Tver takes on the world - a WC attempt AAR

[Schweiger]

I had managed a World Conquest with Holstein on 1.05 and for three years now I have been attempting the same thing with Tver - most of the time on 1.09 vanilla on very hard/furious. Furious was also the state of my mind during many of these attempts, since I went through every possible failure. Tver is not much heralded as such, but it is in my opinion the hardest state to survive its first 20 years of the 1419-scenario. Even Orleans has better chances. I vowed never to re-load, so when something tragic happens in say 1695, killing all my chances, I had to start anew.

This is the story of how I got closest to World Colorisation - which had been my current goal -, how I failed miserably and how I said goodbye to playing Tver after around 1.000 games with them (950 of them didn't last until 1440).

The starting situation of Tver is the following: It is nested between Moscow in the East, Novgorod in the North, the Hanseatic League in the West and Lithuania in the South. Either of them will steamroll you if they want to. And they want to, as soon as their initial wars between themselves are over. You have no room to maneuver and the Russian Winters will kill off your soldiers very quickly. Very often Moscow or Lithuania will declare war on you before you even got your first diplomat. At first I tried to fight these wars out - later on I immediately resigned when getting such a declaration of war.

This AAR will not be very entertaining, since I only describe everything in technical terms. But there will be some gameplay tips in it, so you might even be interested in reading it.

My planning for the game can roughly be seen in these four phases:
1) Becoming Russia (1419-1520): The key is to take out Novgorod and Moscow ASAP. I should also like to vassalize Lithuania and Sweden and build my own alliance with them.
2) Consolidating (1520-1600): Not much to do but a little colonizing and getting to the Siberian Corridor. It's mostly waiting for Infra 5 (--->Governors) and Land 5 (--->Assaults).
3) Taking out the Pagans (1600-1700): Building up my base of power by annexing every Pagan in the game and building a strong economy with Incan and Aztec gold.
4) World domination (1700-1750): Warring against all European Majors, then Force-Vassalizing them and getting them in my alliance.
5) World conquest (1750-1820): Kicking of the BB Wars by Diplo-Annexing one of my allies, then rolling along.

Essential policy slider settings will be:
- Aristocracy 10 early on, so my BB value revovers quicker. I want to grow and eliminate as many neighbours as possible before kicking off the BB Wars.
- Fully Narrowminded and Serfdom as soon as my empire gets bigger: Stab costs have to be low. Later on I will have to stay above 0 stab to avoid Civil Wars.
- Fully Naval and Free Trade, as soon as I can afford the settlers: I am going for World Colorisation too.
- Fully Centralized soon: Not much to say.
- Offensive 10 and Quality 10 later: I will be lagging in land tech most of the time and will need something to compensate. Unit production costs and manpower pool will by then not be a problem any longer.



+++ Part I - Surviving the early years +++


The Tver army counts 10.000 men initially, which is as much as my treasure allows without overextending myself (supportable ammount at 11k). My treasure counts 100. I have infra and trade 0, but should reach level 1 very quickly. I am a vassal of the Golden Horde. In the West lies another minor fiefdom of the Mongols - Pskov. They are to be my initial victim, since I need money. My first diplomat comes in on Feb 1 1420 - until then it's waiting and watching:

January 2, 1419 : Sweden declared war upon Novgorod.
January 2, 1419 : Denmark joined the war on the same side as Sweden in their war against Novgorod.
January 6, 1419 : Muscowy declared war upon Novgorod.
April 28, 1419 : Poland declared war upon Prussia.
April 28, 1419 : Lithuania joined the war on the same side as Poland in their war against Prussia.
April 28, 1419 : Mecklenburg joined the war on the same side as Prussia in their war against Poland and Lithuania.
April 28, 1419 : Pommern joined the war on the same side as Mecklenburg and Prussia in their war against Poland and Lithuania.
April 28, 1419 : Bremen joined the war on the same side as Mecklenburg, Prussia and Pommern in their war against Poland and Lithuania.
April 28, 1419 : Holstein joined the war on the same side as Mecklenburg, Prussia, Pommern and Bremen in their war against Poland and Lithuania.
April 28, 1419 : Teutonic Order joined the war on the same side as Mecklenburg, Prussia, Pommern, Bremen and Holstein in their war against Poland and Lithuania.
January 23, 1420 : Pskov declared war upon Novgorod.


Around me everybody goes to war against each other. With my diplomat I declare war on Pskov on March 1 and move in against them. I have to cover their one province, so they can't build up any troops besides the initial bunch they levied as they declared war on Novgorod on Jan 23. I also have to time my advance to lose as few man as possible to the harsh winter conditions in Pskov. Pskov had moved onto Novgorod with its army and took some attrition losses there. When I covered their home city, they recalled their army. The initial battle ends in my favor and the Pskov army retreats into Tver. Shortly afterwards I beat their newly-built recruits, who also end up in Tver. While I am besieging Pskov, the enemy besieges Tver. Now and then he comes back to try and lift my siege on his capital, but I beat him back. I use a trick to boost my morale while sieging: Usually your morale will stay on the level it has after a battle while you are sieging. If your victory was close, another attack shortly after will likely drive you off. There is one way to avoid this negative effect: Your army has to move when being attacked. Then the morale will again be at max after your victory and you can go back to sieging. Of course you can't move all of your army since this would mean lifting the siege and allowing the enemy to build new troops. So you cover with one or two regiments and move the rest of the army. I used this strategy to fend of Pskov counter-attacks - they always attacked with low morale while I was nearly at max.

The war against Pskov gives me an additional diplomat per year, so I cancel my vassalization to the Golden Horde in August. Also I reach infra 1 on Nov 1 1420. The war with Pskov goes into the winter of 1420/1421 and I let attrition to its work. While I continue to cover Pskov I make exactly timed attacks on the Pskov-army in Tver, so the bulk of my troops is in my own territory as often as possible on the 1st of each month. This way Pskov takes horrendous attrition losses, while I remain spared. Also I am lucky and capture Pskov on Dec 9 1420 after merely eight months of siege progress. On Feb 15 1421 I rout the enemy's army. The war is won, but I don't make peace yet. I need the diplomats the war is providing me with. I build a bailiff in Tver.

March 1, 1420 : Tver declared war upon Pskov.
March 19, 1420 : We have initiated a siege in Pskov.
March 26, 1420 : We are attacked by hostile armies of Pskov in Pskov.
April 1, 1420 : Tver Army has arrived in Pskov.
April 2, 1420 : We won a battle against Pskov in Pskov.
May 9, 1420 : Tver has been besieged by Pskov
August 11, 1420 : Tver cancelled the Vassalization she had with Golden Horde.
August 18, 1420 : We are attacked by hostile armies of Pskov in Pskov.
August 19, 1420 : We won a battle against Pskov in Pskov.
August 21, 1420 : We are attacked by hostile armies of Pskov in Pskov.
September 1, 1420 : Sweden accepted peace with Novgorod on the following terms : Novgorod pays 45$ in
indemnities. Arkhangelsk to Sweden & Kola to Sweden.
September 2, 1420 : We won a battle against Pskov in Pskov.
November 1, 1420 : Our infrastructure was improved to Early Renaissance (1). Our Bailiffs can now be promoted
to Tax collectors.
December 9, 1420 : We captured the province of Pskov from Pskov
February 13, 1421 : We have engaged hostile armies in Tver.
February 15, 1421 : We won a battle against Pskov in Tver.


It is time to seek an alliance since Moscow will declare war on me soon after ending its current war with Novgorod. My options are the Hanseatic league and the Polish-Lithuanian alliance. I chose the latter - mainly because I prefer the Teutonic order to Lithuania as a potential enemy. Luckily for me Poland accepts my first offer to join its alliance. A foreign drill instructor becomes available (+1 in Offensive and Quality for 200 gold) - later on I will accept such offers, but for now I don't have the coin. While Ryazan, another small Russian principality, gets swallowed by the Golden Horde, Moscow makes peace with Novgorod and declares war on me shortly after. Lithuania dishonors my call to alliance, which leaves me standing alone, since the other members of the alliance (Poland and Brandenburg) can't get through their territory. Again I am lucky: The Lithuanians change their mind and re-join the alliance eight days after the war started.

July 12, 1421 : We went with Decline the Offer in Foreign Drill Instructor Available.
August 4, 1421 : Ryazan accepted peace with Golden Horde on the following terms : Full Annexation of Ryazan by Golden Horde

August 4, 1421 : Tver entered a Military Alliance with Poland, Lithuania and Brandenburg.
August 7, 1421 : Poland accepted peace with Mecklenburg on the following terms : Mecklenburg pays 90$ in indemnities.
November 2, 1421 : Muscowy accepted peace with Novgorod on the following terms : Novgorod pays 18$ in indemnities.
March 21, 1422 : Muscowy declared war upon us!
March 21, 1422 : Poland joined the war on the same side as Tver in their war against Muscowy.
March 21, 1422 : Lithuania dishonored your Military Alliance.
March 21, 1422 : Brandenburg joined the war on the same side as Poland and Tver in their war against Muscowy.
March 29, 1422 : Lithuania entered a Military Alliance with Poland, Brandenburg and Tver.
March 29, 1422 : Lithuania joined the war on the same side as Poland, Tver and Brandenburg in their war against
Muscowy.


I know, that Moscow will be coming for my one province with all their force - ignoring my allies' reinforcements. Moscow also boasts the historical leader Yuri Patrikeev, who is a nightmare for me at this early stage of the game: He has siege value 1, so I have to hurry to lift any siege on Tver or the game will be over soon. He also has movement 3, so I'm losing a portion of my troops when retreating from a battle with him. Lithuania's participation in the war is vital because now I can go through Lithuanian territory around Patrikeev's army, which is coming for me. I still have only my initial army (8k inf, 2k cav - reduced some from the war against Pskov). Moscow has three provinces - besides Moscow it's Nizhgorod and Vologda (the latter can only be reached across the Volga river).

