"Ich bin ein Berliner": The Brandenburger AAR

**Commandante** · 12-11-2002 19:29

INTRODUCTION

The temptation to write an AAR of my own was too big to handle, so here it is, my first shot in this forum! The goals of this Grand Campaign is:

1.To “unite” (i.e. conquer) as much of the German provinces as possible.
2.To transform into Prussia.
3.Whatever my warmongering heart desires.

Since I’m still sort of a newbie, I’ll play at Normal/Normal difficulty setting. I’ll try, if I figure out how, to post some of my screen shots to illustrate the progress.

EDIT: Screenies posted.

EDIT 2: Since my historical knowledge of Brandenburg (Germany) is somewhat limited, don't expect this AAR to be historical.

**Commandante** · 12-11-2002 19:31

PROLOGUE, January 1419

It was a cold winter night. The royal castle of Brandenburg was silent and all nobles were fast asleep. The sound of rapid footsteps emanating from the kings chambers, echoed through the quiet corridors, which meant that at least his Majesty wasn’t asleep. The chambers of king Friedrich were gloomy, only sparesly lit by a few candelabras. He was impatiently walking back and forward in front of a window facing the royal gardens, the moon bringing out the crude lines of his face, making his aggressive grin even more intimidating. Friedrich stepped forward to the map of Europe, which lay on his gracely decorated oak desk, and pointed to his lands. “This is disgraceful, our nation was made for greater deeds”, the king shouted, “the puny lands of Brandenburg are the laughing stock of Europe’s grand courts! It cannot be that the glorious history of the Hohenzollers ends here!” “So what do you propose we do, your Majesty?” came a hissing voice from across the room “You are of course aware of our precarious political situation?”. It was clear that Friedrich was not alone. A long, stocky man with sort of a slumping posture emerged from the shadows in the far side of the room. “Alas, my dear von Augustin, the situation is all to clear to me, but we shall try to do our best with it. Come over here, and we’ll review the situation together.”

Brandenburg as seen by Erich von Augustin and Friedrich in January 1419.

The king and his advisor, Erich von Augustin, bent over the large map and tried to summerise the political state of Brandenburg’s neighbours. In the north, an alliance consisting of Mecklemburg, Holstein, Bremen, Pommern, Prussia and the Teutonic Order streched the entire southern coastline of the Baltic Sea. Further northward the huge Kalmar Union had forged Denmark, Norway and Sweden in an alliance that dominated the northern part of the Baltic. In the south, an alliance of Bohemia, Austria, Hungary, Sibenbürgen and Luxembourgh were in alliance, and further to the east, the nations of Poland and Lithuania dominated east-central Europe. In the west lay Magdeburg, our loyal vassal and a number of squabbling German minors.

“What do you make of all this, your Majesty?” von Augustin asked, “One small error and we’re doomed!”. “All is not lost, my dear von Augustin.” the king said “In your opinion, what is our biggest shortcoming?” “Our lack of ducats, milord!” von Augistin cried. “Then what feasible target in our vicinty would be the most suited cure for this shortcoming?” the king inquired. “Well... I... target...” stuttered von Augustin “I wouldn’t know...” a pearl of sweat formed on his forhead. “The city of Lübeck!” Friedrich cried triumphantly. “Mecklenburg, your Majesty?” von Augustin was getting ill at ease “But your Majesty, they’re leaders of the alliance that...” “Silence! That is why we will join the league of Denmark, Norway and Sweden! Denmark has always had a keen eye on it’s southern neighbour, Holstein, and will surely attack it. Under the cover of Denmark, Norway and Sweden we’ll sneak in and grab our prize: Mecklenburg.” “It’s a bold plan, your Majesty” von Augustin said, with a faked smile on his face. “Bold... and ingenious” the king replied “Let us get to it, we have a lot to do.”

**Storey** · 12-11-2002 19:35

Good luck! Brandenburg is one of the more fun countries to play since almost anything can happen.

Joe

**Stroph1** · 12-11-2002 21:20

Yummy! A German minor. Stroph settles in to enjoy the ride!

**Syt** · 12-11-2002 21:56

Originally posted by Stroph1
Yummy! A German minor. Stroph settles in to enjoy the ride!

Indeed German minors are among the most fun nations to play.

Go, Brandenburg, go!!

**Commandante** · 12-11-2002 23:44

Ehhh... Sytass, how do you insert pictures into the thread? I know that you know, since I've read your marvellous Castile AAR.

**shawng1** · 13-11-2002 01:29

Ahh, those thrilling days of yesteryear. Always a good trip down memory lane to see someone take up the task of Brandenburg again.

**Gaijin de Moscu** · 13-11-2002 02:51

Hmm, I never did a German minor... so subscribing to your story.

I like the suspense in the beginning

**Judas Maccabeus** · 13-11-2002 03:34

Inserting pictures into a thread:

Use [img] {url of picture here} [/img] NOTE: No spaces.

