The Iron Cross Triumphant: A Teutonic Order AAR

Thanks! Glad you're enjoying it! Forming Germany is one of my main goals, and the way things are going I'm definitely going to achieve it, probably around 1600.


Also, for your viewing pleasure the previous update has been edited to include a religious map showing Muslim Rome!

The Iron Cross Triumphant
​

St. Albrecht II the Great 1498 – 1519


Among the final Hochmesiters of the Teutonic Order none are as revered or as well known as Albrecht II, who is undoubtedly one of greatest leaders the Teutonic Order has ever known. While some modern historians argue that his accomplishments were due more to the hard work of his predecessors than his personal brilliance, the historical records clearly indicate that this was not the case. While Albrecht did inherit a state stronger than ever before, his enemies were also stronger and more numerous than ever. A thorough examination of the great struggles he encountered shows that his stunning victories were not at all inevitable. A lesser, more timid ruler would have faltered where he boldly pressed ahead to some of the Order’s greatest triumphs.

Albrecht II was born in Konigsberg and was the closest legitimate relative of both Albrecht I (his mother’s uncle) and Walter I (his father’s great-uncle). With this impeccable lineage, powerful family connections, and natural aptitude in military, diplomatic, and administrative matters he rose swiftly in the ranks of the Order. After the passing of Clemens August he gained the votes needed to be elected Hochmeister in 1499. Like his predecessors, he had two simple goals for the Ordenstadt; expand its influence amongst the German states at the expense of the Holy Roman Empire and push back the Muslims.


Albrecht II and his closest advisors


The First Decade

Albrecht II’s first decade of rule was rather typical for the Teutonic Order, but even then he was preparing the groundwork for his future conquests. After three years of peace he began his first war against the Emperor over the excommunicated duke of Frankfurt. Austria was joined by Styria and England but was battered by a recent war with the French. Brandenburg remained neutral as they had recently left their long personal union under England. With clear land and naval superiority, the war only lasted a year with excellent results. Frankfurt and Ostmarch were annexed, Styria vassalized, and England forced to abandon all claim to Whales (released in the previous Teutonic-English war).

The following years were mostly quiet for the order, besides the occasional revolt in the Eastern provinces. Hesse was diplomatically annexed into the Ordenstadt, and zealous missionaries finally quelled the last remnants of Islam in the former Ottoman Lands. In 1504 Albrecht II laid claim to the Venetian province of Budjak, for its strategic position between Crimea and Constantinople. A quick, relatively bloodless war forced Venice to cede Budjak, ending their presence in the Black Sea. Later in 1505 Albrecht declared war against Augsberg which refused to recognize his authority. This time, the Emperor refrained from intervening, leaving Augsberg defended by only Brandenburg and Switzerland. Victory in Augsberg and Brandenburg was swift and decisive, but the Swiss ran a brilliant defensive campaign in the Alps and badly mauled two Teutonic armies. Seeing little point in further conflict, Albrecht made a white peace with the Swiss, but forced Augsberg and more importantly Brandenburg to become Teutonic vassals. At long last, the irritating hole in the center of the Ordenstadt was filled and Northern Germany completely united under the Iron Cross.

Albrecht’s most prominent and lasting diplomatic contribution was the signing of an alliance with Castile. Teutonic-Castilian relations had been warm since their cooperation during the Great Crusade against the Ottomans, and the two leaders felt that a formal alliance would aid them both in future crusades and against the increasingly belligerent France. Unlike many alliances of that period the Spanish-Teutonic alliance would last for generations and dramatically shape future Teutonic policy. Immediately after the alliance was signed, the nations embarked on a joint crusade against the reborn Muslim Byzantine Empire which had claimed much of Greece during their rebellion against the Ottomans. The Byzantines had no defense against the two giants, and quickly ceded Adrianople to the Ordenstadt and Achaea and Athens to the Spanish.


Unchecked French expansion was a concern to both Castile and the Order


Gameplay Notes:

• After 50 FREAKING YEARS Brandenburg is finally out of its PU with England. I snapped them up ASAP. We haven’t seen the last of the English and their PU’s though…
• Castile makes a great ally. Their border with France and powerful navy will be very useful in the long term. I don’t mind them poking around into Africa and Greece, they’re welcome to those basket cases.

The Beginning of the End

For a hundred years, the Holy Roman Empire as an institution had been in a steady decline. A string of Teutonic expansions into Imperial lands, the fall of Rome and the subsequent Teutonic response, and the recent expansion of the French had seriously weakened the Emperor’s authority and military might. The imperial states were now looking to themselves or their stronger neighbors for protection instead of the Emperor. Internationally, the only major power that still recognized the Emperor’s “authority” was England, which was closely tied to the Austrian Emperor with treaties and marriages. The Pope was hostile to the Emperor, partly from his Teutonic background and partly from the lack of Imperial response to the Muslim occupation of Rome. Most importantly, with the vassalization of Brandenburg and Styria, all the electors save the Bishop of Cologne swore fealty to the Hochmeister. There had been many wars with the Emperor in the past, but the stage was now set such that an overwhelming Teutonic victory could determine the Empire’s very existence.


The Holy Roman Empire prior to the war. Only Cologne is independant


The Grapple

Teutonic-Imperial hostilities resumed in 1508, this time over the small state of Klon. The Emperor had spent his years of peace well and had assembled a coalition of Lorraine, Burgundy, and Bavaria to face the Order. Arrayed against them were the Order itself, Castile (which would offer only minimal support), and the legion of Teutonic vassals in Northern Germany. Not counting Castile the two factions were roughly equal in strength. With most of the empire arrayed against the Order Albrecht sensed that this would be no ordinary war. The Ordenstadt faced its greatest threat in three generations, but also had an opportunity to end its constant warfare with the empire through total victory.

