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-You need to be Protestant/Reformed to Form Prussia
-You need to be of Russian culture to Form Russia
 
-You need to be Protestant/Reformed to Form Prussia
-You need to be of Russian culture to Form Russia
Ah i misread it again​ for the one hundreth time.
 
Nope, Russia; he had conquered Novgorod so that got me thinking.

An interesting idea, to be sure.

Perhaps another time, but yes, the title does kind of give away that I won't be forming Russia in this game...perhaps someone could attempt to do so in another game. I'd like to see that!

...Or perhaps I am tricking you, and at some point in the future all references to Prussia will mysteriously change to Russia...
 
An interesting idea, to be sure.

Perhaps another time, but yes, the title does kind of give away that I won't be forming Russia in this game...perhaps someone could attempt to do so in another game. I'd like to see that!

...Or perhaps I am tricking you, and at some point in the future all references to Prussia will mysteriously change to Russia...
I can always change the title. ;)
 
Chapter Nine: Johann Eustach I (1456-1467)

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The known world

As expected, Johann began his third crusade as soon as he could. The Peasants War in Lithuania in 1458 barely raised a skerrick of interest on his part. He did not care about going to war with any of his Christian neighbours, when the Muslims were there to be conquered. Not even the excommunication of Sweden interested him. And so, on the 1st of February, the third crusade was launched, just as the numerous hordes began attacking Persia. The Teutonic forces quickly decimated the Horde armies, and the entire country was occupied by April of 1460, and a peace deal agreed to seeing the Teutonic lands extend further into Eurasia – what Johann called “heathen territory”.

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With the need for Christianity's spread rising, Johann ended the National Bank soon afterwards, instead pushing for more missionaries by emphasising the Divine Supremacy of the Order, a move the economy was barely ready to handle, with another move towards Narrowminded following soon after, the country now dangerously unstable.

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Dangerous moves


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Land really needed to be focused on

After continued requests, Johann put his focus on stability for a time, before returning to a land focus. Conquests and conversion continued to be the only things he took time to do, and with Muscowy launching a war against the Mongol Khanate in 1464, he took the opportunity to attack the Golden Horde at the same time, breaking his truce in order to annex them. The Declaration of the Kingdom of God on Earth by the Pope was met with Hussite rebellions in Prussia itself, which again saw the wrath of the Pope descend upon the Order.

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That Pope is pretty confident...and those Prussians are not happy

By 1466, Johann had completed his singleminded conquest of the Golden Horde, and this was to be his last crusade, as on the 19th of April, 1467, Johann Eustach I passed away in Uralsk.

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The last crusade​

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Meanwhile, over in France​

Wars

3rd Teutonic Crusade against Golden Horde (1459-1460) – Teutonic victory, conquest of Mordvar, Bersh, Samara and Uralsk
4th Teutonic Crusade against Golden Horde (1464-1465) – Teutonic victory, annexation of Golden Horde

Overview of the reign of Johann Eustach I

  • Provinces gained: Crimea, Kaffa, Azow, Saratow, Astrakhan, Bersh, Sarai, Bogutjar, Kalmykia, Mordvar, Samara, Uralsk, Kurgan, North Ufa and Grozny
  • Closed National Bank, announced Divine Supremacy
  • Moved toward Narrowminded and Land

No-one would ever accuse Johann of being intelligent, or even competent. He was, however, remarkable for his single-minded pursuit of a long-term goal - eradicating the Golden Horde. His completion of this goal marked the evolution of the Teutonic Order to truly being something beyond their original purpose. No longer were they stuck in the lands of Prussia, converting the eastern Europeans. They were now actively crusading against the Islamic Mongol hordes of the east, who had terrorised Europe relatively recently. They were spreading the name of Christianity with far more success than they had ever done so before, despite constant reprisals from seemingly confused Popes. The Order was turning itself into a genuine world power too, though it is doubtful Johann actually realised this.

Indeed, not everything about Johann's reign is positive. His closure of the National Bank was a particularly strange move, as the economy was the biggest sufferer from the constant crusades - they did need to fund these efforts somehow. But Johann seemed to forget that, and put everything into a religiously enhanced military force, at the expense of the economy and national stability. It is also doubtful that too many people would be willing to continue the eastward expansion of Johann, given the cost of doing so compared to relatively small reward - especially when considering the still significant threats of neighbours to Prussia proper. Prussian Asia may have been an unaffordable luxury, but it was one that a person such as Johann pursued with such vigour that it is only right he be called Johann Eustach "the Zealot".
 
