30 April 1300 Schwyz, Schwyzer Alps
The long journey from the Gobi Desert to the Swiss Alps is finally complete. Princess Georgia and the Amazing Adventurous Readers have finally reached the Holy Roman Empire capital. For some, this is the end of the journey. The dragons would stay in the Alps. A young Swiss Miss named Heidi would partner with Spot to spread hot chocolate to every child in the Empire. (
@Kazanov receives an annual royalty check.) The dinosaurs except for Dino would remain in the Alpine meadows. Yes, Dino would leave his pack members Franko and Samo behind to travel with the Flintstone/Rubble families.
@Bullfilter would continue his daily coaching sessions with BamBam. (If you happen to see a dragon perched on an Alpine crag or a dinosaur drinking from a mountain stream, you can thank the AAReaders' 1300 journey.)
1 May 1300 Schwyz, Holy Roman Empire
Before reaching the Kaiser, the AAReaders must pass below the banners proudly proclaiming the
Holy Roman Empire to be "#1 1200", "#1 1225", "#1 1250", "#1 1275" and finally
"#1 1300". The 13th century's fourth quarter would be a period of consolidation for the
HRE. The Empire would
lose one holding (646) and be in
seven fewer counties (171). The Holy Roman Empire's fourth quarter leadership timeline:
13 June 1269 48yo Adolf von Zähringen is elected Holy Roman Emperor.
16 March 1276 54yo Kaiser Adolf dies in his sleep. 37yo Ciro d'Este is elected Holy Roman Emperor.
26 November 1299 61yo Kaiser Ciro dies in his sleep. 62yo Philipp Saarbrücken is elected Holy Roman Emperor.
62yo German Catholic Kaiser Philipp is said to be
Midas Touched. Patient and temperate Kaiser Philipp uses his
strong stewardship and intrigue to mask his
diplomatic weakness (3-8-14-11-8). Kaiser Philipp controls
the empire, a duchy and a county with the ability to manage five more holdings. His vassals include
two kings, thirty-seven dukes, three counts and three bishops. Kaiser Philipp has
two bad boy points and is involved in
one offensive war with the
Empire's forty-two thousand man army.
The HRE is attacking King Henrique of Aragon for Duke Azzo II of València's (HRE vassal) claim to Tarragona County (northeastern Spain).
18 May 1300 between Schwyz and Bordeaux
On the journey to the coast, the AAReaders have found themselves in an uprising. The local populace is revolting against the tyranny of Duke Arnold 'the SumBeach' of Benedict. NTC1776 welcomes Princess Georgia and the AAReaders to the SeaWell Ordinary. He says that he can provide food, drink and lodging. He adds that he has a slightly used wagon for sale if the AAReaders need it. He assures them that they are perfectly safe for at the corner table making plans are General Marquis de
@The Number 9 of the French Legion and Colonel
@Wraith11B of the local militia. Many AAReaders have taken to carrying daggers and
@DensleyBlair is openly wearing a cavalry saber and has appointed himself Princess Georgia's personal bodyguard. NTC1776 tells Princess Georgia that General
@coz1 and Governor
@Eurasia have eaten at SeaWell's. He further explains that he hopes that the 'SumBeach' will be soon defeated as his lady is ailing and their children are caught up in the war effort. His oldest two sons are serving with General
@coz1 in the siege lines at Benedict City across the river. His next son is commanding a ship in Admiral
@diskoerekto's blockading flotilla. His daughter and son by law have lost their home to the 'SumBeach' and he is commanding a trebuchet while she is tending the sick and wounded. The next morning young Zaza1119, bursts into the Ordinary yelling "Mr. NTC, the Bloody Bastard is on the move." As General
@The Number 9 leads his mounted legion, Colonel
@Wraith11B asks NTC1776 if he can borrow his youngest son. While JJC1776's clubfoot has prevented normal military service, his creation of a Roman ballista makes him a one man killing force. During the Battle of the Hook, a ballista bolt would unseat Colonel 'BloodyBastard' Tarleton but Lt.
@ibicko would pull him to safety before the local militia could capture the Colonel. Two weeks later, the 'SumBeach' would surrender to General
@coz1 ending the six year war. NTC1776 would become the first Mayor of Ordinary.
NEXT: We will journey southwest to our final 1300 stop. (This is a newcomer that I have not seen in five games.)
THANK YOUs:
@The Number 9 for portraying Marquis de Choisy of Lauzin's Legion. If anyone looks at Marquis de Choisy's wikipedia article (which I strongly encourage), you will find his report on the Battle of the Hook to General George Washington with a mention of Seawell's (spelling differs) Ordinary.
@Wraith11B for portraying Colonel John Mercer of the Virginia Militia. He has
Der Adler,
der Wolf, und die Sonne on the HoI3 threads.
@coz1 for portraying General George Washington. Congratulations on having a recent Featured AAR of the Week.
@Eurasia for portraying Governor Thomas Jefferson. Congratulations on being Writer of the Week.
@ibicko for
A Tale as Old as Time: Book II: The Dual Monarchy on the EU4 threads.
NTC1776 for being a great boss and an even better friend.
Everyone for reading. I do not know if I did it justice but this little adventure is very personal for me. The Battle of the Hook was a battle during the Yorktown siege of the American Revolution in my home county. (If anyone wishes to learn more, google 1781 Battle of the Hook otherwise you will spend time in Korean War China.) Seawell's Ordinary (an ordinary is a tavern or inn for the ordinary man) dates to 1712 and today is headquarters for an used car dealership. Among the people who dined there are George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and me. Legend has the Marquis de Lafayette's pipe caused a scorch mark on the barroom floor. The building is not on any historical register as it was moved in the 1940s and turned 90º for highway widening. Nearby is the one room post office for Ordinary, Va. (the area is named for Seawell's Ordinary).
