A Poland ARR
Introduction
In 1399 the nation of Poland is mostly reunited after being split between the sons of a former king. Only the duchy of Mazovia is still independent. The current king Wladyslaw II is also the ruler of the grand duchy of Lithuania. Lithuania provides much needed strategic depht against the muslim hordes in the east. To the South east lies the duchy of Moldavia, a vassal of Poland who provides Poland with limited access to the black sea.
Despite its recent unification Poland remains a heavily decentralized state where the noblility still holds much power and influene over matters of state. This however is a blessing in disguise as content nobles are more willing to contribute there personal armed forces to the defence against the ever persistent hordes.
Being a nation bordering the ever advancing hordes Poland has been forced to be rather innovative in finding ways to survive and the current king is very interested in taking further steps in this direction (Slider moved towards innovative, We look weak)
Sliders 1399
Poland despite its apperent weekness features some very competent generals including king Wladyslaw himself.
Speaking of military matters, in 1399 Poland and its subjects finds themselves in open war with the Golden horde, decendants of Djingis Khan and unparralelled horsemen. While they do not outnumber the Polish alliance they are more then capable of outfighting them.
To secure his borders while fending of the hordes King Wladyslaw sends emissaries with offers of alliances to the kingdom of Hungary, The Archduchy of Austria, The Teutonic knights and the Principallity of Muscowy. He also proposes marrige between his daughter princess Ania and the duke of Mazovia.
These treaties provide Poland with safety in the west and allows it to focus completely on the eastern hordes.
The King enslists the services of three prominent nobles to run the Nations in his absense. They are to keep Polands economy stable, make advances in landbased warfare and keep the nation together in this hard times.
On Saturday the 15th of October 1399 King Wladyslaw II leaves his castle in Krakow with 15000 men and sets course towards the lithuanian province of Podolia where scouts report horde movement. The War has begun.
What grim fate awaits the Polish men on the Eastern plains.
Find out next time.