For example, this:

without spaces becomes this:

**Commandante** · 13-11-2002 14:52

So there is no way of doing this without having a website to link the picture to?

**juszuf7** · 13-11-2002 15:39

[COMMERCIAL BREAK]
Yeah, but having a website isn't much of a problem. I have a site at www.icarusindie.com and that's where I put all my pictures, and you get 50 Mbs all free of charge! I guess the owner is some guy who likes to give charity

[/COMMERCIAL BREAK]

Nice AAR btw. I hope to see some looong wars, in which you diminish the power of Austria/Poland/France/anyone else

**Underground** · 14-11-2002 09:52

Forget the screenies and get on with your story; one we can do without but the other we cant

**nuffy** · 14-11-2002 11:12

But you can't have the story without screenies

Strapping in for the ride...

**Gjerg Kastrioti** · 14-11-2002 12:21

Just a quick observation- the title is US president Kennedy's famous misquote. "Ich bein ein Berliner" means "I am a donut" (a berliner bun). The correct phrase if "Ich bein Berliner".

**Commandante** · 14-11-2002 18:30

Originally posted by Gjerg Kastrioti
Just a quick observation- the title is US president Kennedy's famous misquote. "Ich bein ein Berliner" means "I am a donut" (a berliner bun). The correct phrase if "Ich bein Berliner".

Just a message from the language police before the next part of my story :

"While the proper way for a Berlin native to say 'I am a Berliner' is 'Ich bin Berliner,' the proper way for a non-native to make the same statement metaphorically is exactly what Kennedy said: 'Ich bin ein Berliner.' In spite of the fact that it's also the correct way to say 'I am a jelly doughnut,' no adult German speaker could possibly have misunderstood Kennedy's meaning in context."

Quote from http://www.urbanlegends.about.com/li.../aa021700b.htm

**Commandante** · 14-11-2002 18:32

Fresh new installment!

**Commandante** · 14-11-2002 18:34

The early years, 1419-1452

His royal Majesty Friedrich’s stratagem was immediately employed. After intensive diplomatic efforts, Brandenburg joined the Scandinavian alliance in the fall of 1419. At the same time however, our previously loyal vassals of Magdeburg broke their vassalage, a move which caused the king much grief, since had thought he could trust our western neighbours to rule themselves. Friedrich did not hesitate for long though, as he personally rode into the barracks of Berlin and held a speech which spurred the soldiers to great feats of valour, when they charged across the border of Magdeburg in the winter of 1419. In order to avoid more treacherous side-stepping in the future, Magdeburg was duly annexed and their ruling nobles executed.

In order to secure the position of Brandenburg, Friedrich arranged a number of royal marriages with powerful neighbours, his three daughters were wed with the princes of Denmark, Austria and Bohemia. When Sweden later cancelled its vassalage with Denmark, Friedrich arranged a royal marriage with the Swedes, thereby making his fourth daughter depart for Stockholm.

The 1420s were indeed joyous and prosperous times, when peace reigned throughout his Majesty’s lands. Friedrich tightened his fiscal grip on the population by appointing tax collectors in the countryside to strengthen the Crown’s finances. He reassured the aggravated peasants by promising them just reforms in the future. During the next two decades, the king started a long-term reform of the privileges and powers of the nobility and clergy, lessening them to the benefit of the people. The then prevalent practice among nobles to punish mulish serfs by the sword, were forbidden in favour of the more humane practice of public flogging. These enlightened reforms were honoured and continued by Friedrich’s son, Friedrich II, who became king in 1440. These policy changes had a positive effect on the morale of the Brandenburger army and through the coming victories in the battlefield, it did truly show that Friedrich was a king before his time and obviously knew when and how to show generosity for his unders.

In 1431, Sweden declared war against Novgorod for the second time. Since neither Friedrich nor the king of Denmark, Erik VII, wanted to engage in such distant theatres of war, they both withdrew from the alliance in a concerted move and formed a new alliance together. Only a few months later, when a trade dispute between Brandenburg and Saxony escalated, Friedrich saw the opportunity to strike at a weak neighbour. Saxony’s only ally was Hannover, which did not in any way stop the king from declaring war in the spring of 1432.

Friedrich kept the entire Brandenburger army, consisting of 33.000 men, waiting outside Berlin trying to force his opponents to make the first move. In only a few days a messenger brought the king good tidings. The army of Hannover had chosen to remain in their barracks while their allies, Saxony, had crossed the border of Brandenburg. Although Friedrich’s army was greater in numbers, he was defeated and forced to retreat across the river Elbe into Magdeburg province, where fortunately his trusty advisor, Erich von Augustin, was waiting with 6.000 cavalry reservists. Together they raced back across the river and soundly smashed the Saxon army between a wall of spears and the city walls of Berlin. The king was quick in exploiting this situation, as he sent the cut-off head of the Saxon commander together with a peace offer at full gallop to Hannover. Friedrich devided his army in twain, one part led by von Augustin sieged Anhalt and the other led by himself surrounded Dresden in the province of Saxony. As the walls of Dresden crumbled the king got news from von Augustin that Anhalt had fallen and that a white peace had been signed with Hannover. A few months later, in the winter of 1432, Friedrich rode into Dresden with his army.

