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Warspite

Admiral of the Kings Fleet
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Jan 3, 2001
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The Habsburg Dynasty of Austria

Austrian Grand Campaign
Ver : 1.7
HARD
AGGRESIVE

This is the cover page, the AAR will be ongoing and I will update the leaders here with notable events as well. The main body history will be in posts to follow. Enjoy!

Some posts will be in "Encyclopedia" format to give history for a time period.
Some posts will be titled "Map" to give pictures for time periods.
Other posts will be titled appropriately to tell a story or basic information.


Color Key for Historical summary below--
Wars/Military conflict this color
Events dealing with leaders this color
Events of state this color
Notable news abroad


THE HABSBURG DYNASTY OF AUSTRIA

1404-1439 Duke Albrecht V
Enter Alliance with Hungary
Venetian War 1419-1423 (victory with Allies)
Tirol War 1424-1425 (Minor Loss to Germans)
Domestic Policies focus on Army improvements
War for Papal Recognition 1428-1430 (Victory over Ottoman Turks)
Mantua War 1430-1432 (Mantua Annexed to Habsburg Austria)
The Italian-Habsburg War 1437-1441 (Milan and Istria Annexed)

1440-1457 Duke Ladislas the Postumus
Regency 1439-1455
1442 Austrian Navy formed with four Galleys in Istria
Burgundy-Luxemburg War 1443-1446(Victory with Allies)
1448 Austria establishes trade post in Damman Arabia
1448 Croatia becomes Austrian Vassal
Serb-Croat War 1449-1451 (Victory, Austria annexes Bosnia, Kosovo)
Second Italian-Habsburg War 1451-58 (Austria annexes Romagna, Marches)

1457-1493 Archduke Friedrich III
Austrian Civil War 1456-1461 (costly victory)
1459 Kingdom of Croatia diplomatically annexed to Austria
1461-1471 Inflation plummets, sparks better economy
Bosnian-Croat Revolts 1461-1472 (Austrian Victory)
1468 Austria becomes leader of Austria-Hungary Alliance
1472 Modena becomes Austrian vassal
1474-1475 Hungarian-Serb War (Hungary annexes Serbia)
Diary of Albret Schien (link to a story related to this AAR)
1476-1478 War for Transylvania (Hungary takes Transylvania from Moldavia)
1478 Hungary kicked out of Austrian alliance
1479 Friedrich V becomes Holy Roman Emperor
1481 Partition of Burgundy (Zeeland, Brabant, Luxemburg, Alsace to Austria)
Map of Europe 1486
1488 Fine Arts Academy completed in Vienna
1489 Ottoman Turks dissolve the Roman Empire in Constantinople
1490 King Corvin dies, Ulaszlo II becomes King of Hungary
1490 Hungary joins alliance of Austria, Portugal, Bohemia, Modena again
Defenses improved during peace time
Map of Middle East 1492
Aug 21, 1493 Archduke and Emperor Friedrich III dies

1493-1519 Archduke (Emperor) Maximilian I
Map of Europe 1495
1495 Reichstag formed for Empire and Habsburg territory by Maximilian
1496-99 Defiance of the Nobility against centralization
1498-99 1st Hungary-Moldavia War (Victory)
1501-03 French-Habsburg War (Major Victory)
1504 Aragon joins alliance
1504-1508 French-Aragon War (Major Loss for Aragon)
1506-1508 Hungary-Ottoman War (Victory for Hungary)
1506-1508 Spanish-Aragon War (Major Loss for Aragon)
Map of Europe and MidEast 1512
1513 Papacy breaks from Aragon, becomes vassal to Habsburg
1513-14 Papal-Sienna War (Victory saves Papacy)
1513-14 2nd Hungary-Moldavia War (Hungary annex Moldavia)
1514 Aragon kicked from Habsburg alliance
1515 Kingdom of Bohemia becomes part of Habsburg Empire
1516 Karl Habsburg (Charles or Carlos) V crowned King of Spain and Germany

1519-1556 Archduke/Emperor KARL V
1520 Ferdinand appointed to administer Austria
1515-1540 Bohemian Rebellions
1520 Hofrat Central Council established
1524-26 Modena-Genoa War (Modena Victory)
1524-26 Hungary-Ottoman War (Major Loss for Hungary)
1526 Hungary King dies in battle, Ferdinand inherits Hungary
1528-31 Explorer Herman establishes colonies in North America for Austria
1540 Austria has the most advanced army in Europe
1556 Karl Abdicates