Chapter Ten: Heinrich V (1467-1487)

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The Teutonic lands at the time of Heinrich's rise

The newly chosen Hochmeister was Heinrich V. A superb administrator, Heinrich sought to consolidate the new holdings of the Teutonic Order. He was not interested in crusading, wishing instead to convert the provinces the Order already held, and strengthening the economy again, which was, at the point of his rise to the Hochmeistership, barely breaking even. Following the sending of missionaries to five provinces, the National Bank was re-opened in 1468. Despite his misgivings, a settlement policy ordered by Johann in his last days was also enacted in Sarai. Heinrich also had little interest in war, but did have one consideration in the back of his mind – Lithuania. Lithuania was still dividing the Teutonic lands, but yet again going to war did not seem a viable option, due to their alliances. The first trade station in country was welcomed in Livland in 1470, but welcomed even more was the election of an Austrian, rather than Bohemian, Emperor later that year.

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A welcome return​

Tentatively deciding that this was, perhaps, a lead toward trading, Heinrich also began sending merchants to Lubeck, and began getting handy income from the large trading centre. The changes in government policy also saw a boost to investment in government, more than useful given the poor theocratic investment capabilities.

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And a welcome investment

Muscowy declared war on the Mongol Khanate in 1472, calling the Teutons to arms, a call accepted by Heinrich, but he had no intention of doing anything beyond defending his lands, meaning an acceptance of a white peace with them by the end of 1473. Heinrich followed the lead of Karl Joseph by agreeing to listen to petitions for freedom from the peasants, believing them to be of more economic value if they had more freedom. He was also pleased to hear of army developments which saw them take on the form of Landsknechten Infantry.

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This was to mark the beginning of extended freedoms afforded to peasants over the years to come

The excommunication of the Swedish ruler, though, tickled his fancy. The remaining Swedish lands were rich, and would connect with the Finnish lands quite nicely. With no strong allies, they were there to be taken, and so he moved two armies up to the Swedish border in August 1474, before declaring war in December. A relatively quick siege effort allowed the Order to take three Swedish provinces, which meant the last two provinces could be taken relatively quickly in the future, and peace was achieved just before New Year's Day, 1476.

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The demise of Sweden

Scandinavia, rich in resources that the Teutons did not yet have their hands on, became a focus of Heinrich's. He pushed his claims on English Scandinavia while waiting to annex Sweden, which he did following a short war in 1481. Despite Muscowy's struggles in the east against patriotic Tartars, he assisted them in name alone. Becoming the Papal Controller in 1481 as well, he asked for the excommunication of Poland, acknowledging the potential to be at war with them in the future, but doubting that such a thing would occur. Heinrich also began noting the use of artillery is other armies, and suggested that the Teutonic armies begin implementing them as well, but only in small amounts, due to their upkeep.

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Farewell to Sweden

Heinrich was somewhat surprised, though, when Lithuania declared war on him in January on 1484, with Bohemia and Poland supporting them. Bohemia was, unsurprisingly, the toughest ask, which meant Heinrich decided to let them attack him, as the Teuton troops were (being Landsknechten) abler defender than attackers. Poland's offer of white peace was taken gladly, while another king was excommunicated at Heinrich's orders – this time, the king of England. Heinrich surprisingly declined Lithuania's offer of white peace in March of 1485, but soon decided he'd had enough, and settled for giving Lithuania very small reparations a month later.

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Winning this war was beyond the Teutons' capabilities

Preparing for another Lithuanian attack, Heinrich began opening diplomatic ties with Austria, Hungary and Croatia, countries who would be able to check the power of Bohemia, and after much pushing secured an alliance with two of the three (not Hungary), with Austria bringing him into a war against England in 1487.

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Austria looked like a good ally to have


Wars

3rd Muscovite Crusade of Mongol Khanate (1472-1473) – White peace
1st Teutonic-Swedish Excommunication War (1474-1476) – Teutonic victory, conquest of Finland, Halsingland and Dalaskogen
2nd Teutonic-Swedish Excommunication War (1481) – Teutonic victory, annexation of Sweden
1st Muscovite Conquest of Mongol Khanate (1481) – White peace
1st Lithuanian Reconquest of Rzhev against Teutonic Order (1484-1485)– Lithuanian victory, small reparations
1st Austrian-English Excommunication War (1487) – Unfinished​