Empire of the East - A Lithuanian AAR
Chapter 1 - the First Baltic War
The banners flew high, on the citadel of the Imperial Palace. The battlements, untouched from years of peaceful living. The usn shone down in all of it's brilliance to light up the countryside for miles around. The snow glistened in the January morning, the wind rustled the trees. The guards perched in the towers huddled close for warmth, gazing out at the splendor and awe inspiring view that seemed to stretch out for miles on end. Fires crackled and children laughed in the nearbyu town. Horses slowly walked along the stone roads, pulling their carriages throgu the town. The gates of the Palace were left open, as this was the dawn of a new year, January 1, 1419 and the dawn of a new age for the people of Lithuania. The ruler, Vytautus Didysus was a strong ruler, not tyrannical but new how to get jobs done around the kingdom. His military knowledge and diplomacy were as perfect as any ruler in the world could possibly be, and his economic intelligence ensure prosperity for all, from the rich manor in the capitol province, to the most remote town in Krementjug. This was exactly the man the Lithuanian people were looking for to lead their magnificent country into a new life, of excellence and ability.
In 1419, Lithuania was a strong kingdom, and had some of the largest tracts of land in the known world. Only the Golden Horde had more land, but by contrast, those provinces owned by Lithuania were much more powerful and wealthy. The armed forces of the Lithuanian Army were very powerful as well. 65,000 men in two armies. The king had ordered that the army be as strong as possible during his reign, and by now the Offensive Doctrine was + 3, the Land Doctrine was + 3 and Quality Doctrine was + 1, ensuring the Lithuanians had the edge over any of their neighbouring rivals. This is how the First Baltic War erupted:
I woke up early that morning, with my wife by my side. I lay there for another half hour, contemplating if I should request the king give me leave of my duties as Baron for the day, as I felt I had the early beginnings of some sickness, of which type I was unsure of. I stared at the ceiling all the while, until I herd a horse galloping at full speed down the road in from of my house. I lived in the province of Belorus, well away form the nearest town or city. Il iked the secluded atmosphere of my manor, and found it strange to have any unannounced visitors in this area of the countryside. Through my window, I could hear the guards at the gate talkin to the annonymous person. The gate creaked open and the horse could be heard galloping into the courtyard, and my wife mumbled something about the noise. I quickly dressed myself in whatever I could find and went down the stairs to see what the commotion was. I reached the lower levels of my home, when I saw a man standing in the doorway, flanked by two of my servants. He was a beast of a man, his body easily touching the frame of my door, both in height and with his seemingly unreal broad shoulders. He was clad in the armour and colours of the Lithuanian Imperial Guard, so I knew this must be important business.
"Good morning, sire. I have been sent by His Royal Highness to escort you back to the Imperial Palace in the capitol." he said to me. His authoritative voice told me that he wouldn't accept my excuses as an answer and so I politely told him to wait for me to dress myself.
I quietly climbed back up the stairs to my bedroom, and pondered what all this could be about. When I arrived, my wife was staring out the window, at a bird chirping on a nearby branch.
"You have to leave don't you." she said.
I nodded silently and went about the process of gathering my finest armour and packing my clothes for the trip. I called my servants to help me put on the bulky armour which the king had given me many years back.
"I have no choice. This is an Imperial Summons."
Without a word, she came over and kissed me gently on the cheek. Then, she departed to her weaving. I would not see my wife for two years.
I arrived at the Imperial Palace on January 7, after a week of hard riding West. When I got there, King Vytautus was already waiting for me. He hurried me up to the main dining hall, which was bustling with activity. Soldiers sucrried back and forth and servants made ready the troops.
"Our allies, Poland have declared war on the Prussians." he spoke to me.
This didn't surpise me one bit, as the Poles and Prussians had been at each other's necks for many decades now.
"Those bastards from the Teutonic Order have joined the fight. And on the wrong side might I add. We have given our pledge to aid the Polish soldiers in any way we can. So, I have taken the liberty of declaring war on Prussia as well."
This also didn't surprise me, as our king had been scrapping for a war and victory for his entire reign, which was still eluding him up until this point.
"I want you to summon the Lithuanian Army in the South. I will take command of the 10,000 men of the 2nd Lithuanian Army in Belarus. Good luck, Baron. I will meet you on the front."
