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Van Engel

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Here you can post your AARs.

Ruling and Rewards for AARs:

1492 - 1600: 300d
1600 - 1750: 500d
1750 - 1820: 800d

I'll rule if an AAR counts as an AAR, so no short sentences! I want proper AARs people!
 
Portugal
1492-1513

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The year was 1492. At that time, Portugal had trading posts over the Western African coast, and in Fernando Po. Bartolomeu Diaz just got the permission and warships for his new expedition. Bartolomeu was famous explorer, he discovered the Cape of Good Hope in 1487. Before Diaz’s new expedition could be started, João II sent colonists to Fernando Po, to establish a port there. Pêro da Covilhã and his people were in Lisboa too. João ordered them to board Diaz’s ships and go with them to the Cape of Good Hope again. Bartolomeu went to the new port of Sao Thome. From there, they went to the Cape. Pêro da Covilhã landed in Table, and they secured that place for future operations. Bartolomeu went back to Sao Thome to re-supply, because he gave a large amount of supply to Pêro. João sent colonists to Table too, and they established the town of Dourados. Meanwhile João sent his merchants to Lisboa, Paris, Madrid, Antwerpen. The Portuguese traders were very succesfull in their capital, and they had moderated success in Paris, and Madrid, but in Antwerpen they had low success.

Portugal had one neighbor, who just finished her reconquista, Spain. In 1492’s February, Spain invited Portugal to his alliance. Milan was part of the alliance, and in March, Milan attacked Mantua. England, Spain and Portugal honored their alliance call. Meanwhile the Portugal explorers explored Brazil. In. 1495 Manuel I became king. Colonist has been sent to Pernambuc. For years the conquistadors there explored South America’s eastern coast. In 1498 Venice declared war against Milan. England, Spain, and Portugal honored their alliance call, again, but didn’t move against Venice. But the Austrians weren’t so happy. Austria attacked Venice and forced them to make a peace of vassalization and not of annexation. In 1500 January, Austria inherited Milan. The Doge wasn’t so happy..

In 1500, February 4, Portugal forcefully took control of the spice trade in the Indian Ocean. In 1502 Portugal attacked Oman for the trade center of Zanzibar. 8,000 troops under Almeida landed in Zanzibar and took the city after a few months. After the Portuguese navy arrived to the shores of Oman, Almeida surprised greatly, because the main land of Oman was under siege by the Ottoman Empire. Almeida decided to fall back to Zanzibar, and wait till the Ottomans finish their job and then attack Oman. In 1505 Portugal finally made peace with Oman, Oman had to hand over Zanzibar. In 1506 the Portugal and Spain signed the Treaty of Tordesillas. Portugal continued their colonization progress in South America, and they sent explorers to India. Almeida landed in Goa. Colonists have been sent there, too. After a bit exploration into Indonesia, the Indonesian fleet retreated to Goa. Till 1513 Portugal sent colonists to Diamentina, Pernambuc, Recife, and Parnaiba.

More then one decade passed since 1492, but Portugal hasn’t accomplished big things. Manuel decided Portugal must grow up to the leading colonization, and trader powers.
 
Rise to Power

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Rise to Power
In the Year of our 1492 lord a new king rose to the dynasty of the English crown, his name was “Masha homatan” or Von Diplomacy in Latin.

In his first years of regime he promised the world as well as England itself that he shall never lead his country into any f unjustified war. For many years the king had kept his promised, remaining in good relations with every European power, peacefully trading, and trying to make a profit.

However winds of war were starting to blow, the peace that was kept for so long started to break. The first in line of these long changes of England’s diplomatic overview started with the war declared upon Scotland. While English hordes were making their way towards the highlands the Scto’s were fighting to the last breath. England decided to oppress them badly, after the bad fight they dared show the English troops.

It continued with the English invasion to Holstein and the force vassalage that came afterwards. But no, Von diplomacy didn’t stop at that! After the discovering of new civilizations in America, and in opposition to any common sense he decided to declare war upon the poor native Americans. They came and traded goods and cloth with us, giving us grain and helping the brave English colonists in their heroic efforts to colonize the unknown. But instead of appreciation the English king showed nothing more than the seek to exploit others, the weaker ones the unsuspecting.

In return the to their good offers and tokens of will, Von diplomacy decided to give them sweaters and coats, the English command and native American chief set together beneath the tree of knowledge and wisdom and smoked together the pipe of peace. Little did the poor Native American’s know that the sick mind of Von Diplomacy had arranged them a surprise. The coats were filled with disease that European were immune to, black pops included. And while we were smoking the pipe of peace thousand of the Native American’s own people were slaughtered by armed men, arriving all the way form England, raping and destroying and killing everything in their pass.

I am writing this note to myself, every word in a different page, in case someone might find this protocol, only god will help me if I am accused of treason…

I just hope that von diplomacy would get slain in battle; I hope someone will come soon and liberate England from his oppression, perhaps a world coalition fighting evil?

God Save the Queen,

Kingdom’s bibliographer,

Alferon De San
 
Venice


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Il Senato della Republica de Venezia,anno domini 1500

In the year 1500 a.D., the world was on the edge of a new era.
Not even half a century ago, the Osman Turks had overrun Constantinople and the Byzantine empire had vanished.
The conquest of the holy places in the middle east by the infidels had blocked European access to the far away markets of India and China.
In 1492, the Spanish reqonquista drove the muslims off the Iberian Peninsula.
At the same time, Genoese man by the name of Colón had sailed westwards and found a new world while portugese explorers had reached India by sailing eastwards around Africa.

