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Ottoman AAR 1453 - 1472
The birth of an Empire
In 1453 the walls of Constantinople fell and the Byzantine Empire was no more. Instead the era of Turkish dominance in Greece would begin. Mehmed II Fatîh was an able Sultan who possessed every skill anyone in his position would want to possess; he was an ample administrator and through reforms he strengthened the military as well as his own power by domestic centratization. On top of this he was also a world class fighter. His first task after renaming his capital to Istanbul would be to invade Albania, where Skanderbeg was wreaking havoc.
The Duchy of Athens had already declared war on Albania, but lacked the power to defeat Skanderbeg. Mehmed moved in and laid siege to Albania with little issue. Soon Montenegro joined the war, and so did Moldavia; the Orthodox community did seem to object against Muslim heritage in Greece and Macedonia. While Mehmed took care of Montenegro, repeated attacks from Moldavia were repelled in Dobrudja. In the East Georgia had also joined the war, an act that had been answered from Armenia with a declaration of war. Soon Hamza Bey was there to make sure all land winnings became Ottoman.
Leaving a small cover force in Montenegro, waiting for Athenians to come and annex the small realm, Mehmed moved into Moldavia. He would really have wanted to strike at the Wallachian alliance to make sure Cyprus was annexed before they could fortify their defensive positions, but decided to take care of current wars first. Moldavia was an uninteresting story and soon had no army left. But Mehmed needed to act on a recent Wallachian declaration of war on Hungary, who had been invaded en masse by Austria. Not willing to let Cyprus build an army to hide in her mountains, Mehmed declared war upon them. The cowards in Wallachia, Serbia and Naples all left their ally to a bitter fate as unopposed Ottoman troops laid siege to the island. This would be part two in Mehmed's plan to dominate the Eastern Mediterranean. As previous unmentioned, the pity Duchy of The Knights had been annexed already, in a brief expedition after Albania had been defeated.
Now the fortresses in Albania had suffered enough and caved in to Ottoman demands: Epirus and all the gold in the treasury. Moldavia followed, ceding Bunjak and becoming an Ottoman vassal. Lastly Georgia was peaced, giving Mehmed Kars and Imeretia. Georgia was soon annexed by Armenia, and Albania by Duchy of Athens, who then moved on to annex Montenegro. Mehmed's first acquisitions were a fact.
The Grand Navy
As already described, Mehmed had a plan of naval dominance in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. The island nations of Cyprus and The Knights had been conquered, but that would not have been a feat had not the Ottoman navy also seen improvements. By closing down the rich Orthodox Patriarchate of Constantinople and by signing valuable trading rights for the rich powers of Venice and Genoa, Mehmed's tresury had an abundance of gold. The navy was thus prioritized and soon the Ottoman sails were more than those of any other in the world, nearing 200 ships.
The disfavour of the Gods
But all was not well. While many a coin had been put into ship building efforts, many had also been put into religious efforts. The people of Greece and Macedonia were Orthodox, a fact the pious Mehmed could not bear with. Missionaries were sent to the countryside, to the cities, along the roads and in the harbours. But everywhere they were met with violence and narrow-mindedness. Despite Mehmed's popularity, his excellent Muslim schools and Mosques and his very talented religious propagandists, people could not see the light. The Gods had cursed Mehmed for a reason only known to them; the mathematicians in Istanbul calculated the odds of Mehmed's religious misfortunes to a mere 1,5%, and they were the best mathematicians in the whole world.
But Mehmed was not a man to be put down by setbacks. He knew he was very late already in intervening in Hungary, after Austria already had annexed more than half of the realm. But he decided to attack Hungary and Wallachia, to seize Serbia and Oltenia for his own. Wallachia proved little resistance, and in Serbia the Hungarian King Matyas Corvinus was killed pronto. Then came an issue. Wallachia had occupied Transylvania, which was Hungarian, and had put a sizeable army in the mountains. Despite occupying all of Wallachia's own cities, it would cost much for Mehmed to completely defeat Vlad Tepes in Transylvania.
Nevertheless, attacks were made. It would take three attempts, but on the third the Wallachian forces were annihilated. These good news were however forgotten as Mehmed himself had been found seriously wounded after the battle, with his left leg completely cut off. Through skilled surgery his life was saved, but his career as a field marshal was over. Command was given to Mahmud Pasha, who led the Ottoman forces into Hungary and laid siege to Varad and Eger. This was when Austria declared war.
The first Austrian war
Baumkircher led 30.000 strong cavalrymen into Eger and expelled the Ottoman troops who fled to Varad. Well in Varad Mahmud Pasha, who was no skilled soldier, decided to try and hold and wait for the last 1.000 troops to arrive from Eger. He managed to hold Baumkircher for 5 days, and then was obliterated. Ottoman troops moved out of Transylvania awaiting new command and reinforcements. Such came in the form of Gedik Ahmed and 10.000 cavalry. Moving into occupied Wallachian territory was safe, and Austria positioned herself trying to liberate the occupied Hungarian land. Mehmed sent a letter asking for demands, and Austria answered with: "peace with Hungary". Mehmed was not slow to heed these demands and peaced Hungary who ceded Serbia to him. He offered Austria a White Peace, but it was rejected. Suddenly the Archduke had come up with the idea that Mehmed should peace Wallachia too.
Austria prepared to move into Wallachia, but again Mehmed was faster. Wallachia was peaced, securing Oltenia for the Turks. Again a White Peace was requested from Istanbul, and again Austria were not willing to comply. The Archduke, outnumbering Ottoman forces in the region, could siege Oltenia, but would not be able to make a successful offensive through the Bulgarian mountains, something both the Sultan and he knew. Instead he started making ridiculous demands, which were rejected in a rapid fashion, the exchange of letters as follows:
The birth of an Empire
In 1453 the walls of Constantinople fell and the Byzantine Empire was no more. Instead the era of Turkish dominance in Greece would begin. Mehmed II Fatîh was an able Sultan who possessed every skill anyone in his position would want to possess; he was an ample administrator and through reforms he strengthened the military as well as his own power by domestic centratization. On top of this he was also a world class fighter. His first task after renaming his capital to Istanbul would be to invade Albania, where Skanderbeg was wreaking havoc.
The Duchy of Athens had already declared war on Albania, but lacked the power to defeat Skanderbeg. Mehmed moved in and laid siege to Albania with little issue. Soon Montenegro joined the war, and so did Moldavia; the Orthodox community did seem to object against Muslim heritage in Greece and Macedonia. While Mehmed took care of Montenegro, repeated attacks from Moldavia were repelled in Dobrudja. In the East Georgia had also joined the war, an act that had been answered from Armenia with a declaration of war. Soon Hamza Bey was there to make sure all land winnings became Ottoman.
Leaving a small cover force in Montenegro, waiting for Athenians to come and annex the small realm, Mehmed moved into Moldavia. He would really have wanted to strike at the Wallachian alliance to make sure Cyprus was annexed before they could fortify their defensive positions, but decided to take care of current wars first. Moldavia was an uninteresting story and soon had no army left. But Mehmed needed to act on a recent Wallachian declaration of war on Hungary, who had been invaded en masse by Austria. Not willing to let Cyprus build an army to hide in her mountains, Mehmed declared war upon them. The cowards in Wallachia, Serbia and Naples all left their ally to a bitter fate as unopposed Ottoman troops laid siege to the island. This would be part two in Mehmed's plan to dominate the Eastern Mediterranean. As previous unmentioned, the pity Duchy of The Knights had been annexed already, in a brief expedition after Albania had been defeated.
Now the fortresses in Albania had suffered enough and caved in to Ottoman demands: Epirus and all the gold in the treasury. Moldavia followed, ceding Bunjak and becoming an Ottoman vassal. Lastly Georgia was peaced, giving Mehmed Kars and Imeretia. Georgia was soon annexed by Armenia, and Albania by Duchy of Athens, who then moved on to annex Montenegro. Mehmed's first acquisitions were a fact.
