Man, you're pushing me into finishing mine, so don't even think of stopping this AAR midway through 
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Bogusław, the count in Bardo and Wołogoszcz (Wolgast), was given the command of the Pomeranian Royal Army, now regrouped outside Stargard. He directed his force southwards, hearing of a Polish incursion intending to take over the main cities of Neumark. Krosno fell quite quickly to an assault by Polish infantry, and the army started the march northwest, towards Kostrzyn. It was moving quickly, its left flank protected by the Odra (Oder) river, despite the supply lines being stretched over quite a long distance: the chaos that was now southeast Pomerania ensured their safety in a great way. On September 29, 1580, the first battle commanded by Bogusław commenced. His force engaged the Polish one outside Lubusz. The odds were very favourable for Pomerania: some 26'000 men against 13'000 Poles. This, however, due to Bolesław's unfortunate decision to refrain from using the artillery in the field, and to detain the heavy cavalry charge until it was too late decided against him.
The defeated force fled back to Kostrzyń, where they were able to regroup and effectively defend the city from a Polish pursuit. Then, however, the Pomeranian army had to return to Hinterpommern, to replenish its numbers. This short campaign resulted in pushing back the Poles, whose main army was forced to move back to Wielkopolska - despite the defeat at Lubusz, the Pomeranians stood strong at the line of the Noteć (a northern tributary river of Odra) and Drawa rivers, in the cities of Kostrzyń and Drezdenko (Dresen).
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This is just a small 'update' after me having found a very nice looking map of Poland/Neumark/Silesia/Pomerania from the 17th century and deciding that I love it so much I would hate myself not using it in my AAR. I've worked a bit on it in Photoshop (so that the borders match those from the game) and Paint and... You see the result
. I hope you like it!
Don Matito - hehe, I don't know yet . I suppose that if I don't lose readers by 1637, I might continue this... It's all up to what the future brings .
maxo - It is a great pleasure and honour to see that this 'output' of mine attracts people to sign up here. Well, when I finish this AAR, I will almost certainly start another one. So you might want to follow that one . See posts above.
And welcome to the boards!
. I suppose that if I don't lose readers by 1637, I might continue this... It's all up to what the future brings .maxo - It is a great pleasure and honour to see that this 'output' of mine attracts people to sign up here
. Well, when I finish this AAR, I will almost certainly start another one. So you might want to follow that one . See posts above.And welcome to the boards!
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Localises the conflict beautifully!
The map however is too big for the forum and stretches the forum frames sideways...
And the fight is still tough I see...
The map however is too big for the forum and stretches the forum frames sideways...
And the fight is still tough I see...
I was expecting Gryfita to win the battle easily, so it was surprising to see that he was routed. It was releaving to see that he managed to fend off the Poles in the next encounter, though.
Great looking map there! It's fun to see historical maps like that in a report.
Great looking map there!
It's fun to see historical maps like that in a report.
RGB - glad you like it. I know it's large and I'm sorry for the inconvenience - making it smaller wouldmake it illegible. Yes, the fighting is really tough, the Poles are really very strong...
Olav - I too was astonished when I saw him defeated. In fact, I was quite pissed because of that.
I might be using more maps like this in the future, should I find similarly nice-looking ones.
I have an update scheduled for this or next evening, hoipefully I manage to write it... Stay tuned!
(and remember about the ACA...)
Olav - I too was astonished when I saw him defeated. In fact, I was quite pissed because of that
.I might be using more maps like this in the future, should I find similarly nice-looking ones
.I have an update scheduled for this or next evening, hoipefully I manage to write it... Stay tuned!
(and remember about the ACA...)
The Great War, part 3
The Pomeranian army was pushed back from Neumark after having repelled the main Polish force from the walls of Kostrzyn. They regroupped in Hinterpommern, and Bogusław directed his force toward Gdańsk, hoping to be able to take the city before the Polish make further advances into Pomerania proper. As yet, they had occupied Warmia (Ermland) and Ziemia Chełmińska (Kulmerland), after which their offensive stopped due to the winter. Bogusław was going to use this time to capture the former Pomeranian capital.
The dissent, present throughout the populace of Pomerania due to the unsuccessful course of the war, was beginning to rise even more after the recent defeat of Bogusław Gryfita. The news of the Polish besieging southern parts of the Kingdom were inspiring panic in the hearts of the Pomeranians, which in some cases resulted in the German subjects of Ernest speaking openly against Szczecin's authority and even assaulting the king's officials. Ernest decided to appease them, unwilling to have to fight on two fronts - against the Poles on one side, and Pomeranian Germans on the other.
