Chapter Three - The War Exhaustion Years
During the 1420s, I spent way too much time chasing down GH and Timurid armies, often through several low supply provinces. This led to both manpower problems and extremely high war exhaustion. In short, I am terrible at managing attrition. (Or I should say, was terrible. I believe this is the game where I finally got a handle on it - but not until after this update)
I will say that it's also damn hard to keep WE low when you're in a state of near constant war and share border with both of the two largest nomadic nations.
At any rate, I decide to cancel my current mission in April 1420. My new one:
I'm not thrilled with this one. Yes, it allows me to take Mamuk provinces at 1/4 infamy. But they've got 36 provinces at this point. Burning through 36 infamy to take out the Mamluks would be a major distraction from working toward taking out Portugal, Castille, and England.
After spending several months fighting the Golden Horde, Milan declares on me in April 1422. Bavaria follows suit in September. My forces are busy with the Horde and with putting down revolts. Several of my provinces in Europe are occupied. However, at least I'm making progress on fighting the Horde. In July 1423, I gain a province:
You can notice from this screen that war exhaustion has reached maximum. Revolts are breaking out all over. I again concede defeat to the Horde and buy myself another 5 years on that front.
At least now, I can focus on Milan and Bavaria.
In interesting world news, the English defeat the Teutonic Order and nab a few of their provinces in July of 1424. The English now have a border with the Golden Horde (although I'm currently unable to see it).
By August, Bavaria still occupies Tirol, but Milan has been driven back and defeated. Peace is made, with Verona and Brescia joining the Ottoman Empire.
By December, Bavaria is on the retreat. Time to press our advantage and solidify our hold on Italy. I declare on the Papal State, Modena, and Siena. Castille becomes war leader in defense of the Pope. Austria takes the lead in the Modena war, although I'm hardly concerned. Austria, along with a good chunk of the HRE, plus Poland, has been at war with France for a few years. I now find myself de facto allies with the French in this war. Poland, however, stays away from war with the Turks.
In June 1425, Morocco declares war on me. I am also fighting the Timurids in the East again. Morocco manages to land some troops in Pisa, but they are brought to heel. Morocco has built up quite a sizable navy - though nowhere near as large as mine. I add a few more carracks to my growing armada after a few battles with the Moroccans.
I also declare war on the Knights in July.
Peace with Bavaria comes in August. I grab Schwaben, along with 125 ducats. My economy has suffered quite a bit due to my high WE. These peace deals go a long way to stopping my inflation from getting out of control.
In September, Denmark declares on me. Again. What'd I ever do to them?
I also get my first boundary dispute. On Kosovo. Not where I would have chosen, but I'll take it.
February of 1426 sees the annexation of Siena, along with their university. As a rule, I'm staying away from annexing OPMs, but universities certainly warrant an exception.
In April, I make white peace with The Knights, mistakenly believing that the mission to annex The Knights would yield less infamy. So, I put off their conquest. I later realize that with or without that particular mission, annexing The Knights as an OPM, with either Holy War or Conquest CB, yields 2 infamy. Oops.
By 1426, many of my troops have headed East to fight the Timurids (anyone sensing a recurring theme here?). In August, I declare on Trebizond just to temporarily get faster access to Timurid territory and save a retreating army that's about to get wiped out. Definitely gets the award for most spurious declaration of war thus far. A year and a half later, I again concede defeat to get the Timurids off my back.
In October 1426, white peace is made with Morocco. In December, Denmark makes white peace as well.
In January 1427, Roma is annexed and the Papacy gets a new home:
By February of 1428, the Austrians are finally defeated after some very long sieges. I get 125 ducats and revocation of all their cores that I now hold.
For some reason, the Swiss sense weakness and declare Holy War in May. They are immediately and spectacularly stack wiped and besieged. Also in May, I move my slider toward Free Subjects. It's the last move on this slider that I can make under Despotic Monarchy without breaking the limit.
Ferrara cedes Modena to me in July. That's one more university for my growing collection.
I've been whittling away at the Castillian navy for years now, but by May 1429, I've reduced them to this:
And my own navy continues to grow. Before too long, I'll be able to sink the English fleet:
In August 1429, peace is made with Switzerland - 3 provinces and 25 ducats. Peace with Castille comes as well - 75 ducats and treaty annulment.
