It may be a double edged sword to acknowledge a link between Caesar and the Sforzas. If the French Sforzas manage to put down the Habsburg dogs, then their next move may be to recreate Caesar's old empire by reunifying the Sforza clan by force.
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Indeed, the French Sforza could be tempted to use the excuse if Caeser's linage as a pretext to launch the Italian Wars.
Perhaps more interestingly, if Duke Sforza Maria Sforza had read more into the discovery of his ancestry, he may have recalled that Caeser's conquests began in what was then Gaul...
Perhaps more interestingly, if Duke Sforza Maria Sforza had read more into the discovery of his ancestry, he may have recalled that Caeser's conquests began in what was then Gaul...
Chapter LI - Death Ends a Stalemate
@volksmarschall: Austrian huh? A little part of my family came from Prussia, think Austria is one of the few places I don't have any family from in western Europe lol. But yeah it is a wonderful easter egg, glad I could fit it into the narrative!
@ScribleScrable: Haha that is true, the French Sforza's may get ideas due to that event.
@Seelmeister: This is true, that is why I had Sforza Maria assume that the Spaniards had planted this "evidence" to try and convince him to invade France. But, instead we're going to use it to take Rome...eventually, as long as nothing happens that side-tracks us from that goal.
Four years into the war and neither side had gained so much as a slight advantage. As history shows however, wars are not always decided on the battlefield, but usually more upon the decisions that are made behind closed doors by those in power. The First Campaign of the Habsburg-Sforza Wars would largely be decided in the bed of King Louis XII Sforza of France, and with the funeral of Geronimo Lamberti just a year ago.
“Some dire news from Paris,” Moscati said as Sforza Maria sat down in the Council chambers. It was late in November of 1531, only a few short months removed from the 8th anniversary of Sforza Maria’s coronation as Duke. The celebrations had died down and the routine of peace once again had settled over the Duchy, even though their neighbors were hastily attempting to destroy one another.
Sforza Maria looked at Moscati raising his eyebrows questioningly as Moscati explained, “King Louis XII died last month, your majesty. His son Henri has taken the throne and his brother Prince Charles is rumored to be challenging the succession.”
King Henri II of France, painted by: François Clouet
“Hmm,” snorted the Duke, “is Charles raising men in rebellion? Or is it just rumors?”
“Rumors as far as my reports tell me,” Moscati answered. “Our ambassador in the French court reports that the future of Henri II is precarious at best. He’s ordered a large number of his men out of the Low Countries where they’ve been engaging the Austrians to solidify his hold in the capital.”
“I imagine Spain is going to use this opportunity to attack their south,” Sforza wondered aloud.
Testi nodded almost in unison with Moscati as he said, “Spanish forces are rumored to be marching on Toulouse.”
Sforza Maria shook his head. How easily it was for the tides to turn. Spain had sat in waiting, happy to blockade the ports in Bordeaux while biding their time for the perfect opportunity to invade. It was a plan that could have easily failed had Louis managed to cling to life another few years.
“How is the Hungarian war with Bohemia progressing?” Sforza asked, feeling like he should do something to help the French out but seeing the futility of it and not wanting to be confronted with any more dire news in regards to his relatives.
Moscati looked down at the parchments he carried with him to every meeting, “Emperor Premysl Otakar has surrendered to Hungary yet again, your grace.”
“Such a shame,” sighed Sforza Maria relieved that the Emperor continued to lose more and more power. Surely the Princes would eventually see the light and elect a leader with more power to protect the integrity of the Empire, as the Bohemians continued to lose more and more ground. “What were the terms?”
“Premysl ceded Breslau, and renounced his claims to Ratibor which King Albert von Wittelsbach stole in the last invasion during Emperor Jiri’s reign.”
At least it wasn’t all bad news on this day. There was surely one thing to be happy about. Not that Sforza Maria disdained Premysl Otakar as much as his late brother Jiri, but nevertheless the uneasy truce between the new Emperor and Milan would be made less of a threat the weaker Bohemia became. So it was in short the most welcome news of the day, and the best way to end the rather short council meeting.
Her position was precarious; Naples was back on the upswing, and blustering to reclaim their lost territories. Milan to her north was at peace and avoiding greater conflict with the major powers of Europe, as Sforza Maria carefully steered his realm’s course through the Habsburg-Sforza Wars. Her advisors continually reminded her that Milan cared little for what happened on the other side of the Alps, so long as the powers that be never cross into Milan, and therefore into Italy. She was convinced that Sforza was biding his time before striking the Armata di Lombardia south. He desired Rome, or so she was informed, more than any other possession.
With that in mind and with nowhere else to turn, Giovanna reached out the Habsburgs. She made overtures promising to be an ally and to put a check upon the Sforza ambition for unification of the peninsula. At first the Habsburgs were unwilling to sign onto such a treaty, as they knew the Montefeltros had strong blood ties with the Sforza, even if they had recently had a falling out. But, when France declared war in an effort to conquer the Low Countries, the Archduke would rethink his previous answer. Sure Milan was not yet involved in this most recent conflict, but surely they eventually would join France one day. Therefore, needing a useful ally to Milan’s south the Habsburgs finally relented and welcomed the arms of Duchess Giovanna da Montefeltro into the Spanish-Austrian Axis.
This alliance, would also usher in a new era of Francesco Sforza’s previous version of Italian Balance of Power; only this time it would not be focused solely upon Italy, but rather on the whole of Western Europe. A time where conquest, would likely bring the arms of every major power in the region, it also came at a time when France was reeling from the instability following Louis XII’s death. As Giovanna’s men rushed to France to aid their newly minted allies, Sforza Maria, sat in Milan, knowing his time to strike south was nearing.
In 1533, the reports from France seemed to spell the fate of the newly crowned King Henri II, Spain had already sacked Toulouse, and with the forces of Urbino arriving in the Low Countries to bolster the Austrian defenses the tide had officially turned. France was quickly being drained of their youth; a generation bloodied and put to their graves in a war that was seemingly a guaranteed defeat.
Sforza Maria heard the reports and shook his head; perhaps the fall of France was inevitable. He may very well have made a horrible decision by not honoring Spain’s call to war, and invading France just as his supposed descendant Caesar had. Nevertheless he had other plans, plans which had little to do with the major powers. He was still hell-bent on striking at the Papacy, and getting the Pope under his thumb. But to succeed in that endeavor he needed time, and needed to be sure that the Armata was prepared to launch a lightning quick invasion of Bologna that could be wrapped up before any Catholic ruler in Europe even knew what was happening.
To do that, he needed time, and intended to allow the powers to bloody themselves further. In the meantime, Sforza Maria enacted the Act of Uniformity to further usher in a period of coercing the Protestant populations of Treviso and Verona back into the fold of the Catholic Church. He would also order the building of several courthouses in various provinces appointing magistrates to make judgments for him directly rather than the nobility. Since the Sacking of the Barons by his father Giovanni, there had been a remarkable lessening of justice in the provinces. So, instituting courts and judicial procedures was the ideal solution to the problem.
