Chapter 6: Destiny Awaits
This would be the third major war between the Crowns of Germany and Cathay, and the Rematch of the first Solar League War against Germany and Sicily. Since the First War Germany had continued a slow and steady collapse from within and around. Despite a powerful economic heartland and military the Germans were beset on all sides but still determined to save their nation from the Brink of Destruction. How this was was conducted would be what would determine if Germany could remain in place as a great power but also the position of the other members of the Solar League, Ferrara and Bohemia.
The Unified Crowns of Poland and Bohemia or otherwise more commonly referred to as the Third Bohemian Empire had risen to prominence in recent years. Provided the Poles and Bohemians could organize, they held enough power to match any one country alone in Europe and even in the middle east, with lands from the Elbe to Western Russia under their domain. However that did require the crowns work together and the Polish Nobility was notoriously fickle and disinherted in the far more german biased Czechs of Bohemia.
As far as the actual war, Bohemia was to take the brunt of Sicily and Germany's armed forces while Diane's armies laid siege to Germany. Thanks to the rough terrain of Bohemia proper and the defense in depth of the Bohemian Empire it was expected that the Sicilians could be help up for years unable to reinforce the Germans.
This was not the case, as the Sicilian's had promoted Pankratios Kaisarios to lead their northern Thrust. Kaisarios was a talented field commander but more importantly had grown adept in the school of siege warfare, using Cannon and gunpowder to fell previously impenetrable walls. The Bohemian citadel at Prague fell within Months and the Sicilians rushed to try and save Germany only to run headlong into one of Cathay's own talented Generals, Findlay Bahram, a General who favored the Cavalry Doctrine of the Army, and was eager to prove their worth on the battlefield despite the increasing relevance of gunpowder.
Despite victory after victory being won in Germany, the Bohemians decided to sign a hasty peace. The Polish Sjem had grown weary of the War taxes levied upon Poland to keep bohemia In the War. With Bohemia's armies weakening it had begun to look more and more like the Poles would loose confidence in their partner, and declare independence. The Bohemians naturally could not allow themselves to be in such a weak state and paid a paltry amount to the German and Sicilian alliance in exchange for their territories being restored.
Luck however was not with the Germans, as while Bohemia had grown weary eager for a quick peace the Kingdom of Bavaria, a hated Rival had finally decided to make its own move. Due to the meddling of the Polish Sjem house Anniona has been cut from their Bohemian alliance and Bavaria had drifted into becoming a minor power within Europe. The Time for opportunism however had come and the Bavarians jumped at the opportunity to also carve themselves a slice of the German pie.
With little hope remaining the Germans sued for peace. Bohemia, naturally was furious at such a turn of events however the Bohemians blamed Bavaria for thier delay in entering the war. Becuase Bohemia was absent from the peace deal Ferrara received the Bohemian share of the demands, and Diane negotiated for the seizure of Genoa to the Ferrarans rather than more minor gains in the Italian heel. The Provinces of Munster and Meppen meanwhile would be ceded to Cathay, further strengthening the Khitan stranglehold on Northern Germany.
Such minors demands however came with a high cost, the Solar League had not only lost more men but also half the Ferraran fleet. It would be some time before another war between the Great Powers would erupt in Central Europe and perhaps that was for the best.
In matters of technology, Investments paid into the realm of shipbuilding by Elizabeth had begun to return. The popularization of Triangular Sails, as well as the invention of new means of navigation were opening up the possibility of a voyage across the Atlantic in search of the ancient viking colony of Greenland. Diane however remained hesitant to commit any more resources to what was still considered a foolish endeavors. It would take foreign resources and initiative to push beyond the bounds of the map and truly dare to seek out the dragons that lay in the fog.
At home the Renaissance remained in full swing. Diane not the most diplomatically capable of Rulers had seen to it a corp of diplomats be created for the country.
Previously the Job of meeting with foreign dignitaries had been a duty of the Sovereign, the Consort or the Chancellor. However the Chancellorship of the Empire was often busy sorting Internal issues, and the Sovereign in this case was far more interested in military matters than speaking over trade treaties or holding intellectual debate.
To address these Issues Queen Diane announced the creation of an office for foreign Policy where diplomats would be hired and trained in the art of diplomacy. The old connections that Cathay still held from days past when it ruled the world worth speaking of were preserved through teaching and practice. From its creation onwards the foreign office would be an instrumental part of the Kingdom's dealings with other powers and be held in high esteem the world over.
The Foreign Office's first main challenge would be handling the breakup of Andalusia. With Complete chaos in the Kingdom it was only inevitable for the Monarchy to be overthrown and then of course came the country coup. By the time the ashes had begun to settle the Kingdom of Andalucia was a shell of its former self and the vultures had come out from all directions.
All Cathay could do was watch as the Spanish continued to descend into warfare and anarchy. On the bright side however the Warfare in spain brought a spread of Renaissance Ideas to the whole of Europe, and many renaissance scholars found new homes in Italy, but also and rather significantly the British Isles who were now recovering from the War of the Roses.
In Cathay, Diane had given birth to an heir, named Catherine after the Famous or Infamous depending on ones perspective, Catherine the Nun. Catherine the Nun of course being known for falling in love with her own father, and abandoning her vows with the Church to Pursue the Throne against her siblings and other pretenders starting the war of the Four Dragons. The Largest civil war in Western European History since the fall of Rome. Catherine would go on to win every battle until she was killed north of Barcelona while trying to cross the Pyrennes. Her successors lost the history.
Naturally the hope was that Diane wished Catherine to take on her namesake's martial prowess and not other aspects of her personality or fate. Catherine herself however would grow up to be much the opposite in every respect, becoming a talented and intelligent ruler and only a competent warrior and diplomat, Much to the disappointment of her mother.
In Central Europe the Fall of Germany was now in full swing. Weakened by the Solar League Bavaria had utterly eviscerated the southern half of Germany taking its place as the dominant German successor state. Though Bavaria had this moment of triumph the Crown of Bohemia and the Kingdom of Ferrara both looked upon it's lands with envy. Bavaria of course controlled the vital lands outside of the Ferrara capital of Venice and whos delay in joining the war cost Bohemia large sums of gold, great loss of life and of course a seat at the peace table.
But of course the news of Germany's fall was only one bit of news. A far more interesting tale was filling the taverns across western Europe. Not of German Mercenaries and War, but of an Irishman of all things. As if times were not strange enough, this Irishman had become somewhat of a celebrity in a short time, becuase of a wild claim.
There really Was something beyond Greenland, Something Further a land of Great Green Forests and powerful flowing rivers. A Land with Red Skinned natives and wealth beyond Measure.