The timing for the Moscovite attack couldn't be worse for me. Winter has just ended, so the likely siege of Tver will go some months before the attackers suffer any winter attrition (my biggest ally in the early phase of the war). I have some hard times ahead of me. My army flees into Lithuanian territory before it has to face battle. Moscow arrives three weeks later and starts its siege on May 8 1422. My army moves in on Moscow territory and plunders Moscow and Nizghorod. I'm minting the loot. While the siege on Tver remains intact I battle the enemy on his home ground. My allies move in at the end of the year. Lithuania comes with its leader Vytautas Didysis, who takes over the sieges of Nizghorod and (later in 1423) Moscow itself. I have nothing to show for my efforts, while Yuri Patrikeev still stands in Tver. Winter 1423 takes a heavy toll on his troops while I hibernate in Lithuanian territory. But with the start of 1423 the siege progress on Tver is alarming, so I try to lift the siege with my remaining troops. Twice I advance and twice I'm driven back. On my third try in September 4 1423 I win. I don't think Tver would have stood two more months. Yuri Patrikeev retreats to Moscow, which at the time is besieged by an enormous Polish-Lithuanian force, and dies there in combat. When Vytautas Didysis takes Moscow shortly afterward, Lithuania makes a separate peace with Moscow, giving them Nizghorod. Now Poland can't come through Lithuanian territory with new troups. They still have a contingent in Moscow and the enemy's forces are scattered. Yet in the long run I'm going to stand alone and lose.

April 19, 1422 : Tver Army has arrived in Welikia.
May 8, 1422 : Tver has been besieged by Muscowy
June 26, 1422 : We have engaged hostile armies in Nizhgorod.
July 1, 1422 : Our naval technology level increased to Late Medieval (1). (no bonus effect)
July 4, 1422 : We lost a battle against Muscowy in Nizhgorod.
July 8, 1422 : We won a battle against Muscowy in Moscow.
July 20, 1422 : We have engaged hostile armies in Nizhgorod.
July 22, 1422 : We lost a battle against Muscowy in Nizhgorod.
September 22, 1422 : We have engaged hostile armies in Nizhgorod.
September 25, 1422 : We won a battle against Muscowy in Nizhgorod.
September 25, 1422 : We have initiated a siege in Nizhgorod.
November 4, 1422 : We are attacked by hostile armies of Muscowy in Nizhgorod.
November 5, 1422 : We won a battle against Muscowy in Nizhgorod.
December 5, 1422 : We are attacked by hostile armies of Muscowy in Nizhgorod.
December 15, 1422 : We won a battle against Muscowy in Nizhgorod.
January 1, 1423 : Teutonic Order declared war upon Pskov.
January 1, 1423 : Mecklenburg joined the war on the same side as Teutonic Order in their war against Pskov.
January 1, 1423 : Pommern joined the war on the same side as Mecklenburg and Teutonic Order in their war against
Pskov.
January 1, 1423 : Bremen joined the war on the same side as Mecklenburg, Teutonic Order and Pommern in their
war against Pskov.
January 1, 1423 : Holstein joined the war on the same side as Mecklenburg, Teutonic Order, Pommern and Bremen
in their war against Pskov.
January 1, 1423 : Prussia joined the war on the same side as Mecklenburg, Teutonic Order, Pommern, Bremen and
Holstein in their war against Pskov.
January 11, 1423 : Poland went with Accept the Magnates demands in The Brzesc Privileges-'Nemiem Captivabus'.
January 15, 1423 : We are attacked by hostile armies of Muscowy in Nizhgorod.
January 29, 1423 : We lost a battle against Muscowy in Nizhgorod.
March 30, 1423 : We have engaged hostile armies in Tver.
April 17, 1423 : We lost a battle against Muscowy in Tver.
July 2, 1423 : We have engaged hostile armies in Tver.
July 17, 1423 : We lost a battle against Muscowy in Tver.
September 1, 1423 : A White Peace was signed between Novgorod and Pskov.
September 1, 1423 : We have engaged hostile armies in Tver.
September 4, 1423 : We won a battle against Muscowy in Tver.
January 29, 1424 : Muscowy accepted peace with Lithuania on the following terms : Muscowy pays 35$ in
indemnities. Nizhgorod to Lithuania.


I need more troops quickly, before Moscow can regain its strength. I have to plan ahead too, so minting is out of the question as long as I don't get a lot out of it due to looting. But I still got a 100% war score against Pskov. Now is the time to make peace with them: They become my vassals and give me all their money - around 250. Their vassalage also raises my supportable troup amount to 13k. I quickly raise 7k cavalry in Tver. Moscow comes back with a vengeance, blows the Polish troups away and starts another siege on Tver. I let them and retreat into my vassal Pskov's territory. When the winter of 1424/1425 starts, I go ahead with my old tactics from the war with Pskov: I attack the siege forces with my new all-cavalry army and time it off so my troups are always in Tver on the 1st of the month. This way the winter attrition for the enemy is even higher, while I get spared. In January 1425 I am able to lift this second siege of Tver (it lasted only nine months compared to the 16 of the first siege but was close to completion nonetheless). My riders arrive in Moscow before the retreating Moscovites. I rout the Moscow garrison and shortly afterwards the enemy's troup coming in from Tver. Then I start my siege of Moscow. During 1425 there are two attacks from Vologda across the Volga, but they both fail against my cavalry. I even try an advance into Vologda, but am driven back too. But on November 16 1425 Moscow falls. Then I get lucky again. Apperantly Moscow ran out of funds or the AI went to sleep. Whatever the reason it failed to build new troops in Vologda. I would never have been able to get over there and win - outnumbered and crossing the river - and sooner or later the enemy would have overwhelmed me when coming back for his capital. But now I could turn the tables on him. I still had enough money from my peace with Pskov, so I wore Moscow's troops down by attacking him in Vologda again and again and by replenishing my troops all of the time. Finally I completely annihilated his army. The siege of Vologda took some time, but finally I succeeded and had a 100% war score in Dec 1427. The alliance leader Poland made peace before I could make a separate offer. In the peace Moscow gave Vologda to me and was diminished to one province. One week after this peace Poland became a vassal of Lithuania.

March 11, 1424 : Pskov accepted our generous peace offer.
March 11, 1424 : Pskov are now our vassals.
April 16, 1424 : We are attacked by hostile armies of Muscowy in Tver.
April 22, 1424 : We lost a battle against Muscowy in Tver.
April 22, 1424 : Tver has been besieged by Muscowy
June 11, 1424 : We have engaged hostile armies in Tver.
June 11, 1424 : We lost a battle against Muscowy in Tver.
December 29, 1424 : We have engaged hostile armies in Tver.
January 10, 1425 : We won a battle against Muscowy in Tver.
January 22, 1425 : Tver Army has arrived in Moscow.
January 22, 1425 : We have engaged hostile armies in Moscow.
January 28, 1425 : We won a battle against Muscowy in Moscow.
January 28, 1425 : We have initiated a siege in Moscow.
February 2, 1425 : We are attacked by hostile armies of Muscowy in Moscow.
February 11, 1425 : We won a battle against Muscowy in Moscow.
March 16, 1425 : We are attacked by hostile armies of Muscowy in Moscow.
March 18, 1425 : We won a battle against Muscowy in Moscow.
May 23, 1425 : Aleksandr II will now rule our glorious nation!
June 28, 1425 : We are attacked by hostile armies of Muscowy in Moscow.
July 11, 1425 : We won a battle against Muscowy in Moscow.
July 28, 1425 : We have initiated a siege in Vologda.
August 7, 1425 : We are attacked by hostile armies of Muscowy in Vologda.
August 10, 1425 : We won a battle against Muscowy in Vologda.
September 17, 1425 : We are attacked by hostile armies of Muscowy in Vologda.
September 29, 1425 : We lost a battle against Muscowy in Vologda.
October 26, 1425 : Yuri will now rule our glorious nation!
November 1, 1425 : Boris will now rule our glorious nation!
November 16, 1425 : We captured the province of Moscow from Muscowy
January 1, 1426 : We have engaged hostile armies in Vologda.
January 10, 1426 : We lost a battle against Muscowy in Vologda.
February 1, 1426 : A White Peace was signed between Pskov and Mecklenburg, Teutonic Order, Pommern,
Bremen, Holstein and Prussia.
March 2, 1426 : We have engaged hostile armies in Vologda.
March 5, 1426 : We lost a battle against Muscowy in Vologda.
April 2, 1426 : We are attacked by hostile armies of Muscowy in Moscow.
April 17, 1426 : We won a battle against Muscowy in Moscow.
May 4, 1426 : We have initiated a siege in Vologda.
July 1, 1426 : A White Peace was signed between Novgorod and Denmark.
July 1, 1426 : Novgorod has cancelled the treaty of military access they had in our country.
September 5, 1426 : Byzantium agreed to share explorations.
December 22, 1427 : We captured the province of Vologda from Muscowy
December 22, 1427 : Muscowy accepted peace with Poland on the following terms : Muscowy pays 141$ in
indemnities. Vologda to Tver.
December 29, 1427 : Poland became Vassals of Lithuania.


There are two nuggets in the above excerpt from the history, which do not have anything to do with the big Moscovite war:
The first is the rule of Yuri, which lasts from October 26 1425 to November 1 1425. In all the year 1425 sees four different monarchs in Tver, while our forces besiege Moscow.
The second is my sharing of maps with Byzantium in September 5 1426. The Orthodox Trebizond and Byzantium know 40 regions in Arabia and the middle-East which I do not know, but often those two are gone before I can spare the Diplomat to ask them to share their knowledge. Fortunately for me in this game Byzantium was destined to survive.

