A great vintage Burgundy

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Good going in evicting England from the continent. You know what the funny thing will be? France will now get the "End of the Hundred Years War" event.

That's both brave and smart of you not to punish Brittany for its involvement. It probably won't be too long until they DOW you and you'll be able to go back to war with England and gobble up some of their provinces.

Well done!

Oh, and Ariel...it's really a hideous shade of blue but with the annexation of France, can become France and correct all of that (not to mention get all the good kings and leaders).

 

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Originally posted by MrT
Oh, and Ariel...it's really a hideous shade of blue but with the annexation of France, can become France and correct all of that (not to mention get all the good kings and leaders).

What's that!

 

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War in Europe

March 1450

All hell breaks loose as Europe as a whole declares war on Burgundy. At the end of March, Denmark declares war closely followed by the Teutonic Order (Prussia, Novgorod, Sweden), The Palatinat, and Provence (France, Wurzburg and Scotland). We call on our allies to support us in the last of these wars and must now revise our plans for the invasion of Iberia. One day later, we receive declarations of war from Kleves, Baden and Modena (Tuscany, the Duchy of Athens, Genoa and the Papal States). Our allies are called upon again to fight against the Italian alliance but Guyenne dare to dishonor our alliance and refuse to support us, citing as a cause, their long standing friendship with Modena. We shall, for the moment, be forgiving of Guyenne.

April-June 1450

Not wishing to be left on the side, we receive further war declarations from Cologne, Hessen, Georgia, Lithuania (Poland, Brandenburg),Auvergne, Munster, The Knights, Hungary (Austria, Bosnia, Luxembourg, Siebenburgen and Croatia),Siena, Bremen, Venice (Mantua) and Bourbonnais in April. News that Luxembourg and Munster declare war are all the more shocking when we consider the former close relations between our countries.

Our recruit army of 20000 infantry and 5000 cavalry arrive in Geldre right on cue although Philip calls for more troops to be raised in Bourgogne. The strategic goals of this war have drastically changed towards a push to the east.

By the end of April we defeat a rebel uprising in Wessex while Brabant is besieged by Luxembourg. Troops from Wessex board our fleet and set sail for the low countries.

By early May, Hannover, Saxony, Magdeburg, Bavaria and Bohemia have joined in different wars against Burgundy.

Philip lays siege to Luxembourg in May while another army besieges the Bourbonnais capital in Berri. In the north, we attack Bremen forces in their home province but are driven back. Cologne forces lay siege to Zeeland while Hessen besiege Alsace.

In June, Guyenne are readmitted to our alliance and join in all of our wars. Now if they would be so good as to annex Auvergne or some other small nation. Luxembourg’s armies leave the siege of Brabant and attack with 26000 men Philip’s armies in Luxembourg. They are driven away with heavy loss while Philip’s armies remain largely intact.

July-December 1450

We defeat two Bremen armies in Bremen and leave a siege for there while the large part of our army moves into Denmark. Another army from Geldre follows closely behind and marches towards Mecklemberg.

In July, France’s army of 21000 strong lay siege to Artois. A new army from Bourgogne marches north to lay siege to Paris.

In August, we suffer revolts in Normandie and Bretagne as stability reaches a maximum. Philip once again calls for war taxes to be raised. Our armies in the north lay siege to Holstein. A small force is left behind to invest the province while the large part marches north. Mecklemberg, Ile-de-France and Sjaelland are besieged in September. In the same month, the remainder of the troops from Wessex land in Normandie and put down the rebellion. They march first on Paris.

In October we receive a declaration of war from the far off Golden Horde. Philip laughs at the idea of it although I suspect that this war will end with a white peace after three years. Jutland is besieged by the middle of the month and we now occupy all of Denmark’s continental lands. A sixth siege force moves to occupy Magdeburg.

In November, Philip captures Luxembourg and forces them to become our vassals and pay to us the 137D from their treasury. He seems to have rediscovered his special skill in besieging fortresses. One down, forty eight to go! D). Since the war is barely seven months old, all is going to plan. We use the money to help fund another 15000 strong army in Franche-Comte. Philip moves his armies north into Cologne and lays siege to their capital by the end of the month. In Paris, our forces are driven away by the French as they leave the siege of Artois and return to defend their home province.

December sees a revolt in Cevennes while envoys from Georgia inform us that rebels have seized power and have immediately declared a peace with Burgundy (47 left). As our armies from Paris arrive in Champagne, they are sent to besiege the Palatinat capital of Heidelberg. We defeat a small Magdeburg force in their home province and lay siege to their capital. Across the border in Brandenburg are over 28000 troops making any aggression in that direction very costly.

