Rush for the East- a Russian AAR

[La Hire]

OK, so to compare my achievements with those of Pjcrowe, here's my first AAR.

Alas I didn't took notes from the start, so the first part of this AAR is by memory alone, hope you'll like it anyway!

The game is with IGC 2.3, the nation is Russia, played in difficult mode with normal agressivity and normal taxes.
The FOW, annexions and missions are on, with both historical and random events.


1492:

The game starts. Russia is not exactly the most powerful nation in Europe, but at least it has decent armies and territory, and weak mongol neighbours, excellent for a quick extension. Russia is also allied at start with Pskov, Ryazan and Crimea, wich may prove useful against Poland and the Teutonics.

This year is used to build more powerful armies with my meager treasure, and to build two bailiffs (not sure of the english word?) in Moscow and Novgorod.

1493:

Firmly decided to get rid of those mongols ASAP, I make a DOW on the closest, Kazan. With the help of my allies, Kazan is quickly stormed, while the province of Tambow is annexed by Ryazan.

1494-1495:

This is the turn of the Golden Horde and Astrakhan, easily conquered with the help of my allies. My armies need to be rebuild though, hence the two years duration of the conquest.

But the traitorous Crimea, with wich I had a bad relation from the start in spite of our agreement, leaves my alliance to ally with the Turks, probably to cope with their most hated ennemy, Georgia.
Anyway this stab in the back will be punished someday, I swear it!

1495-1500:

Beginning of the colonization of the Ural, while more settlers are sent in Karelia and Arkhangelsk.

Dow against the Teutonics and their allies, and again with the help of Pskov and Ryazan, I quickly annex Estonia, in spite of an unexpected Pommeranian landing and siege in Ingermaland.

From that point, there are rebellions in Estonia, Ingermaland and Astrakhan nearly every years and even several times a year, always crushed, but I must keep armies in or near these provinces at every time.

My first expedition is sent in the far east, it discovers Uzbekistan, China and all of Siberia from the Ural to the Magadan bay.

To comply with a mission, I conclude a royal wedding with Moldavia, and this nation enters my alliance. But just a few months later, Turkia declares war on Moldavia. Me and my other allies enter the war, but we are too far to bring troops in Moldavia, and the only help we can provide is money. This is of course not enough, and Moldavia is annexed by Turkia, who asks us for peace.
As I have no reasons to continue this war anymore, I accept.
It's sad for Moldavia, it was a pleasing ally

1500 - 1530:

DOW against Crimea, now allied with the Mamelukes, in part to take revenge of my ex-ally, but mostly to conquer Lugansk, wich falls into my hands without too much efforts, as Crimea was already at war with Turkia

Ryazan becomes my vassal, and as I take more confidence and have tons of troops at my disposal, I DOW Poland, already at war with Turkey (Turkia is definitely my hidden ally, always pleased to weaken my foes so that I can achieve them!).
Once the few Poland, Hanseatic and Hungarian armies sent against me and my allies fleeing or destroyed and 5 polish provinces under our control, the polish are suing for peace. They sign a separate peace with Pskov, giving it Welikia, and failing to repulse the rest of us, they sign another peace treaty.
I take Bogutja for myself, and as I'm planning to diplo-annex Ryazan in the near future, I give them Vorones. This way my relations with Ryazan are maxed out, and this nation is ready to welcome my gentle ruling.

Meanwhile, the Turk is acquiring a large territory in the centre of the Balkans, with complete control over Moldavia, Galicia, Croatia, Bujak and Bessarabia. I need to keep a close eye at this nation, else it will conquer all of central Europe and become a danger at my western border.

The colonization of Siberia carries on, and I control all the provinces from the Ural to the Ob river. Several events give me combat vessels, and after some years, I own a fleet of 30 vesels in Estonia, without having build any of them! Anyway, as I don't need them at this time, I save money on maintenance, but if I'm attacked by surprise, they probably won't be a match for my ennemies.

Poland DOW me, and is beaten again with my allies help, but this time it was more difficult, and the Pskovian province of Welikia was even invaded by Poland. But we finally get the upper hand, and Kursk and Belgorod became russian provinces.

By the end of the same year, I diplo-annex Ryazan, which brings me 4 provinces and a 30k army, perfect to defend my new borders against Poland.

Now I'm faced with a dilemma: do I wan't to expend to the West, against Poland, Denmark and Turkey, or do I rather go East, to the Uzbeks, the Persians and maybe even China?
So I decide to go for the East, as ennemies there are weaker and there are lots of free lands to colonize with no opposition. I'll just keep an eye on the situation in Europe, in case some of those nations poses a threat, or opportunities arise, such as a weakened and attacked Poland.

To this end I send 3 more expeditions in the East, to dicover new lands and help my settlers. I explore China and Korea, and build outposts up to the Baikal lake.

Then I DOW and annex Uzbekistan, as soon as it leaves it's alliance with Persia. My tactics works well, with an army composed of infantry and a lot of cavalry to first drive off and pursue the Uzbek cavalry, and another army with only infantry and artillery to siege and conquer the provinces. This way I fight the Uzbeck riders with theit own weapons, while avoiding cavalry attrition during the sieges.

1531-1570:

I create a town and a few outposts on the Magadan bay, and now I have a port and some troops on the pacific sea, perfect for future exploration.

Away fropm Russia, things are evolving. In Mexico, New Spain secedes from Spain and sizes control of 4 provinces, while in Europe, Austria is slowly being eaten by his ennemies: the Turks control Pest and Illyria, while Venice controls Styria; but the austrian ruler is still emperor, and he managed to take back Croatia to the Turks and to annex Lorraine.

Meanwhile Pskov becomes my vassal, assuming the former role of Ryazan, but in a slightly more reluctant manner.