There are so many things that worked in this scenario: I won some important battles against Pskov, Moscow twice took to long to capture Tver, while I was fairly quick when sieging Moscow. I got into the Poland-alliance before Moscow attacked me and Lithuania remained in the alliance for the war against Moscow. Usually by this time I have been vanquished or given up on 80% of my tries. The main things to go wrong are:
- Moscow or Lithuania declare war on me before I get into an alliance (20%)
- I lose against Pskov (20%)
- When Moscow first declares war on me, Lithuania always dishonors the alliance and sometimes doesn't get back into it - in this case I'm dead meat, since Poland et alii can't get through Lithuania to help me (20%) and I have no territory to go to to avoid the Moscow onslaught.
- My alliance is winning against Moscow when alliance leader Poland makes peace with them for some money. In the following war(s) Lithuania dishonors (see above) (10%)
- Others (10%)

An important first step is made, but there are many more things which can go wrong in the early game...

[Duke of Wellington]

Good luck with this very challenging mission. Interesting to read. You certainly have gotten to knoe Tver well. You must have a lot of patience.

[Nobegow]

Good Work....Well, I wouldn't have patience for doing just this starting, 80% of chance of loosing in the first 20years!

I never saw a WC with a 1 prov country before...good luck!

[EvilSanta]

Originally Posted by Nobegow

Good Work....Well, I wouldn't have patience for doing just this starting, 80% of chance of loosing in the first 20years!

I never saw a WC with a 1 prov country before...good luck!

Xhosa?

And good work. You surely have patience to try Tver again and again.

[The Wookiee]

Challenging indeed, but what is world colorization without the pretty pictures?!

Looking forward to the next, hopefully picture-filled, update

[Chief Ragusa]

Ambitious and very interesting. You must have tried many different strategies in your attempts. Aside from this one, what was your most successful game?

[Welja]

Originally Posted by Schweiger

This is the story of how I got closest to World Colorisation - which had been my current goal -, how I failed miserably and how I said goodbye to playing Tver after around 1.000 games with them (950 of them didn't last until 1440).

Sounds like a Sisyphus torture for you. Hope you still had some fun along the way!

This will be an interesting read. I intend to complete a WC with Muscovy, but usually when I get too big and powerful I get bored, so I never completed a game.

[Schweiger]

Originally Posted by Chief Ragusa

Ambitious and very interesting. You must have tried many different strategies in your attempts. Aside from this one, what was your most successful game?

I wouldn't have done it, if it hadn't been fun trying again and again. I liked the challenge. I already had gotten into the BB Wars in another game, but hadn't known the high probability of Civil Wars on 1.09 when you're over the BB limit. My empire quickly fell apart when it was hit by three CWs in one year. This time I was prepared (or thought so).
On trying around 1.000 times with the same country: It was over a period of three years. Most of those games lasted not more than five minutes. And I tried many strategies, yes.

@Xhosa-WC: That's in a totally different league (the 'Wow!-League')

@pictures: Don't know how to get them. As I said I didn't save until the 18th century (when I saw that I was onto something and wanted to document it). Until then all I have is the history file and my memories. No, wait: Some pictures can be found here. They don't document the game but where made for the 'Largest AI nation'-thread (the first one is not from this game, the other four are), so they probably are not what you are looking for :]

[Grundius]

This looks awesome. Absolutely my kind of AAR. Good luck.

Originally Posted by Welja

I intend to complete a WC with Muscovy, but usually when I get too big and powerful I get bored, so I never completed a game.

I know what you mean. I tried the same, but once you get to the phase where you are colonizing the new world (after Siberia is done) it gets really old really fast.

[Chief Ragusa]

3 civil wars in one year - ouch. I admire your dedication to the challenge of Tver. Have you given up on the city or are you determined to conquer the world?

[Schweiger]

+++ Part II - Becoming a Regional Power +++

The two most important game values for the next 300 years will be the inflation rate and the Badboy value. I want to keep inflation low to get to infra 5 (governors) as fast as possible, which allows me to slow inflation further down, then afterwards to advance as fast as possible in military technology. My Orthodox religion and techgroup will slow my tech progression down as will my slider settings and the fact, that after a while there will not be many other Orthodox nations left, which I could profit of. So I have to have something which gives me an advantage in the tech race. BB value is even more important: If I keep it low, I can do more expansion before triggering the BB Wars by crossing my BB limit. Also other nations are less likely to declare war on me if my BB value is low. I don't want no unplanned wars. So there are some rules: No taking of non-core provinces in an offensive war. No force-annexing of non-Pagans - the six BB points for this are much too costly. And the maxing out of aristocracy is one of my first goals - luckily I start with a high value and there are lots of events, which allow me to move the slider in the desired direction.

I have two provinces now, which gives me some security. However the provinces are not connected. A rebellion in Vologda might lead to secession since I'm not able to reach the region with my troops to reclaim it from rebel occupation. Something has to be done about this. I declare war on Moscow on April 1 1430, breaking our peace agreement and instantly going from stab +3 to -3. That doesn't hurt me, since it has no effect on my BB value (besides the usual +1 for declaring war on a non-pagan), and my stab recovers very quickly. I instantly shove aside the weak Moscovite forces and start another siege on their lone province. My goal is to take lots of gold in the peace offer and vassalize them - allowing me to pass through Moscow. Things get more complicated as Suzdal sees its chance, declares war on me and moves on Vologda. I let them for the time being, watching their forces dwindle in the harsh winter of 1430/1431. Meanwhile I get a 'Corruption'-event. Luckily I still have the coin to pay my way out of it without having to take either a loan or the inflation hit. In January 1431 I capture Moscow, while Suzdal takes Vologda from me. But now they have nowhere to go. They can't reach Tver itself. My initial goal now is to cover Vladimir, the only region Suzdal possesses, so they can't build more troops, while their army takes attrition hits in Vologda. But the Suzdal AI is not so bad and sends its army back into Vladimir whenever I try to cover or siege it. So I change my strategy and recapture Vologda first. When Suzdal moves to siege this region again I move on Vladimir once more. After some initial tries Suzdal doesn't hinder this any longer and suffers attrition on his siege in Vologda instead. In 1435 I finally capture Vladimir and rout the remaining Suzdal forces in Vologda.

I go into peace negotiations and am surprised to find out that Moscow is still a vassal of the Golden Horde. I have to settle for military access and money. Suzdal however becomes my vassal and fills my purse even more. I am an advocat of getting money primarily through such peace deals while you have no other income to speak of. Synchronized looting and minting is my second choice, but I prefer this loot to boost my tech advance. Thanks to this strategy I reach Infra 2 as early as October 1433. A nice trick to get more money out of wars is to wait for some months after you have conquered all provinces of the enemy. Usually he accumulates some more money during this time.

Meanwhile the Orthodox nations in the Balkans are (as usual) ripped apart by their neighbours. Hungary annexes Moldavia and Serbia is first reduced to a one province-nation and soon after also annexed. That's not good, but right now I can't do anything about it. Byzantium annexes Duchy of Athens and grows to three regions. That's unusual and a Positive. Soon they lose Duchy of Athens again, but at least it seems as if they might survive for some time. The Kalmar Union ends and Denmark annexes Norway. A plague hits Tver after peace with Moscow and Suzdal is reached.

October 10, 1428 : Moldavia accepted peace with Hungary on the following terms : Full Annexation of Moldavia by
Hungary
April 4, 1429 : Duchy of Athens accepted peace with Byzantium on the following terms : Full Annexation of
Duchy of Athens by Byzantium
April 1, 1430 : Tver declared war upon Muscowy.
April 17, 1430 : We lost a battle against Muscowy in Moscow.
April 19, 1430 : We won a battle against Muscowy in Moscow.
April 19, 1430 : We have initiated a siege in Moscow.
April 29, 1430 : Suzdal declared war upon us!
May 23, 1430 : Vologda has been besieged by Suzdal
June 7, 1430 : We won a battle against Muscowy in Moscow.
November 2, 1430 : We went with Try to eradicate the problems in Corruption.
January 19, 1431 : We captured the province of Moscow from Muscowy
January 23, 1431 : We have lost control over Vologda to Suzdal.
January 26, 1431 : Serbia accepted peace with Hungary on the following terms : Serbia pays 111$ in indemnities.
Albania to Ragusa.
February 23, 1431 : We won a battle against Muscowy in Moscow.
March 8, 1431 : We have initiated a siege in Vladimir.
April 5, 1431 : We lost a battle against Suzdal in Vologda.
May 2, 1431 : We lost a battle against Suzdal in Vladimir.
June 9, 1431 : We lost a battle against Suzdal in Vologda.
July 25, 1431 : We won a battle against Suzdal in Vologda.
July 25, 1431 : We have initiated a siege in Vologda.
February 4, 1432 : Georgia entered a Military Alliance with Cyprus.
June 18, 1432 : We captured the province of Vologda from Suzdal
December 30, 1432 : Ottoman Empire declared war upon Byzantium.
December 30, 1432 : Serbia joined the war on the same side as Byzantium in their war against Ottoman Empire.
April 18, 1433 : We lost a battle against Suzdal in Vladimir.
May 8, 1433 : Vologda has been besieged by Suzdal
May 22, 1433 : We have initiated a siege in Vladimir.
June 26, 1433 : We lost a battle against Suzdal in Vladimir.
July 30, 1433 : We have initiated a siege in Vladimir.
August 19, 1433 : We lost a battle against Suzdal in Vladimir.
September 24, 1433 : We lost a battle against Suzdal in Vologda.
September 24, 1433 : Vologda has been besieged by Suzdal
September 28, 1433 : Gift to the State happened to us.
October 1, 1433 : Our infrastructure was improved to High Renaissance (2). We can now build Fine Arts
Academies.
March 5, 1434 : We have initiated a siege in Vladimir.
April 9, 1434 : We won a battle against Suzdal in Vladimir.
April 21, 1434 : Vologda has been besieged by Suzdal
May 6, 1434 : We won a battle against Suzdal in Vladimir.
June 27, 1434 : We won a battle against Suzdal in Vladimir.
April 7, 1435 : We won a battle against Suzdal in Vologda.
April 17, 1435 : Serbia accepted peace with Ottoman Empire on the following terms : Full Annexation of Serbia
by Ottoman Empire
May 4, 1435 : Novgorod declared war upon Pskov.
July 19, 1435 : We captured the province of Vladimir from Suzdal
August 2, 1435 : Sweden had The End of the Kalmar Union .
August 2, 1435 : Denmark had The End of the Kalmar Union .
August 2, 1435 : Norway went with The Swedes are fools. We shall do the opposite! (Game Over) in The End of
the Kalmar Union.
August 2, 1435 : Denmark had Norway Requests Annexation .
August 2, 1435 : Denmark annexed Norway.
November 2, 1435 : Suzdal accepted our generous peace offer.
November 2, 1435 : Suzdal are now our vassals.
November 2, 1435 : Suzdal broke the Royal Marriage she had with Muscowy.
November 2, 1435 : Muscowy accepted our generous peace offer.
May 19, 1436 : Plague! happened to us.
September 12, 1436 : Byzantium accepted peace with Tuscany on the following terms : Hellas to Venice.