The Republic of Venice however faced a horrible terror reign of an unholy despot. After he gained power of the senate in 1492 by assasinating his opponents, he aimed for driving the Italian peninsula into times of trouble. Ignoring code of conduct and the need for diplomatic relations, he went ahead and attacked the cities of Mantua and Milano. Despite the Archduke of Austria warning him several times he annexed both cities. When Austria attacked, the despot gave Milano back to the ruling family which soon died out leaving Milano to the legitimate Austrian successors.
In 1500, the senate decided it had to stop an end to this madman and put him into prison where he was to suffer for his despotic rule of the country.
The new Doge they had elected was a wise man. He chose to show more tolerance towards the Orthodox people on the islands who were persecuted in favor of the muslims under the old despot. Rebellions had to be put down on Creta and Cyprus and even though Cyprus declared independence, they could be brought back into the realm by force.
He also modernized the tax system promoting tax collectors in all provinces.
After a couple of peaceful years, the city of Modena started harassing and attacking Venetian merchants again and again. When the first merchant died due to attacks by the cities militia, the senate decided to revenge this awful incident. War was declared on Modena and the city had to agree to pay annual tributes to Venice.
In the meantime, the Pope signed the Treaty of Tordesillas, an agreement that gave Spain and Portugal monopoly rights of settling, exploring and trading in the world outside Europe.
Venice, who had been the most influential trading nation in the world over the last centuries felt that they had been fooled by a corrupt, greedy and unholy Pope who refused to accept a Venetian bid to be implemented in this agreement. Therefor war was declared on the Holy city and Romagna and Marché were gained in the following peace.

After another couple of peaceful years, news from Firenze arrived in Venice. A man by the name of Niccolo Machiavelli had recieved the command of the army from the Medici family. Machiavelli was an intelligent man, but he was also power hungry and so he talked the Medici into declaring war on Venice.
While the Venetian army was marching towards Firenze, the opportunistic rulers of Ragusa decided it was time to backstab Venice and declared war as well.
Several bloody wars were fought in central Italy and only after Machiavelli had died on the battlefield, Venice was able to gain advantages. By 1513, Venice had taken control of both provinces that belonged to the Medici reign. However Ragusa was had gained control of Dalmatia and also the Pope seeked revenge and declared war on Venice.

The future is uncertain. But Venice will succeed. War will be won against Firenze and Roma and all of middle Italy will have to pay tribute to the city of Venice. Once the Italian campaign is over the Veentian forces can turn to the east and win the war against Ragusa. Venetian merchants are spreading out all over Europe again and will soon be responsible for a tremendous ammount of income. And the orthodox heretics ont he islands will be converted to the true faith.
Long live the senate, long live Venezia!
 
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Sweden in 1492

In 1492, the nation of Sweden hardly existed. The backwater of Europe, it was essentially part of Denmark but the Danes though it was too poor to bother with truly taking it. However, some Swedes were allready attempting to end Danish overlordship.

Among these are such noted person as Sten Sture, who lead a somewhat succesfull revolt against the Danes which would lead to many other actions, and Avernite-Spekki, a noted noble who had yet to do anything.
However, the fact that he was a rebel led to his long exile from Sweden, as he fled to the sea when Danish troops attempted to silence him. In his long years at sea, he learned the business of being an admiral the hard way, but in the end he managed.

In the following years, while Sweden crept forward in the field of technology and science, Sten Sture and his allies succesfully resisted the Danes, leading to a boiling point in 1500: The Kalmar Recess.
The idea was flatly rejected by all Swedesinvolved, and caused Sten Sture and his allies to much more easily harness the resources from especially the Finnish countryside.

A few years later a young noble, named Feldbaek, arrived to the headquaters of Sten Sture. Using his skills at talking while showing his virtue in the field, he was promoted general of the Swedish army over more known people like Hamming Gad.
In 1503, after final negotiations with Denmark broke down, the National regency council declared the ties between Sweden and Denmark broken, and mobilized all forces under Feldbaek and the navy under the now aged Avernite-Spekki, while seeking allies abroad.

Soon after, two important messages reached Svealand. The first, joyous, one, was that the Grand Duke of Muscovy would support Sweden against any Danish attempts to reinstall it's overlordship.
The second, more dire message, was that Denmark-Norway had declared war on Sweden to reinstate Danish control. Danish forces were crossing into Sweden from Norway, and another large force was preparing for invasion in Skane.

Feldbaek and Avernite-Spekki were unimpressed, while the rest of the country seemed to be ready to give up immediately. Immediately, messengers were sent to Muscovy to request aid, while the fleet sailed to attempt a blockade of Copenhagen itself, and the army moved to repel the Norwegian invaders.
It was a grand succes. Feldbaek and his army routed the Danes and surprised the reserves in Skane, driving them back to Sjaelland just a few days after the fleet had broken off it's attempts to defeat the Danish navy.

The battle for the Sund had, however, been not as bad as it may have seemed, as a single Swedish galley was lost while two grand Danish warships were wrecked. A greater loss was, however, that Avernite-Spekki was clearly getting to old to lead a fleet.
When the fleet then retired to Västergötland he returned through the liberated countryside to his old estate, while his fleet was bottled up in port. This proved to be no problem however.

After defeating the Danes in Skane, Feldbaek had begun a campaign that would lead him through half of Norway, and which cost a lot of men but drove the Danish armies in Norway away to the sea, or into their fortresses. His now-weakened army returned to Svealand, where it was reinforced with fresh recruits only to be called out again soon.

For Denmark had not been silent. After the end of the Norwegian campaign they had gathered their forces and attacked Skane again to drive out the Swedish occupation garrisons. The disaster they faced there was undoubtedly unexpected.

As the Danes settled in for a siege, Feldbaek and his reinforced army struck the Danes. Now fielding more than twice the cavalry Denmark had, the open plains of Skane became a field of blood. Not a single Danish soldier was left to rejoin the Danish army, and Denmark was forced to capitulate. Skane joined the now officially free nation of Sweden.



As all this happened, the rest of the world was not silent. Brandenburg established dominance over the German coast, which was not particularly interesting for Sweden. Poland, however, had destroyed the ancient Teutonic Order and now controlled vast swathes of land populated by people who could aswell have lived in Finland, and thus were a fine target for Swedish expansion.

