To Live and Die a Hessian - A MEIOU Hesse AAR

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I've been contemplating making an AAR for sometime. Possibly to improve my creative writing portfolio maybe to help with my creative writing class but mostly just to express myself. I've been lurking for years now and only recently made an account on the forums. I have written creatively before but never based off a video game . So hopefully all ends well. Ok I guess I'll stop rambling.

To Live and Die a Hessian

Game is being played on MEIOU so far I won't be playing to far ahead of updates.
Basic things like no wars without casus belli or things of that nature.
My overall goal is to form Prussia and then Germany!


Table of Contents

 

[Tallfellow]

Will be following this. Love MEIOU, only mod i play. For EU3 that is.

 

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Political Authority

It was a cold winter in the Landgraviate of Hesse and in early January showed no signs of warming up until at the very least March. The Landgrave of Hesse, Heinrich II von Kassel, was seated in an early morning council to discuss matters of this years politics.The current topic the council had reached was a matter of the utmost importance.

A noble of not much significance had risen up in outrage protesting the Landgraves new policy "Sir, I truly don't believe that taking away the nobles ability to rule the countryside would be in the country's best interest in the long term." "If anything sir it could cause many to be upset and possibly go up in arms!"

Looking more amused than anything the Landgrave replied, "Are you suggesting that if I enact my policy you would stage a revolt for I don't believe that would be in your best interest, in the long term." The remark stung and it looked for a moment that the noble might speak up again. Instead he rose from the table and swiftly exited the doors of the Landgrave's abode.

Avoiding a small rebellion might have been accomplished but that didn't stop the nobles from their own form of getting back at Heinrich.

A small setback in the grand scheme of things. Heinrich ordered his Minister of Finance to increase the allocation of money to help the Landgraves government solidify it's new holdings in the country. Heinrich for weeks went touring through the country side to ensure that his new tax collectors were working for him and not the nobles. All seemed well minus the few tax collectors in the pockets of the nobles, but they were taken care of quickly. As the countryside was coming under Heinrichs iron fist there were more pressing matters in Hesse's capital, Kassel. Three dignitaries from the archbishopric of Münster were to arrive in Kassel within a few weeks. At the news Heinrich left from the rural countryside and headed back to the city he loved. Heinrich managed to make it back to Kassel before the foreign dignataries arrived. He waited for four days until his servant boy Eckhart notified him of the dignitaries presence.

"My Landgrave, there is someone here that wishes to speak with you."

"Let them in Eckhart, I don't want to keep my guests waiting." As the boy goes to fetch the diplomats Heinrich prepares to receive the diplomats of the Archbishop. Eckhart opens the doors to Heinrich's council room and in step three pious looking men. All wearing the regalia of bishops. "Take a seat gentleman feel at ease! You are not among an enemy!" The men take their seats at the table quickly and the man farthest to Heinrich's right gets right to the matter.

"Sir, we were sent by the Archbishop of Münster, Ludwig II von Hessen, to attempt with you the reaching of a formal treaty that would ensure mutual protection from aggressors in times of war. I believe, as well as the Archbishop, that this would immensely increase the security of our nations as an attacker from within the Empire itself would have to think twice before striking against our combined military might."

"Well not very subtle, are we father? I suppose that is for the best, as for your proposal the Grand Army of Hesse has a meager 2,000 men. Not suitable for defending our country let alone Münster."

"Sir, it is not the number of men it is the strength of their leader that determines the outcome of a victory. You are a leader of men and that alone is sufficient enough for victory on the battlefield. You don't have to worry about the Archbishop starting a war either as we are not an aggressive people and do not look for war. No other member states of the Empire hold claims against us and our army is competent. Though as a religious man I am bound by the truth to tell you why he really requests for this alliance. The Archbishop is proposing this due to the fact he was born in Hesse. He still misses his birth place and doesn't want to see it fall to another member state."

"I don't know whether to be insulted or charmed. Either way if what you say is true I don't have much to lose and Hesse needs an ally. Tell the Archbishop I accept his proposal." With the negotiations done the men of the cloth left. Mentioning that they had much to attend to back in Münster and had no time for idle chat. The Landgrave retreated to his personal quarters and fell into a tranquil slumber. After 2 months had passed the Landgrave was ready to implement his next plan. Long had the Landgrave been planning on requesting a promotion from the Emperor in Bohemia although no time had been better until now. With backing from Münster Heinrich sent out his best diplomat to request a much deserved promotion for Hesse.

A few weeks later the diplomat returned. Though not with pride on his face. Instead he wore looks of disgust and contempt. "My Landgrave, I am sorry."

"Why Bernhard? What happened did the Emperor bestow the promotion on me?"

"No my liege, I was not even permitted to speak to the Emperor. I told them of your request and was laughed at! I was told that a member such as Hesse has no real significance within the Empire and that they would have given a promotion to Holstein before Hesse! After hearing those things I could take no more and stormed out of the Reichstag. Word of the Emperors mockery has also reached other members. They all look down upon us with ridicule. Forgive me for not completing your task."

