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Crimson Lionheart

The House Always Wins.
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Jun 21, 2015
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Dream of the Eagles - Mildly Interactive Germany AAR

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History had not been kind to Germany.

Made up of a myriad of different monarchies, free cities or even republics, the absence of a strong authority and sense of identity had long divided the German states. The ‘Emperor’ of the Holy Roman Empire had concerned himself with preserving the status quo, and the divided states were more concerned with fighting among themselves for petty squabbles.

In recent history, the ascendance of the Hohenzollern dynasty had come to turn the fortunes of the March of Brandenburg around. With things looking positive among a state filled in a negative state of affairs, a simple desire for prestige and to make a difference could lead to changes unexpected. Sometimes all that's needed for greatness is a little push, even if the future is not quite clear.

Little did the lords of Brandenburg know that their story would be the story of a changing Germany...

Aims of this game:

  • Unite the German states, including Austria, into a Pan-Germanic superpower.
  • Establish a hegemony within Europe and become its dominant power
  • Develop the capital of Berlin into one of Europe’s most developed cities
  • Become #1 Great Power by the End of the AAR
  • Dismantle the Holy Roman Empire or Become the Emperor!

Rules/House Rules:

1: As a story-centric AAR writer, Ironman will not be used

2: I will sometimes alter the map to clean up borders, give myself a challenge, make things ‘natural’

3: When a vote is conducted, the period of voting will last for five days. Upon voting, the highest voted decision will become added into the story. There would be no revotes, and the decision made will have a big impact on the future events of the story.

Theatrum Orbis Terrarum - Carthoge Reloaded (until chapter 13)
Theatrum Orbis Terrarum - White Text
Governments Expanded
Missions Expanded

Table of Contents

156px-Arms_of_Brandenburg.svg.png

Part 1: The Eagle of Brandenburg

Prologue: State of the Realm (1444)
Chapter 1: The Lusatia War (1444-1452)
Chapter 2: The Fate of Neumark (1452-1460)
Chapter 3: Danger in Pomerania (1460-1466)
Chapter 4: The Promising Prince (1466-1474)
Chapter 5: Avenging Grunwald (1474-1479)
Chapter 6: The Eagle of Brandenburg (1479-1492)
Chapter 7: Marching to Mecklenburg (1492-1498)
Chapter 8: The New Authority (1498-1506)
Chapter 9: End of the Hansa (1506-1514)
Chapter 10: A Change of Faith (1514-1517)

163px-Arms_of_East_Prussia.svg.png

Part 2: The Prussian Giant
State of the Kingdom (1517)
Chapter 11: The Black Eagle (1517-1525)

Chapter 12: The Giant Awakens (1525-1530)
Chapter 13: The Congress of Paderborn (1530-1540)
Chapter 14: Standing Among Giants (1540-1547)
Chapter 15: Northern Ambitions (1547-1550)
Chapter 16: The Age of August (1550-1555)
Chapter 17: The Calm Before the Storm (1555-1561)
Chapter 18: Death of an Empire (1561-1564)
Chapter 19: The Road to Recovery (1564-1570)
Chapter 20: The Eagle takes Flight (1570-1575)
Chapter 21: Prussia Ascendant (1575-1588)
Chapter 22: Act of Confederation (1588-1590)


295px-Coat_of_arms_of_the_North_German_Confederation.svg.png

Part 3: An Era of Confederation
State of the Confederation (1590)
Chapter 23: An Era of Peace (1590-1600)
Chapter 24: The Eagles Talon (1600-1605)
Chapter 25: A Shift of Momentum (1605-1610)
Chapter 26: The Punishment of Poland (1610-1614)
Chapter 27: Gott mit uns (1614-1620)
Chapter 28: The Swiss Salvation (1620-1625)
Chapter 29: Standing Tall (1625-1634)
Chapter 30: The Heavy Crown (1634-1640)
Chapter 31: Finishing Touches (1640-1648)


357px-Greater_imperial_coat_of_arms_of_Germany.svg.png

Part 4: The Kaiserreich
State of the Kaiserreich (1648)
Chapter 32: Dawn of a Golden Age (1648-1653)
Chapter 33: Supremacy (1653-1660)
Chapter 34: Domination (1660-1670)
Chapter 35: A Place in the Sun (1670-1675)
Chapter 36: Reinvigoration (1675-1678)
Chapter 37: Conquest (1678-1683)
Chapter 38: The Conqueror (1683-1692)
Chapter 39: The Peaceful Years (1692-1700)