In the following years my alliance leads two short and inconsequential wars against the Hanseatic league and Hussite Bohemia. Byzantium is reduced to Thracia by the Ottomans, who entangle themselves in numerous wars afterwards and go down in flames. I have much money left from the peace deals with Moscow and Suzdal and save some more during the following years (yearly census taxes). Then Novgorod declares war on my vassal Pskov. On March 1 1443 my chance has come. I have built as many cavalry units as I can support. Novgorod has lost a big part of his troops on a long winter siege in Pskov and right now Pskov has launched a counter-offensive and is besieging Novgorod. I declare war and instantly move in to cover the two remaining provinces Novgorod can build troops in: Kexholm and Olonets. Ingermanland I ignore, since Novgorod cannot raise troops there. Other than those four provinces Novgorod still has a colony in Karelia. The war goes extremely well and my plan A succeeds. Before I cover his provinces, he builds new troops, but I am able to vanquish these recruits. After this Novgorod is not able to build any more troops.

I had asked my allies Poland and Lithuania to join the war against Novgorod. Lithuania dishonored its alliance again, but this time it didn't second-guess its decision. Shortly afterwards it joins a strong alliance with Hungary and some minor powers, which frightens me quite a lot. Should Lithuania declare war on me, Poland and I would be hard pressed. For now no declaration of war comes.

As soon as I take Novgorod's first province, my alliance leader Poland makes peace. Novgorod cedes this province - Olonets - to me. I am not content and instantly declare war again, taking the -6 stab hit. This time it is a separate war - I don't ask Poland to honor the alliance. He would not be able to help me in any way and this way I decide when and how to make peace. I continue my siege on Kexholm and am able to use my siege progress from before Novgorod's peace deal with Poland. Two months later I capture the province. Meanwhile Pskov captures Novgorod. I move onto Ingermanland. Novgorod has no troops left to speak of. Those he has I batter around to boost my war score. I don't occupy the province of Novgorod, so I won't achieve 100%. On April 18 1446 I capture Ingermanland and Novgorod accepts my peace offer, giving Kexholm and Ingermanland to me. Three days later Pskov annexes Novgorod. This is extremely fortunate. Without this I would instantly declare war on Novgorod again and then force-annex them. This would cost 6 BB, but in this case it would be worth the price. The province of Novgorod is by far the most important one in the whole area with its trade center. Also it would connect my recent acquisitions Vologda, Ingermanland, Olonets and Kexholm with my capital Tver. Now I can get it for the cost of just 1 BB point (for declaring war on Pskov). Pskov cancels it vassalization with me on June 21 1446, giving me the pretence for attack.

March 22, 1437 : Poland declared war upon Prussia.
March 22, 1437 : Brandenburg joined the war on the same side as Poland in their war against Prussia.
March 22, 1437 : Lithuania joined the war on the same side as Poland and Brandenburg in their war against Prussia.
March 22, 1437 : Lithuania broke the Royal Marriage she had with Prussia.
March 22, 1437 : Mecklenburg joined the war on the same side as Prussia in their war against Poland, Brandenburg
and Lithuania.
March 22, 1437 : Pommern joined the war on the same side as Mecklenburg and Prussia in their war against Poland,
Brandenburg and Lithuania.
March 22, 1437 : Bremen joined the war on the same side as Mecklenburg, Prussia and Pommern in their war
against Poland, Brandenburg and Lithuania.
March 22, 1437 : Holstein joined the war on the same side as Mecklenburg, Prussia, Pommern and Bremen in their
war against Poland, Brandenburg and Lithuania.
March 22, 1437 : Teutonic Order joined the war on the same side as Mecklenburg, Prussia, Pommern, Bremen and
Holstein in their war against Poland, Brandenburg and Lithuania.
March 23, 1437 : Tver joined the war on the same side as Poland, Brandenburg and Lithuania in their war against
Mecklenburg, Prussia, Pommern, Bremen, Holstein, Teutonic Order and Eire.
June 5, 1437 : Byzantium accepted peace with Ottoman Empire on the following terms : Byzantium pays 50$ in
indemnities. Morea to Ottoman Empire.
June 16, 1437 : Pskov accepted peace with Novgorod on the following terms : Novgorod pays 46$ in indemnities.
July 1, 1437 : Our trade level increased to High Renaissance (2). We can now construct Trading posts.
June 7, 1438 : Ottoman Empire declared war upon Georgia.
June 7, 1438 : Cyprus joined the war on the same side as Georgia in their war against Ottoman Empire.
November 23, 1438 : Assassination of Noble happened to us.
December 20, 1438 : Ak Koyunlu declared war upon Ottoman Empire.
December 30, 1438 : Poland accepted peace with Mecklenburg on the following terms : Mecklenburg pays 35$ in
indemnities.
February 20, 1439 : Byzantium went with Laetentur Coeli, we accept! in The Council of Florence and the Union
of the Churches.
February 20, 1439 : Byzantium converts to Catholic.
March 11, 1439 : Poland declared war upon Bohemia.
March 11, 1439 : Lithuania joined the war on the same side as Poland in their war against Bohemia.
March 11, 1439 : Austria joined the war on the same side as Bohemia in their war against Poland and Lithuania.
March 11, 1439 : Bavaria joined the war on the same side as Austria and Bohemia in their war against Poland and
Lithuania.
March 17, 1439 : Tver joined the war on the same side as Poland and Lithuania in their war against Austria, Bohemia
and Bavaria.
December 24, 1439 : Poland accepted peace with Bohemia on the following terms : Bohemia pays 83$ in
indemnities.
May 8, 1440 : The Knights declared war upon Ottoman Empire.
March 5, 1441 : We went with Ignore their Demands in Unhappiness among the Clergy.
August 17, 1442 : Novgorod declared war upon Pskov.
August 29, 1442 : Bosnia declared war upon Ottoman Empire.
August 29, 1442 : Hungary joined the war on the same side as Bosnia in their war against Ottoman Empire.
August 29, 1442 : Luxembourgh joined the war on the same side as Hungary and Bosnia in their war against
Ottoman Empire.
August 29, 1442 : Croatia joined the war on the same side as Hungary, Bosnia and Luxembourgh in their war against
Ottoman Empire.
August 29, 1442 : Ragusa joined the war on the same side as Hungary, Bosnia, Luxembourgh and Croatia in their
war against Ottoman Empire.
January 5, 1443 : Internal Trade Ordinance happened to us.
March 1, 1443 : Tver declared war upon Novgorod.
March 1, 1443 : Poland joined the war on the same side as Tver in their war against Novgorod.
March 1, 1443 : Lithuania dishonored your Military Alliance.
March 25, 1443 : We have initiated a siege in Olonets.
March 28, 1443 : We have initiated a siege in Kexholm.
April 11, 1443 : We won a battle against Novgorod in Kexholm.
May 7, 1443 : We won a battle against Novgorod in Olonets.
July 12, 1443 : We won a battle against Novgorod in Olonets.
July 25, 1443 : We won a battle against Novgorod in Kexholm.
October 29, 1443 : We won a battle against Novgorod in Olonets.
November 7, 1443 : We won a battle against Novgorod in Olonets.
November 14, 1443 : We won a battle against Novgorod in Olonets.
December 3, 1443 : Hungary accepted peace with Ottoman Empire on the following terms : Ottoman Empire
pays 61$ in indemnities.
December 3, 1443 : We won a battle against Novgorod in Olonets.
December 17, 1443 : Ottoman Empire accepted peace with Ak Koyunlu on the following terms : Adana to Ak
Koyunlu.
April 9, 1444 : We won a battle against Novgorod in Novgorod.
May 21, 1444 : We captured the province of Olonets from Novgorod
May 22, 1444 : Novgorod accepted peace with Poland on the following terms : Novgorod pays 69$ in indemnities.
Olonets to Tver.
May 22, 1444 : Tver declared war upon Novgorod.
May 22, 1444 : We have initiated a siege in Kexholm.
July 22, 1444 : We captured the province of Kexholm from Novgorod
August 3, 1444 : We won a battle against Novgorod in Novgorod.
August 18, 1444 : We have initiated a siege in Ingermanland.
September 7, 1444 : We won a battle against Novgorod in Ingermanland.
October 4, 1444 : We won a battle against Novgorod in Kexholm.
October 24, 1444 : We won a battle against Novgorod in Olonets.
November 23, 1444 : We won a battle against Novgorod in Kexholm.
December 14, 1444 : We won a battle against Novgorod in Olonets.
January 13, 1445 : We won a battle against Novgorod in Kexholm.
February 6, 1445 : We won a battle against Novgorod in Olonets.
March 20, 1445 : Scandal at the Court happened to us.
February 20, 1446 : Poland is now granting us military access to their country.
April 18, 1446 : We captured the province of Ingermanland from Novgorod
April 18, 1446 : Novgorod accepted our generous peace offer.
April 21, 1446 : Novgorod accepted peace with Pskov on the following terms : Full Annexation of Novgorod by
Pskov
June 21, 1446 : Pskov cancelled the Vassalization she had with Tver.