Time would tell what was next. Would Danish friendship instead of oppression prove lasting? Would Poland be beaten off from the Baltic coast? And would Brandenburg be satisfied with only the German coast of the Baltic?
Noone knew, but Swedish nobles knew that they had no particular desire for war with Denmark or Brandenburg, while many seemed ready to attempt a seizure of the Polish baltic possesions.
 
The history of the Archduchy of Austria

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In 1492, Archduke Frederick III of Austria, Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire,
felt that his end was near. But he knew that, despite his old age, he would
have to act with resolve if the Archduchy was to take it's rightfull place in
these troubled times. From Spain and Portugal, more and more reports came in of lands as yet unconquered, and if there were people there, they had not
heard of Jesus Christ. In the east, the situation was even worse, as the
Ottoman hordes, who knew of Jesus Christ, but denounced him, marched ever further on.

Despite his old age, Frederick was full of resolve, and knew what would be
expected of Austria. Let Spain and Portugal christianise these new lands,
Austria would lead the way in stemming the Ottoman tide. Diplomats were sent to Hungary to discuss an alliance, and a further general was added to the council, further weakening the voice of the admirals and merchants in
Flandern.

The Hungarians were at least as eager to stem the Ottoman tide, and in april
they invited Austrian troops to take part in an expedition to overthrow the
Ottoman puppet government in Moldavia. Meanwhile, Austrian diplomats were
busy strengthening the Austrian position in southern Germany, strengthening
ties with many of the stronger factions.

Reports were slowly coming into the country, though, that a new threat was
rising in the south. It seemed that the Doge of Venice was suffering from
megalomania, he had his troops conquer Mantua already, and now it seemed
Venetian troops stood ready to invade Milan aswell. Frederick issued a stern
warning, and hoped that that would prove enough.

Early in 1493 more disturbing news was received, it seemed that the entire
garrison in Franche-Comté had been wiped out by the French, the last survivor having died of his wounds after delivering word of the attack to Alsace.

It seemed, however, that the French operated under the assumption that this army was not Austrian, but instead an army of Lorraine. The king of France duly appologised, and offered fair compensation to Austria and the families of the victims.

Austrian spirits were lifted up even more when the Hungarians reported that
they had overthrown the Ottoman puppets in Moldavia.
The whole nation was in mourning, however, when Frederick died on the 19th of August, 1493, at the age of 77. More grieving, however, was the loss of the Imperial crown to one Kelly of Munster - a man noone seemed to know, yet in the end, he got the most votes. Reports of dark sorcery have been circulating ever since, but it seems that bishops sent to investigate mysteriously disappear.


Emperor_Maximilian_I.png


Fredericks son, Maximilian, became the next Archduke, and he guided the
Archduchy with the same vision that his father had. Knowing that Austria's
destiny awaited in the east, and insulted by the lost election, he payed
little heed to events in Northern Germany, and when the French king
approached him concerning Artois, he sent his top diplomats, and they were
soon able to arrange a suitable outcome, France would pay a significant sum
in exchange for the liege rights to this territory.

All this time, the doge of Venice was asking, and in an increasingly
belligerent tone, that Austria cease it's objections to a Venetian takeover
in Milan. Maximilian, however, knew that he had to be steadfast, lest Austria
be seen as a pushover.

The situation in northern Germany was increasingly hostile, however, and the
Bohemians asked for Austrian assistance in driving away the Hanoverian robber barons that had conquered Würzburg. An army under Garnons was dispatched, and order was soon restored in Würzburg. It would take a few more years, and an army under another able leader, von Frundsberg, to force the Hanoverians to accept the situation.

May, 1498, saw the expected conflict in Italy burst, as Venetian troops
stormed Milanese border garrisons, and soon layed siege to Milan itself.
Strong words did not make the doge turn back, so in June, Maximilian issued
the orders, and Austrian troops overwhelmed Venetian border guards, Austrian troops soon laid sieges to Mantua, Venézia and Triest.

in March, 1499, the doge further escalated the conflict, by expelling all
Milanese nobles, and treating Milan as just a city in Venetian lands.
Maximilian could, ofcourse, not accept this situations, and sent his demands
to Venice, Milan was to be restored as an independent city. He was well aware that Venetian influence was likely to remain strong, but this was the best he could do. The doge, reluctantly, agreed.

Maximilian, it seemed, was a visionary, for the events that unfolded in 1500
showed him right. Pro-Venetian nobles in Milan were ousted, and the city
council begged him to take control of the city, to which he agreed. But the
shockwaves went further, and the doge himself fell, and was replaced.
Only when the new doge was installed, did the true horror of the reign of the
previous doge become apparent, the Venetian economy was in tatters, cities
were in revolt, the people fearing that their religion was threatened.

The next few years passed rather uneventfull, relations with Venice were
strengthened, Austrian influence in Wurtemberg increased, and relations with
France deteriorated as a result of French agression against Genoa. The
Ottoman puppet regime was ousted, and Wallachia added to Hungary. A
suspicious civil war in Hungary, no doubt instigated by Ottoman elements, was quelled.

The year is now 1513, and Austria, under the rulership of the wise Archduke,
Maximilian, has a glorious, though likely bloody, future ahead of her.
 
KINGDOM OF FRANCE
1492-1513

Kingdom of France under rule of king Charles VIII from the Valois Dynasty was in full development. Many administrative reformes were made to increase income of the royal treasury and to make people even happier than they were before. Also many new roads were built and even more were renovated (1).

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Charles VIII, king of France

Foreign policy was focused on eastern border, where evil german princes of Lorraine and Palatinat were plotting against peace-loving king of France. To withold their attemptes Charles VIII was forced to declare war on them, 10 V 1493. Brave french knights and mercenaries quickly defeated Germans and began to besiege enemies main towns. Peace was made at first with prince Rene II on August 10, 1493, Lorraine was annexed by France and evil prince was executed in Paris. Battles in Palatinat have now only marginal importance and shortly peace was conluded on June 25, 1494 with return to status quo, prince of Palatinat had only to promise that he will improve his behaviour.