The rest of the year would pass by in much the same fashion as the previous six years, in peace and tranquility. That is until a merchant from the trade fleet would inform Moscati, late in December of 1533 that the Egyptian Mamluks had built a massive fleet, and their armies previously stationed closer to the Ottomon border had made camp outside Alexandria in preparation to board their invasion fleets. When Moscati inquired about the Egyptian’s target the merchant informed him that he had overheard rumors of an invasion of Sardinia or possibly Urbino’s possessions in the far south.
Moscati was concerned with the lack of information and refused to pass word along to Sforza Maria about it. Instead, he elected to wait and see. Hoping that it was just rumors from an exotic land from a man not able to understand the ways of their exotic culture. But, by February of 1534, the information on the Mamluk’s target was confirmed, it seemed they intended upon conquering the newly independent Kingdom of Sardinia. With the intention of using it as a foothold into acquiring more land in Italy and beyond.
A brief note now
I keep alluding to how disastrously this war is going and it would have made some decent narrative things IF I had been able to really see everything that was going on. However most of the battles were fought under the fog of war in the Low Countries. So in a lot of ways the disaster that is occurring in France has been background noise in a rather peaceful Milan, that is waiting for its moment to ensnare the rest of Italy.
So I have a screenshot that will show just how disastrous this war really has been for France, and how bloody it has been for both Spain and Austria as well.
France is obviously nowhere to be seen on the list of biggest Armies, and Milan our favorite country has a slight lead over the Habsburgs in Austria and even Spain. I couldn't find a logical way to include that shot in the narrative, but wanted it in this update as well as that's the current state of the largest armies in the world as of the year 1533.
And to finish this brief note, right now this may have a quasi-historybook feel to it, mostly due to me wanting to propel the timeline forward as there isn't much to flesh out at the moment. We are nearing a stage that will receive a lot of fleshing out, as well as finally getting some better looks at three brothers of Sforza Maria's: Matteo, Galeazzo Maria, and Cosimo. So big things are underway, just trying to reach that point.
@volksmarschall: Austrian huh? A little part of my family came from Prussia, think Austria is one of the few places I don't have any family from in western Europe lol. But yeah it is a wonderful easter egg, glad I could fit it into the narrative!
@ScribleScrable: Haha that is true, the French Sforza's may get ideas due to that event.
@Seelmeister: This is true, that is why I had Sforza Maria assume that the Spaniards had planted this "evidence" to try and convince him to invade France. But, instead we're going to use it to take Rome...eventually, as long as nothing happens that side-tracks us from that goal.
~~~~~
Chapter LI - Death Ends a Stalemate
Chapter LI - Death Ends a Stalemate
Four years into the war and neither side had gained so much as a slight advantage. As history shows however, wars are not always decided on the battlefield, but usually more upon the decisions that are made behind closed doors by those in power. The First Campaign of the Habsburg-Sforza Wars would largely be decided in the bed of King Louis XII Sforza of France, and with the funeral of Geronimo Lamberti just a year ago.
“Some dire news from Paris,” Moscati said as Sforza Maria sat down in the Council chambers. It was late in November of 1531, only a few short months removed from the 8th anniversary of Sforza Maria’s coronation as Duke. The celebrations had died down and the routine of peace once again had settled over the Duchy, even though their neighbors were hastily attempting to destroy one another.
Sforza Maria looked at Moscati raising his eyebrows questioningly as Moscati explained, “King Louis XII died last month, your majesty. His son Henri has taken the throne and his brother Prince Charles is rumored to be challenging the succession.”
King Henri II of France, painted by: François Clouet
“Hmm,” snorted the Duke, “is Charles raising men in rebellion? Or is it just rumors?”
“Rumors as far as my reports tell me,” Moscati answered. “Our ambassador in the French court reports that the future of Henri II is precarious at best. He’s ordered a large number of his men out of the Low Countries where they’ve been engaging the Austrians to solidify his hold in the capital.”
“I imagine Spain is going to use this opportunity to attack their south,” Sforza wondered aloud.
Testi nodded almost in unison with Moscati as he said, “Spanish forces are rumored to be marching on Toulouse.”
Sforza Maria shook his head. How easily it was for the tides to turn. Spain had sat in waiting, happy to blockade the ports in Bordeaux while biding their time for the perfect opportunity to invade. It was a plan that could have easily failed had Louis managed to cling to life another few years.
“How is the Hungarian war with Bohemia progressing?” Sforza asked, feeling like he should do something to help the French out but seeing the futility of it and not wanting to be confronted with any more dire news in regards to his relatives.
Moscati looked down at the parchments he carried with him to every meeting, “Emperor Premysl Otakar has surrendered to Hungary yet again, your grace.”
“Such a shame,” sighed Sforza Maria relieved that the Emperor continued to lose more and more power. Surely the Princes would eventually see the light and elect a leader with more power to protect the integrity of the Empire, as the Bohemians continued to lose more and more ground. “What were the terms?”
“Premysl ceded Breslau, and renounced his claims to Ratibor which King Albert von Wittelsbach stole in the last invasion during Emperor Jiri’s reign.”
At least it wasn’t all bad news on this day. There was surely one thing to be happy about. Not that Sforza Maria disdained Premysl Otakar as much as his late brother Jiri, but nevertheless the uneasy truce between the new Emperor and Milan would be made less of a threat the weaker Bohemia became. So it was in short the most welcome news of the day, and the best way to end the rather short council meeting.
~~~~~
A few years prior to all of this the Duke Giulio da Montefeltro, the man who had broken the family’s sacred trust with Milan and the Sforza died from a fever. His son Francesco Ubaldo was also sickly, and died a few short days after Giulio. With no direct male issue to the Duchy of Urbino, and the nobility still smarting from the destruction brought upon their lands by Giovanni Sfroza would allow Giulio’s daughter Giovanna da Montefeltro to assume the role of Duchess. She was the first female ruler in Italy, and having to quash several uprisings her reign started out bleak at best.Her position was precarious; Naples was back on the upswing, and blustering to reclaim their lost territories. Milan to her north was at peace and avoiding greater conflict with the major powers of Europe, as Sforza Maria carefully steered his realm’s course through the Habsburg-Sforza Wars. Her advisors continually reminded her that Milan cared little for what happened on the other side of the Alps, so long as the powers that be never cross into Milan, and therefore into Italy. She was convinced that Sforza was biding his time before striking the Armata di Lombardia south. He desired Rome, or so she was informed, more than any other possession.
