[Crécy]

Chronicles of Northumbria
Reign of a Northumbrian Duke Sigeweard I 'The Builder' of Deheubarth, son of Eanfirth II
(1166-????)
by Grégorie d'Anjou

My name is Grégorie d'Anjou. I am a poet, chronicler, annalist, author, romanticist, et cetera, et cetera. Many years ago I was approached by a Northumbrian head of family -whom name I've forgotten but most likely it was Eanfirth as Eanfirths seems to be all over the place- and was given the honour of writing the chronicles of Northumbria. Even though, at that time, I spoke and wrote only french. However, over the course of many years and misunderstandings I've learned english more and more. Still, I'm far from perfection so please forgive my numerous grammar errors.

After I accepted the honor to write these Northumbrian Chronicles and after I had moved to the court of the said head of family, the said head of family passed away. While unfortunate, I was excited to start the chronicles when the new heir came to power. To my dismay, it soon came clear to me that the new heir was, in fact, arrogant enough to write his own chronicles. Thus years passed before me while I waited for him to di... err... continue his journey to happier reigning lands. Meanwhile I wrote poems, wandered aimlessly in the court of Northumbrians courting ladies, waiting and waiting. After many years he finally passed away and I sat down, ready to begin...

And again, I didn't even manage to write the headline as the new ruler was revealed to be as impudent as his father. Writing his own chronicles, bah! As such the cycle continued. I never even dipped the quill. I believe four or five generations passed by my. And Eanfirths came and went, all of them more insolent and shameless than the other... And every generation felt like six.Once I even disguised myself and came to court as supposedly new chronicler to ask the current ruler, Eanfirth II, whether I could write his family chronicles. He granted the permission to do so and gave me the coin. That evening, when I was starting to write, he came to my chamber. He grabbed the money, he had given me, from the table and said: "I lied." and then he left. I didn't have any other choice but to continue my purposeless courting, wandering and writing.

Then the impossible happened, in the year of our lord 1166, over a hundred years after (yes, someone would call me old) I was first asked to write the Northumbrian chronicles, a Northumbrian duke came to me and gave me the honour to finally start the marvel which will dazzle the future generations. The sheer magnitude of the impact these chronicles will have on the course of history will be unimaginable! This, this work will be the defining milestone of my long life, of the history of writing and the future. In all of my life, I've never been so excited as I'm now. Well, aside from those four to five times I was about to start this chronicle.


Thus it begins...

* * *

Duke Sigeweard I of Deheubarth was already 33 years old when his father, Duke Eanfirth II (too many nicknames to pick just one, besides there are still arguments whether he was sane or not) passed away in April 27, 1166. Eanfirth II had voted Sigeweard as his successors when Sigeweard came to age as apparently Sigeweard was the only one of Eanfirth's children who even came close to being a competent heir. At this point I might add that for some reason - I never found out why - Sigeweard is Italian while his father is a Saxon. Well, it's a mystery. And all knows that a good family chronicle includes many uncovered, outré, mysteries. Also, I don't know why but I feel compelled to inform you that Duke Sigeweard's sig is quite weird. Ba dam tsh.

Now let me tell you something about Duke Sigeweard I. Like his predecessors, Sigeweard is as wrathful as them. Well not just as wrathful as them. He did gave me the honor of starting these chronicles and didn't project his wrath on me by denying me the hundred-year-old right to write Northumbrian Chronicles right like his ancestors did... Duke Sigeweard is fortunate to possess every trait that defines a great ruler -wouldn't be surprised if he had blood of Gaius Julius Caesar himself in him. Somehow. He's Italian at least - . I'm certain that he will accomplish something spectacular during his reign. He's also happily married to duchess Ælfthryth of Leicester nonetheless and they have four children, a boy and three girls. Sigeweard's heir, Andre, is, well Italian but also a fine young man who will eventually without fail rule with honor after his father. And I'm sure Andre will not write his own chronicles.



The same day already beloved Sigeweard became the duke, child king of England appointed Sigeweard as his chancellor. As his father before him as a marshal, Sigeweard was now an essential part of Kingdom of England's court and thus a cornerstone of determining the plans and fate of England.



In May 24, 1166 a war broke out between the king of England and the Lancasters. Duchess Youenna I of Lancaster even went as far as asking Sigeweard, the chancellor of the king of England, to ally with the Lancasters against the King Sigeric I. Ridiculous. Naturally, Sigeweard refused.



The war raged on for almost five months but finally in September 1166, it ended in white peace. After the war King Sigeric I's turned his eyes on Ireland and the king sent Sigeweard to Dublin to make the groundwork for invasion by legalizing it.

In the year of our lord 1167 king's royal messengers rode to Sigeweard's court in castle Cardiff and handed out a parchment sealed with King's sigil. Sigeweard opened it in suspicion. King Sigeric I of England had appointed Duke Sigeweard of Deheubarth and chancellor of the kingdom of England to a regent until King Sigeric would come to age. An ultimate honor from the most powerful king on earth. On this day the Northumbrians truly became the most powerful dynasty in England (excluding King's own dynasty of course).



Only after a year of reign, Duke Sigeweard had become the most important man in England after the king himself. This truly is a prelude to something incredible. The hundred years of waiting finally had paid off. I had encountered one of the mightiest man alive. And I, Grégoire d'Anjou, a poet, chronicler, annalist, author, romanticist, et cetera, et cetera, get to write his family chronicle.