Serbia Alone

[Parsidius]

Byzantium had fallen, and it seemed it would drag Serbia with it in its death rattle. The mighty Ottoman Empire, its long desired prize of Constantinople in its clutches, now turned its avaricious eyes to its smaller, weaker neighbors. And Serbia would be the first to fall...

A pall fell over Djuradj I as he considered the powerful Ottoman army, looming like stalking wolves upon his country. There was little he could do to stop such a mighty army from seizing his land with ease and adding it as yet another bauble in the crown of the Ottomans. But even as he saw doom lurking near, he would not give in so easily to this foe. History, his nation, his God would never forgive him for giving in, for no true man surrenders himself to fate without fighting the good fight first. Djuradj swore this to himself- he would fight as valiantly as he could, for it was what he must do, and he would die against these invaders, if it was what he had to do. There would be no surrender, save to death itself.

The Venetian banking house was reluctant to give their money to the doomed kingdom of Serbia- after all, it could not recoup its money this way-, but Djuradj would not take no for an answer. The Venetians eventually gave in, and funded Djuradj the 200 ducats he needed for his war.

The loan officer was intrigued by this king, dark and brooding with the weight that was upon his shoulders, yet still holding himself high with the dignity and pride that a man of his stature required of himself. "Your Highness... if you will..." the loan officer spoke as Djuradj prepared to leave.

"Yes?" Djuradj asked tersely.

"I hope your highness will be willing to accept this humble offering," the loan officer spoke, his hand disappearing into his shirt and producing a cross necklace. Djuradj looked upon the beautiful gilded object, as the loan officer continued to speak. "It is a family heirloom... but I feel it is better that one who truly serves God should be the one to have it. It is a Catholic cross, but he is our Lord all the same. I shall pray for you as you walk into the valley of the shadow of death, for I know that the Lord is at your side."

"Thank you," Djuradj spoke, letting no emotion betray his stern features. But as he spent those few days he had cobbling together his army, he thought of what the Almighty thought of his plight. Had He abandoned him to be crushed beneath the boot of unbeatable foes?

Or was this a test of his faith and courage, that he was not truly alone in this fight? Djuradj could not know that which was beyond his grasp. All he could do, now, was prepare for the coming storm...

9000 men now stood at Djuradj's side, prepared for the invasion of the Ottomans. But was this truly enough? The Ottomans still outnumbered the Serbians, and though Djuradj was confident in his abilities, could he truly hope to stand toe to toe against Mehmed II, conqueror of Constantinople?

It was with these thoughts that he regarded the forest of the red banners of the Ottomans approaching. It was time for the reckoning, the moment that would decide if Serbians would live on as a free people or as slaves beneath the boot of another people. Djuradj rode to the front of his men, leading his steed back and forth before the multitude of his soldiers.

"My men, we stand here today against the Ottoman Empire. You know of them well, and know that their numbers are great. But our hearts are greater than this, than all the men they could hope to assemble. For we fight not for conquest, but to stand for all that is sacred- family, honor, country, our Savior and Lord. If we must fall this day, then so be it- better to die fighting than live as cattle for our enemies. But if we are to triumph, if we are to carry victory in spite of all that is against us, then our fate will be all the better for our valor!"

Djuradj peered over his shoulder- he could see Mehmed II's banner now. "My men, gird yourselves, ready your arms against those who would destroy all we love, and know that the Lord watches our brave fight from on high!"

At this, the once somber, subdued men let out a spirited cheer, waving their weapons and shouting at the oncoming Ottomans. Surely, Djuradj thought, the Turks would be surprised by the courage that the Serbians held in spite of all they faced. But now was not the time for idle thought- now was the time for battle.

The battle was an intense ballet of relentless fighting. Djuradj pressed the Ottomans from every angle, every direction, exploiting whatever weaknesses he could. But just when he thought he had found his path to victory, the Ottomans would pull back and unleash a wave of arrows that would block out the very sky itself, allowing themselves time to regroup and continue the fight. This could not be sustained. Djuradj could not carry on a battle of attrition, for he had too few men, and he knew that what courage his soldiers had mustered would melt away if they thought they were truly doomed. Day in and day out, Djuradj prayed on his two crosses- his own Orthodox, and the one the Venetian had given him, praying that the Almighty would send deliverance.