With that in mind and with nowhere else to turn, Giovanna reached out the Habsburgs. She made overtures promising to be an ally and to put a check upon the Sforza ambition for unification of the peninsula. At first the Habsburgs were unwilling to sign onto such a treaty, as they knew the Montefeltros had strong blood ties with the Sforza, even if they had recently had a falling out. But, when France declared war in an effort to conquer the Low Countries, the Archduke would rethink his previous answer. Sure Milan was not yet involved in this most recent conflict, but surely they eventually would join France one day. Therefore, needing a useful ally to Milan’s south the Habsburgs finally relented and welcomed the arms of Duchess Giovanna da Montefeltro into the Spanish-Austrian Axis.
This alliance, would also usher in a new era of Francesco Sforza’s previous version of Italian Balance of Power; only this time it would not be focused solely upon Italy, but rather on the whole of Western Europe. A time where conquest, would likely bring the arms of every major power in the region, it also came at a time when France was reeling from the instability following Louis XII’s death. As Giovanna’s men rushed to France to aid their newly minted allies, Sforza Maria, sat in Milan, knowing his time to strike south was nearing.
~~~~~
In 1533, the reports from France seemed to spell the fate of the newly crowned King Henri II, Spain had already sacked Toulouse, and with the forces of Urbino arriving in the Low Countries to bolster the Austrian defenses the tide had officially turned. France was quickly being drained of their youth; a generation bloodied and put to their graves in a war that was seemingly a guaranteed defeat.
Sforza Maria heard the reports and shook his head; perhaps the fall of France was inevitable. He may very well have made a horrible decision by not honoring Spain’s call to war, and invading France just as his supposed descendant Caesar had. Nevertheless he had other plans, plans which had little to do with the major powers. He was still hell-bent on striking at the Papacy, and getting the Pope under his thumb. But to succeed in that endeavor he needed time, and needed to be sure that the Armata was prepared to launch a lightning quick invasion of Bologna that could be wrapped up before any Catholic ruler in Europe even knew what was happening.
To do that, he needed time, and intended to allow the powers to bloody themselves further. In the meantime, Sforza Maria enacted the Act of Uniformity to further usher in a period of coercing the Protestant populations of Treviso and Verona back into the fold of the Catholic Church. He would also order the building of several courthouses in various provinces appointing magistrates to make judgments for him directly rather than the nobility. Since the Sacking of the Barons by his father Giovanni, there had been a remarkable lessening of justice in the provinces. So, instituting courts and judicial procedures was the ideal solution to the problem.
The rest of the year would pass by in much the same fashion as the previous six years, in peace and tranquility. That is until a merchant from the trade fleet would inform Moscati, late in December of 1533 that the Egyptian Mamluks had built a massive fleet, and their armies previously stationed closer to the Ottomon border had made camp outside Alexandria in preparation to board their invasion fleets. When Moscati inquired about the Egyptian’s target the merchant informed him that he had overheard rumors of an invasion of Sardinia or possibly Urbino’s possessions in the far south.
Moscati was concerned with the lack of information and refused to pass word along to Sforza Maria about it. Instead, he elected to wait and see. Hoping that it was just rumors from an exotic land from a man not able to understand the ways of their exotic culture. But, by February of 1534, the information on the Mamluk’s target was confirmed, it seemed they intended upon conquering the newly independent Kingdom of Sardinia. With the intention of using it as a foothold into acquiring more land in Italy and beyond.
~~~~~
A brief note now
I keep alluding to how disastrously this war is going and it would have made some decent narrative things IF I had been able to really see everything that was going on. However most of the battles were fought under the fog of war in the Low Countries. So in a lot of ways the disaster that is occurring in France has been background noise in a rather peaceful Milan, that is waiting for its moment to ensnare the rest of Italy.
So I have a screenshot that will show just how disastrous this war really has been for France, and how bloody it has been for both Spain and Austria as well.
France is obviously nowhere to be seen on the list of biggest Armies, and Milan our favorite country has a slight lead over the Habsburgs in Austria and even Spain. I couldn't find a logical way to include that shot in the narrative, but wanted it in this update as well as that's the current state of the largest armies in the world as of the year 1533.
And to finish this brief note, right now this may have a quasi-historybook feel to it, mostly due to me wanting to propel the timeline forward as there isn't much to flesh out at the moment. We are nearing a stage that will receive a lot of fleshing out, as well as finally getting some better looks at three brothers of Sforza Maria's: Matteo, Galeazzo Maria, and Cosimo. So big things are underway, just trying to reach that point.
Sweden is way over its force limit! 
Is Austria weaker than normal? otherwise it may appear as if recovery from your recent war is still on the uptick...
Looks like an Ottoman-Mamluk War would be fun, and surprisingly even-keel for domination of the Middle East!
Is Austria weaker than normal? otherwise it may appear as if recovery from your recent war is still on the uptick...Looks like an Ottoman-Mamluk War would be fun, and surprisingly even-keel for domination of the Middle East!
Sweden is way over its force limit!
Looks like an Ottoman-Mamluk War would be fun, and surprisingly even-keel for domination of the Middle East!
Yeah no idea why Sweden is that far over force limit, they did recently integrate Norway though so that may be the reason? Haven't disbanded the Norwegian armies or something maybe...
And yeah Austria is very weak at the moment, mostly due to the high amount of men they've lost in the Low Countries against France, their manpower pool has been drained quite a bit because of that, so their forces aren't recovering. Spain is in a better position since they waited for France to get bloodied before invading the South. Once Spain invaded, the French tried to rush troops to defend and they were just completely destroyed. In fact France has an army of 0 at this point in time!
In a way I kind of wish England would attack France as this is probably their last chance to gain back their former possessions.
An Otto-Mamluk war would be a nasty one! In fact there will be one eventually, but later on in the AAR. Also I think Moscovy is almost to the point of being able to form Russia. So some big things going on outside our peaceful Italian Peninsula.
Yeah no idea why Sweden is that far over force limit, they did recently integrate Norway though so that may be the reason? Haven't disbanded the Norwegian armies or something maybe...
And yeah Austria is very weak at the moment, mostly due to the high amount of men they've lost in the Low Countries against France, their manpower pool has been drained quite a bit because of that, so their forces aren't recovering. Spain is in a better position since they waited for France to get bloodied before invading the South. Once Spain invaded, the French tried to rush troops to defend and they were just completely destroyed. In fact France has an army of 0 at this point in time!
In a way I kind of wish England would attack France as this is probably their last chance to gain back their former possessions.
An Otto-Mamluk war would be a nasty one! In fact there will be one eventually, but later on in the AAR. Also I think Moscovy is almost to the point of being able to form Russia. So some big things going on outside our peaceful Italian Peninsula.
Great Northern War redo between Sweden and Muscovy/Russia for superpower status in Europe!
Chapter LII – Henri’s Defeat
@volksmarschal: That could very well happen too!
