First Post
Chapter One: Wars of Double Aggression
The world's history has been diverse and unique, as well as fulfilling for those that have risen in power. Chief among the most powerful are France, Burgundy, Austria, Castille, The Kalmar Union, and England. Smaller nations, but ones with potential, are also fairly prestigious within their world. Milan, Naples, Brandenburg, Bavaria, Holland, Scotland, and Aragon may all be referred to as middle powers within Europe.
The year is 1399, and Aragon is independent. To the west is the most immediate and major threat- Castille. To the east is the prime location of Italy, of which has been plaguing the Monarch's dreams by night, and spoken about by a few close acquaintances by day. To the north lies France, the unholy behemoth of a nation. It is going to remain a threat for a while if it manages to even partly unite. And to the south lies the heathen North Africa, covered in the Muslim unbelievers that dare to walk the earth.
Aragon is currently most interested in securing a name for itself in the world. To do this, it must manage to make a powerful statement. There are a few different possibilities. The country's war effort is decided by simplicity. Aragon already has a core on Sardinia, and so on the year 1399, a diplomat is sent to the island nation kindly informing it of its impending change of leadership.
The nobles also have an interesting proposition. It is well known within Europe that France and Castille both wish for control over Navarra, for the simplest way into the other's domain where war and corruption may be had. Claiming the land for Aragon at this early stage would be highly dangerous, and bring us into unwanted wars. However, making the lord swear fealty to our sovereign would be highly beneficial...
With two wars being waged simultaneously, a suggestion by one of the court nobles leads, one way or another, to our great leader taking up the position of a military general. We will have to have only his rather..questionable abilities as a commander in the coming wars, until we can afford a proper general with ease.
As three thousand troops begin a siege on the island nation of Sardinia, reports from small vessels relate that a single group of cogs were soon to land in The Baleares. It would not be prudent to allow the island to fall, for it would look poorly on the international level, so our entire navy moves back to engage and quickly deal with the cogs. They are easily destroyed, despite having dropped off the thousand troops.
As the war continues onward, Aragon's armies putting on a lax attitude in order to show how simple it was to deal with the two nations, an extraordinarily skilled commandment was ushered forth into the court. Upon seeing some of his short-term work, it could not be resisted- Maurizio Gaetani dell'Aquila is hired. He will drill our armies and reform the system in such a way that they will have an exceptional amount of more discipline.
Navarra had sent one thousand troops inland, and defended itself with one thousand more throughout the war. The one thousand sent into the province of Aragon was more than quickly dealt with, and Sicily had taken out the rest when it landed upon the shores of the mountainous state. Our two thousand troops not at Sardinia were taken away and loaded up to be transported to The Baleares to break the seige, while Sicily sieged Navarra itself.
It, therefore, didn't take too long for the nation to fall. As soon as it did, Aragon sent its offer before Sicily could claim the land for its own, and that offer was received quite well, once the reasoning was worked out.
Our nobles, apparently deciding that they knew a way to promote the war so that it will be even more beneficial with our dealings with other countries, spoke quite a bit at length today. It resulted in us having quite good reason, in addition to our strong claims to the province, to be taking back Sardinia! We may see even greater prestige from the war, when it is won.
Other nations have such a strange tendency to give what will obviously be denied peace requests, like white peace when there are five thousand troops laying siege upon their single province, and they have no troops nor any ability to organize any with the current situation..
At long last, the war is over as Sardinia falls. Thus, Aragon has already shown success in two quick wars, and has prestige enough to be considered a decent contender for being a major power.
With both wars having been completed in such a short time, Aragon is truly already looking up. Despite this, in two years, Castille and France have both grown less content with the way that events are occurring. Aragon is not a particularly rich land, but it's strategic value is massive, as whoever controls it will have a very decent location for control of the Western Mediterranean. For now, it is independent.
With both of those activities done, the king has been very dismayed when he learned that Maria, who is related to him and the leader of the Sicilian throne, had apparently produced an heir. His next plans have been ruined, he looks over the details for other italian nations, looking for one with no heir, no claim, a regency council..something that he can use to gain a foothold.
Having found the information he needed, he went into his study and began plans. Italy would be under his dynasty's control one day, and he would make sure that it was so. In order to allow his descendants and him the ability to succeed, he enacts a series of decrees that more solidifies and centralizes the authority of The Crown, damaging stability due to others having to adjust, but assuring many long-term benefits.
And so completes this small detail of history, the early beginning of the Rise of Aragon. In our next installment, we see how Ferrara is so, so very vulnerable to our sudden and fierce want for Italy.
