EPISODE II - In which the Hungarians get Hungry and General Sinan saves the Empire
February 1497 - The budget is balanced with tax income equaling expenditure. The annual trade surplus of c.200 will be used to promote bailiffs. All surplus income is diverted to infrastructure and by February 1500 we should be able to promote Sheriffs to Marshals. Being devout Muslims we eschew the building of breweries although the more unkind of our neighbours might claim it is because we lack the funds...
March 1497 - Russia and Denmark declare war on Kazan.
September 1498 - Kirkuk(9/3/0) revolts but Ibrahim's 3rd Army(12/7/2) is equal to the task and disperses the bandits for negligible losses. Kazan loses Lipetsk and 80 gold to Russia in exchange for peace. The Persians build a fortress on our common border in Kurdistan.
January 1499 - The unfortunately named General Bashturk(3/0/1) takes over the Army of Syria(8/3/2)located in Macedonia [EU does not allow a player to rename Armies].
July 1499 - Hungary, Austria and Bohemia declares war on us. We decline to call on our loyal allies since they live are on our Arabian border and we may need their help later if Iraq gets frisky. Austria and Bohemia accept our immediate offer of a Status Quo peace and we face Hungary for control of the Balkans. We have three armies (totalling 24/12/2) west of Constantinople and they all converge on Serbia. All income is diverted to Treasury to pay for new troops.
October 1499 - Russia and Denmark declare war on the Golden Horde. General Sinan's combined forces(22/11/2) meet the Hungarian Army(38/2/0) in Serbia. Sinan is successful and destroys the enemy for trivial losses. The power of cavalry superiority and an able General(ratings of 4/2/3) is clearly shown. Sinan assaults the 5,000 man garrison in the fort but cannot occupy it before a second Hungarian Army(3/18/0) appears from the west. Barely is that assault seen off when a third enemy force(26/0/0) sweeps down from the north.
December 1499 - The third battle in as many months is too much for General Sinan's valiant 1st Army and the survivors(14/8/0) retreat to Bulgaria to await reinforcements. They have destroyed two Hungarian Armies(est. 50,000+ casulties) and fought a third to a standstill. Well done General Sinan.
January 1500 - Kazan invites us to enter a Royal Marriage. We decline without thanks. We send a letter of introduction to Persia and raise our relationship to -182.
April 1500 - A reinforced 1st Army has no problem destroying a Hungarian raid(10)into Bulgaria and Sinan launches his 1st Army(30/12/0) on a counterattack into Serbia. The Hungarian army(19) is destroyed and the fort is taken.
May to September 1500 - The 1st Army(24/10/0) moves north, taking Banat and Maros before the Hungarians offer Serbia and Maros in exchange for Peace. That deal would leave the 1st Army isolated in Maros so we decline the offer and move into Transylvania.
October 1500 - Transylvania falls to Sinan and Hungary agree to cede us Serbia and Banat plus 250 gold in exchange for peace.
January 1501 - Russia loses Tver and Lipetsk plus 118 gold to Poland. Our 200 Bank loan is due for repayment this year so we keep our annual trade bonus in reserve. Time to look at our strategic options.
SOUTH: Nubia and Cyrenaica have reasonable relations with us and neither is a significant military threat. Our allies, the Hedjaz can be relied on to keep Iraq in check.
EAST: Persia hates(-200) Turkey and has a permanent Causus Belli against us. Four of her provinces border five of ours and she has 80,000 troops on our border against our armies(totalling 20/7/3) garrisoning our provinces. Dangerous!
NORTHEAST: Crimea is our ally and while Poland dislike us(-160), they absolutely hate Russia(-200). Even if Poland attack us they have only a one province gap through which to invade.
NORTH: Moldavia is a one province country which fate has positioned at the junction of Russia, Hungary and Turkey. She is allied to France and at war with Russia. Attacking her will lower my stability, but conquering her territory will help me move around the flank of Hungary. Perhaps we will do this later when we have settled the Venice-Persia question.
NORTHWEST: Hungry has been humbled but the Venetians still hold Kosovo as well as the islands of Crete and Cyprus. They are an obvious target. And behind them is the Papal States, lair of the Arch-Infidel Pope Greven the First. He must be bought to justice for his crimes.
We will continue our economic investment and be prepared for a war against Venice and/or Persia. Within fifty years we hope to destroy this alliance and move on the Papacy.
Be afraid Pope Greven. Be very afraid.