I declare war on Pskov and instantly move my troops to Novgorod and Pskov to stop further recruitments there. Initially I am beaten back on both fronts. The situation is critical: It is winter and I take heavy attrition losses of my precious cavalry on Pskov territory, but I have to win quickly, or the enemy will overwhelm me with the troops he is going to build. On my second try I win an important battle on the frozen plains around Novgorod. From then on I kick the Pskov army around. Wherever it retreats I am waiting for it with my cavalry. This process continues until Pskov has no army left. In 1448 I capture Pskov and Novgorod to achieve a 100%-war score. Pskov gives Novgorod and the colony of Karelia (which it had gotten when annexing Novgorod) to me. Going into 1449 I have a strong and compact territory and am by far the strongest duchy in Russia. My future opposition is going to be from abroad.

September 20, 1446 : Tver declared war upon Pskov.
October 7, 1446 : We lost a battle against Pskov in Novgorod.
October 10, 1446 : We lost a battle against Pskov in Pskov.
November 4, 1446 : We have initiated a siege in Pskov.
November 11, 1446 : We lost a battle against Pskov in Novgorod.
November 30, 1446 : We won a battle against Pskov in Pskov.
December 3, 1446 : We lost a battle against Pskov in Pskov.
December 12, 1446 : We won a battle against Pskov in Novgorod.
December 12, 1446 : We have initiated a siege in Novgorod.
January 4, 1447 : We won a battle against Pskov in Novgorod.
February 1, 1447 : We won a battle against Pskov in Novgorod.
February 15, 1447 : We won a battle against Pskov in Novgorod.
March 22, 1447 : Our Royal Marriage with Lithuania expired
March 22, 1447 : We entered a Royal Marriage with Lithuania.
April 6, 1447 : We lost a battle against Pskov in Pskov.
May 24, 1447 : We lost a battle against Pskov in Pskov.
July 17, 1447 : We won a battle against Pskov in Pskov.
July 17, 1447 : We have initiated a siege in Pskov.
August 12, 1447 : We won a battle against Pskov in Ingermanland.
September 4, 1447 : Kexholm has been besieged by Pskov
September 5, 1447 : We won a battle against Pskov in Novgorod.
September 14, 1447 : We won a battle against Pskov in Pskov.
September 24, 1447 : We won a battle against Pskov in Pskov.
September 26, 1447 : Byzantium declared war upon Ottoman Empire.
December 1, 1447 : Lithuania entered a Military Alliance with Hungary, Luxembourgh, Croatia, Ragusa and Bosnia.
April 1, 1448 : The government of Suzdal has fallen.
July 13, 1448 : We captured the province of Pskov from Pskov
August 12, 1448 : Muscowy cancelled the Vassalization she had with Golden Horde.
September 25, 1448 : We captured the province of Novgorod from Pskov
September 25, 1448 : Pskov rejected our generous peace offer!
November 5, 1448 : Tver Army has arrived in Karelia.
November 12, 1448 : We won a battle against Pskov in Karelia.
November 12, 1448 : Pskov accepted our generous peace offer.

[Chief Ragusa]

I would have annexed Pskov in the first war, but this way you got Novgorod and its COT without the big BB. You have a use for those colonists that seem to just stack up.

You've got a CB with Lithuania, unless it expired whilst fighting Pskov. Do you use it? Do your allies support you?

[Schweiger]

Originally Posted by Chief Ragusa

I would have annexed Pskov in the first war, but this way you got Novgorod and its COT without the big BB. You have a use for those colonists that seem to just stack up.

You've got a CB with Lithuania, unless it expired whilst fighting Pskov. Do you use it? Do your allies support you?

Annexing Pskov ASAP was one strategy I tried for quite a time. Yet it doesn't help against Moscow. I'm dead meat against them with or without Pskov, if Lithuania dishonors. And the 6 BB come back to haunt you if you succeed. If you annex Novgorod and/or Moscow afterwards, your BB is already around 15-20 and you will be warred upon whenever you don't need it.
Not much colonisation is going to happen until around 1550. Only the expansion of some provinces in the far north to colonial cities.
I have a permanent CB on Lithuania as long as Tula (on which I have a core) is one of their provinces. Tver has cores on Tver, Pskov, Ingermanland, Novgorod, Olonets, Kexholm, Kola, Karelia, Moscow, Arkhangelansk, Vologda, Vladimir, Ryazan, Nizghorod and Tula, which helps in keeping BB down.

[Chief Ragusa]

You don't develop the colony of Karelia until after 1550? Yes, I have noticed the effects a BB rating of 15-20 brings!

Livonian Knights next?

(You showed a map with a 1 province Golden Horde and a 40 province Uzbek Khaganate. How long do you think it would take Duke of Wellington to completely eradicate the Khaganate? )

[Nobegow]

Cool Work There. Now your power in Russia is solid.
Where will be the next move?

[stnylan]

Nasty region to play. More wars than whores in Rome - or something like that. Good progress so far though.

[Jacko the Panda]

I tried today to play with Tver and got my ass seriously beaten by Moscow all the time. So I give my ressspect.

Oh and troy has been busy fulfilling his 200 post quota .

[Schweiger]

+++ Part III - The Great Northern Conflict +++

By now I have secured most of my cores. The one province-nations of Pskov, Suzdal and Moscow still exist, but I leave their annexation (and the BB for doing so) to others. Ryazan is part of the Golden Horde, Tula belongs to Lithuania. These provinces are not worth the 1 BB for declaring war. Sooner or later the Golden Horde and Lithuania will hand them to me by declaring war on me or an ally. Also they give me a CB on these two, which might be handy. The colonies Arkhangelsk and Kola initially belonged to Novgorod, but Sweden took them in an early war. I won't declare a war for territorial goals in the next years. But I have other goals. I want to build my own alliance. Right now I am standing alone. My only ally Poland will help me against the Hanse and against Lithuanian alliance, but those two are so strong that I doubt this help will do me any good. Against Sweden or the Golden Horde Poland will not be able to send a single company. It's a good thing I kept my BB low until now - I don't expect anybody to declare war on me, but you never know. My supportable troup amount has ballooned from around 15k to over 40k with the conquering of Novgorod. I have lots of money lying around, since Pskov had to pay high reparations for having stood in my way. I build my army size up to the supportable amount. On April 1 1450 I declare war on Sweden.

The declaration is cheap, since I have a CB - Sweden has my cores Arkhangelsk and Kola. Yet these provinces are not the primary goal of this war. I want to vassalize Sweden. From now on everything I do will be weighed towards the World Colorisation I want to achieve. The reasons for vassalizing Sweden are the following:
1) Very soon I will be lagging behind in land technology. At least one CRC levels, probably even two, since I am investing everything in infra and will continue doing so until I have reached infra 5. This means, that I have to be sure to not be warred upon by my Latin tech neighbours Sweden, Teutonic Order and Poland. One way of doing this is to get them in my alliance. Vassals are very likely to accept an invitation.
2) Diplo-Annexation is the best way to grow. It costs only 1 BB per province and you avoid all these wars. One war is enough: It just has to end with a 100% war score to be able to force-vassalize the enemy. After a nation has been your vassal for 30 years, they will accept the annexation offer almost all of the time.
3) Then there's the question of religion. When the reformation hits, almost all of Swedens provinces will convert to Protestantism. My religious sliders in the late game will include five religions: Orthodox, Catholic, Protestant, Reformed and Muslim. All the other religions will have the 'default' (ie middle) slider setting. But from those five I want to eliminate at least two as much as possible to be able to set the sliders for the other three quite high and avoid high religious RR in my provinces. The choice of which religions to eliminate is quite simple. Orthodox will be the only state religion choice I'll ever have, so it's out of the question. Catholic and Muslim religions will be by far too widely spread. So it's Protestant and Reformed provinces I will try to convert as much as possible. Reformed will never be spread too far, so this won't be a big problem. Protestantism is another thing. If everything goes as planned, I will have some money to spare as early as from 1550 on. I want to put my missionaries to good use by then, but I need Protestant provinces to do so. Sweden is going to provide me with these.

I know from former games, that Sweden is no formidable foe against me in a one-on-one. It can be out-maneuvered easily. Still I have to capture every single province to get what I want: Their vassalization and the colonies of Kola and Arkhangelsk. I can't leave them to Sweden or those provinces will once get Scandinavian culture. Sweden is in no alliance and I don't ask Poland to join in the war. My armies instantly pour into Finland in great numbers. A large cavalry contingent goes for the Swedish heartland to stomp out smaller armies and recruitments there. I manage to decimate the Swedish armies, and after a time the enemy has not much money left, so his recruitments stop. Yet somehow I botch up this war. Sweden has twelve fortified provinces, most of them with harsh winter conditions. I usually leave these provinces just covered during the winter so I don't lose too many troups. Sometimes I forget to reinforce my covering detachment, attrition takes them under the number needed to cover and all the siege progress is lost. At first I try to throw Sweden down with just the troups I had embarked at the start of the war. Soon I realise that I have to recruit much more. One particularily frustrating episode involves the battles of Svealand: On March 3 1454 I capture the Swedish capital. But the Swedish relief army arrives shortly afterwards, beating me on March 11. Now they start sieging Svealand. Since they beat me in the same month I took the province, they get the last siege progress I had before capturing the province - in this case -5. This leaves me very frustrated and I instantly try to drive them away again. I don't succeed on my first try. But somehow Sweden is not able to capture the province that quickly. So I try again. And again. And again. Sweden beats me back five times at all. On Jan 15 1455 they re-capture the province, dealing me a big moral blow. Soon my census tax goes into new troops at the start of each year, raising war exhaustion. I siege and battle around like this until WE reaches a critical height. The occupied Swedish provinces begin to revolt in increasing numbers. Sweden also remembers to build new troops. It manages to put together an army of around 15k men, which gives me quite a headache. Meanwhile any declaration of war from another neighbour would be a catastrophe for me. Luckily they all war elsewhere. The Swedish heartland is fought over intensely. Svaeland changes hands seven times during the war. The war rages on for twenty years. I should have given up a long time ago, made peace and tried it again some time later. But then September 1470 brings two pivotal events within 24 hours. On September 1 I capture Gästrikland for the third time. It was the last province under Swedish control, so my 100% victory is complete after all. I take Kola, Arkhangelsk and money from Sweden, who also agree to become my vassal. The second event on September 2 is even more important, but it doesn't involve Tver at all. Yet I have to go back in time and tell everything from the start...