Nowa new problem arises. The Persian controls a little colony in Emba, on the eastern shore of the Caspian sea, just in the middle of my Uzbek territory, and I hate to have foreign enclaves in my empire.
So I DOW Persia and his sole ally, Georgia. At start things are going rather my way, I invade Armenia and Azerbaidjan while Persia attacks Turkmenistan, just as I thought it would do.

Then everything goes wrong. After four victories, my army in Turkmenistan is finally beaten and nearly destroyed, and while a relief army is coming to lift the persian siege, two uzbek provinces enter in rebellion, each with a 20k army!
To make things worse, my armies in Armenia suffered heavy losses, and the siege doesn't seem to be advancing.

Then suddenly, Poland and her allies DOW me and attacked Pskov and my frontier, and the Swedish/Danish alliance attacked me too, defeating my armies, invading Kola and marching toward a near-defenseless Moscow with a 40k army and reinforcements behind it!


So I had to swallow my pride and take harsh decisions. I signed an even peace with Poland, whose results where poor, and I gave Kola to Denmark to avoid the fall of Moscow. But I kept fighting Persia and Georgia, and finally Persia herself proposed to give me Emba when Kurdistan fell. That only left me with the uzbek rebels to crush, which was made, but only after 6 months of fighting, as they repelled my first attack with tremendous losses!

As a final result, I exhausted my armies, rised my BB rating and traded Kola for Emba. Well, at least I have complete control of the eastern shore of the Caspian sea, and all in all, the danish annexion of Kola is not dramatic, as I had only a colony of 75 persons there and it gives me a casus belli against them.

Following that, and again to comply with a mission, I arranged a royal wedding and an alliance with Netherlands, and traded maps with it, thus discovering America and most of Africa!

For now, I'm planning to concentrate on the colonization of Siberia and the Magadan provinces, as I have a great number of settlers at my disposal, and most of my good commanders are dead, so I'll wait and slowly rebuild my armies for my future conquests.

To be continued........

 

[Lord E]

Cool start I am looking forward for the next update on this one

And good luck with it

 

[unmerged(11600)]

Welcome to the AAR club, and good luck with it!

-Pat

 

[Stonewall]

This one sounds cool. I like it when people actually lose territory instead of doing a world conquest with Ethiopia by the year 1520.

 

[La Hire]

Thank you all! Right, I'm not really into world conquest, but I hope I won't lose too much territory anyway

And talking about luck, it wouldn't hurt, as you will see I had some more troubles........


1571 - 1583 : Unrest in Mother Russia

This 12 years period was critical for the survival of the Motherland, as the People of nearly half the empire rebelled against the glorious but cruel ruling of Ivan the fourth.

March - August 1571:

Completely unexpected, a civil war arose in Russia, and 19 provinces from all corners of the empire took arms against their rightfull ruler, backed by 135K troops, opposed to only 78K loyal troops, dispersed all around.

Tzar Ivan entered a terrible anger, and sent his remaining troops to the throats of the rebels, while he took a loan to raise new armies. Nevertheless, he didn't lost all his sanity, and carefully ordered that the main rebel armies were left alone, besieging the loyal provinces and thus dying slowly of attrition.

To prevent further troubles, colonists were sent to Turkmenistan, successfully converting that muslim province to orthodoxia.

In April, the Ingermaland rebels saw their chance to retake their freedom from a weakened Russia, and a 36K rebel army besieged the loyal garrison of the province.

The following months, the loyal armies, despite their low numbers, dispersed several rebel armies, and regained control of the provinces of Semipalatinsk, Tchany, Omsk, Altaï, Baralinsk, Ob, Angara, Tugaï, Bratsk and Alga, while an outpost was implanted in Kamenkoie.

November 1571- December 1572:

In november, it was Estonia's turn to rebel. The loyal troops in this province, who had just received orders to go and lift the siege at Ingermaland, hastily returned to it's positions, crushing the rebels in Estonia.

But that left Ingermaland alone and still besieged by the rebels. Fortunately the attrition took a heavy toll on them, and finally the estonian army came and crushed the survivors in January 1572, freeing the garrison.

Again, Estonia was undefended, and it rebelled for the second time in a year in February, only to be defeated again in March by the loyal army, now returned from Ingermaland.

In April, Palana was discovered by russians explorers, but the process of colonization was nearly stopped, due to a lack of money, as all the available resources were spent in trying to crush the rebellion.

During this year, the Tzar slowly regained the control of most of the revolting provinces (Chelekov, Oka, Saian, Tannuola, Tula, Chatga, Moscow, Onega, Volgograd, Lugansk, and Belgorod) in a row of quick and devastating assaults against their untrained defenders. Still some provinces resisted, such as Bogutjar, that was besieged since november 1572, surrendering only in september 1573.

January - December 1573:

The Tzar was decided to put an end to the rebellion, and the remaining rebel provinces (Onega, Kurgan, Far Karelia, Orenburg) were regained one by one. The last to fall was Bogutjar, surrendering after a 10 months siege and seemingly ending the rebellion.
Ivan, following the advices of one of his counselor, Andreï Golchev, decided to show he was able to forgive his ennemies, and only the leaders of the rebellion were imprisonned to life, in hope such magnanimity would improve the fame of the Tzar with his subjects and the other courts of Europe.

Meanwhile, in the rest of the Europe, Spain gained Calais from France in February, thus ending the long war between them and their allies.

In march, Irgiz was converted by force to orthodoxia.

The russian armies were only the shadow of their former might, but the discovering of a new land technology in April gave them an edge in spite of their weakness.


January 1574 - April 1576:

In march 1574, Ivan ordered the muslim provinces of Kustanai and Tengiz to be converted to orthodoxia, hoping to avoid further unrest, a decision wich proved very wise indeed.......

