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"Embrace the volatility and navigate the uncertainty"
House Trádáil glas
Seat: The Emerald Castle
Region: Britannia
Allegiance: Ireland
Religion: Catholic
Current Head: Diarmait mac Donnchad
Founder: Diarmait mac Donnchad
Founding Date: 1021
In the lands of the Emerald Isle, house trádáil glas originated from the honorable profession of trading. Led by Diarmait mac Donnchad, he embarked on a journey across Ireland to increase their wealth and notoriety throughout the lands. Through their tireless efforts, their trade navigated the markets with unwavering precision earning the family a reputation for fair work and integrity. Aware that wealth presents envy among rival traders, Donnchad set out to secure noble assistance in exchange for assisting the county's local economy. He and his family set out to the lands of Dubhlinn and Leinster, which were closely aligned due to family ties. Known for his ambition, he spoke directly with the ruling leader, presenting himself with gifts and the history of his house. Donnchad pledged allegiance to the earl and introduced himself as a valuable ally and supporter of him and his allies. Impressed by Donnchad’s intelligence and recognizing the advantages of having a prosperous trading family as an ally, the earl welcomed trádáil glas house with open arms and invited them into his inner circle. He also suggested their expertise to his brother-in-law in Leinster, further solidifying the influence of house trádáil glas in Irish politics. Trádáil glas was granted the status of Merchants of Leinster and Dubhlinn in their respective regions. The earl in Dubhlinn respected trádáil glas so much that he allowed them to establish an official trade post in Dubhlinn, a city known for its commercial activities, providing great wealth to the local economies of Ireland.
As trádáil glas continued to prosper in Ireland, their house became deeply entrenched in the region's politics, an issue that Donnchad sincerely wanted to avoid. The land was fraught with constant power struggles and warfare, facilitating instability unsuitable for trade. Nonetheless, trádáil glas continued their efforts, eventually gaining the trust of the earl in Leinster, who appointed Donnchad as his steward in court. At the same time, his son Diarmait managed the trade in Dubhlinn. During the infamous war of the reclamation of artifacts in 1056, the earl of Munster declared war on Leinster, with Dubhlinn coming to their aid. This war was like no other, as Ireland saw its most significant conflict in years occur over a simple non-territorial dispute inciting unrest in the local economies of Ireland. Both sides engaged in minor battles over the next few months, but the earl of Munster grew impatient and began a military campaign to seize the artifacts for himself. Both sides began preparing for a massive conflict that would define the region's politics for several years. The earl of Munster began his campaign during the spring with 1000 men. The armies of Leinster and Dubhlinn were made aware of his plans and decided to take defensive positions near the capital city of Leinster.
On the 15th of April, 1056, both armies met with a clear advantage to the army of Munster, tactically and in numbers. The battle swung in favor of Munster, with the flanks of the allies severely threatened. Left with no choice, the Allies detached 200 men to distract the army of Munster while the rest retreated to the capital city of Loch Garman in Leister in a last stand. The 200 men performed quite well occupying the Munster army while inflicting heavy casualties. Munster eventually defeated the detachment and began a siege of Loch Garman, starving the population and its defenders. In an act of desperation, the leaders of Leinster and Dubhlinn personally lead their men out to fight the army of Munster head-on. The fight was bloody, with hundreds of casualties, but concluded with no decisive winner. The military of Munster retreated to safe territory giving necessary breathing space for the allies. The earl of Dubhlinn had died, and the earl of Leinster had been severely injured to the point where he could no longer fulfill his duties leading to his abdication. Without heirs, the people looked to the most influential and trustworthy family. The family of trádáil glas was immediately suggested for their proven intelligence, though leading vast lands was a new concept for trádáil glas. Donnchad took control of Leinster while he gave his son Diarmait the throne of Dubhlinn. Donnchad immediately negotiated peace with Munster providing room for trádáil glas to solidify power.
The militaries of all nations were decimated, making them rely on mercenaries, particularly trádáil glas, who were inexperienced in warfare and could not rebuild a sizable army. They negotiated an agreement with local mercenaries that no other ruler could match, gaining the exclusive loyalty of these mercenaries during war. Though the sole reliance on mercenaries became an issue as trádáil glas had to acquiesce to several demands of the mercenaries, such as exclusive hunting rights and tax privileges. Understanding the problem, Donnchad hired a notorious English commander to teach his son about tactics, but he could not comprehend warfare beyond a typical degree.
In 1066, Donnchad was near his time for departure. His son Diarmait will inherit Leinster while having to appease the mercenaries for their continued support. Unable to openly reform the military due to opposition from the mercenaries, the future of trádáil glas seems uncertain, but the help of outside families may be able to resolve the issue.
Ancient painting of traders in Ireland
Painting of Dubhlinn's city market after the arrival of trádáil glas
Defensive positions of the allies near the city of Loch Garman
One of the last paintings of the battle of Loch Garman
Painting commissioned by Diarmait mac Donnchad on his coronation