At the commencement of hostilities, the Teutonic armies were badly positioned to deal with Burgundy. Only a single army of 24,000 was stationed in the North with the rest (some 70,000 men) arrayed against Austria and Bavaria. An army was immediately diverted north to deal with the Burgundians, but this left the forces arrayed against Austria without numerical superiority. Disaster struck soon after. Based on past experiences, Albrecht had assumed that the Burgundians would be easily defeated by his 40,000 men, and initial victories in Cologne over the local garrisons reinforced this attitude. He was soon proven false. Albrecht’s reinforcing army of 16,000 men was caught off guard at Limburg by an army of 20,000 Burgundians and badly defeated, losing 6,500 men. Worse yet, Walter von Wattzau’s army of 24,000 was attacked in Holland by a massive army of 40,000 Burgundians. Albrecht realized that he had woefully underestimated Burgundy’s strength, and ordered a general retreat back to the Ordenstadt and commissioned a new army of 16,000 men to be raised in the Prussian east over the winter. His army retreated with half its men intact, but von Watttzau was relentlessly hunted down and barely escaped with a mere 4,000 men to Bremen. The massive Burgundian armies settled in for the winter of 1508 in the Teutonic vassal state of Munster, and prepared to take the fight to the defenseless Ordenstadt in the spring.

The Austrian front had remained static until December 1508. The Order’s generals were unwilling to advance into the rough Austrian terrain for fear of repeating previous military disasters, while the Austrians wisely refused to advance against the Teutonic defenses. With the Burgundians advancing in the West the Emperor decided to concentrate his forces in Vienne for the winter. He believed that the Order did not have enough troops in theater to deal with his entire army of 55,000 men, and that he could smash any Teutonic incursion.

When reports of the Austrian concentration at Vienna reached General Leopold Wilhelm von Tieffen, he immediately embarked on a risky winner take all attack. Von Tieffen had only 50,000 men available and would be fighting in enemy territory in the middle of winter, but with the Western front in desperate need of reinforcements he could not let the chance to end Austrian resistance slip by. The Austrians had just settled in for the winter and were caught completely unprepared by the bold Teutonic advance. Furthermore their armies had not settled upon a unified chain of command leaving their response erratic and confused. In a climactic battle, the Austrian army was routed by von Tieffen’s forces and reduced by 17,000 men at a cost of only 9,000 of the knights. One reason given for this victory was the massed cannon used by von Tieffen, which had finally proved its worth to the Order. Shattered and poor on supplies the Austrian armies were quickly hunted down and forced to surrender. Even better, a swift assault on Vienna itself lead to the capture of the Emperor and his entire court. Von Tieffen’s gamble had paid off. Organized Austrian resistance had ended and the Order could now send its forces west to deal with the Burgundians.

By spring of 1509 the Order’s armies were ready to strike back. Albrecht II led an army on a bloody but victorious campaign into Lorraine and Burgundy proper, eventually securing the Burgundian capitol while their main armies were away. Meanwhile Von Tieffen and von Wattzau prepared to attack the massive Burgundian armies besieging Gelre and Limburg. Leading the 32,000 men from the Austrian front, von Tieffen decimated the 16,000 Burgundians at Gelre, and then headed south to support von Wattzau against the main enemy army of 35,000 at Limburg. In August 1509, von Wattzau had his revenge and shattered the Burgundian army, killing 10,000 of their men for only 5,000 of his own. Von Wattazu pursued the fleeing army to Antwerpen, where he finally annihilated them capturing the king Louis-Joseph de Roye in the process


The Fallen Eagle

The war was effectively won at this point, but Albrecht II wanted to utterly defeat the Empire. Having faced the possibility of defeat he wanted to smash the Austrians and Burgundians so completely that they could never mount a serious challenge against the Order again. For an entire year the Order’s armies laid waste to Burgundy and Austria until all of their garrisons and towns had surrendered. Then, in the spring of 1510, Albrecht called the captive Emperor Maximilian, King Louis-Joseph of Burgundy, the Pope, and the imperial electors to a meeting in Aachen to discuss terms. Once they had arrived, Albrecht’s plan was revealed. Among other relatively minor concessions, he demanded the total and perpetual disbandment of the Holy Roman Empire. All the electors were Teutonic vassals, and with his lands a family at the mercy of the Order Emperor Maximilian II was forced to comply. The Holy Roman Empire was no more.


Central Europe following the Empire's demise


Aftershocks

The Empire had been defunct and weak for so long that its ending had little immediate effect on European politics. The long term ramifications however were anything but insignificant. Without the Emperor’s guarantee the weak independent nations of Germany and Italy were now vulnerable to the larger nations of France and the Teutonic Order. Only by banding together with mutual alliances and guarantees or by courting one of the great powers could they hope to survive. The end of the Empire would hasten the centralization and consolidation of Germany.


Gameplay Notes:

• This was the hardest war I had for a long time. Burgundy caught me completely by surprise (should have checked the numbers!) and my troops were way out of position to deal with them
• The battle at Vienna was a big gamble, but it paid off big time. Even if I lost I probably would have just lured the Austrians into my lands. After a year of rebuilding I probably could have taken them and Burgundy.
• The HRE is GONE! Finally, no more perpetual wars against Austria, and I’ll never have to face the nightmare of a Burgundian emperor. This made things (such as OPM munching) much easier.

The Crusades Resume

Most men would be content with annihilating the Holy Roman Emperor, but Albrecht the Great was not one to rest on his laurels. A mere year after the dismantling of the Empire, He and the Castilians resumed their Crusade against the Muslims. However, Albrecht wanted to do more than gnaw at the remnants of the Ottoman Empire; he wanted to strike at the heart of the infidels!

Preparations had begun immediately after the treaty of Aachen was signed. Depleted Teutonic armies were sent back to the heartland to rest and recover, while those that were mostly intact marched south to Constantinople. The entire Teutonic fleet sailed to the Mediterranean in preparation for the largest naval invasion since the first crusades. Preparations were complete by November of 1511 and 50,000 fervent crusaders boarded cogs and flyuts, with Albrecht at their head. Their goal was the same as their ancestors, Jerusalem.

The time was ripe for Albrecht’s bold move. The Ottomans were near powerless, and the Mamluks, Syrians, and Persians had been warring with each other for decades. When the Order and Castilians declared war on Syria only their vassal of Karaman rose to their defense. As before, the political disunity in the Muslim world made the Hold Land vulnerable to the Christian onslaught. Albrecht personally lead the first landing at Acre, the last bastion of the Teuotnic Order which had fallen to Islam three hundred years ago. Upon breaching the walls of Acre, Albrecht is said to have shouted “Wir sind zurückgekehrt, und wird nie wieder verlassen!“ At long last, the Order was back at its birthplace.