January-June 1451

The new year brings another revolt in Normandie and, more importantly, 469D in census taxes. 28000 troops are raised in Bourgogne to deal with the rebel situation. Another 8000 are pressed into service in Brabant to support Philip’s siege in Cologne while 8000 more are recruited in Champage to support a new siege force in Heidelberg after 2000 defenders are defeated.

With the fall of Holstein in February, we move our forces south towards Saxony. A new army of 10000 infantry and 5000 cavalry arrive in the same month and march for Paris.

In March we receive an unlikely ally when Navarra gains independence from Castile and declare war on their former overlords. However, we gain another enemy to fight when Wurtemberg join the Cologne alliance and declare war (back to 48). By the end of March, Philip has capture Cologne and marches on Kleves.

In April, we occupy Sachsen but have insufficient numbers to mount an effective siege. Further troops are brought south from Magdeburg and Mecklemberg. By the end of April, Philip defeats a large army in Kleves and leaves a siege for at Dusseldorf before marching towards Hessen. He then sends an offer of peace to Cologne. They are to become vassals of Burgundy and give up their full treasury of 101D. They agree to the terms and take Wurtemberg out of the war with them (no only 46 left ). The added advantage of this peace is that it makes the siege of Zeeland ineffective with barely 3300 Danes left in the province. A further army of 8000 is raised in Champagne as forces in the province march once more on France.

In May, Bremen falls and our siege force marches towards Anhalt. We send our peace terms to Bremen but they uncharacteristically reject them, as if they have a choice. During the month, rebels in Ghent rise up and revolt. We choose to suppress the revolt (Stab –1, Revolt risk in Flanders +12 , Revolt in Flanders). With reinforcements in Sachsen, the siege is begun. Philip arrives in Hessen and defeats a small defending force before laying siege. Meanwhile, we fail to defeat the French defenders of Paris and must regroup for another attack.

In June, Hungary captures the town of Strasbourg in Alsace. Sadly, this will free up many troops to return home in Saxony, Hessen and Magdeburg where sieges are underway. Rebels in Wessex attack the coalition siege force there comprising ten different nations including Portugal, Aragon, Sweden, Denmark, Castile, Venice, Naples and The Knights.

New land is claimed in Brabant giving improvements to population, manpower and taxes. We defeat rebels in Bretagne and move to relieve Normandie. A new offer to Bremen is accepted and they agree to become our vassals and pay 41D in reparations.

July-December 1451

In July, Provence finds itself without a successor and is merged with France. This presents us with some difficulties but we shall resolve them in time. A couple of days later, we capture the province of Berri and force the Bourbonnais to the peace table where we take 45D and claim military access. The army marches south to Auvergne. We lose a battle to Saxony in July but win another in Anhalt. When Magdeburg falls shortly after, we force them to become our vassals and claim the 75D in their treasury. A new army is raised in Lorraine. Sweden captures our English province of Wessex and we lose a battle to rebels in Normandie.

In August, Philip the Good acquires the rights to succession of Luxembourg. The lands are incorporated into Burgundy along with its 14000 strong army. Stability improves dramatically, up to +3 allowing further war taxes to be raised. The armies march immediately on Champagne. We defeat Auvergne force in Auvergne and Saxony forces in Anhalt. Both provinces are besieged. Savoy make peace with Genoa and foolishly leave themselves in a war with the Italian nations.

In September, Philip is driven from Hessen by superior forces and retreats to Anhalt. We defeat a French army in Nivernais and a Saxony army in Anhalt although rebels defeat another army in Flanders. October sees another defeat to the French in Ile-de-France but success continues in the North with the capture of Copenhagen from the Danes. At the end of October, Dusseldorf captitulates and we take their full treasury and force them to become our vassals. (Now only 42 left)

In November we suffer yet another defeat at the hands of the French in Ile-de-France but succeed in capturing Jylland from the Danes. They will soon be forced to the negotiating table. Before we can send them aany demands, they make an offer of the province of Holstein and two colonies in Finnmark and Narvik. We decide to reject the offer and wait for more favourable terms. Later in the month, Philip defeats a Hessen army and besieged their capital for the second time.

In December we defeat rebels in Flanders and march again on Paris. When Mecklemberg falls at the beginning of the month we send our demands to Denmark. They are to cede the rich province of Mecklemberg to Burgundy. They accept these generous terms and another major enemy has been defeated. Our armies march east towards Swedish controlled Vorpommern. A week later, we succeed in driving the French from Ile-de-France and Paris is besieged. By the end of the year, we have also captured Heidelberg but will wait until the new year before sending our terms for peace. We defeat the Swedes in Vorpommern and begin a siege of Stralsund on Christmas day.