The Grand Navy
As already described, Mehmed had a plan of naval dominance in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. The island nations of Cyprus and The Knights had been conquered, but that would not have been a feat had not the Ottoman navy also seen improvements. By closing down the rich Orthodox Patriarchate of Constantinople and by signing valuable trading rights for the rich powers of Venice and Genoa, Mehmed's tresury had an abundance of gold. The navy was thus prioritized and soon the Ottoman sails were more than those of any other in the world, nearing 200 ships.
The disfavour of the Gods
But all was not well. While many a coin had been put into ship building efforts, many had also been put into religious efforts. The people of Greece and Macedonia were Orthodox, a fact the pious Mehmed could not bear with. Missionaries were sent to the countryside, to the cities, along the roads and in the harbours. But everywhere they were met with violence and narrow-mindedness. Despite Mehmed's popularity, his excellent Muslim schools and Mosques and his very talented religious propagandists, people could not see the light. The Gods had cursed Mehmed for a reason only known to them; the mathematicians in Istanbul calculated the odds of Mehmed's religious misfortunes to a mere 1,5%, and they were the best mathematicians in the whole world.
But Mehmed was not a man to be put down by setbacks. He knew he was very late already in intervening in Hungary, after Austria already had annexed more than half of the realm. But he decided to attack Hungary and Wallachia, to seize Serbia and Oltenia for his own. Wallachia proved little resistance, and in Serbia the Hungarian King Matyas Corvinus was killed pronto. Then came an issue. Wallachia had occupied Transylvania, which was Hungarian, and had put a sizeable army in the mountains. Despite occupying all of Wallachia's own cities, it would cost much for Mehmed to completely defeat Vlad Tepes in Transylvania.
Nevertheless, attacks were made. It would take three attempts, but on the third the Wallachian forces were annihilated. These good news were however forgotten as Mehmed himself had been found seriously wounded after the battle, with his left leg completely cut off. Through skilled surgery his life was saved, but his career as a field marshal was over. Command was given to Mahmud Pasha, who led the Ottoman forces into Hungary and laid siege to Varad and Eger. This was when Austria declared war.
The first Austrian war
Baumkircher led 30.000 strong cavalrymen into Eger and expelled the Ottoman troops who fled to Varad. Well in Varad Mahmud Pasha, who was no skilled soldier, decided to try and hold and wait for the last 1.000 troops to arrive from Eger. He managed to hold Baumkircher for 5 days, and then was obliterated. Ottoman troops moved out of Transylvania awaiting new command and reinforcements. Such came in the form of Gedik Ahmed and 10.000 cavalry. Moving into occupied Wallachian territory was safe, and Austria positioned herself trying to liberate the occupied Hungarian land. Mehmed sent a letter asking for demands, and Austria answered with: "peace with Hungary". Mehmed was not slow to heed these demands and peaced Hungary who ceded Serbia to him. He offered Austria a White Peace, but it was rejected. Suddenly the Archduke had come up with the idea that Mehmed should peace Wallachia too.
Austria prepared to move into Wallachia, but again Mehmed was faster. Wallachia was peaced, securing Oltenia for the Turks. Again a White Peace was requested from Istanbul, and again Austria were not willing to comply. The Archduke, outnumbering Ottoman forces in the region, could siege Oltenia, but would not be able to make a successful offensive through the Bulgarian mountains, something both the Sultan and he knew. Instead he started making ridiculous demands, which were rejected in a rapid fashion, the exchange of letters as follows:
The fighting that followed was bloody. Brandenburger troops moved into Silesia and seized Breslau, while Ottoman forces, grown stronger than Austrian, laid siege to Oltenia, Slavonia, Szegedin and Buda. With superior morale and land technology the war effort was soon at a positive 20% for the Ottoman alliance. But Burgundy declared war upon the North German nation and hindered Brandenburger liberty. After some years of fighting, Austria accepted a White Peace.
Dominating Greece and Ahmed's death
Duchy of Athens were large. They had annexed Albania and Montenegro. This could not be tolerated, and so Gedik Ahmed was sent to invade them. It was a simple task, with superior numbers and equipment. But when Athens attacked Ahmed's army in the mountains of Attica, he slipped down a rocky hillside and had his neck pierced by a sharp stone. Mehmed's curse had not relieved. Athens were, however, from Zeta, Albania and Thessalia. Mehmed's position in Greece was now secured, and he began making new plans, starting by enlarging his army, paying his loans and clearing away all dissidents. In a last leap of faith, he sent a missionary to Albania, hoping the Gods had forgiven him.
Dominating Greece and Ahmed's death
Duchy of Athens were large. They had annexed Albania and Montenegro. This could not be tolerated, and so Gedik Ahmed was sent to invade them. It was a simple task, with superior numbers and equipment. But when Athens attacked Ahmed's army in the mountains of Attica, he slipped down a rocky hillside and had his neck pierced by a sharp stone. Mehmed's curse had not relieved. Athens were, however, from Zeta, Albania and Thessalia. Mehmed's position in Greece was now secured, and he began making new plans, starting by enlarging his army, paying his loans and clearing away all dissidents. In a last leap of faith, he sent a missionary to Albania, hoping the Gods had forgiven him.
I want no offtime penalty, but I am arrogant enough to call my AAR "half-decent" and claim -1 inflation.
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Burgundy 1453 - 1472
Under the wise and resolute leadership of the inestimable Duke Philippe the Good, Burgundy had emerged from the chaos of the Hundred Years War transformed from a simple duchy in the kingdom of France to one of the richest and most powerful realms in Europe. In control of the profitable wool trade and standing astride the Rhine River, Burgundy secured for herself a great alliance of Rheinish states, including the Palatinate, Cologne, Kleves, and Lorraine.
Burgundian efforts in the latter half of Duke Philippe's reign were centered upon transforming these states from allies to vassals. Through a combination of marriages, bribery, and the Duke's own talent for diplomacy, within a few years all four bent their knee and submitted to their Burgundian overlord.
But other matters inevitably diverted the good Duke's attentions. After amicable negotiations with the beleaguered English King Henry VI, an arrangement was reached by which the city of Calais was sold to the Burgundian realm for a sum of gold. Many years later, a transaction of very much the same nature was carried out by Philippe's son Charles, who, having been raised more like a Dutchman than Frenchman, agreed to sell the ancestral Burgundian lands of Nevers and Bourgone to the King of France for an appreciable quantity of ducats. This sum only added to the richness of the land; even as the final payments of the transaction were being made, new developments and fresh investment were resulting in the construction of industrious manufactury centers.
For nearly all of Philippe's reign as Duke, Burgundy enjoyed an almost uninterrupted period of peace, even as the other great nations of Europe amassed great armies with which to conquer their lesser neighbors and thwart the ambitions of their counterparts. Driven by a desire to unite the two halves of his domain, an attack was made on Alsace under the command of the Duke's lieutenants, soldiers who excelled in the art of siege craft, who made short work of the fortifications around Strassbourg.
But the Duke, for all his diplomatic skill, was not above the vagaries of the poor quality and slow pace of communication in the era. As the war between Venice and France erupted, the good Duke assumed it was French aggression that sparked the conflict, nearly jeopardizing amicable relations between the two great realms. Further, as Brandenburg and the Ottoman Empire allied themselves to thwart the ambitions of the Habsburg Archdukes, miscommunication and confusion ultimately resulted in war and the landing of troops in Holstein and northern Germany in great number. Ultimately, though, little blood was spilt and an agreement settled upon: Burgundian influence west of the river Weser, centered upon Munster, was confirmed to the agreement of all parties involved.