As I had mentioned in previous chapters, the Orthodox nations in the Balkans were soon annihilated. The well-being of the other states following the one true faith in the South will be pivotal for me in the coming centuries. I will need them to prosper and convert as much as possible then. Until I am strong enough to influence this region, they will simply have to survive. There are the following Orthodox nations at the start of the game:
- Tver
- Moscow, Novgorod, Pskov, Suzdal, Ryazan: Those I can't allow to survive since they occupy my cores and even might hinder me in becoming Russia
- Nubia, Ethiopia: They are cut off from the world. I don't know how I could use them. Nubia usually converts to Islam in the course of the game. I might try to annex them before they convert all their Orthodox provinces, but by then this is not of utmost importance any more.
- Wallachia, Serbia, Moldovia: They have all been annexed in the first years of the game.
- Trebizond: Annexed too.
- Georgia: Survived until now. They usually hold out longest in the South. I hope to relief them before they are gone.
- Byzantium: As I have mentioned before, they were quite successful for a while. In 1449 they were down to Thracia, so it seemed as if they would be annexed soon.

All in all the situation for the Orthodox world was not too good. But then our main enemy got into too many wars: The Ottomans, who had started out strong, were now repeatedly attacked by the Hungary-Lithuania-alliance, by a Georgia-Cyprus-tagteam and by Byzantium - most of the time by all three of them simultaneously. Mighty Turkey crumbled quickly, and Georgia and Byzantium were able to take most of the spoils. Both split up Anatolia between them, while Hungary took most of the Turks possessions on the Balcans (via Byzantium, who had taken them first but then foolishly declared a war upon Hungary, which it lost). On November 25 1469 Hungary took Smyrna, Turkey's last province but one, in a peace deal and accepted the Ottomans' offer of becoming their vassals. Hungary was master of the Balcans by then. Yet Byzantium still was at war with the Turk and wasted no time in finishing them off:


This was great news. It meant Byzantium and Georgia would still be there when my influence would start spreading South. And there were more good news: On March 1 1458 an Orthodox Albania had declared its independence from Ragusa. Perhaps even they might survive. At least they got into the Hungarian-Lithuania-alliance, which bode well. There were now three Orthodox countries in the South which I could count on in the future.

In Russia there were some things happening too, while I was occupied in Sweden. Ryazan had declared its independence from the Golden Horde, which I didn't like too much since I lost my CB on the Mongols and now had another country left to annex on one of my cores. On the other hand Suzdal declared war on the alliance around the Golden Horde and got itself annexed by the Khazak Horde, who in turn lost Vladimir to Moscow ten years later because of an unquenched rebellion.

In the realm of Tver itself there were also some notable events besides the war with Sweden: On February 10 1461 our Duke Boris died. He had come to power in 1425, the year of the four dukes. Although many historians say, that he wasn't very able - temporarily even insane-, he was wise enough to let his advisors do the work, which lead to Tver becoming the principle power in Russia. At the moment of his death, Tver's armies stood deep in Swedish territory. His successor Mikhail III was rumored to be a drunkard and often not in accordance with the requirements of reality. DIP = 1, ADM = 3, MIL = 2, says the monarch-file. Unfortunately he has one good ability: He is healthy. The peasants look upon his reign for twelve days, then decide upon being unhappy (stab -2). Somehow Mikhail holds on to his throne.

On November 2 1465 our ally Poland decides to declare war on an alliance consisting of Bohemia, Austria and Bavaria, and asks us to help him. Tver is taxed from 15 years of war with Sweden, which it hopes to bring to conclusion soon. It simply can't afford continuing warfare since war exhaustion is enormous by now. So it dishonors the alliance. The help of Poland had become expendable anyway. My good luck hadn't left me the last 15 years and I hoped Lithuania and the Teutonic Order would stay put until my soon-to-be-vassal Sweden would be allied to me and two or three years of peace had lowered WE to nil again.

Last but certainly not least a poor province in the Eastern steppes changed its owner: On October 4 1465 the region called 'Orenburg' was ceded from the Golden Horde to the Uzbek Kaganate. This was going to have enormous long time effects on Tver's quest for access to the Siberian corridor.