January-June 1452

The new year brings the influx of census taxes and a 30000 strong army is pressed into service in Bourgogne to repel the Hungary-Austria threat. We send terms to the Palatinat. They pay us 25D in indemnities and agree to become our vassals. January sees Austria forces lay siege to Lorraine and the defeat of Normandy rebels. Our armies in the north have little time to rest and must travel north to quell a new uprising in Calais.

In February, we defeat the rebels in Cevennes and march to relieve Guyenne from Aragonese control. We defeat a Baden army in Alsace and lay siege to the Hungarian-controlled province.

March brings a new revolt in Bretagne. We lay siege to Provence and Guyenne at the beginning of the month but a day later, Guyenne is annexed by Aragon. They will pay dearly for their insolence. The month brings us into renewed conflict as the Ottoman Empire and its allies (Tunisia, Algiers, Qara Koyunlu and the Mameluks) declare war. By the middle of the month, Dresden has fallen as we continue our string of successes in Germany. We successfully repel an Austrian attempt to break our siege of Alsace and put down the rebellion in Calais before marching to the relief of Bretagne.

As the war enters its third year we still fight against 46 enemies. We send a small cash offer to Lithuania in return for a cessation of hostilities but they reject the terms. When Clermont falls in April, we send terms of peace to Auvergne in which they give us military access and pay 98D. Late in April, we are contacted by a dissident group in Siena and agree to support them. With any luck, this may create a welcome distraction for our enemies in the south. By the end of the month, an army of 46000 men have collected in Bourgogne and march to the relief of Besancon. The force of 24500 infantry and 21300 cavalry attack the Hungarian force of 12400 infantry and 10200 cavalry on 15th May. Within a week, the Hungarian army has been annihilated with the loss of just 5000 Burgundians. They next march north to relieve Lorraine.

As Languedoc is brought under a Genoan siege with over 40000 enemy soldiers, we raise another 8000 infantry in Lyonnais ready to help in its relief. By the end of June, the Austrian army in Lorraine of 22000 are crushed. Our losses were about 1700!! We now have three choices: either we strike Hungary and Austria through the former Helvetian territories, or we attack the Italian alliance in Savoy, or we move to relieve the siege of Montpellier. Given the strength of our northern forces, we opt for the third which will allow us to invade the Iberian peninsula while leaving adequate forces to attack the Italians.

July-December 1452

The beginning of the month sees the last rebels in Bretagne defeated and a force of 18000 are freed to march south towards the Spanish war. By the middle of the month the town of Dessau is captured and we control all of Saxony’s lands. We demand the province of Anhalt and Saxony’s vassalisation. They accept our terms and our forces are freed to strike south at Wurzburg.

In August we raise war taxes as 24900 infantry and 19800 cavalry march south to relieve Montpellier where enemy forces of 27600 infantry and 6900 cavalry are making rapid progress in their siege. They meet on the 13th, two days before our armies in Germany attack 26000 Wurzburg infantry and 2000 cavalry with forces of 19300 infantry and 9500 cavalry. By the end of the month we have lost both battles as the enemy forces are reinforced during the battle. WE lose over 9000 men in Wurzburg , over three times the losses of the defenders, and 15700 in Languedoc to 21400 enemy troops.

In September, Paris falls and another 9000 men are freed to join the battle in the south. Brittany declares war in October and forces are diverted from marching south to capture their capital. In November we fail in another attempt to relieve Montpellier but succeed in killing many more enemy soldiers. A siege in Roussilon also cuts off any supplies they are receiving and it will not be long before they are all destroyed. By November, we have laid siege to Nantes. Later that month, the Papal States take Piedmont from Savoy in a peace agreement. Another relief force to Languedoc arrives after reinforcements have been added to the enemy camp and we are forced to retreat. In Anhalt, we are attacked by the Wurzburg army while Philip captures the Hessen capital and marches south into their other territory of Mainz. The Wurzburg army are defeated before the end of the month and we follow them back to their capital.

By the end of December, we have defeated the Wurzburg army and laid siege to their capital. Good news continues to flow in when we receive the surrenders of Stralsund in Vorpommern and Strasbourg is recovered from the Hungarians.

January-June 1453

We use the new year to offer peace to Hungary with a return to the status quo. They accept the offer and we have removed two major threats to our eastern borders. Another 28000 army is raised in Bourgogne with the purpose of taking the battle into Italy while 12000 German troops are raised in Anhalt while 9000 infantry are raised in Geldre. By the end of January, we have cleared Languedoc of enemy troops and defeated Wurzburg in their attempt to relieve their capital. However, a large Castilian force defeats our armies in Roussillon and we must retreat from the province.

