Masters of Milano
January 1st 1520
I am Alexandro Agostino, leading councilor of the milano city council. We are without equal in italy; weare a nation ruled by it's people and that is why we have survived amongst the giants that we are stuck between, France, Austria, Spain. All of them greedy for land and riches. Which we have, thus weare a target. Yet we in theory boast the protection of France, in theory. Many annual ducats are devoted to thi so-called vassalship. We shall have to end it, eventually. In our coffers are 297 000 ducats. Our standing army under the command of field Francesco Sforza is of 5/5, we increase it to 10/8/20. That with a promoting of a bailiff to a tax collector reduce our coffers to 30 000 ducats, now we must search for allies and a way to break our dependance on France...
Allies shall be needed, a natural enemy of France is requiered, Spain and England are our prime targets. Spain in an allaince with Austria and thus we are blocked due to our less than sterling relations with th throne of Hasburg. England though is completly indifferent to us. So steps are proposed through the council to improve our relations with Austria. A royal marriage is deigned with our benefactor and agreed to. Spain is offered a similar arrangement and they too agree. Our efforts to join the Austrian bloc are thwarted as their alliance is filled up. We are alone. As we have always been.
Patience is a virtue yet also fatal when expressed too long. The council is in deep anxiety. We must strike out, but if we do so at the wrong moment, well then our nation shall be no more... A decision si made, when France shall embroil itself in a war with the Austrian-Spanish bloc, we shall declare our self-substance. The year 1521 comes and we hoard our ressources for the upcoming struggles. Preparation is essentiel as we have no room for mistakes. Royal marriages are arranged with Venice and Tuscany. In 1522, a fortification effort is launched by the council backed by private noblemen whose patriotism is expressed by the cost of ducats due for the upgrade of the walls of Lombardy. In march, we reach the stage of high renaissance, Italy is afterall known for it's high culture so it comes to no one's surprise. Feburary 1523, our mechantmens toppled Genoa from their monopoly and placed ourselves in the highest possible position with 5 merchants. On the 19th of the same month, Moldavia, a small state likeour own is gobbled up by the Polish-Lithunian commonwealth. The coming years are those of little import to us, Russia subjecates the tatar tribes, gobbling terriotires and monies are a time. A royal marriage is succesful with Poland. Then in the new year of 1525, the reformation begins as Thurigen and Wurtemberg converts to the Lutheran faith. We are aghast that whole nations are now labeled heretics by the Pope. A schism is too apparent. We decide to not discriminate the protestants as they call themselves in our realm. In march 1526, the Italian alliance of Modena, Tuscany, Genoa and the Order of St-John face off against the Turkish coalition of islam. We are perplexed by the possibility of Turkish rule in Italia. Our fears are realized as Turkish armies as well as Hasfid ones debark on the shores of Genoa and Parma, they defeated. We are hesitant to pursue a decisive policy, caution is decided. In the enw year of 1527, the Swiss nation turns protestant, which gives us a pretext to go after them. We do so. It a chance we cannot pass to accumulate manpower and land we need, and show to the French that we can handle ourselves. The fact that it is one of their former allies is most ironic.
Swiss-Milano War
12 000 new recruits are drawn as soon as the news of Helvetica's turncoat is heard. War is declared on march 17th. We await to the Swiss army to battle in Lombardy as we know that they are deadly in their mountain passes. April 13th, the main Swiss army arrives in Milan, the battle is offered and taken. The Heveltican army admits defeat on may 6th and withdraws in a rout. Our casulties are light while theirs grivieous, we pursue them to the gates of Zurich. We are ocne again engaged in battle on the 11th of june. However the main army is bolstered by 12 000 new recruits, but they are dispacthed to Lombardy with heavy casulties. On August 5th though, Helvitica falls to an assault and ourterritory is doubled yet a loan is taken out to our dire economic status. January 12th 1528, more nations fall to the lutheran heresy; Sweden being the most noticed. Our economy does not improve, even with the cencus taxes; the vassalage fee demanded by France couple with the loan's interests are slowly bankrupting our nation, we must find a way to get out... March 6th, a most disconcerting message is sent to the Milano City Council on the behalf of the King of France and his allies; they offer us equal partnership with them, a brother at arms. The council isan uproar with the issue split down to the middle. I confess that I myself am conflicted, our secret policy behid our friendly and professed servitude has always been to backstab France when she was weakest. I decide and debate most strenduously in the council that we should accept this alliance; it would be simply be a continuation of our policy. The council decides that we shoul accept this alliance for perhaps the French might free us on their own accord; it is a dubious argument at best but fit within my plans so I do not tell him about the greed of Kings, the realpolitics of Europe or that nothing unite apeople more that being strong and that freeing one's vassal is not a show of strengh. Mindless of allthis, the alliance is accepted on the same day.
End of an Era
On march 6th 1528, the end of an era is heralded. Upon our acceptance of being in the Bourbon Alliance, the King of France himself came to the city of Milano and released Milan from the bonds of vassalship to the Kingdom of France. Relations with our former master jumped of course and thus forcedus to reconsider our former policy and our economy was in the shithole, but what the matter, we werefree... And that deserves a good few drinks...