For in June 1574, a new civil war erupted in Russia. The families and supporters of the imprisonned rebel leaders took control of 21 provinces, and with the help of a total of 100k rebel troops, they freed the prisonners and attacked the remaining loyal armies, defeating and nearly destroying one of those in Belgorod!





This time Ivan sweared he would exert a terrible revenge against these foolish rebels. With two new loans, he raised new armies, and soon launched all of his forces against the revolters.

The provinces of Enkan, Uralsk and Samara fell to the rebels in the following months, but at the same time, most of the rebel provinces (Bogutja, Ingermaland, Onega, Lugansk, Tver, Far Karelia, Tula, Ust Urt, Moscow, Vladimir, Kazan, Samara, Uralsk, Astrakhan, Turgai and Tenghiz) were re-occupied and the rebel armies were crushed one by one, from July 1574 to April 1576.

The damned estonians rebelled in october 1575, only to be vanquished 6 months later, in april 1576. Meanwhile, Sweden and it's danish ally declared war on the Teutonics. That war will end with a white peace in december 1581, after a number of ferocious battles in Livonia.

In february 1576, Venice, backed by Poland, Hungary and Milan, DOW Austria and it's allies, Bavaria, Bade, Spain, Portugal and Bohemia (wow! That's a full european war, only France and England are missing! ). This war will end in February 1578, with Venice annexing Istria, thus becoming a fairly important nation in the middle of Europe.


May 1576 - December 1577:

In may 1576, We receive an Irish embassy. Short after their arrival in Moscow, another wave of unrest ripples the empire, with 16 provinces revolting again, and only 33K loyal troops left to fifht against the 72K rebel armies.
But Ivan reacts with fatalism and determination, and the Irish ambassador is so impressed by the strength and will of our beloved ruler that our relations with Eire improves by +25.

In june 1576, while Aden and Turkey declare war on the Mameluks, the few remaining loyal troops attack the rebels with even more ferocity. Ichim, Uralsk, Emba, Bouzatchi, Irgiz and Amoudaria all succomb to their wrath during the following 6 months.

In october 1576, Rudolf II of Austria becomes the new emperor of the SER, but it's only a mockery of power, for a third of his provinces are occupied by Venice or Turkey.

In december 1576, Ingermaland is again besieged by a rebel army, but the rebels are beaten by a relief army in june 1577. In the same time, the rest of the rebellion is crushed mercilessly, and the provinces of Karakorum, Kujbyschew, Turkmenistan, Saratow, Belgorod, Vologda, Enkan, Estonia, Kolyma, Ckelekov, Semipalatinsk, Tchuma and Tomsk are regained, so that in december 1577, the only rebel province left is Okhotsk, in the Magadan bay.

Now the Tzar orders that all the rebel prisonners, especially their leaders, are impaled along the road from Moscow to Astrakhan, thus intimidating would-be rebels and gaining a nickname, "Ivan the Impaler". He also orders to impale his former counselor, Andreï Golchev, "to teach him the virtues of the good old methods compared to the new theories wich failed so miserably"


January 1578 - December 1582:

These ruthless methods prove more effective than mercy, as except a few and traditionnal unrest, no other rebellion wreaks Russia.

To limit the risks of upraising, the Tzar orders the conversion of his muslim subjets to the orthodox faith. Bouzatchi is converted in march 1578, Karabogaz in march 1580 (it rebelled against this forced conversion, but troops were sent with the settlers, and the muslims had no other choice than conversion or death), and Astrakhan sees the light by converting itself to orthodoxia in october 1579.

In september 1578, the Aden/Mameluks war ended, with the Mameluks paying a 112 gold indemnity. But Turkey is still at war with the Mameluks.

In june 1579, Ivan repaid one of his 3 current loans, while the Moghols decreted an embargo against us. In september of the same year, Aden and Turkey DOW the Persian/Georgian alliance.
In january 1580, Ivan renews his alliance with Pskov and the Netherlands.

1581 sees the renewal of the russian colonization of Siberia and the Far East. Several outposts are upgraded or created, and a colony is even implanted in Djugdjur in december 1582.

Estonia is, as usual, briefly controlled by rebels, from january to may 1581, and the civil war is definitely over with the fall of Okhtosk in june 1581.

Bade becomes vassal with Austria in september 1581, and Turkey annexes Nile from the Mameluks in december.

Ust Urt rebels in december 1581, and Karakorum is besieged by the rebels in august 1582, but they are vanquished and Ust Urt is re-occupied in september.

Despite the loss of half the commercial investments due to malcontent merchants, We repay another loan, now having only one more running.

And thus the year 1582 and the time of the rusian civil wars ends, with Aden gaining 25 gold from Persia in exchange for peace.


To be continued...................

 

[unmerged(11600)]

My hat's off to you for handling not one but multiple Civil Wars. The closest I've ever come is having Unrest among the Peasants (or some such) as England, where I had rebellions all over the place. In my current campaign, England got hit with a Civil War, but they were so cut down by France, Scotland, and the Royalists that the rebels won simply by initial placement.

-Pat

 

[La Hire]

Well, at least it was really challenging, but I must admit that I felt very confused when the third consecutive civil war happened, and the rebels got 2/3 of the troops I had just rised against them.......I just hope it won't happen again!

 

[La Hire]

1583 - 1602 : From the Baltic to the Pacific


This period saw Russia become an empire covering all lands from the Baltic to the Pacific, by both colonization and conquest.


1583:

This year was very peaceful, with only colonial and diplomatic activities.

In january, while France vassalizes Navarre, Turkey diplo-annexes Aden and annexes Kurdistan and Nuyssay from Persia.
In april, Japan declares war on China and its allies, Korea and Ayutthaya.
In december, the tzar Ivan sent a letter of credits to its Pskovian vassal, planning to diplo-annex it in the near future.

1584:

In january, the conquistador Mansurov is sent to Selenga, to help the colonization of this area, while the Tzar raises new troops on the western frontier to discourage would-be agressors.