8 IV 1498 after not long but glorious reign king of France, Charles VIII died. New king of France became Louis XII. Young king decided to stenghten north-eastern border of France, to achieve this aim treaty was concluded with Archduke of Austria, Maximilian I and Artois was bought from Austria. Now Paris was much more secure.

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Louis XII, king of France

At the beginning of Louis XII reign France had to vassals: Brittany and Bourbonnais. King decided to make France more united state. In this time Brittany was rulling by wise princess Anne, who agreed to open negotations about including duchy of Brittany into kingdom of France. After many meetings with Louis XII and many gifts sent to Brittany, Anne agreed to include her duchy into France, the treaty was signed on December 18, 1510 in Nantes.

King made also many successful attemptes to improve quality of French army and to make it more modern, in the end of his reign French army was one of the best in the whole Europe (2).

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Louis XII leaving Paris to chastise Genoa

Modernized army was used against Republic of Genoa. Genoa since many years has chicaned French merchants. King Louis decided to end this practice. 13 V 1505, Kingdom of France declared war upon silly italian republic. City of Genoa was quickly taken by French army but Genoese navy was able to keep it away from Corsica, where its government had hidden. This situation was ended after quick enlargement of French navy but made war much longer. Finally Genoese navy was defeated, Corsica taken and 7 X 1509 Genoa accepted peace with France, Corsica was included into Kingdom and Genoa became vassal of France.

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Domestic polices in 1513

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France in 1513


(1) - increasing mainly Infrastructure and centralization
(2) - 10 level of Land Technology
 
Last edited:
Because Daniel is on 10 day MP forum ban...

AAR OE

The start of the OE was according to plan.

1. DOW Persia and take as much as possible and allowed
2. DOW Persia again and take the rest of what is allowed, including some Omanese colonies
3. DOW Dulkadir and vassalise
4. DOW Mameluks and inherit

Next war aims at forceconverting Persia and Oman. Then DA-ing the Arabian peninsula. Whereby phase 1 of OE expansion will be completed.

While our LT was high from start our infra was not. We are still fighting to reach IT3. Meanwhile most other nations have succeded in catching up with us in LT.

Our innovative slider is now at a perfect value but we must do something about our miltary sliders and our serfdom slider. As a big nation, which OE inevitably becomes, we definitely believe in high serfdom.

We have established friendly relations with many nations and invite all peaceful nations to send their ambassadors to the Sublime Porte where they can present their gifts to the Sultan (especially young girls from Cherkessia are appreciated

We were shocked to see how the Austrian ruler tricked the newbie playing Venice by first forcing him to release Milan as a vassal (shortly after VEN having annexed it) and then shortly afterwards inheriting Milan herself - if the VEN player had known about this he would surely not have accepted what happened.

We hope the permament ruler in Vienna will be of a higher moral standard.

But we also hope all players read the quit rule of this game. This quit by you ooowiee was a bad quit. Something that brands you as a bad quitter oowiee. I will refrain to compete vs you again, you have been put on my black list.
 
For glory of god and kingdom

In 1492 Isabelle and Fernando reigned since severeal years together the nearly united spanish peninsula.
After centuries of fighting against the infidels the reconquista ended with the celebrated annexion of the last islamic foothold Granada in 1492.
At the same time Cristoph Columbus discovered the carribean isles and with them a new continent. The power of the reconquista was used to colonize these isles, but nobody could know what would be hide behind the coastline.

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The Aztecs lost their imperium in June 1500. A flood of gold and silber has ran over the Atlantic ocean since this year with still no end in sight.

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After years of etablishing settlements and infrastructure like harbors and roads Spain began a war with the Incan Imperium with its capital in Cuzco. Since this town is already conquered for the spanish crown the diplomats are just waiting for the capitulation of these uncivilized men.

Ministers of the Spanish king try to push the kingdom to use its dominance on the other side of the ocean with its endless treasuries against european kingdoms. But the king has withstanded these unwise calls for war till now. How long?
 
The Polish-Russian War, Part the 1st

Late in 1519, Lithuania was found alone, having just left the Polish alliance. The soon to be become Czar of Russia decided to take the advantage and quickly declare war on Lithuania and hopefully beat them hard enough before Poland could mobilize her own forces.

The Muscovite army was underpowered though after fighting the Mongol Hordes to the east and it took many months after the declaration of war to actually have these small armies into position to invade Lithuania. Unfortunately it was winter by this time and the invasion was halted, giving Poland valuable time to plan and to protect Lithuania, which she did at the turn of the year officially declaring war without little notice or demand.

The Polish armies under their brilliant leader Tarnowski, invaded via the Baltic seaboard, going round the Russian forces waiting for the end of winter to invade Lithuania. Narva and Norvgrod fell quickly, to the invaders before a defensive line was put in front of Moscow to defend the capital. Under the command of Glinski, Muscow had a good chance to hold against the Polish hordes coming their way. Although Glinski had a cavalry advantage over Tarnowski, the Polish cast him aside and Moscow was put under siege.

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Battle1.jpg

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All through 1520 and early 1521 men were recruited in the last bastions in the north and as soon as the spring had come and the Polish were starved and dieing from the harsh Russian winter, Glinski pushed back into Moscow crushing the Polish hordes and put Tarnowski to flight. He was followed over the breadth of Moscowvy to Narva, where he was finally beaten. After this battle, Poland did not threaten Moscow on Russian soil for the rest of the war. Around this time, The Empire of Russia was announced and the Czar was crowned in Moscow, free of the Poles.

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The Polish-Russian War, Part the 2nd

The last Cities taken by Lithuania and Poland were being put under siege when news from Germany told of Austria and Brandenburg wanting to align against the Poles. Brandenburg joined the war and immediately caused for a total Polish retreat from Russian and Lithuania lands. This was the time for an invasion at last and after 3 years after the declaration of war, Russia finally invaded.