January 1st 1520
I am Alexandro Agostino, leading councilor of the milano city council. We are without equal in italy; weare a nation ruled by it's people and that is why we have survived amongst the giants that we are stuck between, France, Austria, Spain. All of them greedy for land and riches. Which we have, thus weare a target. Yet we in theory boast the protection of France, in theory. Many annual ducats are devoted to thi so-called vassalship. We shall have to end it, eventually. In our coffers are 297 000 ducats. Our standing army under the command of field Francesco Sforza is of 5/5, we increase it to 10/8/20. That with a promoting of a bailiff to a tax collector reduce our coffers to 30 000 ducats, now we must search for allies and a way to break our dependance on France...
Allies shall be needed, a natural enemy of France is requiered, Spain and England are our prime targets. Spain in an allaince with Austria and thus we are blocked due to our less than sterling relations with th throne of Hasburg. England though is completly indifferent to us. So steps are proposed through the council to improve our relations with Austria. A royal marriage is deigned with our benefactor and agreed to. Spain is offered a similar arrangement and they too agree. Our efforts to join the Austrian bloc are thwarted as their alliance is filled up. We are alone. As we have always been.
Patience is a virtue yet also fatal when expressed too long. The council is in deep anxiety. We must strike out, but if we do so at the wrong moment, well then our nation shall be no more... A decision si made, when France shall embroil itself in a war with the Austrian-Spanish bloc, we shall declare our self-substance. The year 1521 comes and we hoard our ressources for the upcoming struggles. Preparation is essentiel as we have no room for mistakes. Royal marriages are arranged with Venice and Tuscany. In 1522, a fortification effort is launched by the council backed by private noblemen whose patriotism is expressed by the cost of ducats due for the upgrade of the walls of Lombardy. In march, we reach the stage of high renaissance, Italy is afterall known for it's high culture so it comes to no one's surprise. Feburary 1523, our mechantmens toppled Genoa from their monopoly and placed ourselves in the highest possible position with 5 merchants. On the 19th of the same month, Moldavia, a small state likeour own is gobbled up by the Polish-Lithunian commonwealth. The coming years are those of little import to us, Russia subjecates the tatar tribes, gobbling terriotires and monies are a time. A royal marriage is succesful with Poland. Then in the new year of 1525, the reformation begins as Thurigen and Wurtemberg converts to the Lutheran faith. We are aghast that whole nations are now labeled heretics by the Pope. A schism is too apparent. We decide to not discriminate the protestants as they call themselves in our realm. In march 1526, the Italian alliance of Modena, Tuscany, Genoa and the Order of St-John face off against the Turkish coalition of islam. We are perplexed by the possibility of Turkish rule in Italia. Our fears are realized as Turkish armies as well as Hasfid ones debark on the shores of Genoa and Parma, they defeated. We are hesitant to pursue a decisive policy, caution is decided. In the enw year of 1527, the Swiss nation turns protestant, which gives us a pretext to go after them. We do so. It a chance we cannot pass to accumulate manpower and land we need, and show to the French that we can handle ourselves. The fact that it is one of their former allies is most ironic.
Swiss-Milano War
12 000 new recruits are drawn as soon as the news of Helvetica's turncoat is heard. War is declared on march 17th. We await to the Swiss army to battle in Lombardy as we know that they are deadly in their mountain passes. April 13th, the main Swiss army arrives in Milan, the battle is offered and taken. The Heveltican army admits defeat on may 6th and withdraws in a rout. Our casulties are light while theirs grivieous, we pursue them to the gates of Zurich. We are ocne again engaged in battle on the 11th of june. However the main army is bolstered by 12 000 new recruits, but they are dispacthed to Lombardy with heavy casulties. On August 5th though, Helvitica falls to an assault and ourterritory is doubled yet a loan is taken out to our dire economic status. January 12th 1528, more nations fall to the lutheran heresy; Sweden being the most noticed. Our economy does not improve, even with the cencus taxes; the vassalage fee demanded by France couple with the loan's interests are slowly bankrupting our nation, we must find a way to get out... March 6th, a most disconcerting message is sent to the Milano City Council on the behalf of the King of France and his allies; they offer us equal partnership with them, a brother at arms. The council isan uproar with the issue split down to the middle. I confess that I myself am conflicted, our secret policy behid our friendly and professed servitude has always been to backstab France when she was weakest. I decide and debate most strenduously in the council that we should accept this alliance; it would be simply be a continuation of our policy. The council decides that we shoul accept this alliance for perhaps the French might free us on their own accord; it is a dubious argument at best but fit within my plans so I do not tell him about the greed of Kings, the realpolitics of Europe or that nothing unite apeople more that being strong and that freeing one's vassal is not a show of strengh. Mindless of allthis, the alliance is accepted on the same day.
End of an Era
On march 6th 1528, the end of an era is heralded. Upon our acceptance of being in the Bourbon Alliance, the King of France himself came to the city of Milano and released Milan from the bonds of vassalship to the Kingdom of France. Relations with our former master jumped of course and thus forcedus to reconsider our former policy and our economy was in the shithole, but what the matter, we werefree... And that deserves a good few drinks...
God bless those French, eh? I s'pose Italy is the next target, ripe and juicy Modena, Tuscany, Venice and the Papal states.