"It is not your fault Bernhard. I should have known this would happen but I was blinded by my ambition. We are surely now the laughing stock of the Empire. It means we are going to have to push the agenda further even more! Bernhard I need you to summon the council right away!"

"Yes my lord!"

 

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Any feedback critical or not is greatly appreciated! I am not doing this just for fun but to also enhance my writing skills as I posted earlier I am taking a creative writing course and all the extra practice helps so please tell me what I could do better!

Will be following this. Love MEIOU, only mod i play. For EU3 that is.

Same I really like MEIOU so that's why I decided to write an AAR about it!

 

[DDRJake]

Sub-a-dub-dubbed. Good luck.

 

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Of Peace (Part 1)

As Heinrich sat waiting for Bernhard to round up the councilors he was busy drafting up his plans to present for the council. Not that he needed their approval. They were not much more than a pawn to keep the public happy with the idea that the Landgrave was not the sole authority in the state. Although not the brightest mind he still had yet someone whom he could truly confide in. As he was finishing the first of his new designs his consortium joined him in the chamber. As they took their seats Heinrich rose. "Gentlemen of the court, we as a nation must act! We are a mockery of what we could and should be. I have aligned the necessary paperwork to bring Hesse the proper respect it deserves."

"But sir," a noble began to protest, "is it not your request for the title of Margarve that put Hesse into this most undesirable position."

"Yes and that is why I plan to take the state out of our current status as well. I recommend sending out all available dignitaries to the courts of other member states of the Empire at once!"

"Sir, no one thinks highly of us. Our military is weak and our standing with most nations except the Archbishopric of Münster is low due to the failed attempt at promotion within the Empire."

"Nonsense! There are still countries that need support no matter the standing of the ally. That it is why we will send out a dignitary to Baden at posthaste!"

"Sir, not to seem rude but I find it a waste of resources-"

"A waste! You sit on your duchy and collect taxes meant for the state and you come into my court telling me about how I waste! The nerve of you nobles disgusts me! Baden is in a weak state and they would more than likely accept a treaty of mutual defense! We will send a dignitary at once! Now we must push onto other matters at hand. The taxes I have been supposed to be collecting from you Barons and Viscounts have been short. Any explanation to this?"

"My lord, there are pressing matters within our claims that need to be dealt with! Peasants are hungry they are not happy with the new taxes!"

"Shut up! You put the money back into your own pockets! I do not sit idly in Kassel every day. Do you think I don't see the peasants! You place additional non state implemented tax as well as mine and keep both for yourselves this must and will stop at once!"

"These are our claims lord and we collectively think state taxes should be stopped!"

"And I collectively think that I am Landgrave and my word is greater than yours there is a a reason as to why I sit at the head of the chamber and not you Aalwijn! All of you are dismissed, I must think."

"Yes my Landgrave."

In the coming weeks Heinrich was not idle. He continued to pay visits to tax collectors insuring that they were loyal to the state. His tour was not just to visit tax collectors though his presence in the countryside raised the morale of the serfs of the land helping increase his growing popularity throughout the country. When he arrived in Kassel he was greeted to a good sign.

Luckily his idea had worked Hesse now had an ally in the south and was growing stronger. Heinrich acting on this small victory sent out more dignitaries.

Solidifying the alliance through a marriage was the best course of action and also reduced internal discontent. Heinrich sent his most unruly noble to Baden to marry a nobles daughter and he remained in Baden until his death. With this move completed Heinrich didn't expect much more. He was wrong. Through repeated use of his dignitaries Heinrich secured an alliance with Baden's eastern neighbor Alsace further supporting his southern buffer zone. The best news of his reign so far was to come in a much more unexpected form. A letter addressed from the Free City of Lübeck unnoticed for some time in the court made its way through to the Landgrave. In it contained a surprise Heinrich could hardly believe. Lübeck wanted Hesse to join it's trading league. This is just what Hesse needed! Easier access to the growing center of trade on the Baltic. Heinrich hastily drafted a reply that stated his acceptance of the proposal and sent merchants to the city to start trade immediately.

With the expected income to start returning from Lübeck Heinrich started implementing another provision to increase the state's power over the countryside. A superintendent's office where requests for the construction of provincial buildings would be sent to be considered and processed to start a semblance of centralization for the infrastructure of Hesse.

 

[Derahan]

Interesting start, shallt be following this!

good luck!

 

[unmerged(471650)]

I'm along for the ride subscribed

 

[unmerged(569197)]

Interesting start, shallt be following this!

good luck!

I'm along for the ride subscribed

Sub-a-dub-dubbed. Good luck.

Thanks for subbing hopefully it will only get better! I'm having a lot of fun fleshing out the character and it helps knowing people are interested as well. I appreciate your support!

 

[SirkTheMonkey]

Huzzah, another MEIOU AAR to follow.
One minor nitpick I have though: You should only be the equivalent of a Count at this stage so I don't think one of the nobles of the court would have a duchy.

 

[gigau]

A feast of MEIOU AARs ! i love that.

Subbed of course.