Primary objectives: Achieve and maintaine the title of the Defender of the Faith, while acting like one. Become the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire and hold the title for years to come. Third, and the most important as I am testing the new possibilities here - to conquer Jerusalem in 100 years (I know what you all think - bah, big deal!.. wait a sec, would you?) without building a single warship, galley or transport.
The AAR will be written in a way I wrote my English AAR long ago: timeline with comments on strategy. Occasional screenshots.
Part I: The Ninth Crusade
Year 1419. In the East the indfidel Turks stand at the gates of Constantinople and, if the swift action is not taken, the city will fall in a decade or two. In the West English and French continue to murder themselves for the right to rule the land of ancient Gauls. The Duchy of Burgundy is currently allied to English. However, it is already decided that the Duchy's goal will not be the victory of either England or France. If a balance of power is to be reachd, Burgundians should intervene only at the very last moment to prevent both kingdoms from gaining an upper hand.
In the same time a new Duke, Phillipe III le Bon, with the support from Rome tries to organize the ninth crusade, which is destined to prevent Muslims from overanning Eastern Europe. His ideas are not met warmly in France and Germany, but receice support from Burgundian allies: England and Aragon. The truce in France is quickly reached with minimal losses from Burgundian side and preparations are started for the long march east.
By 1423 Burgudian envoys with the help of Burgundian gold convince both Austria and Hungary to allow Burgundian troops to pass through their territory. Swiss are less lucky as it is Burgundian cavalry that delivers the message. By the end of the year Swiss are forced to become Burgundian vassals and cede Schwyz, from where a crusade will be launched in the near future.
Year 1425. Military access through Wallachia.
May of 1425. War declared on Turkey.
Burgundian army is divided in two to reduce attrition, while marching through foreign lands. First, seven thousand knights reach Wallachia, followed by 12,000 infantry. Turks, curretly at war with Moldova, abandon the siege of Dobrudja and hurry to Bulgaria, where they receive a first in long series of harsh beatings at the hands of crusaders. Soon all Turkish lands west of Bosphorus are taken by Burgundians. English and Aragonese troops are fighting the Turkish ally Teke.
Year 1426. The Byzantine Emperor is convinced with gold to allow crusaders to Asia Minor. Meanwhile, more reinforcements arrive and the victory is no longer doubted by anyone. After 5 years of long fighting Turkey cedes Smyrna and Anatolia and Teke is forced to become Burgundian ally and pay 250,000 ducats in war indemnities. The ninth crusade fullfiled its objective, as very soon all but two Turkish provinces will be taken from her by the neighbors.
Year 1433. Brabant becomes part of the Duchy (event).
Year 1435. Helvetia is annexed by Savoy, which looses it soon to Swiss former ally - Milan. Milan holds three provinces alltogether: Milano, Bern and Piemonte. The Duchy obtains military access through Milanese territory. No longer wishing to fight against French Burgundy joins the alliance with Pope and Venice.
Year 1439. English diplo-annex Navarra and completely cut off French from the Atlantic ocean. French diplo-annex Auvergne and Provence. Bourboness will soon follow.
Year 1440. The Emperor of the East wages war on his neighbors. First, the Duchy of Athens, then Albania, Ragusa and Bulgaria follow. The people of Bulgaria try to rebel and form their own kingdom. Their revolt is drawn in blood.
Same year. Burgundy proclaims itself the Defender of the Catholic Faith. New alliance is formed with Burgundy as the leader and Luxembourg, Mainz and Baden as the secondary members. In years to follow Luxembourg will follow the lead of Brabant, while Mainz and Baden will become tributary states.
In 1430's and 1440's the West wages another crusade: this time against the Orthodox Byzantine Empire. Led by Pope, mostly Italian and Iberian in composition, the crusaders defeat the Byzantines and divide the spoils amongst themselves. Hellas goes to Rome, Morea- to Tuscany, Ragusa - to Spain, Albania - to Modena, Bulgaria - to Serbia and Thrace - to Aragon. Burgundians wage war on Karaman and in two years subdue the infidel kindgom. Karaman becomes yet another vassal of Burgundy, ceding Adana and paying 100,000 ducats. At last the Duchy has a common border with infidel Mamelukes, who hold in their unholy hands the City of God.
Year 1450. France is divided between Brittany, England, Burgundy and France itself. France annexed Lorraine and cuts Burgundy at two. A costly conversion of Anatolia succeds (Thank God for missionaries) and an attemp to convert Smyrna is made.
Year 1458. Joan d'Arc is long dead. The witch was burned at the stake. However, French still hope for victory. As English struggle to maintain control of their French territores, France and Savoy declare war. Brushing away the opposing English forces, they take Orleans and march west and south. God only knows where will they stop...