384px-Imperial_Coat_of_arms_of_Germany_%281848%29.svg.png

Part 5: The Second Coming
Chapter 40: Middle Europe (1700-1706)
Chapter 41: Dismantling the Dutch (1706-1710)
Chapter 42: Calm before the Storm (1710-1718)
Chapter 43: The Fall of France (1718-1723)
Chapter 44: The Years of Rebellion (1723-1727)
Chapter 45: The Velvet Glove (1727-1730
Chapter 46: The Iron Fist (1730-1734)
Chapter 47: The Second Coming (1734-1740)
Chapter 48: On top of the world (1740-1750)
Epilogue: Imperium Sine Fine (1750-1821)

177px-Wappen_Hohenzollern.svg.png

In Memoriam/Ruler Biography & Bonus Chapters
Chapter 3.5: In Memoriam/Frederick II
Chapter 6.5: In Memoriam/Karl I
Chapter 12.5: In Memoriam/August I
Chapter 16.5: In Memoriam/Wilhelm Frederick I
Chapter 21.5: In Memoriam/August Wilhelm I
Chapter 27.5: In Memoriam/Wilhelm Frederick II
Chapter 29.5: In Memoriam/Frederick III
Chapter 31.5: In Memoriam/Joseph Ferdinand I
Chapter 34.5: In Memoriam/Maximillian I 'The Great'
Chapter 38.5: In Memoriam/Karl II 'The Conqueror'
Chapter 43.5: In Memoriam/Frederick IV
Chapter 46.5: In Memoriam/Maximillian II


Bonus: The World In 1821
Bonus: Statistics of the Carolingian Empire (1821)

Minor Interactivity approved by Mr.C on 19 August, 2019
Disclaimer: All non-game photos used belong to Wikipedia Commons, with portraits belonging to the Public Domain.
 
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This is beyond interesting! We will watch your career with great interest.
 
Sounds fun!
 
First AAR I get to watch unfold directly from the beginning, and the first I get to participate in!
Also find the intended inclusion of Austria interesting. If we're talking as pan-German as possible, then we'll want much of Switzerland too.
 
First off: the paradox site UI is terrible for phones, that is all.

Second, don't you think that the Brandenburg/Prussia > Germany AAR is... somewhat overdone?
 
First off: the paradox site UI is terrible for phones, that is all.

Second, don't you think that the Brandenburg/Prussia > Germany AAR is... somewhat overdone?
It might be a popular thing, but having interactivity will certainly make up for its somewhat overdone scenario.

Will follow this one with interest!
 
First AAR I get to watch unfold directly from the beginning, and the first I get to participate in!
Also find the intended inclusion of Austria interesting. If we're talking as pan-German as possible, then we'll want much of Switzerland too.
Will the Dutch be part of this greater Germany?
All the Germanic lands shall be annexed into the Reich! :p
 
Prologue: State of the Realm (1444)
Prologue: State of the Realm (1444)

The March of Brandenburg, within recent history, was less of a united realm and more of a lawless duchy within the Holy Roman Empire. Geographically, Brandenburg existed within a poor region, dominated by a series of swamps, wild forests and poor soil. As a result, it was not a wealthy region. All this would begin to change following the ascendancy of the Hohenzollern dynasty, who would spend decades wearing down the more chaotic elements of the region and strengthen royal prerogative.

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All around the March, Brandenburg was surrounded by a myriad of other neighboring realms in all directions. The nearby kingdoms of Bohemia and Poland exist as powerful obstacles to the development of the state, both of whom possess ample strength to crush the fledgling state’s development permanently. Expansion by any means would not be tolerated, leaving the March to tread water carefully whenever they could.

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The ruling duchy was predominately ruled among the Saxons, with a small Pomeranian minority living within the borders of Brandenburg. While largely feudalistic, the ascendant Hohenzollens had ruled well within the previous decades, leaving them with a strong government within their own borders.

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Frederick II, Elector of Brandenburg, nicknamed ‘The Iron’. In many ways, he was very much his father's son, continuing his policies in crushing the power of the local nobility and greedy burghers

Its current ruler was Frederick II, one of the prestigious Prince-Electors of the Holy Roman Empire and a powerful man in his own right. Building upon the successes that his father Frederick I had accomplished during his reign, he had worked his way into asserting royal dominance over the region and gradually bringing the seemingly lawless realm under royal control. As a Prince-Elector, Frederick could also influence the politics of the Holy Roman Empire as a whole, which allowed him to vote in the election for the next emperor.

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Due to its poor environment, Brandenburg was not the wealthiest of the nations among the Empire, but that was starting to change with Hohenzollen rule. Among the previous emperors, Wittelsbach and Luxemburg rule treated the area as a source of quick income, something that would need to be changed.

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While not a regional power, Brandenburg existed within a network of different areas of trade and sat among a valuable network. While it was surrounded politically by different states, this also allowed Brandenburg to sit in the middle of the trade networks among Central Europe, with markets that it could tap into whenever it wanted.

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While a small realm, Brandenburg had a highly competent military with traditions inherited among their nearby Prussian neighbours. Should it be allowed to develop, the state held high hopes that it would establish the small North German state into one of the most powerful on the continent.

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With decades of stable rule already behind them, the Hohenzollerns had no large obstacle to their rule of the region. They were stable, but ruling among the status quo, and a rebellion against the established ruling class was virtually non-existent. For Brandenburg to remain durable, it must remain stable.

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Being a Catholic nation, the matters of the faith were held with little political concern. Despite the scare of the Hussite wars decades ago, the nation had remained united in faith and loyal servants to the Papacy.

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While only having a small military, it was a formidable one in comparison to their smaller neighbors. Not possessing a navy, this allowed Brandenburg to solely develop the armed forces to become the pride of the nation.

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Frederick II would slowly erase the influences of the estates in a manner that allowed royal rule to become unquestioned, yet it remained worrisome for the influence of the the nobility, who increasingly became more important to the prince-electors plans. While influence among the estates were high, they were loyal, easing the concern for any potential scheme to undermine dynastic rule.
 
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Chapter 1: The Lusatia War (1444-1452)
Chapter 1: The Lusatia War (1444-1452)

Sitting in a valuable position within the lands of Northern Germany, Brandenburg existed in a unique diplomatic position due to the prestige of holding the valuable title of prince-elector, which granted them some political leverage over the politics of the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. Being an elector meant that Frederich II had to contend with six other electors, but it had elevated the lands of Brandenburg into one of significance. The road for greatness was open, all that was needed to walk along it.

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As the Prince-Elector looked to mend good ties among their neighbors, Frederich II dedicated himself into establishing an alliance among other regional powers as a valuable means to protect one another and safeguard their own positions. While few would enter into an alliance with Brandenburg, there were some who would wholeheartedly enter into a friendship with the state. The Principality of Brunswick and the Electorate of Saxony would be two states that would join the alliance, and upon acceptance, the three realms were connected deeply.

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Through coming to sign the alliance, both the lords of Brunswick and Saxony would wish to enter into a royal marriage to solidify the strong friendship being established between the three states. Frederich II would come to prepare two of his relatives to marry into the von Hollenzollen, drastically increasingly the relationship among the alliance.

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In neighboring Poland, the Kingdom of Poland would establish a personal union between the gigantic Grand Duchy of Lithuania through royal marriage and dynastic politics. A Jagiellon would inherit the throne and suddenly elevate the Polish kingdom into one of the European great powers overnight. Undergoing governmental reform to introduce an elective monarchy in the new personal union, Poland had ascended into one of the giants of Europe.

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Having acquired the March of Brandenburg decades ago, the state had a history of being very loosely governed under its previous overlords. Local aristocracy, clergy and city councils had grown to enjoy their own independence and as such a state of lawlessness existed in many parts of the realm. With the ascension of the Hohenzollern, things would begin to change.

While the dynasty had some success in curtailing the power of the nobility and the burghers, this would come with the cost of reducing their strongholds into rubble. The Hohenzollern were far from the undisputed masters of Brandenburg however, as recently the clergy had been working against the administration. Frederich II sought to avoid becoming just another temporary dynasty and sought to assert dynastic authority, coming to build a new chancellery despite protests from the clergy.