Duke Philippe's dream of seeing the vassals of Burgundy incorporated directly into the kingdom did not come to pass, sadly. But though his successor Charles lacked much of his father's diplomatic acumen, the ties that bonded Burgundy with the Rheinish vassal states proved too strong to break; first Cologne, then the Palatinate, and finally Loraine agreed to peacefully join Burgundy. Kleves, agreed most, would follow shortly thereafter.
As the new Duke accustoms himself to rule, Burgundy seeks to continue its peaceful expansion and grow rich and prosperous in cooperation with its neighbors.
Under the wise and resolute leadership of the inestimable Duke Philippe the Good, Burgundy had emerged from the chaos of the Hundred Years War transformed from a simple duchy in the kingdom of France to one of the richest and most powerful realms in Europe. In control of the profitable wool trade and standing astride the Rhine River, Burgundy secured for herself a great alliance of Rheinish states, including the Palatinate, Cologne, Kleves, and Lorraine.
Burgundian efforts in the latter half of Duke Philippe's reign were centered upon transforming these states from allies to vassals. Through a combination of marriages, bribery, and the Duke's own talent for diplomacy, within a few years all four bent their knee and submitted to their Burgundian overlord.
But other matters inevitably diverted the good Duke's attentions. After amicable negotiations with the beleaguered English King Henry VI, an arrangement was reached by which the city of Calais was sold to the Burgundian realm for a sum of gold. Many years later, a transaction of very much the same nature was carried out by Philippe's son Charles, who, having been raised more like a Dutchman than Frenchman, agreed to sell the ancestral Burgundian lands of Nevers and Bourgone to the King of France for an appreciable quantity of ducats. This sum only added to the richness of the land; even as the final payments of the transaction were being made, new developments and fresh investment were resulting in the construction of industrious manufactury centers.
For nearly all of Philippe's reign as Duke, Burgundy enjoyed an almost uninterrupted period of peace, even as the other great nations of Europe amassed great armies with which to conquer their lesser neighbors and thwart the ambitions of their counterparts. Driven by a desire to unite the two halves of his domain, an attack was made on Alsace under the command of the Duke's lieutenants, soldiers who excelled in the art of siege craft, who made short work of the fortifications around Strassbourg.
But the Duke, for all his diplomatic skill, was not above the vagaries of the poor quality and slow pace of communication in the era. As the war between Venice and France erupted, the good Duke assumed it was French aggression that sparked the conflict, nearly jeopardizing amicable relations between the two great realms. Further, as Brandenburg and the Ottoman Empire allied themselves to thwart the ambitions of the Habsburg Archdukes, miscommunication and confusion ultimately resulted in war and the landing of troops in Holstein and northern Germany in great number. Ultimately, though, little blood was spilt and an agreement settled upon: Burgundian influence west of the river Weser, centered upon Munster, was confirmed to the agreement of all parties involved.
Duke Philippe's dream of seeing the vassals of Burgundy incorporated directly into the kingdom did not come to pass, sadly. But though his successor Charles lacked much of his father's diplomatic acumen, the ties that bonded Burgundy with the Rheinish vassal states proved too strong to break; first Cologne, then the Palatinate, and finally Loraine agreed to peacefully join Burgundy. Kleves, agreed most, would follow shortly thereafter.
As the new Duke accustoms himself to rule, Burgundy seeks to continue its peaceful expansion and grow rich and prosperous in cooperation with its neighbors.
Garstige Zeiten - uriges Krakeelen (1453-1472)
Since times imemorial the House of Hohenzollern had reigned over the fledgling realm of Brandenburg. Under its wise and enlightened rulership the land had prospered. At the dawn of 1453 the political situation in Europe, however, was most complicated. To the east lay mighty Poland with which it was crucial to remain on amicable terms. In the north strapping nordic kingdoms clamored for recognition and especially Sweden, rapidly expanding and full of dynamic, came to the Margrave´s attention. Burgundy, too, soon grew to impressive proportions and as such became a noteworthy factor in Brandenburg´s foreign policy. And finally of course...Austria. Ruled by a fierce fighter, who´s fame preceded him, and growing with lightning speed it was eyed full of anxiety.
With everybody else busily expanding the hunger for land also awakened in Brandenburg. It was felt at the Margrave´s court, the time had come to extend Hohenzollern´s gracious administration to other, as yet withering, earldoms and entities in the patchwork that constituted the Holy Roman Empire. In rapid succession Hannover and Saxony were attacked and after bloody fighting defeated, yielding substantial real estate to the Markgrafschaft. Next with the generous aid of England, the Hanse trade block was attacked. After fierce battles the bustling trade center Holstein and Bremen were annexed. Somewhat later Mecklenburg and Pommerania were also conquered.
Alas, Brandenburg´s expansion paled at the massive enlargement of Austria. The fierce Archduke, it was felt, was conquering the world in one massive swath. And with Austria´s rising strength came corresponding fear in Berlin. When shortly after the Archduke raised his iron glove and decided to punch the Ottoman Empire a mighty blow Brandenburg could not waver any further. The Sultan´s requested aid was complied with and war on Austria consequently declared. Brandenburgian forces quickly invested Breslau, Karlsbad and Pilzno, which fell after prolongued sieges. In the mean time Austrian counter attacks in the Bohemian mountains were checked and preparations for a sortie deep into the Austrian hinterland made.
Sadly fortune did not smile on this undertaking. Led by general Giott, 20.000 sabres audaciously advanced deep into Austria and were, unfortunately, cut off from reinforcements and annihilated. After said debacle a tactical withdrawal was ordered and Brandenburgian troops withdrew from the Bohemian mountains. At this point, due to the general exhaustion of all combatants an honorable white peace was agreed upon.
After the war Brandenburg´s army was brought back to full strength in order to be as prepared as possible for any eventuality. On the other hand of course, what will be written in history´s next chapter...God only knows.
Ontime-cookie
AAR-reward: $$$
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Muscovy (1453-1472)
Grand Duke of Moscow, Vasili II, directs the lands around Moscow for 30 years. The recent fall of Constantinople gave Muscovy as sole owner of the Orthodox faith. Although many practitioners were still present in Lithuania, the territories of the Golden Horde in the east or in the Balkans, they had all become subjects of the Ottoman Empire or the Poland-Lithuania.
The rise of Russia begins ...
From 1454 and through talented as Fedor Basenok commanders, the armies of the Golden Horde Khanate Crimean allies were crushed in two battles quickly. For fear of a fast attack poland-lithuania on these rich lands, the Crimea was shattered first. These fears were not justified. Poland was busy fighting the Austro-Bohemian. The victory of Austria on the Polish was good news.
Unfortunately, peace was made a few years later, despite the occupation of all territories. They continued to refuse peace warscore 40-50%, whereas it was 100%. Finally, the cities of Kaffa, Circassia, Kuban, Alania, Astrakhan, Ulutsk, Samara and Mordva were taken from khanates Muslims. The Golden Horde was exhausted and ruined. No danger would come from it anymore.
An alliance with Sweden and England allowed to attack Novgorod which is allied to Denmark. During the war,Ingria became Swedish . As for the Muscovy, it would still expand in several provinces. Novgorod was now cut in half.
Meanwhile, an expedition was conducted in Lithuania to release the brothers Orthodox tyranny. Even if the death of Fedor Basenok would slow things down, victory was gained in the first summer of war. New Territories (4) were integrated into the field of Muscovy.
During the months when the looting was important, inflation went up. Nevertheless, a treasure of 1100 ducats was amassed during that time. Austria, which had entered the war against the Ottomans and the Elector of Brandenburg asked support armies Moscow. The depletion of the Russian population after these decades of war made us reject this offer.
Several hundred ducats were still sent as a support.
Some European courts we now see as someone with whom to treat as equals, not as a small army chief.
