40 Years On: Friedrich von Manstein's Brandenburg

[FlorisDeVijfde]

Now you have cuba the resource cuba libre is finally available to you
Once the religious wars set in do the colonies automatically switch to your state religion?

 

[coz1]

Fb-fb:

WhisperingDeath - So true. And I am afraid things don't get much better for our narrator in the near future.

Snake IV - Patience, sir...patience...we shall deal with the BWB soon enough, in both strength and color.

Chief Ragusa - Yes, I was a little shocked to see them so early, and you will be surprised how quickly they leave the scene as well. I don't exactly recall when it was, but one day they were there and then the next day, they were gone, swallowed by the hungry Burgundians.

J. Passepartout - Yes, so do I. In future updates, I plan on giving a little theory on why I built as I did.

Lord E - Well, we actually do go through a period of piece to get some other things accomplished, but I'll detail those in future updates.

Petros - Well actually, I already have one up north in Taqamkuk. But the rest are coming online in good order. As for the Austrians, they are not allied with anyone and neither am I at this point in the game. That does not change terribly much in the years that follow until...well, we'll get there.

stnylan - Those are good points on writing in this way, and of course I bow to you in your knowledge of chronciles. I didn't play around too much with my first two narrators, but I will have to do something to continue to differentiate the subsequent ones.

Dr. Scarabus - Well, I thought about it, but I just don't want to have to type that every time. Perhaps when I have found a way to get all the island.

GhostWriter - One step ahead of you, re: Manhattan. Wait and see.

FlorisDeVijfde - I am not entirely sure. The reformation has happened in some places (and I will try to detail when and where) but my colonies are good Catholics and I imagine will stay that way if I were to ochange my state religion. But at present, I don't have any plans to. I am the Emperor, you know.


And to all - the daily update will be posted this afternoon and hopefully I can get some more ground covered than I did in the previous one. I've been able to play all the way to 1569 and some exciting stuff happens...but not for a while. I'll just say the years between the 1520's and 1540's or so where spent getting things in order and doing some strategic planning and building. If I can, I am going to try and get through those as quickly as possible while still providing the all important visuals.

Thanks for all of your comments!

 

[Graymane]

Wow, some more great updates =) It would seem that you have gobbled up all the appetizers and now the main course is next!

 

[Storey]

That is an interesting smorgasbord of countries in the New World. Have you reached the point where you’re big/strong enough to stop the AI from DOW you? Who are your allies? You would think that expanding south would be next but for some reason I think your next step will be Eastward? Go figure.

Joe

 

[SonofWinter]

Make sure you DON'T take the NI Viceroys. I'm not kidding, bad things will happen to you.

 

[coz1]

Fb-fb:

Graymane - Yes, the main course is next, though I am taking a period of rest to allow for digestion.

Storey - I think I have grown large enough, though perhaps not strong enough. I have not had a DoW on me since the very beginning, so something must be happening. But as you say, with the new world filling up, there are bound to be some issues tested. I don't have any allies presently (at the point of writing) but I play around here and there. I find them mostly to be a pain so I have let it go for a while. As the other blobs get blobbier though, that will most likely have to change. As for the next expansion...as always, you have a very unusual ability to see into the future. Just wait.

SonofWinter - Do tell. I am not at a point where I can do such, but any forewarning is a great help.

And the next update follows. I am going to have to break it in two so give me a second to get all the coding done. But it takes us a ways (though not far enough... .) Trying to make sure I cover all the interesting bits does keep it moving along slowly at times, even when not at war. Five or six years seems the norm at present. But this update is packed full of little nuggets and I think everyone will appreciate the final screenie.

Thanks for reading and all of your great comments!

 

[coz1]

* * *

* * *​

Gentle reader, I must inform you that the proud name of von Manstein is now seemingly no more. I am Heinrich Billerbeck and have been in The Emperor’s gracious employ ever since the year of our Lord 1515. I have known both father and son, Hohenzollern and von Manstein alike. And I have now been entrusted with keeping this record, though I do feel it somewhat impossible to live up to the heights that my predecessors have reached with their chronicles of this realm. But if I am to state what has happened, then I must first begin with the untimely demise of the General Georg Wilhelm von Manstein. It was unexpected, of that I am positive. From my best knowledge, he was attempting to break up a ruckus that had begun with some locals in Bamburg during that cold winter of 1529. January to be precise and the men had all had some great festivities I am told. But tensions had been high as the locals were not entirely happy with the number of their women bedding down with our soldiers and when one night several of them came into conflict, our young General was there in an attempt to cease the fighting. Alas, he was struck in the chest and ribs with a sharp blade during the commotion and he was to pass not two days later.