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Radical theologians had argued that there was no need for intercessions about the Virgin Mary, mother of Christ, who was seen as the perfect woman and that her holy motherhood had guaranteed herself a seat in heaven as the right hand of the almighty himself. Worship of the Virgin Mary was solidified within the Brandenburg state as such utterings were almost heretical in nature, and were simply dismissed as the words of fools.

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For the past couple of days, the relationship between the houses of Wettin and Hollenzollen blossomed into a familial relationship between the two states. A full week of hunting, feasting and gossip had given both electors a wonderful relationship. Catherine of Saxony, wife of the Prince-Elector, had one of her cousins spend time with the family and prepared to return to Dresden. Her cousin assured the Hollenzollen household that she had a wonderful time living along with them and, with a deep bow of gratitude, she said that she would inform her family about how kind the hosts of Brandenburg had been to her. The von Wettins would learn of such pleasantries being exchanged, and Saxony and Brandenburg would develop a more intimate relationship between the two states.

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As Brandenburg had come to earn the friendship of their friends and allies, the opportunists within Bohemia declared war against Brandenburg for their own ambitions. The House of Poděbrady, taking the Bohemian throne following the Interregnum, launched an explosive invasion towards the north with the intention to seize Potsdam. It would be now that the alliances between Brandenburg and its allies would be fully realized, as defending itself from Bohemian aggression, Saxony and Brunswick answered the call without a moment's notice to defend their stalwart ally.

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Bohemia itself was a formidable realm, and one of the most powerful states within the Holy Roman Empire, alongside being an elector state. Holding dominion over its Czech heartlands, they were supported by their Sillesian vassal and were wealthier than Brandenburg was. Bohemia itself could field an army twice the size of Brandenburgs, but with the combined forces of Saxony and Brunswick coming to aid Brandenburg, both sides of the war were even matched.

Lusatia would come to serve as strategic importance for both sides, and commanders from both sides knew that this would come to serve as the primary battleground of the war. For Bohemia, their success in the war determined if they could hold Lusatia, which would give them a platform to expand into Saxony and Brandenburg. For the alliance, denying and taking Lusatia would force Bohemia into the defensive.

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The first battle of the war would occur within Upper Lusatia, upon which Brandenburg secured an early victory against Bohemia. Ernst von Schwerin would outperform Filip Hergesell and secure Upper Lusatia for the alliance, allowing the other German states easier movement to strike into the Bohemian heartland.

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Bohemian forces, counting their losses, regrouped and moved their forces through Silesia and launched a campaign to regroup Lusatia from the east. Prepared for this, Brandenburg forces focused upon the defensive and put a halt to the Bohemian advance, forcing the two armies to battle to decide the fate of the entire region.

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Lower Lusatia would become the battleground for the brutal conflict between Brandenburg and Bohemia. While outnumbered, it would be through Brunswick reinforcements that the tide of the battle would begin to turn. Bohemia would secure the early portion of the battle, securing strategic dominance onto their northern rivals. Brandenburg would, with the help of Brunswick’s assistance, turn the tide and begin to punch through their center.

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While the battle would only consist of a short engagement, the Battle for Lower Lusatia was brutal with thousands of battle hardened soldiers losing their lives. Christian Wilhelm von Rauch, an emerging commander within the Brandenburg leadership, defeated the bulk of the Bohemian forces. With Bohemian numbers starting to dwindle, the push for Lusatia was over within a matter of months and were now forced into the defensive.


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Christian Wilhelm von Rauch (1420-1463). Formerly a mercenary captain, he remained an unknown figure within Brandenburg until serving as its main commander. He served the March of Brandenburg with distinction until his death.

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With the victory of Lusatia secured behind him, von Rauch was determined to seek his own glory, all in the name for Brandenburg and himself. His victory would become well known within Northern Germany, and soldiers under his command notably felt relieved before battles knowing that he was commanding them

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Following the battle, von Rauch would pursue the defeated Bohemians and chase them to the outskirts of Prague itself, coming to surround the exhausted Bohemian forces and destroy them in detail several miles away from the edge of the capital itself. Von Rauch would reject further motivations to siege the city itself, instead marching his forces towards the east to assist Saxon efforts in submitting Silesian involvement in the war.

