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Austria: 1433
Twas a festive day in Vienna in the cool winter of 1420. The tax collectors had returned from the busy holiday gift drives, bringing in a handsome but modest 70 ducats stacked high and in a box shape, wrapped in a big red bow, as a mandatory christmas gift from the people to the archduke. Cups were raised, wine and mead were poured and the merrymaking began, with minstrels singing and midgets dancing and jugglers and acrobats tossing objects and themselves around. A jolly festive occasion it was indeed.
As the third course wound its way to the table, the herald announced the coming of a great seer from the east. A man who it was said could conjure up memories belonging to another man that were yet years from being formed. Blind he was, as such persons often are, and needed to be led through the hall, past the lesser tables, which were arranged four in a row before coming to that of the king, where he sat in the center, and had the seer placed at his left side. The grand marshal von Wagner graciously conceded his place, and stood at attention, awaiting what was sure to be a fascinating tale of things to come.
The years had made no effort to hide themselves amidst the facial features of the prophet, though some rumors had put him at past 100. Yet he had come to his seat at an agile speed and had placed himself down without aid or noticeable discomfort. "Now, my young lord, I have been called here to relate to you the tale of your future, and the future of these, so long as you live, for it is true that you shall reign in power to the end of your days on this earth. But first, allow this old traveler a goblet of your wine, for I have traveled many miles to be here."
As he was poured a large, round helping of Tirol's finest, he began to unravel the mystery of the future. "There will be war with the sundered Tirolians and the gold laden Styrians"...
"I know this. I am already at war with both of these states", interrupted the archduke.
"Oh, I am sorry. Nobody had told me this. But ok, very well. And this war will continue for some years, but with few lives lost, and it will be a victory in the 5th year. And then will come a string of victories that will put the red and white banner over the lords of the lower Rhine and the bastions of Bavaria.
"In the tenth year hence, the ones who call their god by another name will be joined with the banners of christendom against the christian brethren of the danube, and great death and destruction will be wreaked upon them, which will bring glory and power to this land, and your name will be heralded and praised and cursed throughout the eastern portions of your realm.
"After this, you will..." The old marshal wagner interjected.
"Wait. What do you mean, 'those who call their god by another name? Surely you do not mean the accursed Muslims, who have defiled the balkans and lay seige to our neighbors and friends in Constantinople?"
"I do not take it upon myself to say whether a thing will indeed come to pass or not, nor do I answer to your indignation. I only reveal what I have seen, and leave it to those present to take heed or to not." He took another sip of his wine.
The prince, sitting at the archduke's right, took a brighter view of the revelations, suggesting that it might indeed be just the right move in the future, to divide hungary(as was the likeliest correct interpretation of christian neighbors on the danube), and went on to say that even if it was not the most christian act by todays standards, it was impossible to say that something would not come up in the future that would explain and justify such a move.
After which the old marshal set down his goblet and said to the prince with both tongue and curled brow that such alliance with the turk would lead to the end of the archduchy, as god would punish such waywardness with a similar fate as that of Hungary, and that such land acquisitions would in any case be a trifle compared to the danger inherited by a border with the followers of Osman.
It degenerated into a shouting contest between the young, pragmatic prince and his followers and the old guard of the marshal. The seer calmly sipped his wine, and the archduke patiently watched for a while, and then at last ordered silence. "Such arguments are better to wait their proper place when such questions, if indeed they ever arise, make their way into the planning councils of politics and of war. Until then, let us not speak of it, but return to an air of joy and festivity, lest the night grow nigh and our hearts be filled with doubt and turmoil er we depart to our beds. There will be no more talk of Austria, not from prince or prophet, but let us lift our cups in honor to our guest and let us drink to his health, for he has traveled a long way, so that he may forget the burden of the leagues behind him, and find the strength afresh to tell us another tale. Come now, oh wise one. I beg you, enthrall us with another story, of future or past, for your words are held in high esteem".
