First, let me apologize suggesting I might post a narrative fiction scene next. It just got to be too hard to plan and it was delaying everything. I’ve decided to forego the planned scene and I may include a fiction scene later on.
I’m going to step back just a bit to cover a couple things I forgot to mention at the end of the last update.
In 1448 (no surprise to many of you, I’m sure), the Ottomans conquered Byzantium.
Friedrich II received emissaries from the Teutonic Order who were offering to sell the two provinces of the Neumark back to Brandenburg. Neumark had been unwisely sold to the Teutonic Order in 1402, but had been somewhat of a lawless territory. Now it promised to be a new area of expansion for Brandenburg.
The only difficulty was it would cost 100 ducats, and that was more than Brandenburg had on had. It was decided this was important enough to take out loans. It took three loans, as it happened. Friedrich II was unhappy with the need for loans, but judged it was necessary. The Treaty of Cölln was finalized in March of 1449.
Neumark is not particularly well developed. The former Brandenburgian government had ignored the region, and so had mostly the Order. Their primary industry is livestock. But the land could be developed with the right attention, and it is a step in the right direction toward expanding Brandenburg’s borders.
Brandenburg’s interests had been relatively provincial. But a shockwave from a more distant land had to be noted as of import. Muscovy’s long war with Novgorod came to an end with the annexation of 12 provinces. This destroyed a Baltic trade league (an important thing for Brandenburg), and catapulted Muscovy into the ranks of great powers.
I take note that Muscovy now has a port on the Baltic Sea. That means they may have to factor into our future strategic considerations.
With the accession of Neumark, Brandenburg has staked its claim on a portion of Pommerania. This expands Brandenburg’s claims to include all of Wolgast.
Tensions increased immediately. In June 1450 Friedrich II decided it was time to break the tension with action.
War was declared, and the Brandenburger armies marched…
The Wolgastian army remained in their capital at the beginning of the war. Not wanting to directly attack there, we first besieged the eastern coast at Kolberg and Stolp. Only once the Wolgastians began to move did we depart, leaving a garrison in place, and march to meet them. Seeing this they retreated back to their capital.
In August 1450 Gen. Bühler engaged in the capital city with Gen. von und zu Stargard, and Brandenburgian arms quickly began to tell.
By mid-August the Wolgastian army had been beaten and surrendered. The siege of the capital city began. By the end of September the rest of the country was under Brandenburg’s control, and Brandenburg began splitting armies in order to cover contingencies (armies marked in red circles).
We had the additional benefits that Gen. Bühler was now considered an “inspirational leader” (+5 morale, +10% morale recovery), and Friedrich II meanwhile had acquired the “Midas Touched” trait, adding +10% to our Tax Modifier.
We rejected another proposal of marriage from Lüneburg.
We recruited a new general – Friedrich Wilhelm Cisielsky – to manage our western army as it took on the smaller army of Wolgast’s ally Saxe-Lauenburg.
Both Bühler and Cisielsky had acceptable stats, Cisielsky being especially competent at Maneuver, neither of these leaders would take Brandenburg to the top ranks of Europe’s armies. Hmph.
No particular matter for the moment – the Saxon armies were not Europe’s best either (their general had 3 fire, but we had better luck and Morale stats).
Now, Wolgast retained one key advantage at this point. The island of Rügen remained in their hands, and their port maintained a navy – something which Brandenburg had heretofore had no need of.
They used this fleet to move a newly raised army to sea. We noticed this, and quickly shifted forces east in expectation of a coastal landing. Gen. Cisielsky met Gen. von und zu Stargard on the beaches when they landed – an inauspicious result of a clever gambit that had been anticipated.
As a result (??) Gen. Cisielsky gained the “Master of Arms” trait, giving +10% Infantry Combat Ability.
By Christmas we had defeated this invasion, and the siege continued.
Then our allies assist us… Which is a little embarrassing, but welcome at the same time.
First, the Saxe-Lauenburg army which was licking its wounds in Mecklenburg, after their defeat, was engaged by our ally Magdeburg’s Gen. Zimmerhäckel.
Then, we failed to notice the second time Wolgast prepared a naval invasion. They landed at Stolp in the spring, and our forces there were defeated. Then Zimmerhäckel marched to the rescue again, and had his second victory of the war.
The siege of Wolgast lasted until the summer. But victory – despite annoyances – was certain.
Brandenburg had taken losses, to be sure. But our Prestige was up to 33, and our Power Projection to 15.
We controlled five provinces, now, on the Baltic Coast, including much of Pommerania. Friedrich II was pretty chuffed – this was the kind of Brandenburg he wanted, and it was seeming easy to have his way. Not that he was a warmonger. No. But he wished for a powerful Brandenburg to have its status in the Holy Roman Empire, such that it was a leader, as the Prince-Elector deserved.
And, yes, it had succeeded beyond his wildest dreams.
The accomplishment of the Show of Strength mission, and the Pommeranian Succession mission sets Brandenburg up for more expansion in the future.
And more conflict, of course.
Having tipped these certain dominos, it made others in northern Germany think of Brandenburg as a solution to other problems, and as an heir to various claims of old. Brandenburg was clearly on the rise.
Where would Friedrich choose to go next? And how long would he wait before going?
Thoughts?