I was not to find out until this volume reached me with a note from an underling of his begging me to keep his memory alive in any way I knew how. And I must tell you it has been fascinating reading. I dare say mine own personage in the reading is not quite equal to my true stature. I had only hoped to keep the boy informed, and it seems he was more than appreciative. As I read these last few pages, however, I am torn with some grief, as it seems the soldier did finally get that battle he was seeking so much. And it did kill him.

In all truth, it was something good that the year that followed after was one of eventful happenings, else I might have sunk into a deep sorrow at his passing. Thankfully, the Emperor was able to point his finger on my troubles and kept me active. Of course I was tasked with our continuing efforts in the colonies and I did my best to live up to the senior von Manstein’s name. Santee continued to grow throughout the year, and further settlers were sent to Moron. We were quite determined to grow these small towns into full sized cities so they might share in the great wealth of the Empire, and so too that we might gain from their riches. This project would be one that continued for years to come. And during this time, I would be dealt an interesting situation in Cuba when certain of the natives began spending more and more time around our colonies. There were several options we might have followed, but I thought it wise to be friendly and attempt a trade proposal such that we might both enjoy each other’s benefits. It was to Johann Siegmund’s liking that we did so.

And good von Dossow was pledged to keep up our attempts to grow relations with our vassals, Gelre, Würzburg and Silesia, and he was also to have great success though mostly with the former. Silesia remained a mystery to us, finally accepting us as overlords, but never truly warming to our overtures. However, von Dossow’s greatest challenge in that year was an attempt to smooth relations between Burgundy and The Palatinate. As the Emperor’s personal diplomat, he would be charged with monitoring the war that had begun between the two early in 1529 and would continue throughout the year. In fact, it was he that personally brokered the white peace signed between our prince and that Duke of Burgundy in November. That he was able to keep that small princedom still standing as a member of the Empire is much to his credit and the Emperor rightly praised him.

Such was our life at court with steady growth and constant activity to keep our minds not idle. The Emperor was of course busy with his travel and he was want to let us alone to do our duties to him and the realm. If a mistake was made, or something not to his liking, he would be certain to let us know, but he trusted our efforts, mostly mine and von Dossow’s, and we were proud that we were so favored. And it was to our great credit that we allowed the Emperor to think on more important matters especially given the somewhat heretical beliefs that began to spread throughout Europe during this day.

Though no one of this proposed “reformed” faith was to embrace the ideas of it in our lands, we were to begin to hear talk of it both to our north and to the west, in the lands of France. We were strong supporters of the Holy Father ourselves and he also of our Emperor, but this subject was at the front of Johann Siegmund’s thinking for the rest of the years of his life. He did not wish to alienate anyone who might profess this “faith” as he had no desire for great bloodshed within the Empire, but he could not, in good faith, show any support for such heretics. He was a very spiritual man and would not bring such sin upon his head. In fact, I am told (but do not believe) that he was want to wear a hair shirt so as to focus his mind rightly on such a subject and belay any form of sin that he might already have wrought. One may choose to believe such if they wish. I only count it here as it may pertain to the potential struggle ahead.

But not all was of religious struggle, as those good people of Bamburg, having already begun work on a great Cathedral prior to our annexation, began to work harder once they learned how much the young General meant to our Lord. The Emperor was very gracious and giving to those people when they completed the great structure in January of 1532 and he was to present them with a great gift to fund the beautiful glass which they would set into the sides of that church. All was to be forgiven and I was proud to attend the reburial of young Georg Wilhelm von Manstein in that new Cathedral where his body now rests.

* * * * *
To be continued...​

 

[coz1]

* * * * *
...Continuation​

1532 was not to end on such a great note, however. When in November, Karl von Dossow was to take a fever; he would struggle with it mightily. Within a matter of weeks, it was to lay him low such that he finally passed. Now, it was only to be me that might be trusted with the great work at hand. Pignatelli was of little use, having failed miserably at forming any sort of trade revenue for the realm and was only kept in service to take care of the menial chores von Dossow and I set for him. Once von Dossow was gone from us, there would be a period of time before that position was once more filled, and his replacement was not near the men that had come before him. This was Wilhelm Cölln. He was proclaimed to be a great man of rhetoric and persuasion, but I found him to be much of a bore.

He was further, a weasel of a man who was more often than not to look after his own interests rather than those of the Empire. In fact, he was subject to much ridicule for one of his first trials. In February of 1533, France declared war against The Palatinate that had been saved by von Dossow. Yet Cölln could do nothing for the situation. By June of that year, France was to annex that small Princedom and grow further into the western border of the Empire, angering the Emperor mightily. He did not desire war with the French at this point. They were far too strong a Kingdom to risk such a conflict at this time. If we were to challenge them, we too would need to be on strong footing, and we were not yet there. But this situation presented his majesty with the needed desire to reform his court and his first act was to fire Pignatelli, as useless as he was, and hire his own cousin, Johann Cicero von Hohenzollern, to replace him.