1556-1564 Archduke/Emperor FERDINAND I
1559-62 First Partition of Aragon War (Major victory for Austria)

1564-1576 Archduke/Emperor MAXIMILIAN II
1567-69 Second Partition of Aragon War (Major victory for Austria)

1576-1612 Archduke/Emperor RUDOLF II
1585 Sicily and Sardinia made vassal
1592-98 Balkan Religeous Revolts, Serbia, Ragusa, Bosnia made vassal

1612-1619 Archduke/Emperor MATHIAS
1617-23 Austria-Ottoman War (Major Loss for Austria)

1619- Archduke/Emperor FERDINAND II
1620-24 Austrian Civil War
 
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Encyclopedia : Early Austrian History to 1441

Austria was split from Bavaria and made into a duchy in 1156 by the German Emperor. The Badenburg family then moved their court to a newly expanded town of Vienna and ruled from there. In 1246 the Badenburgs fought off Magyar invasions but the Badenburg Duke was killed while defeating the Hungarians. The King of Bohemia then took control of Austria.

In 1273 Swiss nobleman Rudolf Habsburg was elected German Emperor however this was contested by Bohemian King Ottakar II. In 1278 the Emperor and King fought at Mars Field and Ottakar II was slain. Some of the lands left by the King passed to Rudolf Habsburg, including upper and lower Austria.

The Habsburgs over the next hundred years either bought or acquired Styria, Salzburg, and greater Tirol. It was the take over of Tirol that would further anger Swiss nobleman enough to kick the Habsburgs out of the Swiss court.

Albrecht III moved the Habsburg court to Vienna in Austria and ruled the family lands from there. Switzerland and Hungary were very hostile to the Habsburgs, however with crafty political maneuvering Albrecht was able to avoid conflict.

Albrecht V became Duke of Austria, Styria and Tirol in 1404. 1419 saw the Habsburgs joining the alliance of a Reluctant Holy Roman Emperor Sigismond in Hungary. This provided protection against increasingly hostile Swiss nobles and placed Habsburg in cooperation with Croatia and Hungary. The Habsburgs joined the Hungarian war against Venice that year and helped lead a three-year siege that would force a Venetian surrender to the Croatian King.

At this time the Empire began to split favor as Swiss nobles of Helvetia plotted against the Habsburgs. This would lead to Baden breaking vassalage from Habsburg in 1420. Soon after Helvetia with, Palatinat, Cologne, Hessen, Savoy, and Bavaria declared war on the Habsburgs, . Hungary, Croatia and Luxemburg would aid the Habsburgs in the war. The Tirol War lasted from 1424 to 1425, the Habsburgs and Luxemburg paid German states for peace.

At this time Duke Albrecht began to reshape the Army to be better equipped and trained. Also because of fluctuations within the church, he took a hostile stand toward Muslim nations to appease the Pope in Rome. In 1426 the Ottoman Turks took control of Papal land in Italia. Duke Albrecht took this as an opportunity to win the favor of Rome and sent men through Mantua to repel the Muslim Turk Army. In summer of 1428 Turks in Marches crushed the Habsburg army. After reinforcements arrived in 1429 another battle took place that finally defeated the Turks and the land was restored to the Pope. This won the Habsburgs great favor in Rome however led to jealousy by German states in the Empire.

Right after that war was finished, Croatia invaded Venice again. This would drag allies Hungary and Habsburg against Venice, Mantua and Milan. The Italian cities fought hard and almost destroyed the Habsburg army in 1431. Tirol was taken by Milan but the Armies of Hungary pushed the Italians back by 1432. At the end of the war the Habsburgs took Mantua. The Italians were completely defeated. The Papacy condemned the Habsburgs for the take over of Mantua.

In 1437 events took shape that would cause years of turmoil for the Habsburgs. A Habsburg noble was murdered and it was blamed on Venice. This led to Austrian attacks on Venice and her ally Milan in 1437. At about this time the German states elected Dietrich of Cologne Holy Roman Emperor, and he was very hostile towards the Habsburgs. Dietrich convinced the Pope of the Habsburg threat. In 1439 Ladislas the Postumus became Duke of Austria and contested King of Hungary and Bohemia. Ladislas was born four months after his fathers death. His mother and uncle became regent for him. It was also Ladislas mother who challenged the German electoral and made claims that Ladislas was rightful German King.