Lithuania armies were pushed back and back and many cities were taken. News of a Polish bankruptcy reached the ears of the Czar and also of French demands that the Germans should leave the conflict. This was ignored and the French invaded Brandenburg. This didn’t worry anyone and France’s armies were pushed out of Germany and onto the defensive in France within the year.

Both Polish and French kings sued for peace and Brandenburg signed peace with both for Hinterpommern, Danzig and 600d. Russia is yet to get peace, but wishes the Polish to agree to the peace demands of Welika, Kursk, Vorones and Bogutjar.



N.B Some dates could be incorrect, they are just an approx.
 
Venice- Picking Up the Pieces

With the Doges disappering as quickly as they could be given a funny hat and put on the throne, the country of venice was in crisis. They were embroiled in a war against the mighty kingdom of hungary, the Principlaities of Ragusa and Tuscany and even the religious states of the Pope and the Knights.

The Doge and Senate decided that the only way to save the country was to buy the expensive services of the reknowned Mercenary Captain known as Dr Bob and give him ultimate authority in the Kingdom to tear it from the brink of destruction.

"Very well I accept your offer, have 10,000 ducats paid to my Swedish bank and you have yourself a leader. Now our first order of buisness appears to be the crushing of those states presently at war with us, now how big is our army?"
"about 15 thousand men sir, about the same size as Ragusa's"
"well that is bad news, but I am sure that we have a better equipped and trained army, correct?"
"erm *cough* well not exactly-Ragusa are in fact a CRT ahead of us, and our men have a poor morale, we are a sea-faring, defensive and quantative nation after all"
"bloody hell, well take this bag of money and go buy yourself an army, in fact conscript the Senate into the army, maybe it will make them more suited to the realities of life"
"They may be killed sir"
"Win win then isn't it Captain?"
"I am a clerk for the Senate actually"
"not anymore, mwhahaha, now get to the next assualt you can find and lead from the front"

After approximately 4 years and 6 failed landing in Ragusa with a numerical advantage of 10:1,

"No, why the hell would I want to vassalise the Pope or Ragusa, they will only break the treaty and attack us again, I am still annoyed the tuscany had to be vassalised, that means another 400 ducats spent to convince them that letting us own them peacefully is better than the previous bloodbath with the burnings and torturings, you'd think they'd learn when we burnt down the vatican wouldn't you?"
"Of course sir, the remaining citizens of ragusa and Rome have been approached with annexation"
"Excellant, all is going well. Now what sort of economic state have we been given by the deluded and for the most part deceased members of the Senate?"
"Well we have no merchants in Venice itself, tax collectors are sparse and we have strong Orthodox communties in many of our non-mainland possesions, however the recent conquest spree has gained us 2 modern art museums which weren't burnt suprisingly enough and more land and slaves always perks the economy up so we are doing well there."
"Ok more merchants in Venice, have all foriegn ones removed"
"Quietly asassinated?"
"No, I think they should be used as a public spectacle to whip up hatred against everyone but Venice, then have them have them leached to death, oh and charge a few ducats, people always pay to see violence"

A year or two after the public executions have earned 100 ducats and allowed the inflation levels to be reduced due to the goodwill of the populace

"it was a good plan milord"
"If only that stupid swede had not had too much wine, then he wouldn't have pointed out my attack on Naples and Spain wouldn't have decided to have a burst of loyalty to their vassals. With the Austrian-France war raging no-one would have paid attention, we are staying neutral in this by the way Colonel unless one side is obviously winning, in which case we join in like the vultures we are."
"The Spain issue sir? They are getting rather belligently protective of their vassals"
"Oh pay them off, they are too obsessed with that yellow stuff for their own good sometimes"
"Umm, we have no money sir"
"I know that Colonel, but they don't, mwhahahaha, onto to Naples!!! send the Senates army in first I think"

After two seperate declaration of war on Naples and one on Prussia

"Sir, Spain are offering to clear our debt with them and offer 1,000 ducats for aid in their war with the ottomans, we must blockade the Boshphorus and we get the money"
*noises of water dripping on the floor*
"Sir, Sir? stop drooling it is rather disturbing"
"Ready the fleet and move the Army to defensive positions, no attack is to be made on ottoman territory, we are being paid to do a job, no sense losing good weapons and armour for no reason"
"Aye sir, aren't the ottomans our hated enemies? shouldn't we attack them like all those popes said to?"
"General, I am the Pope now, and I am preaching a new policy of self-preservation, understanding and capitalism"

In the ruins of the town of tuscany

"I told you vassilisng is a poor solution, look Tuscany were our vassals and they attacked us as soon as our backs were turned, and look at all this mess caused by it. Will take us over 12 months to get Italy to give me taxes again, hmm are the final naval casulties still within acceptable limits in the boshophrus?"
"Well we still have 1% of our fleet still there so yes still within limits"
"All is proceding to plan, with the Spanish-Ottoman peace we are now 1,000 ducats richer and have consoldated our postion in Italy, trade has not been great but another public leaching has had similiar effects to last one and we must now bide our time for our strike outwards."
"With you we cannot fail, huzzah for Despotism"
"Glad those indoctrinations have worked on you Field Marshall, now we attack... beep beep... oh sorry my pager, looks like I have an even higher paying job offer. Have to bid you goodbye my good chap as new oppurtunies call, etc. If you get richer give me a call"
"But we need a leader...


Can you give 100 ducats for the AAR and delete a 200 loan for Venice?
 
Arrr not again!​

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Many more years had passed since my last note. For a while it seemed that England had settled down in America. After the latest series of killing raping and measure against the poor Natives Von diplomacy decided to launch a new attack, vicious from any others before.