In February, we are driven back from Baden and retreat to Alsace where further troops are being pressed into service. On returning to Roussillon we destroy a Castilian army before leaving a small siege force and moving further into Aragon territory.

In March, Wurzburg succeed in driving our forces from the province. Baden also drive away an invading army in April and our invasion force of Aragon is dealt a crushing blow. We suffer another defeat to Aragon in April before our combined northern armies of 26200 infantry and 10100 cavalry attack the combined Lithuanian, Swedish siege force of 19100 infantry and 7400 cavalry in Zeeland.

In May we sign a white peace with Munster but retreat from Zeeland with losses of 6500 infantry and 1400 cavalry. Lithuanian and Swedish losses were over twice this number. We are successful in defeating Wurzburg and laying siege again to their capital. May brings an end to the trouble in Ghent with victory over the rebel factions (Revolt risk –12, Centralisation +1)

In June, our siege army in Roussillon is annihilated by what seems to be an indestructible Aragonese force.

July-December 1453

In July, the rotten swines from Teke declare war. I doubt they even have the means to attack us. Nantes falls to our forces in the same month and Brittany pay us 49D for peace while removing England from the conflict. We suffer another reverse in Zeeland but defeat a Modena army in Savoie and continue our march into Italy.

August brings a revolt in Vendee as we receive news that nationalism has died down completely in five of our French provinces. Another series of defeats, it is becoming commonplace in the Iberian war while we are successful in driving enemy troops in Piedmont before marching on Liguria.

September brings a change in our fortunes as we defeat an Aragonese force in Iberia and final crush the Lithuanians in Zeeland. Genoan force in Liguria are defeated and the city is besieged. When we defeat a small Golden Horde army (when was that white peace due ) we offer them a status quo peace and they accept. War taxes are raised in October as we lay siege to Gerona in Aragon but things have returned to normal by the end of the month when an Aragonese cavalry force defeats our army in its attempt to relieve the city. Reinforcements are raised in Poitou to begin another attack.

By November, the walls of Montpellier are weakening to a neverending barrage from a Venetian led siege force of 32000.

In December Philip captures the province of Mainz from Hessen and we immediately receive a peace offer.

January-June 1454

Alsace is besieged by Baden as census taxes increase our funds to 755D. A new army is raised in Bourgogne and Franche-Comte while Philip leads a force to capture Baden itself. We agree terms with Hessen taking Hanover, Bavaria and Milan from the war. They give us the province of Mainz and agree to become our vassals. Baden is besieged later in the month as we attempt to relieve Montpellier with 23800 infantry and 13700 cavalry against 12200 infantry and 16200 cavalry. They are annihilated but we lose over 20000 infantry. More infantry are raised in Lyonnais but our manpower pool is now exhausted.

When Provence falls in February, valuable troops are released to fight in the Iberian war. In March, we succeed in driving the Aragonese from Guyenne and march south again on Roussillon where a Castilian force are defeated and the city put under siege. Rebels in Vendee are defeated and we march our victorious army north to relieve Caen. We are still at war with 33 nations and there is little sign that this will change.

By May, we have laid siege to Barcelona. We hear reports from the east that Siebenburgen have annexed Moldavia in the same month.

July-December 1454

Another siege has begun in Zeeland led by Novgorod and troops are raised in Flanders to counter this threat. Once again, Venice have laid siege to Montpellier but are forces in the region are already occupied and cannot be sent yet to relieve the city. In July, our siege in Gerona is upset by a Portuguese attack and we retreat to Roussillon.

In August, we defeat the Baden army in Alsace and march south with nearly 40000 men to defeat again the Venetian army in Languedoc which has now grown to 27000 from Castilian reinforcements. War taxes in this month lead to a revolt in Picardie. Wurzburg finally falls and we demand vassalisation and their full treasury (25D) for peace. We can now talk terms with France and demand their vassalisation and the ceding of the Scottish province of Strathclyde to Eire. Later in the month, Siebenburgen agrees to become vassals of Hungary.

In September, Philip captures Baden and demands military access and 60D for peace. Baden would refuse vassalisation since they are already vassals of Austria.

October sees the failure of our first attempt to break the new siege of Montpellier. Although we outnumber the mixed Venetian/Castile/Algierian force by 27700 infantry and 11500 cavalry to 22500 infantry and 9100 cavalry, we are driven back to Dauphine with losses of 12600 infantry and 2500 cavalry to 15000 infantry and 6100 cavalry.