This seer had been around the world. He had rowed in the Venetian galleys, had fought in the crusades, had traveled east, and north, and west, and given council to princes and paupers, bishops and imams, sons and grandfathers, and had seen much that had happened and had yet to happen. Yet tonight the call was for merriment, not wisdom or words of warning, and so he began a tale of a lion in the west who swam across a lake in search of food, to find a family of frogs sitting on a log. He remarked on the color of their skins, which were blue, and thought to himself "I have never heard of a blue frog, much less of any animal making meal of one", and he declared that he should be the first to do so, or at least the first in a long while, as he assumed it was seldom done.
The other forest animals cheered the lion on to his course. 'So that they themselves are spared', he thought. And they kept their distance from both lion and frog alike.
"Why do you stay on the log, instead of run from me as all other forest creatures do? Do you not know who I am? Do you not know why I have come here?" To which they made no answer, but continued to look on with wonderment.
"I have come in search of food, and I tell you this so that you know that if you wish to run, now is your chance to try, and perhaps some of you could yet escape. But if you insist on remaining on this log, I shall do as I came to do and will eat you in spite of whatever compels you to remain. For I will taste your blue skins for the exotic experience, whether your listlessness be to a lack of care or a deep malady that saps your strength".
He made a great lurch forward and scarfed the middle frog, swallowing him whole, and then turned to the next frog and did the same. Five frogs there were on the log, and four of these he swallowed in the same fashion, until by the time he came to the last, a sickly look began to splay across his expression, and his eyes began to wobble and his legs became unsteady and his stomach sent signs of ill tidings from within. The lions face turned to a green, and then a blue, like the countenance of those frogs he had eaten, and then he retched like one afflicted with a deadly plague, or one who'd had far too much wine. And those four who had been interned in the lions digestive pit now escaped, bounding out one by one to seat themselves back upon their log, to look again at the lion whose complexion slowly returned.
And now the forest animals piled pity on the lion, and sought to deliver him from the foul mood and the foul taste in his mouth from stomach spew, for it was not to spare themselves that they'd urged the lion forth to his meal, but to cast down at last the proud and haughty frogs of the log who stared at passers by with their reptile eyes.
The seer paused to drink a sip from his wine. The room was quiet, and then he continued. To his home the lion went, to lick his wounds and fill his belly on better fare, whilst the frogs of the log in the forest remained, bidding no one and yet daring anyone to come to the challenge. And thus the tale was over.
A duke down the table raised his glass. "I know not what your tale fortends, if indeed it has bearing in the lives of men, but whatever it may mean, I shall drink to the lion, for I find valor in him, though his errand be folly".
"Aye". Said the Archduke. "Let us drink to the lion. In this tale I too find a hero worth celebrating, though all the frogs in the world defy him. May he find better luck on his next foray, and may his stomach be filled with frog legs!"
"To the lion!" Yelled the merry men of the halls, who drank their fill and then drank some more. The seer sipped his cup, and then sat in silent thought for a time, til he asked to depart for he was tired, whereupon he left the night to finish itself in its fashion.
Twas a festive day in Vienna in the cool winter of 1420. The tax collectors had returned from the busy holiday gift drives, bringing in a handsome but modest 70 ducats stacked high and in a box shape, wrapped in a big red bow, as a mandatory christmas gift from the people to the archduke. Cups were raised, wine and mead were poured and the merrymaking began, with minstrels singing and midgets dancing and jugglers and acrobats tossing objects and themselves around. A jolly festive occasion it was indeed.
As the third course wound its way to the table, the herald announced the coming of a great seer from the east. A man who it was said could conjure up memories belonging to another man that were yet years from being formed. Blind he was, as such persons often are, and needed to be led through the hall, past the lesser tables, which were arranged four in a row before coming to that of the king, where he sat in the center, and had the seer placed at his left side. The grand marshal von Wagner graciously conceded his place, and stood at attention, awaiting what was sure to be a fascinating tale of things to come.