Filled with a crusading fervor, the Teutonic armies were unstoppable as they poured across the Holy Land. The Syrians were taken completely by surprise and swiftly lost the entire mediterranean coast to the Teutonic arms and artillery. Jerusalem itself fell on Christmas day to Albrecht’s army, and the bloodstained crusaders held a post-battle Christmas mass in the Dome of the Rock. By March of 1512 Sultan Shihab ud-Din III Sa'ud had gathered his forces from the Persian and Georgian borders and marched with 30,000 men to his capital of Damascus to meet the Teutonic armies. Five months into the war the Teutonic armies were either divided into siege cohorts of 4,000 men or tired from assaults on the cities of the Holy Land. However, Albrech gathered an army of 24,000 men (6,000 cavelry, 6,000 artillery, and 12,000 infantry) and attacked Shihab ud-Din. Despite attrittion from the difficult campaign, Albrecht’s armies quickly overcame the poorly equipped Syrians killing 12,000 of them for only 2,000 losses and driving them out of Damascus. After detaching a cohort to besiege the Syrian capitol, Albrecht pursued Shihab relentlessly, finally destroying his army at Dayr Az Zor.

The war would last for a year and a half after Albrecht’s victories over Shihab due to his insistence on utterly crushing the Syrians. Despite the scorching heat, lack of supplies, and an estimated 25% attrition rate, the Teutonic armies carved a bloody swathe across the Middle East, occupying land from the Persian Gulf to the Caspian Sea with little to no local resistance. By August 1513 Shihab was forced to cede Edessa, Gaza, Antioch, Judea, and Sidon to the Order. Christendom had emerged triumphant and was avenging its earlier defeats.


The Middle East with the Hold Land reclaimed


A New Heresy

Even as the crusaders were smiting the infidels in Syria, a dangerous new movement was growing in the former imperial princedoms. In 1515, Martin Luther nailed his 95 thesis to the door of the Cathedral in Munich and the Protestant reformation began. Initially, the Reformation did not make much progress beyond its birthplace in Bavaria and Switzerland. The fall of Rome and the subsequent crusades had united Christendom against the Muslims, and there was little sympathy amongst the nobility or the peasantry for Luther’s heretical teachings. Given the limited spread of Protestantism and the effort involved in converting the Holy Land, the Church was inclined to ignore Luther and attempt to bring him back under Papal authority through diplomatic means. By the time the threat was realized, it was too late.

Although the Ordenstadt bordered the Protestant cradle, Luther’s teachings made little progress among its people for several reasons. Most of the Ordenstadt had been under the control of the monks of the Teutonic Order for generations and were far safer and more prosperous than they were under their previous rulers. While repressive by modern standards, the Church in the Ordenstadt was actually less restrictive in commercial and personal matters due to efforts by previous Hochmesiters to stimulate trade and technological progress, and to unify and placate its citizens. Furthermore, the unification of Church and State in the Ordenstadt had lead to less ecclesiastic abuse and corruption than in other parts of Europe. Ecclesiastic corruption in the Ordenstadt was effectively the same as governmental corruption, and was not tolerated by the Hochmeister. Common abuses such as the sale of indulgences and simony were far less severe in the Ordenstadt.


The initial spread of Protestantism was quite limited

Amongst the members of the Order itself, Luther’s teachings were met with scorn. His teachings against the monks and papal authority gathered little popularity amongst those who were the monks and wielded Papal authority. The only area where the monks were sympathetic was on the issue of clerical celibacy. Due to the immense demands of the Ordenstadt and the limited number of men willing to take vows of perpetual chastity, the vast majority of the lower ranks of the administrators and Ritterbruders were composed of “lay brothers” who were not subject to such restrictions. However, the upper echelons of the Order were entirely composed of celibate monks, not all of whom were happy with their status. But this one issue was not enough to make the Order split from Rome. The philosophies promoted by the reformation would severely weaken the Order’s temporal power and possibly unravel the fabric of the Ordenstadt itself. For these reasons the Order stayed true to the Pope and, in part from their experience converting the Muslim peoples of the Holy Land and Ottoman Empire, they kept the vast majority of the Ordenstadt firmly Catholic.


With the Pope firmly under Teutonic influence any reduction in Papal temporal power was firmly opposed by the Order


Gameplay Notes:

• Yup, I’m staying Catholic. It wouldn’t make sense to go Protestant for gameplay or historical reasons. With perpetual control over the papacy giving about -.5 infamy per year staying catholic makes conquest a lot easier and is worth more than the economic benefits of converting. Plus, I doubt that a bunch of fanatical monks who virtually control the Pope and were engaged in massive crusades would ever turn heretic. In my case, this turned out to be the right move, and you’ll see why… in future updates!
• From some cursory research the main causes of the reformation in Germany seem to be ecclesiastic corruption, lack of a central government, Church “taxes” going to Rome instead of the local area, and the restrictions of the Church on the middle class. I doubt that many of these problems would be so widespread in the Order’s theocracy, which is also quite liberal from the high free subjects slider. Luther would probably hate the Ordenstadt – the perfect melding of papal and temporal power.
• Cardinal chances are rather unbalanced. As a large nation getting ~15% papal influence I am dominating the College of Cardinals. The cardinal chance equation really needs to be revised to give everyone else a chance

Rest, Recovery, Growth, and Exploration

The years following the crusade into the holy land were unusually peaceful for the Ordenstadt. After his stupendous struggles with the empire and Islam, Albrecht wanted to give his realm time to recover and flourish. However, these peaceful years were not without major events. The neighboring kingdom of Lithuania was beset with civil war, and eventually degenerated into Lithuania and Ukraine. Meanwhile, Wurttemberg was conquered by the Order through a small show of force. In a diplomatic coup, Albrecht signed a comprehensive treaty of trade and alliance with Muscovy which assigned to Muscovy’s influence all territory East of Pskov and Crimea, to the Order Prussia, Crimea, and all territory West of Ukraine/Lithuania, guaranteed mutual non-involvement in the buffer states of Lithuania and Ukraine, gave favored status to Muscovite trade through the Baltic and Bosporus, and finally pledged perpetual friendship and mutual military assistance in times of war. The factors behind this treaty were quite simple. With the Order controlling the Baltic and the Bosporus, all Russian-European trade had to flow through the Ordenstadt. With the Hochmeister looking towards Europe and the Holy Land and the Tsar busy expanding into Siberia and Kazakhstan a mutually agreeable establishment of spheres of influence and friendly military and diplomatic relationships benefitted both nations. Most importantly, the Teutonic Order now rested at the center of a strong coalition with both Castile in the West and Muscovy in the East. No nation on Earth would prove able to stand before this mighty coalition – while it lasted.