Towards the end of the session, new territories of the Golden Horde were integrated into the sphere of Moscow. Cities like Voronezh were conquered. Peace was finally returned in 1460. The population was finally able to rest before heading towards new conquests in the east.
The situation of Muscovy is currently very comfortable. Lithuania orthodox is secure and Poles do not seem to have plans of aggression against us. Sweden in the north is currently an ally safe. A nonaggression pact was signed until 1490. The Ottomans in the south are currently behind on their development. Only a few islands and territories in the west were conquered. Alexandria is still under Mamluk control, and wealth of Armenia as well. The Persian is powerful, and will require a high expenditure of time and money to Sultan Mehmed II to overcome.
Strong links have been forged with several European nations. It is certain that sooner or later, Muscovy will face them for leadership in Europe.
In 1472, the Muscovy is the 4th European power after Austria, the Ottoman Empire and Spain.
Austria: 1453- 1472
Less than a year into the session, troubles lurked to the north as the Poles descended upon Bohemia. Austria's birthright and one I intended to annex a couple years after the session's start(apart from Lausitz which it had been agreed would go to Brandenburg, for his being the one to make the DOW). But as I was at the time busy taking care of an unacceptably unvassalized Wurtenburg, and likewise not quite inclined to make it an open conflict if some kind of easy deal could be made with Poland, I didn't turn it into a fight immediately. I tried to speak to the Polish king, only eventually getting some kind of short answer that indicated a lack of interest in a compromise.
I had meanwhile been building up the cavalry corps a bit, and by the time war'd become inevitable, I was more than ready to wage it. I gathered military access from Hungary and Bohemia, both allies, and sent the force into Bohemia. Figuring why not do it all at once, I also dow'd Croatia, the third ally, turning it into a three way.
I took it nice and slow. Poland was wasting troops in its management of attrition, and ultimately that cost it its ability to recover from the battle that eventually removed its main army. All the losses added up, and so, after two or three years of mostly cautious maneuvering, it was over and two of the four provinces Poland had taken from Bohemia were returned to Austria. It was less than I could have taken.
Bohemia and then Hungary were shortly finished off. After a little bit, I noticed that Bavaria was at war with the Pope, whose rugged independence, prized across all Christendom, made war with Bavaria easily justifiable and minimized the stab loss for the DOW. I actually DOW'd one of its allies, but they were thick as thieves so it didn't matter.
It took a long time to siege their lands though. In the meantime, Turkey was feeling a little Hungary, if you know what I mean, deciding it wanted a piece of the pie I'd mostly consumed earlier. Since I still had the MA there, I thought maybe I'd wait for Mehmed to drop nearby and I'd take a shot at killing him. It might have worked if Mats were looking elsewhere right then. In any case, it turned out I didn't have to. After getting my army into position, I couldn't spot Mehmed, and just decided to enter anyway, killing what I could. And then it turned out that Mehmed was nowhere to be seen, having died at Wallachian hands. After this I tried to get him to give me 100D for peace. I seemed to be in a better position, needing peace less, with him at 6 WE, me at 5(lot of that from prior war taxes) and me able to lay siege to one province. I also had a fair bit of battle warscore. After laying siege to his one province over the Danube- Oltenia I think, and then pretending to move support west, luring the Turks into an attack that was viciously counter-attacked with the secretly returning cavalry army... Brandenburg entered the war. That was that for the stalemate in the SE. The cav army moved NW and the armies in Bavaria that had still been running sieges moved to Bohemia. Bavaria was peaced for a prov and some money.
Brandenburg had invested all the border forts, and repulsed my initial sally, but I got into the mountain provinces to re-siege them after he left, and then fend off an attack or two. Burgundy joined briefly, diverting Brandenburger forces for a time and that helped me to get back the position in Bohemia. My big cavalry army, which had been fighting the Ottomans in very successful hit and fades, also had a good time with 20k Brandenburgers on horse who'd ventured into Presburg, only to find themselves outnumbered and out of supplies. They were all killed. Eventually I received a WP offer, and this one I accepted.
About a year and a half later, I was feeling a little Hungary again myself, and DOW'd Croatia, finishing them with an annexation and then nom'd the last few hun provinces. My last act was to build a fine arts academy, in celebration of my victories and the fact that my census taxes now allowed me to afford such lavish expense.
Less than a year into the session, troubles lurked to the north as the Poles descended upon Bohemia. Austria's birthright and one I intended to annex a couple years after the session's start(apart from Lausitz which it had been agreed would go to Brandenburg, for his being the one to make the DOW). But as I was at the time busy taking care of an unacceptably unvassalized Wurtenburg, and likewise not quite inclined to make it an open conflict if some kind of easy deal could be made with Poland, I didn't turn it into a fight immediately. I tried to speak to the Polish king, only eventually getting some kind of short answer that indicated a lack of interest in a compromise.
I had meanwhile been building up the cavalry corps a bit, and by the time war'd become inevitable, I was more than ready to wage it. I gathered military access from Hungary and Bohemia, both allies, and sent the force into Bohemia. Figuring why not do it all at once, I also dow'd Croatia, the third ally, turning it into a three way.
I took it nice and slow. Poland was wasting troops in its management of attrition, and ultimately that cost it its ability to recover from the battle that eventually removed its main army. All the losses added up, and so, after two or three years of mostly cautious maneuvering, it was over and two of the four provinces Poland had taken from Bohemia were returned to Austria. It was less than I could have taken.
Bohemia and then Hungary were shortly finished off. After a little bit, I noticed that Bavaria was at war with the Pope, whose rugged independence, prized across all Christendom, made war with Bavaria easily justifiable and minimized the stab loss for the DOW. I actually DOW'd one of its allies, but they were thick as thieves so it didn't matter.
It took a long time to siege their lands though. In the meantime, Turkey was feeling a little Hungary, if you know what I mean, deciding it wanted a piece of the pie I'd mostly consumed earlier. Since I still had the MA there, I thought maybe I'd wait for Mehmed to drop nearby and I'd take a shot at killing him. It might have worked if Mats were looking elsewhere right then. In any case, it turned out I didn't have to. After getting my army into position, I couldn't spot Mehmed, and just decided to enter anyway, killing what I could. And then it turned out that Mehmed was nowhere to be seen, having died at Wallachian hands. After this I tried to get him to give me 100D for peace. I seemed to be in a better position, needing peace less, with him at 6 WE, me at 5(lot of that from prior war taxes) and me able to lay siege to one province. I also had a fair bit of battle warscore. After laying siege to his one province over the Danube- Oltenia I think, and then pretending to move support west, luring the Turks into an attack that was viciously counter-attacked with the secretly returning cavalry army... Brandenburg entered the war. That was that for the stalemate in the SE. The cav army moved NW and the armies in Bavaria that had still been running sieges moved to Bohemia. Bavaria was peaced for a prov and some money.
Brandenburg had invested all the border forts, and repulsed my initial sally, but I got into the mountain provinces to re-siege them after he left, and then fend off an attack or two. Burgundy joined briefly, diverting Brandenburger forces for a time and that helped me to get back the position in Bohemia. My big cavalry army, which had been fighting the Ottomans in very successful hit and fades, also had a good time with 20k Brandenburgers on horse who'd ventured into Presburg, only to find themselves outnumbered and out of supplies. They were all killed. Eventually I received a WP offer, and this one I accepted.
About a year and a half later, I was feeling a little Hungary again myself, and DOW'd Croatia, finishing them with an annexation and then nom'd the last few hun provinces. My last act was to build a fine arts academy, in celebration of my victories and the fact that my census taxes now allowed me to afford such lavish expense.
Sweden
1453-1472
Can you believe it!? My own country! Finally, I can build a realm just in the way I want it to be built, without any strategic decisions that are already made. My neighbors are well experienced strategists and warriors. England is ruled by Hungarian king Krisz who build a great Sweden in Ego’s campaign. Ampoliros rules an Electorate of Brandenburg, very skilled but also kind monarch. My friend Sasza [en. Sascha] was supposed to be match for the others. Finally, Pepsi was leading The Grand Duchy of Moscow and it is going to be one of the major powers.