The Stability in the regimen was so low that at some point the king couldn’t even declare his precious war. With no public support there was nothing he could do but deceive his own people! “They have chemical weapons; they will destroy out peaceful kingdom! They have voodoo powers and they’re using it against us!” he gave his beloved late wife as an example of the power of the voodoo curses the Indians lay upon us. “She died by their witches and wizards, we shell revenge!” And although everyone knew that no voodoo curse that comes from thousands of miles away could cut anyone up and throw his body into the Tiber River we followed him like sheep.

First came the Iroquois, then so many poor tribes I cannot even imagine how to pronounce their names. He annexed them and conquered them. Not caring much about our falling income and treasury. The stability was so low, the people were so miserable and unhappy, but yet… he did not pay attention to that. When a new war against Ireland broke, he was heard saying “Now we shell show those damn green gypsies how to fight!”

As England forces are crossing the river to join arms in a glorious fight against the poor Irish, I have only one hope. Let the latest rumors of his illness be true, let him die already and give way to a more gracious king, a king that would leave place for economical improvements as well as long days of peace.

This might be the last time I am writing this chronicle, as in the following day I am going, planning to do something I know – England will be forever grateful of me. If I get caught though, I can only pray to get killed quickly without pain and humiliation.

The king’s Bibliographer
 
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Portugal
1513-1526

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From the resources from South America, Portugal got enough money to invest into a refinery. The refinery has been built in Oporto. In the same year, (1513) merchants sent to Sevilla, Paris, Genova, and Antwerpen, and Tuxpan, colonies has been established, in Para, Tiracambu, Iguato, Parniba, and in Goa.

Meanwhile in Europe, 1516, Austria attacked Genoa. Savoy, and Bourbonnias honored their alliance call, and after a month a major power, France, joined in Genoa’s side. The war was ended by Austrian success, Austria got Genoa and Piemonte. In 1517 Denmark declared war against Sweden, to gain back his lost territories, but the war ended with non territorial changes. In 1518 Spain attacked the Ottoman Empire, England and Portugal joined to the war. However after some years, first England, then Portugal signed peace with the Empire. In 1521 Poland declared war against Muscowy, and so another bloody war has been started.

In 1521 Portugal declared war against Bengal. Our only goal was to take Ganges, the local center of trade. In 1522 Bengal agreed to hand over Ganges to Portugal. After some years, the heretic people of Ganges, converted to Catholicism! [Yeaaaa, what a luck!]

In 1523 Brandenburg joined to the Russian alliance, and attacked Poland. In late 1523, France attacked Brandenburg, so Sweden dragged into war in the side of Brandenburg. In 1525 the Spanish war against the Ottomans has finally ended, without much success.

In 1525 Portugal attacked Malacca, too. Encouraged by the success against Bengal, the Portuguese soldiers bravely captured Perak, Malacca, and Johor within a year, and by November Portugal got Perak, and Johor in the peace treaty with Malacca.

The European wars have almost ended. Brandenburg got 600 ducats from France, and Hinterpommern and Danzig from Poland. Russia is in on advance and in the current situation nor Poland or Lithuania can stop them.
 
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The road to Power

Alas, Sweden remained in 1513 a backwater, with technology comparable to the schismatics in the east, while French and Austrians fought with the weapons of a new era.

However, this was indeed not much of a problem, as Feldbaek the great led the armies of Sweden, and Denmark was only slightly better off.
In the years to come, however, Denmark sped forward in the fields of military technology, both on land and at sea, and when it deemed it's advantage great enough, struck with overwhelming force.

Skane fell rapidly to the onslaught, and for a time it appeared the Danes might reach all the way to the capital. In a desperate attempt to stop this, Swedish naval forces under Eliasson, a mere burgher or so the nobles said, attacked the Danish fleet off Gotland and struck several painfull blows to the technologically and numerically superior Danes.

A much less desperate, if equally important, attack by Feldbaek on the Danish positions on Swedish soil brought a great victory, routing the Danes and allowing a siege to start in Skane.

This happy tiding, however, was soon overshadowed by less happy ones. Despite the best attempts of Swedish ship-builders, the Danish advantage at sea began to count and eventually Eliasson was forced to withdraw with heavy losses. Denmark ruled the seas, but it's armies were still recoiling from the blow struck by Feldbaek.

An uneasy silence lasted for a few years, as Skane was besieged while Denmark was silent. After the fall of Skane, this lasted some time more, but then news reached Svealand of a new invasion: Danish forces had headed into the wastelands of northern Sweden and were attempting to seize the coast there. Feldbaek and his army struck swiftly, and Danish forces ran like dogs to the safety of Norway.
However, the Danish king himself, Christian, had again invaded Skane with his elite force of Danish nobles. How little they knew of what was to become of them. Feldbaek surprised the Danes after a forced march from the northern forests of Sweden to the plains of Skane, and sent them scurrying away across the Sund, only narrowly saved by what some would call a miracle.

At this time, a great change was showing in Swedish society. The regents had gathered more and more power, but this didn't sit well with the people as it upset the carefull balance of Nobility and Burghers in the cities.
As a result, Gustav Vasa, a young nobleman, managed to gather enough disgruntled voices to declare himself King, and he swiftly proved so much more competent than the eternally bickering regents, that once Feldbaek had pledged his allegiance to him the whole country fell in behin him without any dissent being voiced.

This proved to be the last thing to tip the balance back in Swedish favour, and disgraced the Danes had to accept peace.

And thus, Sweden could turn to other affairs. Religious unrest was rife in Sweden, and plans were drawn up for a great parliament to determine the fate of the nation.
It was postponed, however, as new chaos rose up in the east, as the newly-declared Russian empire fought the Polish kingdom. It was a great fight of attrition, but after initial successes Poland ran into a wall and was forced to slowly back down.

This was nothing, allthough it seemed a great war at the time, as the war quickly expanded west. The Margrave of Brandenburg declared war on Poland and overran it's western territories, swiftly followed by the French doing the same to Brandenburg.