Albrecht’s most important contribution during this time was undoubtedly the establishment of overseas exploration and colonization by the Ordenstadt. Both England and Portugal had been expanding into the Americas and Africa, and Albrecht felt that the Ordenstadt needed to get in on the action. Although ill-placed for exploration, the alliance with Castile gave Teutonic explorers an excellent base for their expeditions. Before long, Teutonic backed expeditions traversed the coasts of North and South America and had reached such exotic destinations as India, China, and Japan. In an effort to gain practical experience at colonization Albrecht financed the colonization of Gruneland as a stepping point to North America. Although the initial colonists faced starvation from the inhospitable climate, the massive amounts of marine life soon established a stable population. With the discovery of large numbers of seals in the northern settlements the colonists obtained a valuable trade good in the form of sealskins. Baby sealskin clothes were especially prized by the nobility of Europe for their luxurious softness and water-repelling properties and soon became the chief source of the colony’s wealth.


The first Teutonic Colony at Gruneland. Seal furs would be the region's chief export


Upon hearing the reports of the vast wealth in the East, Albrecht was determined to obtain a port to the Indian sea. To achieve this goal and to fully secure the Holy Land, he decided to embark upon a crusade against the Mamluks with the dual purposes of acquiring their Mediterranean coastline and a port in the Red Sea. Preparations were almost complete and the Hochmeister himself had travelled to Judea to lead his armies when tragedy struck. When travelling through the countryside with a small company of riders, Albrecht was attacked by a large band of Muslim raiders. Although they fought valiantly and were eventually victorious, his Ritterbruders were unable to save Albrecht from an arrow. All of Europe mourned the death of the man who reclaimed Jerusalem, and a massive funeral was held at Jerusalem where his tomb still stands today. During the reign of Friedrich Wilhelm II he was canonized by the Pope for his role in returning Christianity to the Holy Land, and his tomb and cathedral are now one of the many holy sites in Jerusalem.

So ended the life of Albrecht II, who is widely considered to be the greatest Hochmeister of the Teutonic Order. His twenty one year reign saw the end of the Holy Roman Empire, the recapture of the Holy Land for Christianity, the exploration of the Americas and Far East, the beginning of the Protestant Reformation, and the formation of the treaties with Castile and Muscovy which would shape European politics over the next century. Albrecht II was clearly one of those rare, great men who had the power, the will and the ability to bend the world to their will.


Gameplay Notes:

• The alliance with Muscovy made me very happy and is a key feature in future policy. I’ve always tried to avoid wars in the East and this makes life much easier! Ukraine/Lithuania are protected by guarantees, but everything else is fair game!
• And the Colonization begins! With Russia off the table we’ve gotta get our Lebesraum somewhere!
• The English are starting to go after Mexico and the South. Castile is surprisingly uninterested in colonization.

Author’s Notes: The exam hell is mostly over… now back to research hell! Hopefully I’ll get a few more updates in over Christmas. Only two more until we catch up with my progress in the game itself!

Ramidel said:

You say that the "initial" spread of Protestantism was quite limited. Why do I get the feeling that the Calvinists are going to be trouble?

Click to expand...

:rofl: nice job catching that! The Reformation is just getting started, it will take at least two more updates for its boundaries to become somewhat established...


Next update is ~3/4 done, hopefully I'll get it up this afternoon before I leave tonight for a friend's wedding!

The Iron Cross Triumphant
​

Paul I “The Steward” 1519 –1523


Albrecht the Great’s untimely death lead to the election of the aged Paul von Unterstein – Wittlesbach as Hochmeister. As the Governor of what was formerly Bohemia Paul had been instrumental in their integration into the Ordenstadt. With the Order’s armies poised to invade Egypt, Paul’s first action was a formal declaration of war. The Mamluks were suffering from a succession crisis and were unable to counter the Teutonic armies. Within a year they were begging for peace and Paul added the Nile Delta, the city of Alexandria with its valuable center of trade, and the port to the Red Sea at Negev to the Ordenstadt.


Paul I and his closest advisers


Teutonic Gains from Egypt


A Peck of Wars

After the crusade against the Mamluks, Paul was confronted with a flurry of minor wars, mostly due to religions tensions in Europe and the Middle East. Although no major nations had embraced Protestantism or its radical offshoot Calvinism virtually all of the nations in Lotharingia, Scandinavia, and Lithuania were lost to the Church. In an attempt to send a message to the heretics Paul embarked on a purge against the bishopric of Trier and successfully forced them back to the church at sword point. Additionally, the Teutonic ally of Flanders (released from the Burgundians) called for assistance in their war with their Protestant neighbors. Hoping to encourage the last remaining catholic nation in Lotharingia Paul sent them minor support and the Flemish were soon victorious. With Protestant Lithuania and Catholic Ukraine once again locked in a religious war, Mazovia embarked on a second successful war against the Lithuanians with minor Teutonic support in early 1420. The political and now religious strife in Lithuania and Ukraine would result in decades of bloody war with each unable to vanquish the other


The religious situation in Europe continues to deteriorate


Ukraine and Lithuania, locked in perpetual conflict

The second round of wars began in late 1420 when the Muslim nation of Bulgaria unwisely attacked Paul’s ally Muscovy. The Bulgarians were soon brought to their knees and force to swear fealty to the Ordenstadt. Then, in 1421 Paul, wishing to expand his grasp on the Holy Land, simultaneously declared war on the Syrian and Ottoman sultans. A lightning campaign soon decimated both countries and Paul added Bursa, Kastamon, Angora, Adana, and Beiruit to his lands. After seven wars in two years the Ordenstadt was finally at peace.