And thankfully, von Hohenzollern was much up to the task presented to him. Finally, we had a man that might replace von Dossow and I was grateful for such a relief as I had much to do as it was. In fact, I was greatly pleased to announce to Emperor Johann Siegmund that we had been able to place some settlers on that island they called Manhattan during the summer of 1533, and what is more, they sent great word back themselves that on their way to that place, they were to pass by the eastern side of New Georg Island and mapped it for us such that we might begin colonizing there as well.

It was enough to make me forget about the uselessness of Cölln, but the Emperor did not. Johann Siegmund had grown weary in life. His traveling was a necessity but it did take its toll on the man and his patience was not what it used to be. So when in January of 1534, Cölln once again erred, the Emperor snapped and had him drug off and taken from that place never to set foot in court again. Though perhaps the presentation by Johann Cicero von Hohenzollern of his friend Johann Siegmund Schach might also have had something to do with the speedy decision. Having been named after the Emperor was of course in that man’s favor, but he was also a distant relative of that great siege artist of old, August Schach.

Once he was hired to fill out our ranks, the three of us set to the task of looking over that which had been left undone through the past few years of laziness and neglect. And these two men were very much capable of the tasks set out for them. It seemed very much that the ship of state had been righted and set back on course until…

…the great man himself passed from this earth. It was a cold late February morning when von Hohenzollern went to wake his majesty and found him as cold as the air that surrounded him. We do not yet know why the Emperor passed from us and no medical opinion could explain it. But he had served as Emperor even longer than his father, and perhaps the great service simply wore his body down. We all mourned greatly and a public funeral was held that invited many of the great princes of the Empire. Each vassal was present, even the obstinate Silesian prince, as well as representatives from the Habsburg court, the English court and surprisingly, both houses of Valois. Emperor Johann Siegmund I was a beloved man.

His son, however, was perhaps not quite as talented, though I would never say such a thing to his face. I should not attempt to be so forward, to be sure. But he required much explanation and it was only lucky that the late Emperors last acts were to appoint men that could guide his son along. Perhaps he knew of his death before it was to occur. I know not, but I do know that we continued to look at every facet of government from the military all the way down to the colonization project in the hopes of making the new Emperor (as he surely received a large amount of the vote) as fine as he possibly could be.

We were especially interested in two areas, that of our military land technology and of course, our knowledge of effective government. We had made some success at lowering inflation; now standing around 23.8% from it’s high of 24.4%. And we had learned more and more from our neighbors, as well as the distinct knowledge Schach brought to the equation of military knowledge. But it was no secret that we were following behind our neighbors. If one were to place a numerical value on our technology, they might say we were a four, where France was a seven or Burgundy a nine. Austria was not terribly far ahead at six, but we did find some worry that the Teutonic Order might be considered a nine as well. On all sides, we were faced with potential threat and something needed to be done.

However, as much as we desired this growth in knowledge, I was adamant that if we were to continue our efforts overseas, then we would need to address other concerns, namely finding brave men to explore further those strange lands, lest we fall behind there as well. Already England and France had done quite well in the New World, as had Portugal, Castile, Aragon and even Milan and the Teutonic Order. So I was able to convince these men, and the new Emperor, to stay the course in that direction until such time as we were able to hire such men. And thankfully, I had some help as that same year saw success in the province called Beothuk, but that we rather referred to as East New Georg Island.

The realm did indeed seem secure, even with our worries and sure still sadness of the late Emperor’s death. In fact, we were all want to move around in dark robes for much of the year to pay homage to that great loss. It would be some time before we had young Johann Siegmund II trained (as that is exactly what we were doing) but once he found his stride, I must admit that he did strike a formidable pose and certainly maintained the respect and love of his people and the Empire. Some might say it was our minds and hands that gave him such demeanor. I rather think it is the fine blood of the House of Hohenzollern, for that tree does produce a very health seed.

Europe, 1534​

 

[SonofWinter]

You know that 24% inflation you have, imagine that Viceroys give you a possibility of a bankruptcy if you are over 5%. Negative stability and other nasty events. I'm amazed that you are that high on inflation, I did not realize you were in the Muslim tech group.

 

[unmerged(24320)]

coz1: ...However, as much as we desired this growth in knowledge, I was adamant that if we were to continue our efforts overseas...

too many needs, not enough resources ! !

coz1: ...The realm did indeed seem secure, even with our worries and sure still sadness of the late Emperor’s death...

i am not so sure about that ! !

it seems that you need to attack France when they are embroiled in a war with someone else ! !

excellent updates ! !

 

[Director]

So Brandenburg moves from 'up and coming' young power to mature player in Europe. Very nice!

