This AAR will be special, as I will concentrate on the diplomatical aspects of the game.
For this reason, I will try to achieve the ultimate goal of the diplomaty in EU, becoming Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, in the place of Emperor Johan .
Election of the Emperor was a very important moment during this period of time, and long diplomatic moves were engaged by nations to obtain this title. Long negociations and big donations were the key to achieve such a goal, with sometimes the interventions of wealthy merchants like Fuggers.
in my AAR, I will exclusively focus on diplomatic game, to highlight to particular aspect of EU.
For this, I will play Charles VIII, king of France.
1492
So my objective in this AAR will be to become Emperor.
For achieve such a goal, I need to create a powerful alliance with France as a leader to compense the anti-French alliance of Spain and England.
However, France is already in alliance with Savoy and the Papal States. The objective of such an alliance is to go for Italy, but as history as learned me that Italy is the cemetary of France, I will first to transform this alliance into a powerful defensive alliance against Spain and England.
In europe, some country can be considered as friends of French: they are Poland, Tuscany, Scotland, Lorraine, and Bavaria.
On the other side some can be considered as enemies: Spain, England, Austria.
If I want to create a strong alliance, Scotland and Lorraine seems to be the best candidate. Scotland can be a good adversary for England, and Lorraine one for Spain.
I immediatly send a diplomat to scotland to propose to enter in the alliance, and Scottish agreed.
The first part of my plan, has been reached.
Now I decide to take 2 missions who were going to reflect my interest in diplomaty and in my strategy: have a royal marriage with Scotland (it shouldn't be too difficult), and the other vassalize Savoy (could be really more difficult). The two should be realized within 5 years. If I manage to relize them, I would gain some extra victory points rewarding my diploamtic game.
On februar 1492, the reconquista is over, grenade has fall.
May 1492:
without difficulty, I have been able to propose a marriage royal with Scottland wich increase even more my relation with them.
September 1492:
Strangely, Spain seems to have not react to my attemp to create a big alliance, and has not propose to Lorraine to join her in alliance. This is my chance, as I can send a diplomat there, and with my good relations they accept.
Now my alliance include: France, Scotland, Lorraine, Savoy, and Papal States.
As this alliance is a very strong one, I really doubt that anyone will join again to me fearing the French ambition.
So now my next objective will be to strenghend this alliance by all means, and trying to vassalize Lorraine and Savoy.
1493:
As I have choose the mission to vassalize Savoy, all my effort will go to there, and the remnants to strenghend army: 'Si vis pacem, para bellum'. If my army is strong enough Spain will never try to attack me, or pay the cost of such an aggression.
I immediatly send to Savoy a big state donation, wich is well received by Philippe II of Savoy. In return, he inform me that France can add Savoy to their friends.
On the other side of France, Lorraine accept to engage into a royal mariage, but still remains a good friend of Spain and Austria.
As I was fearing, the alliance seems too powerful for others nations, and Bavaria, a friend state!, refuse to enter into. This move in direction of Bavaria was motivated by the importance of Bavaria into the election of the Emperor. Damned, the way to Emperor will be difficult and long.
1494:
I still continue to send a huge donation to savoy, but this time, the donation is simply moderately appreciate, thus improving very lightly my relation with them. the thnig is that Charles VIII is not a strong diplomat, and that complicate my diplomatic attempt.
1495:
Charles VIII continue to be a poor diplomat. My donations to Savoy and Lorraine have little effect. Vassalize Savoy will certainly more difficult than I can imagine.
A old marriage with Portugal has ended. I didn't try to reproduce it, as I prefer reserve this to Electorate (And who would engage to someone that has already placed sons, daughter, nephews, old tants, cats and dogs in every European place?).
1496:
this time Charles VIII has been overperforming. Savoy subjugated by the French wealth and performance has accepted without discussion the first proposal of vassalization. Even if I was having this objective, it has been realy much less difficult than what I was thinking. Of course, money is one thing, but when you have not a great diplomat, it is always a pleasure to obtain such a result.
Now my objective is to made the same thing with Lorraine as Lorraine is part of the Holy roman Empire, and could be my entrance here.
1497:
Lorraine has been much more difficult to convinced to enter into vassalization. Charles VIII has tried the same procedure than with Savoy, but Lorraine has polited but firmly refuse to be vassal of France. It has been necessary to send a personnal gift to Rene II of Lorraine to convince him that vassalization will signify a much stronger alliance.
At this time, I have realized two importants objectives:
- create a big alliance to avoid a war with Spain or England
- vassalize Lorraine and Savoy to be strong on my eastern frontier.
Now the harder is to come: becomming Emperor.
For this I will need to wait that Maximilan I of Austria decide to died. I will have to do during this time the following objectives:
- convince as much elector as possibly that France is their best bank... friend, this is: their best friend.
- trying to avoid upseting someone by stupid action like declaring war on him.
- As all Elector are Catholic (for the moment), just consider that every Catholic countries are my friends (except perhaps Spain and England),
- Avoid war with Spain, or if not possible conduct it in the interrest of my allies, they will really appreciated if they gain territories.