But Ivan dies in february, and Fedor I is crowned the following month. Fedor carries on the colonization program of his predecessor, and outposts are built in Baladok and Tchumkan in june.

Meanwhile, in august, Hungary became vassal of Poland, although they didn't renewed their alliance.

1585:

An outpost was built in march in Amgoun, and in december the Tzar ordered to improve the fortifications in Estonia.
In september, Fedor offered his daugther to the heir of Netherland, thus making the bond within the two nations stronger.
The same month, the merchants of a russian outpost on the border with China acquired an old set of maps detailing the location of famed Bangkok.

1586:

Another outpost is created in Sofiisk in january, and in march Djugdur grows to become a city, with an appointed bailiff. Another bailiff is appointed in Emba in october.

In june, the Tzar repays an old loan, sends a letter of credits to Pskov to renew the alliance between the two dynasties, and trades maps with Netherlands, discovering new lands in Africa, America and South-east Asia.

1587:

A new COT appears in Anticosti, but we have no merchants in this area. In january, settlers colonize Nagorje, and an outpost is built in Amour in september, while in march a bailiff is appointed in Irgiz and fortifications are raised in Djugdjur.

1588:

A letter of credits is sent to Pskov in january, and a bailiff is appointed in Tenghiz. In march, the conquistador Yermak is victorious against a native army in Nagorje.

In april Turkey and its allies, Valachia, Algeria, Crimea and the Hafsid, declares war on the Mameluks, and Bohemia vassalizes Thuringe.

In june, outposts are built in Birobidjan and Tchekunda. But more than 2500 men desert their unit in Estonia, unhappy with their treatment and the meager food they are given.

In october, Yermak is victorious against another native force in Nagorje, and in december another letter of credits is sent to Pskov.

1589 - 1590:

Settlers colonize Selenga in january 1589, and a bailiff is appointed in Alga in february.

Pskov is diplo-annexed in january 1590, giving two provinces and a 35k army to Russia. Then a russian spy in Kurland told the Tzar that the Teutonics were planning to leave their alliance with Poland, Pommerania and Prussia in just two years. So the Tzar decided to take advantage of this information and the new troops in Pskov to declare war and annex the Teutonics as soon as they leave their alliance. To this aim, he raised new troops in Estonia and Pskov.

The tzar also appointed a judge (what's the name of the judge improvement in english? ) in Welikia, while the Mameluks paid 58 gold to Algeria in a separate peace.

In april the Tzar renewed his alliance with Netherlands, but he never saw the results of his plans to conquer the Teutonics, as he died in september. As his successor, Boris Godunov, was too young to rule, a regency assumed his responsibilities.
In december, the russian scientists discovered Logisitics, wich may prove useful in the battle against the Teutonics.

1591:

Turkey became clearly a threat for all of Europe, when they annexed the Mameluks in february and, with the backing of Valachia, Crimea, Hafsid, Algeria and Oman, declared war on Venice, Spain and Portugal in april.

In august England vassalizes Hesse, and in september, Nagorje became a city.

In november, the alliance between the Teutonics, Poland, Pommerania and Prussia came to an end, and Russia immediately DOW the Teutonics, now isolated and ready to fall under russian control.

1592:

The 18 of january, a russian army invaded Livonia, defeated the teutonics and stormed the walls of the city. The teutonics offered 250 gold, but the regent had ordered a complete annexion, so he refused this offer and rather pursued the rest of the teutonic army in Kurland.

The teutonics were again defeated in Kurland the 3 of march. Russia refused a truce offer, and layed a siege against Riga. The same month, an outpost was built in Buriat.

After another refusal of a truce and the annihilation of the rest of the teutonic army in april, the russian army conquered Riga in august, thus effectively annexing the Teutonics.

In april, japanese merchants arrived in Okhotsk, and showed us the location of Edo. In december, France, backed by Navarre, Austria and Switzerland, DOW Spain, Venice and Portugal.

1593:

A bailiff is appointed in Far Karelia in January, and a letter of credits is sent to Mysore, wich the regent deemed as a possible ally against Persia. This nation vassalized Hyderabad in september, thus becoming a regional power.

Selenga became a city with a bailiff in june.

1594:

The regent sent a 100 gold gift to Mysore, and appointed a bailiff in Nagorje in march. Outposts were built in Boureia and Ekimcan in april, a judge was appointed in Livonia, and settlers colonized Khretset in december.

In november, Turkey gained Tyrol from Venice, expanding its european territory. But there was nothing we could really do, except take care to protect our own borders against a possible turkish attack in the future.

1595:

The young Boris Godunov took command of an army in Estonia, to learn how to handle a war.
In january, Hungary was attacked by Turkey, Valachia, Crimea, Hafsid, Algeria and Oman, and although it was the vassal of Poland, it didn't get any support from its liege or its allies.

In february the regent repaid the loan used to finance the war against the Teutonics. Then Kurland entered open rebellion, and with a 47k army, the rebels defeated 15k russian troops and besieged Riga, while Godunov choosed to reinforce his army in Estonia and let the attrition exhaust the rebels before he can easily crush them.

An ethiopian embassy arrived in Moscow in march, showing us the location of Keren, and the regent concluded a royal wedding with the king of Ethiopia. He also built an outpost in Ulan Ude, in the East.
In april, Ethiopia entered our alliance with the Netherlands, and in june we trade maps with it, discovering Ethiopia and Nubia, as well as a part of the Turkish empire.

The catholic counter-reform ended in may, and in august a judge was appointed in Kursk.

1596:

New outposts were built in Nerchinsk and Norsk in march, while Spain gave Artois and Luxembourg to France.

In may, the rebels in Kurland received reinforcement, and Godunov had to abandon is plan to let them die from attrition, so he led his army against them, and was victorious on the 24 of june.

