Knight AAR: The great Crusade.
With La Valette as main commander of the Knight Army, Knights start to prepare war for the conquest of holy Land from Mameluks (and their allies Poland).
The strategy will be as follow:
La vallette in Egypt with the main army
Second Army in Lebannon.
Those two army are 30k men.
In januar 1551, the war begin, and La Vallette start to storm egypt nearly unopposed, while the Lebanon army walk on Syria. In Turkey, Mameluks help by polish are more stronger and start to besiege Hungarian province.
September: Jerusalem has fall to La Valette and Acre follow.
Februar 1552: with all army under his command, La Valette has crush the last Mameluks forces in Turkey. Mameluks accept their annexion.
In the north, Polish continue to fight. In 8 months La Valette is transferred from Turkey to Poland with 10k. But in december 1552, he suffer a major defeat against Pöland and must flee with only 1000 men left.
During the next 3 years, the war against Poland will rage between my allies and Poland. At the end, Poland is obliged to cede Podolia and Podlasia to Papal States.
Poland take a revenge one year later by annecting Teutonics Knights.
In 1556, with the wealth of Mameluks now in my realm, Venice agreed to become a vassal of Knights, thus gaining the right to trade in Alexandria in place of mine merchants (I didn't have time and money to invest there).
Now Knights start to concentrate forces to attack the mighty Persia, but in 1561, Nubia, Crimea and Irak profiting from the weakness of army in Egypt decide to attack. If their army begin the war with sucees occupying two provinces, the intervention through the desert of La Valette, give the final victory to knights after 3 years of war, and a lot of men dead in the desert. A the end of war, a seaborne invasion destroyed Crimea. Those three countries are annexed in 1562.
In Mars 1562, Papal States declare war on Tuscany, but Hungary and Venise don't follow. This move will have dire consequences as my diplomats forgot to retied alliance with Hungary. This big country create a new alliance with Austria. A moment of inatention has made me loose the best ally...
In april 1563, I decide to go for Persia. While La Valette storm the south of Persia, Persia storm the north of Turkey.
In November, a new nation arise: Netherland.
In july 1564, I agree a peace with Persia taking from it 2 provinces. I missed the possibility to annex them.
In 1565, revolts start to happened in some province due to the long war exhaustion (Knights are still at war with Papal States), but in 1566 a peace is signed: Tuscany take Emilia from Papal States.
The same year, Venice agreed to become a Knight territory. By this diplomatical annexion, Knights are reinforce by 100k men, 40 ships, a wealthy COT in Venice, and the Ragusa's Arsenal.
In 1567, Knights start to Christianise the province in Egypt. This movement will continue with each possible muslims province (even if the main provincces will remains muslims due to the high population).
1568: Tuscany enter in my alliance with Papal States.
1570: La Valette died, a great loss for knights.
1573: Bohemia is annexed by Austria. This country allied with Hungary start to become a mighty one, but as they are catholics, Knights keep good relations with them.
1575: Knights go again against Persia. After a long war (7 years) and a lot of battle, and Siege, Persia fall to the power of Knights.
Now the strategy of Knights will change: they will begin a vast crusade with objective the elimination of all muslims governement.
To confirm this, Knights become Counter Reform and vote laws saying that Protestants and Calvinist are heretics. However, muslims and orthodox (the main base of the population) is tolerated and has the right to continue their religion.
1586: Knights have from their own mind without the intervention os state, decide to fortified Rhodes: bastions, walls, artillery, are reinforced beyond the imaginable. Rhodes is now a mighty Fortress, and no one in Europe can said how this fortress could be besiege . Even knights them self can't not reproduced such a fortress in their other province.
1588: Georgia join alliance, this will help into fighting muslims states like Astrakhan, goldeb horde, or Kazan.
1589: Cyrenaica is annexed.
1589: In France, the old Burgondians Duchy made secession and become independant ( Franche Comte and Luxembourg)
War against Tripoli and Oman.After some difficulties against Oman due to their strong fleet, both countries are annexed in 1593.
1595: War against Aden and Turkey. Aden is annexed in 1596
1597: Turkey agreed peace with Knights ceding their last European province: Rumelia (Istambul can't be annexed, as they are a major country). Much more, I take their maps.
1598: War agianst Astrakhan, who is annexed in 1600.
The same year, Georgie accept to become a Vassal.
Now Knights stand firmly on middle east and will continue the annexion of muslims minors.
In other countries:
France has lost Bearn, Guyenne, and Gascogne to Spain but has gained Flandres, Hainaut, Artois.
England has lost two provinces to Scotland, but has started to build a great colonial empire in America and India.
Spaind has lost most of his norther province (only the province Holland remains Sapnish) but has take most of South and Central America.
Portugal has pacifically annex Hansa (?), and extand a colonial empire in Brazil, Africa, and Indonesia.
Sweden has mauled Danmark which keep only 2 norvegians provinces and Copenhagen.
Poland has lost a lot of province to Hungary, but has gain teutonics one.
Russia is now blocked by poland, Sweden and Knights.
Turkey is reduced to his capital and some trading post in east Africa.
Netherland have arise and start a colonial empire.
Currently major alliances:
- Netherland, Morocco, Sweden, Hessen, England
- Hungary, Naples, Portugal, Austria, Brandenburg
- France, Scotland
- Knights, Georgia, Tuscany, Papal States.
In the last hundred years, Knights loses have been:
750k men (more than 425k from attrition)
5k cavalry and 117 canons.
60 Ships have sunk.
The current Knight army is : 200k men and canons. 180 ships in mediteranean and indian ocean.