"Reinforcements, your highness!" came the herald's voice as battle raged one pristine morning. At this, Djuradj felt a cold tingle rush through his body. He had brought no more men to this fight, for he had none to speak of. Had the Ottomans brought more of their innumerable warriors to the field? Had all this battle, all this sacrifice, been for naught? But... these were not Ottoman banners.

The Hungarians and Transylvanians had arrived to bring the fight to the Ottomans, and now Orthodox and Catholic alike stood together on the battlefield. The fresh troops rushed to strengthen the tired Serbian soldiers, taking advantage of the weakened Ottoman force. The Ottomans halted their advance... then wavered... then broke, like glass, as they were pummelled from all sides. Djuradj allowed them no escape, his cavalry running them down with cold precision, so that no Turk for a thousand years would dream of threatening a Serbian.

So long as there would be Serbians alive, August 17th would be remembered as the day of the heroic victory of the Serbians against the humbled Ottoman empire. But Djuradj knew the fight did not end there. He could not take this blessing for his own, and deny it to all of his orthodox brothers who yet lived in bondage under the Ottomans. He would defeat the Ottoman empire, so that never again could it threaten any sovereign people...

 

[Olaus Petrus]

First Ottoman wave defeated thanks to the help of the Hungarians and Transsylvanians. Serbia has really tough situation at the start of the game, so I hope you luck and success in your game.

And welcome to the forums.

 

[Rotten Venetic]

Take Macedonia and Bulgaria in the peace and you'll break the Turk's back

 

[Parsidius]

Olaus- It really wasn't that close, I was going to win, and it just happened that Hungary and Transylvania popped up at the end. But hey, why let the truth get in the way of a good story.

Rotten Venetic- Advice taken.

 

[unmerged(66313)]

Good luck in your war with the Ottomans!

 

[Parsidius]

The Ottomans had sown the storm, and now reaped the whirlwind. As the Turks turned tail and fled from the Serbian force that had humbled their imperial might, Djuradj pursued them like an avenging angel. The Serbian host marched their way from Serbia into Bulgaria, ready to lay siege to it and liberate their brothers from their oppressors.

The small Ottoman force that was garrisoned in Bulgaria brought shame to their manhood, as they were cut down and chased off without slaying a single one of their enemy. Djuradj led the siege himself, and, though the Ottomans managed to find some courage behind stout, high walls, it would be only a matter of time until they too, collapsed beneath the righteous Serbs.

When at last the Ottomans meekly surrendered, the Serbs were welcomed as heroes by the Bulgarians, at last liberated from the yoke of their servitude. Djuradj caught word that the Bulgarians had laid siege to Macedonia, and their Transylvanian vassals had encircled Silestria. There were some Ottomans scattered about the Balkans still, who must not be allowed to restore their power. Djuradj parted his army- his infantry were sent off to help Hungary in its siege, while he led his cavalry to mow down the Ottomans wherever he could find them.

The Ottomans cared not for their dignity, but only to gain a few more days of a craven existence. But wherever they turned, wherever they hid, Djuradj and his cavalry awaited them, ready to utterly crush them time and time again. Within a matter of months, the once large contingents of Turks in this region were so utterly grinded by the Serbians that there was not even enough left for the vermin to feast on.

But the Ottomans had made one last deceitful blow upon Serbia. Though he hid it to keep his men's spirits high, Djuradj had been wounded in one of the battles by a stray arrow. He continued on in his campaign, but as the days passed by his strength left him little by little, until he could lead no longer.

Lazar, son of Djuradj I, was by his father's side as he slipped into the eternal sleep of death. It was strange that his father, the hero, would not die on the battlefield but in his bed. But perhaps that was the Almighty's last gift to him, to have lived in war but to die in sweet peace...

The next day, in the Serbian encampment, Lazar was coronated as Lazar II, and took command of all of Serbia's warriors. He was informed of all that had been going on, but most especially of the grim state of the treasury. It was projected that by the year 1455, Serbia would have no choice but to default on its loan. This would not only devastate the economy, but make it impossible to prosecute the war- it would be no different than being defeated on the battlefield by the Ottomans. Lazar knew that he could not bring the Ottomans to their knees, but he could bring them to the negotiation table and end this war before it ended his kingdom.

