In 1492, Maximilian was proud monarch of Austria. Europe was in a mood of starting anew - new lands to explore, the wonders of the renaissance, science starting to unravel its mysteries to mankind. A hopeful time, but also a time of war, treason, catastrophes...
Maximilian found that it was time for an agenda. The Turks threatened the underbelly of Europe on the Balkans. To the north lay the powerful kingdoms of Poland-Lithuania, and, further north, Russia. The small German and Italian states appeared like patchwork between the large kingdoms of the east and and Spain, France, and England in the west. Maximilian decided that Hungary, with its long border towards Turkey would be a valuable ally. Bohemia, close to Poland, was also a country that might stand by austria. As well as Venice, the powerful trading Empire along the Adriatic Sea.
Within two years an alliance of these 4 countries was ready to defend itself. However, Maximilian didn't want to focus on military expansion. He layed his eyes on what truly makes the world go round: money! And therefore he started investing in the countries infrastructure and trade, carefully pitting his expenses against his income, and he even managed to make Austria the country with the most advanced arsenal of land weapons in Europe, a claim uncontested for decades to come.
Maximilian remained diplomatically active. He encouraged marriages of Austria's nobles with royals all over Europe - spain, England, France, Denmark, Sweden, some German states. By 1504, Hungary had become a vassal of Austria. Bohemia followed in 1506, Venice in 1511. Maximilian thought about later annexing Hungary, but its long border with Turkey made this unfavorable. If the Turks ever decided to invade Europe (which was not likely, as they were constantly at war with the Mamelucks, Krim or Persia), they would have to take on Hungary first, while - as that country was a vassal of Austria - Austrian troops would be able to meet the Muslims on the battlefield.
The desire to enhance his economy, and the costs of the army that had grown to triple strength since 1492, drove Maximilian to try and annex Bohemia with its mines of iron ore and other raw materials in 1516. It was the last major event that occured in the regency of Maximilian, for soon afterwards he died and Karl V followed onto the throne.
Karl's reign was overshadowed from the beginning. A series of scandals at court left his diplomatic skills at waste. Soon after, Martin Luther brought the idea of reformation to Europe. People everywhere followed this new ideal, others didn't. A series of unrest began in Austria in 1523. Karl tried to keep things quiet, but even though he managed to keep the uprisings under control, the permant rebellion of some provinces drained the countries manpower and ressources. Karl made his probably worst decision. To improve his economic strength in this civil war - no less was what was happening in Austria - he decided to annex Venice, the trading queen of the Mediteranian. But (as France by then controlled Mantua and Milan) first he had to improve his relations to France, which was achieved in a series of hurried efforts. In 1525 - the unrests were strong as ever - Venice joined the Austrian monarchy. However, even with the good terms that were between France and Austria, France obviously felt its intersts in Northern Italy at stake now and eclared (together with Switzerland) war on Austria. Karl faced a dilemma: everywhere from Silesia to Ragusa burnt the flame of unrest, now France invaded Tyrol, Styria and Venice, and the Mediteranian island of Corfu. Austria's allies turned their backs on Karl. A bloody war commenced. While Switzerland soon withdrew, the battles between Rebels, French and Austrian Loyalists layed more than half the country at waste. In december 1535 the pressure became too much for Karl. He converted to become the first major Lutheran country. Order was restored in Austria. The army was only a disorganized bunch of some 20000 men. Corfu had been lost to the French. The city of Venice had become independent again, even though Austria kept the Adriatic provinces. Relationships to catholic countries soon became very cool. Only Hungary still remained its status as a vassal. Karl V tried to annex Hungary now, despite his fear of Turkey, to use the ressources of Hungary to rebuild Austria. Hungary, however, denied any such attemts and remained a vassal.
Things became very quiet in Austria. Karl V died pretty young as a bitter man, a regent taking over till Ferdinand would be old enough to reign by himself. England and Sweden had become allies of Austria. The country put its eyes back on economic growth and managed to build a few manufacturies. England shared maps from the new world with Austria, and soon some settlers were on their way and founded first a trading post, later a colony in the northern territory of Belle Isle.
The Spanish ruler was now the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. This meant that Austria would have to allow Spanish troops to march through her territory. And that would happen often, as Spain supported her ally Russia and Denmark against Poland. The troops that passed through often left provinces on their way at waste as they took everything they could lay their hands on to support their troops.
Soon after Ferdinand I seized power the country coverted to a reformed protestant community. A series of unrests broke out because of this, and also a series of peasant uprisings. This time, however, order was restored soon, except for on Cyprus and Crete, where the small Austrian navy couldn't get enough troops fast enough. Land troops were stronger now than before or during the French war, but Ferdinand - like Maximilian - was not looking for conquest and kept building up the country's economy. He even managed to re-establish the monopoly in Isfahan that Austria had held so long before the war with France. And while trade income was pretty decent now, the tax income on the other hand was down by 40%.
Ferdinand seeked new allies and found them in unusual places: Saxony, a Lutheran country, and Bavaria, a Catholic country. However, both countries defend themselves heavily against becoming vassals of Austria. And there lay Austria now, struggling to become a major economic power, struggling to become a major player in the European concert of powers, trying to escape stagnation.