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Such efforts were rewarded in one final battle, where von Rauch and the allied armies congregated to bring a decisive victory at the Battle of Hradecko. With virtually no manpower and with nothing to lose, Karel Josef z Pardubic would lead the remaining Bohemian forces to make a stand against the Germans, entering another brutal battle where both forces were neck and neck.

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It would come at a dangerous time that the Prince-Elector would desire to build a residence on the island of Spree, which was met with indignation by the citizens of Berlin. Unable to force a cession of the city’s lands for an electoral stronghold of his own, Fredrerich II was forced to listen to the people or face open revolt, something that could become devastating domestically.

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With the remaining Bohemian army being mopped up, the German armies continued to lay siege to both Bohemia and Silesia. Frederich II forced the Bohemians to accept the German demands or risk having Prague itself brought under siege. After weeks of back and forth negotiations and with the entirety of Bohemia outside of Prague brought to kneel, the Bohemians were forced to accept a harsh peace designed to weaken them considerably.

Silesia would become an independent realm, while Bohemia would pay a huge portion of their treasury to Brandenburg and its allies. Lusatia itself would become split between Saxony and Brandenburg, with the Hollenzollens securing Lower Lusatia for themselves, while Saxony would gain Upper Lusatia to serve as a buffer between the Bohemians and Brandenburg. While Brunswick would not have any lands ceded to them, Brandenburg ensured an extra monetary bonus was ensured to them during peace deals.

With a victory among the alliance, it was a harsh one. All three of them were economically devastated and suffered dwindling manpower issues, leaving them exposed should another power take advantage of their weakness. Despite this, it was a victory that was hard fought for, and the Bohemian giant was decisively weakened.
 
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Will follow with interest
 
Chapter 2: The Fate of Neumark (1452-1460)
Chapter 2: The Fate of Neumark (1452-1460)
Victory would come with a heavy price, and it was one that devastated both sides of the conflict. Bohemia started a conflict that it expected to win but ultimately were defeated, losing a portion of their lands a heavy amount of their treasury. Brandenburg and its allies emerged victorious despite the heavy odds stacked against them and won with a pyrrhic victory. But with so many thousands of lives dead, the reality of the bloody actions were about to settle in...

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Silesian independence was one that was settled begrudgingly, even with their independence Bohemia. Silesia still kept close ties with their former overlords, possibly as a means to maintain their newfound sovereignty as they were surrounded by the much larger and formidable Polish realm from the east. Silesia’s lords refused to maintain good relations with the Brandenburg realm that set them free, and even perceived them as a hated rival.

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Despite the gains included in the Lusatian War, they were to be short lived among the Saxons. Frederick III, Holy Roman Emperor, had been watching the situation closely after having been involved in Bohemian politics for several years. Looking to keep the peace within the realm and preventing any of the states inside the larger Imperial administration from growing too large, he demanded that Upper Lusatia was the rightful territory of Bohemia and demanded the region to be returned back to the previously defeated enemy. Failure to do so would incur the wrath of the Emperor. Saxony reluctantly accepted the demands, sacrificing the region to appease the greater powers surrounding them.

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Frederich III, upon having overseen the return of Upper Lusatia back into Bohemia, enforced the same demands to Friedrick II with the return of Lower Lusatia. The Prince-Elector knew that returning the province would essentially render the war they had just fought for utterly pointless, and through a defiant act of anger against the Austrian Emperor, bluntly refused to return the province. Several regional lords were shocked, including the von Wettin’s of Saxony, who had only been forced to return the rest of Lusatia. Brandenburg made their intentions perfectly clear, they said ‘No’.

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Nearby, flushed with bringing the two crowns of Poland and Lithuania into a personal union, Casimir IV of Poland-Lithuania soundly defeated the Teutonic Order and brought Western Prussia under Polish rule. Under Casimir’s present reign, the House of Jagiellon were becoming one of the most prominent royal houses in Europe, and through a peace treaty the Order were forced to pay a heavy price. Almost on the verge of bankruptcy, this led the Grandmaster of the Teutonic Order to approach the von Hohenzollerns.

