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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.

 
That horde is very annoying, do you plan on expanding into them?

No, it makes for really weird borders, and I hate untidy borders

Holding the line against the Horde...I'm sure the western Europeans thank you

They better, I forgot to mention it in the latest update but England also gave war subsidiaries.
So England and Venice are pepole I like now.


How did you bring back Lithuania into a PU?

Restoration of union CB. It lasts for 10 years
 
Charge!!!

Chapter 6

The Bulwark of Christianity

As the Horde once again surges forward into Moldavia they are turned back almost emideatly by determined Polish soldiers (I lost the screenshot for this first battle) however the attampted Polish counterattack is in turn also beaten back by equally determined soldiers of the Horde


However the Horde is unable to capitalise on their advantage and when they finnaly attack the Polish army is prepared. Seeing Polands struggle the mighty Kingdom of France sees fit to send aid, rivers of gold pour into Poland to support the war effort.



In the Spring the Horde returns in a renewed offensive, the Polish army is now however bolstered with soldiers paid for with French gold. The horde once again fails to break the Polish line.



This victory opens the road for a massive offensive into Horde territory, joined by many of the Lithuanian breakaway states christian armies lay waste to the Hordes villages and cities, Revenge is sweet. For once it is the Horde who has to concede defeat to the Polish crown. With this peace all of Christendom stands in awe of Poland. However England is the first to act, an offer of alliance comes from London and seeing no disadvantage to being allied with the worlds largest navy Henryk agrees.



Gazing towards the Northern sea

With the peace achieved King Henryk can finnaly devote his attention to the conquest of Danzig. 2 years after the peace his armies are ready and a declaration of war is made towards the Teutonic knights. The war is a quick affair and the Teutonic army crumbles after only one battle.



A peace is quckly achived where the Order cedes the Port city of Danzig and its surrounding areas to the Polish crowns. No protests are heard from the other courts of Europe.

The Defiant One

In September 1443 the Kalmar union is disbanded as Sweden elects its own king. The Danish king is ofcouse not happy about this and he declares war upon Sweden. Sweden has however managed to procure the aid of England and a request arrives from London for Polish aid with the small german duchy of Pommerania who sides with Denmark. Henryk agrees. The army stationed in Danzig prepares to march West


To be continued.
 
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My birthday must have come early unbeknownst to me ! Another Poland AAR as a present. Thank you...
Now, I hope you manage to push back your Western border to the Odra, where it used to be at the time of Mieszko the first. Pommerania, then the upstart Brandenburgers' two provinces, and Silesia... (in any order).
Go Poland
 
awsome! glad yo see that you finally defeated the golden horde! now crush those pommerian eaklings, and hopefully the danish to :D

I assume you mean Weaklings, Yeah they have like 6000 men or something like that. I do however believe that the Horde will be back

My birthday must have come early unbeknownst to me ! Another Poland AAR as a present. Thank you...
Now, I hope you manage to push back your Western border to the Odra, where it used to be at the time of Mieszko the first. Pommerania, then the upstart Brandenburgers' two provinces, and Silesia... (in any order).
Go Poland

Glad you enjoy it. Hinterpommern can unfortunatley not be taken as peace between to minor alliance members are not possible. Mazovia will be the next target after this war, then Ukraine and Polotsk, Then finnaly Silesia. But who knows, the game likes to mess up my perfectly laid plans

How many regiments is your army currently fielding.

Armia z Krakow: 8 Regiments, 8000 men
Armia z Danzig: 9 Regiments, 9000 men
8+9=17 Regiments
 
Charge!!!

Chapter 7

Answering the call

The Danish attempt to restore the Kalmar Union would be an unmitigated disaster for the Danish alliance network with the small german states. Most historians agree that the war was over before it even began. The pressence of the Royal navy in the Baltic and Polish armies easily overpowering the minor german states guaranteed Swedens independence from Denmark from the get go.

The first target of the Polish forces was Pommerania. Polish troops led by king Henryk entered Hinterpommern from Danzig in early October 1443 and easily overpowered and captured the 3000 Pommeranian defenders.