(Yes, I know, not quite a great game, but this is my first game after the tutorial, so please bear with me.
)
Maximilian found that it was time for an agenda. The Turks threatened the underbelly of Europe on the Balkans. To the north lay the powerful kingdoms of Poland-Lithuania, and, further north, Russia. The small German and Italian states appeared like patchwork between the large kingdoms of the east and and Spain, France, and England in the west. Maximilian decided that Hungary, with its long border towards Turkey would be a valuable ally. Bohemia, close to Poland, was also a country that might stand by austria. As well as Venice, the powerful trading Empire along the Adriatic Sea.
Within two years an alliance of these 4 countries was ready to defend itself. However, Maximilian didn't want to focus on military expansion. He layed his eyes on what truly makes the world go round: money! And therefore he started investing in the countries infrastructure and trade, carefully pitting his expenses against his income, and he even managed to make Austria the country with the most advanced arsenal of land weapons in Europe, a claim uncontested for decades to come.
Maximilian remained diplomatically active. He encouraged marriages of Austria's nobles with royals all over Europe - spain, England, France, Denmark, Sweden, some German states. By 1504, Hungary had become a vassal of Austria. Bohemia followed in 1506, Venice in 1511. Maximilian thought about later annexing Hungary, but its long border with Turkey made this unfavorable. If the Turks ever decided to invade Europe (which was not likely, as they were constantly at war with the Mamelucks, Krim or Persia), they would have to take on Hungary first, while - as that country was a vassal of Austria - Austrian troops would be able to meet the Muslims on the battlefield.
The desire to enhance his economy, and the costs of the army that had grown to triple strength since 1492, drove Maximilian to try and annex Bohemia with its mines of iron ore and other raw materials in 1516. It was the last major event that occured in the regency of Maximilian, for soon afterwards he died and Karl V followed onto the throne.
Karl's reign was overshadowed from the beginning. A series of scandals at court left his diplomatic skills at waste. Soon after, Martin Luther brought the idea of reformation to Europe. People everywhere followed this new ideal, others didn't. A series of unrest began in Austria in 1523. Karl tried to keep things quiet, but even though he managed to keep the uprisings under control, the permant rebellion of some provinces drained the countries manpower and ressources. Karl made his probably worst decision. To improve his economic strength in this civil war - no less was what was happening in Austria - he decided to annex Venice, the trading queen of the Mediteranian. But (as France by then controlled Mantua and Milan) first he had to improve his relations to France, which was achieved in a series of hurried efforts. In 1525 - the unrests were strong as ever - Venice joined the Austrian monarchy. However, even with the good terms that were between France and Austria, France obviously felt its intersts in Northern Italy at stake now and eclared (together with Switzerland) war on Austria. Karl faced a dilemma: everywhere from Silesia to Ragusa burnt the flame of unrest, now France invaded Tyrol, Styria and Venice, and the Mediteranian island of Corfu. Austria's allies turned their backs on Karl. A bloody war commenced. While Switzerland soon withdrew, the battles between Rebels, French and Austrian Loyalists layed more than half the country at waste. In december 1535 the pressure became too much for Karl. He converted to become the first major Lutheran country. Order was restored in Austria. The army was only a disorganized bunch of some 20000 men. Corfu had been lost to the French. The city of Venice had become independent again, even though Austria kept the Adriatic provinces. Relationships to catholic countries soon became very cool. Only Hungary still remained its status as a vassal. Karl V tried to annex Hungary now, despite his fear of Turkey, to use the ressources of Hungary to rebuild Austria. Hungary, however, denied any such attemts and remained a vassal.
Things became very quiet in Austria. Karl V died pretty young as a bitter man, a regent taking over till Ferdinand would be old enough to reign by himself. England and Sweden had become allies of Austria. The country put its eyes back on economic growth and managed to build a few manufacturies. England shared maps from the new world with Austria, and soon some settlers were on their way and founded first a trading post, later a colony in the northern territory of Belle Isle.
The Spanish ruler was now the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. This meant that Austria would have to allow Spanish troops to march through her territory. And that would happen often, as Spain supported her ally Russia and Denmark against Poland. The troops that passed through often left provinces on their way at waste as they took everything they could lay their hands on to support their troops.
Soon after Ferdinand I seized power the country coverted to a reformed protestant community. A series of unrests broke out because of this, and also a series of peasant uprisings. This time, however, order was restored soon, except for on Cyprus and Crete, where the small Austrian navy couldn't get enough troops fast enough. Land troops were stronger now than before or during the French war, but Ferdinand - like Maximilian - was not looking for conquest and kept building up the country's economy. He even managed to re-establish the monopoly in Isfahan that Austria had held so long before the war with France. And while trade income was pretty decent now, the tax income on the other hand was down by 40%.
Ferdinand seeked new allies and found them in unusual places: Saxony, a Lutheran country, and Bavaria, a Catholic country. However, both countries defend themselves heavily against becoming vassals of Austria. And there lay Austria now, struggling to become a major economic power, struggling to become a major player in the European concert of powers, trying to escape stagnation.
(Yes, I know, not quite a great game, but this is my first game after the tutorial, so please bear with me.
)