Such a fight - a two-front one - came in the way of the Baltic State: her Swedish ally asked for assistance in the war against Denmark. Pomerania's situation was very uncertain at that time, but Ernest decided that abandoning his alliance at a time like this would mean even worse troubles for his country - the counter-reform catholics of Austria and southern Germany would surely attack their weakened northern neighbour. Thus, despite not being able to spare any forces from the eastern front, Pomerania declared war against Denmark. Ernest was hoping that Saxony and Meissen would come to his aid and repel any Danish invasion on Holstein or Mecklemburg.
The siege of Gdańsk was progressing slowly, but steadily, until it was completed in late December 1581 - a year after it had begun. The city, together with all of Pomerellen, fell under direct control of the Pomeranians - all Polish garrisons were mercilessly slaughtered. No counteraction from the Poles was experienced - they sat idle, plundering the countryside of Neumark. This, however, couldn't be said about the Danes, whose offensive into Holstein, which fell in February 1582, and Mecklemburg, went undisturbed. Ernest Ludwik wanted to call Bogusław back, to try and fend off the forces from Denmark, but the count refused, willing to retake Warmia and Kulmerland first. This notorious disobedience would, in a normal situation, result in Bogusław losing his post and getting exiled, but with all of the Baltic State in chaos, the king was unable to enforce his will.
Thus, with his hands not bound by the king's orders, Bogusław commanded his army towards the cities of Warmia: Frombork, Braniewo, Lidzbark and Olsztyn. The Polish garrisons there were weak and disheartened, knowing of no relief force incoming, which resulted in their quick surrender. From Warmia, Bogusław moved on toward Konigsberg - the seat of the duke of Prussia, an ally of Poland. The city fell within a few months, and Ernest Ludwik (who had been forced by his advisors to forgive Bogusław) sent envoys to the duke, asking for an almost token sum of 25'000 ducats as reparations for the war effort. The duke, taken prisoner by Pomeranian troops and held in house arrest since then, was more than happy to agree to such lenient terms. He knew that his holdings in Lithuania would be of no value anyway for the Pomeranians, but the Polish king and his suzerain - Stefan Batory - had been looking greedily toward these lands since the very beginning of his rule. The duke feared that, should he be held in arrest for longer, the Polish wouldn't hesitate to take control of Grodno (Hrodna) and Nowogródek (Navahradak).
Bogusław didn't sit idle. He divided his army, directing one half of it towards Mazowsze, and moving the other into Kulmerland, promptly retaking Chełmno and seizing control of the strongholds in Drohiczyn, Warszawa and Płock in a quick campaign, moving from east to west. At that very time, another big post-Hanseatic city fell to the Danes: Lubeck. The bourgeoisie of Rostock and Güstrow, furious because of Ernest Ludwik's lack of action to protect the western territories from the invading Danes, revolted against the king. He wasn't, however, able to do anything to either appease the burghers, or to quell the revolt - he had no troops at his personal disposal, and lacked the funds to recruit any new ones. The weakness of the rulers of Pomerania was thus once again exposed to her enemies...
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The promised instalment is here! I as you see, the war is progressing better, but still not quite as well as one would be willing it to. Poland still isn't defeated and has much manpower and gold for the war, and its military leaders (Zamoyski and Batory - the latter hadn't - thankfully! - shown up) are really scary...
What can I say? Read, enjoy, comment!
This war looks epic! I'm loving it. And you're really fighting for your space in the sun now; losing key areas could be deadly for long-term plans.
A few questions: is Sweden fighting Poland at all?
What is Russia doing in Prussia?
But at least you're recovering your positions in Poland...slowly...
Where's Batory?
A few questions: is Sweden fighting Poland at all?
What is Russia doing in Prussia?
But at least you're recovering your positions in Poland...slowly...
Where's Batory?
the political map is not very encouraging... How do you hope being able to cope with the Poles, Danes and Rebels at the same time ?
RGB - indeed, epic it is. The Poles are proving to be a really worthy opponent!
Sweden isn't fighting at all, at least against Poland - they're too busy in Skane and Norway against Denmark. And even there they are acting really mediocrely. Before the war with Denmark began, they did nothing to help me against the Poles either.
Russian in Prussia troops are a relic from the time when Poland and Prussia were at war with the Tsarstvo (a war that Poland won, getting a substantial amount of money from it).
I don't know where the leader Batory is, and I don't really care, at least until he doesn't show up.
Don Matito - next instalment(s) will show if I can handle them...