Sweden’s primary target in the early stage of a game is Denmark. First invasion, practiced many times with single player focused on avoiding the fight and letting the winter do its job. Danish army, better equipped and having quantitative advantage, was just decimated by frost and logistical problems. Much worse was dealing with Danish fortresses when I had to hold the siege through the whole winter. That factor combined with very stubborn AI that didn’t want to give up too much provinces without enough war score really slowed down my advances. I will have to fight Denmark again at least twice to subdue and annex it.
Another problem is that I don’t have any real chance of competing with other naval powers in a colonial race. I have no explorers and only one historical conquistador, in the seventeenth century. Of course it’s still possible to be a dominant colonial nation, just like Aladar’s Denmark in his campaign, but my chances ale way lower considering my overall skill. It seems that the best way to play will be if I just trade peacefully, maybe colonize some lands and eventually become a member of a particular coalition. Sweden rather won’t be an independent country.
There was a lot going on in Europe during our first session. Poland got beaten and had to give away two Silesian provinces to King John. Since then, Poland was unable to threaten his expansion, he’s got one potential enemy off his back, well done. However, an alliance of Brandenburg and Ottoman Empire that stood against him in the next decade was quite close to contain Austrian beast, but the intervention of Burgundy dashed their plans. I’m looking forward to observe a struggle in the Central Europe.
agreed, under the condition that the oe annex tunisia this session and gives it to spain. otherwise the ownership of gabes will be changed again after the session again.
You guys don't lose any stab to dow one another. Why don't you just do it in session after the OE annexes Tunisia, and I play a game of Tetris rather than spend the two or three minutes editing that?
You guys don't lose any stab to dow one another. Why don't you just do it in session after the OE annexes Tunisia, and I play a game of Tetris rather than spend the two or three minutes editing that?
obviously he wants the prov now :/
i would also add, that the simultaneously rule is in effect here. the province shouldnt be a full part of the oe untill all conditions of the deal are done...
Very well, and I'll abide this to the simul rule as well.agreed, under the condition that the oe annex tunisia this session and gives it to spain. otherwise the ownership of gabes will be changed again after the session again.
Please include my AAR-reward from last week (-1 inflation) in this week's edit (as per KJ's (exception) ruling).
Sweden
1472-1504
1472-1504
It was one of the worst sessions ever played to me. It’s like there’s some being that’s responsible for random events and random number outcomes distribution. And it decided that its primary target was Sweden. It may sound like an excuse for my bad performance, I don’t care. It really was just awkward and nerve-wracking to play. I couldn’t count random events that had hit my stability precisely, but I believe I lost something about 15 stability points because of them. I’ve also got two corruption events (+2% inflation), so It was no longer possible to build a decent number of refineries. Eventually I’ve decided to wait until session ends and get bonuses for my reports. And the best part is – Denmark refused peaceful annexation and broke vassalization. All those money I’ve sent them, were used to build new land units stationed in Iceland and Greenland. That created a huge disproportion in our army’s sizes and made AI refuse my offer. Moreover – beating those units would be a pain in the ass. I’ve decided to try peaceful annexation once again. But I can’t help feeling depressed. Somehow I’m sure that Sweden will be meaningless, minor country, probably Russia’s or England’s bitch.
Austria has lost its supreme position in Central Europe, but it turned out that Poland was illegally boosted. Save was overwritten and the new one had various bonuses like investments and money added. Of course suspicion focused on the nominal King of Poland, who was absent that day and, moreover, didn’t release any statement regarding the issue. Anyway, it’s just stupid to add such boosts and hope that no one will notice, so I don’t think anyone playing in this campaign did it. And I also hope that Sasza will appear on today’s session and explain his recent absence.
Reward: -2% inflation
Last edited:
Muscovy (1472-1504)
11 years after the takeover of Ivan III of Russia, the situation was stable. Talks were initiated with the British to fund an expedition that would go far to the east, in Mongolian, Kazakh and Chinese lands. During the year 1474 was taken to the declining timurid empire Samarkand. A path through the Chagatai Khanate was also open. Moscow's troops could well invade Mongolia to take the military access and secure the gold mine of Hailar (1488). The traders in the region to celebrate the arrival of a Western power has even opened a trade center site.
Moscow's troops were finally intended to take the trading centers in Guangzhou and Shanghai and then give them to England. Gains and looting carried out on the road would return to Moscow. The ultimate objectives were achieved around 1495 after a short but bloody war against the Chinese.
Another expedition was conducted in Africa in the same time to learn the Orthodox faith for the tribal population. Songhai, Fante, Dahomey and Mali and were conquered in the space of a few years. Several gold mines were again added to the current collection. There is no doubt that this policy of expansion will continue through the Karembornu, Benin, Ethiopia and Nubia.
Unfortunately at the age of 62 and after 40 years of rule, the Spaniards took advantage of the illness of Ivan III to attack the positions of Moscow in Africa, with a view to the Timbukhtu center of trade .
Despite larger forces as the Spanish, they were advancing, primarily because of El Gran Capitan, the world's best general. From our side, only a poor sergeant led troops in Africa. Talks have begun, but Spanish demands do not satisfy moscow.
Deflation
11 years after the takeover of Ivan III of Russia, the situation was stable. Talks were initiated with the British to fund an expedition that would go far to the east, in Mongolian, Kazakh and Chinese lands. During the year 1474 was taken to the declining timurid empire Samarkand. A path through the Chagatai Khanate was also open. Moscow's troops could well invade Mongolia to take the military access and secure the gold mine of Hailar (1488). The traders in the region to celebrate the arrival of a Western power has even opened a trade center site.
Moscow's troops were finally intended to take the trading centers in Guangzhou and Shanghai and then give them to England. Gains and looting carried out on the road would return to Moscow. The ultimate objectives were achieved around 1495 after a short but bloody war against the Chinese.
Another expedition was conducted in Africa in the same time to learn the Orthodox faith for the tribal population. Songhai, Fante, Dahomey and Mali and were conquered in the space of a few years. Several gold mines were again added to the current collection. There is no doubt that this policy of expansion will continue through the Karembornu, Benin, Ethiopia and Nubia.
Unfortunately at the age of 62 and after 40 years of rule, the Spaniards took advantage of the illness of Ivan III to attack the positions of Moscow in Africa, with a view to the Timbukhtu center of trade .
Despite larger forces as the Spanish, they were advancing, primarily because of El Gran Capitan, the world's best general. From our side, only a poor sergeant led troops in Africa. Talks have begun, but Spanish demands do not satisfy moscow.
Deflation
AAR Austria 1472-1504
At its apex, Austria stretched from Transylvania to Wurzburg in the west, and the southern half of Silesia to the north. The economy appeared very healthy, with plans to build two refineries and a fine arts academy already. Indeed, it was perhaps the most industrialized nation at this time, but dark clouds approached. Feeling that I had enough money to sustain a war after another splurge, I invested my pot into said refineries, setting them up in the Bohemia area where grapes grew a plenty, and then hung out feeling good about my situation.
The main point of anxiety came from the OE, who had done teched land, and was nearing the CRT. He'd reach it far before me. I had some plans for a preemptive strike against him, but they would never be tested for it was just then that Brandenburg, Poland and, to my puzzlement, Burgundy, combined against me. Burgundy's part was concluded quickly. I didn't want to fight with them, considering them a strategic ally and one I still might turn against Brandenburg in this war.