And so, Lazar II forged on to Constantinople, the only path to victory that yet remained...

The Ottomans at Edirne seemed surprised to see Serbians here, so close to the heart of Ottoman territory, but they had the sense to turn tail and flee like their brothers-in-arms after going toe to toe with the indomitable Serbs. Edirne was soon placed under siege, and quickly fell before Serbian steel.

With this new victory, Lazar II once more mobilized his troops... right to the Constantinople, prize of the Ottomans. Surely, the threat of losing the very symbol of their power and divine favor would bring Mehmed II to sue for peace.

Once more the Ottomans fought, and once more they retreated with hardly a fight. Constantinople was in the Serbian's sights, and they were quick to surround it, to strip the Ottomans of what remained of their glory after having been humiliated by little Serbia. Soon after the beginning of the siege, an Ottoman emperor came, his head low and humble, with word from his Sultan...

Lazar II was glad to accept. Serbia would be all the greater for its separate peace, doubling its size. The Hungarians, who perhaps threatened the Balkans as much as the Ottomans, would continue their war, draining both sides in this bloody conflict. But Serbia would at last have peace.

 

[Parsidius]

Lazar II now turned his eyes to a lasting peace. He disbanded his army, no longer necessary, and began to build healthy relations with the surrounding nations of the Balkans, so that none would ever threaten the freedom of its people ever again.

 

[Olaus Petrus]

Now that you have made peace with Ottomans, it might be wise to prepare that another war might start when the truce ends. On the other hand Bosnia, Ragusa, Montenegro and Albania are small and weak states, who could better serve liberation of the Balkans as part of the Serbian Empire or vassals of Serbians.

 

[Parsidius]

I'm just curious as to how I'm going to roll with the defaulting on the loan that is basically inevitable.

 

[Olaus Petrus]

I'm just curious as to how I'm going to roll with the defaulting on the loan that is basically inevitable.

Mint a lot and don't spend any money. It's going to increase your inflation, but it's better alternative than letting the increased interests strangle your economy.

 

[Parsidius]

The War of Serbian Aggression

Serbia's star was ascending...

... while those of its most powerful neighbors began to fall.

And in the center of it all was Lazar II, king of Serbia, duke of Bulgaria. Though he was somewhat limited by the interest on his unpaid loans, he had managed to forge Serbia into a force to be reckoned with. But he still looked for a way to augment his kingdom's power even further. And that opportunity soon arose, in the form of the King of Albania. This king, not understanding the intricacies of his nation's politics, had taken it upon himself to try to forceably convert the country's predominantly Orthodox population into followng Catholicism. It was only a matter of time before a herald from Albania arrived in Belgrade, with a letter signed by most of the Orthodox nobles of that nation. Its message was simple: Orthodox Serbia should take its place as the ruler of the Albanians.

Here was Lazar II's chance, and he was not fool enough to reject. Calling together his nobles and heralds, he gave this speech...

"My countrymen, faithful defenders of Kingdom and God... our Orthodox brothers in Albania cry out to us for liberation from their oppressors. And who are we, who feared the same domination under the Turks, to refuse them the right to their freedom? No! From this day on, the world must know that Serbia will not stand idly by while our kinsmen in faith suffer under foreign despots, Catholic or Muslim alike! We shall liberate the Albanians by our strength and the strength of God! Deus Vult!"

The Serbian army, though small, was more than enough to defeat its weak enemis. And there was more help to be had... Orthodox Morea and Serbia's Orthodox vassal, Wallachia, pledged themselves to fighting in the name of God against the Albanian king and his ally, Ragusa.

The Serbians descended upon the Albanian royalty like hawks, Lazar II leading his army from the front. Time alone was the obstacle for the Serbian kingdom's victory.

Once Albania was captured, Lazar II took the Albanian king and his family as his "guests." The Albanian king plead that his kingdom and Serbia merely go their separate ways...