All - I'm experiencing quite a large drop in replies - you know it's the readers who keep me motivated to write this, so please, if you read this, leave a sign of that fact!
Don't make me a sad panda, comment!
Sweden isn't fighting at all, at least against Poland - they're too busy in Skane and Norway against Denmark. And even there they are acting really mediocrely. Before the war with Denmark began, they did nothing to help me against the Poles either.
Russian in Prussia troops are a relic from the time when Poland and Prussia were at war with the Tsarstvo (a war that Poland won, getting a substantial amount of money from it).
I don't know where the leader Batory is, and I don't really care, at least until he doesn't show up
.Don Matito - next instalment(s) will show if I can handle them...
All - I'm experiencing quite a large drop in replies - you know it's the readers who keep me motivated to write this, so please, if you read this, leave a sign of that fact!
Don't make me a sad panda, comment!
Well, 'Great War' is good title to last chapters. It doesn`t bode well if you ask me - but it`s more interesting when it`s hard. I really liked that XVIIth century campaign map, and good to see that you`re roleplaying and writing all those custom events. Keep it up and good luck in war!
I really liked that XVIIth century campaign map, and good to see that you`re roleplaying and writing all those custom events. Keep it up and good luck in war!
thrashing mad - thank you kind sir
RGB - it is one of the most killer images I've seen on these forums, and the way you "used it" in your AAR was just cute.
It's Wednesday, right? I hope to have an update up by Friday evening, hopefully I manage to write it. Winter holidays are good, but only when your school hasn't made them a time when you have to work almost as hard (or even harder, in the case of my, very lazy, self) as at normal school days.
RGB - it is one of the most killer images I've seen on these forums, and the way you "used it" in your AAR was just cute
.It's Wednesday, right? I hope to have an update up by Friday evening, hopefully I manage to write it. Winter holidays are good, but only when your school hasn't made them a time when you have to work almost as hard (or even harder, in the case of my, very lazy, self
) as at normal school days.
I don't like that Polish army with 15 000 approaching Neumark, but otherwise you seem to be doing quite well. The Polish capital (Warsawa? I'm used to it being in Masovia ) is within reach - perhaps a little looting or a siege there will convince the Poles to retreat from the lands belonging to Pommerania?
The Danes are getting closer and closer to Vorpommern - will you make a counterattack with the army stationed there? Looking forward to see how it turns out in the next update.
) is within reach - perhaps a little looting or a siege there will convince the Poles to retreat from the lands belonging to Pommerania?The Danes are getting closer and closer to Vorpommern - will you make a counterattack with the army stationed there? Looking forward to see how it turns out in the next update.
Olav - The update, incoming within the next few minutes, is going to clear everything . Warszawa is a part of Mazowsze region, but the city itself lies on the left bank of Wisła. The makers of MyMap knew of the Poles complaining about Warszawa being on the right bank in the vanilla map and divided Warszawa from Mazovia - making it correct historically, because Warszawa started to grow only in the 16th century, after most of the parliaments (Sejm) being organized there.
. Warszawa is a part of Mazowsze region, but the city itself lies on the left bank of Wisła. The makers of MyMap knew of the Poles complaining about Warszawa being on the right bank in the vanilla map and divided Warszawa from Mazovia - making it correct historically, because Warszawa started to grow only in the 16th century, after most of the parliaments (Sejm) being organized there.
The incursion of Jan Zamoyski, the Grand Crown Hetman of Poland, has been called back almost as soon as his army encircled Kostrzyn - for, seemingly to the Pomeranians, no reason. It didn't matter, of course, what the reason was, for the result was obvious: the Poles 'just' pillaged the countryside of Neumark, but were unable to take the main cities of the province. Situation was the same in Hinterpommern, where a few thousand enemy troops were stationed, blockading the main city - Stargard. By December 15, 1583 Bogusław Gryfita's army had taken hold of Kulmerland, and with the main cities in Mazowsze already in Pomeranian hands, he decided to cross the river Wisła (Vistula) and assault Inowrocław, Dobrzyń and Brześć - the main cities of the Kujawy region. Bogusław knew that taking them would deal quite a blow to the Polish economy. Inowrocław especially, was one of the cities belonging directly to the Crown, its riches coming from the existence of a salt-works and a large market, present there since as long ago as the 12th century.