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Faced with an offer they couldn’t refuse, the Grandmaster of the Teutonic Order approached Frederick II for selling the province of Neumark back into Brandenburg for a stable sum, enough to put the Teutonic Order back onto its feet despite their battered shape. For the Teutons, holding the province was simply much more trouble than it was worth, and now being cut-off from the province due to Poland’s annexation of Western Prussia, it was impossible to hold. The Grandmaster would accept the offer and Neumark would be transferred to Brandenburg for a lump sum, reuniting the province for the first time in generations.

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A cultural movement had been occurring for a considerable amount of time that had a profound impact on literature, art, philosophy and music. A ‘rebirth’ of classical ideals was ready to reshape the world with its inspiration classical ideals, and the movement was being spread across the German states.

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While having a strong military, it was simply not enough to defend the matters of the state when threatened by a stronger opponent. As such, Brandenburg’s military began to transition onto offensive ideas. Ideally, such ideas were designed to allow the arms of Brandenburg to pack a considerable punch, even if they were outnumbered three to one. Frederick II openly supported such ideas being developed and even embraced them wholeheartedly if it meant that stability would be preserved inside the realm.

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Building upon the foundations of a strong military, the men at arms would become the core of the new Brandenburg military, made up of professional soldiers. Knights and noble families would employ a number of men at arms to form their retune and would be better armed and armored than a typical footsoldier among the feudal states surrounding Brandenburg.

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Corruption within the state would become addressed through the Prince-Electors advisers, which would become something that had alarmed Friedrick. Not allowing himself to become involved in the corruption within the state, the Prince-Elector traced the problem into locating several high-ranking officials, and would discreetly replace them once enough evidence was amounted against them.

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In this time, Friedrick began to develop upon the capital of Brandenburg, Berlin. Slowly but surely, building projects funded through the war spoils from the Lusatia War and the city’s treasury would fund the development of Berlin as it gradually began to evolve.

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As the development of Berlin was underway, the Duke of Burgundy’s death would signal the death of the state as it plunged into internal turmoil. With an enormous power vacuum occuring in the Low Countries, France would take the opportunity to seize the French portion of the lands. Austria would come close into seizing the Low Countries for themselves, but before doing so, were shocked as the sovereignty of Burgundy’s remaining possessions were transferred to the Crown of Castile to serve as a buffer between the great powers. Friedrich II believed that, due to the differences between the inhabitants of the Low Countries and the distant Castilians in the south, the region would become naturally unstable without taking the right precautions.

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With the Duchy focusing upon the offensive, this had led the neighbors looking towards the reorganized Brandenburg army with a sense of envy and worrisome looks. Friedrich looked upon his new forces, pleased with the developing prowess of the soldiers and the new reputation that they were giving the new state.

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Domestically, influential landowners and the traditional warrior class were declining in their influence of royal politics on a daily level. Through a combination of excessive infighting and power plays, the nobility had lost influence in Berlin and many had simply given up on the excessive ruthlessness of their own class and retired to their properties in the countryside. Friedrich’s authority would, as a result, become more and more meaningful upon the nobles that had once ruled the state.

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With the nobility curbed, tragedy would arise within the House of Hohenzollern itself. Albert, Friedrick’s younger brother, had died suddenly within Berlin itself. Friedrick’s reaction was one of sorrow, not expecting his brother to have died so suddenly, and grieved for many days. His heir would be Karl, his eldest child. Despite appearing as a promising ruler, Karl was only ten years old when his uncle died, not old enough to rule on his own. Friedrich became concerned about his son, and should something happen to him, the line of succession would become far more complicated.

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As in the past, the history of Brandenburg had sown that it was becoming more and more apparent that the old noble families had far too much influence and power over the affairs of the nation. Their jealous concern for their privileges and infighting were greatly hindering the growth of the nation, and once that they had been firmly brought under control, their influence and privileges were finally curtailed and the position of monarch was strengthened further.

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Through combating the influence and power of the nobility, Friedrich opened up to the introduction of non-hereditary bureaucratic offices. Not looking to control the nobility any longer, Friedrick would prefer merit over inheritance and prepared to organise the future administration of the realm towards meritocracy. The state was in capable hands, and as a new year would come around, new opportunities would arise...

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Using a new graphic format that would allow it easier to follow multi-decision choices. Voting for the future of the nation will commence relatively soon! Stay tuned!
 
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Quite the reformer.