January 4, 1449 : Croatia declared war upon Ottoman Empire.
January 4, 1449 : Hungary joined the war on the same side as Croatia in their war against Ottoman Empire.
January 4, 1449 : Luxembourgh joined the war on the same side as Hungary and Croatia in their war against Ottoman Empire.
January 4, 1449 : Ragusa joined the war on the same side as Hungary, Croatia and Luxembourgh in their war against Ottoman Empire.
January 4, 1449 : Bosnia joined the war on the same side as Hungary, Croatia, Luxembourgh and Ragusa in their war against Ottoman Empire.
January 4, 1449 : Lithuania joined the war on the same side as Hungary, Croatia, Luxembourgh, Ragusa and Bosnia in their war against Ottoman Empire.
October 6, 1449 : Temporary Insanity of Monarch happened to us.
October 27, 1449 : Georgia declared war upon Ottoman Empire.
October 27, 1449 : Cyprus joined the war on the same side as Georgia in their war against Ottoman Empire.
April 1, 1450 : Tver declared war upon Sweden.
May 20, 1450 : We lost a battle against Sweden in Österbotten.
June 8, 1450 : We lost a battle against Sweden in Nyland.
June 15, 1450 : We won a battle against Sweden in Österbotten.
June 25, 1450 : We won a battle against Sweden in Österbotten.
July 20, 1450 : We won a battle against Sweden in Lappland.
August 4, 1450 : We won a battle against Sweden in Västerbotten.
August 5, 1450 : We won a battle against Sweden in Tavastland.
August 10, 1450 : We won a battle against Sweden in Västerbotten.
September 19, 1450 : We lost a battle against Sweden in Savolaks.
September 22, 1450 : We won a battle against Sweden in Bergslagen.
December 23, 1450 : We won a battle against Sweden in Svealand.
March 21, 1451 : We lost a battle against Sweden in Svealand.
April 1, 1451 : The people of Ryazan declared independence from Golden Horde.
April 1, 1451 : Ryazan declared war upon Golden Horde.
April 1, 1451 : Sibir joined the war on the same side as Golden Horde, Uzbek Kaganate and Khazak Horde in their war against Ryazan.
April 4, 1451 : We won a battle against Sweden in Småland.
April 6, 1451 : We lost a battle against Sweden in Gästrikland.
April 23, 1451 : We lost a battle against Sweden in Nyland.
April 23, 1451 : We lost a battle against Sweden in Savolaks.
June 15, 1451 : We lost a battle against Sweden in Savolaks.
September 8, 1451 : We won a battle against Sweden in Småland.
October 16, 1451 : We lost a battle against Sweden in Gästrikland.
December 4, 1451 : We won a battle against Sweden in Savolaks.
January 12, 1452 : Poland went with Accept the Conventions in The Nieszawa Privileges-'Conventiones Particulares'.
January 14, 1452 : We won a battle against Sweden in Svealand.
January 23, 1452 : We lost a battle against Sweden in Västergötland.
February 16, 1452 : We lost a battle against Sweden in Svealand.
March 1, 1452 : We won a battle against Sweden in Småland.
March 23, 1452 : We won a battle against Sweden in Nyland.
March 23, 1452 : Agricultural Revolution happened to us.
May 13, 1452 : We lost a battle against Sweden in Nyland.
July 9, 1452 : We lost a battle against Sweden in Nyland.
October 6, 1452 : Bohemia declared war upon Hungary.
October 6, 1452 : Austria joined the war on the same side as Bohemia in their war against Hungary.
October 6, 1452 : Bavaria joined the war on the same side as Austria and Bohemia in their war against Hungary.
October 6, 1452 : Luxembourgh joined the war on the same side as Hungary in their war against Austria, Bohemia and Bavaria.
October 6, 1452 : Croatia joined the war on the same side as Hungary and Luxembourgh in their war against Austria, Bohemia and Bavaria.
October 6, 1452 : Ragusa joined the war on the same side as Hungary, Luxembourgh and Croatia in their war against Austria, Bohemia and Bavaria.
October 6, 1452 : Bosnia joined the war on the same side as Hungary, Luxembourgh, Croatia and Ragusa in their war against Austria, Bohemia and Bavaria.
October 6, 1452 : Lithuania joined the war on the same side as Hungary, Luxembourgh, Croatia, Ragusa and Bosnia in their war against Austria, Bohemia and Bavaria.
November 1, 1452 : We won a battle against Sweden in Nyland.
December 6, 1452 : We won a battle against Sweden in Västergötland.
December 18, 1452 : We won a battle against Sweden in Svealand.
January 19, 1453 : Ottoman Empire accepted peace with Lithuania on the following terms : Ottoman Empire pays 25$ in indemnities. Morea to Lithuania.
February 3, 1453 : We lost a battle against Sweden in Svealand.
March 24, 1453 : We lost a battle against Sweden in Svealand.
May 25, 1453 : We won a battle against Sweden in Västergötland.
June 1, 1453 : We lost a battle against Sweden in Finland.
July 16, 1453 : We captured the province of Småland from Sweden
August 4, 1453 : We won a battle against Sweden in Bergslagen.
August 21, 1453 : We won a battle against Sweden in Gästrikland.
September 4, 1453 : We won a battle against Sweden in Västerbotten.
September 16, 1453 : We won a battle against Sweden in Gästrikland.
September 24, 1453 : We lost a battle against Sweden in Nyland.
December 20, 1453 : We lost a battle against Sweden in Gästrikland.
March 3, 1454 : We captured the province of Svealand from Sweden
March 11, 1454 : We lost a battle against Sweden in Svealand.
March 13, 1454 : We won a battle against Sweden in Nyland.
May 16, 1454 : We lost a battle against Sweden in Svealand.
June 14, 1454 : Unprovoked Revolt happened to us.
June 14, 1454 : The peasants in Novgorod are revolting!
July 1, 1454 : We lost a battle against Sweden in Nyland.
July 15, 1454 : We lost a battle against Sweden in Svealand.
September 19, 1454 : We lost a battle against Sweden in Svealand.
November 1, 1454 : We won a battle against Rebel Scum in Novgorod.
November 14, 1454 : We lost a battle against Sweden in Svealand.
January 2, 1455 : We lost a battle against Sweden in Svealand.
January 15, 1455 : We have lost control over Svealand to Sweden.
April 18, 1455 : We won a battle against Sweden in Gästrikland.
May 1, 1455 : We won a battle against Sweden in Svealand.
May 25, 1455 : We won a battle against Sweden in Bergslagen.
July 3, 1455 : We won a battle against Sweden in Gästrikland.
September 28, 1455 : We won a battle against Sweden in Gästrikland.
November 5, 1455 : We lost a battle against Sweden in Svealand.
December 1, 1455 : The peasants in Småland are revolting!
January 1, 1456 : The peasants in Savolaks are revolting!
February 4, 1456 : Ottoman Empire accepted peace with Hungary on the following terms : Ottoman Empire pays 125$ in indemnities. Dobrudja to Hungary, Rumelia to Hungary & Serbia to Hungary.
April 25, 1456 : We captured the province of Västergötland from Sweden
June 7, 1456 : We captured the province of Nyland from Sweden
July 1, 1456 : The peasants in Lappland are revolting!
August 5, 1456 : We won a battle against Sweden in Gästrikland.
October 27, 1456 : A Heir to the Crown happened to us.
February 15, 1457 : We won a battle against Sweden in Gästrikland.
February 18, 1457 : Suzdal declared war upon Golden Horde.
February 18, 1457 : Uzbek Kaganate dishonored a Military Alliance she had with Golden Horde, Khazak Horde, Sibir, Nogai and Ak Koyunlu.
February 18, 1457 : Sibir dishonored a Military Alliance she had with Golden Horde, Khazak Horde, Nogai and Ak Koyunlu.
February 18, 1457 : Ak Koyunlu dishonored a Military Alliance she had with Golden Horde and Khazak Horde.
February 24, 1457 : Nogai entered a Military Alliance with Uzbek Kaganate.
March 21, 1457 : We lost a battle against Sweden in Västerbotten.
May 1, 1457 : Ryazan accepted peace with Golden Horde on the following terms : Ryazan pays 40$ in indemnities. Tambow to Golden Horde.
May 5, 1457 : We lost a battle against Sweden in Västerbotten.
July 18, 1457 : We won a battle against Sweden in Västerbotten.
August 20, 1457 : We have lost control over Västergötland to Sweden.
September 1, 1457 : Ryazan declared war upon Muscowy.
September 4, 1457 : Ottoman Empire accepted peace with Cyprus on the following terms : Kastamonu to Georgia, Antalya to Georgia & Angora to Georgia.
November 19, 1457 : We captured the province of Österbotten from Sweden
November 30, 1457 : We captured the province of Svealand from Sweden
December 1, 1457 : The peasants in Småland are revolting!
January 26, 1458 : Cyprus became Vassals of Georgia.
February 1, 1458 : Byzantium accepted peace with Ottoman Empire on the following terms : Macedonia to Byzantium, Taurus to Byzantium & Bulgaria to Byzantium.
March 1, 1458 : The people of Albania declared independence from Ragusa.
March 1, 1458 : The government of Ragusa has fallen.
March 1, 1458 : Gjergj K Skanderbeg rose to the throne in Albania.
April 7, 1458 : We won a battle against Sweden in Västerbotten.
May 12, 1458 : Cyprus declared war upon Ak Koyunlu.
May 12, 1458 : Georgia joined the war on the same side as Cyprus in their war against Ak Koyunlu.
July 19, 1458 : The peasants in Svealand are revolting!
September 19, 1458 : We captured the province of Bergslagen from Sweden
October 15, 1458 : We lost a battle against Sweden in Bergslagen.
November 1, 1458 : The peasants in Småland are revolting!
December 4, 1458 : We lost a battle against Rebel Scum in Svealand.
December 19, 1458 : We lost a battle against Rebel Scum in Svealand.
December 22, 1458 : We lost a battle against Rebel Scum in Småland.
January 1, 1459 : We lost a battle against Rebel Scum in Småland.
January 13, 1459 : We lost a battle against Rebel Scum in Svealand.
January 16, 1459 : We lost a battle against Rebel Scum in Svealand.
February 1, 1459 : The peasants in Bergslagen are revolting!
March 1, 1459 : The peasants in Bergslagen are revolting!
March 8, 1459 : We lost a battle against Sweden in Bergslagen.
April 1, 1459 : The peasants in Nyland are revolting!
April 10, 1459 : Albania entered a Military Alliance with Hungary, Croatia, Ragusa, Bosnia, Lithuania and The Knights.
April 12, 1459 : We won a battle against Rebel Scum in Nyland.
May 6, 1459 : We went with Escalate Complaint in Merchants Harassed.
July 15, 1459 : We have lost control over Bergslagen to Sweden.
July 21, 1459 : We lost a battle against Sweden in Bergslagen.
August 13, 1459 : Georgia accepted peace with Ak Koyunlu on the following terms : Ak Koyunlu pays 43$ in indemnities.
September 4, 1459 : We lost a battle against Rebel Scum in Småland.
November 1, 1459 : The peasants in Lappland are revolting!
November 16, 1459 : We captured the province of Västergötland from Sweden
December 9, 1459 : We won a battle against Rebel Scum in Svealand.
January 3, 1460 : We lost a battle against Sweden in Bergslagen.
March 21, 1460 : We lost a battle against Sweden in Bergslagen.
April 1, 1460 : The peasants in Småland are revolting!
April 30, 1460 : We lost a battle against Sweden in Österbotten.
May 23, 1460 : We lost a battle against Rebel Scum in Småland.
June 7, 1460 : Byzantium went with Yes, the Union serves no purpose! in Revocation of the Union.
June 7, 1460 : Byzantium converts to Orthodox.
June 12, 1460 : Byzantium declared war upon Hungary.
June 12, 1460 : Croatia joined the war on the same side as Hungary in their war against Byzantium.
June 12, 1460 : Ragusa joined the war on the same side as Hungary and Croatia in their war against Byzantium.
June 12, 1460 : Bosnia joined the war on the same side as Hungary, Croatia and Ragusa in their war against Byzantium.
June 12, 1460 : Lithuania joined the war on the same side as Hungary, Croatia, Ragusa and Bosnia in their war against Byzantium.
June 12, 1460 : The Knights joined the war on the same side as Hungary, Croatia, Ragusa, Bosnia and Lithuania in their war against Byzantium.
June 12, 1460 : Albania joined the war on the same side as Hungary, Croatia, Ragusa, Bosnia, Lithuania and The Knights in their war against Byzantium.
July 25, 1460 : We won a battle against Sweden in Gästrikland.
August 1, 1460 : The peasants in Nyland are revolting!
August 1, 1460 : We captured the province of Finland from Sweden
September 3, 1460 : We won a battle against Rebel Scum in Nyland.