I fought BBurg and Poland reasonably well. My cavalry army remained intact and was able to rain down destruction on a number of Polish armies in Hungary and around the Krakow area, catching some reinforcement armies as well as simply bearing down on their main army with more force than they had, due to surprise. This went well for a long time. Meanwhile, I for the most part ignored Brandenburg, diverting a small infantry army to slow him down in Bohemia. But the Poles kept coming, and were even assaulting my provinces, having gained LT 5. This allowed the enemy to get within stabhitting distance. Finally, I lost my cavalry army in the east. My luck was bound to dwindle sometime, and when it did, I didn't have the resources to set up another viable cavalry army that could hold back the tide, nor did I any longer have the time to do this even if I could afford it. So I had to give up Liegnitz and Oppeln.
Ironically, the OE wasn't the danger I feared it to be. To buy peace, I gave to him Transylvania and another Hungarian province which's name I can't remember, and that was that. 15 years of truce between us. He gave them to Poland, trusting in their ability to keep me too distracted to give Mats any trouble.
Now it appeared Burgundy would be dow'd be some powers, and a part of me thought it was his just desserts, and some part wanted to join in on the fun, but knowing that I needed his help against Brandenburg overrode these whims. Despite his recent acquisitions in southern Germany, the alliance with Burgundy made the most sense in the face of the perfect cooperation between Brandenburg and Poland. I was going to sell Wurzburg to Brandenburg anyway, and get a truce with it to expire at roughly the time of the OE's truce, but then in a twist of terrible irony, a manufactory randomly appeared there, increasing its value substantially. So the price needed to increase from the original 350. After much haggling, I couldn't get a deal for the new price of 850D(putting my estimate of the refinery's value at 500D). A mistake, as shortly after, Brandenburg and Poland(who now had a CRT), easily invaded Austria, tearing away Wurzburg for nothing and two more Hungarian provs to boot. They were kind enough to think of my ego through this, assuring me that their persistent aggressions were only necessary because they feared me. I wondered how many times I'd have to suffer setbacks like these before I would be free from hearing this sort of thing.
Not to be discouraged, I started noticing vulnerabilities in France, where, firstly, they failed to get the CRT as quickly as Burgundy, Spain and Austria. Actually, TC noticed this first. I jumped on the idea, but spent too much time trying to get a sedentary Spain to do it, and then by the time TC and I were basically ready to go it alone, it was too late, and he'd gained it. That didn't stop us from attacking him a couple years later, though. I had Frunsburg and LT 11, giving me enough morale to counter his monarch, I thought, and perhaps enough punch to return and deal with my other adversaries once they jumped on my back. So why not have some more fun, and actually score a victory before the session was over.
That war was, indeed, fun, and initially went quite well. Infantry started sieges in his foresty provinces, in Lorraine and Franche Comte, which were broken by his cavalry army, but won a couple battles in the process and inflicted some more expensive casualties. We were being much more cautious with our cavalry armies. Much depended on how the first big battles would go, and so they needed to be fought on our terms. Luckily, the Engel, not knowing that I had Fruns with 50+k sitting behind the lines, sent a 20k or so cav force into Flandern or thereabout for a seige. He was shortly met by my whole army, which in that and the next battle, annihilated this force. France had started dividing up his big army of 70k into two at about this time, actually a little before it, and so it was time to move. Burgundy's army came down and fought him, winning the battle and sending him to Paris. Meanwhile my army, after having pursued the 20k from Flandern, was headed to Paris from where he quickly retreated his army south. We were both pursuing them until they retreated over a major river. We killed the bulk of the French. We lost a lot of men too, but had plenty to spare by the end, and they were used to suppress the reinforcements he'd raised across the rest of Northern France. Essentially, France was defeated, but he had cash reserves and was during this time rebuilding his army. At the same time, Brandenburg and the OE had joined the war.
I was going to go east to fight in Austria, but seeing that a cav army of Brandenburg's was laying siege to Kleves, I thought I would deal with this first. So after reinforcing mine to about 45 or 50k, I went and showed him why that was a bad idea, destroying all that was there along with a leader. About 30k I think. Thus freed up for other work, I decided to go south, but seeing that things were going badly in France, chose instead to help a bit more in that area. Warscore was very good for us. I alone had over 50 warscore on France, but Burgundy couldn't figure out how to send the right kind of stabhit, or something, so we profited nothing from it, until I started sending separate stabhits, which Engel refused. The foray with Fruns, however, ended in disaster when, after pursuing a leaderless army and killing most of it, at high losses for himself, was caught by the main French army. I'd turned my attention to something, I think chatting, and then he was gone. The OE was getting deep into Hungary, and Brandenburg'd captured a prov or two in Bohemia. The enemy offered a general white peace, which seemed like a pretty good deal. I wonder if they all realized that Fruns was gone at that point.
All in all, a quite disappointing session, but Austria hasn't suffered any very serious disasters and I should maybe be grateful for that. I got an exceptional year somewhere during the session too, so I should be thankful for that as well.
At its apex, Austria stretched from Transylvania to Wurzburg in the west, and the southern half of Silesia to the north. The economy appeared very healthy, with plans to build two refineries and a fine arts academy already. Indeed, it was perhaps the most industrialized nation at this time, but dark clouds approached. Feeling that I had enough money to sustain a war after another splurge, I invested my pot into said refineries, setting them up in the Bohemia area where grapes grew a plenty, and then hung out feeling good about my situation.
The main point of anxiety came from the OE, who had done teched land, and was nearing the CRT. He'd reach it far before me. I had some plans for a preemptive strike against him, but they would never be tested for it was just then that Brandenburg, Poland and, to my puzzlement, Burgundy, combined against me. Burgundy's part was concluded quickly. I didn't want to fight with them, considering them a strategic ally and one I still might turn against Brandenburg in this war.
I fought BBurg and Poland reasonably well. My cavalry army remained intact and was able to rain down destruction on a number of Polish armies in Hungary and around the Krakow area, catching some reinforcement armies as well as simply bearing down on their main army with more force than they had, due to surprise. This went well for a long time. Meanwhile, I for the most part ignored Brandenburg, diverting a small infantry army to slow him down in Bohemia. But the Poles kept coming, and were even assaulting my provinces, having gained LT 5. This allowed the enemy to get within stabhitting distance. Finally, I lost my cavalry army in the east. My luck was bound to dwindle sometime, and when it did, I didn't have the resources to set up another viable cavalry army that could hold back the tide, nor did I any longer have the time to do this even if I could afford it. So I had to give up Liegnitz and Oppeln.
Ironically, the OE wasn't the danger I feared it to be. To buy peace, I gave to him Transylvania and another Hungarian province which's name I can't remember, and that was that. 15 years of truce between us. He gave them to Poland, trusting in their ability to keep me too distracted to give Mats any trouble.
Now it appeared Burgundy would be dow'd be some powers, and a part of me thought it was his just desserts, and some part wanted to join in on the fun, but knowing that I needed his help against Brandenburg overrode these whims. Despite his recent acquisitions in southern Germany, the alliance with Burgundy made the most sense in the face of the perfect cooperation between Brandenburg and Poland. I was going to sell Wurzburg to Brandenburg anyway, and get a truce with it to expire at roughly the time of the OE's truce, but then in a twist of terrible irony, a manufactory randomly appeared there, increasing its value substantially. So the price needed to increase from the original 350. After much haggling, I couldn't get a deal for the new price of 850D(putting my estimate of the refinery's value at 500D). A mistake, as shortly after, Brandenburg and Poland(who now had a CRT), easily invaded Austria, tearing away Wurzburg for nothing and two more Hungarian provs to boot. They were kind enough to think of my ego through this, assuring me that their persistent aggressions were only necessary because they feared me. I wondered how many times I'd have to suffer setbacks like these before I would be free from hearing this sort of thing.
