Part ten - the real war
And the drain of bad news did not end. Shortly after the declaration of war from France arrived, A messanger entered and brought news from Geldre. It had fallen to Sweden 2 months agon, but till now no German messanger could pass the enemy lines and bring the news to the king, so many enemies stood in Geldre. King Joachim sank into his throne and did not say a word for two hours. Then his son and heir Hektor approached him and together they made a Plan to ease the Presure on Germany a bit. A white peace was offered to Denmark, although Germany had the advantages in warscore, and England, where the warscore was evenmatched. To Sweden, which had converted to protestantism a year before, and therby left the alliance with Denmark, a genorous 200 Ducats were offered. Denmark and Sweden accepted the peace, England rejected it.
The troops that were stationed in Jylland to besiege the Danish and the ones on its way to Pommerian were called back to fight the new enemys. As soon as the war against France and it’s allies started the pure chaos broke out. Enemy troops poured into germany like water in a hole. Meissen troops freely crossed through Würzburg and besieged Tirol. Bohemia took Morovia quickly and marched on to Erz. France conquered Lorrain and Savoy as if no defenders were present and the papal states besieged Lomardia and helped Meissen in Tirol. The German and Austrian troops lost one Battle after the other. The only bright sign was Winzerer besieging .. and later retaking Morovia.
Luckyly England accepted peace with germany, although 150 Ducats had to be paid.
The war went on as bad as it had begun. Steiermark was besieged by France and the people Alsace revolted against Germany. The only hope was Winzerer, who managed to besiege The Bohemian Capital. But as if the German Situation was not bad enough, Genoa together with Spain and Portugal declared war at Milan. This time both Austria, Where over 35000 men were besieging Tirol, and Germany which could not afford a war on its northern border dishonored the Alliance with Milan, and thereby signed Milans downfall. On the same day Germany invited Austria in a new Alliance.
After Milan was without Alliance it took only months before they had to surrender Pietmonte to France. In the meanwhile Steiermark fell to France. On the Bohemian front a race began. Who would end it’s siege first?
It was Winzerer again. Although he was not as good in Sieges or during Battles as Frundsberg, he was a very shifty man who had connections. He found a man who knew secret ways in the city. In a dark night, the city had still enough food for months, his men secretly entered the city and took the gate without much noise. Once the gates were opend, the troopquarters were secured without one shot fired. The City was taken. Now peace was offered, but Bohemia did not want to give up his independence and become a German vassal as long as 16000 of its men still besieged Erz. So Winzerer moved to Erz and totaly defeated the Bohemian Army. Now Bohemia was willing to accept the German peace offer.
It was the last great German victory for the next few years. Although most of the Meissen Army in Sachsen could be destroyed and the city could be besieged, it was only a minor victory. Still 18000 men stood in Würtenberg and made it imposible for germany to achieve a mayor victory over Meissen and 11000 of Meissens men were marching to Sachsen to free it again. In the meantime Schwyz and Morovia fell to France and Alsace fell into rebell hands. And again the nobles in Germany rose up to demand more rights.
If Joachim I had been the same as before the war, the nobles had gotten nothing, but as the power of Germany decreased during the war, so did the Stregth of Joachim I. And more and more of his tasks were taken over by his heir Hecktor. And so it was Hektor who negotiated a White peace with the Papal states, Meissen and Tuscany.
The war versus France continued as bad as allways. Hektor hoped Austria, as Allianceleader would make a peace with France, but that did not happen. And all offers France made would include germany giving up provinces. That was something Joachim and Hektor did not want to do yet.