In November, we capture the province of Roussillon from Aragon and march on the capital. In December Zeeland is cleared of a mixture of Prussian/Novgorod/Teutonic Order and Genoan troops when 46500 Burgundy troops slaughter 15500 of them. Our casualties were around 2000. A second attempt to relieve Languedoc fails again although we inflict major casualties on the Venetians. By the end of December we offer the Teutonic Order a white peace and it is duly accepted. Wessex is returned to Burgundian control and Vorpommern to Sweden.

January-June 1455

In the first weeks of the year, our armies arrive at the gates of the Aragon capital and begin a siege. We send a peace offer to Modena for a return to status quo and they accept. Our list of nations at war with us is now down to just eighteen

In April, Bohemia and Poland both offer us a white peace which we are happy to accept. War exhaustion is now becoming a significant problem and we must find a war of ending this conflict. Shortly after, we agree a white peace with the knights. Later in the month, similar offers are received from Brandenburg and Mantua. The list of combatants is rapidly diminishing by the day. Throughout this period, our northern armies have steadily cleared up rebels provinces. By the end of April, we have laid siege to Gerona.

In May, Genoa offer us 99D to stop hostilities and we are happy to accept their money. The following month, our army planners announce another breakthrough in military technology (Land Tech 4). Later in the month, Barcelona falls to our armies and a peace offer is sent to Aragon for Roussillon and 50D. They accept and we now only have eight left to deal with. When status quo peaces are agree with the Ottoman Empire and Teke, we are now only at war with Venice and Lithuania.

July-December 1455

Somewhat surprisingly Lithuania accept a white peace offer in the middle of the month. We then raise war taxes and propose the same offer to the Venetians who sadly reject it. In August we grant export licences costing 50D to the crown treasury rather than lose stability. We offer to pay Venice 100D for peace and they accept. The war is over and Burgundy has survived intact. What is more, we have gained five new provinces, including the rich trading centre of Mecklemberg, as well as now having 12 vassal states (5 at start of war less 2 plus 9 gained in peace proposals).

In September we return to the diplomatic offensive and send a letter to Oldenburg. October sees the loss of Anhalt to rebels before a relief force can arrive. In Wessex we lose 24000 men as rebels driven into the sea while the fleet was left in port. Such mistakes cannot be allowed and the commander of the fleet is ordered back to Dijon to face trial and summary execution. Shortly after, Tripoli’s brief period of independence is ended when they are annexed by Tunisia. In November, a personal gift to Oldenburg is well received (+113 to +200) and we are all set to incorporate them into our kingdom once we have made the preparations

And so a difficult year finally comes to an end as census taxes of 344D arrive in the new year. With Anhalt recaptured from rebels there is only Wessex to recover.

 

[coz1]

That's the great thing about Burgundy - you are right there in the middle, next to everyone, so you can get your nose right in everyone else's business. Of course, that means they can get into yours as well. Nice job getting out of that with just a 100 ducat payment! Truly masterful work.

Screenie, screenie, screenie!

 

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1556

With January census taxes now arrived, we look ahead to what we hope will be several years of peace and turn our minds to peaceful expansion. Several gifts are sent to Bremen in the hope of persuading them to join our alliance while income is used to expand the fortifications in Mainz. Hopes of peace are shattered when Georgia declare war within a week of the beginning of the year.

By the middle of February, we have cleared Wessex of rebels but have to deal with further uprisings during the first half of the year in Gascogne, Mainz, Poitou and Wessex again. In June, we succeed in bringing Bremen into our alliance and they support us in our war against Georgia. Then Cologne break their vassalisation and declare war in June. Wurtemberg, Kleves and The Palatinat support Cologne. We leave Mainz to the rebels and send Philip to attack Cologne while armies in Anhalt are sent south to invade Wurtemberg.

In August, Philip lays siege to Cologne while Bourbonnais declare war. We raise war taxes and an army in Anhalt for the anticipated declaration from Magdeburg. We do not have long to wait as the declaration arrives in September. Tours is besieged by the end of the month and Magdeburg by the beginning of October. An army of 12000 boards ship in the channel bound for Eire.

January- June 1557

Although the war is progressing smoothly, it is not going fast enough. More troops are raised in Anhalt and Mecklemberg as a precaution while Roussillon fortifications are expanded. Early in the year, Castile force Navarra again to become their vassals. We raise a third army in Lorraine in preparation of an attempt to relieve Mainz.

There is certainly a danger that this war will get our of hand like the previous one although our objectives here are more limited. In February, Cologne falls to Philip and we demand they become vassals of Burgundy for a second time. Tours falls shortly afterwards and we take the full Bourbonnais treasury before signing a truce. In March, Georgia accept a white peace.

In May, Magdeburg falls and we force a peace for indemnities and their agreement to become vassals. Now, after a brief war, we are at peace again and can continue to work towards a peaceful expansion of Burgundy.