... but Lazar II laughed in his face. He would not go to war merely to step out like some mere dog, especially not after he had won a victory. Ragusa was next, and it too fell like a rock to the Serbian force.

Ragusa also had a Catholic ruler over an Orthodox population, and its people were more than glad to give up their government to live under Serbia.

 

[Parsidius]

"There is no choice, your Highness," Lazar II spoke to the fallen Albanian king. "We have defeated you and your ally utterly, as it was God's own hand that led us to victory. But your fate, however, is in your own hands. I can either release you with all your titles and lands gone but with your life, or you can go straight to Hell with nothing at all. What do you say?"

The Albanian king hesitated, then, cowed, nodded.

The war of Serbian aggression had ended, and Serbia was now more powerful than ever before...

 

[Olaus Petrus]

Serbia is nicely growing to be one of the strongest powers in Balkans.

 

[EvilSanta]

Serbia is nicely growing to be one of the strongest powers in Balkans.

But with serious BB problems ahread. How long will the Turks watch these Serbians idle?

 

[Parsidius]

Well, my BB is at 13.00/36.00, so I think Serbia will take a break from its conquering. What I want to do, though, is default on my loan so I don't have to pay these high interest rates every month (I won't be able to get enough money to pay it off at this rate)- it may be damaging in the short run, but since I'm taking a breather anyway it probably won't hurt that much.

 

[Parsidius]

Just wanted to say that this AAR is not dead. It's just that I do not have my copy of EUIII available except on weekends, so that's about when I'm limited to updating it.

 

[Need_87]

Just wanted to say that this AAR is not dead. It's just that I do not have my copy of EUIII available except on weekends, so that's about when I'm limited to updating it.

Hmm, the same here. Having school on weekdays limits me to play on weekends. Plus I don't have a computer up to the task at my study-place, so even if I had wanted to play EUIII here (study-place) it wouldn't have been possible. Interesting AAR by the way!

 

[Parsidius]

Hmm, the same here. Having school on weekdays limits me to play on weekends. Plus I don't have a computer up to the task at my study-place, so even if I had wanted to play EUIII here (study-place) it wouldn't have been possible. Interesting AAR by the way!

Hehe, same with me. I've got a laptop, but it won't play EUIII. Ah well.

 

[Patrick Harte]

Take the mantle of the byzantine emperors! Crush those infidels!

 

[Parsidius]

At last, the nation was at peace. Lazar II sat in his throne room, enjoying the pleasant banality of the tasks of day-to-day regency. But as he saw the messenger enter, grim-faced and silent, all of his contentment was washed away.

This was most unwelcome news. Lazar II desired or Athens to fall, as they were contolled by Catholic crusaders... but not to be "liberated" by the Turks! Lazar muttered a curse, and nodded for the messenger to leave. There as nothing he could do, for the Ottomans were still too strong to fight.

So more Orthodox fell under the rule of foreign oppressors. And, for now, Serbia would have to tolerate it. But its tolerance was limited, indeed.

But there was a limit to Serbia's patience. When Morea, Serbia's ally came under attack, Serbia knew that it could not stand down. If they did, it would merely encourage the Turks to continue their relentless onslaught. Lazar II rallied his small army, and marched forth.

The Serbian army was not a mighty lion, but rather a wasp buzzing about the Turks', stinging and stinging again and again without mercy. The Turks could not gather their resources to smash the Serbians, and they paid a high price for their vulnerability.

But then, disaster struck. The Venetians arrived, angrily demanding their money. "To Hell with you!" Lazar II snapped impatiently. "We do God's work, and yet you drain us like parasites? Bah! I know there must be a special place in hell for those such as you!"

Needless to say, the Venetians did not change their minds, and Serbia was without money to fund its army, right in the middle of a conflict.

But Lazar II need not worry. The Ottomans were too drained to carry on, and they informed Lazar that they would "mercifully spare him." He prayed they'd take those words to their grave some day.

But when Lazar II returned home, he was given grave tidings. Those dispossessed Catholic nobles of Albania and Ragusa had gathered together, and had risen up in revolt against the just rulership of Lazar II. Lazar wasted no time in marching to the isolated province and slaying each and every one of these traitors. No one would stand in God's way!