Teutonic lands in the Middle East at the end of Paul's rule


Gameplay Notes:

• With my poor colonization range, I need easy access to the Indian ocean to colonize the far east… 50 years from now things will get interesting
• With the HRE disbanded a lot of tiny brush wars are springing up. They will be mentioned, but mostly ignored.

The Rise of Prussia



After taking stock of the Ordenstadt in 1422 Paul came to a painful conclusion: The Teutonic Order could no longer effectively govern the Ordenstadt. The massive expansion into the Middle East had stretched the ranks of the Order thin, and the effects were beginning to show back in Germany. While secular bureaucrats, nobles, and troops had always been part of the Ordenstadt, the increasingly vast demand for soldiers and administrators combined with the limited attraction of the Order’s vows meant that by 1520 the majority of the Ordenstadt was run by secular men who wanted more say in governing the nation. Furthermore, although the Ordenstadt had been affected only lightly by the Reformation, many were questioning the legitimacy of the Order’s direct rule over so much of Germany with the Crusades all but won and the infidels in full retreat. Concluding that drastic political changes were needed to prevent future internal strife and to better utilize the secular nobility and bourgeois Paul convened a generalkapitel to discuss governmental reform. In addition to the traditional members of the Order itself representing the army and clergy the major members of the Prussian, Danish, and German nobility loyal to the Order and influential merchants, mayors, and town elders representing the commoners were included in the council.

The council convened at Konigsberg in the spring of 1522 and proposals for governmental reform were requested for consideration. Several prominent nobles immediately proposed the formation of a feudal monarchy that was the norm in Europe. This idea was found unacceptable both to the Order, as it deprived them of all governing power, and to the townspeople who feared a return to the excessive serfdom that was largely abolished by the Order. Several members of the Order lead by Matthias von Westinghausen (the man in charge of the Order’s conversion efforts) were loath to surrender any power whatsoever, but as Hochmeister Paul was more than capable of bringing them into line. Other proposals to form a merchant or noble republic were swiftly discarded on the basis that they would be impractical for governing such a large nation.



After weeks of debate an agreeable compromise was offered by Egon von Ekesparre, a leading political philosopher and good friend of Paul’s. He proposed the formation of a secular “Administrative Monarchy” which would be lead by the nobility but administered mainly by the Teutonic Order, with the nobility’s assistance. The Order’s direct control over the army and navy would be transferred to the King and whatever generals he appointed, increasing the talent pool which could be drawn upon. Administratively little would change except that the King would be able to grant titles for governance of provinces to a noble, monk, or elected official as the situation demanded. The Teutonic Order would still retain control over the educational and hospital systems of the state as well as much of the administration, but would no longer have exclusive control over the highest echelons of power. As for the military arm of the Order, the full brothers under arms would remain with two functions: the defense of the holy city of Jerusalem and as the King’s elite bodyguard division tasked with protecting and serving the King himself. Finally, a Dissolution Act similar to the English Magna Carta would be signed, protecting certain rights of commoners and nobles alike and requiring the convening of a generalkaiptel at least once every four years. With the form of government settled upon, the final question issue remaining was the selection of a suitable king.





Paul had immediately refused to be king. He was old, childless, and prevented by his vows from marriage. Furthermore, his ascension to the throne would only make his political reforms appear to be a power grab. However, he did agree to govern the Ordenstadt as regent for up to five years while the transition of power took place. The new king would have to be of suitable noble birth, young, preferably talented, and acceptable to the Order, nobility, and people alike. No member of the generalkapitel fulfilled these conditions.

An impasse seemed likely until Paul suggested the young nephew of Albrecht the Great, Friedrich Wilhelm von Rosenberger. The boy was of impeccable lineage having direct relation to Albrecht II, Albrecht I, and Walter I, some of the Order’s most revered hochmeister’s. Despite his Uncle’s insistence he had refused to take the full vows of the Order, but had excelled at his studies in politics and warfare. Tragically but conveniently for the generalkapitel his father had died on campaign in Syria and his mother in childbirth, leaving him with no strong political enemies or disagreeable inclinations. A small committee was formed to interview the boy, and upon their recommendation he was agreed upon as their choice for the King. His rule would begin after Paul had reorganized the Ordenstadt into the Kingdom of Prussia.

A year passed, and a massive restructuring of the Ordenstadt was carried out. In preparation for the new King Paul ordered an iron crown encrusted with rubies to be forged. When Friedrich inquired about the unusual design, Paul replied “This nation was not forged with gold or luxury, but with blood and iron. Wearing this crown you will never forget that it is a burden, not a luxury.” Finally, on November 27 1523 the Pope himself crowned Friedrich Wilhelm von Rosenberger King of Prussia. The new king donned the Iron Crown of Prussia and assumed rule of the Ordenstadt from Paul I. The reign of the Teutonic order had ended, and the Kingdom of Prussia was born.


The Coronation of Friedrich Wilhelm I, King of Prussia


Gameplay Notes

• Goodbye Ordenstadt hello Prussia! The reason I delayed so long was to get the Adm. Monarchy government - the slider restrictions on Feudal monarchy were incompatible with my sliders. Funny how Theocracy is less restrictive, except in Inn/Narr
• We're seeing the nucleation of certain democratic processes in Prussia. I theorize that after years of electing hochmeisters that some form of governmental restraint and power sharing would be developed with the transition. Hence the Adm. Monarchy and Dissolution act.
• The Teutonic Order is becoming something of a cross between the SS, the Spanish Inquisition, and the French Musketeers. Though, I like to think that they're not quite as evil as those examples. I'll try to work them into future chapters, but their influence will slowly lessen.
• After forming Prussia, I refused all royal marriage offers. I had a suspicion that Paul I would die soon after Albrecht's 23 year reign and didn't want to get trapped in a PU. I was right - he died a year after I reformed.
• Yes, Friedreich Wilhelm’s last name was edited by me. It used to be something ghastly (a very long hyphenated name) so I trimmed it a bit. As for choosing my name, well, I must confess both a healthy ego and a lack of imagination for coming up with names.

Author’s Notes: Two updates in a week! I think this is a personal record! I started taking pictures about halfway through the next update (after the good stuff Grrr) so the format should get better. By the way, any comments on my current use of images or on my description of the events? I’m trying to make things as realistic as possible and any criticism would be welcome!

