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Priority
Religion
Government
Dynasty
Play Style
P1
Jewish
Kingdom
Suasso
Patient and calculated
Current relationships
Alliance with Sicily, Toulouse and Tunis
Rivals with Aragon, Papal States and Galicia
Background
The history of Toulouse is so old that words like ancient and antique have to be used. From their roman period into the Visigoth kingdom followed into the kingdom of Aquitaine and as a leading figure in the First Crusade, Toulouse has a long and impactful history. But nothing has been as important for the current times of Toulouse, than the Albigensian Crusade. As the true faith spread across Southern France and into the Alpine region, the damned Catholics desired to see the Cathars as rivals, instead of the illuminators of God's true word. The Papacy didn’t see us for what we really are, those that truly understand the faith and the greedy and corrupt Catholic Church would rather fight to keep their riches, than to accept the truth.
In 1209, Pope “Innocent” III sought to completely destroy the Cathars in a crusade against the Catharian heartland - Toulouse. Together with the King of France, The Duke of Burgundy, Austria and several other Pope-pleasuring puppets, they invaded us. Foolish.
For 20 years the catholics threw in their knights and soldiers, even mercenaries to destroy us - but in vain. We won the war and several hundred of thousands of men died at our gates. The Crusade was lost 200 years ago. And what is the current situation? We still stand to this day, independent and true in the faith. The King of France is gone. The Duchy of Burgundy is torn apart in civil war and the cowardly Pope is hiding behind his high walls as the Catholic Church is crumbling across Europe. The future is open for Toulouse, we shall do whatever it takes to bring the true faith to the four corners of the world. And by whatever we know the language that has to be spoken - the language of swords and lances!
Special Rules
When playing as Toulouse you are a firm believer in the Cathar faith. Your ancestors died by the hundred of thousands in the Albigensian Crusade to defend your lands and grant the long desired freedom from the tyrannical and opressive King of France. Now with French King dead and England desires to sheep you into the fold, this must not happen - the only way to stop another tyrant from controlling Toulosue, is to become the King of France yourself!
Rules for your region:
Like all other French cultures duchies, your goal is to 'become France' through the casus belli of retaking Paris and holding it. This will be difficult as there is lots of contestants and the task very hard.
You are not allowed to take provinces from other French duchies unless you have a core on their province. The French people are strong believers in titles and it would burn your reputation to the ground if you began to take uncored provinces and making you even more illegimate to become the King of France. There will be events and missions that grants cores here and there.
You are allowed to take other French duchies as vassals. If you are a player nation and becomes a vassal of another player, you must roleplay as loyal. Yes, you as the ruler might be ready for some independence wars, but your people and soldiers are not. However, it is strickly forbidden to integrate vassals - unless you have a mission that performs the integration.
Once a player has hold Paris long enough to become a potential King of France, he will be allowed to integrate vassals.
Rules specific for Toulouse:
You are not allowed to change religion unless your religious unity is below 20%. If you are able to change religion through an event or mission, you can do so.
You are allied with the Jews unless they become a direct threat to your interests or stops funding you.
You have no desire to see another 'King of France'. You will do whatever it takes to keep anyone away from becoming France, even if it requires you to help nations you have grudges with.
When the time reaches year 1600, you will be able to form Occitania, a unique formable for your nation. Through this, you will become immune to the subjucation of the 'King of France' and you will be a contestant for the regional power in the French region with your capital as its center - not Paris.
Current Relations
After your independence 200 years ago, you have been diplomatically isolated. Any Catholic that would negotiate with you would risk excommunication and embargo, so none of them dared. For almost a hundred years were you alone, but no one really had time or ressources to attack you, everyone was already full of their own problems. So, your former rulers decided to stay low and stabilize their nation. The reputation of your castles being a place where large crusades dies did indeed help the peaceful period.
In the year of 1302 the War of Sicilian Vespers ended. The mighty Kingdom of Aragon had conquered Sicily from the Kingdom of Naples in an ambitious move to extend their influence further into the Mediterranean. But they did not know that this would turn the tide.
The Reconquista in Iberia has been slow, and the Christians has been unable to throw out the Muslims. In the year of 1333, another war between the Christians and Muslims occurred. This time in the favor of the Muslims, as the Aragonese fleet was sunk just outside of Mallorca. With no ships to protect their islands, the Sicilians broke free, but by an unusual faction. The Jewish merchant family of Raffaelli allied themselves with Barbary pirates and Jewish families across the Mediterranean and seized their independence.
The Jews are a peculiar people, and unlike the Catholics, the Sicilians opened their harbors to Toulouse and began to establish good relations. Wealth began to spread into the Languedoc region through trade.
Things started to go well. The Republic of Genoa is also dominated by Jewish people, but while you have great relations with their nation, they dare not oppose the Catholic Holy Roman Empire and make official deals with Toulouse. Unlike Sicily that is protected by its large navy, Genoa is surrounded by potential enemies and has to step more careful.
In 1428 something important happened again. A royal marriage between the heir of Aragon, Prince Enrique and the beautiful Princess Catherine of Navarra was held in the Aragonese capital, Zaragoza in the palace of Aljaferia. Just a day into the celebrations, the Kings of Leon and Castile left urgently as rumors spread, that the Muslims in the south would break the truce and take advantage of the celebrating Catholics. After they left, a terrible fire spread across the palace, leading to large amounts of death in the noble lines of East Iberia. This led to civil war as a Valencian noble declared for independence.