Victory point:
Spain: 2299
Knights: 1392
France: 1096
Portugal: 928
Sweden: 661
China: 596
England: 578
With La Valette as main commander of the Knight Army, Knights start to prepare war for the conquest of holy Land from Mameluks (and their allies Poland).
The strategy will be as follow:
La vallette in Egypt with the main army
Second Army in Lebannon.
Those two army are 30k men.
In januar 1551, the war begin, and La Vallette start to storm egypt nearly unopposed, while the Lebanon army walk on Syria. In Turkey, Mameluks help by polish are more stronger and start to besiege Hungarian province.
September: Jerusalem has fall to La Valette and Acre follow.
Februar 1552: with all army under his command, La Valette has crush the last Mameluks forces in Turkey. Mameluks accept their annexion.
In the north, Polish continue to fight. In 8 months La Valette is transferred from Turkey to Poland with 10k. But in december 1552, he suffer a major defeat against Pöland and must flee with only 1000 men left.
During the next 3 years, the war against Poland will rage between my allies and Poland. At the end, Poland is obliged to cede Podolia and Podlasia to Papal States.
Poland take a revenge one year later by annecting Teutonics Knights.
In 1556, with the wealth of Mameluks now in my realm, Venice agreed to become a vassal of Knights, thus gaining the right to trade in Alexandria in place of mine merchants (I didn't have time and money to invest there).
Now Knights start to concentrate forces to attack the mighty Persia, but in 1561, Nubia, Crimea and Irak profiting from the weakness of army in Egypt decide to attack. If their army begin the war with sucees occupying two provinces, the intervention through the desert of La Valette, give the final victory to knights after 3 years of war, and a lot of men dead in the desert. A the end of war, a seaborne invasion destroyed Crimea. Those three countries are annexed in 1562.
In Mars 1562, Papal States declare war on Tuscany, but Hungary and Venise don't follow. This move will have dire consequences as my diplomats forgot to retied alliance with Hungary. This big country create a new alliance with Austria. A moment of inatention has made me loose the best ally...
In april 1563, I decide to go for Persia. While La Valette storm the south of Persia, Persia storm the north of Turkey.
In November, a new nation arise: Netherland.
In july 1564, I agree a peace with Persia taking from it 2 provinces. I missed the possibility to annex them.
In 1565, revolts start to happened in some province due to the long war exhaustion (Knights are still at war with Papal States), but in 1566 a peace is signed: Tuscany take Emilia from Papal States.
The same year, Venice agreed to become a Knight territory. By this diplomatical annexion, Knights are reinforce by 100k men, 40 ships, a wealthy COT in Venice, and the Ragusa's Arsenal.
In 1567, Knights start to Christianise the province in Egypt. This movement will continue with each possible muslims province (even if the main provincces will remains muslims due to the high population).
1568: Tuscany enter in my alliance with Papal States.
1570: La Valette died, a great loss for knights.
1573: Bohemia is annexed by Austria. This country allied with Hungary start to become a mighty one, but as they are catholics, Knights keep good relations with them.
1575: Knights go again against Persia. After a long war (7 years) and a lot of battle, and Siege, Persia fall to the power of Knights.
Now the strategy of Knights will change: they will begin a vast crusade with objective the elimination of all muslims governement.
To confirm this, Knights become Counter Reform and vote laws saying that Protestants and Calvinist are heretics. However, muslims and orthodox (the main base of the population) is tolerated and has the right to continue their religion.
1586: Knights have from their own mind without the intervention os state, decide to fortified Rhodes: bastions, walls, artillery, are reinforced beyond the imaginable. Rhodes is now a mighty Fortress, and no one in Europe can said how this fortress could be besiege . Even knights them self can't not reproduced such a fortress in their other province.
1588: Georgia join alliance, this will help into fighting muslims states like Astrakhan, goldeb horde, or Kazan.
1589: Cyrenaica is annexed.
1589: In France, the old Burgondians Duchy made secession and become independant ( Franche Comte and Luxembourg)
War against Tripoli and Oman.After some difficulties against Oman due to their strong fleet, both countries are annexed in 1593.
1595: War against Aden and Turkey. Aden is annexed in 1596
1597: Turkey agreed peace with Knights ceding their last European province: Rumelia (Istambul can't be annexed, as they are a major country). Much more, I take their maps.
1598: War agianst Astrakhan, who is annexed in 1600.
The same year, Georgie accept to become a Vassal.
Now Knights stand firmly on middle east and will continue the annexion of muslims minors.
In other countries:
France has lost Bearn, Guyenne, and Gascogne to Spain but has gained Flandres, Hainaut, Artois.
England has lost two provinces to Scotland, but has started to build a great colonial empire in America and India.
Spaind has lost most of his norther province (only the province Holland remains Sapnish) but has take most of South and Central America.
Portugal has pacifically annex Hansa (?), and extand a colonial empire in Brazil, Africa, and Indonesia.
Sweden has mauled Danmark which keep only 2 norvegians provinces and Copenhagen.
Poland has lost a lot of province to Hungary, but has gain teutonics one.
Russia is now blocked by poland, Sweden and Knights.
Turkey is reduced to his capital and some trading post in east Africa.
Netherland have arise and start a colonial empire.
Currently major alliances:
- Netherland, Morocco, Sweden, Hessen, England
- Hungary, Naples, Portugal, Austria, Brandenburg
- France, Scotland
- Knights, Georgia, Tuscany, Papal States.
In the last hundred years, Knights loses have been:
750k men (more than 425k from attrition)
5k cavalry and 117 canons.
60 Ships have sunk.
The current Knight army is : 200k men and canons. 180 ships in mediteranean and indian ocean.
Victory point:
Spain: 2299
Knights: 1392
France: 1096
Portugal: 928
Sweden: 661
China: 596
England: 578