>>2178151
Emperor Paivio's court breathed a sigh of relief when the catholic crusade ultimately was declared for Aquitaine, where Holy Roman vassal dukes had already retaken a bit of land along the southern coast. The Crusade was a resounding success, restoring most of Aquitainian King Landulf's realm which had not been taken by the Emperor, and making his title once again a de facto one.
What remains of Crusader France on the continent continues to be chipped away by French and Roman dukes, while the HRE has found itself free from Latin overlordship, and thus has reached a pinnacle of terrifying strength even surpassing that of the Suomi.
Not everything has been rosy for Catholics in the west, however, as the Knights of Sardinia found themselves soundly beaten by the Muslims in North Africa, losing their foothold there, while an attempt by the king of Sicily to take Tunis also came to naught.
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