After word of the Mamluk incursion morphed from insane rumor to undeniable truth the Milanese populace would descend into a state of fear. Too long had they worried about the aggressive French (prior to the reunion of the Sforza family alliance) and that of the power-hungry Habsburgs of Austria. That fear at the onset of the First Campaign of the Habsburg-Sforza Wars, the populace had been happy, knowing that they no longer need fear the destruction that either side could wrought upon them. It had been truly a false sense of security, one of which was being snapped back to reality with the fear of a Mahommedan super-power appearing off the coast of Italy proper.
The Milanese would question why Sforza Maria, their esteemed Duke refused to involve himself on behalf of fledgling Sardinia. Surely repelling the Egyptian invasion was God’s work and a good way to utilize the dormant Armata di Lombardia. The Duke was not one to throw his hat in the ring against a force such as the Mamluks. Especially since France was on its knees as King Henri watched his kingdom torn asunder. Essentially there was absolutely nothing Sforza could do to help the Sardinians, save to offer them a prayer at night, in hopes that the Mahommedans would not slaughter everyone after their conquest.
With the fact that the Mamluks were going to conquer Sardinia, with their ships off the coast of Italy blockading the small island nation, the Armata di Lombardia, under Captain-General Testi’s orders began drilling and placed on alert. In May of 1534 they would be ordered to march to Parma just in case the Muslim invaders decided to turn their eyes to the peninsula itself.
As fear crept deeper back into the Milanese psyche the peasants in the countryside far removed from the fears that circulated throughout the urban areas, were experiencing the best harvest ever. While the peasants celebrated the Great Bounty of 1534, Spanish troops were sweeping through ancient Aquitaine as Habsburg forces began marching back through Central Germany to their homes in Austria, knowing full well the war was in its final days before Henri II would have to surrender. It was the Fall of 1534 that fear would momentarily retreat from the minds of the Milanese as the celebrations were held.
Sforza looked up, folding his hands together as he rested his chin upon them. “Really?”
“Yes my lord.”
“They’re Siena’s only ally, correct?” Sforza Maria continued to question.
Moscati coughed obviously thinking, “I believe so, why?”
“Something I spoke to Lamberti at length about…” Sforza Maria trailed off as he wondered if now would be the time to strike out against the Papacy. Force the Pope to kneel before him and therefore attempt to ensnare the rest of Christendom.
“Which was what?”
“Taking Bologna, and forcing the Pope to swear allegiance,” the Duke answered.
“The repercussions could be seeping, Lamberti I am guessing cautioned against it?”
“Yes he did,” Sforza said, thinking.
“And you want to declare war against Siena, because the Pope is their only ally, and therefore we have two minor principalities to fight to our South, rather than the Swiss and the Venetians?”
Sforza nodded, “That is the intent yes, and we need to grab Siena before Urbino decides to take it.”
As Sforza began explaining his reasoning for wanting to grab Siena as well, the door swung open and Galeazzo Maria stormed in his face red with his notorious anger. “Brother!” he yelled, causing Sforza Maria to bolt up from his seat, and Moscati to step back several paces. “The French, our dandified flower loving cousin Henri II has surrendered to the despicable Austrians and Spaniards.”
Matteo came in shortly thereafter embarrassed, “I’m sorry, brother, I tried to talk him out of it…”
Sforza Maria shook his head, his own anger boiling up, and even embarrassed by the womanly ways that Matteo tended to portray. Matteo was now 26 and as fragile and slim as a girl, there had been some whispers from Moscati and a few others that suggested Matteo may very well be a sodomite. Since Sforza only had daughters to this point it meant that Matteo was for all intents and purposes the heir, which forced the Duke to work overtime to quell the rumors of sodomy. Should those rumors ever prove true though, well that was a thought that Sforza Maria wished to never be confronted by.
“What did they give up?” Sforza asked once the rush of annoyance and anger subsided.
Galeazzo snarled, “Everything! They gave Toulouse to Spain, that ancient stronghold, Hainaut and Luxembourg to Austria, and they even were compelled to grant Brittany sovereignty over their ancient lands.”
Sforza Maria cursed under his breath, it was a worse peace than anyone could have imagined. Albeit it was better than France surrendering much of their southern lands to Spain, but still it was drastic, punitive, and disastrous, especially considering that Henri II was only a few short years into his tenure. The Duke of Milan sunk back into his chair, brooding, angry, disappointed, a full range of emotions coursing through his veins. If anyone was to stop the Spanish-Austrian alliance, Milan would have to be compelled into taking up arms with France should there be a second campaign in the future.
“Henri’s going to have a hard time holding onto the throne after that,” Moscati mused. “Would you like me to send some agents to Paris, your grace?”
“Of course, do that,” Sforza answered.
"We should just rid the world of Henri and take France as ours,” Galeazzo snarled again. “He’s weak the French Sforza’s are weak.”
Sforza Maria shook his, as Captain-General Testi, strode into the room. “My lord, some news to brighten your day, Naples has declared war upon Urbino, and is seeking to reclaim the lands that were once theirs.”
The Duke sighed, “That is good news. Urbino won’t be compelled to defend Siena at the last minute. Testi, return to the Armata in Parma and bring them back to Milan to drill, and we will begin laying out our plans for an invasion of the Romagna later this year.”
“Very well, your grace,” Testi said with a bow and left.
Moscati left on Testi’s heels and Sforza Maria shot a disgusted look at Matteo who retreated out of the room shortly after, leaving Galeazzo and the Duke alone. The Duke sized his brother who was 12 years his junior up, the boy was becoming an imposing man, and those boyhood tantrums had turned into the rage of a bull. As the two stood there Sforza Maria saw in his younger brother what everyone else had, his grandfather, the maniacal Duke Galeazzo Maria. Although the cunning and love for arts and music that their grandfather had seemed lacking in the young Galeazzo, who at this moment seemed intent to use brute force to accomplish his desires. Perhaps, Sforza Maria surmised in those moments that he should try to lift the veil and see if Galeazzo would make a better heir than the suspected sodomite Matteo.
@volksmarschal: That could very well happen too!
~~~~~
Chapter LII – Henri’s Defeat
Chapter LII – Henri’s Defeat
After word of the Mamluk incursion morphed from insane rumor to undeniable truth the Milanese populace would descend into a state of fear. Too long had they worried about the aggressive French (prior to the reunion of the Sforza family alliance) and that of the power-hungry Habsburgs of Austria. That fear at the onset of the First Campaign of the Habsburg-Sforza Wars, the populace had been happy, knowing that they no longer need fear the destruction that either side could wrought upon them. It had been truly a false sense of security, one of which was being snapped back to reality with the fear of a Mahommedan super-power appearing off the coast of Italy proper.
The Milanese would question why Sforza Maria, their esteemed Duke refused to involve himself on behalf of fledgling Sardinia. Surely repelling the Egyptian invasion was God’s work and a good way to utilize the dormant Armata di Lombardia. The Duke was not one to throw his hat in the ring against a force such as the Mamluks. Especially since France was on its knees as King Henri watched his kingdom torn asunder. Essentially there was absolutely nothing Sforza could do to help the Sardinians, save to offer them a prayer at night, in hopes that the Mahommedans would not slaughter everyone after their conquest.