The years had made no effort to hide themselves amidst the facial features of the prophet, though some rumors had put him at past 100. Yet he had come to his seat at an agile speed and had placed himself down without aid or noticeable discomfort. "Now, my young lord, I have been called here to relate to you the tale of your future, and the future of these, so long as you live, for it is true that you shall reign in power to the end of your days on this earth. But first, allow this old traveler a goblet of your wine, for I have traveled many miles to be here."
As he was poured a large, round helping of Tirol's finest, he began to unravel the mystery of the future. "There will be war with the sundered Tirolians and the gold laden Styrians"...
"I know this. I am already at war with both of these states", interrupted the archduke.
"Oh, I am sorry. Nobody had told me this. But ok, very well. And this war will continue for some years, but with few lives lost, and it will be a victory in the 5th year. And then will come a string of victories that will put the red and white banner over the lords of the lower Rhine and the bastions of Bavaria.
"In the tenth year hence, the ones who call their god by another name will be joined with the banners of christendom against the christian brethren of the danube, and great death and destruction will be wreaked upon them, which will bring glory and power to this land, and your name will be heralded and praised and cursed throughout the eastern portions of your realm.
"After this, you will..." The old marshal wagner interjected.
"Wait. What do you mean, 'those who call their god by another name? Surely you do not mean the accursed Muslims, who have defiled the balkans and lay seige to our neighbors and friends in Constantinople?"
"I do not take it upon myself to say whether a thing will indeed come to pass or not, nor do I answer to your indignation. I only reveal what I have seen, and leave it to those present to take heed or to not." He took another sip of his wine.
The prince, sitting at the archduke's right, took a brighter view of the revelations, suggesting that it might indeed be just the right move in the future, to divide hungary(as was the likeliest correct interpretation of christian neighbors on the danube), and went on to say that even if it was not the most christian act by todays standards, it was impossible to say that something would not come up in the future that would explain and justify such a move.
After which the old marshal set down his goblet and said to the prince with both tongue and curled brow that such alliance with the turk would lead to the end of the archduchy, as god would punish such waywardness with a similar fate as that of Hungary, and that such land acquisitions would in any case be a trifle compared to the danger inherited by a border with the followers of Osman.
It degenerated into a shouting contest between the young, pragmatic prince and his followers and the old guard of the marshal. The seer calmly sipped his wine, and the archduke patiently watched for a while, and then at last ordered silence. "Such arguments are better to wait their proper place when such questions, if indeed they ever arise, make their way into the planning councils of politics and of war. Until then, let us not speak of it, but return to an air of joy and festivity, lest the night grow nigh and our hearts be filled with doubt and turmoil er we depart to our beds. There will be no more talk of Austria, not from prince or prophet, but let us lift our cups in honor to our guest and let us drink to his health, for he has traveled a long way, so that he may forget the burden of the leagues behind him, and find the strength afresh to tell us another tale. Come now, oh wise one. I beg you, enthrall us with another story, of future or past, for your words are held in high esteem".
This seer had been around the world. He had rowed in the Venetian galleys, had fought in the crusades, had traveled east, and north, and west, and given council to princes and paupers, bishops and imams, sons and grandfathers, and had seen much that had happened and had yet to happen. Yet tonight the call was for merriment, not wisdom or words of warning, and so he began a tale of a lion in the west who swam across a lake in search of food, to find a family of frogs sitting on a log. He remarked on the color of their skins, which were blue, and thought to himself "I have never heard of a blue frog, much less of any animal making meal of one", and he declared that he should be the first to do so, or at least the first in a long while, as he assumed it was seldom done.
The other forest animals cheered the lion on to his course. 'So that they themselves are spared', he thought. And they kept their distance from both lion and frog alike.
"Why do you stay on the log, instead of run from me as all other forest creatures do? Do you not know who I am? Do you not know why I have come here?" To which they made no answer, but continued to look on with wonderment.
"I have come in search of food, and I tell you this so that you know that if you wish to run, now is your chance to try, and perhaps some of you could yet escape. But if you insist on remaining on this log, I shall do as I came to do and will eat you in spite of whatever compels you to remain. For I will taste your blue skins for the exotic experience, whether your listlessness be to a lack of care or a deep malady that saps your strength".