Or we would be able to if these annoying little countries didn’t keep declaring war. Auvergne now do so in June although one feels that this is more to raise up another alliance against Burgundy. We shall be quick to dispel any hopes they might have of success,

July-December 1557

By the end of July, we have laid siege to Clermont that Auvergne have not even been bothered to defend. War taxes are again raised in August. Troops are sent to Mecklemberg as a precaution from a potential war against Denmark. In November, Mecklemberg fortress is captured by rebels but these are quickly caught and hanged. The fortress is besieged at once.

Philip receives another snub in November when Friedrich is named as Holy Roman Emperor rather than himself. By the end of the year, Clermont has fallen and we take the full treasury before agreeing to sign a truce.

January-June 1558

Peace again, but for how long? We send a letter to Oldenburg to ensure them of our friendship and a personal gift to Wurzburg in the hope that they will not attempt to break their vassalisation. Troops are sent from Normandie to Wessex to recapture the fortress lost to rebels. New year taxes are used to build a fine arts academy in Dijon. The exceptional taxes that we received still leaves us with 460D in treasury. In February we send an offer to Oldenburg to join our nation and they accept. With most of north west Germany now as our vassals, it seems appropriate that our long time vassal should enjoy the benefits of full membership of the Kingdom. Luxembourg, it is noted, has substandard fortifications and the situation is rectified in February while Wessex is put under siege. A state gift to Wurzburg goes a long way to improving relations with our hostile vassals. They now count as one on of our least distant neighbours, second only to Eire who still consider us as friends.

We have used our time of peace well as envoys from Hungary arrive with an official declaration of war. Philip leads his troops south while our main army collects in Alsace for the anticipated offensive. In May, Novgorod accept peace with Muscovy taking indemnities. However, it has been a costly war for them as rebels at home revolt and a new nation of Pskov forms from the rebels. Further south, Genoa expands her holdings in the Black sea region as rebels from Azow join their nation.

July-December 1558

Munster declare war in July. In August, we recover Mecklemberg and march our northern armies west in preparation for a war against Munster. Sadly, the fortifications have been damaged and we have insufficient funds to repair them. War taxes are raised in August leading to a revolt in Oldenburg. Later in August, England declare war bringing their allies, Aragon, Sweden and Brittany against us. In September, we defeat a small Swedish army in Vorpommern and lay siege to Stralsund.

We defeat two English armies in Wessex and maintain a siege of Portsmouth. In the south, Aragon lays siege in Rousillon and troops are raised in Languedoc while another force travels to meet them. In November, we crush a large Munster army outside their capital and leave a sizeable siege force while the rest return to Oldenburg. In December an English army lands in Picardie but we discover Meath is unprotected and march our Irish armies to capture Dublin. Dublin is put under siege by the middle of the month.

January-June 1559

New year taxes allow us to repair fortifications in Mecklemberg. The rest of Europe and the Middle East sees further outbreaks of war but none involve Burgundy in the first weeks of the year. Castile and Portugal declare war on Aragon and we receive an unlikely bonus as they will hopefully give Aragon muct to worry about on their western front. We decide raise another 19000 strong army in Flanders to throw back the English invaders in Picardie.

In February, we defeat a recruit Munster cavalry force in Munster and drive the Aragonese besieging Perpignan. A large force are sent south to attack Gerona while more troops are raised in Languedoc and Rousillon to support the southern war. Further troops are raised in Mecklemberg in case of a Danish attack from the north. After defeating an Aragonese force in Gerona our forces continue south to Catalonia while another follows from Roussillon to lay siege to Gerona. Barcelona and Gerona are both under siege by the end of the April.

We continue to raise troops in Mecklemberg as the siege of Stralsund continues. By June, Hungary makes a long awaited move and invades Alsace before laying siege to Strasburg with 30000 troops. Philip waits in Lorraine to allow disease and starvation to weaken the army before he chooses to attack. We suffer a defeat in Picardie when a mixed force of 13000 Burgundians are defeated by a small force of English 3500 cavalry. By the end of the month, Castile agree to pay small indemnities to Aragon for peace.

