The return of the fallen king

102  Sorry for the lack of staff!

The army of 8,000 marched confidently through the green plains, their faces set in determined expressions as they prepared for battle. The vanguard, clad in heavy armor and mounted on horseback, led the way, their banners flying proudly as they trampled along the field. Among the many colors and emblems displayed by the fighters, the tallest and largest of them was the banner of the House of Angevin-Provence, a prestigious branch of the Capet dynasty of France. It was a sight to behold, as the noble army moved forward with confidence and a sense of purpose. (Look at comment to see the state of Italy during the war , alliances and armies' positions)

The army advanced over the green plains in the name of Charles of Anjou, the usurper of the Kingdom of Sicily. Although he was not present, the soldiers fought in his name and carried his banner to express their loyalty and allegiance. The absence of a representative sent by Charles did not diminish their devotion, as they proudly displayed the emblem of their liege and marched forward to engage with the enemy. It was a symbol of unity and a clear declaration of their support for the lord they had sworn to follow, despite his absence.

The Provencal-French army was marching through Basilicata, having traveled through the city of Potenza a few days prior. As they made their way through the small villages, they seized the necessary supplies and resources, taking whatever food and money they required as permitted by the Coectus foedo.

A law which dictates  that :    *. During times of war,  royal armies will be authorized to go to the nearest farms and lawfully seize half of all belongings and use them as payment for future taxes, with the authorization of the general and the king . This particular tax, however, cannot be levied on households that have a son serving or who have died or were wounded while serving  in said royal army* . (look chapter 33 unpopular reforms)

This reform made by Charles shortly before his departure allowed the army to seize food and resources as they marched, thus reducing the costs of supplies. The law originally only applied to farms, but the commanders of the army extended it to include cities , forcing them to surrender their food stores and provide provisions for the soldiers. The citizens  were unable to defend themselves against the threat of sacking, and thus had no choice but to comply with the demands of the army. The brutal nature of the law was a testament to Charles' resolve and ruthless determination to advance the interests of his house , regardless of the consequences for the local populations.

As the Provencal-French army entered the northern border of Calabria, they continued to seize provisions for the march as they had done along the way from Naples. However, there were instances where the soldiers ignored the restrictions put in place by Charles' reforms and took more than was allowed. This negligence was often overlooked by the commanders, who feared that taking a hard stance against the offenses would hinder the morale of the army. The result of this leniency was a consistent pattern of abuse by the soldiers against the local populations, as they seized much more than was warranted by the reforms put in place by Charles.

As the Provencal-French army moved through the villages and farms of Calabria, they were met with an unusual sight. Everything was empty, with not a single farmer to be found. This was strange, as no farmer would leave their holdings ,much less entire villages . The soldiers realized that the situation was not normal and decided to return to the main army to report their findings. This was a prudent move, as it could indicate the presence of enemies in the area and the need for caution in their march. It was a wise decision, as it could save the army from a devastating ambush or attack.

''So tell me count Hugh did you had  the opportunity to visit your fief?'' asked Bernarnt to another enfeoffed French nobleman,  Hughe de Brienne who was Count of Lecce.

''Oh I did , I must say that I am quite happy with my fief as the land is fertile there is a good port and a city big enough to tax '' Said Hugh as he expressed his thoughts on the fief given to him by the king as reward for his exploit in the battle of Benevento against Manfred Hohestaufen.

''You are lucky , I did not have such opportunity instead , as I was assigned by his majesty to be in control of the land force left to preserve his kingdom , I hope that after this war ends, I will have the opportunity to finally visit my fief and valutate the richness of it''

Said the leader of the army  as he was getting impatient to finally get hold of his land.

''I am sure that you wil--''

The conversation between Count Bernarnt and the other noblemen was soon interrupted by the arrival of a scout, who had returned before the pre-planned time. As soon as the scout was brought before the count, he was ordered to report his findings.

As the army stopped, the scout was brought before Count Bernarnt, causing a temporary halt in their journey as all eyes turned to hear the news. The scout was likely to have spotted something important, and the anticipation and curiosity among the soldiers could be seen from a mountain away

''what have you come to report?'' asked the count curious about the reason that made him ask a meeting with the leader of the army

''Your lorship , whereever farm or village I went,  I found empty land , no man , women or child could be found just like  no animal, it was as if the land was stripped of life'' The scout said as he thought that this was something important to report

''Were there any sign of fighting ''Bernarnt asked thinking that maybe the rebel army had arrived before them and sacked these villages before maybe returning to their base of power

''No your lordship , there were no dead body , nor blood , also the farmed was stripped of everything no grain or fruit can be found there''

As the scout shared his findings with Count Bernarnt, it soon became clear that the rebel army had arrived much faster than expected. 'Fuck' the count thought' The report of abandoned villages and fields stripped of life suggest that the enemy had already  arrived and ransacked the land before we had a chance to do so.The rebels stripped  our army of the opportunity of getting food , not that we were in dire need of it , all hints point to a preparation of a siege , apparently we found the location of the rebel base , they must have fortified themselves in a city , but why? They are the one attacking , we could just make a line of defense and wait for them to come to us after all there is just so much food they can currently have. Oh wait! Maybe they are trying to gain time for something. Either way I don't like it' . As he mulled over the various possibilities, he realized that it was already late in the afternoon and that they were unaware of the situation around them. In order to avoid the potential dangers of spending the night in an unprotected area, Bernarnt decided to call it a day and built camp for the night, knowing that the day ahead would bring new challenges and surprises.

  The sight of the desolate countryside was a strange and unexpected contrast to the rich farmland and productive farms of the southern region. The army was aware of the unusual situation and was on alert for any signs of danger or potential enemies ahead. In the midst of their conversation, the soldiers were also keeping a watchful eye out for any enemy soldiers, as they prepared for any possible confrontation.

With the danger of a surprise attack looming, Count Bernarnt wisely ordered for the camp to be well-illuminated and for numerous watches to be kept during the night. This would allow for a greater level of readiness and vigilance, helping the Provencal-French army to detect any signs of enemy intrusion.

The use of good lighting and night-time patrols would prevent a potential ambush in the darkness and help protect the army in its vulnerable state. With careful preparation, the count hoped to reduce the possibility of sudden attack or surprise, ensuring that his army had a better chance to defend itself and respond accordingly to any aggression.

With the threat of the rebel army looming close by, Bernarnt was determined to prevent the campaign from being tainted by failure before it even started, as this would potentially tarnish his reputation and standing with the king. It was important for the Count to protect the king's land and secure a decisive victory against the rebels.

Count Bernarnt was not a fool and was well aware of the precarious nature of their situation, especially if they failed to defeat the rebels quickly and decisively. The army was still far from the safety of their king's own territory, and failure to quash the rebellion could result in the loss of their recent conquests and a further drain of resources. The Count knew that destroying the uprising at its start was crucial to preserve the king's authority and maintain control of his lands. It was a matter of pride and strategic foresight, and he was determined to crush the rebels before they could gain even more ground and strength.