GulMacet said:

What territories do you still lack to form a most German Germany?

Click to expand...

I need to annex and get cores on Brandenburg and Mecklenburg. They're both my vassals so I've been hoping for an annex mission giving me a core. without a mission, I should be able to form Germany around 1600.

Avindian: Thanks! It is quite nice to be able to engage in all the royal chicanery, though I need to be careful about getting stuck in a PU. Personally though I think the decision to form Germany is the best as it gives you cores on all the obscenely wealthy german minors...

Hakomar: Thanks and welcome aboard! I'm glad you're enjoying it! Upon reflection the lack of posts is probably mostly my fault for taking so long to update, things always pick up when I update frequently (like now).

Edgewise: Agreed, I just noticed that myself

Ramidel: Perhaps, but in the past I was getting a lot of annex missions and conquer missions which really helped get my feet off the ground. Now that I'm bigger and there are less OPM's I'm getting only useless missions. My goal is to form Germany by 1600, and with stab only costing ~1.5 years to regenerate I'll diplo-annex without a mission by 1550.

aaand we're back! "Vacation" is over, and I once again have internet, and more importantly time! I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and good New Year!

BootOnFace: Thanks for the reminder! I'm planning on forming Germany around 1600, I'm not sure when I'll reach the land tech 30 that the decision requires. As of now I'm clearly the foremost military power. +20 discipline would be nice, but at this rate it's hardly necessary and would probably be overkill. If I can get it I will, but I'm not delaying Germany for it.

Fookison: Welcome aboard and thank you! Glad you're enjoying it!


Update incoming...

The Iron Cross Triumphant
​

Friedrich Wilhelm I “The Conqueror” 27 Nov 1523 – 25 Mar 1536


The sudden promotion from a minor noble to ruler of the most powerful kingdom in Europe is not a common occurrence in history. We can safely assume that the young Friedrich Wilhelm was not expecting the burden of kingship. It is widely believed that a major reason for his acceptance was the belief that his youth and inexperience would render him pliable to the influence of the nobility and clergy, a puppet king. However, Friedrich Wilhelm would soon prove himself a true king, independent of nobility and clergy alike.


Europe at the start of Friedrich Wilhelm's rule


Establishing the Monarchy

At the start of his reign the main problem facing Friedrich Wilhelm was his lack of legitimacy as King of Prussia. An important first step to establishing himself and reassuring his foreign allies was the selection of a suitable queen. Princess Mary of Castile was the logical choice as she was young, beautiful, of impeccable lineage, and would strengthen the important Prussian-Spanish alliance. Friedrich Wilhelm was quite pleased upon meeting her and they were married within a year of his coronation. Their union would prove to be a happy one, and a son, Friedrich Wilhelm II was soon born to them.


Friedrich Wilhelm and Mary of Castile

Friedrich Wilhelm was of a martial nature and had he not been crowned king would almost certainly have made a name for himself in the Teutonic armies. As it was, another way for him to cement his popularity and improve his standing with the important military was through an aggressive foreign policy. In late 1524 war was simultaneously declared on the Mamluks and the Protestant nation of Ulm, which brought in its allies of Baden, Bavaria, and Croatia. Against the advice of his court Friedrich insisted on personally leading a Prussian army in Europe, and his battlefield talent quickly silenced the grumbling amongst the army about being lead by a "beardless boy." Within a year victory was achieved in both theaters. Ulm and Baden were forced to return to the Church and the Prussian territories in Egypt were secured with the addition of Sinai and Diamientia. Appalled at their losses over the past decades, the majority of the Muslim world soon entered into a complex network of alliances and guarantees, meaning that any future western aggression would face virtually all of Islam.


Prussian lands in the Middle East

The following three years were mostly peaceful as Friedrich Wilhelm secured his throne and worked on further reorganizing his kingdom to his liking. In 1426 a series of Venetian spies convinced Friedrich Wilhelm to declare war on Venice. In a harsh warning, Venice itself was sacked and Friuli was ceded to Prussia. Additionally in 1427 the longtime vassal of Silesia was integrated into Prussia. Meanwhile, the previous colonization and exploration efforts were expanded on with the founding of several new Prussian colonies in Kanada and South Amerika and expeditions to the orient. With access to the Red Sea and a foothold in the New World Prussia was well on its way to becoming a great colonial power.


Early Prussian colonization of the Amerikas and exploration to the Far East

An enthusiastic military man, Friedrich Wilhelm lavished much of his attention on the structure, organization, and tactics of the Prussian military. The initially indifferent old guard generals (mostly still full fledged monks in the Teutonic Order) were either won over by his clear competence or replaced with new officers. Most importantly, Friedrich Wilhelm promoted the use of firearms in infantry formations. Although many in the military hierarchy strenuously objected to their usage, a series of reforms and reorganizations eventually resulted in the majority of Prussian infantry wielding a basic flintlock with pikes and swords delegated to secondary weapons for close combat. The result was the fearsome Maurician infantry which would soon be put to the ultimate test.

Organizationally, the role of the Teutonic Order in the military was further reduced. The half members of the militant arm of the Order were integrated into the army reducing the Order's military to a few thousand knights. However, Friedrich Wilhelm, envisioning the militant arm as his personal and elite army (similar to the Praetorian Guard of ancient Rome) and instituted strict requirements for membership. Furthermore, members of the regular army who displayed exceptional skill and bravery were granted honorary knighthood in the Order and folded into its cohorts. Although small in number, the massive discipline, skill and experience of the Knights made them a fearsome force on the battlefield.


Although small in number, the skill and ferocity of the troops under the Teutonic Battle quickly made them feared on the battlefield


Sturm und Drang, or Why One Should Never Bring a Knife to a Gunfight:

The spread of Protestantism had stagnated in the late 1510's, and for a brief moment it seemed to be confined to Lotharingia, the Low Countries, Scandinavia, and other small isolated portions of Europe. However, the 1520's brought a new generation of rabidly energetic protestant missionaries and the even more extreme teachings of Calvin. Although Protestantism had little effect in Prussia for previously mentioned reasons, the heresies made rapid gains in France. By 1428 the situation had become critical. Although the young King Charles VIII of France remained Catholic, the vast majority of his subjects were protestant. Furthermore, Charles adopted a lenient stance to the heresy and refused to actively enforce Catholicism.

