King Sancho II
1105-1132
The ascension of Sancho II to the throne of the Aragonese ushered in an age of unprecedented challenge. The Spanish still needed to be finished off, with the Almohads and supremely powerful French poised to strike at any time. Sancho took these challenges head-on, and upon his death, the Aragonese are truly a faction on the rise.
Finishing off the Spanish proved fairly easy. The large army in Castile finished them off in a couple years, and the upper half of the Iberian belonged to them. The Almohads seemed willing to cooperate, offering an alliance that was gladly accepted - the Almohads were no threat for the time being. Sancho's greedy eyes turned north, toward a French nation that traveling merchants and minstrels had duly informed to be both the richest and of supreme military power.
Sancho had a few things in his favor. First, while they had the most troops, they would most likely be spread fairly thin, since they had just conquered the English. Second, they were at war with the Holy Roman Empire, another new ally of King Sancho. Third, the Pope had had enough of these foul reprobates, and excommunicated them. The time had come.
Mustering a surprisingly large force, Sancho pressed northward. With the help of the Germans, Toulouse and Aquitane fell quickly. With the help of peasants, as peacekeepers, and mercenaries, as supplemental forces, Sancho led his forces further north, also capturing Anjou and Brittany. Sadly, Sancho died soon after capturing Brittany, but he left in his wake a force substantial enough to hold these new lands at the very least, and a wise commander should see little trouble in capturing Normandy and Ile de France in short order.
King Sancho's one regret is that he was unable to build a completely solvent economy. He began a shipbuilding project in Aragon to expand his trade, but it barely got off the ground before his untimely death at the shocking age of 56. His successor will hopefully be able to expand trade to the necessary degree to ensure his empire a healthy income.
The King of Aragon II