In the beginning of the year 1584, the reason for calling back Zamoyski's troops had become clear to the Pomeranian command: he was to return to Mazowsze, in order to retake it from Pomeranian troops. At the same time, two smaller forces of about 10'000 men each were to distract Bogusław Gryfita, if not to repel him from Kujawy - in which they succeeded, coming to the aid of Inowrocław at the time of a general Pomeranian assault on its walls. Bogusław's forces were defeated and forced to retreat to Mazowsze - as Kulmerland had been cut off by the rear guard of the victorious Poles. Bogusław was hoping to be able to repeat the Polish manoeuvre and defeat Zamoyski during his assault of Płock, but the city fell to his army two days before the arrival of the Pomeranian one, which was forced to once again retreat - this time toward Kulmerland. Just after regrouping there, Bogusław directed his force back into Kujawy, where his troops were soon approached by a Polish army of a similar size to their own - circa 18'000.
The battle was a victory. Bogusław ordered his force to attack another, this time smaller, Polish army, awaiting in Wielkopolska, which was quickly routed. There, he lay siege to Gniezno, trying to assault the city almost immediately. This proved to be a bad idea, as the assault had failed, and a Polish army of just 8'000 men, led again by Zamoyski, intercepted the Pomeranian one soon afterwards, resulting in another sound defeat. At the same time, the Danish offensive in the west saw a halt, with their main force moving back and forth from Lubeck to Berlin, without ever being able to besiege the latter successfully.
Another offensive by Bogusław followed, soon after regrouping in the fortress in Nakło (in southern Pomerellen province), this time into the heart of Poland proper - Warszawa. There, the army was defeated, despite the numerical superiority of the Pomeranian troops. The disorganized Poemranians fled into Ziemia Sieradzka (Syradia), while the victorious Polish were, seemingly again for no reason, called to the east of the country. This made it possible for Bogusław to return to Warszawa, assaulting the city in a matter of two days. At the same time, a smaller Pomeranian reinforcement from Szczecin was sent, with orders to help Bogusław, by attacking Warszawa from the eastern bank of the river. Once still in Mazowsze, they defeated a similarly-sized army under Zamoyski. After taking Warszawa, Bogusław ordered the combined forces toward Sieradz, besieging the city. Reports of a considerably large army from Meissen assaulting Poznań reached the Pomeranian commander, who decided to attack Sieradz, hoping to take the city within two days (in which he succeeded), and moved north, to take command of the forces in Wielkopolska and take hold of the other cities in the province himself.
The manoeuvre was a success, to the anger of the duke of Meissen, who wrote letters to Ernest Ludwik of Pomerania, complaining about Bogusław 'stealing the cities of Wielkopolska from the hands of his troops like a common thief'. The king responded to this: 'Gniezno, Poznań and other cities have belonged to Pomerania for more than a half of a century before the war had started; therefore, Pomerania considers these lands as her own territory, carved out from her illegally by the treacherous Hungarian king on the throne of Poland. Because of this, all claims of the duke of Meissen are absolutely groundless, and will not be taken into account'. Ernest knew well that Meissen was one of the smallest and weakest countries in the Holy Roman Empire which, if left without the assistance of Pomerania and Saxony, would lose her independence very soon. Due to that, he Ernest didn't treat the complaint from the duke too seriously.
Meanwhile, everything became more complicated on the western front: the long-forgotten revolt in Rostock had become a German quasi-independence movement. The burghers of the city declared themselves independent from the Pomeranian authority, hoping to be aided by the Danes - the aid, however, didn't come. Ernest Ludwik couldn't send any forces to make short work of the revolters, with the campaign in Poland becoming increasingly demanding and problematic. He saw the troubles and unrest the prolonged war was causing throughout the entire country, but on the other hand, Bogusław's army was quite successful in its efforts, and the king dreamed of even receiving some territory from Poland as a compensation for the war effort.
The Polish used the confusion, caused by Mecklemburg's independence, to march on Warszawa and retake their capital, and then to move into Wielkopolska. There, however, their new king (Zygmunt III) was reached with the news of a new Pomeranian assault on Warszawa. This news was, seemingly, too much for the Swede on the Polish throne: he sent an envoy to Ernest, promising to end the hostilities between their countries and hand Wielkopolska and Kujawy to Pomerania. The king of Pomerania was more than happy to accept such a deal - it was much mor than he had actually expected. Now, what remained, was the question of the Danish incursion and the independence movement in Rostock...