[This message has been edited by Graham Dodge (edited 11-05-2000).]
February 1497 - The budget is balanced with tax income equaling expenditure. The annual trade surplus of c.200 will be used to promote bailiffs. All surplus income is diverted to infrastructure and by February 1500 we should be able to promote Sheriffs to Marshals. Being devout Muslims we eschew the building of breweries although the more unkind of our neighbours might claim it is because we lack the funds...
March 1497 - Russia and Denmark declare war on Kazan.
September 1498 - Kirkuk(9/3/0) revolts but Ibrahim's 3rd Army(12/7/2) is equal to the task and disperses the bandits for negligible losses. Kazan loses Lipetsk and 80 gold to Russia in exchange for peace. The Persians build a fortress on our common border in Kurdistan.
January 1499 - The unfortunately named General Bashturk(3/0/1) takes over the Army of Syria(8/3/2)located in Macedonia [EU does not allow a player to rename Armies].
July 1499 - Hungary, Austria and Bohemia declares war on us. We decline to call on our loyal allies since they live are on our Arabian border and we may need their help later if Iraq gets frisky. Austria and Bohemia accept our immediate offer of a Status Quo peace and we face Hungary for control of the Balkans. We have three armies (totalling 24/12/2) west of Constantinople and they all converge on Serbia. All income is diverted to Treasury to pay for new troops.
October 1499 - Russia and Denmark declare war on the Golden Horde. General Sinan's combined forces(22/11/2) meet the Hungarian Army(38/2/0) in Serbia. Sinan is successful and destroys the enemy for trivial losses. The power of cavalry superiority and an able General(ratings of 4/2/3) is clearly shown. Sinan assaults the 5,000 man garrison in the fort but cannot occupy it before a second Hungarian Army(3/18/0) appears from the west. Barely is that assault seen off when a third enemy force(26/0/0) sweeps down from the north.
December 1499 - The third battle in as many months is too much for General Sinan's valiant 1st Army and the survivors(14/8/0) retreat to Bulgaria to await reinforcements. They have destroyed two Hungarian Armies(est. 50,000+ casulties) and fought a third to a standstill. Well done General Sinan.
January 1500 - Kazan invites us to enter a Royal Marriage. We decline without thanks. We send a letter of introduction to Persia and raise our relationship to -182.
April 1500 - A reinforced 1st Army has no problem destroying a Hungarian raid(10)into Bulgaria and Sinan launches his 1st Army(30/12/0) on a counterattack into Serbia. The Hungarian army(19) is destroyed and the fort is taken.
May to September 1500 - The 1st Army(24/10/0) moves north, taking Banat and Maros before the Hungarians offer Serbia and Maros in exchange for Peace. That deal would leave the 1st Army isolated in Maros so we decline the offer and move into Transylvania.
October 1500 - Transylvania falls to Sinan and Hungary agree to cede us Serbia and Banat plus 250 gold in exchange for peace.
January 1501 - Russia loses Tver and Lipetsk plus 118 gold to Poland. Our 200 Bank loan is due for repayment this year so we keep our annual trade bonus in reserve. Time to look at our strategic options.
SOUTH: Nubia and Cyrenaica have reasonable relations with us and neither is a significant military threat. Our allies, the Hedjaz can be relied on to keep Iraq in check.
EAST: Persia hates(-200) Turkey and has a permanent Causus Belli against us. Four of her provinces border five of ours and she has 80,000 troops on our border against our armies(totalling 20/7/3) garrisoning our provinces. Dangerous!
NORTHEAST: Crimea is our ally and while Poland dislike us(-160), they absolutely hate Russia(-200). Even if Poland attack us they have only a one province gap through which to invade.
NORTH: Moldavia is a one province country which fate has positioned at the junction of Russia, Hungary and Turkey. She is allied to France and at war with Russia. Attacking her will lower my stability, but conquering her territory will help me move around the flank of Hungary. Perhaps we will do this later when we have settled the Venice-Persia question.
NORTHWEST: Hungry has been humbled but the Venetians still hold Kosovo as well as the islands of Crete and Cyprus. They are an obvious target. And behind them is the Papal States, lair of the Arch-Infidel Pope Greven the First. He must be bought to justice for his crimes.
We will continue our economic investment and be prepared for a war against Venice and/or Persia. Within fifty years we hope to destroy this alliance and move on the Papacy.
Be afraid Pope Greven. Be very afraid.
[This message has been edited by Graham Dodge (edited 11-05-2000).]