In july, Hungary signed a truce with Algeria, and paid 112 gold to Crimea.

1597:

In order to open commercial relations with Ethiopia, an outpost is built in Somalia in april. Another one is opened in Chilka in june, and in july, the regent decretes an embargo against all over nations.
In august, a native revolt is crushed in Khretset, and Riga is again besieged by rebels.
France diplo-annexes Navarre in november.

1598:

The regency ends and Boris Godunov becomes Tzar in january, immediately going to Kurland with his army, and beating the rebels in february.

In march he sends a letter of credit to Georgia, hoping to ally with it against Turkey, who just received Maros, Carpathia and 250 gold from Hungary. The same month, Spain declares war on the Incas.

In may, Kurland rebels again, but Godunov, who stayed there, easily defeats the rebels.
In september, a truce is signed between Japan and China, and in october, Khretset becomes a city with a bailiff.

1599:

Godunov sends another letter of credit to Georgia, and nominates a judge in Karelia in january. In april he offers 25 more gold to Georgia.

Two new outposts are built in Kalakan and Mogotcha in june and august, and in december Mansurov defeats a native ambush in Tchita.

1600 - 1601:

The Tzar sends a gift of 100 gold to Georgia, and appoints a judge in Bogutjar in january 1600. Outposts are built in Stanovoe and Djagdi in february/march, another one at Sretensk in october and a colony is founded in Baralinsk in april.

In august the Tzar orders an agricultural revolution, upgrading the economy and treasury of the empire for several months. He uses this treasure to offer a royal gift (250 gold) to Georgia in january 1601, but the Goergian reaction isn't encouraging,as they only lean toward neutrality. So, while an outpost is built in Tchita in february, the Tzar offers 100 more gold to Georgia in september, with no more results.

1602:

A COT appears in Svealand in january, and merchants are immediately sent there. Meanwhile, England diplo-annexes Hesse.

Judges are appointed to Tambow and Saratow in february, and in august Russia signs another alliance with Netherlands and Ethiopia; but to the great disappointment of the Tzar, Georgia refuses to join, ruining all the diplomatic efforts of the last months.

In september, Spain annexes all the Inca empire.

This period ended in november 1602 with the building of an outpost in Kalar. Now Russia controls all the lands in Siberia, extending from Kurland along the Baltic to the Pacific ocean to the East, and bordering Persia and China.

This let the Tzar free to prepare the conquest of Asia, but alas, events would not turn as he thought in the following years, bringing the Empire on the brink of collapsing due to external wars and internal troubles


To be continued................

 

[Morpheus506]

Originally posted by La Hire
The tzar also appointed a judge (what's the name of the judge improvement in english? )

Legal Counsel, methinks.

Great job so far, very nice work. One thing I'm wondering though: What of Sibir? I don't remember reading anything about them or their provinces... Has someone already conquered them?

 

[La Hire]

Well in fact as I have a french version of the game, the names of some provinces may differ from yours (and that's why I'm not quite sure of the term used for the judge's improvement ), and maybe sometimes I'll talk of provinces you won't recognize (or maybe not, I don't know for sure).

I'll check the map and search for Sibir, but I'm sure it bears another name in my version. Where is it located exactly (I guess it's in Siberia, but it's so vast!), what are the names of the provinces adjacent to Sibir?

But don't worry, as I have complete control of all territories to the East, if Sibir is situated where I think it is, I must have conquered it early in the game!

 

[Morpheus506]

Noooo! Sibir is once again conquered!

It is situated north of the Uzbeks, East of the Golden Horde and Astrakhan. Basically on the Caspian Sea and at the mouth of the Siberian Corridor.

 

[La Hire]

Lol I'm sorry!

Anyway I've found out were it is located by reading your AAR (excellent job, by the way ), but I can't remember having actually seen Sibir during the game, so I believe it had been annexed early by Astrakhan, and thus I conquered both with a single war .

I shall say that I actually liberated Sibir from its oppressors (not to say that I don't oppress it either! ).

 

[La Hire]

1603 - 1607 : The dark age of Russia


This short period saw Russia being torn by war and revolt, nearly collapsing under the pressure of foreign countries and internal rebellion.



1603:

Satisfied with the control of all Siberia, the Tzar decided to improve the administration of the empire, to improve income and to transmit a rich and powerful nation to its heir. He appointed a bailiff in Arkhangelsk, and legal counselors in Lipetsk, Vorones and Vladimir.

However, the victory of Mansourov against a native army in Kalar in april proved that Siberia was not completely pacified, and that it would take a lot more time to have it firmly in russian hands.

The same month, Spain entered a civil war, with a lot of continental and colonial provinces entering in open rebellion. One of those, Naples, declared its independance in June, and immediately declared war against its former master.

The situation for Spain became critical, with nearly all of Europe declaring war on it and its allies, Savoy and Eire.
In september, France and its allies, Austria, Poland, Scotland and Switzerland, DOW Spain.
In october, it was the turn of England, Pommerania, Brandenburg, Prussia and Sweden to DOW on Spain.
The same month, Netherlands and Ethiopia declared war on Spain, and Russia followed its allies, even if the Tzar had no real intention to actually fight its ennemies.

In december, Denmark and its ally, the Hanseatic League, DOW Russia, probably thinking that the war with Spain would have weaken it. Of course at start they were wrong.........

1604 :

Confident in the might of its armies, the Tzar prepared an attack against the danish, to teach those fools a lesson they would remember for a while. He sent an army to wreak havoc in the danish provinces, under the command of Basmanov.
But he was caught off guard when an Hanseatic army of only 7k men landed in Kurland in march, and defeated the 20k army commanded by the Tzar Godunov himself.

Worse, in june, while Basmanov captured Kola, Crimea suddenly declared war against us, backed by Turkey and Oman. The Tzar sent troops in Crimea, while turkish and crimean armies marched to Lugansk.

