As promised, here's your update!
~Part 11~
In which War is Pressed on
In late August a Genoese fleet was seen moving up the Dutch coast. 14 warships of varying size made their way to northwards to the Baltic Sea. Their goal was to eliminate Teutonic naval might in the region and to allow their army in Pommerania time to seize the forts.
They encountered a squadron of transport ships south of Denmark, and opened fire. The transports were routed and fled to port near Mecklenburg, where their passengers disembarked. 6000 infantry now marched to Hinterpommen, where the Genoese were amid a brutal assault on the south wall.
The garrison of Stettin was beset by foes, but valiantly managed to hold them off. For how long they did not know, but no word had come of assistance. The most recent attack on the walls had been repulsed, with few casualties on each side. The Pommeranian morale was at an all-time low, while many of the Italians laying siege longed to go home.
Suddenly, six thousand valiant Teutonic Knights charged the Genoese army, who immediately fell into a disorganised retreat. Cut off from any escape route, some men attempted to swim the Oder; while others gave up their arms in surrender. The massacre was brief, but decisive. Almost 5000 Italians were slain in the bloody relief of besieged Stettin, with minimal casualties.
Out at sea, eleven Teuton galleys engaged the larger Genovese armada. The battle raged for days, as cross-winds and poor weather prolonged any engagements. The transport fleet, repaired in dock, now sailed out to assist in the fight.
The 6000 men who had been victorious in Pommerania now started the long march north to Novgorod. The Knyaz himself, Graviil Kashin, was suffering defeat at the hands of the Teutons and their allies in Ingermanland. His 8000 men took casualties in the engagement, and were forced to retreat. Three thousand more troops of the Rus' 10th Army arrived to see a disorderly rout, as the Novgorodians fled the field. Believing the Pommeranian King, Barnim VI, to have a far larger army than they had been told, the 10th Army immediately turned about and led the retreat as fast as possible.
Victory at Lake Peipus
Meanwhile, as more and more good reports were received of the war, the Hochmeister allied himself with the Saxons, a Teutonic vassal. The Bishop, Freidrich Christian, gladly accepted the offer of a fellow theocratic state; exclaiming: "See how kind these Teutones are? They conquer us, yet wish for our friendship! A good ruler is this Albrecht."
Unfortunately, most of Europe disagreed - the Order had accrued a horrendous reputation, and many nations despised them for their unceasing wars.
The engagement in the Southern Baltic ended in defeat for the Teutons. Many warships were lost, with little to show for the months-long campaign. The Order's council agreed that the Teutonic army had successfully built up a force to "Fend off an attack from the pagan Liths and Livs", and that a new fleet was needed to replace the lost vessels. The Hochmeister sent a diplomat calling for a truce with Genoa. It was rejected.
The Teutons now poured all their effort into the complete extermination of the Russian armies. Neva was besieged, and the Knyaz immediately began barring their markets to Teuton merchants. More and more troops marched across the frontier into western Russia. Novgorod would rue the day they defeated the Teutonic knights at Peipus.
In which War is Pressed on
In late August a Genoese fleet was seen moving up the Dutch coast. 14 warships of varying size made their way to northwards to the Baltic Sea. Their goal was to eliminate Teutonic naval might in the region and to allow their army in Pommerania time to seize the forts.
They encountered a squadron of transport ships south of Denmark, and opened fire. The transports were routed and fled to port near Mecklenburg, where their passengers disembarked. 6000 infantry now marched to Hinterpommen, where the Genoese were amid a brutal assault on the south wall.
The garrison of Stettin was beset by foes, but valiantly managed to hold them off. For how long they did not know, but no word had come of assistance. The most recent attack on the walls had been repulsed, with few casualties on each side. The Pommeranian morale was at an all-time low, while many of the Italians laying siege longed to go home.
Suddenly, six thousand valiant Teutonic Knights charged the Genoese army, who immediately fell into a disorganised retreat. Cut off from any escape route, some men attempted to swim the Oder; while others gave up their arms in surrender. The massacre was brief, but decisive. Almost 5000 Italians were slain in the bloody relief of besieged Stettin, with minimal casualties.
Out at sea, eleven Teuton galleys engaged the larger Genovese armada. The battle raged for days, as cross-winds and poor weather prolonged any engagements. The transport fleet, repaired in dock, now sailed out to assist in the fight.
The 6000 men who had been victorious in Pommerania now started the long march north to Novgorod. The Knyaz himself, Graviil Kashin, was suffering defeat at the hands of the Teutons and their allies in Ingermanland. His 8000 men took casualties in the engagement, and were forced to retreat. Three thousand more troops of the Rus' 10th Army arrived to see a disorderly rout, as the Novgorodians fled the field. Believing the Pommeranian King, Barnim VI, to have a far larger army than they had been told, the 10th Army immediately turned about and led the retreat as fast as possible.
Victory at Lake Peipus
Meanwhile, as more and more good reports were received of the war, the Hochmeister allied himself with the Saxons, a Teutonic vassal. The Bishop, Freidrich Christian, gladly accepted the offer of a fellow theocratic state; exclaiming: "See how kind these Teutones are? They conquer us, yet wish for our friendship! A good ruler is this Albrecht."
Unfortunately, most of Europe disagreed - the Order had accrued a horrendous reputation, and many nations despised them for their unceasing wars.
The engagement in the Southern Baltic ended in defeat for the Teutons. Many warships were lost, with little to show for the months-long campaign. The Order's council agreed that the Teutonic army had successfully built up a force to "Fend off an attack from the pagan Liths and Livs", and that a new fleet was needed to replace the lost vessels. The Hochmeister sent a diplomat calling for a truce with Genoa. It was rejected.
The Teutons now poured all their effort into the complete extermination of the Russian armies. Neva was besieged, and the Knyaz immediately began barring their markets to Teuton merchants. More and more troops marched across the frontier into western Russia. Novgorod would rue the day they defeated the Teutonic knights at Peipus.