The difference was shown soon enough. In a few months of a Brandenburgian counter-offensive, French forces were crushed and beaten back all the way to Paris. When then bankruptcy struck Poland, it was clear to all who had won, and eventually peace returned with a vastly weakened Poland.

Now Brandenburg held valuable provinces like Danzig, Denmark as ever held vast lands on the borders of Sweden, and Poland still suppressed the Ugric peoples of the Baltic. Sweden would have a hard time choosing targets.
 
AAR OE 1527 – 1544

A very nice session for the OE where we were able to DA Algiers, Hedjaz and Aden and diplovassalise Crimea and Bosnia.

Apart from that we invested in infra and reached level 4 and made some conversions. Add to that a little colonising and intensive trading and a typical peaceful session is characterised.

We established our relations with our new perm in Austria and in Venice. I must say it is troublesome when you make plans for 100 of years in the game depending on the relation to your neighbours and then those are swapped and you get new players to establish relations with. It destroys some of the fun of the game and make it more a lottery.

And now three other episodes that took place during the session or was discussed in-game during it.

1. SPAIN’S DEBT TO VENICE

It is noteworthy that the sub in SPA did not pay Venice the 1000d they owe them since now around 20 years ago. If I were Venice I would charge interest on this money. In the game money invested gives a profit for the player. In this case SPA has amassed richness from this money, something Venice have not been able to. The normal ROI in EU is around 2% per year (the first manu yields around 10% per year). With interest on interest that means SPA now owes Venice well over 1500d. Or to look at it from another angel: to mint money (to pay Venice) costs more inflation the earlier in the game it is. Thus SPA gains inflation by postponing the payment. SPA has increased her income with close to 50% since the last session the perm played ended. That as well speaks for Venice to have 1500d, not 1000d. I believe it is quite surprising that the GM does not arrange this money to be transferred. Then only reason it has not been done is because the perm SPA has been away 2 sessions and has not made one single post in the thread concerning this debt despite it has been discussed and mentioned several times – Ozzeh as sub does not want to pay until he is really sure SPA does owe Venice the money and since the perm does not post he cannot become sure. Why should Venice suffer from negligence on the part of the Spanish Player who have not posted in the thread since the 6th of July. If I were Venice I would make an ultimatum that all SPA treasury of 500d is transferred by edit and that SPA mints 100% from start of the next session to pay 1000d more.


2. FAKE WARS TO INCREASE STAB

In July 1538 I was approached by the King of England. He wanted me to DOW and I would get 50d for this. I studied his stab and saw it was at minus, i.e. he wanted a stab push by the DOW. I said no and mentioned I had no CB and even if I had I did not want any BB points.

I believe this kind of fake war should be explicitly forbidden. For several reasons, most prominent that it removes much of the importance of the serfdom slider. If such fake wars are allowed I have been a fool to go serfdom.

It is a vital part of the game that nations with high stab costs pay the proper price for their choice.

In fact, in January 1538 FRA DOWed England and in February the same year they made peace with ENG paying FRA 50d. So this “disease” has already infected our game. GM, please stop this.


3. THE EXPLORATION OF FRANCE

France (Temu) got an explorer and apparently succeded in getting around Cap Agulhas (very skilful!) since I got a request for MA because he needed to make the port in Socotra. Not much later Temu had to leave but was told we had 40 minutes left to play. Temu pointed out the explorer would prolly die if a rehost was made but still a rehost was decided. With the consequence the explorer is now at high Sea and will perhaps die before reaching port when the game starts again. Instead of the rehost perhaps FRA should have been ghosted the last 40 minutes of the session.

-----------------------

The OE is looking forward to continued good relations with her friends.
 
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From rags to riches

Sweden was slowly, oh so slowly, becomeing a richer nation. Trade grew at a decent pace, though not truely rapidly, and after the Parliament and the adoption of protestantism taxes were ever growing.

In the meantime, offcourse, other nations grew richer, and strange things happened. Russia, still recently a Swedish ally, allied with the Danes for a reason which noone seems to know. And while the intelligence service frantically tries to find the secret, King Gustav asked the Russian emperor himself.

He assured the king that no harm was meant to Sweden, but with Poland a useless backwater only Sweden or Brandenburg seemed likely targets for such a strong alliance, and for Brandenburg it seemed it would be rather useless for Russia to be involved.

Still, the Tsar had spoken, and so long as peace reigned, King Gustav was bound to believe him. Even so, to avoid any risks, he began a series of Hansa-friendly reforms aimed at strengthening the treasure and thus the army and navy as a result.

In the meantime, Brandenburg fought Austria and slowly, oh so slowly, ground it's way through Bohemia. Eventually Denmark seemed poised to strike, and either Sweden would have to step in the seize Danzig before they could, or to throw back the Danes from the Germans back.

Noone in Sweden really knew, and noone in Denmark did either, and it is rumoured even the king did not really know.

Still, the result of this ambivalence was simple: Denmark could not risk Swedish intervention against it, and thus did not act at all, and neither did Sweden, and thus Brandenburg grew stronger once again.

In the meantime, the riches of East and West flowed into Sweden, and allthough the Ottoman Sultan and Portuguese King refused to unlock the secrets of the far east and west, trade was booming in Sweden.

The era of peace had done much good to Sweden, and some hoped that it could last forever, but with Poland unstable as ever and the Russian-Danish alliance not explained, the future seemed to inevitably hold surprises.
 
Die Gesichte des Österreichs, 15xx-15yy:
Aus Pracht zu Schwachsinn

(The story of Austria: From splendor to idiocy.)

In the year of our lord 15xx, the Emperor of Austria looked around himself, and saw it was all gooooood. His armies were plenty; so were his money. In fact things looked pretty bright after the previous ruler. Northern Italy had been subjected to Austrian rule and Hungary had not been lost to the untrustworthy Ottomans. Also the western inheritance of Burgundy had remained intact; quite uncommon as such if simulations of history with small variances are repeated.

