sometime i got this too, maybe in HTTT you have to occupy the area first before being able to force release
I wasn't able to release champagne besides occupying the territory, maybe in the next war
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Chapter 11 - The French - Ansbachian War 1574-1576
The war started on August 15 1574 with a decisive battle against Flanders, they tried to invade us just to be completly annihilated.
We invaded their lands and finished the conquest on december 4 1574. We weren't able to get a favorable peace deal so we kept them occupied and make a decision at the end of the war.
At the end of february our forces stand on french soil and the first french army arrived on the board. We retreat to Vlaanderen, no need to fight more french troops than we can bring to the front ourself. The AI moves to Hainault after our retreat. And typically AI they make a fatal mistake, split their troops, one part arriving in Valenciennes on march 5st, the other arriving on 12st. We intercept that move with our troops from vlaandern going to Hainault and arriving between those two dates.
The clergy has something to say. We ignore them.
Victory is mine.
The fate of the first part of their army is sealed on May 3 1575.
The second act.
Narf! :wacko: ... zero moral army arriving to fast.
Auvergne steals our money. Traitors.
We finally annihilate the french restistant northern Army. The rest of their troops is busy fighting Aragon.
A half year later the southern army comes to visit us in ile the france. We are not pleased and repel them.
After 4 month of fighting we finally kill their last troops. Felt like Pingpong again
In june 1576 we finally occupy all french territories.
Aragon settles for a white peace in September.
In October we settled for peace with Flanders and France.
We couldn't resist, we couldn't vassalize them, they got no money and nothing to claim at all. Besides these provinces. I'm not sure what to do with them but concession of defeat was not enough.
Peace with France freeing Bar, Berry, Luxemburg and Liege.
Political map of central europe after the war, we are the leading the Hohenzollern branch now. After the AI splitted the northern army the war became a walk in the park.