The AAR will be written in a way I wrote my English AAR long ago: timeline with comments on strategy. Occasional screenshots.
Part I: The Ninth Crusade
Year 1419. In the East the indfidel Turks stand at the gates of Constantinople and, if the swift action is not taken, the city will fall in a decade or two. In the West English and French continue to murder themselves for the right to rule the land of ancient Gauls. The Duchy of Burgundy is currently allied to English. However, it is already decided that the Duchy's goal will not be the victory of either England or France. If a balance of power is to be reachd, Burgundians should intervene only at the very last moment to prevent both kingdoms from gaining an upper hand.
In the same time a new Duke, Phillipe III le Bon, with the support from Rome tries to organize the ninth crusade, which is destined to prevent Muslims from overanning Eastern Europe. His ideas are not met warmly in France and Germany, but receice support from Burgundian allies: England and Aragon. The truce in France is quickly reached with minimal losses from Burgundian side and preparations are started for the long march east.
By 1423 Burgudian envoys with the help of Burgundian gold convince both Austria and Hungary to allow Burgundian troops to pass through their territory. Swiss are less lucky as it is Burgundian cavalry that delivers the message. By the end of the year Swiss are forced to become Burgundian vassals and cede Schwyz, from where a crusade will be launched in the near future.
Year 1425. Military access through Wallachia.
May of 1425. War declared on Turkey.
Burgundian army is divided in two to reduce attrition, while marching through foreign lands. First, seven thousand knights reach Wallachia, followed by 12,000 infantry. Turks, curretly at war with Moldova, abandon the siege of Dobrudja and hurry to Bulgaria, where they receive a first in long series of harsh beatings at the hands of crusaders. Soon all Turkish lands west of Bosphorus are taken by Burgundians. English and Aragonese troops are fighting the Turkish ally Teke.
Year 1426. The Byzantine Emperor is convinced with gold to allow crusaders to Asia Minor. Meanwhile, more reinforcements arrive and the victory is no longer doubted by anyone. After 5 years of long fighting Turkey cedes Smyrna and Anatolia and Teke is forced to become Burgundian ally and pay 250,000 ducats in war indemnities. The ninth crusade fullfiled its objective, as very soon all but two Turkish provinces will be taken from her by the neighbors.
Year 1433. Brabant becomes part of the Duchy (event).
Year 1435. Helvetia is annexed by Savoy, which looses it soon to Swiss former ally - Milan. Milan holds three provinces alltogether: Milano, Bern and Piemonte. The Duchy obtains military access through Milanese territory. No longer wishing to fight against French Burgundy joins the alliance with Pope and Venice.
Year 1439. English diplo-annex Navarra and completely cut off French from the Atlantic ocean. French diplo-annex Auvergne and Provence. Bourboness will soon follow.
Year 1440. The Emperor of the East wages war on his neighbors. First, the Duchy of Athens, then Albania, Ragusa and Bulgaria follow. The people of Bulgaria try to rebel and form their own kingdom. Their revolt is drawn in blood.
Same year. Burgundy proclaims itself the Defender of the Catholic Faith. New alliance is formed with Burgundy as the leader and Luxembourg, Mainz and Baden as the secondary members. In years to follow Luxembourg will follow the lead of Brabant, while Mainz and Baden will become tributary states.
In 1430's and 1440's the West wages another crusade: this time against the Orthodox Byzantine Empire. Led by Pope, mostly Italian and Iberian in composition, the crusaders defeat the Byzantines and divide the spoils amongst themselves. Hellas goes to Rome, Morea- to Tuscany, Ragusa - to Spain, Albania - to Modena, Bulgaria - to Serbia and Thrace - to Aragon. Burgundians wage war on Karaman and in two years subdue the infidel kindgom. Karaman becomes yet another vassal of Burgundy, ceding Adana and paying 100,000 ducats. At last the Duchy has a common border with infidel Mamelukes, who hold in their unholy hands the City of God.
Year 1450. France is divided between Brittany, England, Burgundy and France itself. France annexed Lorraine and cuts Burgundy at two. A costly conversion of Anatolia succeds (Thank God for missionaries) and an attemp to convert Smyrna is made.
Year 1458. Joan d'Arc is long dead. The witch was burned at the stake. However, French still hope for victory. As English struggle to maintain control of their French territores, France and Savoy declare war. Brushing away the opposing English forces, they take Orleans and march west and south. God only knows where will they stop...
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- before Americans that is, atlough they ARE IN EUII, they still were too busy...