He made a great lurch forward and scarfed the middle frog, swallowing him whole, and then turned to the next frog and did the same. Five frogs there were on the log, and four of these he swallowed in the same fashion, until by the time he came to the last, a sickly look began to splay across his expression, and his eyes began to wobble and his legs became unsteady and his stomach sent signs of ill tidings from within. The lions face turned to a green, and then a blue, like the countenance of those frogs he had eaten, and then he retched like one afflicted with a deadly plague, or one who'd had far too much wine. And those four who had been interned in the lions digestive pit now escaped, bounding out one by one to seat themselves back upon their log, to look again at the lion whose complexion slowly returned.
And now the forest animals piled pity on the lion, and sought to deliver him from the foul mood and the foul taste in his mouth from stomach spew, for it was not to spare themselves that they'd urged the lion forth to his meal, but to cast down at last the proud and haughty frogs of the log who stared at passers by with their reptile eyes.
The seer paused to drink a sip from his wine. The room was quiet, and then he continued. To his home the lion went, to lick his wounds and fill his belly on better fare, whilst the frogs of the log in the forest remained, bidding no one and yet daring anyone to come to the challenge. And thus the tale was over.
A duke down the table raised his glass. "I know not what your tale fortends, if indeed it has bearing in the lives of men, but whatever it may mean, I shall drink to the lion, for I find valor in him, though his errand be folly".
"Aye". Said the Archduke. "Let us drink to the lion. In this tale I too find a hero worth celebrating, though all the frogs in the world defy him. May he find better luck on his next foray, and may his stomach be filled with frog legs!"
"To the lion!" Yelled the merry men of the halls, who drank their fill and then drank some more. The seer sipped his cup, and then sat in silent thought for a time, til he asked to depart for he was tired, whereupon he left the night to finish itself in its fashion.
YEA! Let us drink to the lion! Hip hip hurrraaa! Grrroooaaarrr!
But the seer forgot to tell that after lion regain strength he went after the seal of north
But the seer forgot to tell that after lion regain strength he went after the seal of north
...and blue frogs watched seer, archduke and his guests from hidden location. They just stared at Archduke, in wonderment...
The Italian Alliance
Venice in 1419 knew it had to grow to survive. Hemmed in on all sides by larger and potentially hostile neighbors, Venice needed to walk a tight rope in order secure its future. Austria, France, Spain and the Ottoman empire would all have gladly taken pieces of the Republic.
With this in mind, Venice signed a pact with Genoa, Modena and Sienna. They also feared foreign intervention into Italy, and preventing this became the primary goal of the alliance. Venice negotiated the cessation of the provinces of Ferrara, Romagna and Marche from the Pope, who could no longer administer them effectively. Genoa was to administer Rome itself.
In defense of Christendom
In return for these territories, the Alliance promised to defend Constantinople and the remainder of the Byzantine Empire from the Turk. A great fleet was assembled in the Arsenal to be commanded by P. Loredan. Over 100 Galleys were outfitted for war and crewed. A 20,000 man expeditionary force was embarked. The fleet sailed in 1420, as soon as the winter storms had subsided. Unfortunately, by the time the fleet arrived, Morea had already surrendered. There was nothing left to do but secure Constantinople itself. P. Loredan arrived he found the harbor barred to him. The paranoid Byzantine Emperor wanted none of Venices help. He feared his crown would be usurped if the Venetians were allowed in the city. Loredan knew he could not abandon the christian citizens of Constantinople to the Turk, so he settled in for a siege.
The Ottomans had a truce with Byzantium, and their army was busy in the East, campaigning against their Muslim brothers in Persia. So P. Loredan assumed he would be able to secure Constantinople before any Turkish response could be formed. In this estimate he was quite incorrect. The Turks withdrew 30,000 men from the east under Mehmed I - the Sultan wasn't about to allow the Republic to secure Constantinople for Christendom. However, the city was about to fall. Loredan expected the Byzantines to open their gates to their Christian brothers, and was quite surprised when the surrendered to the newly arrived Turks - apparently just to spite the Venetians. They soon realized their mistake, the Turks began slaughtering every Christian man in the city, and sold the women and children who survived the pillaging into slavery. Loredan could do nothing but watch as the last remnant of the Roman Empire died a grotesque death. He waited for a few days to allow any surviving Christians a means of escape, then embarked his army and returned to Venice. The fleet was put on alert in case of an Ottoman invasion, but this never materialized.
