.

‘Father, are you now resting comfortably in that place without adultery?’

The late King Louis VII of France had always thoroughly educated Philip II. It was because of his desire for revenge against Henry II and Eleanor, the adulterous couple who had ruined his life.

‘Philip, do not live like me. Do not experience the tragedy I experienced. Do not be a Frankish king who exists for the nobles, but reign as the King of France who exercises the rights of the king.’

Thanks to this, Philip II learned a lot from his father Louis VII during his time as crown prince.

For example, how not to have his wife stolen by a handsome rogue. How to control the unbridled nobles of France.

And even how to soothe his mood when he was bitter and depressed.

After spending some time alone, Philip II returned to his office and summoned his secretary of state.

“Is there anything special?”

“Prince John of Ireland has sent an envoy, gifts, and a letter to promote friendship.”

“John?”

Those who knew about the power struggle between Philip II and John since he was the Count of Mortain knew it all.

For John to ask for forgiveness and reconciliation first…

Philip II, who had read the envoy’s flattering words and Prince John’s mustard seed of sincerity in the letter, said,

“…Well, this isn’t bad either.”

But then new breaking news reached Philip II.

“Your Majesty, Poland is now…”

“What about Poland?”

Kingdom of Poland.

Those bastards who treated the French as Frankish barbarians, even though they themselves were barbarians who had not been converted for long, and who had been in a state of chaos.

“Kazimierz II, the Polish High Duke [the highest noble title in Poland], has unified Poland and rebuilt the Kingdom of Poland.”

United as one.

* * *

—United Kingdom of Denmark—

Denmark, the cold Viking country in Northern Europe. A letter from the Duke of Norfolk, the regent of England, had arrived for the ruler of this place.

Although he did not express his emotions to the fullest, he seemed to have expressed his displeasure openly.

It seems that the Kingdom of Denmark has found out that it is one of the countries that induced the Scottish rebellion.

If Denmark is determined, it is not difficult to move Scotland, which is relatively close.

‘Those English bastards must be having a headache. That’s why they shouldn’t have touched the youngest prince, let alone annexed them.’

During the previous swarm of lions [a large-scale military campaign, likely referring to the Crusades], the United Kingdom of Denmark was unable to properly respond to Henry II’s rapid military movements.

They had virtually bowed their heads to England, but they had watched with their own eyes as neighboring countries Wales, Ireland, and Scotland, which were trying to gently poke at the weakness of Prince John, were annexed.

But while the Angevin family friends were away on the Crusades, they became one of the countries that seduced Scotland, repaying them with consideration to make the British Isles less boring.

Isn’t this what Christ meant by loving your enemies?

But the ruler of Denmark did not expect it.

When the Polish nobles who recklessly participated in the Crusades showed their weaknesses on their own, the Polish High Duke Kazimierz II would begin a unification conquest.

Denmark naturally tried to stop Poland’s unification with evil and tenacity.

“All the reinforcements we sent were annihilated? Those damn bastards!”

In the end, with the power of Kazimierz’s army, drunk on unification, and the supporting countries trying to screw over Denmark, the Kingdom of Poland was rebuilt.

But there was one more thing that horrified the King of Denmark.

“Your Majesty, Prince John of England is now!”

Prince John’s bizarre behavior had begun.

* * *

—1187, Ireland—

Another peaceful day in Ireland.

But today was not just normally peaceful.

Was it because Scotland was running wild? No, that’s not it.

The path of Saint Patrick, where military, economic, and religious trinity was created.

Saint Patrick, like Saint Abba of Egypt, was a man renowned in many ways as a true Christian of Ireland.

Anyway, in commemoration of that person, an economic network for me was created.

“You’ve worked hard, Peter.”

“Not at all. It would be strange if I couldn’t build it on time when Your Highness gave me such a huge budget.”

Yes, I spent a lot of money, even borrowing money to become a hot son [a favorite] to my mother, including my father.

I swept up money diligently in the Middle East and had more than enough left over after paying it all back.

“And you’ve been on friendly terms with the parishes in our Ireland?”

“Bishop Rothaire is already my friend.”

“Yes, Peter, you were originally going to become a servant of the Lord, so you’ll have a lot in common.”

At that time, I heard the latest news.

“Your Highness, Duke of Ireland. Urgent news. The Kingdom of Poland has been rebuilt, and Kazimierz II, who was the Polish High Duke, has ascended to the throne.”

I heard the news that the Kingdom of Poland had been unified. An undivided Poland. This is strangely awkward.

Anyway, whether my Polish friends are roaring in Northern Europe or not is a problem for later, and I have something to deal with right now.

Of course, it’s the problem of the rebellious mountain village, Scotland.

“Nobles of Norman descent similar to our family, and Celtic commoners. Isn’t this a perfect composition to divide and conquer? And the existence of ‘mercenaries’ as well.”

Usually, when a rebellion occurs in history.

When looking at failed rebellions in history, why are there whistleblowers who report in advance, or people who behead the leader of the rebels and offer it to the commander of the suppression forces?

That’s because those people felt so uneasy that they acted that way.

In other words, if we shake the inside without overdoing it and show our firmness to the rebels, we can easily suppress the rebellion.

After finishing my thoughts, I said to the loyal Peter.

“Peter, we need to ask Bishop Rothaire to shake the Scottish parish [influence the local churches]. And we need to divert attention before that.”

Some time later.

In the warm, peaceful island of Ireland, a beer-drinking and sausage-eating contest was held, and at the same time, the formation of the suppression forces was completed.