Chapter 2: The Race for Germany and Italy
May 10, 1688: Friedrich III kicks off his reign with a nationalistic invasion of Saxony. Saxony is the nearest large and easy target.
A quick look at France shows that Louis XIV has no legitimate heir. Thus, Friedrich arranges a royal marriage.
May 11: Our first mission: Conquer Silesia from Austria.
Race for Germany and Italy: Cologne invades Trier and Tuscany invades Modena on the 11th, Brunswick invades Luneburg on the 12th, and then Savoy invades Genoa while Hesse invades Mainz on the 13th. All these are using Nationalism CBs.
May 30: Sweden offers alliance. We accept, to keep Austria off our back.
June 28: Bavaria invades Ansbach. Austria declines to join Bavaria in this war, leaving them without allies. Friedrich sends a declaration of war to Bavaria in support of Ansbach. England joins in as the defender of the Catholic Faith.
July 3: Wurzburg declares war on Ansbach.
July 7: Once morale returns from changing army types, the Saxon army is wiped out in one fell swoop at Potsdam. In other news, Denmark offers alliance.
July 13: England embargos us, and we gain a new heir to the throne: Karl.
September 10: Wurttemburg declares war on Ansbach. Ansbach must have lost their army.
November 21: Holstein declares war on Bremen. Obviously, Brandenburg must become the peacemaker of Germany.
December 1: With Saxony's army destroyed and reinforcements wiped out, the army settles down to siege, using the original 6 regiments, and 5 new regiments raised at the start of the war. 2 new cavalry regiments and 4 regiments of artillery are raised to bolster this army for the upcoming Bavarian campaign.
December 16: Tuscany declares war on Mantua.
January 24, 1689: The first casualty of the wars in Germany is Luneburg, who is annexed by Brunswick. In domestic news, the inflation from non-stop minting forces monetary reforms (-2 stability, 4 star Master of Mint that we hire).
August 14: Wurttemburg declares war on Baden.
June 16, 1690: Saxony cedes all territory outside Dresden, pays 85 ducats, and annuls all treaties.
July 31: Wurzburg allows military access to Brandenburg, allowing access into Bavaria. However, first, the English must be tossed out of Memel.
November 9: The English expeditionary force in Memel surrenders, leaving only the ever-present blockade.
February, 1691: Stability returns to +1.
May 22: The remaining Bavarian army surrenders in Franken. The Palatinate has already occupied Ansbach.
Bavaria has only level 1 forts, so we assault with impunity. Franken falls on May 28, Oberpfalz on June 22, and Niederbayern on July 15.
June 11: The Ottomans cede Banat and Osijek to Austria.
October 26: The Palatinate forces Bavaria to cede Ansbach. The people of Ansbach prepare to change their stationary again.
December 13: Bavaria cedes Schwaben, Franken, Niederbayern and Oberpfalz, leaving them an OPM.
December 15: Slider move to Quality. We lose stability. England accepts peace in exchange for 25 ducats from Brandenburg.
A look at the French heir situation. Look familiar? (Bremen has the same situation, incidentally.)
December 18: Friedrich III declares himself King in Prussia.
Maps - Central Europe in 1688 and 1691: