Emperor Sigismond of Francia, 1165-1166 AD

(Previously on Royal Dispatch.)

Ahhh what a relief to be emperor at last. And so unexpected! I figured I would have to beat up a few reluctant West Francian dukes to eventually control their territory, and that task would largely fall to the next generation. But here I am.

Plus I can now indulge my organizational fetish and put all these counties, duchies, and kingdoms in proper order, all feeding up the chain of being to my glorious self.

It’s a little annoying that I can’t do it all at once though, as I’m low on gold and (re)creating kingdom and duchy titles can get expensive. One domain at a time.

In memory of my inconstant friend Rorgues in Brittany, I take my leftover troops there to crush the still-rolling rebellion plaguing his son. The rebels are routed in short order, and I can finally stand down the troops and take stock of this fine new empire we got here.

My granddaughter Julienne, first daughter of my daughter Bourgogne, comes of age. I marry her matrilineally to a quick Cumbrian lad named Arthafel map Ragnell Wledig.

Pre-empire, I had for awhile controlled—through vassals—enough territory to the south to create the kingdom of Navarra. I had declined to do so due to the usual pre-empire inheritance concerns. But apparently my elevation to emperor allowed the vassal (a kinsman from a Thouars cadet branch) who ruled that area to create the kingdom for himself, whereupon he immediately died and his title succeeded to King Armengol Frédéricez Thours-Girona. My first king vassal!

Then from his jail cell in Jerusalem, King Rorgues II of Brittany agrees to become my vassal—uniting the two original Thouars kingdoms which split back in the day of bro kings Jacques and Guy.

Watching my treasury gradually increase, I’m torn between splurging on title creation to clean up the empire, and conserving the usual war chest to help out my heir. I decide to wait it out.

Another Julienne comes of age, this one a daughter of Yves, one of my murdered sons. I marry her matrilineally to a Quick-minded Croatian named Vid Ljudevitić Trpimirović. Also up for getting hitched is another Sigismond, this one a grandson from my deceased daughter Helvis. Off he goes to marry a Greek girl named Kale Sakellearios.

I’m just getting ready to start spending gold on creating titles, but never mind!

Oh well, I almost survived long enough for Raynaud to come of age. Good luck grandson!

Next: Teenage Empire Party Massacre.