September 14, 1460 : Suzdal accepted peace with Khazak Horde on the following terms : Full Annexation of Suzdal by Khazak Horde
October 1, 1460 : A White Peace was signed between Muscowy and Ryazan.
November 5, 1460 : We captured the province of Gästrikland from Sweden
November 19, 1460 : Muscowy declared war upon Khazak Horde.
December 22, 1460 : We lost a battle against Rebel Scum in Småland.
January 1, 1461 : The peasants in Olonets are revolting!
January 1, 1461 : The peasants in Gästrikland are revolting!
January 27, 1461 : We won a battle against Rebel Scum in Olonets.
February 10, 1461 : Mikhail III will now rule our glorious nation!
February 22, 1461 : Unhappiness among the Peasantry happened to us.
February 22, 1461 : We have lost control over Ingermanland to Rebel Scum.
February 22, 1461 : The peasants in Ingermanland are revolting!
April 15, 1461 : We lost a battle against Rebel Scum in Novgorod.
May 1, 1461 : The peasants in Västergötland are revolting!
June 18, 1461 : We lost a battle against Rebel Scum in Novgorod.
June 29, 1461 : We won a battle against Sweden in Tavastland.
July 2, 1461 : Sibir declared war upon Khazak Horde.
July 2, 1461 : Golden Horde joined the war on the same side as Khazak Horde in their war against Sibir.
July 2, 1461 : Golden Horde cancelled the Vassalization she had with Sibir.
August 13, 1461 : We lost a battle against Rebel Scum in Novgorod.
September 21, 1461 : We won a battle against Rebel Scum in Novgorod.
November 1, 1461 : The peasants in Västergötland are revolting!
January 1, 1462 : The peasants in Savolaks are revolting!
January 8, 1462 : We won a battle against Rebel Scum in Savolaks.
February 1, 1462 : The peasants in Vologda are revolting!
March 1, 1462 : The peasants in Lappland are revolting!
March 12, 1462 : Byzantium accepted peace with Hungary on the following terms : Byzantium pays 67$ in indemnities. Macedonia to Hungary & Bulgaria to Hungary.
March 14, 1462 : Ottoman Empire declared war upon Hungary.
March 14, 1462 : Croatia joined the war on the same side as Hungary in their war against Ottoman Empire.
March 14, 1462 : Ragusa joined the war on the same side as Hungary and Croatia in their war against Ottoman Empire.
March 14, 1462 : Bosnia joined the war on the same side as Hungary, Croatia and Ragusa in their war against Ottoman Empire.
March 14, 1462 : Lithuania joined the war on the same side as Hungary, Croatia, Ragusa and Bosnia in their war against Ottoman Empire.
March 14, 1462 : The Knights joined the war on the same side as Hungary, Croatia, Ragusa, Bosnia and Lithuania in their war against Ottoman Empire.
March 14, 1462 : Albania joined the war on the same side as Hungary, Croatia, Ragusa, Bosnia, Lithuania and The Knights in their war against Ottoman Empire.
July 1, 1462 : Muscowy accepted peace with Golden Horde on the following terms : Golden Horde pays 182$ in indemnities.
August 9, 1462 : We won a battle against Sweden in Västerbotten.
September 1, 1462 : A White Peace was signed between Ak Koyunlu and Cyprus.
September 23, 1462 : We captured the province of Ingermanland from Rebel Scum
October 1, 1462 : The peasants in Gästrikland are revolting!
October 25, 1462 : We captured the province of Tavastland from Sweden
October 25, 1462 : We have lost control over Västergötland to Sweden.
November 7, 1462 : We won a battle against Rebel Scum in Vologda.
November 9, 1462 : We went with Imprison Thinker in Uncooperative Philosopher.
December 3, 1462 : We lost a battle against Sweden in Svealand.
December 22, 1462 : We lost a battle against Rebel Scum in Småland.
December 27, 1462 : We won a battle against Rebel Scum in Gästrikland.
January 1, 1463 : The peasants in Tavastland are revolting!
January 16, 1463 : We lost a battle against Sweden in Bergslagen.
March 16, 1463 : We lost a battle against Sweden in Bergslagen.
April 22, 1463 : We won a battle against Rebel Scum in Tavastland.
May 16, 1463 : We lost a battle against Sweden in Bergslagen.
June 1, 1463 : The peasants in Nyland are revolting!
June 21, 1463 : We won a battle against Sweden in Bergslagen.
September 1, 1463 : The peasants in Nyland are revolting!
November 1, 1463 : The peasants in Småland are revolting!
November 3, 1463 : We have lost control over Svealand to Sweden.
November 23, 1463 : We lost a battle against Sweden in Gästrikland.
December 11, 1463 : Bavaria declared war upon Hungary.
December 11, 1463 : Austria joined the war on the same side as Bavaria in their war against Hungary.
December 11, 1463 : Bohemia joined the war on the same side as Austria and Bavaria in their war against Hungary.
December 11, 1463 : Croatia joined the war on the same side as Hungary in their war against Austria, Bavaria and Bohemia.
December 11, 1463 : Ragusa joined the war on the same side as Hungary and Croatia in their war against Austria, Bavaria and Bohemia.
December 11, 1463 : Bosnia joined the war on the same side as Hungary, Croatia and Ragusa in their war against Austria, Bavaria and Bohemia.
December 11, 1463 : Lithuania joined the war on the same side as Hungary, Croatia, Ragusa and Bosnia in their war against Austria, Bavaria and Bohemia.
December 11, 1463 : The Knights joined the war on the same side as Hungary, Croatia, Ragusa, Bosnia and Lithuania in their war against Austria, Bavaria and Bohemia.
December 11, 1463 : Albania joined the war on the same side as Hungary, Croatia, Ragusa, Bosnia, Lithuania and The Knights in their war against Austria, Bavaria and Bohemia.
December 12, 1463 : We lost a battle against Rebel Scum in Småland.
January 1, 1464 : We have lost control over Småland to Rebel Scum.
January 24, 1464 : We captured the province of Västergötland from Sweden
March 1, 1464 : The peasants in Savolaks are revolting!
March 21, 1464 : Cyprus declared war upon Ottoman Empire.
March 21, 1464 : Georgia joined the war on the same side as Cyprus in their war against Ottoman Empire.
April 15, 1464 : We won a battle against Sweden in Småland.
May 6, 1464 : We won a battle against Sweden in Västergötland.
May 22, 1464 : We went with Accept in Sale of Offices.
May 23, 1464 : We won a battle against Sweden in Småland.
June 2, 1464 : We lost a battle against Sweden in Gästrikland.
June 6, 1464 : We won a battle against Sweden in Svealand.
June 24, 1464 : The peasants in Arkhangelsk are revolting!
July 25, 1464 : We won a battle against Sweden in Småland.
August 16, 1464 : We won a battle against Sweden in Västergötland.
September 17, 1464 : We won a battle against Sweden in Småland.
September 19, 1464 : We captured the province of Bergslagen from Sweden
October 20, 1464 : We captured the province of Västerbotten from Sweden
November 8, 1464 : We lost a battle against Sweden in Gästrikland.
December 2, 1464 : We lost a battle against Sweden in Gästrikland.
December 23, 1464 : We have lost control over Gästrikland to Sweden.
January 25, 1465 : We won a battle against Sweden in Svealand.
February 1, 1465 : The peasants in Österbotten are revolting!
April 7, 1465 : We won a battle against Sweden in Gästrikland.
June 1, 1465 : We won a battle against Rebel Scum in Nyland.
August 1, 1465 : The peasants in Tavastland are revolting!
September 7, 1465 : We captured the province of Svealand from Sweden
September 13, 1465 : We have lost control over Bergslagen to Sweden.
October 4, 1465 : Golden Horde accepted peace with Uzbek Kaganate on the following terms : Golden Horde pays 90$ in indemnities. Orenburg to Uzbek Kaganate.
October 20, 1465 : We lost a battle against Sweden in Gästrikland.
November 2, 1465 : Poland declared war upon Bohemia.
November 2, 1465 : Austria joined the war on the same side as Bohemia in their war against Poland.
November 2, 1465 : Bavaria joined the war on the same side as Austria and Bohemia in their war against Poland.
November 2, 1465 : Olonets Regiment has arrived in Svealand.
November 2, 1465 : We have dishonored our Military Alliance with Poland.
December 7, 1465 : We lost a battle against Sweden in Bergslagen.
February 3, 1466 : We lost a battle against Sweden in Bergslagen.
April 1, 1466 : The peasants in Svealand are revolting!
April 8, 1466 : We won a battle against Rebel Scum in Svealand.
April 26, 1466 : We lost a battle against Sweden in Gästrikland.
May 20, 1466 : We lost a battle against Sweden in Svealand.
June 1, 1466 : The peasants in Västerbotten are revolting!
July 5, 1466 : We won a battle against Sweden in Gästrikland.
August 3, 1466 : We lost a battle against Rebel Scum in Västerbotten.
August 27, 1466 : Diplomatic Insult happened to us.
November 4, 1466 : We won a battle against Sweden in Bergslagen.
January 21, 1467 : Ottoman Empire accepted peace with Georgia on the following terms : Ottoman Empire pays 75$ in indemnities. Konya to Georgia.
March 14, 1467 : We won a battle against Sweden in Bergslagen.
May 20, 1467 : We have lost control over Svealand to Sweden.
May 26, 1467 : We captured the province of Gästrikland from Sweden
June 1, 1467 : The peasants in Olonets are revolting!
June 10, 1467 : We won a battle against Sweden in Småland.
July 4, 1467 : We captured the province of Småland from Sweden
July 18, 1467 : We lost a battle against Sweden in Gästrikland.
July 26, 1467 : We lost a battle against Sweden in Svealand.
August 6, 1467 : We lost a battle against Sweden in Svealand.
August 22, 1467 : We won a battle against Sweden in Bergslagen.
October 1, 1467 : The peasants in Småland are revolting!
October 21, 1467 : We lost a battle against Sweden in Lappland.
November 1, 1467 : The peasants in Västergötland are revolting!
November 11, 1467 : We lost a battle against Sweden in Västerbotten.
November 29, 1467 : We lost a battle against Sweden in Gästrikland.
December 21, 1467 : We won a battle against Rebel Scum in Västergötland.
December 24, 1467 : We lost a battle against Sweden in Svealand.
January 26, 1468 : We lost a battle against Sweden in Gästrikland.
February 20, 1468 : We lost a battle against Sweden in Västerbotten.
March 13, 1468 : We lost a battle against Sweden in Gästrikland.
May 23, 1468 : We lost a battle against Sweden in Svealand.
August 1, 1468 : We won a battle against Sweden in Bergslagen.
August 29, 1468 : We won a battle against Sweden in Västergötland.
September 22, 1468 : We lost a battle against Sweden in Svealand.
September 23, 1468 : We lost a battle against Sweden in Österbotten.
November 28, 1468 : We captured the province of Bergslagen from Sweden
February 1, 1469 : Byzantium declared war upon Ottoman Empire.
February 17, 1469 : We lost a battle against Sweden in Gästrikland.
May 1, 1469 : The revolters in Vladimir have defected to the crown of Muscowy.
July 1, 1469 : We have lost control over Gästrikland to Sweden.
July 19, 1469 : We lost a battle against Sweden in Österbotten.
August 1, 1469 : The peasants in Bergslagen are revolting!
August 11, 1469 : We lost a battle against Sweden in Lappland.
September 1, 1469 : The peasants in Finland are revolting!
November 1, 1469 : A White Peace was signed between Ottoman Empire and Cyprus.
November 10, 1469 : We won a battle against Sweden in Gästrikland.
November 25, 1469 : Ottoman Empire accepted peace with Hungary on the following terms : Ottoman Empire pays 60$ in indemnities. Smyrna to Hungary. Ottoman Empire will become a vassal.
January 5, 1470 : Ryazan declared war upon Muscowy.
March 1, 1470 : The peasants in Västerbotten are revolting!
March 1, 1470 : We captured the province of Svealand from Sweden
April 1, 1470 : The peasants in Småland are revolting!
June 15, 1470 : We lost a battle against Rebel Scum in Västerbotten.
September 1, 1470 : We captured the province of Gästrikland from Sweden
September 1, 1470 : Sweden accepted our generous peace offer.
September 1, 1470 : Sweden are now our vassals.
September 2, 1470 : Ottoman Empire accepted peace with Byzantium on the following terms : Full Annexation of Ottoman Empire by Byzantium

[Walter Model]

Byzantine Empire Annexing Ottoman Empire?!?!??!?!?!?!?!?!?!!??!

[stnylan]

Those events down in Asia Minor and the Balkans look very promising indeed. Nice diplomatic targets once you've dealt with the Horde.