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Narrative, vol.2
Bogusław XII, the brilliant military general whom Pomerania owed her independence, was growing old. Loved by the populace of the country and almost deified by the soldiers, he was facing the never-exhausting source of trouble for any monarch of his age: the nobility. His situation was similar to that of the Polish kings of the 14th century: he came to power, like Ladislaus Łokietek (The Short), by force (aided with lucky circumstances), and now, the nobility was doing the very same thing they had been to Łokietek's son Kazimierz III the Great: denying the rights of his dynasty to the throne.
Although Pomerania was in much better a shape than Poland had been those three centuries earlier, with strong, centralized (at least theoretically - the 'Old Gryfites', as the descendants of Boguslaw X the Great were being called in his time, were fully dependent on the nobles - like Bogusław Gryfita, for instance) power of the king, it was still under heavy influence of the richest members of gentry. And they still craved more, knowing what the situation looked like just across the eastern border, in Poland.
***
"Never, I repeat never shall I succumb to such ridiculous demands. Pomerania will not become an elective monarchy just because a few weak fools crave twice as much as they deserve!"
"My King, you are exaggerating. All they want is the right to confirm that your son will-"
"That is just what the fools of Wielkopolska and Małopolska wanted from their king in Kraków. And then they gently pushed for more and more, and you see what it looks like now. You are the scholar here, and it occurs to me that either I know more than you do, or you know perfectly as much as I do but want to use that knowledge against me."
"Sir, I would never dare-"
"Stay silent. Leave. I need some calmness before I have to speak with those bastards again"
***
The loud, vibrant sound of a lonely bell signalled that the time has come for the deputies of the Senate of Pomerania to gather in the Royal Chapel of the Mary's Basilica in Gdańsk. The Senate was not in any way a legislative body in Pomerania, although it did aspire to be such. It consisted of the highest ranking church officials: the protestant Archbishops of Hamburg and Magdeburg, the protestant anti-archbishop of Gniezno (since the time when Poland lost Wielkopolska to Pomerania, the seat of the catholic Archbishop of Gniezno was given to people of the Kings. Poland responded to that by electing her own archbishop in exile, seated in Sieradz) and the protestant bishop of Gdańsk. Other members included some distant Gryfite relatives of the king, the richest nobility and representatives of the biggest cities.
The Senate gathered in Gdańsk to listen to, and discuss, the king's decision concerning the future of the Baltic State. They knew very well that giving them the right to confirm the right to rule of a new monarch the king would form a precedent which coud lead to the electiveness of the throne. They knew as well that Bogusław was in a difficult situation: he rose to power by means of a coup and with their support. The latter could vanish quickly, should the king oppose them openly, which would most certainly pose a big threat to his new dynasty, especially as the deposed Bogusław XI and his namesake son were only exiled to Rügen...
***
An update of sorts. I hope that you like it
. Unfortunately, for its continuation you'll have to wait at least 1 and half a week, as I'm going on a trip to Russia.I would like to thank all who did so by nominating me and allowing me to win the EU2 History-Book category in this quarter's ACA. I didn't deserve it, especially due to the frequency (and therefore number) of the updates, but still - I'm grateful.
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Emperor_krk said:
And a cliffhanger!
You deserve it! You put so much effort in both story and language, go wash your mouth!
Nobility, uppity bastards.
Maybe a weak compromise now and a slow buildup of gentry from lesser families to support the future Gryfitas?
Maybe a weak compromise now and a slow buildup of gentry from lesser families to support the future Gryfitas?
Those pesky nobles want a piece of the cake, eh? I'm cheering for Gryfita - he did so much good for Pomerania, so it's well deserved for the dynasty to continue ruling over the crown.
Wari Bana - I wash it at least thrice a day . And thank you very much .
RGB - that would be a good direction if these times were going go be peaceful. They won't.
Olav, demokratickid, Anarion - can't say anything but this: I agree.
I'm enjoying my stay in Moscow greatly. I think I might be passing a great opportunity by not going to a Satyricon gig here today at 8 p.m., but on the other hand I would be returning to the centre from a rather remote part of the metropolis late at night, which would be fairly stupid, to say the least.
Sorry for boring you with this, I'm so excited at being here that I can't help it.
. And thank you very much .RGB - that would be a good direction if these times were going go be peaceful. They won't.
Olav, demokratickid, Anarion - can't say anything but this: I agree.
I'm enjoying my stay in Moscow greatly. I think I might be passing a great opportunity by not going to a Satyricon gig here today at 8 p.m., but on the other hand I would be returning to the centre from a rather remote part of the metropolis late at night, which would be fairly stupid, to say the least.
Sorry for boring you with this, I'm so excited at being here that I can't help it
.
Emperor_krk said:I'm enjoying my stay in Moscow greatly.
...
I would be returning to the centre from a rather remote part of the metropolis late at night, which would be fairly stupid, to say the least.