The Milanese treachery part I and the Republic's expansion.
Milan had steadfastly refused to join the Italian Alliance, and formed its own alliance with Mantua and Savoy. Milan was rumored to be accepting funds from France, and Savoy was known to be a satellite state of France. The kind of foreign intervention is exactly what the Italian Alliance was formed to prevent. War was unavoidable, and after a brief campaign Mantua was annexed by Modena. Milan and Savoy lost all their Italian territories as well. It greatly pained Venice to cause such suffering to fellow Italians, but it was unavoidable in this case.
Genoa, grateful for Venetian assistance and realizing the necessity of a unified Italy in the face of foreign meddling, accepted vassalization to Venice. Modena and Sienna quickly followed suit. Although it took a brief war to bring Tuscany to heel, the entire Italian peninsula was secured aside from Naples, proud Naples who had refused to join the Italian Alliance. Unfortunately for Naples, it was attacked and overrun by Castile while Venice was otherwise occupied. Naples lost everything except the city of Naples itself.
The Venetian East India Company
No one knows why they called it the East India Company. There is only one India. True, it is to the East, but putting that in the name seemed to many a bit redundant. Only after the discovery of the West Indies did the name make sense. Did the founders of the VEIC have some divine assistance, giving them knowledge lands not to be discovered for another century? Certainly their decision to purchase access through Ottoman, White sheep and Persian lands. At great expense the investors armed 25,000 soldiers and sent them east. The foremost general of the time was assigned to lead the expedition, a frenchman by the name of Prat. This had the effect of greatly reducing the avaliable forces of the Venetian Republic in Europe, as well as stripping her of her best general. This would be greatly significant in the coming years, however, that is another topic.
These brave explorers trekked east, past Baghdad, past Isfahan and past the Indus river. Unfortunately, this is where the goodwill the VEIC investors had bought ran out. The Sultanate of Delhi controlled the entire length of the river and was unwilling to allow the expedition to cross. Prat wasn't about to turn back, so he convinced the Persian Shah to join him in an invasion of Delhi. Venetian troops were superior the ragtag army the Sultan of Delhi could muster and resistance was quickly ended. But Venetian soldiers could not be replaced, and many were lost to hunger, disease and other causes. But Prat was unwavering. The entire Sultanate was captured and garrisoned by the VEIC expedition. Yet Prat knew it would be unprofitable to maintain his lordship over the area - the natives were too numerous and too hostile. So he began a policy of pillaging and looting until the Persians could take over the war. Once relieved by the Persians Prat moved the remainder of his expedition south - 12,000 men, a mere half of his original number.
However, in the south they found what the had left Europe seeking - exploitable land around the coasts of India. Trading posts were quickly established around India, and a colony founded in Bombay. Bombay would become the stepping-stone to the remainder of India. Despite all odds, Prat had lead the expedition to a successful conclusion.
The Franco-Venetian War
Prat's expedition hadn't been gone more than two months when the French, sensing Venetian weakness, sought to expand their control over the Swiss Confederacy - and the Alpine passes controlling trade from Italy to the rest of Europe. Venice was concerned about this, but did not have the manpower to do anything about it. Almost all of Italy's combat veterans had signed on to the VEIC expedition in hopes of plunder and profit. At this time Austria suggested an alliance to repulse the French, but the Senate wavered. Could Venice afford to antagonize the poweful French? Was Austrian rule of Switzerland any better than French? No they said, let the Germans and French fight amongst themselves - Italy will stay out of this war. Then France attacked Savoy. Despite this renewed French aggression the Venetian Senate again refused Austrian overtures. They were too afraid of France to act in the best interests of the Italian Alliance. And so Austria prepared for a war with France by itself, in defense of the Swiss. Venice promised some monetary aid, but none was sent.
