First, I love the choice of high king. Totally ensures my desire to never go to empire rank. In finding this is what my ruler is titled. I have played accordingly. Denmarkβs king had a bastard. And he was already part of the Fitzgerald tribe. So the Irish sailors sailed from Lothian and claimed Denmark. I stole the calmar Union, and am now high king of holland, brabant (peeled from burgundy), denmark, Norway, and Sweden. The downside is that Iβm in my 4th coalition war. But with France as a wall, weβve continued to dominate these. I refuse to conquer England, else I may become them.
https://preview.redd.it/jqpih4w2dqd41.jpg?width=569&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=76594bec0b3f84d07681f0465b7934a1377ec25e
So, English power is very much in decline during this period, with Scotland reasserting its independence, gaining continental links and alliances with France and Robert the Bruce looking to expand the war to challenge the English elsewhere, as well as hunt down Scottish rivals who had fled to Ireland. Therefore, in 1315, his brother invades Ireland with a few thousand men and the support of the minor, disaffected Irish "Kings" (they called themselves that but by this period, its difficult to recognise them as anything but warlords). The Scots envisioned a "grand gaelic alliance" (even though the Bruces and most of the Scottish aristocracy are descended from Norman nobles invited in by David II by now) and looked to reclaim the isle of Mann, perhaps even threatening the English hold on Wales. This invasion came to nothing, as the campaign lost momentum and support as the initially welcomed army began to live off the land and turned the inhabitants against them. By 1318, the English and their Irish allies were able to defeat and kill Edward in the battle of Faughart in the same year. But what if the invasion had some limited success, or even total success?
Limited: The English, facing pressure from the Scots in the North, famine in 1315-1317, revolts across Edward of England's realm (that are suppressed) tension with nobles that would later break out into the Dispenser war and general dissatisfaction with Edward's rule, are unable to muster the resources necessary to challenge Edward locally and withdraw from Ulster, either without a fight or after minor skirmishes. The King of Tyrone and several minor lords who had invited Edward Bruce over give their support to him as High King of Ireland, and other minor lords who had stayed neutral or were dependent on English patronage now pledge support, but in reality, Scottish power remains rooted in the North, in what is now Ulster. Frontier situations develop, with minor lords and Kings raiding and feuding, seeking support from either the Scots or the English to achieve local supremacy in warfare that waxes and wanes. English retain control of Dublin and the surrounding Pale, with some Anglo-Irish Lordships giving lip-service but being de-facto independent. Edward Bruce and his descendants are dependent to some degree on the senior, Scottish branch of the family. Some minor Welsh family members with links to the Kingdom of Gwynedd return to make their case to Robert to support risings in Wales but nothing comes
... keep reading on reddit β‘A few years ago I watched your Luck of the Irish lets play and I've been hooked to your videos ever since. I've noticed that new Irish provinces have been added since that lets play and it gave me an idea. Why not try to unite the Irish clans without ever attacking them using the Technical Pacifist route? Could be a nice challenge, you'd still probably have to attack England. Love the videos, stay well!