The Pope with Dietrich’s insistence had seen enough. With Imperial funding the Papacy led a war against the Habsburg-Hungarian alliance. The Papacy was joined by Aragon, Naples, Albania, Tuscany, Genoa, Siena, Mantuan rebels, Milan and Venice. The Italian states were determined to repel the Habsburg threat.

The Italian-Habsburg War went from 1437 to 1441. Italian armies would defeat every Habsburg force they came up against. However what saved Austria was Hungarian General Hunyadi who brilliantly led his Army to crush the main Italian forces. By 1441 the Italians were exhausted. Milan fell under Habsburg authority and Venice ceded Istria to the Habsburgs as well. Emperor Dietrich was furious and rallied German states against the Habsburgs further for a possible future war.

As a condition of the Papacies peace agreement with Austria and for the Empire to avoid war so soon. The Habsburgs were given title of Archduke of Austria and the titles of lands Tirol, Styria, Istria, Milan and Mantua also became a part of Archducal Austria. A new Empire was taking shape.
 
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J. Passepartout said:
Will this be an Emcyclopaedia WAARspite?


Thanks gents, i hope you enjoy this one of mine. I started playing the game a few weeks ago. Just thought about the game after being away for a year and wanted to try my hand at Austria. While i write I am researching and learning quite a bit, thats what made me fall in love with this game, the history.
 
Encyclopedia : The Recognition of Austria begins

Archduke Ladislas mother rescinded the claim of Emperor and her regent signed a treaty with the Papacy promising no further advances on Italian city-states so long as they made no further advances on Austria. Yet the Pope was not trying to protect Italian neighbors from Austria, instead most Italian Dukes knew the Pope had ambitions of his own in the region. The Italian peninsula was a hotbed of friction. Genoa, Venice, Naples, Aragon and the Papacy all struggling for supremacy.

By 1442, the newly formed Naval Flotilla was formed out of Istria comprising four Galleys. This Naval arm would grow slowly. The military focus was on the Army however, improving its armaments, training, moral and reliability. Despite these improvements, poor leadership within the army would lead to problems in the future. As it was, Austria still relied heavily upon Hungarian Army assistance in conflicts.

Burgundy and Luxemburg went to war in 1443, the result was England and Wallachia joined with Burgundy and Austria, Hungary joined with its ally Luxemburg. By 1444 Wallachia was overrun by Hungary and Mantua overrun by English forces. Austria’s Army could not defeat the English in Mantua but instead forced them out of Mantua by attrition over time. England just didn’t have enough men while Austria sent tens of thousands to drive the English out. By the end of the war in 1446 Austria had lost over 20,000 men and England about 10,000. It was an embarrassment to Austria and they were more determined to improve the army. Luxemburg had defeated Burgundian forces and so Austria received reparations money from Burgundy after the war.

Looking to improve Austrian prestige, the Regent to young Ladislas paid a marginal amount to send merchants to Arabia to set up colonial trade posts. They eventually succeeded with much trouble at Damman on the coast of the Persian Gulf. Though revenue from this small trade post was negligent, it did give Austria prestige in being the only Christian power to have such a post at the time. Little did anyone know about the vast explorations the Portuguese were planning.

Austrian Diplomats were sent to Burgundy and Bavaria to repair relations between 1447 and 1448. This was a success especially with Bavaria, it would prove important in the next few years.

After a couple years of peace, Ladislas and Austria were not aware of the storm building for the coming years.
 
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Looking good so far!
 
So... it is you the guy they call Encyclopedia? I can notice this reading the tale... I wonder if one day I could by this encyclopedia at a bookstore!
:)
 
Encyclopedia : Austrias turbulent time of War

In 1449 the Croatian King agreed to become a vassal to the Habsburgs growing Empire. This sparked the Serb-Croat War, Serbia in an attempt to stop the Habsburg advance convinced Wallachia and Cyprus to aid her against Austria and allies Croatia, Hungary. Austria sent 5000 men aboard its fleet of Galleys to attack Cyprus. This amphibious venture turned into a disaster and only 200 of the 5000 soldiers returned with one Galley to the friendly port of Athens. Losses were heavy in the war against Serbia but Croatia shouldered most of the losses.

While Austria was engaged in the Balkan region. Genoa with her allies led a successful fight in a mess of wars in the Italian peninsula from 1448-50, these didnt involve Austria at all. Genoa came out a huge winner taking Romagna and Marches from the Papacy. Riding upon its successes, and already mobilized with its powerful allies Tuscany and Venice, Genoa worked with some German states to attack Austria while she was engaged in the east against Serbia.