The Tzar came back to Kurland with its army in july, and this time he was victorious. At the same time Basmanov continued its rampage through Denmark, seizing Finnmark in august and Narvik in september.

In Crimea the troops commanded by Panin did well, taking Koulan in november. But the 40k relief army sent against the turks in Lugansk was defeated by only 11k turco-crimeans, and turkish reinforcements were on their way to Lugansk.

In december, while Basmanov was besieging Finland, a small danish army freed Narvik and layed siege over Finnmark. As this war seemed to lead to nowhere, and more troops were needed against the turks, the Tzar proposed a truce to the danish, who gladly agreed.

1605 :

In january, immediately after the peace treaty with Russia, Denmark diplo-annexed the Hanseatic league. Meanwhile, the war with Turkey continued. Two more russian armies were defeated in Lugansk, but in the same time Panin seized two crimean provinces.

Things turned awful when the Tzar died in the 11 of february. Oman sent an expeditionary force in Ethiopia, burning our outpost in Somalia.

In april, while Spain gave Roussillon to France and Coahuiha to England, the young tzar Dimitri was crowned.
Dimitri was a young and educated ruler, raised in the court of Netherlands, and subjugated by the culture of the western nations, such as Spain and France. As soon as he climbed on the throne, he decreted a lot of reform to modernize Russia.
At first, when he decreted the abolition of slavery and the obligation to wear western-style costumes, the boyard moaned, but didn't really opposed him.
But when he ordered that every man shove his beard, to make the russians look like educated and sophisticated people, the boyards entered in open rebellion, saying "Rather dead than shaved!" or also "Our beards are our pride". Dimitri lacked a close knowledge of his people, and he thought they would gladly accept the modern way of life, but in fact they refused it with a passion, believing the westerners to be girly men and not wishing to abandon their crude way of life.

Thus Russia entered a dark age, with much instability and a probability of revolt rising to 20% in every province!

(ooc: of course, it was a mix of bad historical and random events, not at all a result of my failed politics !)

Starting in july with the revolt in Kurland, between 2 and 6 provinces would revolt each month, some of them just after being pacified by our troops, and the rebel armies, taking advantage of our lack of manpower, would even seize some more provinces. But while still fighting with over nations, we would slowly and systematically defeat every rebel army, until the rebellion came to an end in july 1607, with the fall of Okhotsk, the last rebel province.

In may, Lugansk fell in turkish hands, and in june, Poland and its allies, France, Austria, Switzerland and Scotland, DOW us and our allies.

In july, when the Sweden/England/Pommerania alliance also DOW us, we proposed a truce to the crimeans to end this useless war. We had lost Lugansk and had been defeated thrice in Lugansk, but as we controlled 3 crimean provinces, the crimeans gladly accepted our offer and returned home.

In november, we lost Belgorod to a 78k polish army. Meanwhile, Venice vassalized Milan, and Spain gave Calais, the Flandres and 250 gold to Netherlands (at last some good news!).

1606 - 1607 :

These years were an incessant struggle to regain control of the revolted province, with new rebellions and loyalist victories every month.

In february 1606, while the polish army marched to Polotsk besieged by our troops, we regained control of the now-abandonned province of Belgorod. In may, confronted to unrest in nearly every province, Dimitri abdicated in favor of Vasili IV Shuiski, who abrogated the decrees of his predecessor to calm the people ,and sent the loyalist troops to crush the rebels left.

In june, Donetsk surrendered to our troops, while the Polish captured the rebel Kurland and a 10k austrian army layed siege over Belgorod. The following month, Polotsk surrendered to us. Now we controlled two polish provinces, while Poland only had Kurland; but as a 50k Poland army was marching on Polotsk, and we had not enough troops to oppose to both them, the rebels and the swedish, we used our last diplomat to propose them an humiliating peace, offering Kurland without having been really defeated (we even had a star, but the Tzar choosed to calm things down as the situation was critical for Russia). Anyway the Tzar was not really interested in Kurland, that province was too difficult to defend, surrounded by ennemy countries and revolting all the time.

In august 1606, Sweden captured Karelia to the rebels, defeated our untrained fleet in the gulf of Finland, and besieged Ingermaland with a 40k army. We waited for attrition to reduce the strength of the swedish, but even with it, our 40k relief army was unable to lift the siege, and in february 1607, seeing that Ingermaland would soon fall and we had nothing to oppose to the Swedish marching to Moscow, the Tzar offered Karelia and 16 gold to sweden, promising himself to take it back as soon as possible.

The rebellion ended in july, with the fall of Okhotsk, the last rebel province, while Japan signed a truce with Korea and Ayutthaya, and Korea being vassalized by China.

This period was really the dark age of Russia, with anarchy running through all the empire, and ennemy armies marching freely over our provinces. We had to abandon some of our lands, not because of the ennemies troops, but mainly because we needed our troops to crush the rebels, or else everything would have been lost.


Hope it was the last great rebellion in Russia, or We'll never achieve our great plans to expand to the East!


To be continued............

 

[Morpheus506]

Great job handling those rebellions. Looking forward to more (even if you did annex Sibir...).

 

[unmerged(11600)]

Truly Russia's Times of Troubles! Just be patient and slowly craft your vengence against those traitorous nations to the West . In my campaign, my latest war (I'll get to the write up soon, I promise ) started out with the plan of annexing Sweden outright, but some six weeks into the war France ceded Wessex to them , so now I have to be patient. But definately, Russia's lack of diplomats really makes those BB wars touch and go!

BTW, in the American version the improvements are listed in the saved games files as Bailiff, Courthouse, and City Rights (i.e.- governors).

-Pat

 

[La Hire]

1608 - 1626 : rebuilding a nation

After the years of war and unrest in Russia, it took the Tzars 8 years to restore the former glory and might of the empire, by severing the roots of rebellion, raising powerful armies, strengthening the colonies and gaining some new territories and allies.