Sorry for boring you with this, I'm so excited at being here that I can't help it
Any screenies of that?
Wari Bana - I have none, unfortunately. I've taken quite a lot of photos, including a few ones I've found a bit hilarious (like, a pigeon s(h?)itting on top of the bald head of the sculpture of Friedrich Engels which stands 200 metres from the Church of Christ the Saviour (Хра́м Христа́ Спаси́теля - situation of the sculpture being another bizarreness of some sort, at least for me). Won't bore you with those though (unless you express such a desire - I would then post them on photobucket, in order not to litter this thread too much ).
RGB - It would take me a looong post if I were to actually do that. Also, I wouldn't like to write it here - this is the AAR thread, right?
All I can say is that I enjoyed the stay in Moscow a damn great lot. This was the first time I was in such a huge city (20 times bigger than Krakow, which has about 700 000 inhabitants), and I liked everything about it immensely. Not only about the big-city-ness, of course - I'm a history freak, and I have strong interest in eastern Orthodox culture, which made the trip even more exciting for me.
And just a snapshot of myself with the Kremlin behind me.
).RGB - It would take me a looong post if I were to actually do that. Also, I wouldn't like to write it here - this is the AAR thread, right?
All I can say is that I enjoyed the stay in Moscow a damn great lot. This was the first time I was in such a huge city (20 times bigger than Krakow, which has about 700 000 inhabitants), and I liked everything about it immensely. Not only about the big-city-ness, of course - I'm a history freak, and I have strong interest in eastern Orthodox culture, which made the trip even more exciting for me.
And just a snapshot of myself with the Kremlin behind me.
Hell. Another two weeks without an update, and the following two looking nothing like better...
The reasons being simple: end-of-schoolyear stuff (this, however, diminishing already), another trip away from Krakow that I had last week, and now the failure of my main computer. It refuses any co-operation whatsoever, making it virtually impossible to even turn it on - let alone play games. And that seems most unfortunate because the 1st anniversary of this humble AAR of mine is nearing in large steps. I was planning on writing at least two gameplay/history updates before that date, but it seems that for the next two weeks I won't be able to use that comp at all...
I hope I can find some ideas for something narrative. However, due to my feeling a bit down lately, even that might not be the case. I'm sorry my dear ReadAARs - however few of you there's left anymore - I would like to ask you of some more patience. This AAR will certainly continue - at some point.
The reasons being simple: end-of-schoolyear stuff (this, however, diminishing already), another trip away from Krakow that I had last week, and now the failure of my main computer. It refuses any co-operation whatsoever, making it virtually impossible to even turn it on - let alone play games. And that seems most unfortunate because the 1st anniversary of this humble AAR of mine is nearing in large steps. I was planning on writing at least two gameplay/history updates before that date, but it seems that for the next two weeks I won't be able to use that comp at all...
I hope I can find some ideas for something narrative. However, due to my feeling a bit down lately, even that might not be the case. I'm sorry my dear ReadAARs - however few of you there's left anymore - I would like to ask you of some more patience. This AAR will certainly continue - at some point.
Hope you feel better soon, the practical things will be much easier to deal with.
You've still got readers, this is a good AAR and we appreciate the work you put in.
You've still got readers, this is a good AAR and we appreciate the work you put in.
For the past few weeks i've been watching this AAR; being banned I was unable to comment. Just want to say that I think it's great and I look forward to the interesting situations you will create for yourself since the Pomerania files are coming to an end. Otherwise of course it will just be a never-ending monarch and only random events to occupy you. By the way, what are those little graphics you are using (the temple looking building featured on a few provinces that i'm guessing is a manufactory)?
Get your sh*t together and start fighting soldier. You have a world to subdue!
No really, take your time but hurry up
No really, take your time but hurry up
Narrative, vol.3... Not just!
Both masses - the lutheran and the catholic one - were in their ending stages. It was the sixth and last day of the proceedings of the Senate in Gdańsk. The masses were in the intention of the voting - for this was all that was left to do about the law of succession. The results could not be predicted - the king's followers were almost equal in numbers and influence to those who wanted to pass the law. And in spite of the fact that the Senate was theoretically no more than an advisory body, it did possess quite a large amount of power. That was due to, as the kind reader may remember, the way Gryfita accessed the throne. The priests performing the liturgy blessed the gathered magnates and patriciate with the words "may our Lord's, God's judgement speak through your words, behaviour and choices, may the law exist in the way that will best serve our great nation. Bear in mind that it is you upon whom relies today the fate of Pomerania - do not betray the trust that has been put in you by our people..."