With the fact that the Mamluks were going to conquer Sardinia, with their ships off the coast of Italy blockading the small island nation, the Armata di Lombardia, under Captain-General Testi’s orders began drilling and placed on alert. In May of 1534 they would be ordered to march to Parma just in case the Muslim invaders decided to turn their eyes to the peninsula itself.
As fear crept deeper back into the Milanese psyche the peasants in the countryside far removed from the fears that circulated throughout the urban areas, were experiencing the best harvest ever. While the peasants celebrated the Great Bounty of 1534, Spanish troops were sweeping through ancient Aquitaine as Habsburg forces began marching back through Central Germany to their homes in Austria, knowing full well the war was in its final days before Henri II would have to surrender. It was the Fall of 1534 that fear would momentarily retreat from the minds of the Milanese as the celebrations were held.
~~~~~
“Sire, the Pope has died, and the college has elected Callistus IV,” Moscati said as he entered Sforza’s chambers in mid-February of 1535. Sforza looked up, folding his hands together as he rested his chin upon them. “Really?”
“Yes my lord.”
“They’re Siena’s only ally, correct?” Sforza Maria continued to question.
Moscati coughed obviously thinking, “I believe so, why?”
“Something I spoke to Lamberti at length about…” Sforza Maria trailed off as he wondered if now would be the time to strike out against the Papacy. Force the Pope to kneel before him and therefore attempt to ensnare the rest of Christendom.
“Which was what?”
“Taking Bologna, and forcing the Pope to swear allegiance,” the Duke answered.
“The repercussions could be seeping, Lamberti I am guessing cautioned against it?”
“Yes he did,” Sforza said, thinking.
“And you want to declare war against Siena, because the Pope is their only ally, and therefore we have two minor principalities to fight to our South, rather than the Swiss and the Venetians?”
Sforza nodded, “That is the intent yes, and we need to grab Siena before Urbino decides to take it.”
As Sforza began explaining his reasoning for wanting to grab Siena as well, the door swung open and Galeazzo Maria stormed in his face red with his notorious anger. “Brother!” he yelled, causing Sforza Maria to bolt up from his seat, and Moscati to step back several paces. “The French, our dandified flower loving cousin Henri II has surrendered to the despicable Austrians and Spaniards.”
Matteo came in shortly thereafter embarrassed, “I’m sorry, brother, I tried to talk him out of it…”
Sforza Maria shook his head, his own anger boiling up, and even embarrassed by the womanly ways that Matteo tended to portray. Matteo was now 26 and as fragile and slim as a girl, there had been some whispers from Moscati and a few others that suggested Matteo may very well be a sodomite. Since Sforza only had daughters to this point it meant that Matteo was for all intents and purposes the heir, which forced the Duke to work overtime to quell the rumors of sodomy. Should those rumors ever prove true though, well that was a thought that Sforza Maria wished to never be confronted by.
“What did they give up?” Sforza asked once the rush of annoyance and anger subsided.
Galeazzo snarled, “Everything! They gave Toulouse to Spain, that ancient stronghold, Hainaut and Luxembourg to Austria, and they even were compelled to grant Brittany sovereignty over their ancient lands.”
Sforza Maria cursed under his breath, it was a worse peace than anyone could have imagined. Albeit it was better than France surrendering much of their southern lands to Spain, but still it was drastic, punitive, and disastrous, especially considering that Henri II was only a few short years into his tenure. The Duke of Milan sunk back into his chair, brooding, angry, disappointed, a full range of emotions coursing through his veins. If anyone was to stop the Spanish-Austrian alliance, Milan would have to be compelled into taking up arms with France should there be a second campaign in the future.
“Henri’s going to have a hard time holding onto the throne after that,” Moscati mused. “Would you like me to send some agents to Paris, your grace?”
“Of course, do that,” Sforza answered.
"We should just rid the world of Henri and take France as ours,” Galeazzo snarled again. “He’s weak the French Sforza’s are weak.”
Sforza Maria shook his, as Captain-General Testi, strode into the room. “My lord, some news to brighten your day, Naples has declared war upon Urbino, and is seeking to reclaim the lands that were once theirs.”
The Duke sighed, “That is good news. Urbino won’t be compelled to defend Siena at the last minute. Testi, return to the Armata in Parma and bring them back to Milan to drill, and we will begin laying out our plans for an invasion of the Romagna later this year.”
“Very well, your grace,” Testi said with a bow and left.
Moscati left on Testi’s heels and Sforza Maria shot a disgusted look at Matteo who retreated out of the room shortly after, leaving Galeazzo and the Duke alone. The Duke sized his brother who was 12 years his junior up, the boy was becoming an imposing man, and those boyhood tantrums had turned into the rage of a bull. As the two stood there Sforza Maria saw in his younger brother what everyone else had, his grandfather, the maniacal Duke Galeazzo Maria. Although the cunning and love for arts and music that their grandfather had seemed lacking in the young Galeazzo, who at this moment seemed intent to use brute force to accomplish his desires. Perhaps, Sforza Maria surmised in those moments that he should try to lift the veil and see if Galeazzo would make a better heir than the suspected sodomite Matteo.
~~~~~
The rest of the year of 1535 would pass in relative quiet, with Milan still profiting from the Great Bounty of the previous year. This year’s harvest however was nowhere near as grand. The Armata di Lombardia would once again arrive to Milan and begin drilling as Testi and Sforza Maria began discussing plans for the invasion of Siena and the Romagna. It was then in September that word would come that the Mamluks had conquered and annexed the island of Sardinia, placing them off of Italy’s coast, making Milan’s position once again precarious at best.
Truly Milan must intercede and retake Sardinia for the sake of Christendom. Spain, France, and Austria should rally behind Sforza and throw back the Mohammedans!
Indeed, the moslem menace needs to be stopped at all costs, even truce between old enemies.
Caught up again, tnick. Great stuff as ever! I'm especially liking the dichotomy between the French and Italian branches of the family. That said, I get the impression that this current peace shan't be lasting too long. Especially when one considers the new arrivals in Sardinia...
A very interesting update, potential conquests in the south, a Muslim foe just off the mainland and the ruthless defeat of France. The world appears to be changing!
We will look into stopping them, but unfortunately not really in a great position to challenge them yet. Especially with France being down for the count. I do wish the Catholic Powers would rally around us to throw them out of Sardinia, but in this world I don't see Spain nor Austria marching beside the Sforza anytime soon.
Great to see you caught up again! The two branches of the family haven't exactly been working in unison yet. Its been a rocky relationship thus far, hopefully we can get our mutual goals in alignment so things will smooth out
But you are right the current peace is almost over, since the major powers are all licking their wounds its time for some good ole consolidation.