1608 - 1610 :

Having paid a heavy price to have peace and stability in his empire, the Tzar Vasily took some serious measures to improve his power and his grip over its subjects.

During these 3 years, he raised new troops, reorganising the defense of the borders, constructing fortifications in Ingermaland to defend against Sweden and Denmark as well as against rebels, and positioning his forces to counter future rebellions and foreign invasions. This way, local revolts in Ingermaland, Livonia, Ust Urt and Amou Daria were readily crushed, and the rebellion didn't had time to spread to the other provinces as in the past.

The Tzar also upgraded the colonies and outposts in Siberia and Asia, and built strong outposts near Ethiopia, in Somalia, Mogadiscio and Mudugh, all this wishing to improve the economy of Russia. To this end, the Tzar also repaid a fraction oh his debt, to clear the finances of Russia.

In april 1610, the catholic heresy spread as a brushfire in Kazan, were the tribemen converted en masse, as an open defy to the orthodox russians who colonised their homelands. Anticipating religious conflict in this province, the Tzar sent a 25k army in garrison in nearby Kujbyschew, ready to march on Kazan as soon as needed.

His task at rebuilding Russia's power on good way, Vasily abdicated in july 1610 in favor of his oldest cousin, Vladislav I Vasa, transmiting him a stable and powerful empire.

1611 - 1612 :

Vasily had fears that his cousin was not the right man to rule Russia, but he had no choice has Vladislav was the oldest and more influent candidate to the throne. But Vasily had been right, and it soon became obvious that the new Tzar was a stupid, coward and greedy idiot, only interested in his own fame and wealth and completely ignorant of strategy, diplomacy and politics
(ooc: this dumbass has only 1 dot in each skill, he's the worse I've ever seen ).

From the start, Vladislav made wrong and impopular choices, and his bad politics put the land in a new dark age. The only wise decision he made was to completely clear the debts of the Crown, and continue the colonization of the eastern territories.

In january, a new COT appeared in Coahuiha, but no one in Russia even remotely noticed this, as the poor ruling of Vladislav resulted in successive rebellions in several provinces. Starting from january 1611, the provinces of Ingermaland, Karakum, Amou Daria, Kursk, Kurgan, Livonia, Vorones, Karabogaz, Saratow, Welikia, Kustanai, Kazan, Estonia, Ryazan, Irkutsk, Selenga, Orsk, Tambow and even Moscow were the theater of rebellions and fightings, but thanks to the preparatives of his predecessor, Vladislav was able to defeat the rebels one by one, until all provinces were firmly in his grip by june 1612.
In fact the only dire consequences of those revolts where the destruction of an outpost in Zima (this one was rebuilt in december 1612) and a loss of population in the smallest colonies, some of them being reduced to only 50 inhabitants. The unrest and downfall of the economy also provoked the anger of the crafters, resulting in a loss of investments in july 1612, but that was a minor cost compared to the consequences of the previous civil wars.

These two years were also very active on the diplomatic front. In december 1611, Switzerland and its allies (France, Austria, Poland, Scotland and Naples) declared war against the turks, backed as always by Crimea, Valachia, Algeria and the Hafsid.

In january 1612, as Spain received 103 gold from Naples to end their war, Mathias of Austria was elected Emperor of the HRE, and
in may, Hannover declared its independance from England.

1613 - 1616 :

The last act of Vladislav was to sent missionaries in Ust Urt in march 1613, to convert them to the orthodox faith. Three months later, one of his rivals, Mikhail Romanov, chased him from power with the support of the boyards, becoming the Tzar Mikhail I Romanov.
Mikhail was far more competent and intelligent than Vladislav, and he was aware that Russia couldn't stay isolated and surrounded by hostile nations. So he renewed the ties with the Georgian dynasty, marrying the daugther of the king of Georgia in january 1614.

One month earlier, England annexed Eire. Seeing the polish forces defeated by the turkish armies, Mikhail knew he had a unique opportunity to strike at the hated polish ennemy, thus avenging the humiliation inflicted to Vasily in 1606. So he DOW Poland in august 1614, knowing that the allies of poland (France, Austria, Switzerland, Scotland and Naples) were too far and too busy figthing Turkey and Crimea to be of any help to Poland.

Pozharsky invaded and stormed Polotsk in september, while other armies invaded the south of Poland.

In november, Cleves paid 234 gold to Thuringe and 31 gold to the Palatinat, and signed a truce with Saxe.

The russian forces besieged the polish provinces during all of winter, without being threatened by the remaining polish forces. Smolensk fell in march 1615, and Mikhail refused the polish offer to annex Polotsk, as he knew he could easily obtain much more later.
It was Mozyr's turn to surrender in april, and in june, we defeated a polish army in Chernigov and laid siege over the city. The king of Poland made a new proposition, offering Polotsk and Mozyr, but he was rebuked again, as Mozyr didn't appealed to the Tzar's tastes.

We discovered a new land technology, the muskets, in august, and these weapons were used for the first time in Belarus, which was captured in november. Again the Tzar refused to annex Mozyr and Polotsk, but he rather asked for Polotsk, Smolensk and 250 gold, a proposition the king of Poland could hardly refuse, being still at war with Turkey and unable to prevent us to march on his capital.

In december, satisfied with his victories and loaded with loot, Pozharsky was returning to Russia, when he learned that Livonia was revolting. He ordered a forced march, and defeated the rebels two months later.

In february 1616, a truce was signed between France and Turkey. In july, Poland gave 166 gold and Krementjug to Crimea, and 20 gold to Algeria. In november, Spain gave 250 gold and Friesen to Thuringe.