Not to be discouraged, I started noticing vulnerabilities in France, where, firstly, they failed to get the CRT as quickly as Burgundy, Spain and Austria. Actually, TC noticed this first. I jumped on the idea, but spent too much time trying to get a sedentary Spain to do it, and then by the time TC and I were basically ready to go it alone, it was too late, and he'd gained it. That didn't stop us from attacking him a couple years later, though. I had Frunsburg and LT 11, giving me enough morale to counter his monarch, I thought, and perhaps enough punch to return and deal with my other adversaries once they jumped on my back. So why not have some more fun, and actually score a victory before the session was over.
That war was, indeed, fun, and initially went quite well. Infantry started sieges in his foresty provinces, in Lorraine and Franche Comte, which were broken by his cavalry army, but won a couple battles in the process and inflicted some more expensive casualties. We were being much more cautious with our cavalry armies. Much depended on how the first big battles would go, and so they needed to be fought on our terms. Luckily, the Engel, not knowing that I had Fruns with 50+k sitting behind the lines, sent a 20k or so cav force into Flandern or thereabout for a seige. He was shortly met by my whole army, which in that and the next battle, annihilated this force. France had started dividing up his big army of 70k into two at about this time, actually a little before it, and so it was time to move. Burgundy's army came down and fought him, winning the battle and sending him to Paris. Meanwhile my army, after having pursued the 20k from Flandern, was headed to Paris from where he quickly retreated his army south. We were both pursuing them until they retreated over a major river. We killed the bulk of the French. We lost a lot of men too, but had plenty to spare by the end, and they were used to suppress the reinforcements he'd raised across the rest of Northern France. Essentially, France was defeated, but he had cash reserves and was during this time rebuilding his army. At the same time, Brandenburg and the OE had joined the war.
I was going to go east to fight in Austria, but seeing that a cav army of Brandenburg's was laying siege to Kleves, I thought I would deal with this first. So after reinforcing mine to about 45 or 50k, I went and showed him why that was a bad idea, destroying all that was there along with a leader. About 30k I think. Thus freed up for other work, I decided to go south, but seeing that things were going badly in France, chose instead to help a bit more in that area. Warscore was very good for us. I alone had over 50 warscore on France, but Burgundy couldn't figure out how to send the right kind of stabhit, or something, so we profited nothing from it, until I started sending separate stabhits, which Engel refused. The foray with Fruns, however, ended in disaster when, after pursuing a leaderless army and killing most of it, at high losses for himself, was caught by the main French army. I'd turned my attention to something, I think chatting, and then he was gone. The OE was getting deep into Hungary, and Brandenburg'd captured a prov or two in Bohemia. The enemy offered a general white peace, which seemed like a pretty good deal. I wonder if they all realized that Fruns was gone at that point.
All in all, a quite disappointing session, but Austria hasn't suffered any very serious disasters and I should maybe be grateful for that. I got an exceptional year somewhere during the session too, so I should be thankful for that as well.
Mats, Ear, I don't see why a fake war shouldn't be done for this province. You don't suffer any stab loss and it's close enough to be quite convenient. I'd be even willing to pay one of you 50D to compensate for the tax collector out of my pocket. I don't want to edit it.
The simul rule doesn't cover this deal, also. Some other event could intervene in the time between the Gabes thing and his annexation of Tunisia, and could derail it for years, by which time another power could rush in and Annex it, like Italy or France. Not likely, perhaps, but you can see why, at least technically, this isn't covered. That's how the rules would interpret it if a situation were to arise, though it's unlikely your deal will go anything except smoothly.
The simul rule doesn't cover this deal, also. Some other event could intervene in the time between the Gabes thing and his annexation of Tunisia, and could derail it for years, by which time another power could rush in and Annex it, like Italy or France. Not likely, perhaps, but you can see why, at least technically, this isn't covered. That's how the rules would interpret it if a situation were to arise, though it's unlikely your deal will go anything except smoothly.
Ottoman AAR 1472 - 1504
Size matters
The Ottoman Empire had the best land technology in the world. This was a fact. But it was a rather smallish Empire. Plans for expansion were therefore made by Mehmed II, involving primarily the Mameluk realm. In the West Austria were very strong, but diplomatically the situation looked bright. A force of around 50.000 strong were still left in the Balkans, to repel any Austrian offensive expeditions. The remainder of the Grand Army were sent to the East, were they would conquer rich lands from Egypt.
The first move was towards Alexandria. War was declared against the Shiite heretics of the Mameluk Empire and the Persian Kingdom. Alexandria was invaded from the sea with a numerous cavalry force, and any defenders were quickly dealt with. Soon the fortress fell to the excellent siege engineers of Istanbul. The capital followed and in the East Syria was under Ottoman control. Disregarding normal protocol, Mehmed II took the liberty of simply annexing Alexandria without even consulting his enemies. This was followed with outrage from Cairo, but could the Sultan care less?
Mameluks were completely occupied and looted for many years. After this Syria, Armenia and Aleppo were given to the Ottomans. The Persians were forced to convert to the Sunni faith and deprived of Georgia.
European warmongering
Austria had just been defeated by Brandenburg and Poland. They did not have any guns. The Sultan had all cards in position, and could at any point just wave his hand to send the order. But he was not a cruel man. He offered the beaten Archduke to peacefully cede only two provinces, Transylvania and Karpatalja. The custody of these were then given to Poland, awaiting better tidings, and also befriending the northern neighbour.
After this was settled, Mehmed died. His son, Bayezid, took command and again attacked Mameluks and Persia. War was easy and several new provinces were taken, and Mameluks were also force-converted. Oman however joined the war on the (formerly) Shiite side. Being the owner of a sizeable trade Center, Oman faced a brutal Ottoman invasion and were forced to give Ormuz, as it was called, up.
Then Bayezid began inventing. His master engineers had drawings on how to industrialize the production of wine, and with all the money earned from his conquests, Bayezid build four large manufactories in Greece, hoping it would pay his sons and his sons sons off. Celebrating Bayzid's open-mindedness, the border region of Moldova collected donations and built their own factory, producing clothes at an alarming rate.
Now the Ottoman Empire are strong. The army is educated, the navy is large and the economy is on the rise. And Bayezid's son is showing great progress in his military training. What could go wrong?
Reward: - 1 inflation.
Size matters
The Ottoman Empire had the best land technology in the world. This was a fact. But it was a rather smallish Empire. Plans for expansion were therefore made by Mehmed II, involving primarily the Mameluk realm. In the West Austria were very strong, but diplomatically the situation looked bright. A force of around 50.000 strong were still left in the Balkans, to repel any Austrian offensive expeditions. The remainder of the Grand Army were sent to the East, were they would conquer rich lands from Egypt.
The first move was towards Alexandria. War was declared against the Shiite heretics of the Mameluk Empire and the Persian Kingdom. Alexandria was invaded from the sea with a numerous cavalry force, and any defenders were quickly dealt with. Soon the fortress fell to the excellent siege engineers of Istanbul. The capital followed and in the East Syria was under Ottoman control. Disregarding normal protocol, Mehmed II took the liberty of simply annexing Alexandria without even consulting his enemies. This was followed with outrage from Cairo, but could the Sultan care less?
Mameluks were completely occupied and looted for many years. After this Syria, Armenia and Aleppo were given to the Ottomans. The Persians were forced to convert to the Sunni faith and deprived of Georgia.
European warmongering
Austria had just been defeated by Brandenburg and Poland. They did not have any guns. The Sultan had all cards in position, and could at any point just wave his hand to send the order. But he was not a cruel man. He offered the beaten Archduke to peacefully cede only two provinces, Transylvania and Karpatalja. The custody of these were then given to Poland, awaiting better tidings, and also befriending the northern neighbour.
After this was settled, Mehmed died. His son, Bayezid, took command and again attacked Mameluks and Persia. War was easy and several new provinces were taken, and Mameluks were also force-converted. Oman however joined the war on the (formerly) Shiite side. Being the owner of a sizeable trade Center, Oman faced a brutal Ottoman invasion and were forced to give Ormuz, as it was called, up.