The world is definitely changing, and perhaps not to Milan's benefit. Beginning to think I may have made a huge mistake in ending the Spanish Alliance, just to keep the alliance with the French Sforzas. But time will tell if that gamble pays off or not!
Chapter LIII – The Milanese Conquest of Siena
While the Armata di Lombardia drilled in preparation for the invasion of Bologna, Captain-General Testi would travel to Modena to oversee the construction of new fortifications as well as the raising of a new Armata comprised of 6,000. While Testi carried out his tasks in Modena, Milanese merchants would bring back some interesting ideas about ship technology they had learn from various ports around the world. While the improvements were being integrated into Milan’s ports at Parma, Emperor Premysl Otakar named Luneburg one of the stalwart Protestant nations in the Empire, as a Prince-Elector.
By October of 1536, Testi sent word to Sforza Maria in Milan that the newly minted Armata di Modena was organized and prepared to march south. With the preparations for war complete, and both the Armatas ready for war, Duke Sforza Maria would send the formal declaration of war to the Duke of Siena hoping that the Pope in Bologna would honor his alliance. On October 22, Sforza Maria alongside Galeazzo Maria, and their youngest brother Cosimo, would begin marching the Armata di Lombardia to Bologna, all while Testi began his trek south to occupy Siena.
~~~~~“Why did Matteo not want to come?” Cosimo asked as he rode beside Galeazzo Maria and Duke Sforza on the way to Bologna.
“He needed to stay to oversee the day-to-day business of court,” Sforza replied trying to avoid the question, or at least answering it truthfully.
Galeazzo cackled, “Cosimo! Dearest brother, you know why our dainty sister isn’t riding to war.”
It was Cosimo’s turn to laugh, “Our sister! You are right Azzo, women have a disdain for war. Matti would probably faint at the first sight of blood!”
“It’s a good thing then that Matti has a prick and does not suffer from the monthly,” Galeazzo quipped as the two burst into more laughter.
The joking was to the disgust of Sforza Maria however, “Quit you two, he is our brother and requires our love and respect.”
“Oh come on,” sneered Galeazzo, “you know he hasn’t left that bard’s house in weeks. People say they can hear the moans and screams of passion late all through the night.”
All the Duke could do at that moment was to turn his steed around and ride away from the two hellions, not wanting to have his opinion of Matteo sullied any further than it already was. It wasn’t the first time on the march to Bologna that Sforza had his anger tested by Cosimo and Galeazzo. In fact the first time came before they even marched out of Milan. He had intended and even ordered Cosimo to stay behind in Milan knowing full well that Matteo’s lust for men would infringe on his abilities to ensure that the court ran smoothly. Sure enough, however, Galeazzo would tell Cosimo that it would be alright for him to ride along with directly going against the wishes of their elder brother and Duke.
As dusk began to settle that evening the Armata made camp still about five to seven days out of Bologna. Cosimo and Galeazzo stayed away from the Duke that evening knowing full well they had pushed his limits earlier in the day. They sat around their campfire, talking and joking and giddy for their first taste of combat, as young men with visions of grandeur so often are before the realities of such blood-spilling sink in.
“What should we do after the war, brother?” Cosimo asked finding a moment in the lapse of laughter and jokes to sneak in something more serious.
Galeazzo shrugged as he yawned, “Harass Matteo into an early grave.”
Cosimo chuckled at this, “Seriously, Azzo, Sforza Maria will surely have an heir when he weds his betrothed. And even if he has no heir that leaves us with Matteo.”
“God save Milan if that misfortune comes to pass,” grumbled Galeazzo.
“We should become Condottiere like Francesco and Alessandro, get paid for our services, adventure carve ourselves out our own land.”
Galeazzo smiled, “Or take our mercenaries to Portugal to tame the exotic lands across the seas.”
“Carve out our own empire in those lands,” Cosimo said dreamily as Galeazzo laid back, watching the flickering of the flames.
“Truly, brother, all I really desire is to kill Habsburgs and see the destruction of Spain. Anything else just wouldn’t be fulfilling.”
Cosimo watched his brother drift off to sleep, not wholly surprised that he desired such vengeance. But in Cosimo’s heart of hearts, he yearned to become a Condottiere much like his great-grandfather Francesco had started his career. Unfortunately Italy was no longer friendly confines for the hiring of mercenary captains as the peninsula slowly solidified into a few powers each vying for hegemony over the land. Yet, there were always options, and as he mulled different ideas in his head, even the exotic idea of volunteering to go west for Portugal. He would drift off to sleep dreaming those thoughts, imagining an empire all of his own in one of those distant mythical lands.
The Armata di Lombardia would arrive outside the walls of Bologna in early November of 1536. As Sforza Maria laid siege to the Pope’s city, Captain-General Testi laid siege to Siena in what was promising to be a quick and easy war, completely without any battles and therefore minimal bloodshed. While the two Armatas besieged their foes Naples was busy occupying more and more land belonging to Urbino. The Montefeltros being recently allied with Austria and the Habsburgs would call their new Austrian friends into the war with Naples. However, the Austrians were too busy to help as they declared war on the expansionist Wittelsbachs of Hungary. This however, did not stop Austria from requesting military access to march through Milan to help Urbino from the Neapolitan conquerors. Sforza Maria declined the request, not trusting the Austrians one bit, however, he would extend access to the Neapolitans so that they could strike North against Austria should they wish. These were just a few of the things that occurred during the sieges of Bologna and Siena.
Come June of 1537, Pope Callistus IV had had enough of the siege. On June 12, he rode out bearing a white flag. Trumpets from the Milanese encampment blared as Sforza Maria rode forth to greet the Holy Father, to hear his terms. The two met in the open field, their steeds brought face to face as the mid-day sun beat down upon them.
“Will you Sforza’s stop at nothing? Do you not hold anything sacred?” Callistus asked.
“You merely picked the wrong side, your holiness,” Sforza Maria replied. “Let this be a lesson that you need our protection to survive this blood-thirsty world.”
The Pope smacked his lips as he stared ahead surveying the 20,000 man Armata di Lombardia, “I never imagined the day would come when our sweet Italy would see one prince hold as much power and strength as you. Before long all we will have is Milan and Urbino or Naples. Who do you think will win the war to our south?”
“Naples no doubt,” Sforza Maria answered.
“Hmm,” Callistus looked at his would be conqueror as he thought. “I am willing to bend my knee to you Sforza. However, I ask that you restore us to St. Peter’s.”
“That will take time, your holiness, but you need not bend your knee in public to me. There is no reason for me to disgrace the sanctity of the Lord’s vicar on Earth. But you will owe your allegiance and undying support to my family from this day forward. And perhaps if you are loyal you will one day return to the Vatican.”
