Austria
1492 - 1502
The Archduchy is being known
Despite of fruitfull years under the rule of Frederick V Habsburg, Austria couldn't pose a stronger face to the rest of Europe, but instead it managed to reorganize our central Administration, a hard task due to how extended are Habsburgian domains, after the inheritance of Burgundy.
In 1493, the son of Archduke Frederick, Maximilian Habsburg, succeded his father after the latter passed away. Maximilian was rapidly appointed as the Holy Roman Emperor by the Diet of Salzburg; a reunion arrenged by the Bavarian Elector, where most of the electors solemnly proclaim their fidelity to the new Archduke of Austria, Maximilian I. This way, Maximilian has secured himself the collaboration of the entire Empire.
One of the first task of the new Archduke-Emperor was to reorganize the Army, a duty awfully done by his predecesor, a true pacifist but who lacked the strategist side of a general. Mostly the new arrangement guarantee a quick response to any threat. A new army was instituted in the Netherlands, to protect our precious holdings there, specially against foreign attacks. And the Home Guard was reinforced to patrol the main core of Austria.
Diplomatic contacts have also been the main task for our Archduke, which have succesfully concluded some agreements, mostly fruitfull for our nation. The most important one have been the alliance with the English King; whom our Archduke share positions of balance and peace in Europe. In between, a treaty with France have been concluded in which our Archduke guaranteed the devolution of territories held by us, but that had been demanded by the French King for so long, such territories are the Franche-Compte and the Artois.
Despite our peaceful approach, one european character have not liked our positions and have been aggressive with our envoys and merchants, and that is the Republic of Venice. Even though they lost a terrible war against the Turkish Sultan, they refuse our help, and even they insulted us. That's why our Archduke decided to teach them a lesson, with the bless of his Holyness and the rest of the Italian Principalities, where our government and our Archduke is being saw as models of how a country must be run.
The war was very short, the Venetians lost most of their fleet in their war against the Turkish, so their main weapon had disappered. The command of the Austrian troops was give to General Kruyer, who led his way into Mantua, after breaking two venetians garrisons. Kruyer then ordered the second battalion commanded by Mayor Berg to start their trip into the Veneto area. Berg managed to defeat a small garrison outside the walls of Venice itself but the way he commanded the siege of the city was terrible, and he was demoted. General Von Frundsberg was appointed in this post. Von Frundsberg mobilized better and after collecting some guns, he managed to finally bring the city into their knees. Meanwhile, Kruyer defeated bands of Mercenaries that the Venetian brought. This way, Venice decided that it was enough, and their solemnly ceded his Mantua holdings, that were near Milan, and big bounty.
According to our policy to bring peace to the Italian Peninsula, our Archduke and Emperor accepted the suggestion made by the people of the Duchy of Milan, that their territory be under the command of the Habsburgian family. The last Sforza died quietly in his bed, consenting the decision of his people and his personal advisors, he signed the will where the Sforza family ceded the inheritance rights of the Milanesado to our Archduke Maximilian I and his descendants.
These years have been quite active, but the future promises more active ones, what will be the luck of our Archduke?.... hopefully a Good One