I must really care of this point if I want to have a chance to win the election.
For this reason, I will try to achieve the ultimate goal of the diplomaty in EU, becoming Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, in the place of Emperor Johan .
Election of the Emperor was a very important moment during this period of time, and long diplomatic moves were engaged by nations to obtain this title. Long negociations and big donations were the key to achieve such a goal, with sometimes the interventions of wealthy merchants like Fuggers.
in my AAR, I will exclusively focus on diplomatic game, to highlight to particular aspect of EU.
For this, I will play Charles VIII, king of France.
1492
So my objective in this AAR will be to become Emperor.
For achieve such a goal, I need to create a powerful alliance with France as a leader to compense the anti-French alliance of Spain and England.
However, France is already in alliance with Savoy and the Papal States. The objective of such an alliance is to go for Italy, but as history as learned me that Italy is the cemetary of France, I will first to transform this alliance into a powerful defensive alliance against Spain and England.
In europe, some country can be considered as friends of French: they are Poland, Tuscany, Scotland, Lorraine, and Bavaria.
On the other side some can be considered as enemies: Spain, England, Austria.
If I want to create a strong alliance, Scotland and Lorraine seems to be the best candidate. Scotland can be a good adversary for England, and Lorraine one for Spain.
I immediatly send a diplomat to scotland to propose to enter in the alliance, and Scottish agreed.
The first part of my plan, has been reached.
Now I decide to take 2 missions who were going to reflect my interest in diplomaty and in my strategy: have a royal marriage with Scotland (it shouldn't be too difficult), and the other vassalize Savoy (could be really more difficult). The two should be realized within 5 years. If I manage to relize them, I would gain some extra victory points rewarding my diploamtic game.
On februar 1492, the reconquista is over, grenade has fall.
May 1492:
without difficulty, I have been able to propose a marriage royal with Scottland wich increase even more my relation with them.
September 1492:
Strangely, Spain seems to have not react to my attemp to create a big alliance, and has not propose to Lorraine to join her in alliance. This is my chance, as I can send a diplomat there, and with my good relations they accept.
Now my alliance include: France, Scotland, Lorraine, Savoy, and Papal States.
As this alliance is a very strong one, I really doubt that anyone will join again to me fearing the French ambition.
So now my next objective will be to strenghend this alliance by all means, and trying to vassalize Lorraine and Savoy.
1493:
As I have choose the mission to vassalize Savoy, all my effort will go to there, and the remnants to strenghend army: 'Si vis pacem, para bellum'. If my army is strong enough Spain will never try to attack me, or pay the cost of such an aggression.
I immediatly send to Savoy a big state donation, wich is well received by Philippe II of Savoy. In return, he inform me that France can add Savoy to their friends.
On the other side of France, Lorraine accept to engage into a royal mariage, but still remains a good friend of Spain and Austria.
As I was fearing, the alliance seems too powerful for others nations, and Bavaria, a friend state!, refuse to enter into. This move in direction of Bavaria was motivated by the importance of Bavaria into the election of the Emperor. Damned, the way to Emperor will be difficult and long.
1494:
I still continue to send a huge donation to savoy, but this time, the donation is simply moderately appreciate, thus improving very lightly my relation with them. the thnig is that Charles VIII is not a strong diplomat, and that complicate my diplomatic attempt.
1495:
Charles VIII continue to be a poor diplomat. My donations to Savoy and Lorraine have little effect. Vassalize Savoy will certainly more difficult than I can imagine.
A old marriage with Portugal has ended. I didn't try to reproduce it, as I prefer reserve this to Electorate (And who would engage to someone that has already placed sons, daughter, nephews, old tants, cats and dogs in every European place?).
1496:
this time Charles VIII has been overperforming. Savoy subjugated by the French wealth and performance has accepted without discussion the first proposal of vassalization. Even if I was having this objective, it has been realy much less difficult than what I was thinking. Of course, money is one thing, but when you have not a great diplomat, it is always a pleasure to obtain such a result.
Now my objective is to made the same thing with Lorraine as Lorraine is part of the Holy roman Empire, and could be my entrance here.
1497:
Lorraine has been much more difficult to convinced to enter into vassalization. Charles VIII has tried the same procedure than with Savoy, but Lorraine has polited but firmly refuse to be vassal of France. It has been necessary to send a personnal gift to Rene II of Lorraine to convince him that vassalization will signify a much stronger alliance.
At this time, I have realized two importants objectives:
- create a big alliance to avoid a war with Spain or England
- vassalize Lorraine and Savoy to be strong on my eastern frontier.
Now the harder is to come: becomming Emperor.
For this I will need to wait that Maximilan I of Austria decide to died. I will have to do during this time the following objectives:
- convince as much elector as possibly that France is their best bank... friend, this is: their best friend.
- trying to avoid upseting someone by stupid action like declaring war on him.
- As all Elector are Catholic (for the moment), just consider that every Catholic countries are my friends (except perhaps Spain and England),
- Avoid war with Spain, or if not possible conduct it in the interrest of my allies, they will really appreciated if they gain territories.
I must really care of this point if I want to have a chance to win the election.