Here's a look at The Ottoman Empire in 1430, in Sphere of Influence map mode:
During the 1420s, I spent way too much time chasing down GH and Timurid armies, often through several low supply provinces. This led to both manpower problems and extremely high war exhaustion. In short, I am terrible at managing attrition. (Or I should say, was terrible. I believe this is the game where I finally got a handle on it - but not until after this update)
I will say that it's also damn hard to keep WE low when you're in a state of near constant war and share border with both of the two largest nomadic nations.
At any rate, I decide to cancel my current mission in April 1420. My new one:
I'm not thrilled with this one. Yes, it allows me to take Mamuk provinces at 1/4 infamy. But they've got 36 provinces at this point. Burning through 36 infamy to take out the Mamluks would be a major distraction from working toward taking out Portugal, Castille, and England.
After spending several months fighting the Golden Horde, Milan declares on me in April 1422. Bavaria follows suit in September. My forces are busy with the Horde and with putting down revolts. Several of my provinces in Europe are occupied. However, at least I'm making progress on fighting the Horde. In July 1423, I gain a province:
You can notice from this screen that war exhaustion has reached maximum. Revolts are breaking out all over. I again concede defeat to the Horde and buy myself another 5 years on that front.
At least now, I can focus on Milan and Bavaria.
In interesting world news, the English defeat the Teutonic Order and nab a few of their provinces in July of 1424. The English now have a border with the Golden Horde (although I'm currently unable to see it).
By August, Bavaria still occupies Tirol, but Milan has been driven back and defeated. Peace is made, with Verona and Brescia joining the Ottoman Empire.
By December, Bavaria is on the retreat. Time to press our advantage and solidify our hold on Italy. I declare on the Papal State, Modena, and Siena. Castille becomes war leader in defense of the Pope. Austria takes the lead in the Modena war, although I'm hardly concerned. Austria, along with a good chunk of the HRE, plus Poland, has been at war with France for a few years. I now find myself de facto allies with the French in this war. Poland, however, stays away from war with the Turks.
In June 1425, Morocco declares war on me. I am also fighting the Timurids in the East again. Morocco manages to land some troops in Pisa, but they are brought to heel. Morocco has built up quite a sizable navy - though nowhere near as large as mine. I add a few more carracks to my growing armada after a few battles with the Moroccans.
I also declare war on the Knights in July.
Peace with Bavaria comes in August. I grab Schwaben, along with 125 ducats. My economy has suffered quite a bit due to my high WE. These peace deals go a long way to stopping my inflation from getting out of control.
In September, Denmark declares on me. Again. What'd I ever do to them?
I also get my first boundary dispute. On Kosovo. Not where I would have chosen, but I'll take it.
February of 1426 sees the annexation of Siena, along with their university. As a rule, I'm staying away from annexing OPMs, but universities certainly warrant an exception.
In April, I make white peace with The Knights, mistakenly believing that the mission to annex The Knights would yield less infamy. So, I put off their conquest. I later realize that with or without that particular mission, annexing The Knights as an OPM, with either Holy War or Conquest CB, yields 2 infamy. Oops.
By 1426, many of my troops have headed East to fight the Timurids (anyone sensing a recurring theme here?). In August, I declare on Trebizond just to temporarily get faster access to Timurid territory and save a retreating army that's about to get wiped out. Definitely gets the award for most spurious declaration of war thus far. A year and a half later, I again concede defeat to get the Timurids off my back.
In October 1426, white peace is made with Morocco. In December, Denmark makes white peace as well.
In January 1427, Roma is annexed and the Papacy gets a new home:
By February of 1428, the Austrians are finally defeated after some very long sieges. I get 125 ducats and revocation of all their cores that I now hold.
For some reason, the Swiss sense weakness and declare Holy War in May. They are immediately and spectacularly stack wiped and besieged. Also in May, I move my slider toward Free Subjects. It's the last move on this slider that I can make under Despotic Monarchy without breaking the limit.
Ferrara cedes Modena to me in July. That's one more university for my growing collection.
I've been whittling away at the Castillian navy for years now, but by May 1429, I've reduced them to this:
And my own navy continues to grow. Before too long, I'll be able to sink the English fleet:
In August 1429, peace is made with Switzerland - 3 provinces and 25 ducats. Peace with Castille comes as well - 75 ducats and treaty annulment.
Here's a look at The Ottoman Empire in 1430, in Sphere of Influence map mode:
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