The specter of a Protestant France was the blackest nightmare of every Prussian. The minor Protestant states had already bound themselves with mutual guarantees and alliances, and the inclusion of a Protestant France into this network would decisively tip the balance of power away from the Prussian - Castilian coalition into the Protestant's hands making any Westward Prussian expansion hideously costly. Furthermore, France had already expanded into Novgorod, bordering Prussia in the East and the West. Friedrich Wilhelm feared that left unchecked Prussia would soon be surrounded by hostile Protestant neighbors to the East, West and North. Using his influence on the Pope Friedrich Wilhelm sent an ultimatum to King Charles: suppress the Protestants or face excommunication. Charles, reluctant to alienate the majority Protestant population of France refused, and was subsequently excommunicated. Viewing a Protestant France as inevitable, Friedrich Wilhelm carefully prepared his forces, moving almost all of the Prussian armies to the Western front and preparing supplies for the largest war in centuries. Military access was gained from Burgundy and the lowlands, and for a surprise winter campaign war was declared on December 7, 1528.

The stakes were uncomfortably high for Prussia. France had an edge in cavalry, and manpower over Prussia, and lacked a direct land connection to Prussia or Castile. Friedrich Wilhelm had to advance into enemy territory with inferior numbers and an unreliable supply line and pray that his untested musketmen would stand up in an actual battle. In his favor however the French were undergoing extreme turmoil from religious strife between the Lutherans, Calvinists, and Catholics. In order to avoid a protracted, bloody war Friedrich Wilhelm and his generals designed a scheme to draw out the French armies. Three Prussian armies totalling approx. 60,000 men would assault Vermandois, Nevers, and Lyonnais and attempt to draw out the French. a reserve of 20,000 would remain in Burgundy and rush to reinforce wherever the French attacked. Militant Catholics supported by the espionage service built up by the Teutonic Order would provide intelligence on French troop movements, allowing a swift and accurate response to the French counterattack. It was hoped that this would lead to the annihilation of much of the French army without extreme Prussian casualties. Meanwhile, the 20,000 Frenchmen in Russia would be blockaded and ignored, as without a land border to Prussia they were useless in the Russian wastes.


Prussian and French army comparison

At the advice of his generals, Charles ordered every French army to assault the Prussian army commanded by Friedrich Wilhelm at Nevers. The French hoped to capture or kill the Prussian king and shatter the fragile Prussian unity with a succession crisis. Some 90,000 French bore down on the King's army of 20,000 men in what would be an epic battle of titanic proportions. In a devastating river battle the Prussian firearms and cannon proved their worth against the French knights and spears, repelling the first wave of attackers and inflicting severe casualties. However, the second and third wave of recently arrived French forced a crossing over a sea of bodies, and threatened to outflank the Prussians to the North and South. Fearing and encirclement, Friedrich was forced to withdraw from the river at nightfall, but not before inflicting more casualties on the French. The next battle was fought in the hills of Nevers, granting a clear defensive advantage to the Prussian infantry. The pike reinforced muskets and concentrated cannon fire repelled the French charge on the center, but Friedrich Wilhelm was wounded by a French spear and carried from the battlefield. The next day strained the Prussians nearly to the breaking point. A furious assault by all remaining 80,000 French threatened to overwhelm the tired and dispirited Prussians. Only the reappearance by the wounded Friedrich Wilhelm on the frontlines rallying his men with should of "Sie werden nicht durchkommen!" prevented a Prussian collapse at midday. Relief arrive just in time when Albrecht von Braunschweig-Lüneburg arrived on the battlefield from Burgundy with 20,000 fresh troops. The battle was saved.


Initial Prussian movements (red), the French assault (blue), and Prussian counterattack (green)

The next day saw increasingly desperate French attacks break against walls of musket and cannon fire. The French were desperate to break the Prussians before even more appeared with their dreadful firepower, but ended up throwing away even more men in futile assaults. When Otto von Stille and Friedrich von Erlichshausen arrived with their armies and outflanked the French from the North and South the entire French army disintegrated and routed. as Otto described it: "The battlefield at Nemours was like hell on earth. The poor French withered under our massed musket and cannon fire. Blood, screams, and fire filled the air, and even the hardened veterans shuddered at the ghastly sights of the mangled Frenchmen. We have unleashed something new and terrible with these muskets and I shudder to imagine the day when we must face opponents armed with them. Any nobility or elegance that remained in the battlefield has now vanished under a sea of writhing bodies."

In the end, Nemours was catastrophic for the French. 20,000 Frenchmen had died killing a mere 5,000 Prussians, and their remaining men lost any cohesion in their desperate retreat. The mass concentration of men in the winter combined with the Prussian capture of the French supplies lead to mass starvation and looting amongst the remaining French, who were all captured or killed by May of 1529. Friedrich Wilhelm's strategy had paid off better than anyone had expected. In five short months the entire French army was obliterated and France itself was open to total Prussian occupation. As the "victor of Nemours" Friedrich Wilhelm's domestic and international prestige skyrocketed. Although personally dangerous, his leadership from the front had forged the former Ordenstadt into a steel spear wielded by him and now pointed directly at the heart of France and the hopes of Protestantism.

Total occupation of France was not easy despite the destruction of the French army. Attrition in the winter and the sheer size of France lead to the deaths of an estimated 25,000 Prussians, roughly a quarter of their entire army. Over the course of two years all of France was occupied by the Prussians and their allies. The French fleet fled Calais after it fell, but was caught and annihilated by a Prussian - Castilian fleet. A total blockade of France was implemented and French trade ground to a complete halt. By March of 1530, Charles was forced to beg for an end to the war, and Friedrich Wilhelm's terms were harsh. Auvergne, Champagne, and Normandy were released as independent states, and Ingermanland, Vlaanderen, and Ghent were ceded to Prussia. France was effectively split in two, disarmed, and bankrupt, but nobody expected what would happen next.