Then Bayezid began inventing. His master engineers had drawings on how to industrialize the production of wine, and with all the money earned from his conquests, Bayezid build four large manufactories in Greece, hoping it would pay his sons and his sons sons off. Celebrating Bayzid's open-mindedness, the border region of Moldova collected donations and built their own factory, producing clothes at an alarming rate.
Now the Ottoman Empire are strong. The army is educated, the navy is large and the economy is on the rise. And Bayezid's son is showing great progress in his military training. What could go wrong?
Reward: - 1 inflation.
Flanders (Burgundy): 1504 - 1522
This ended up being a very lively session, even despite having to leave the game for about 45 minutes. Things began early with an Ottoman attack on Russia, which allowed my staunch ally Austria to attack the weakened Polish state. Soon enough, France turned on Spain, rapidly occupying most of Iberia before Spain could pull back from North Africa. As a result of the thumping Gran Capitan was delivering to the French, Austria and I extracted a 15-year NAP from France, which was to help cover our flank when the inevitably conflict erupted.
For reasons that I can no longer remember, I soon found myself at war with Brandenburg and the Ottoman Empire on Austria's side. Relatively little happened at this point in the war. I won the cavalry race to the Weser River, and my infantry beseiged Westphalen with support from cavalry in Munster, while Brandenburg brought a sizable cavalry army to Hannover. What followed was a series of German feints across the river in the hopes of attriting my army away. Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn't. With my 5-shock random leader, I attempted to bag his numerically inferior army while it retreated from Westphalen, only to be seriously mauled in the process, forcing me to fall back. I then feinted northward, landing 15k mixed infantry and cavalry in Holstein, drawing away the Bradenburg army, allowing me to retake my old positions on the Weser.
At about this time, I noticed approximately eighty thousand French forces appearing on my southern border. Reneging on his NAP after a mere four year, France joined the BB-OE alliance and invaded my territory. His armies, exclusively cavalry, were divided into three armies of 28: one beseiged Hainault, one stayed in France-Comte, and a third proceeded to split up and cover both Artois and Antwerp. I immediately pulled my armies back to meet this new threat. My cavalry swept south, appearing at Brussels and launching myself against the 18k in Antwerp. Realizing his danger, France pulled back toward Artois, so I rapidly redirected to Hainault. The battle that ensued resulted in the complete massacre of 28k French cavalry. Through a series of quick retreats, the remaining 27k slipt past my forces in Picardie.
Having lost a third of his army, France sued for a white peace, allowing me to turn once again on Brandenburg, which had besieged Munster and Kleves. While my infantry was off putting down rebellions in Bavaria, my cavalry swooped in and attacked one of the German armies, forcing them both to retreat back into his territory. Around this time, Poland declared war against us, threatening to overwhelm Austria. Upon John's request, I redeployed my cavalry to Vienna. Then, by way of Moravia, I pounced on an unsuspecting Polish force of some 18k besieging a Hungarian province. Once again, Flanders won a complete victory, and proceeded deeper into Hungary and bottled up a Ottoman army. I attacked again, and utterly destroyed this army as well. Unfortunately, at this point, lag struck me, and I was incapable of pursuing the remaining Polish forces before they escaped into the Transylvanian mountains.
After I crashed and the team rehosted, I brought my army back to Flanders. Once more, BB was besieging Munster and Kleves. While en route, my infantry force was assaulted in Baden before it could escape across the Rhine. At this point, BB unwisely chose to assault the fortress rather than wait out the siege. The assault was unsuccesful and wrecked his morale, allowing my still-strong infantry to counterattack and drive him back, just as my cavalry was coming into range. What I suspect would have been another total victory was ultimately thwarted, however, when Austria announced it would be accepting the enemy coalition's stabhitting terms, basically a complete return to the arrangement at the start of the session.
At this point, I had to leave to take care of more pressing matters. When I returned, I found Europe in a state of peace, save for the unsurprising dismantling of Venice as a result of its... curious choice to utterly neglect its military technology in favor of an obsessive thirst for trade monopolies, my realm perhaps even stronger than it was when I started, and the alliance with Austria cemented by our mutual assistance in the face of unrelenting aggression and treacherous betrayal.
This ended up being a very lively session, even despite having to leave the game for about 45 minutes. Things began early with an Ottoman attack on Russia, which allowed my staunch ally Austria to attack the weakened Polish state. Soon enough, France turned on Spain, rapidly occupying most of Iberia before Spain could pull back from North Africa. As a result of the thumping Gran Capitan was delivering to the French, Austria and I extracted a 15-year NAP from France, which was to help cover our flank when the inevitably conflict erupted.
For reasons that I can no longer remember, I soon found myself at war with Brandenburg and the Ottoman Empire on Austria's side. Relatively little happened at this point in the war. I won the cavalry race to the Weser River, and my infantry beseiged Westphalen with support from cavalry in Munster, while Brandenburg brought a sizable cavalry army to Hannover. What followed was a series of German feints across the river in the hopes of attriting my army away. Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn't. With my 5-shock random leader, I attempted to bag his numerically inferior army while it retreated from Westphalen, only to be seriously mauled in the process, forcing me to fall back. I then feinted northward, landing 15k mixed infantry and cavalry in Holstein, drawing away the Bradenburg army, allowing me to retake my old positions on the Weser.
At about this time, I noticed approximately eighty thousand French forces appearing on my southern border. Reneging on his NAP after a mere four year, France joined the BB-OE alliance and invaded my territory. His armies, exclusively cavalry, were divided into three armies of 28: one beseiged Hainault, one stayed in France-Comte, and a third proceeded to split up and cover both Artois and Antwerp. I immediately pulled my armies back to meet this new threat. My cavalry swept south, appearing at Brussels and launching myself against the 18k in Antwerp. Realizing his danger, France pulled back toward Artois, so I rapidly redirected to Hainault. The battle that ensued resulted in the complete massacre of 28k French cavalry. Through a series of quick retreats, the remaining 27k slipt past my forces in Picardie.
Having lost a third of his army, France sued for a white peace, allowing me to turn once again on Brandenburg, which had besieged Munster and Kleves. While my infantry was off putting down rebellions in Bavaria, my cavalry swooped in and attacked one of the German armies, forcing them both to retreat back into his territory. Around this time, Poland declared war against us, threatening to overwhelm Austria. Upon John's request, I redeployed my cavalry to Vienna. Then, by way of Moravia, I pounced on an unsuspecting Polish force of some 18k besieging a Hungarian province. Once again, Flanders won a complete victory, and proceeded deeper into Hungary and bottled up a Ottoman army. I attacked again, and utterly destroyed this army as well. Unfortunately, at this point, lag struck me, and I was incapable of pursuing the remaining Polish forces before they escaped into the Transylvanian mountains.
After I crashed and the team rehosted, I brought my army back to Flanders. Once more, BB was besieging Munster and Kleves. While en route, my infantry force was assaulted in Baden before it could escape across the Rhine. At this point, BB unwisely chose to assault the fortress rather than wait out the siege. The assault was unsuccesful and wrecked his morale, allowing my still-strong infantry to counterattack and drive him back, just as my cavalry was coming into range. What I suspect would have been another total victory was ultimately thwarted, however, when Austria announced it would be accepting the enemy coalition's stabhitting terms, basically a complete return to the arrangement at the start of the session.
At this point, I had to leave to take care of more pressing matters. When I returned, I found Europe in a state of peace, save for the unsurprising dismantling of Venice as a result of its... curious choice to utterly neglect its military technology in favor of an obsessive thirst for trade monopolies, my realm perhaps even stronger than it was when I started, and the alliance with Austria cemented by our mutual assistance in the face of unrelenting aggression and treacherous betrayal.