July-December 1559

July brings improvements in our internal stability and reports from our naval commanders of improvements to our ships (Naval tech 3). A large English army breaks our siege in Wessex and continues the work against the rebels themselves. Reinforcements are brought from Oldenburg to help defeat the English in Picardie while further armies flow into Aragon to expand the siege at Catalonia. Siena declare war on Tuscany bringing France into the war on the side of Siena and Papal States, Genoa on the side of Tuscany. Castile shortly after declare war on Tuscany and have the support of Portugal. Rebels from Guyenne lay siege to Languedoc allowing forces from Roussillon and Lyonnais to march in Aragon-owned Guyenne

August sees new war taxes raised. A 14000 strong force is raised in Gascogne to add to forces on the Aragon border. We defeat two small English armies in the midlands and lay siege to Lincoln by the end of August. By September, the siege of Toulouse is fully effective. Swedish owned Stralsund falls to our armies in the first weeks of the month and troops return to Mecklemberg where our armies of 25000 now sit idle,

In October, Dublin falls to our armies in Ireland and the English forces are crushed in Picardie by our much larger armies. We defeat and English squadron off the straits of Dover before embarking troops to invade the English mainland. In November, Philip leads his 51000 strong army of Lorraine to relieve the siege of Strasburg where the Hungarian general Matyas Corvin commands 28000 men. While he is en route, Munster falls and we force them to accept vassal status and to pay 200D in indemnities. Our forces in the north east now march towards Flanders where a further 7000 infantry are being raised. Baden declares war at the end of the month

December sees a revolt in Poitou and a defeat for Philip in Alsace. He loses around 8000 men to nearly 10000 Hungarian losses. Troops are raised in Mainz for a second attack. We disembark around 24000 troops into Anglia to lay siege to London which begins before the month is out. Mainz is besieged by Austria before the end of the month

Jan-June 1460

Another 26000 troops are raised in Lorraine as Philip’s armies arrive in Mainz to do battle with the Austrians. In Aragon, Gerona falls and we march on the capital. When Philip loses against the Austrian’s in Mainz, he retreats north into Hessen. His troops are already suffering losses through disease and hunger and will no doubt find little to help them there. He marches immediately through the Palatinat to return to Lorraine.

In February we lay siege to Aragon as an Aragonese force of 15000 attack our siege force of 24000 in Catalonia. We are driven back with serious losses and reinforcements are brought in from Roussillon to begin a counterattack. Another 9000 men are pressed into service in our southwestern provinces while 19000 are raised in Bourgogne and Lyonnais to deal with the rebels in Languedoc. In the same month we fail to defeat an English siege force in Meath. The year has not started auspiciously for Burgundy.

In March, Philip collects reinforcements in Lorraine and marches with 59000 men on beleagured Strasbourg where only 16000 Hungarians are besieging the city. Another 17000 men from the low countries land in Yorkshire and march west to lay siege to Coventry. Lincoln falls by the end of the month and our armies in the province march back south west towards Cornwall. That same month, our counterattack on Catalonia achieves a stunning victory over 24000 Aragonese who lose over two-thirds of their forces. Barcelona is besieged again and the siege of Aragon is kept safe.

In April, Pskov once again loses its independence although this time it is to the growing nation of Prussia, who now control four provinces. Days later, the Teutonic Order declare war with the support of Prussia and Novgorod. Philip succeeds in his second attempt to relieve Strasburg and rushes south to defeat rebels in Languedoc. Plymouth and Coventry are besieged by the end of the month.

In May, we defeat the English in Meath and England raise their siege of Portsmouth to allow King Edward to lead his armies north. Tuscany and Siena agree peace with no indemnities on either side. This leaves Navarra free to declare war on us bringing France against us and various other of Navarra’s allies. We shall deal with France first once Philip has defeated the rebels in Languedoc.

In June, Karaman are annexed by the Ottoman Empire. The rebels in Languedoc are defeated and Philip sends a small force to lay siege to Marseille while he marches west to support the siege of Toulouse. The French army in Ile-de-France are destroyed and a small siege force is left to invest the province.

July-December 1460

Taking a short time our to restock on cigarettes and drink – I’ve seen this is becoming a common theme on these thread so who am I to resist the flow – I also have time to consider plans for the campaign on seven fronts. It would be eight but the Danes are very late in joining in on the fun and my armies in Mecklemberg are doing little save repel the odd Aragonese rolleyes: ) invasion. Food supplies are good.

Sticking to the age old mantra of dealing with only three enemies at once - with the exception of invading armies who are crushed when the attrition ceases to be significant – I will deal with Aragon before Navarra and concentrate on taking Provence from France to give me a Mediterranean port.

A recruit French force are defeated in Ile-de-France and more troops are sent to shore up the siege army. Provence is besieged by the end of the month while a combined army from Novgorod, Prussia and the Teutonic Order drive our armies in Mecklemberg east to Vorpommern. Oh, and the Knights declare war in July. During this time, Edward IV is ominously collecting his armies in Bristol.