“Perhaps one day I will place the Iron Crown of Italy upon your brow then, dear Sforza,” Callistus replied smiling now. Becoming de facto vassal of Milan wasn’t easy to take, but if it guaranteed Bologna and the Papacy protection from other powers outside of Italy than it was a pill he was willing to swallow. It was also the start of a rather unpromising tenure for Callistus, who already in his two short years as Pope had seen the sacking of Sardinia by the Mamluks, as well as the ultimate humiliation of becoming a vassal to the Sforzas.
The Armata di Lombardia would camp outside Bologna as well as having several thousand men billeted in the town while Sforza Maria was treated as a King at the Papal palace. During the intermittent conversations through the summer between Callistus and the Duke of Milan, he would come to agreement with the Pope on the passing of the Advancement of Religion Act, as well as allowing the Pope to send a papal team to Treviso to begin converting the populace of the wayward county.
In November of that year Siena would fall to Captain-General Testi, securing their annexation for his lord and sovereign Duke Sforza Maria. Thus, the quick war of conquest came to an end just 13 months after the two Armatas had marched to war.
Chapter LIII – The Milanese Conquest of Siena
While the Armata di Lombardia drilled in preparation for the invasion of Bologna, Captain-General Testi would travel to Modena to oversee the construction of new fortifications as well as the raising of a new Armata comprised of 6,000. While Testi carried out his tasks in Modena, Milanese merchants would bring back some interesting ideas about ship technology they had learn from various ports around the world. While the improvements were being integrated into Milan’s ports at Parma, Emperor Premysl Otakar named Luneburg one of the stalwart Protestant nations in the Empire, as a Prince-Elector.
By October of 1536, Testi sent word to Sforza Maria in Milan that the newly minted Armata di Modena was organized and prepared to march south. With the preparations for war complete, and both the Armatas ready for war, Duke Sforza Maria would send the formal declaration of war to the Duke of Siena hoping that the Pope in Bologna would honor his alliance. On October 22, Sforza Maria alongside Galeazzo Maria, and their youngest brother Cosimo, would begin marching the Armata di Lombardia to Bologna, all while Testi began his trek south to occupy Siena.
~~~~~
“He needed to stay to oversee the day-to-day business of court,” Sforza replied trying to avoid the question, or at least answering it truthfully.
Galeazzo cackled, “Cosimo! Dearest brother, you know why our dainty sister isn’t riding to war.”
It was Cosimo’s turn to laugh, “Our sister! You are right Azzo, women have a disdain for war. Matti would probably faint at the first sight of blood!”
“It’s a good thing then that Matti has a prick and does not suffer from the monthly,” Galeazzo quipped as the two burst into more laughter.
The joking was to the disgust of Sforza Maria however, “Quit you two, he is our brother and requires our love and respect.”
“Oh come on,” sneered Galeazzo, “you know he hasn’t left that bard’s house in weeks. People say they can hear the moans and screams of passion late all through the night.”
All the Duke could do at that moment was to turn his steed around and ride away from the two hellions, not wanting to have his opinion of Matteo sullied any further than it already was. It wasn’t the first time on the march to Bologna that Sforza had his anger tested by Cosimo and Galeazzo. In fact the first time came before they even marched out of Milan. He had intended and even ordered Cosimo to stay behind in Milan knowing full well that Matteo’s lust for men would infringe on his abilities to ensure that the court ran smoothly. Sure enough, however, Galeazzo would tell Cosimo that it would be alright for him to ride along with directly going against the wishes of their elder brother and Duke.
As dusk began to settle that evening the Armata made camp still about five to seven days out of Bologna. Cosimo and Galeazzo stayed away from the Duke that evening knowing full well they had pushed his limits earlier in the day. They sat around their campfire, talking and joking and giddy for their first taste of combat, as young men with visions of grandeur so often are before the realities of such blood-spilling sink in.
“What should we do after the war, brother?” Cosimo asked finding a moment in the lapse of laughter and jokes to sneak in something more serious.
Galeazzo shrugged as he yawned, “Harass Matteo into an early grave.”
Cosimo chuckled at this, “Seriously, Azzo, Sforza Maria will surely have an heir when he weds his betrothed. And even if he has no heir that leaves us with Matteo.”
“God save Milan if that misfortune comes to pass,” grumbled Galeazzo.
“We should become Condottiere like Francesco and Alessandro, get paid for our services, adventure carve ourselves out our own land.”
Galeazzo smiled, “Or take our mercenaries to Portugal to tame the exotic lands across the seas.”
“Carve out our own empire in those lands,” Cosimo said dreamily as Galeazzo laid back, watching the flickering of the flames.
“Truly, brother, all I really desire is to kill Habsburgs and see the destruction of Spain. Anything else just wouldn’t be fulfilling.”
Cosimo watched his brother drift off to sleep, not wholly surprised that he desired such vengeance. But in Cosimo’s heart of hearts, he yearned to become a Condottiere much like his great-grandfather Francesco had started his career. Unfortunately Italy was no longer friendly confines for the hiring of mercenary captains as the peninsula slowly solidified into a few powers each vying for hegemony over the land. Yet, there were always options, and as he mulled different ideas in his head, even the exotic idea of volunteering to go west for Portugal. He would drift off to sleep dreaming those thoughts, imagining an empire all of his own in one of those distant mythical lands.
~~~~~
Map of Bologna sometime around the XVI & XVII Centuries
Map of Bologna sometime around the XVI & XVII Centuries
The Armata di Lombardia would arrive outside the walls of Bologna in early November of 1536. As Sforza Maria laid siege to the Pope’s city, Captain-General Testi laid siege to Siena in what was promising to be a quick and easy war, completely without any battles and therefore minimal bloodshed. While the two Armatas besieged their foes Naples was busy occupying more and more land belonging to Urbino. The Montefeltros being recently allied with Austria and the Habsburgs would call their new Austrian friends into the war with Naples. However, the Austrians were too busy to help as they declared war on the expansionist Wittelsbachs of Hungary. This however, did not stop Austria from requesting military access to march through Milan to help Urbino from the Neapolitan conquerors. Sforza Maria declined the request, not trusting the Austrians one bit, however, he would extend access to the Neapolitans so that they could strike North against Austria should they wish. These were just a few of the things that occurred during the sieges of Bologna and Siena.
Come June of 1537, Pope Callistus IV had had enough of the siege. On June 12, he rode out bearing a white flag. Trumpets from the Milanese encampment blared as Sforza Maria rode forth to greet the Holy Father, to hear his terms. The two met in the open field, their steeds brought face to face as the mid-day sun beat down upon them.
“Will you Sforza’s stop at nothing? Do you not hold anything sacred?” Callistus asked.
“You merely picked the wrong side, your holiness,” Sforza Maria replied. “Let this be a lesson that you need our protection to survive this blood-thirsty world.”
The Pope smacked his lips as he stared ahead surveying the 20,000 man Armata di Lombardia, “I never imagined the day would come when our sweet Italy would see one prince hold as much power and strength as you. Before long all we will have is Milan and Urbino or Naples. Who do you think will win the war to our south?”