However the end of 1443 would also bring sad news. In December Henryk is told by a messenger from Krakow that Aleksander has unfortunatley died as a result of a severe fever. Henryk sends the messenger back to Krakow with orders that a magnificent church is to be built and Aleksanders body buried in its mausoleum.



In February 1444 Pommerania is ferced to peace by England. Pommerania is to renounce all treaties with its allies and pay indemnities. Denmark itself manages to hold out for almost a year but is ultimatley forced to yield to English demands.






Yet again the wolves are at our doors

With no foreign threats in sight the polish nobility calls out for the king to "remind the knights of their duty" Henryk begins preparations for another invasion but is unfortunatley forced to turn his forces south again as the horde is once agains eying former Moldavia with hunger and bloodlust.



With Ukraine already putting up stiff resistance Henryk decides to add to the preassure by comitting his army to the Ukrainian front. In comand of the Polish forces is Aleksander Karol Jablonowski a very competent but arrogant man. He manages to drive the horde from Kharkov and pursues them al the way to Cherson where he captures and executes the entire force.





Aleksander now turns his forces north to Poltava and there he facesthe horde in one of the bloodiest battles yet. Aleksanders arrogance leads him to make several tactical blunders and as a result almost half the Polish army perish.



In 1449 tragedy strikes, King Henryk dies in Krakow Castle without an heir, howver a prominent noble named Jan rises to the throne, he has the support of Polish and Lithuanian nobles but the rest of Europe sees him as false and unlegitimate (Kings legitimacy only 20)


Aleksander once again pursues the horde to Cherson where he repeats his former victory and once again puts all prisoners to the sword. No mercy will be shown as Aleksander now looks to march east and join the other christian armies deep in horde territory.




To be continued.
 
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Charge!!!

Chapter 8

The blood we shed is a sacrifice willingly payed

With several other christian states already attacking them the horde was already buckling under the preassure. When Poland adds her strenght to the alliance the Horde crumbles. A single battle is all it takes to make the horde concede defeat again.




This Quick peace allows King Jan to focus on enemies closer to home. The kingdom of Hungary is in possesion of the province of Ersekujvar which is rightfully a Polish territory. The Declaration of war arrives in the Hungarian court on the 11th of January 1452. King Jan is extatic to hear that the Duchy of Mazovia has also joined the war on Hungarys side.


Aleksander marches North into Podlasie and routs the mazovian army who retreats West to Warsaw. Aleksander pursues and is able to force the mazovian army to surrender, Warsaw is completely at Aleksanders mercy.



In the end of 1452 Hungary attempts a desperate counterattack towards Lublin. King Jan himself takes comand of the Polish army and stops the hungarians dead in their tracks. The Hungarians flee towards Plock but jan catches up and forces the entire armys surrender.



With their armies beaten and cities under siege both hungary and mazovia accept peace treties with Poland. Hungary cedes the disputed province while Mazovia pays the ultimate price.





The Aleksander

With peace on all its borders Poland can finally breathe. King jan orders that Danzig is to be turned into the permanent base for the future Polish navy. Proper docks are built and ship production can soon start.


During construction of the Danzig docks General Aleksander dies of natural causes. He is given a heroes funeral and king Jan christens Polands first warship "The Aleksander"

Reminding the order
The preassure on king Jan to make the knights into Polands subjects increases to the point where outright war is declared. With Poland, Austria and Lithuania on one side and The Order, Brandenburg and The Hansa on the other. England is uninterested and breaks her alliance with Poland.



This war would later come to involve the Duchy of Burgundy on the defensive side and one of the most controversial peace deals in history.

The Vassalization of the Order went rather smoothly



With Burgundy continuing its war against Poland king jan decides to sell out his ally and gives Sundgau to Burgundy without conulting the Austrian Archduke.



With this peace concluded jan once again turns his attention to Polands navy, or so he was hoping. The Horde once again crosses into former Moldavia. All Polish troops once again begin a slow exhausted march to the South.



To be continued