So in the spring of 1451 Genoa, Venice, Tuscany, Wurtemburg, Baden, Bavaria attacked Austria. Because Austria was fighting Serbia and Cyprus, she had few men to protect the western borders. Austrian reserves were hastily called up, the treasury was depleted, loans taken out and taxes greatly increased. Inflation skyrocketed during the war years as the Habsburgs used every coin and able man to fight a three front war.

The good news for Austria was that Serbia’s Army was exhausted offering little resistance to Austrian sieges in Kosovo and Bosnia. The Habsburgs annexed both territories in 1452 with a Serbian surrender and the eastern front war ended freeing thousands of soldiers to go and fight in the west against Germans and Italians.

Knowing full well that he could not defeat both the powerful German army and numerous Italian armies, Austria gained a peace with the Germans for a marginal stipend in late 1452. Bavaria favored Ladislas and convinced Wurtemburg to accept the peace treaty. With the Germans out of the war; Austria, Hungary and Croatia now used all their forces against the Italians.

The fighting was intense; over 200,000 combined soldiers were in the war at any given time. Venice was the first to fall in 1455 after Croatia took Ragusa and Austria took Dalmatia. Hungary was able to keep the main Genoan army of 40,000 at bay while Austria sent a 30,000 man army to Tuscany to force their surrender 1456.

Exhausted and tired of war, Hungary and Croatia made peace with Genoa. This left Austria and Genoa at war alone. At this time Revolts began to spring up all over Habsburg territory as peasants became tired of war costs. In a desperate attempt to end the war soon, Ladislas in one of his first diplomatic moves without the aid of regents made a deal with the King of Naples to help quell revolts in Marches. After the Genoan Army was barely defeated at great cost in Milan in Summer 1457 it paved the way for Austria to siege Liguria to end the war by 1458. Genoa ceded Romagna and Marches for peace ending much of Genoas Italian power but placing the Habsburgs on par with Aragon/Naples in Italy.

November 27th 1457 Ladislas died unexpectantly, poison was suspected but could not be proven. Because he was only seventeen years old he had no heir. He was replaced as Archduke by his cousin Friedrich. Friedrich inherited victory conditions in the war with Genoa but also a turbulent Empire that was erupting into civil war. By the time Genoa surrendered in 1458, Austria was unable to keep up with the many revolts rocking all corners of Habsburg territory. It would take Croatia and Hungarian help to crush the revolts but by 1461 the Civil War in Austria had subsided.

Though Habsburg territory was greatly expanded in the wars between 1448-1461, the costs were immense in both money and human life. Over 100,000 Austrian men alone were lost, not including over 40,000 Croatians, 100,000 Hungarians and thousands more Italians and Rebels. Archduke Friedrich made proclamations to the Pope and Germans for peace in the future, it would help make Friedrich a favorite among the Germans as the years continued in peace.

Because Croatia was devastated by the war the King allowed the Habsburgs to annex the Croatian Kingdom to Austria, this included Ragusa as well. This showed to many the power of the Habsburg popular diplomacy even in time of peril.

The war was a big boost for the Economy, opening up new productions. The naval flotilla was rebuilt to about 14 Galleys. Friedrich focused on paying off loans and keeping revolts down throughout newly taken lands. As stability and peace increased the treasury began to fill as well. Austria was on track for a peaceful and stablised future under the good leadership of Archduke Friedrich.
 
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Welcome back to AARland, Mr. Encyclopedia. :)
I always enjoy reading stories about the men dressed in white...
 
Just read up - you so far seem to be living up to your reputation.
 
Its good to be back playing and writing, I was so busy with Neverwinter Nights for the past year but the past couple weeks playing Austria has rekindled my history passion. I will take my time with this and hope everyone enjoys.

Lord Durham nice to see you again, Its amazing to think its almost two years on here. Time well spent though.

Stroph, I honestly don’t think the men in white will conquer the world or even Europe. I am playing this like my Cambodia AAR, taking in personalities of historic leaders, rolling dice for some decisions and trying to be realistic within my own imagination. It will be interesting to see where this history of the world takes us this time.

Stnylan, I am really glad you enjoy the virtual history so far. My favorite writing style is to attempt to make the AAR sound like a history book. One of my favorite things to do is read all about world history so I try to make my own on here. Its fun.