Of course, most of these words were no more than mere slogans that nobody would care about once they exit the churches. For obviously it was not 'the people' who gave all the power to the rich of the Baltic State, and surely it wouldn't be God who was going to speak through the votes of the legates. It was all a matter of individual interests and benefits of each of the merchants and nobility - which in some cases means bribes, in others - the King's kindness and support after the voting itself would take place. There was also the reason of most of the nobility - should the law of succession be passed in the shape they demanded, their influence on all newly enthroned Pomeranian kings would increase dramatically.
***
All members of the Senate sat in the throne hall of the Royal Palace in Gdańsk. The king Bogusław sat in the elevated part of the chamber, upon the throne of the Kings of the Baltic State. His expression was grim, without any signs of restlessness whatsoever - in spite of the fact that he was in a state of overwhelming nervousness for the last month or so, barely sleeping or eating at all. Inseparable from him was his personal physician, a Jew by the name Jakob Grau. He served under Gryfita since the time of the Polish war of 1579-1588 and was one of the very few people the old general-king trusted. Sitting on a smaller throne was the Prince of Brandenburg - Gryfita's son, Bogusław. He had been given the governance of the province and has proved to be as great an administrator as a warrior and leader. He was trained in the art of warfare by his own father and by Ernst von Mansfeld - an equally skilled military leader who, albeit catholic, decided to work for the Protestant northern German states - that due to being treated badly by the Habsburg Archduke Leopold.
The Senate threatened the king with the candidature of the younger son of the deposed king. The older had died due to poor health, which - the poor health, of course - was not the matter with Eryk. He was just as unsuited to rule a country as his deceased brother had been, but was renowned for his long travels (for Boguslaw XII was unable to make the exile in Rügen a prison for the old Gryfites - the support for the older dynasty was too strong among some nobles), rashness and the innumerable bastard children he had in various places, from Amsterdam to København, to Visby and Riga. Eryk himself was no match for the younger Bogusław - it was his supporters that were the real trouble for the king.
***
What was adding to Bogusław's nervousness was the fact that Pomerania was in a state of war against Denmark. The fools declared that the territory around Oslo, given over to the Swedes some time prior, was to return to the 'rightful' owners from København. To this, the Swedish could respond in no other way than by strengthening the garrisons of the Østlandet region, to which, in return, the Danes reacted by invading the Swedish territories in Norway. The king Karl IX asked Pomerania and his other allies for assistance, which was granted to them. The Royal Army was ordered to embark upon the ships in the Øresund and to make landfall outside Denmark's capital, starting the siege. In the meantime, the Baltic State's fleet covered all straits between the islands Fyn, Sjaelland, Lolland and the mainland Jutland, effectively disabling the armies stationed there from moving in to defend København.
After a few months, however, things started to look more grim than ever in a war against the Danes. For this time, they had a strong ally: the United States of the Low Lands. The Dutch fleet was able to rout the Pomeranian one, while also ferrying significant numbers of troops across the German Bight and laying siege with them to the Pomeranian-owned cities of the Jutland and Holstein regions. It was then that the Senate's proveedings were being held in Gdańsk and it was not until the news of the naval victory over the Dutch in the waters of Øresund when Gryfita felt some sort of relief. Even greater relief did he feel when the vote was finally carried out, securing the future of his dynasty while also taking away some of the nobility's privileges.
However, the war was still far from it's ending. The Dutch were very close to securing all of Jutland, while the Pomeranian siege of the capital of Denmark was progressing very slowly. Revolts were slowly inciting within the country, while the international politics of northern Europe were becoming more tense each day. The ghost of another Russo-Polish war was hanging above the two countries - which would be of no interest whatsoever to the Pomeranians, were it not for the Swedes, who decided that interfering there at that time may prove advantageous to them...
***
I'm a bit late with my anniversary update, but hey - it's here! And with gameplay stuff finally!
I hope you guys like it. I have finally found a (temporary, but still...) solution to my comp's problems, by just taking the hard drive from it and putting it in my sister's computer. Which means I'm able to play EU2, and not much besides that. Which may mean more updates in the nearish future, especially when combined with the fact that my summer holidays have begun 2 days ago.Anyway. Read, enjoy, comment!
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PrawnStar - as you can see, it is better - at least game-wise. Thank you very much for the appreciation.
Walter Model - thank you! I hope this AAR will keep you as a reader for some time more? If you studied the names of the monarchs appearing in my game, the leaders, and the events of the last few decades, you may see that I've already modified the game quite a lot. And there's much more still before Pomerania! Join us next time to see another long and difficult war...
This temple gfx is something that comes with MyMap. It represents a Fine Arts Academy.
Wari Bana - tried my best to, as you can see.
Walter Model - thank you! I hope this AAR will keep you as a reader for some time more? If you studied the names of the monarchs appearing in my game, the leaders, and the events of the last few decades, you may see that I've already modified the game quite a lot. And there's much more still before Pomerania! Join us next time to see another long and difficult war...
This temple gfx is something that comes with MyMap. It represents a Fine Arts Academy.
Wari Bana - tried my best to, as you can see
.