Part nine - 1st War of Religion
So, here we are, Germany in the mids of ist religous turmoil, with a stability on the brink of civil war. It was ahead in economic technology, but far behind its neighbours in millitary technology. Using the international charts we would say they had a landtechlevel of 5, while Milan had 9 ans France even 10. But, Germany had a King who wanted war.
Some would say, its a bad Idea to declare war on one of your neighbours, with a low stability, an Army far inferior to many of your opponents and every nation in Europe having a legal casus belly on you, but not Joachim. In his Eyes Germany was the strongest country in Europe, not challenged by anyone. It had one every war it lead sinc its foundation. Noone could compete with the germany millitary. So the German troops were brought to the Austrian and Milan Border. The Plan was easy, an Army should besiege the austrian Capital in tirol, anotherone would move through the rest of the autrian territory, destroying every Austrian army it meets, and leave men to siege the cities. The third German army was supposed to hold the line against the technological superior troops.
The plan versus Austria suprisingly succeeded without Problems of any kind. On the Milan Front on the other hand, the war went desastrous the Army was defeated several times and reduced to 5000 men, and Schwyz was besieged, and later taken, by a huge Milan Army.
Still that was no problem in Joachims Eyes, as, as soon as the Austrians were beaten, 50000 men were free to take on Milan. But, as you now, man proposes, God disposes. When the war was in ist hottest phase, with shwyz having fallen to milan and Lorraine being besieged, Desmond declared war onto Germany, and England and Scotland joined in.
Bur Joachim was not concerned, what was england supposed to do, there was after all quite some water between them. So the war was continued as planed, and only moths after England declared war, All Austrian castles were taken. Everybody expected a harsh peace versus Austria, probably all its provinces but Tirol would go to Germany rumours said, but that did not happen. Only Vienna went to Germany, and Austria was allowed to stay free of germany if they convert to the Protestant believes and exchange some higher ranking officials with some closer to Germany.
Even though not much land was taken, the outcry in the catholic world was enormus. How could Germany dare to force an independent state to convert? The pope saw the catholicism in danger and asked every loyal catholic to join forces against Germany. And they sure did...
But before any more wars were declared Germanys wara against Milan continued. With the new forces from Austria Mantua could quickly be captured and Lombardia was besieged. On the other hand Lorraine fell to Milan. When the Army that conquered Lorraine came back to Lombardia and engaged The German forces, Joachim offerd a white peace to Milan, before the battle was lost and the price for a peace would rise. Gladfully Milan accepted. But the joy of peace was dimmed, as on the same day the peace was signed, a declaration of war arrived in Germany.
Luckly it was just brittany, so nobody was really concerned that something bad happend.
But they should have been, because this war was a sign what would follow. The first catholic states had finished their preperations and declared war. Only one week later Denmark and its allies Sweden and Lithuania joined the war against Germany. Now people started to get concerned.
Joachim saw now his mistakes, he underestimated the willingnes of the catholic world to go to war. He quickly searched for allies, and one month after Denmark declared war, he found them. It was Austria. Now with the same relegion as Germany, and many germanfriendly officials in its high ranks it was no problem for Germany to join the alliance with Austria and Milan. Hopefully that would help, and prevent some dows.
Unfortunatly, almost only few troops could move north to meet the new threads from Denmark and England, as rebels had taken The fortress in Lorrain while it was still in repair after the Milan assault and Salzburg was undert siege, so new troops were raised.
When the rebells were finally beaten and a small force was left to besiege the fortress in lorraine, the war against Denmark could finally start. An offensive against Jylland could destroy the denmark army there and the fortress could be sieged. Also all counter attacks were useless. The German army stood strong.
Unfortunatly that did not solve any problems. The enemy troops in Geldre mounted up to 30000 allready, and the fortress would fall in less than a month. Also fresh schwedish and english troops landed in Pommerian. And to make it worse the people in Franche Comte started a rebellion. But that was not all. Joachims worst nightmare, and at the same time a great chance, came true. Meissen(landtech 8) declared war onto Germany (tech 5), and Bohemia (tech 5), Papal States (tech 5), Tuscany (tech 9) and the warmachine France(tech11!!), with alltogether over 230000 men joined their war against the about 60000 German soldiers. The only light in shining in these days was Austria that joined the war, although it only had 20000 men to contribute. The war of relegion had only just begun.