At this time in the Aragonese conflict, you received an interesting letter from your friends in Palermo, Sicily. Apparently, the Jewish family Suasso in Barcelona was waiting for the perfect moment to strike and declare their independence from Aragon, just like the Sicilians did a hundred years ago. And for this to happen, they needed the army of Toulouse. In exchange, we would be granted the province of Rosellón and more gold than we had seen since our independence.
We accepted.
Alliances
Sicily ***
Sicily ***
The House of Rafaelli was the first Jewish Kingdom to emerge since the time of the Roman occupation of Israel.
The Jewish families of our world do not see each other different due to culture or race. We are united through Abraham’s blood in our veins and the Torah to remind us.
Several of our family members from House Suasso lives in Palermo and members of House Rafaelli lives in Barcelona. Our futures well be forged in unity.
It would take a disaster of Biblical levels to break our friendship and alliance.
Three star alliance.
Tunis **
Tunis **
The Hafsid Dynasty in Tunis has been a great ally and friend of the Jewish people. Several large communities run their merchant cities and help administer their Sultanate.
They were an instrumental part of the Jewish takeover of Sicily in year 1333 and has supported us since. Their presence in the Medditerrainian with their navy has been important in putting us on the world map. They clearly like Sicily more, they are neighbours and have been diplomatically working together for over a hundred years, we have had our independence for only 16 years.
We love them and supports them.
Two star alliance.
Toulouse **
Toulouse **
The Toulousian people has been diplomatically isolated since they managed to win in the Albigensian crusade thrown at them.
Today they are good friends of the Jewish communities of Europe. Their mighty army was an important part of the Catalonian Independence war.
It seems that their army will only increase in quality with time, as this is their primary focus and what keeps them alive from the Catholics.
It is valuable to us to have friends with strong militaries, there is just one issue, they are undeniably poor.
Two star alliance.
Rivals
Aragon ***
Aragon ***
Aragon hates you more than anything. You and Sicily rebelled and got your independence from Aragon. They see you as usurpers to their rightful land and they desire to retake them, at all costs. Including trying to pressure the Papacy into organizing a new crusade against the Jews.
Three star rival.
Galicia **
Galicia **
Galicia condemned the declaration of independence from Aragon, not because Catalonia became free, but because he became ruled by a Jewish ruler.
The Galicians all care about the 'Way of St. James' the pilgrim’s
routes from across Europe that leads to their capital. They believe our Jewish presence in Iberia and the support of the Cathars in Toulouse will continue to make the pilgrims routes unsafe with more conflict and war.
We expect them to be against us and plot to destroy us.
Two star rival.
The Papal States **
The Papal States **
When our good friends and allies of House Rafaelli in Sicily became independent the Papacy supported The King of Naples in invading Sicily.
While Sicily won and the Catholics got humiliated, there has been several attempts in the Curia to organize a crusade against the Jews. We know that the Papacy is planning against us and supports our Catholic neighbours.
We know they are coming.
Two star rival.
Other relations:
You have great relations with Genoa, but they fear an open alliance would provoke their neighboors into gathering up against the you.
Galicia dislikes you for the religious differences and partly blames instabily on their pilgrims routes through France on you.
Catalan Ideas
Catalan Ideas
Traditions
+1 Yearly Naval Tradition
-15 % Advisor costs
1. Cathar Castles
Before Catharism became the dominant religion of Toulouse, several strongholds and castles across the region offered refuge to dispossessed Cathars in the thirteen-century. This led to massive construction of castles and their integration into everyday life and the economy of the region.
+25% Fort defense
-10% Fort maintenance
2. Descendants of Raymond IV
During the First Crusade, one of the most influential leaders were Raymond IV, Count of Toulouse. Not only does this legacy keep our soldiers full of morale and heroic inspiration, but the nobility of Toulouse has a heritage of proud knights that proudly does what it takes to go the extra distance.
+10% morale of armies
+10% nobility loyalty equilibrium
3. Fanatical religious leaders
As the first independent Cathar nation, our religious leaders are dedicated and passionate in their duties on a level only matched by the most pious popes. The religious leaders of Toulouse works day and night to ensure every man, woman or child in Toulouse is a Cathar. The clergy loves the rulers of Toulouse for their freedom to do whatever it takes.
+2 missionary strength
+10% clergy loyalty equilibrium
4. Violas, not lilies!
The French nobility has always been obsessed with the lily flower. The fleur-de-lis has been used in art and heraldry. In Toulouse, the flower of the region is the viola. It can be used for coloring, cooking, medicine and perfumes. Toulouse has been independent long enough to establish their own identify with the viola and distanced themselves from the fleur-delis.
+1 yearly legitimacy
5. Women are equal to men
Gender has less of a significant impact of the human life to the Cathars. The human body is a shell to carry the soul and the soul is all that matters. Toulouse has removed all laws and regulations regarding gender. There is the same opportunities and responsibilities for everyone, equally. This have led lots of fierce women to flock beneath our banners.
+20% national manpower modifier
May recruit female generals
6. Female spies
It came as no surprise that filling our administration with dedicated religious women would only benefit us, but it was a pleasant surprise when we found out how extremely excellent spies they make. Every court of Europe will have a beautiful lady around, whose heart beats loyally to Toulouse.
+25% Spy network construction
+30% Foreign spy detection
7. Death is a gift
Cathars has a different view on death than any other Christian. A true zealot of the Cathar faith does not fear death, even by execution. Cathars are famous across Europe for instances where inquisitors have punished Cathars, who stubbornly accepts their fate and denies any other options than to die as a true Cathar. This fearless behavior can clearly be seen on the battlefield.
-10% Fire damage received
Ambition +25% Land force limit modifier
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