This page contains relevant pieces of (mostly German) real history that I found useful when designing the saga, although much of it was only for background and news brought by Redcaps.
The German Civil War
After the death of Henry VI Hohenstaufen in 1198 the Holy Roman Empire was plunged into Civil War. His son Frederick was too young to take the throne and remained in Scicily to which his claim was undisputed. In Germany Henry's brother Philip was elected as Emperor by the pro-Staufen party whilst Otto of the house of Welf was elected by their supporters.
After the papal-Staufen quarrels of the previous century the pope, Innocent III, supported Otto's claim and excommunicated Philip. The English also supported Otto who was related to the English crown, and whose victory would be a blow to the French crown which had good relations with the Staufen.
However, within Germany Philip had the larger support base and looked the likely victor until in 1202 two of his most powerful supporters, Duke Ottokar of Bohemia and Landgrave Hermann of Thuringia, changed sides after promises of power from Otto and the Pope.
In 1203 Philip invaded Thuringia but was forced to withdraw by the presence of the Bohemian army after little more than a month. In this time the Bohemians destroyed 16 monastries and 350 parish churches in the area. In August Ottokar was crowned as the first king of Bohemia, part of the deal that Otto had agreed to.
In 1204 Philip, an attractive and likeable character, managed to persaude Otto's cousin, Henry of Welf, to change sides in return for the Palatinate (which he had held before the war) and the stewardship of the imperial city of Goslar. Philip then invaded Thuringia with a large army, forcing Otto to retreat without a fight.
On the 17th of September Hermann made his submission to Philip, followed by Ottokar who also paid a large fine. On the 12th of November the Duke of Brabant and the Archbishop of Cologne (the most powerful archbishop in Germany) take the oath to Philip at Coblenz. Otto of Brunswick and the City of Cologne (due to merchants being given trading advantages by King John of England) are now Otto's only major supporters.
Also in 1204, Philip dispatched Lupold, Archbishop of Mainz to Italy to campaign against papal forces. He is defeated in 1205.
On the 6th of January 1205 Philip is re-crowned by Archbishop Adolf of Cologne (the traditional person) at Aachen (the traditional place), to legitimise his rule. He then moves on Cologne and beseiges it. The Rhine is closed both above and below the city, and Archbishop Adolf is left to harass the city. Philip withdraws south to gather his forces, where he is joined by the Dukes of Austria and Bavaria, plus the Count Palatine, with their levies. In September the huge army moves on Cologne, where it is joined by the Duke of Brabant who demands 500 marks for his help. The attack starts on the 29th and lasts 5 days. The casualties are huge and the attack repelled.
In October the town of Neuss is captured but the siege of Cologne lasts until July 1206 when Duke Henry of Limburg, the garrison commander, leads the citizens out to battle near Wassenburg, where they are defeated. The city accepts terms in January 1207.
Otto flees to England with the defeat of his last major ally. The Pope releases Philip from his excommunication, but in return the papal supporter Siegfreid is recognized as Archbishop of Mainz.
In England, Otto receives 6000 marks from King John (a bequest from Richard I). King Waldemar of Denmark also supports Otto, because of a conflict of German and Danish interests over Livonia. Philip offerers Otto the Duchy of Swabia or the Kingdom of Arelat but is rejected.
In 1208 Innocent III finally recognizes Philip as Emperor and returns Spoleto, Ancona and Tuscany to him. Philip's daughter Beatrix is to marry to the Pope's nephew, who is then given those lands in Central Italy. Legates are on thier way to see Philip to finalise these terms when he is killed by the noble to whose son he had previously promised Beatrix.
Otto rules unopposed until 1212 when Frederick II crosses the Alps reaching Chur before Otto's forces can block the passes. Otto's fortunes start to decline. In 1214 he intervenes in France in support of King John of England. The French forces decisively defeat him at Bouvines, destroying both his own cause and that of the English in France. Frederick II is unoppsed by 1218.
The conflicts reappear with Frederick's altercations with the Papacy.
Travel, Trade and Pilgrimages.
Travel over long distances in Europe was usually for either trade or pilgramage, and was often expected to take a year or more to complete. However an urgent messenger could make it from Rome to Canterbury in 29 days if necessary. A more common speed is the 20 days it took knights to travel from Wittenburg to Munich. Poor pilgrims would often be even slower.
Travellers often had tales about the strange things they had seen. Many Roman bridges were referred to as "Devil's bridges", since it was impossible for men to have built them, the Devil must have put them up overnight.
The major portion of long-distance trade was for luxuries - noble metals, finery (precious stones, amber, coral, pearls, silks, furs), slaves, incense, spices (especially pepper on which there were very high customs and taxes), and for wares need for religious ceremonies - wine, oil and incense. The other major transported goods were textiles, especially wool. Corn, wine fish and salt were also being carried in increasing quantities.
As an example of trade goods, Iceland's exports were - fleeces, wool, hides, pelts, meat, tallow, butter, cheese, fish, whale oil, falcons and brimstone.
Whilst the main Pilgramage sites were Rome, Santiago de Compostella and Jerusalem, many other shrines were visited by those who did not wish to travel so far or who had a specific saint they wished to venerate. These included Canterbury (St Thomas a Becket), Aachen, Duren, Cologne (Three Kings), Padua, Rocamdour, Trier, Wilsnack and others. In the western alpine area the major site was Einsedeln (Virgin Mary), with other pilgrims visiting Thann (St Theobald) and Vezelay (St Mary Magdalene).
Some pilgramage sites were very odd such as the shrine of St Leonard (patron saint of those who are imprisoned), east of Limoges. Here there are manacles and similar implements all over the church!
Agriculture
The population boom in the 12th and 13th centuries was aided by improving agricultural yields as well as the clearing of new ground. The major improvements were:-
More effective fertilization.
Keeping animals in stores.
Growing specific animal fodder plants and pulses.
Use of heavy ploughs with a couller (?) and soil-turning mould-board, which on heavier soils made larger yields possible.
The increasing use of the four-wheeled wagon, often drawn by oxen.
Miscellaneous Titbits
The Fondaco dei Tedeshi in Venice was founded 1222-5. This was the market and warehouse for German merchants in the city.
The family nature of some bishoprics is best revealed by the relationship between the Arch-bishopric of Cologne and the family of the Counts of Berg. From this family came:-
Archbishop Bruno III 1191-93.
Archbishop Adolf 1193-1216 (excommunicated by the pope in 1205 who replaced him with another candidate, although Adolf disputed this after the peace of 1208). He resigned in favour of..
Archbishop Englebert 1216-25.
Austria and Styria's rulers.
1194-1230 Leopold VI Babenberg.
1230-1246 Frederick II Babenberg - he died without heirs and the duchies were brought under direct imperial administration.
Ars Magica and many related terms are Copyright Trident Inc. Order of Hermes and Tremere are Copyright White Wolf Inc. Unless otherwise indicated all other material is property of Eric Grove-Stephensen, Richard Slattery, Dean Scothern and Robin Leah. Permission is given to copy it for non-profit purposes as long as due credit is given.