This was all he said before I was ushered out the front gate, by the same Guardsman who had visited me a week before. His name was Captain Jacob Vojtecinski. I sent a messanger on ahead of us and waited for the army group to arrive. 3 months later, 44,000 men of the Lithuanian Army arrived, and was itching for a fight.
I learned the 2nd Army had pushed ahead and was attacking the 18,000 men of the Teutonic Knights, in their capitol province. Once our men had reached the Teutonic border, I divided the group into two units. One would head north into Livland, and the other would press south into Polotsk. And os the sieges began. The Teutonic amry was completely routed and fled to Prussia. Our men, commenced beseigement there as well. The Teutons offered peace, by demanding 75,000 ducats. I scoffed at this. Were they thinking we were dumb or just idiots themselves?
By this time, Teutonic reinforcements had arrived in Polotsk and Livland, but our armied annihilated those as well. The main Teuton army, pressing once more, attacked the 2nd in the capitol and was smashed away until no men were left standing. The Prussians asked for White Peace. I rejected, knowing that this war would be won by us and we needed territory, not a peaceful settlement.
In 1420, a rebel group in the kingdom of the Golden Horde seized Donetsk from them. Their 14,000 men proceeded to cross our common border nad pillaged and raze whatever they found. I immediately called up the local militia, 9,000 strong to dispatch the rebel scum. In the end, we lost 500 infantry, and all 14,000 rebels were either killed on the battlefield, or executed later and hung out on roadways as an example. Brutal but efficient.
By this time, we had seized the three Teutonic provinces we were sieging, but at a heavy cost. A brutal winter was upon us and thousands of men were killed by the cold. Finally, the Lithuanian Army group marched into Estland and began the siege. A year later, it was ours.
I immediately sent a diplomat to the Teutonic capitol and handed over our demands .They were harsh and severely crippled the Teutons but it was fair. They became our vassals and handed over Estland, Livland, Polotsk. On October 12, 1421, the peace was signed. We had won.
Soon after, with the Poles pressing hard, the Prussians signed a White Peace with us. They king and all the other nobility were pleased and extremely jubilant after this great victory. For now.
Chapter 1 - the First Baltic War
The banners flew high, on the citadel of the Imperial Palace. The battlements, untouched from years of peaceful living. The usn shone down in all of it's brilliance to light up the countryside for miles around. The snow glistened in the January morning, the wind rustled the trees. The guards perched in the towers huddled close for warmth, gazing out at the splendor and awe inspiring view that seemed to stretch out for miles on end. Fires crackled and children laughed in the nearbyu town. Horses slowly walked along the stone roads, pulling their carriages throgu the town. The gates of the Palace were left open, as this was the dawn of a new year, January 1, 1419 and the dawn of a new age for the people of Lithuania. The ruler, Vytautus Didysus was a strong ruler, not tyrannical but new how to get jobs done around the kingdom. His military knowledge and diplomacy were as perfect as any ruler in the world could possibly be, and his economic intelligence ensure prosperity for all, from the rich manor in the capitol province, to the most remote town in Krementjug. This was exactly the man the Lithuanian people were looking for to lead their magnificent country into a new life, of excellence and ability.
In 1419, Lithuania was a strong kingdom, and had some of the largest tracts of land in the known world. Only the Golden Horde had more land, but by contrast, those provinces owned by Lithuania were much more powerful and wealthy. The armed forces of the Lithuanian Army were very powerful as well. 65,000 men in two armies. The king had ordered that the army be as strong as possible during his reign, and by now the Offensive Doctrine was + 3, the Land Doctrine was + 3 and Quality Doctrine was + 1, ensuring the Lithuanians had the edge over any of their neighbouring rivals. This is how the First Baltic War erupted:
I woke up early that morning, with my wife by my side. I lay there for another half hour, contemplating if I should request the king give me leave of my duties as Baron for the day, as I felt I had the early beginnings of some sickness, of which type I was unsure of. I stared at the ceiling all the while, until I herd a horse galloping at full speed down the road in from of my house. I lived in the province of Belorus, well away form the nearest town or city. Il iked the secluded atmosphere of my manor, and found it strange to have any unannounced visitors in this area of the countryside. Through my window, I could hear the guards at the gate talkin to the annonymous person. The gate creaked open and the horse could be heard galloping into the courtyard, and my wife mumbled something about the noise. I quickly dressed myself in whatever I could find and went down the stairs to see what the commotion was. I reached the lower levels of my home, when I saw a man standing in the doorway, flanked by two of my servants. He was a beast of a man, his body easily touching the frame of my door, both in height and with his seemingly unreal broad shoulders. He was clad in the armour and colours of the Lithuanian Imperial Guard, so I knew this must be important business.