In the beginning of the year 1584, the reason for calling back Zamoyski's troops had become clear to the Pomeranian command: he was to return to Mazowsze, in order to retake it from Pomeranian troops. At the same time, two smaller forces of about 10'000 men each were to distract Bogusław Gryfita, if not to repel him from Kujawy - in which they succeeded, coming to the aid of Inowrocław at the time of a general Pomeranian assault on its walls. Bogusław's forces were defeated and forced to retreat to Mazowsze - as Kulmerland had been cut off by the rear guard of the victorious Poles. Bogusław was hoping to be able to repeat the Polish manoeuvre and defeat Zamoyski during his assault of Płock, but the city fell to his army two days before the arrival of the Pomeranian one, which was forced to once again retreat - this time toward Kulmerland. Just after regrouping there, Bogusław directed his force back into Kujawy, where his troops were soon approached by a Polish army of a similar size to their own - circa 18'000.
The battle was a victory. Bogusław ordered his force to attack another, this time smaller, Polish army, awaiting in Wielkopolska, which was quickly routed. There, he lay siege to Gniezno, trying to assault the city almost immediately. This proved to be a bad idea, as the assault had failed, and a Polish army of just 8'000 men, led again by Zamoyski, intercepted the Pomeranian one soon afterwards, resulting in another sound defeat. At the same time, the Danish offensive in the west saw a halt, with their main force moving back and forth from Lubeck to Berlin, without ever being able to besiege the latter successfully.
Another offensive by Bogusław followed, soon after regrouping in the fortress in Nakło (in southern Pomerellen province), this time into the heart of Poland proper - Warszawa. There, the army was defeated, despite the numerical superiority of the Pomeranian troops. The disorganized Poemranians fled into Ziemia Sieradzka (Syradia), while the victorious Polish were, seemingly again for no reason, called to the east of the country. This made it possible for Bogusław to return to Warszawa, assaulting the city in a matter of two days. At the same time, a smaller Pomeranian reinforcement from Szczecin was sent, with orders to help Bogusław, by attacking Warszawa from the eastern bank of the river. Once still in Mazowsze, they defeated a similarly-sized army under Zamoyski. After taking Warszawa, Bogusław ordered the combined forces toward Sieradz, besieging the city. Reports of a considerably large army from Meissen assaulting Poznań reached the Pomeranian commander, who decided to attack Sieradz, hoping to take the city within two days (in which he succeeded), and moved north, to take command of the forces in Wielkopolska and take hold of the other cities in the province himself.
The manoeuvre was a success, to the anger of the duke of Meissen, who wrote letters to Ernest Ludwik of Pomerania, complaining about Bogusław 'stealing the cities of Wielkopolska from the hands of his troops like a common thief'. The king responded to this: 'Gniezno, Poznań and other cities have belonged to Pomerania for more than a half of a century before the war had started; therefore, Pomerania considers these lands as her own territory, carved out from her illegally by the treacherous Hungarian king on the throne of Poland. Because of this, all claims of the duke of Meissen are absolutely groundless, and will not be taken into account'. Ernest knew well that Meissen was one of the smallest and weakest countries in the Holy Roman Empire which, if left without the assistance of Pomerania and Saxony, would lose her independence very soon. Due to that, he Ernest didn't treat the complaint from the duke too seriously.
Meanwhile, everything became more complicated on the western front: the long-forgotten revolt in Rostock had become a German quasi-independence movement. The burghers of the city declared themselves independent from the Pomeranian authority, hoping to be aided by the Danes - the aid, however, didn't come. Ernest Ludwik couldn't send any forces to make short work of the revolters, with the campaign in Poland becoming increasingly demanding and problematic. He saw the troubles and unrest the prolonged war was causing throughout the entire country, but on the other hand, Bogusław's army was quite successful in its efforts, and the king dreamed of even receiving some territory from Poland as a compensation for the war effort.
The Polish used the confusion, caused by Mecklemburg's independence, to march on Warszawa and retake their capital, and then to move into Wielkopolska. There, however, their new king (Zygmunt III) was reached with the news of a new Pomeranian assault on Warszawa. This news was, seemingly, too much for the Swede on the Polish throne: he sent an envoy to Ernest, promising to end the hostilities between their countries and hand Wielkopolska and Kujawy to Pomerania. The king of Pomerania was more than happy to accept such a deal - it was much mor than he had actually expected. Now, what remained, was the question of the Danish incursion and the independence movement in Rostock...
Nice work beating back the Poles. Now with that taken care of...let the Danes feel your wrath!
Release the hounds!
TheExecuter
good job ! it always seemed a bit unrealistic to me (although I'm doing it as well) to focus all the action on one enemy and letting the others loot your country, I doubt the local population and nobility would be very OK with that. Anyway, you did just fine, now it's time for revenge