Jaspume said:
Ahem.
o Sorry about that...----
The cavalry force of mercenaries drives the defenders from Berg, and the second army moves in to take over the besiegement.
Then, suddenly, Berg becomes independent from Cologne! They became Cleves, for what reason I'm not quite sure... Palatinate troops were hanging around a lot during the war, perhaps they were also at war, and had arranged a settlement with Cologne. Whatever the reason, it meant one less province out of the deal for us, and that wasn't good given the pressure the enemy was dealing.
Wanting to place more pressure on Trier, the second army marched toward the siege of their capital. It had been a long and bloody struggle, and they needed the support.
Trier was soon taken, just after the capture of Liege by Cologne.
Preperation, preperation, preperation guys. Seriously. When I entered this war, I should've paused, looked thoroughly at where each nations provinces were located and how I would get there. Instead, I gave a quick look through the territories and began the combat. Trier wasn't a one province nation. No, it had another one. A fair distance away, with quite a few scared german nations in the way. Nations that weren't about to let me get through.
We managed to secure the access to the Palatinate and Mainz, but I didn't think making such a movement for one far off territory was worthwhile. I faced facts, Trier was hardly worth it and I didn't need three enemies to fight at the minute. So, begrudgingly, I declared peace.
At a price of course. Well, a price for Trier, a tiny, seemingly now bankrupt nation.
So, a little more hopeful now I'd cleared some of the enemies out of the way, I moved to the remaining Cologne province, Lippe. A special mention must go out to Lorraine during this war, they're one of the first allies to impress me. They basically been the homeland defence, breaking several sieges at Liege, driving out the occupiers and freeing the province, defeating invasion forces from Munster and now combatting Cologne at Koln. Well done gents, pity I have plans for annexation....
Lippe is taken just under 50 days, and Osnabruck falls to Burgundy with little resistance. The capital of Munster is besieged by Lorraine and the only resistance left is by a small Cologne force at the ruins of Koln and a ragged raiding force at Vlaanderen.
Lorraine combats the raiding force too, and soon the war seems to be coming to an end. Unfortunately, Aragon decides this to be an opportune moment to call for our aid against Granada and Morocco. Aragon will likely take Granada with little struggle and neithers forces are likely to reach the shores of Burgundy, so I accept, wanting to keep the alliance as long as possible.
With Munster falling beneath the Burgundian blade, King Louis rides his horse casually through the grim streets and burning rubble of Munster, arranging a meeting with the two kings of the opposing alliance. His offer of peace is accepted. Lippe and Onsabruck become part of Burgundy, and the once proud Cologne shall now bow to Burgundy, serving her as a vassal.
Louis, just as with the southern province of the Burgundian kingdom, was not happy with how severed his territories were. He could annex Lorraine peacefully, but Cleves.... War would soon come to them.
----
King Louis I-
"What is this nation that stands between our lands? This ugly scar upon the face of Burgundy? This is not independence, nor freedom. This is foolhardy and dangerous. To stand before the king of Burgundy is to stand before a god, when you are one such as Cleves. Mark my words little one, the horns of Burgundy will sound upon your kingdoms ruins."