“Naples no doubt,” Sforza Maria answered.
“Hmm,” Callistus looked at his would be conqueror as he thought. “I am willing to bend my knee to you Sforza. However, I ask that you restore us to St. Peter’s.”
“That will take time, your holiness, but you need not bend your knee in public to me. There is no reason for me to disgrace the sanctity of the Lord’s vicar on Earth. But you will owe your allegiance and undying support to my family from this day forward. And perhaps if you are loyal you will one day return to the Vatican.”
“Perhaps one day I will place the Iron Crown of Italy upon your brow then, dear Sforza,” Callistus replied smiling now. Becoming de facto vassal of Milan wasn’t easy to take, but if it guaranteed Bologna and the Papacy protection from other powers outside of Italy than it was a pill he was willing to swallow. It was also the start of a rather unpromising tenure for Callistus, who already in his two short years as Pope had seen the sacking of Sardinia by the Mamluks, as well as the ultimate humiliation of becoming a vassal to the Sforzas.
The Armata di Lombardia would camp outside Bologna as well as having several thousand men billeted in the town while Sforza Maria was treated as a King at the Papal palace. During the intermittent conversations through the summer between Callistus and the Duke of Milan, he would come to agreement with the Pope on the passing of the Advancement of Religion Act, as well as allowing the Pope to send a papal team to Treviso to begin converting the populace of the wayward county.
In November of that year Siena would fall to Captain-General Testi, securing their annexation for his lord and sovereign Duke Sforza Maria. Thus, the quick war of conquest came to an end just 13 months after the two Armatas had marched to war.
Congrats on making the Pope your vassal. Now that you've taken Siena, if I'm not mistaken then all you need is Rome to form Italy, is that correct? And, if so, does that mean we will be seeing a final showdown with the southern Italian powers soon? I am definitely looking forward to that.
Actually, I still need Florence, Rome, and Ancona. But I'll have Florence once I finish integrating Pisa.
As far as a final showdown with the southern powers, that is coming, eventually. But since Urbino is allied to Austria, I'm going to have to wait until France is done recovering from getting their butt kicked.
It's nice to see somebody like Galeazzo having such healthy goals and aspirations, that totally doesn't hint at mental illnesses such as psychopathy, misanthropy and lack of grip on reality.
Seriously though, I love that line, I love it. I actually want to see more of this from Galeazzo, I can picture him having have a dark, twisted, sadistic streak in him that he hides under jolly appearances, only letting what comes naturly to him emerge at the most opportune moment. Of course, he would try his best to hide the most sinister parts of his soul from his loved ones as much to protect his own reputation, as well as not to drive them away, he's not a monster, he's just different, but sometimes the mask would crack and show but a glimpse of the darkness that lurks within...
Sorry got a bit excited here. I don't mean to tell you what to do in your own story.
Smart move getting the pontiff in your back pocket, that's a sure away to give more legitimacy to the Sforza's supreme rule over Italia, not that it was ever in question, of course.
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Sforza Papacy begins!
Indeed it has! Now all we need is to be Papal Controller
It's nice to see somebody like Galeazzo having such healthy goals and aspirations, that totally doesn't hint at mental illnesses such as psychopathy, misanthropy and lack of grip on reality.
Seriously though, I love that line, I love it. I actually want to see more of this from Galeazzo, I can picture him having have a dark, twisted, sadistic streak in him that he hides under jolly appearances, only letting what comes naturly to him emerge at the most opportune moment. Of course, he would try his best to hide the most sinister parts of his soul from his loved ones as much to protect his own reputation, as well as not to drive them away, he's not a monster, he's just different, but sometimes the mask would crack and show but a glimpse of the darkness that lurks within...
Sorry got a bit excited here. I don't mean to tell you what to do in your own story.
Smart move getting the pontiff in your back pocket, that's a sure away to give more legitimacy to the Sforza's supreme rule over Italia, not that it was ever in question, of course.
Its great to hear you're enjoying the trajectory of Galeazzo's part in the story, and no worries because what you said was the direction I'm taking him anyway
But he's also more than just a complete psychopath, he has a bond with Cosimo that really can't be broken. And its that relationship that will affect future events in Milan. I'm really happy that fleshing out other people has created enjoyable reading, it was one of the big mistakes I made at the very beginning of this AAR by not fleshing out other important people like say the first Duke Galeazzo, and his son Giovanni. So I'm trying to correct that mistake, and well Galeazzo in a lot of ways is going to be one of the more important people in this story to date, so he deserves a lot of time to focus on.
Other than that having the Pope in our back pocket is definitely a boon! I just wish it had some more effects in game.
But anyway, I really like when readers comment about a certain character like you did
It lets me know that focusing more intently upon a certain aspect of the story will be appreciated so I can kind of maneuver things in a certain direction. Like in my Welf AAR in the Chapter 1165, a lot of readers were wanting to know more about a dwarf named Jourdain who was the former Kaiser's traitorous spymaster, so I focused more on him and was able to give him a nice little story-arc.
Its great to hear you're enjoying the trajectory of Galeazzo's part in the story, and no worries because what you said was the direction I'm taking him anyway
I'm really happy that fleshing out other people has created enjoyable reading, it was one of the big mistakes I made at the very beginning of this AAR by not fleshing out other important people like say the first Duke Galeazzo, and his son Giovanni. So I'm trying to correct that mistake, and well Galeazzo in a lot of ways is going to be one of the more important people in this story to date, so he deserves a lot of time to focus on.
Other than that having the Pope in our back pocket is definitely a boon! I just wish it had some more effects in game.
But anyway, I really like when readers comment about a certain character like you did
Wow... I felt the exact same way about Galeazzo I and Giovanni but I didn't want to upset you. Although, with a second reading helping, I found Galeazzo the first had hidden depths as he revealed himself to be an untrustworthy sort who was full of himself which was a nice change of pace from his father Francesco, the gruff soldier getting used to regalship. I unfortunately can't say the same about Giovanni, he really didn't have much personality to his name.
I'm also very excited very excited that he's going to be the stereotypical "torturing animals and killing whores just for fun" type of guy, a lot of writers don't seem to realize that psychopathy is a condition, not a natural temperament, and that it's not a condition if the victim should suffer from. I want to see how Galeazzo react to the weight of his own disorders as he matures, and how others perceive him. I think you can do something really interesting with him.
I'm not too fussed that the pope doesn't give many bonuses after being vassalised by a fellow catholic, it would give an unfair advantage for Italy players in multiplayer to start with.
I'm intrigued as to how the recent events will affect Milan's diplomatic standing, or more bluntly, will everybody start to hate the Sforza's guts because he attacked the pope or will they start to hate them for working together with the pope to form a united Italia.
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tnick0225 said:
And give the Protestants more reason to hate you and rise in rebellion!