The Treaty of Dresden forced the Saxons to cede Anhalt and become a vassal of Brandenburg. Upon hearing these news, Erik VII, the king of Denmark, asked Friedrich if Brandenburg wanted to become a vassal of Denmark, but of course his Majesty declined, much frustrated by his ally’s insolence. The alliance held together though, mostly because Friedrich still had his original plan of attacking Mecklenburg in mind, a war in which Denmark’s participation would be crucial.

In 1437, the alliance of Mecklenburg, Holstein, Bremen, Pommern, Prussia and the Teutonic Order clashed with the mighty alliance of Poland, Lithuania, Bohemia and Hungary. This was the chance Friedrich had been waiting for. As he got news of the armies of Mecklenburg’s allies leaving for battles in the east, new soldiers were raised to bolster the army of Brandenburg. With Bremen, Mecklenburg and Pommern left defenceless, his Majesty declared war and sieged Bremen and Mecklenburg. Although Denmark had joined its ally in the war, they were defeated in Holstein and made peace after but a few months. This left Brandenburg alone against Mecklenburg and its allies. Fortunately, the only counter-attacks were made by the tattered remnants of armies returning from the war in the east, which meant that Bremen and Mecklenburg fell almost without any shed of Brandenburger blood. Not long afterwards, the Teutonic Order and Prussia asked for a white peace and Holstein were bought out of the war with a few ducats. Bremen were forced to become vassals in February 1439, which made it possible for his Majesty to lay siege to the two provinces of Pommern.

Unfortunately, Friedrich would never live to see the day when Mecklenburg was incorporated into Brandenburg, all according to the plans that he and von Augustin had made two decades yearlier. He died in 1440 and his son, Friedrich II, claimed the throne. Vorpommern fell after but a few months, but the defenders of Hinterpommern proved themselves to be made of sturdier stuff, as they successfully managed to hold out for three whole years before surrendering to his Majesty in 1442. In the Treaty of Lübeck, which was signed but a few weeks afterwards, Mecklenburg was forced to give up its independence and surrender before the crown of Brandenburg. Vorpommern was incorporated into Friedrich II’s kingdom and Pommern became vassals. This war grossly impressed the king of Hannover, which was easily convinced to enter the alliance of Brandenburg and Denmark in 1443. Two years later, a royal marriage was arranged with Hannover and they decided to became loyal vassals of Brandenburg. Friedrich I’s loyal advisor, Erich von Augustin, outlived his king and led the negotiations in Lübeck. He later withdrew from all official duties and settled down in his large estates in Küstrin where he lived the remaining few years of his life in tranquility.

The 1440s were yet to witness its largest international conflict, later to be known as “The Race for Pskow”. In 1445, no more than eleven countries were in a state of war with the two-province state of Pskow. Brandenburg was pulled into this war by its Danish allies, but Friedrich II managed to get a white peace with Pskow in 1447, without a so much as a shot being fired between the two countries.

His Majesty's bold pincer move at Münster in 1451.

Although “The Race for Pskow” might have been the largest international event in the end of the 1440s, it was a petty gang of conservative nobles that would mark the turn of the decade for Brandenburg. In a desperate attempt to retain their old privileges and stop his Majesty’s continued reforms, this gang had conspired with the king of Oldenburg to make his alliance with Hessen, Münster, Friesland and Sweden attack Brandenburg. After having the guilty nobles executed and their families evicted from their estates, his Majesty sent Oldenburg a declaration of war and his armies marched into Hessen and Oldenburg. The coward rulers of Friesland dishonoured their alliance and the Danes dealt with Sweden, which left Brandenburg and Hannover to battle the remnants of the alliance. Hessen and Oldenburg fell after but a few months and then, in a bold pincer move, the Brandenburger army crushed whatever armed forces Münster had mustered on the battlefield. The following peace negotiations were short, since his Majesty had all those that had conspired with the Brandenburger nobles slain and their trembling successors had nothing to do but to accept his demands. In the year of 1452, Oldenburg, Hessen and Münster became vassals of Brandenburg and ceded whatever ducats they had left. This meant that in thirty years, Brandenburg had doubled its size and gained seven vassal states, a glorious success indeed, but one which could never have been done without the foundation laid by Friedrich I’s wise rule. The people of Brandenburg rejoiced and honoured his memory. There were whispers in the streets of Berlin that if these feats had been possible in but thirty years, what could then lie ahead, in the thirty, forty or fifty years to come?

Brandenburg and her vassals in 1452.

**Underground** · 15-11-2002 00:35

...take Mecklenburg will you?

good job
keep going

**nuffy** · 15-11-2002 05:44

Good work, you've turned into the powerhouse of Northen Germany.

**Stroph1** · 15-11-2002 14:33

Nice start.

What is next?

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