Gameplay Notes:

• For reference Friedrich is a Mil 9 king
• I think I've set some sort of record for destroying France in an EU3 game! I did not want to have to repeat my endless wars against Austria with the French, so I decided to strike while they were still Catholic. The result was amazing!
• I ignored attrition in my attempt to kill the French army and got hit hard. They did as well though, a concentration of 170,000 men in one province is not good!
• Those muskets were invaluable - everything happened in game as I described it. Freidrich was just about to be defeated standing against 80,000 French when my reinforcements arrived! After that, mopping up was a simple matter.

New World Order

In hindsight postwar France was primed for collapse. The people were starving, trade was annihilated, the army was nonexistent, the government bankrupt, and the Catholics, Lutherans, and Calvinists engaged in massive three way sectarian violence. Two years of harsh Prussian occupation had lead to the breakdown of the French feudal order carefully built up by the previous French kings. To make matters worse King Charles still refused to convert to Protestantism. Upon his return to Paris, utter chaos broke out. An enraged, starving, protestant mob stormed the royal palace, and publicly beheaded the King and Queen in the town square. A month later the King's cousin Joachim arrived from Novgorod with the remnants of his army and declared himself King of France. Although not tainted by the defeat in France like his cousin, Joachim was an ardent Catholic and also viewed as illegitimate by much of the populace. The new king was faced with massive riots throughout the nation and open rebellion by the nobles in the South. As a result, France soon collapsed with Guyenne, Provence, Armagnac, Nevers, and Avignon successfully declaring independence from the French crown. Within a decade, France had degenerated from one of the foremost powers in the world to a mass of squabbling states. The balance of world power had decisively shifted.


France before 1528 compared with post 1534 France

The total collapse of France was not, as some have claimed, the original intention of Friedrich Wilhelm. Records indicate that his intent was to bring the French back to the Church while keeping them occupied with reunification for several decades with Prussia consumed the bordering Protestant states. France's collapse was an unexpected, but not unwelcome surprise. The Prussian strike had come at an ideal time of religious strife to shatter France. Furthermore, without the unexpected annihilation of the entire French army at Nevers the crushing Prussian victory would not have been possible. If the French had preserved their forces and fought a war of attrition a unified Protestant France would have probably emerged even with a Prussian victory.

With France out of the way, Friedrich Wilhelm occupied himself with the other Protestant powers. Brabant and Sweden were sent ultimatums to return to the Church or face war. Upon their refusal the hardened Prussian armies easily swept across their lands. In the end both nations were forced to convert, and the historically important city of Aachen was gained by the Prussians. On the diplomatic front, Normandy and Champagne agreed to become Prussian vassals in return for protection, but Auvergne, now the strongest French power refused and quickly broke their treaties binding them to Prussia. In a diplomatic coup, England signed an alliance with Prussia, now uniting the four strongest world powers of Prussia, Castile, Muscovy, and England in a grand coalition. Chances for another major European war in the immediate future now seemed nonexistent.

The chaotic wars left by the collapse of France left Western Europe in a constant state of flux. Ironically, their condition was similar to that of Germany before the rise of Prussia, but without the restraining influence of the Emperor territory changed hands quite frequently. An interesting effect happened in 1532, when the newly formed kingdom of Baden faced bankruptcy and collapse. To prevent anarchy, the lords of Baden voted en masse to join the Swiss confederation, almost doubling the size of Switzerland. The Swiss had long been diplomatically isolated from the larger Protestant confederations, and Friedrich Wilhelm seized the chance to humble the rising power and expand his power in the West. War was declared in late 1533.

Although the war took two years to complete, the outcome was never in doubt. Switzerland was joined by their allies Norway and Ulm, who would share in their defeat. Unlike previous campaigns, the Swiss descended from their alpine fortress into the lowlands of Ulm, where they were met by Friedrich Wilhelm himself in command of a mighty army. The entire Swiss army was defeated with relatively minor losses, leaving the difficult mountain terrain undefended. In Norway the Teutonic navy spearheaded several landings which easily brushed aside the Norwegian opposition soon leading to victory. The spoils were relatively large. Breisgau, Baden, and Sundgau were ceded by the Swiss to Prussia and Norway was forced to return to Catholicism. Ulm however was forced to become the new seat of the Pope, who was once more displaced by a Venetian invasion of Rome and Protestant mobs in his new seat at Trier. In Konstanz, the Pope would be protected and even closer to the influence of Prussia.


The Religious situation in Europe near the end of Friedrich Wilhelm's rule.

Immediately following the Swiss campaign in 1535, Prussia was called in to defend Savoy against the aggression of the Milanese. Hoping to nip another rising power in the bud Friedrich Wilhelm enthusiastically joined in. The outcome was never in doubt, and the fearsome Prussian nusketmen quickly tore through the spear armed Milanese armies. However, tragedy struck as Friedrich Wilhelm's habit of personally leading his armies finally caught up with him. The king took ill in Northern Italy in the Winter of 1535 and died by Spring, just before final victory was achieved. Like Alexander the Great, he had died before his fortieth birthday.


Gameplay Notes:

• I wasn't expecting France to collapse, though I probably should have. After the war I ignored them then up popped half a dozen messages about declarations of independence! Amusingly, France would collapse twice, and not convert to Protestant until the second time.
• Another reason to remain Catholic was to eat up the small Protestant states to the West. With Unum Sanctum and France neutralized it's munching time!
• Ulm was conquered by me, then reformed in Konstansz... then converted to Protestant, then became the Papal States after I force-converted them back! It's like something out of Avindian's Descent into Madness AAR!

A Caesar of His Time

Friedrich Wilhelm I is undoubtedly on the scale of Alexander, the Caesars, or Charlemagne. Like Caesar he simultaneously forged the Teutonic Order into a strong, stable empire and utterly vanquished their strongest rival. The utter collapse of France left Prussia the unchallenged superpower of Europe, and the alliances with Muscovy, Castile, and England would give then virtually free reign to expand in continental Europe. Paul's choice for king was proven to be the correct one. The monarchy had succeeded beyond his wildest dreams.


Europe at the end of Friedrich Wilhelm's Rule. Prussia's Situation is markedly improved



Author's Notes: One more king then I've caught up to where I am in the game - after 5 months! I may have to split it into two updates, this bugger really hung on.