Meanwhile, the Tzar continued its politic. He appointed a bailif in Polotsk in may 1616, restricted trade with all other nations in april, repaid a loan and sent a letter of credits to Georgia in december, at the same time crushing the heretics in Kazan and the rebels in Livonia, Karakum and Amou Daria.

1617 - 1620 :

1617 was a calm and peaceful year. A bailiff was appointed in Smolensk in january, and the outposts in Ethiopia were upgraded, with the only foreign event being the annexion of Bavaria by Austria in august.

In january 1618, the fortifications in Polotsk were strenghtened, in case Poland wished to take it back. Talking about Poland, the same month it received a 250 gold tribute from Valachia.

In april, Cleves and England agreed to a truce, and in june the Tzar sent another letter of credit to Georgia.
The following month, France, still allied to Poland, Austria, Switzerland, Scotland and Naples, declared war on Spain, Savoy and Cleves, and in august Switzerland obtained Pest from Turkey (although exchanging Pest for Tyrol, still firmly under turkish hands, would have been much better for both countries, as it would have allowed territorial continuity instead of enclaved provinces).

Ferdinand II of Austria was elected Emperor of the HRE in march 1619. In may, a revolt in Amou Daria was crushed, and fortifications were reinforced in Livonia, to avoid the city falling in rebel hands in the future. In october, Poland had to give Dobrujda to Turkey, who controlled several polish provinces in the south.

The beginning of the year 1620 saw the creation of a financial market in Russia, and the Tzar used this treasury boost to send a new letter of credit to Georgia.

In april, France and Poland declared war on Crimea, Turkey and the Hafsid. In august, Switzerland had to pay 109 gold to Savoy. England gave Munster and 112 gold to Hannover in october, and in november a truce was signed between Poland and Savoy.

The end of the year 1620 brought the discovery of a new naval tech, the galleons.

1621 - 1624 :

Wishing to further improve his relations with Georgia, who would make an ideal ally against Turkey, Crimea and Persia, the Tzar sent another letter of credit to the ruler of this nation in january 1621.

In february, Savoy paid 151 gold to France, which gained 125 more gold from Spain in march. The same month, the war between Austria and Crimea ended with a truce.

Karakum entered rebellion in june, Kurgan in august and Kazan in october, but each of those rebellions didn't last more than a month.

In july, the Tzar concluded a royal wedding with Ethiopia, while in november, news about Mysore annexing Hyderabad arrived in Moscow.

Mikhail sent again a letter of credit to Georgia in april 1622, and was pleased to learn that Emba had become a full-grown city, with more than 1000 inhabitants.

Rebellions were crushed in Ingermaland and Livonia in march/june 1623. In august Venice annexed Milan, and the Tzar repaid an ancient loan.

In november, Estonia rebelled again, but this time Pozharsky didn't attack the city, rather using his excellent lines of supply to besiege the city without suffering himself from attrition. Thus he wished to deplete the population, hoping it would be easier to convert the survivors to the orthodox faith.

In december, Georgia leaved its alliance with Persia, Nubia and Mughals. The Tzar immediately offered to ally with it, and the king of Georgia was pleased to agree.

A courthouse was built in Kazan in february 1624, and in may, the population in Baralinsk reached the 1000.

Finally, Switzerland paid 8 gold to Spain in june, and the estonian rebels surrendered to Pozharsky in november (but there were still more than 6000 people inside, too much to try to convert them yet).

1625 - 1626 :

The Tzar concluded a royal wedding with Netherlands in january 1625, wishing to secure its alliance, as Netherlands was growing ever more dissatisfied with the russian expansion in western Europe.

In may, the japanese emperor closed its borders to all westerners, but our relations with Japan had been nearly inexistent, and that novel didn't bothered us, for the enlightened politic of Mikhail brought us a boost in stability and investments. And in october, Tugai became a real and strong city.

Our alliance came to an end in december. We immediately renewed it, and Netherlands, Georgia and Ethiopia remained our loyal, if sometimes jealous, allies.

In 1616, the Tzar decided to make good use of the new trade market to contract a 1000 gold loan, witch he used immediately to promote bailiffs in Kustanai, Uralsk, Orenburg, Tugai and Baralinsk, and to build courthouses in Polotsk, Smolensk, Kujbyschew, Volgograd, Lugansk, Onega and Astrakhan.

Estonia rebelled again in february, and again Pozharsky besieged the city, seizing it in june (but again, the population didn't fall under 5000 ).

In march, Turkey annexed Podolia and Pripet from Poland, and in may Poland had to pay 172 gold to Algeria. In june, Spain gave Seminole to England.

Now Turkey had became a very serious threat, controlling territories in the very heart of Europe. We decided to act against it on every possible occasion, as we were the only ones strong enough to really oppose them, except maybe France.
Then in november, Serbia declared its independance from Turkey, controling 2 provinces and waging war against the infidels. We immediately sent an ambassador to Serbia, to establish strong ties in case Serbia would be useful in the future, and prepared to wage war against the turks, or at least against their closest and more powerful ally, Crimea.


To be continued...............

 

[Morpheus506]

Originally posted by La Hire
The last act of Vladislav was to sent missionaries

What? There are no missionaries in EUI. Do you mean sending a colonist?

 

[unmerged(11600)]

I'm so jealous! I've never gotten the Stock Market event (although in my current game Turkey had it, even without a national bank). I'd love to have it, even though I've avoided taking many loans or even cashing monthly income.

-Pat

 

[Morpheus506]

What does a stock market do, exactly?

 

[La Hire]

Yes of course it was colonists, but as the only reason why I sent them in this province was to convert it, I rather called them missionaries.

As long as I remember, the stock market allows for 1000 gold loans instead of 200, with reduced interests. I found it very useful to improve the administrations, building lots of administrators or even fortifications (or armies, for that matter) all at once.

The drawback is that it's difficult to repay it, as I rarely manage to spare 1000 gold in 5 years. But it's helpful anyway.