I should have titled the AAR “Encyclopedia wAARspite : The Habsburg Dynasty and Austria”. Hmm maybe you can fix that for me LD :)

Thanks guys have a great NEW YEAR
 
Great to see you've been bitten by the history bug again, Jerry. It's been a long time. I was wondering if maybe you'd gotten that boat and were somewhere on the high seas, plundering rich merchant vessels...:)

Off to a good start, I see, and playing using monarch stats to boot. I've been doing that as well, finding it a really interesting challenge (particularly under 1.07). Thought you might beinterested to know that the historical Ladislaus inherited while still in vitero and the ensuing 15 or so years of Austrian/Hungarian/Bohemian politics was a really interesting period. He was eventually assassinated (probably by Freidrich, although that's debatable) and Freidrich's brother ruled briefly until he died (also mysteriously) and Freidrich took over. Turbulent years indeed...

Anyway, I'll be watching this with interest.

Cheers buddy.
 
I was contemplating whether to write about Ladislas further or not. Historically he became King of Hungary and Bohemia, it caused turbulence for a time. Also after his death there was about a half year interregnum, probably to figure out what the hell happened lol. Then Friedrich took over. Maybe later i will try to get more detailed with historical and AAR things.

thanks Chris :)
 
Warspite said:
I should have titled the AAR “Encyclopedia wAARspite : The Habsburg Dynasty and Austria”. Hmm maybe you can fix that for me LD :)

Thanks guys have a great NEW YEAR
Ask and ye shall receive. :)

Happy New Year, kid.
 
Stroph, I honestly don’t think the men in white will conquer the world or even Europe. I am playing this like my Cambodia AAR, taking in personalities of historic leaders, rolling dice for some decisions and trying to be realistic within my own imagination. It will be interesting to see where this history of the world takes us this time.

Stnylan, I am really glad you enjoy the virtual history so far. My favorite writing style is to attempt to make the AAR sound like a history book. One of my favorite things to do is read all about world history so I try to make my own on here. Its fun.

This AAR is really good. I find it interesting that you employ similar methods when playing the game as I do. Rolling dice for random decisions and taking the role of various personalities real or otherwise. It helps me feel secure that I am not insane. :)

I also find EU II an excellent source for history, often researching far more than I had intended on a will to know about the region and the time. I was able to write a whole paper on Wurzburg for extra credit with a professor that was mainly just inspired by research I did during a stint playing Wurzburg.

Excellent AAR, I shall make a note to look in on it in the future.
 
Encyclopedia : The Awkward Marriage between Austria and Hungary

The nobles of Hungary elected Matthais Corvinus King after the death of Habsburg Ladislas in 1457. King Corvinus was ambitious and ruthless. While Archduke Friedrich was working to stabilize the growing Austrian Empire, Corvinus was eyeing goals for his own Hungarian Empire. Friedrich was contesting the election of Corvinus but in 1462 finally recognized him as King to keep the alliance together. If there was one diplomatic failure for Friedrich, it would be with Corvinus, the two became bitter enemies over time, both ambitious and proud.

King Corvinus had contested Austria’s annexation of the Croatian crown and when Bohemian King George began favored relations with the Habsburgs, Corvinus turned to the church for help to keep Hungary dominant in the region. King Corvinus set a plan to get approval from the Pope of Rome to move against Bohemia militarily, the Pope also hoped to find a way to dismantle Habsburg power in Italy and was about to oblige Hungary by excommunicated King George in 1466 but because the Pope was under the jurisdiction of Ferdinand of Aragon, Archduke Friedrich threatened military action on Aragon if the Pope did this. The Pope was then pressured by King Ferdinand of Aragon and there was no excommunication due to fear of Austrian retaliation. Corvinus knew the risk was too high at this point so Bohemia was left to cling with Austria in peace. It was a huge diplomatic victory for Archduke Friedrich, further building his growing popularity among the Germans.

King Corvinus turned his ambitious eyes to Moldavia and Serbia at that point, Corvinus remained allied to Austria and Bohemia only to help him with his plans in the Balkans. Further, Archduke Friedrich kept his alliance to Hungary only to avoid a war with Corvinus. It was an awkward marriage of interests that would inevitably work in both leaders favor for a time.

In 1468 Archduke Friedrich became leader of the alliance thanks to allies Bohemia and Modena. The influence of Hungary was fading.
 
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