Then a messanger arrived from Naples. He said the city had been invested by a French army and would soon fall. And yet the Venetian senate wavered. Perhaps Naples should be left to its fate. After all, they refused to join the Italian Alliance even after the mauling Castile had given them. Perhaps this is what they deserved? But Genoa would have none of it. The Genoan senate informed Venice that it would invade France the following month. Venice was thus drawn into a war it did not want to fight, but once again Venice again armed itself for war. 25,000 Cavalry were commisioned, and 20,000 Infantry. Meanwhile, Venetian diplomats begged the Austrians to help, and ever just they agreed. While the new troops were armed and trained, the standing army was sent south to relieve Naples. But alas they were too late - Naples had fallen and been annexed to the French Kingdom. The 12,000 French army was annihilated by the enraged Venetian army, and Naples liberated. The newly created army in northern italy trapped Richmont, the famed Constable of France, in Switzerland. France had been ejected from Italy, and preparations were made for an invasion of the Provence. Austria had also experienced success in northern France, having defeated and captured Jean d'Orléans, comte de Dunois, also known as the Bastard of Orléans. Genoa was also rampaging across southern France, pillaging with an army of over 30,000. France quickly capitulated to the demands - Naples to Venice and Alsasce to Austria. Italy was once again secured from foreign aggression.
The Milanese Treachery part II
Milan, envious of Venice's power and influence asked for Austrian overlordship. Because of the city and surrounding country's wealth the Austrians agreed. The Venetian senate, emboldened by their success against the French, demanded that the Austrians abandon the Milanese. The Austrians, believing the Venetians ungrateful for their assistance against France chafed at the demand. Eventually a compromise was agreed on - Austria would abandon Milan in return for 100 ducats from the Venetian treasury.
The future
The VEIC is finally solvent as the loot from the Delhi War and the new colonies begins to enter Venitian coffers, and new expeditions are planned. With Portuguese assistance, Venice also plans to expand its holdings in southern Africa. Venice looks forward to continued good relations with her neighbors and hopes to prosper with them in peace.
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Let us hope VEIC will not try to compete with EPCA - English-Polish Corporation of America
polish in america is something the emperor has to think about first hal since poland belongs to mother russia
Let us hope VEIC will not try to compete with EPCA - English-Polish Corporation of America
The VEIC? I doubt it. The VWIC on the other hand - who knows what they'll do
.
I refer to the Poles who emigrated to England after Russian invasionpolish in america is something the emperor has to think about first hal since poland belongs to mother russia
I refer to the Poles who emigrated to England after Russian invasion
somehow i doubt that since they had no fleet
Look around in Dantzig, they had a transportsomehow i doubt that since they had no fleet
Look around in Dantzig, they had a transport
danzig has been german for ages before the invasion
World according to Wonko (dedicated to Fnuco)
1. Austria: All I wanted was to get that damn Brandenburgian bird - don´t ask how I ended up in this cage!
2. Brandenburg: He´s tough, he´s macho - but really he just wants the world to love him.
3. France: Waltzed on the wild side of Hardcore but couldn´t quite take all that Gang-Bang action.
4. Venice: Easy cruising in Indian waters but watch out for those weird Persians!
5. The OE: He was sleeping of his hangover but someone rudely woke him up and now he´s mad as hell.
6. Spain: He´s cool, he´s gangsta and check out the cute ladies.
7. England: Wanted to be a lion but things didn´t exactly turn out that way.
8. Russia: Haha....while you were out there having a brawl I got myself some quality time with your s*uty queen.
9. Sweden: Loves that Russian Father Chrismas! But what will happen when the lights go out?
10. Portugal: Wants to play in the big league with the bad boys....but not quite there yet.
11. NL: Things were nice and sweet till those damned Iberians burned the house down! F*uck this I´m out of here.
12. Persia: Strange, something else entirely. Got a good taste of Venice´s underwear and is not happy at all.
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