"Good morning, sire. I have been sent by His Royal Highness to escort you back to the Imperial Palace in the capitol." he said to me. His authoritative voice told me that he wouldn't accept my excuses as an answer and so I politely told him to wait for me to dress myself.
I quietly climbed back up the stairs to my bedroom, and pondered what all this could be about. When I arrived, my wife was staring out the window, at a bird chirping on a nearby branch.
"You have to leave don't you." she said.
I nodded silently and went about the process of gathering my finest armour and packing my clothes for the trip. I called my servants to help me put on the bulky armour which the king had given me many years back.
"I have no choice. This is an Imperial Summons."
Without a word, she came over and kissed me gently on the cheek. Then, she departed to her weaving. I would not see my wife for two years.
I arrived at the Imperial Palace on January 7, after a week of hard riding West. When I got there, King Vytautus was already waiting for me. He hurried me up to the main dining hall, which was bustling with activity. Soldiers sucrried back and forth and servants made ready the troops.
"Our allies, Poland have declared war on the Prussians." he spoke to me.
This didn't surpise me one bit, as the Poles and Prussians had been at each other's necks for many decades now.
"Those bastards from the Teutonic Order have joined the fight. And on the wrong side might I add. We have given our pledge to aid the Polish soldiers in any way we can. So, I have taken the liberty of declaring war on Prussia as well."
This also didn't surprise me, as our king had been scrapping for a war and victory for his entire reign, which was still eluding him up until this point.
"I want you to summon the Lithuanian Army in the South. I will take command of the 10,000 men of the 2nd Lithuanian Army in Belarus. Good luck, Baron. I will meet you on the front."
This was all he said before I was ushered out the front gate, by the same Guardsman who had visited me a week before. His name was Captain Jacob Vojtecinski. I sent a messanger on ahead of us and waited for the army group to arrive. 3 months later, 44,000 men of the Lithuanian Army arrived, and was itching for a fight.
I learned the 2nd Army had pushed ahead and was attacking the 18,000 men of the Teutonic Knights, in their capitol province. Once our men had reached the Teutonic border, I divided the group into two units. One would head north into Livland, and the other would press south into Polotsk. And os the sieges began. The Teutonic amry was completely routed and fled to Prussia. Our men, commenced beseigement there as well. The Teutons offered peace, by demanding 75,000 ducats. I scoffed at this. Were they thinking we were dumb or just idiots themselves?
By this time, Teutonic reinforcements had arrived in Polotsk and Livland, but our armied annihilated those as well. The main Teuton army, pressing once more, attacked the 2nd in the capitol and was smashed away until no men were left standing. The Prussians asked for White Peace. I rejected, knowing that this war would be won by us and we needed territory, not a peaceful settlement.
In 1420, a rebel group in the kingdom of the Golden Horde seized Donetsk from them. Their 14,000 men proceeded to cross our common border nad pillaged and raze whatever they found. I immediately called up the local militia, 9,000 strong to dispatch the rebel scum. In the end, we lost 500 infantry, and all 14,000 rebels were either killed on the battlefield, or executed later and hung out on roadways as an example. Brutal but efficient.
By this time, we had seized the three Teutonic provinces we were sieging, but at a heavy cost. A brutal winter was upon us and thousands of men were killed by the cold. Finally, the Lithuanian Army group marched into Estland and began the siege. A year later, it was ours.
I immediately sent a diplomat to the Teutonic capitol and handed over our demands .They were harsh and severely crippled the Teutons but it was fair. They became our vassals and handed over Estland, Livland, Polotsk. On October 12, 1421, the peace was signed. We had won.
Soon after, with the Poles pressing hard, the Prussians signed a White Peace with us. They king and all the other nobility were pleased and extremely jubilant after this great victory. For now.
