The Reign of Philipp Wilhelm I von Wittelsbach
The HRE goes to war
Bohemia and England answer Milan's call to arms, as Bavaria decides that having their non-existent merchants barred from Italian trade centres is enough cause for outrage to send armies to their death.
Even before both sides join in battle, though, troubling news reach Philipp's desk.
As the army expands to meet this new threat, another officer is promoted to the general staff.
Invading Bohemian troops are quickly repelled and then crushed by forces led by Gumpenberg and Moshamm.
General Scherer is sent to the Milanese front, where he enjoys early success against a small Milanese force cut off from their main army, busy with occupying Modena.
Gelre achieve their war objectives, and wait apprehensively for the arrival of HRE reinforcements.
General Moshamm efficiently disposes of the remaining Bohemian troops, and Bohemia is forced to liberate two more members of the HRE.
As the war rages on, the HRE is again called to defend another of its members against aggression. Bavaria now finds itself engaged in three wars at once.
England and Hungary recognise the fact that neither can really engage each other in this war...
as Denmark forces Holstein into vassalage.
In the west, the French continue to lurch from one crisis to another.
With the Bohemian front successfully concluded, General Moshamm is dispatched to the Milanese campaign, where he enjoys some early success.
General Gumpenberg, going strong since the reign of Albrecht, shows the army of Gelre that despite his advancing age, he is still a force to be reckoned with on the battlefield.
England show the first signs of strain in their expanding empire.
In the north, Denmark's ally Bremen is the first in the line of fire, as the forces of the HRE arrive to defend Holstein.
Oldenburg, allied to Gelre, is forced to submit to the authority of the Emperor.
Bohemia remains independent, but for how long more?
At home, a breakthrough occurs, as greater organisational effectiveness now allow for an improvement in infrastructure.
A building spree commences.
Gelre finally concedes defeat, and is replaced by Utrecht.
In Russian lands, Muscowy is reborn from the ashes of the Golden Horde.
In what is easily the biggest engagement in the war, General Scherer proves his mettle convincingly.
With their main force defeated, Milan sees little choice but to concede the war.
With two wars concluded, all that was left was to take down the Danes.