Threat to the East- Muscowy AAR

[generalbob]

Country: Moscow
EU2 Version: 1.08 with AGCEEP
Current Objective: Unify Rus states, Ready for conflicts with Mongolian Hordes

"With the rise of Vasily I to the throne of the princely state of Moscow, the Golden Horde leadership was free to put down the numerous revolts within their territory. However, the Horde mistook Vasily's caution for the fear of a coward. Vasily realized he could not fight a succesful war with the Horde unless he had a stable economy and a more advanced army to make up for his army's small size. Vasily became the first prince of Moscow to introduce regular taxation practices, and scaled back the army by nearly half. To the north, in Novgorod, Vasily was ignored by the rulers, but this was to change..."

From 'The Rise of the Russian States', By Bob Austri

[generalbob]

The Rule of Vasily I 1419-1425

Vasily the First's reign was considered by historians of the 16th and 17th century to be one of the most boring (and short) of the 1400s. Later however, historians began to praise not what Vasily did, but the trend he set in motion.

Internal Events

Vasily soon announced that funding for the navy was going to be put towards land, trade, and infrastucture. The navy was put on a barebones budget, which, considering that Moscow had no sea ports, did not really affect the military. After all, there wasn't a navy in the first place. The army was soon outfitted with late medival equipment, and some research was done into the strengthening of fortress walls. In the capital, some 10,000 men (the term infantry does not apply here, 'angry mob' would work better) of the Moscow Guard Army were dismissed, and the ranking commander, a incompetent who was disliked by the prince, was sacked and replaced by a promising melee and siege tactician by the name of Yuri Patrikeev. Several government sponsored merchants made the journey north to the trade center at Novgorod, and, at Vasily's urging, Pskov, Tver, and Muskowy signed the Central Alliance Trade Pact, solidifing Moscow's commercial position in Novgorod. Tax collection began in Moscow, and Vasily decided that the system was so succesful it would be moved to the other cities. However, this plan was cut short by his untimely death on Feb. 26th, 1425.

Foreign Affairs

Vasily I had little interest in the wars of Western and Central Europe, and kept Moscow clear of any warfare. His only major diplomatic achievement was the Central Alliance Trade Pact. However, Vasily kept an eye on developments in France, as he was worried about growing English strength. Vasily also turned an eye north to Novgorod, and he is claimed to have told some of his closest friends that he was planning an invasion of Novgorod by 1430. Perhaps it was good Vasily's death came so early, as Novgorod was coming to the peak of its strength after signing a truce with the Teutonic and Livonian Orders.

[Queen Lor]

You've got me interested. Nice writing of such boring events.

[generalbob]

I'm only in 1433, and already this game is going crazy. For some reason some obscure Italian country declared independance from England, Aragon declared war first on France and then on Bern, and Paris was taken from England by Luxembourg, who were then driven out be rebels.

Not to mention every country surrounding me spontaneously decided to declare war on each other. The Central Alliance Trade Pact is no more.

[Queen Lor]

I'm only in 1433, and already this game is going crazy. For some reason some obscure Italian country declared independance from England, Aragon declared war first on France and then on Bern, and Paris was taken from England by Luxembourg, who were then driven out be rebels.

Not to mention every country surrounding me spontaneously decided to declare war on each other. The Central Alliance Trade Pact is no more.

I have noticed in AGCEEP things tend to start out crazy but somehow they work themselves out in the end.

[generalbob]

The Rule of Vasily II 'The Warlike Prince'

Vasily II soon earned the name 'The Warlike Prince' from many contemporaries due to his 'agressiveness'. Enemies often portrayed him as a warmonger. Much of this, however, was more from comparison to Vasily I's relatively peaceful policies then to any real fault on the part of Vasily II. He is best known for his extension of Moscow's authority over the Kola and Karelian Peninsulas, and for his brash cavalry raid into Olonets, but Vasily also was a great pioneer who encouraged settlement of the north and nearly completed the taxation program before the War of the Rus began.

Part One- A Few Years Left

Not even a month after Vasily the Second took rule over Moscow, a Mongol emissary arrived with a demand for tribute the the Golden Horde. Vasily is said to have considered rejecting the demands but soon gave in. More merchants flying the banner of Moscow soon arrived in Novgorod, but one caravan dissapeared after passing through Tver. This was to be a bad omen for Novgorod, as Tver used this, among other claims, as a cause for war a few years later. At the behest of the new prince, several nobles and their serfs began the journey north to the Vladimir colony.

On September 15, a noble in Nizhiny Novgorod died without a heir. The next day, the government announced that the noble's estate was now government property.

The prosperity of Moscow continued for several months, until April of 1427, when a messenger of Pskov arrived asking for support against Lithuania-Poland, who Pskov had just declared war upon. The messenger arrived at Pskov a few days later with the words, 'I'm not stupid- Vasily' scrawled across his head in ink. Tver followed Moscow's lead, while Ryazan joined Pskov's fight. The army of Pskov was smashed by Lithuania's main army at the battle of Polosk, and Pskov declared their battle plan had been leaked by none other than their former allies Tver. The response by Tver was subtle and tactful.

Two years later, Tver's and Moscow's army sat in the ruins of Pskov. The remnants of Pskov's treasury were seized and transported back to Moscow. Lithuania annexed Pskov less than a year later. Ryazan fell to the Poles not long afterwards.

The Wars of The Rus had begun.

[LewsTherin]

Nice first couple of posts. Short and to the point yet captivating.

[zacharym87]

A very interesting start. Better not let those Poles grab any more Russian lands though, that is definitely a bad sign.

[Machiavellian]

Interesting developments thus far. I am surprised you have continued to pay tribute to the Golden Horde.

[generalbob]

Thanks for the comments and advice, guys.

Unfortunatly I will not be able to post an update as i am going into the hospital and I don't know when I will be out. Porbably today or tomorrow, but you never know.