Not all was perfect however for to the north laid a powerful and dangerous enemy, to history held as Brandenburg. No attempts had been made to hinder their expansion, and they were already well prepared to strike deep into central Germany. This, the emperor found scary.

The early years went pass peacefully until the emperor by accident stumbled upon his treasurer in the corridors of The Huge Splendid Modest Cultural but Full of Sin Castle Palace (TM) in Vienna. When the treasurer told they were down to half the number of ducats in the imperial coffers as a few years before, the emperor knowing he had not spent any was stunned. "How in f!/u&c#k&/ing hell did that happen?!?" he screamed while conecting his hands in a strangling grip around the treasurer's neck. "My lord! Please, don't. It's not my..." The grip got more tight. "...faaault. It's the army! Those sneaky bastards demand food to eat and high pay. Now please let o..oo...off...that..grr...grrrr..grri...errrhgh."

When the emperor walked from the corpse strangled treasurer he thought about what the man had said while alive. The army, the very pillar of the part of his power excerted by violence, was all what could ruin his empire financially. The thought was new to him indeed, and although he in this moment saw it he would ignore it later with disasterous consequences.

The decision was made to decrease the number of troops in the Imperial Army. Now, what is the best way to decrease troops if one just does not want to disband them? Kill them!!! Hence, an ambitious military campaign against the great enemy in the west was planned: France.

What would it take to invade France? Not much, apparently. In Italy 50 000 troops, mainly infantry amassed. Their objective was to take and hold the mountains in southeastern Frenchland. In the north in the low countries another 50 000 troops; these were only cavalry however, in order to be able to sweep the western farmlands leading to Paris.

Of course, until the point of war declaration the entire plan had been kept to a maximum level of secrecy. So as lightning out of the heavens strikes military access was cancelled a short time before the declaration, and then the declaration of war itself some month later. Half of the southern troops immediately passed the border without any hinderance. In the north the entire force crossed at different positions. Half of the troops formed a mobile spearhead to prevent enemy mobilization, while the other half comprised of troops dedicated to sieging enemy provinces.

At no point of this war it was even close to look like it wouldn't be a resounding success. The mobile spearhead effectively cut French recruited troops to pieces; there is no reason to believe they ever had more than 15 000 troops in the field at any point of time. Nontheless the strategy was a cautious one aimed at avoiding unpleasant surprises. For example, the two southern armies were kept in two 25 000 troop stacks, despite the fact they could have sieged three times the amount off territory they did.

The resistance effectively ended when the French king fled the country and a new king was elected to negotiate peace. Unfortunately the Austrian emissary was drunk and so the Austrian only got Lorraine + 300 ducats, when more territory could have been demanded. The war still was pure profit though as it enhanced the Austrian economy.

*I will write the negative part later. ;)*
 
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Portugal
1527-1544

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As excepted, Portugal’s colonization progress didn’t stopped after 1527. Settlers have been sent to Brazil, and to the Far East, to India and Indonesia. Traders have been sent to the Far East, and after 1532 Portugal annexed Malacca, and expanded his CoTs. Now Portugal has Tago, Zanizbar, Ganges, and Malacca as trade centers.

During this time many other rulers asked for Portugal’s maps but we didn’t give anything to them. It seems they can handle things alone, because the Swedish king has claimed that Sweden did became rich via trade from foreign CoTs.

In 1533 the Archduke of Austria has attacked Brandenburg. German vs German we could say. The bloody war was slow and fought mainly in Bohemia. Austria could advance into Brandenburg at the early times, but slowly lost the upper hand and so Brandenburg took the war into Austrian lands. At the end, Brandenburg got Erz, and Silesia. Some years later, France took the opportunity and invaded the lowlands, taking Flandern and Brabant. However in 1540 Austria inherited the lands of Hungary and for a great surprise the Ottoman Empire didn’t take moves against it.

Meanwhile Portugal just continued his peacefully trading, and colonizing progress…
 
AAR OE 1544-1563

For this session war was planned. War with SPA for the ownership of North Africa. However it turned out the new King of SPA was a wise man and not a warmonger like his predecessor. Thus we were able to establish friendship and reaching a solution satisfactory for both of us when we, muslims, buy muslim land from a Catholic nation. Thus the stab costs of SPA will decrease by some 600 ducats per stab point or so. Much wellcome for them besides the money they get.

Therefore all our money could be invested in infra and as a result we reached infra 5 in 1557 as the 2nd nation in the game. Unfortunately we were hit by a total of -5 in stab hits right after that so the promotion of governors just ended close to the end of the session.

We can now focus on land tech and trade effiency. Our dominance of international trade will probably end during the next session when England and Holland (if we have a Dutch player) get their explorers. The secret keeping of the maps have turned out to be a great success for those nations with knowledge of the East. We have withstand many generous offers of buying the maps.

Our diplomatic situation is very comfortable at the moment. We are friends with all our neighbours except Venice that still owes us 1000d for their betrayal some 50 years ago when they offered their services to SPA and blockaded us for several years. Something that is not easily done again since we now have the largest fleet in the world and Uluch Ali as our great admiral.

We have developed colonies in a few spots in the East. Merely as waypoints for our brave sailors.

So far not one manu have been built, the only two we have we got trough events. That must change the next session. But this collides with our aim at lowering our inflation. The latter is our gravest problem. Shall we increase inflation with say 4% to gain 5 refineries? Who can answer that question?
 
France

This session was entirely about regain finances for a nation that should clearly be among the first in research and development. Far behind some of the nations the hard work to catch up commenced. And it worked smoothly and without any problems. We bought 2 new manufactories and more is to be expected next session.However, the Jylland affair between BB and Sweden which France spoke up on Swedens side, put the entire realm at unease. War was hanging in the air, but the conflict could resolve with an understanding of some kind. Will the future bring devastating wars to French soil? And we also has the Austrian threat always lying over us! Dark clouds are closing in, only time will tell the outcome of the storm.