Turn 13, second half: the tragedy of the Zaymoyskis
Jim: Welcome back, good fans! So how's the situation in Europe?
Bob: Hektor I still rules the dual kingdom of Germany-France, enlarged by the annexation of Bosnia. Spain and Great Britain are still fighting the War of Spanish Reconquest of Grao Para. After 24 year, still there is no end in sight for this pointless and devastating war. Due to the war, Ireland has declared independence.
Jim: Why Great Britain instead does not go for the Indian nations is anyone's guess. Also, somehow, the province of Metz has been wrestled from Lotharingen, however without Germany having a core on it.
Bob: In further domestic news, Germany's army has grown even more, counting 311 regiments. Luckily, only 87 cavalry regiments this time. Still, Germany is 'only' able to support 287 regiments, making army maintenance quite high, 1200 ducats per year at full spending.
Jim: I see the contestants do not reduce the army this time, probably to keep the French throne secure. As their first move, they introduce Hektor's heir, Albrecht, to the public. As their second move, Aachen is invaded to unite it with Germany.
Bob: Brabant and Luxemburg have the funny idea that they can help Aachen against Germany. In two months the level 3 fort of Aachen is conquered and Aachen annexed. Its pitiful trade centre, in which for 182 ducats per year is traded, is demolished. Soon after Aachen's allies concede defeat, thereby regaining Germany's lost prestige due to removing the trade centre.
Jim: I see trouble is brewsing in the east.
Bob: What's the matter?
Jim: Poland's royal family, which is from the same dynasty as Germany's, has an astounding low legitimacy of 0%. Add to that its inflation of 49%, the highest in the world, and Hektor has an easy case convincing the European monarch that he is much more suited to lead Poland than its incompetent nephews.
Bob: You're right! In April 1650, a unification war is declared on Poland. Its allies, Spain, Hungary, Bohemia and Novgorod all dishonour the call to arms. France however, does not.
Jim: Ironically, as one great war begins, another ends. The war between Spain and Great Britain finally ends, with Spain paying 500 ducats to Great Britain.
Bob: While Poland's economy is about six times smaller than Germany's, it can still raise an impressive 100 regiments.
Jim: Indeed quite an achievement. However, it helps them little. As Poland's armies are in the east for the latest Persian war, German forces can assault Polish fortresses without encountering enemy forces. Only in September do the first battles take place.
Bob: After a year, a lot of Poland has been conquered and half the Polish army demolished. However, this comes at a price, as Germany's war exhaustion has risen by 8 points. This quick exhaustion is probably due to the many assaults and considerable attrition the German army faces.
Jim: In the end, it does not save the Polish king. In October 1651, Poland has been beaten raw and surrenders, agreeing to become a subject of Germany.
Jim: Hektor is now king of Germany, France and Poland, ruling most of continental Europe.
Bob: To commemorate this, a Glorious Monument is build in Berlin.
Jim: Mmm. It seems Hektor wants another throne for himself. A claim has been forged on Montenegro, although after some failed attempts that increases Germany's infamy.
Bob: Let me guess, a declaration of war and Montenegro becomes Germany's subject?
Jim: Ding ding ding, we have a winner. In April 1652, Montenegro becomes the third Union partner of Germany. To help clean up his international reputation, he orders the construction of an Embassy is build in Hum, next to Milan's capital. With only 0.60 magistrates per year, construction in the German kingdom is very limited.
Bob: An interesting little newsflash: in October 1652, Japan lays claim on Xia's throne. Hopefully that will lead to good things for Japan!
Jim: Sadly, things go badly for Hektor.
Jim: This shows that even a king of four kingdoms, mightiest monarch of Europe, can fall prey to the tragedies of life. Albrecht's younger brother Albrecht becomes the next heir.
Bob: Poor Hektor. However, you have to admit he isn't good with name, do you?
Jim: Ssh. Wait, what? Oh no, not this...
Jim: Eight years old Albrecht also dies, leaving Hektor now without heir.
Bob: Well, perhaps this will cheer him up. In 1656 Government tech 30 reached, which means two things. A new Idea can be adopted and due to a new national consciousness fostered by this new technology, a new Casus Belli type is now available: nationalism.
Bob: Also, the king appoints a Cabinet, greatly helping with international diplomacy.
Jim: Looks like Hektor is going to drown his sorrows in war. The contestants urge him to declare a war of Nationalism on Brabant, which the grief-strucken king does.
Bob: The contestants really want to speed things up, as they use the current instable state of mind of Hektor to convince him to declare another war of Nationalism a month later, on Pommerania.
Jim: This does not go well with the merchant elite. They complain and they get their wishes, making Germany become more Plutocratic.
Bob: Meanwhile, Warmia is taken from Pommerania in the name of German cultural unification.
Jim: Tragically, Hektor can't enjoy the fruits of victory, as in January 1657, Hektor I dies.
Bob: A great king, to say the least. The contestants will not be happy with this.
Jim: There are enough reasons for them to not be, Bob. The king died without any heirs left.The Zamoyski dynasty finds it end here, after ruling Bavaria and then Germany for 140 years. The highly influential German duke, Friedrich IV von Zweibrücken is chosen to be the new king.
Bob: Adding insult to injury, neither France, Poland nor Montenegro were inherited.
Jim: Guess Japan got lucky once again. To get back to the action, in July 1657 Brabant cedes Brabant and Breda to Germany. Breda's tiny trade centre is dismantled as per procedure.
Bob: To finish the wave of nationalism wars, a war of Nationalism is declared on Friesland. A month later it's annexed. Only Brabant and Pommerania remain in the German culture group.
Jim: I've seen the contestants eyeing Great Britain for a while now.
Bob: Can't blame them. They have Slesvig, a Danish province on which Germany has somehow gotten a core. Also, while the British have ended the foolish war with Spain, they are now in an equally pointless war with Napels for most of the decade now. British war weariness is at its max of 18 points.
Jim: I see. Perhaps that's explains why the contestants declared war on them.
Bob: Bold move.
Jim: Well, the British have no allies, are exhausted, have only around 100 regiments...
Bob: That's incorrect, the Iroquois are their allies.
Jim: Right, so they have one ally, who dishonours their call to arms, happy now?
Bob: Okay, okay.
Jim: Moving on, Germany had its entire fleet with 38 regiments stationed before the English coast when war was declared. Quickly, the invasion force is landed in Kent before the Royal Navy can intercept it.
Bob: Lucky bastards.
Jim: With such a large force on the British isles, the conclusion of the war is foreclosed. In just three months most of England is conquered and about 40 British regiments destroyed. In February 1659, Great Britain surrenders, ceding Norfolk, Wessex and Slesvig and releasing Norway.
Bob: A poweful blow to an important rival of Germany. Its Infamy is now 22 out of 25, a bit dangerous. Luckily, infamy reduction is about 2 points per year.
Jim: With that, the end ends peacefully. An exciting turn to say the least.
Bob: Indeed. Both Japan and Germany expanded quite a lot, Japan gaining four provinces and Germany a whopping seven. Both nations also gained two subject nations into a Personal Union.
Jim: Indeed. The map of Europe has been quite redrawn by Germany, take a look:
Bob: Can't say it's a pretty map. The only nation with decent borders is Ireland.
Jim: Function over form, Bob. Well people, hope you enjoyed this, until next time!