Sorry to see the son pass, but at least the chronicle is still alive.

I did get a chuckle out of 'that great siege artist of old, August Schach'.

"Let me paint your picture!"
"No!"
"Let me paint your picture!"
"No!"
"Let me paint your picture!"
"No!"
"Let me paint your picture!"
"No!"
"Let me paint your picture!"
"No!"
"Let me paint your picture!"
"No!"

 

[Deus]

Well, as I far as I can see the time of power consolidation is over and it is time for some expansionist policies in europe. Get Erfurt, form Germany. Take what is yours.

I wouldn't worry about the inflation. I my average game it is probably much higher around 40% at this time and soon the techs that help lower inflation will be available.

Anyway, good updates as usual. sorry for my absence for a few days, weekends are always so out of control and mondays belong to work.

 

[J. Passepartout]

Now, or as near in the future as you can, is the time to deal with that inflation and appoint a viceroy.

 

[coz1]

Fb-fb:

SonofWinter - Wow, that is nasty. I was reading over in the GD forum that National Bank idea may have this type of effect too. Is there any truth to that? As for inflation, I basically minted too much trying to win early wars when I didn't know what I was doing. Had I been smart, I would have picked National Bank first, and then maybe Bureaucracy. Now I am just paying for early mistakes. I wonder what national idea I should choose next?

GhostWriter - Indeed, I am not making enough money to invest in everything I want to do, and losing $ each month to drop inflation makes it even tougher. As for France, I am still thinking on that.

Director - That's funny. :rofl: I had not thought of that. I just recalled Schach being one of my first decent generals who had a knack for sieges. Thus, I called him an artist.

Deus - Erfurst is definitely on the agenda, but becoming Germany may not be as easy as assumed. We'll cover that when we get there. As for inflation, I would not worry about it except my neighbors all have so little (or none) that they are able to out tech me faster than I can catch up. I don't mind paying heavy prices, per se, but it's the way it slows down tech research where inflation really kills.

J. Passepartout - I am actually doing fairly well with dropping inflation. Though it means I lose anywhere between 6 and 10 ducats a month when at peace, it's certainly had an effect. Besides, my year in revenue is still quite nice. I'm waiting to get Tax Assessors which I understand do a great job at dropping inflation, but that's at Govt tech lvl 23 I think. I am about halfway there at this point (in game time). As for viceroys...after what SonofWinter mentioned, I am skeptical.

To all - I'll have another update later in the day as usual, and hopefully we can get into the 1540's. There is another period of peace and then...well, we'll get there. Thanks for all your great comments, folks! I really appreciate the following this AAR has gathered.

 

[Lord E]

Sad to see von Manstein die, but it seems the man continuing the story is doing fine as well. Brandenburg sure is large and powerful now, both in the old and the new world. Not much left until you can form Germany, but I guess it might be a little hard to get Erfurt without upsetting someone, and it seems like most of your neighbours have better technology so upsetting them right now is perhaps not the best thing to do.

 

[SonofWinter]

J. Passepartout - I am actually doing fairly well with dropping inflation. Though it means I lose anywhere between 6 and 10 ducats a month when at peace, it's certainly had an effect. Besides, my year in revenue is still quite nice. I'm waiting to get Tax Assessors which I understand do a great job at dropping inflation, but that's at Govt tech lvl 23 I think. I am about halfway there at this point (in game time). As for viceroys...after what SonofWinter mentioned, I am skeptical.

There is no such thing as loosing money per month. You are paying for costs each month and getting paid once a year. If you think of it any other way, you will fall into the inflation trap. :rofl: Its like getting a paycheck each week, you need to keep that money to live all week long, not just the first day. Up to now you've been living on a credit card and now its time to pay it off.

 

[unmerged(28944)]

Whew! Caught myself up again to find many drastic changes for Brandenburg. But finely crafted changes, coz. I, like the chorus before me, am concerned 'bout your inflation, but more than that I'm really concerned 'bout your tech levels in relation to France, Austria, Burgundy and the Teutons. Anyone of those.... unfriendlies could really put a hurtin' on Brandenburg and set things back a great deal. I'm only hoping that you have got your backside covered so that your neighbors don't consider coming a'knocking. Good luck!

 

[Montague68]

Very nice reading here. Colonization AND domination of Central Europe, bravo! Hopefully you can keep it up, that inflation may be tough to deal with. At any rate it should make for some very interesting history

 

[Storey]

I think I've had inflation up to 28% but my country (Ottomans) was large and as long as you have a large country it isn't a problem. Just keep the slider where you lower your inflation a little each month. I kept it there even when at war since I was making enough money to cover the cost. Inflation is primarily a problem for small countries.

Joe

 

[J. Passepartout]

Hey, viceroys mean you've made it into the league of huge empires. Viceroy of India and all that.