Chapter 3: More trouble ahead
Due to the burning of the Great Library in 1442 we can reconstruct this period from the personal diary of the Chancellor.
Notes from the Diary of the Chancellor. 1433 AD. (last six months)
June 27, 1433: A notice from Napoli came claiming that the Pope was overusing his powers and occupying a piece of Napoli. Absurd! They must be insane to pick a quarrel with us, even if the might of Aragon is behind them. I will press the issue, maybe we will gain a Casus Belli against the arrogant Napolese.
June 30, 1433: Due to the boundary dispute, the citizens of the border regions grew anxious of Napolese military incursions or raids and our national stability dropped. Luckily the presence of our military prevented rebellions.
October 25, 1433: Our spies report that Venice entered a Military Alliance with The Knights, Cyprus and Serbia and joined the war against Croatia. Luckily these nations are far from us and can cause little harm. I believe a declaration of war ist o be expected from the vile Venetians soon. But their alliance can do little to help them.
October 26, 1433: A report came from the Bishop of Bern that Helvetia entered a Military Alliance with Burgundy, England, Kleves and Münster and joined the war against Castile and Portugal. Helvetia also joined the war against Scotland
Notes from the Diary of the Chancellor. 1434 AD.
Due to unrest among the peasants our stability dropped on February 5, 1434. Luckily I managed to convince the Pope to send preachers to pacify the populous, their efforts bore fruit on May 1, 1434 and our stability increased.
May 29, 1434: Today I wrote to the King of England, the letter was received by little enthusiasm. Our comment on the behavior of the French slightly improved our relations with them.
September 13, 1434: The ambassador of Ragusa reported the annexation of the Duchy of Athens. I sent my congratulations to the King.
December 5, 1434: England accepted peace with Castile., England pays 20$ in indemnities. The province of Meath was handed to Portugal.
December 7, 1434: Today the most joyous occasion occurred. I was having my usual dinner with the ambassador of Ragusa. During the dinner I suggested the signing of a Trade Agreement to stop the rivalry between our merchants. He accepted the offer on behalf of the King.
December 12, 1434: Unfortunately today Siebenbürgen declined our trade agreement proposal.
Notes from the Diary of the Chancellor. 1435 AD, A really long Year.
February 1, 1435: The Internal affairs advisor Meurtenµ reported that the scientists have completed the study on our fortresses and have found ways to improve them. We can buid bigger and stronger fortresses to protect our cities.
February 1, 1435: Our stability increased due to heavy investments in the traveling preachers. They adopted a new technique to calm the people. They hand out bibles and pacifiers to calm things down. (N.M.S.o.T.M. -- No More Sucking of Thumbs Movement created!)
February 2, 1435: Renatus di Anjou rose to the throne in Naples. It seems that the house of Anjou is going strong in the peninsula. They even managed to stir the calm on the countryside and make the people of Siena revolt.
April 27, 1435: Sienese refugees arrived to Rome today. Their reports indicate that Siena has been besieged by Rebel Scum, I immediately ordered the Roma Army to march to Siena to quell the rebellion.
May 18, 1435: Reports indicate that Roma Army just arrived in Siena. They’re attempting a surprise attack on the Rebel Scum.
June 4, 1435: Unfortunately reports indicate that we lost a battle against Rebel Scum in Siena.
June 19, 1435: Today most disturbing news reached me, the new monarch of Naples Renatus di Anjou declared war upon us! I am glad to see that some of our allies haven’t abandoned our side in the hour of need. Ragusa, Luxembourgh, Siebenbürgen and Austria joined our side in the war against the heretics of Naples, Albania, Modena, Aragon, Artois and Byzantium.
Only Hungary dishonored our Military Alliance. Maybe we can turn this to our advantage and liberate the “Oder Patrol” from Firenze as advisor Coz1 pointed out.
July 3, 1435: The Ottoman Empire declared war upon Byzantium, it draws many important resources away from the Heretic Alliance against their unjust war against us.
July 3, 1435: Our diplomat in Hungary reported that Croatia entered a Military Alliance with Hungary and joined their war against Genoa.
August 28, 1435: I received word that Roma Army has arrived in Emilia and engaged the hostile armies of Modena in Emilia.
September 4, 1435: Success! Our superior troops won a battle against Modena in Emilia and have left a small contingent which started a siege in Emilia.
October 14, 1435: I ordered the regrouping of the Roma Army. The freshly recruited troops now named the Marche Regiment arrived in Emilia and are besieging the city. Within a month Roma Army is expected to arrive in Marche.
November 5, 1435: Today Roma Army arrived in Marche, in a few days tha soldiers must march on to Napoli.
November 29, 1435: Roma Army has arrived in Napoli and engaged hostile armies in the province.
December 10, 1435 We won a battle against Naples and initiated a siege in Napoli.
December 28, 1435: The ambassador of Genoa reported that Isnardo Guarco rose to the throne in Genoa.
Notes from the Diary of the Chancellor. 1436 AD.
January 26, 1436: Aragonites today arrived in Mantua and is currently under siege.
February 9, 1436: Our neighbor Savoy entered a Military Alliance with France, Bourbonnais and Auvergne and joined the war against Crimea.
March 4, 1436: I glad to write that today we captured the province of Emilia from Modena. I must send my peace proposal to them.
March 6, 1436: Modena had the audacity to reject our generous peace offer!
March 10, 1436: The war in the south is also going quite well. General Farquharson reported that we captured the province of Napoli from Naples! This war is going well for us indeed.
March 26, 1436: The reinforcements today arrived in Napoli, our forces are soon ready to push southwards towards Apulia.
April 4, 1436: Foreign Office reports that Tommaso de Campofregoso rose to the throne in Genoa.
April 12, 1436: Today I received a letter from 20 Merchant families, they were extremely unhappy with my Trade policies and decided to withdraw 200 ducats they wanted to finance in the University’s economic studies.
April 27, 1436: Roma Army has arrived in Apulia and engaged hostile armies in Apulia. Today the unthinkable happened; we lost control over Siena to Rebel Scum. Unfortunately the bulk of our forces are away, campaigning in the south.
May 12, 1436: To further increase the shortage of soldiers it seems that we lost a battle against Naples in Apulia.
Is the tide of war turning? Have we run out of luck?