Charge!!!
Chapter 5
The turbulent and stormy night
With Stanislaws unfortunate and premature passing Poland is once again ruled by a council of senior nobles. These men are to lead Poland during some of her hardest times in history.
The newly intergrated duchy of Moldavia is not to happy with their new overlord and they stage a revolt with the intent of gaining independence. The revolt is handily put down by the Polish army.
Ever the Horde
In this period where Poland stands on the brink of collapse the Eastern threat once again apears. The Golden Horde, always hungry for new land to burn and pillage crosses into former Moldavia. However help comes from a most unexpected place. The most serene republic of Venice contribute parts of thier vast treassuries to Polands defence.
( Authors note: This war was such a mess of ping ponging that if I were to show you all the Screenshots it would require 5 posts so I will only show the decicive ones.)
The long war with the Horde has now resulted in Poland being able to comission some of the best Generals in the known world. Such as Bartlomiej Sahajdaemy. He gives Poland a clear victory in Bessarabia
However as always fighting in the eastern plains is a logistical nightmare and the Regency Council decides that all battles are to be fought on Polish land. Mostly in Moldavia. Here are some of the many, many battles fought
The varied result of the battles forces the regency council to enact a military reform. Up until now Polands infantry has consisted of mostly armed peasants. Commonly armed with the Bardiche (A polearm with a big axe blade at the end of it) and with little to no military training. This now changes as a strict code of dicipline is introduced among he infantry formations.
The war would continue with no real battles until the horde assembeled its largest force yet and marched on Moldavia.
The result of this battle would give Poland only a few years of peace. But it cemented Bartlomiejs reputation as a briliant leader.
This battle Shocks the horde to the degree that they are willing to accept a Polish offering of peace. (Poland concedes defeat)
The claims and why we cant pursue them
With some time to rest and recouperate The regency council manages to pruduce claims to several provinces held by their neighbours. Among these claims are one that sparks a desire in both the regency council and Henryks eyes. Danzig, a city with a port in the Baltic sea. If in Polish hands it would help both trade and military matters. If control can be established in the baltic sea its riches will fill Polands coffers.
Plans are drawn up for an offensive against the Teutonic Order, while the Pope may look unkindly on Poland for such an act it does not bother the council.
However before any official declaration of war can be made Henryk must be crowned king. 2 Years to plan an offensive, 2 years to strenghten our forces.
But it was not to be. once again the Hordes are hungry for blood and gold.
Once again La Serenissima provides financial support. In return the regency council offers to guarantee Venices independence in case of future wars.
As Polish forces once again march South to face the hordes Prince henryk is officially crowned "King of Poland and Lithuania". His 11 year old brother Aleksander becomes the legal heir.