In August, we offer certain church functions in Wessex to the nobility. It is currently rebel held and may even secede to England so the loss of taxes in Wessex may be a small cost for the 100D we receive for the grant. Denmark make their long awaited entry into the war in August. It seems they have timed their declaration well. A new Hungarian army lays siege to Alsace although our armies are already marching that way to relieve Mainz. Teke join in the war in August

In September we raise more war taxes but news arrives of the loss of Mainz to Austrian forces. The Hungarians are defeated in Alsace but we suffer heavy losses. A new army is raised in Bourgogne. Lithuania declare war this month but are only supported by Poland as Bohemia and Brandenburg see no opportunity for gain. We drive the Novgorod alliance forces from Mecklemberg in the same month and march south to the relief of Anhalt which is currently under a rebel siege. More troops are raised in Mecklemberg. Venice declare war by the end of the month. In September we are attacked in Anglia by Edward’s forces numbering over 33000 against less than 24000 of our own. Fortunately, we have cavalry superiority and drive them away with losses of nearly 15000 men to 10000 Burgundy troops.

In October, a Wurzburg army is seen heading north to Anhalt and we shall leave them to deal with our rebels. Forces in Mecklemberg march north into Denmark. A small Danish force in Holstein is defeated and a siege force is left to invest the province while the larger part of the army continue north. Barcelona falls by the end of the month and Aragon’s mainland provinces are now at our mercy.

In November, Bohemia declare war on Hungary and the threat from the south east is significantly reduced. We offer Hungary peace in exchange for them paying us 50D in indemnities. They accept. Our armies in Mainz are now freed to march north to attack Denmark’s eastern provinces and open a front against the eastern European nations. We defeat a Danish army in Jylland and an Aragonese army in Valencia. We are victorious in both and lay siege. Our forces in Valencia are sent to return to Roussillon for the planned attack on Navarra. The Duchy of Athens is annexed into the Ottoman Empire by the end of the month

In December, Genoa continues to grow in the Black Sea region when Kalmuk defects from the Golden Horde to join the Italian city state. Aragon send us an offer of Catalonia and Gerona for peace. We accept and our large forces in the region are now freed up completely to invade Navarra. Philip leads his siege force from Guyenne to relieve Poitou from rebels. We now have our Mediterranean port and will raise up a new fleet when we have the necessary funds.

January-June 1461

Census taxes bring in 740D of taxes and both Catalonia and Gerona fortifications are improved. Three galleys are ordered for construction in the Spanish port city of Barcelona. Philip defeats the rebels in Poitou and marches south to the Navarra border. By the end of January, our troops from the Aragon campaign are ready to engage Navarran armies and march across the border.

In February, our armies from Mainz arrive in Vorpommern and march to the relief of Mecklemberg. Philip takes a small contingent of cavalry and rushes to support the siege of Marseille while the remainder of his troops await the result of the battle of Bearn DThat’s one for football buffs to understand) whre nearly 25000 Burgundy troops engage 15000 Navarrans. In Mecklemberg, we drive the Prussians from the province and split our forces with half marching on the Danish capital and the rest marching towards Danish controlled Hinterpommern. When we are defeated in Bearn province, our forces in Gascony march south to reengage the Navarran’s. Paris falls during the month of February and they offer us the province of Provence. We decline their offer and will await the fall of Marseille before we can send them more satisfactory terms. The siege army marches north to Brabant where it is planned to meet with a recruit army from Bourgogne before going to the relief of Vlissingen in Zeeland.

In March rebels in Lugansk defect. Rather than join Genoa to their south, they opt to join Ukraine against whom we are at war. I doubt they will cause us any problems. We succeed in driving the Navarran’s from Bearn in the same month and Pau is besieged. A new recruit Navarran force in their capital province is also defeated. Holstein falls to our small siege force before the month is out. Coventry falls to our armies in England just a few days later.

In April, we lay siege to the Danish capital of Copenhagen but leave Hinterpommern to march on Polish forces in Poznan. After defeating an English army in Lincoln a peace offer is sent demanding the province of Meath and for Sweden to hand over the German province of Vorpommern. The English reject our offer. Plymouth falls to our armies later in the month although news arrives that Wurtburg have captured the German province of Anhalt.

In May we defeat a Polish army in Poznan and lay siege to the province. A Lithuanian army is defeated in Mecklemberg and an English in Lincoln before Yorkshire is besieged. Navarran forces drive away our armies from Bearn and we send our reserve to attack them from Languedoc. Another peace offer is sent to England but is rejected. Our armies in Poznan march on Danzig. England do not suffer any stability hits from my peace offers. Best capture London quickly then

In June, we inflict another defeat on Navarra and besiege Pau for a second time. Hinterpommern is now besieged by reinforcements from Mecklemberg while Edward IV’s armies attack us again in Anglia but are driven back. Reinforcements for the siege are rushed in from York. We are caught by Polish forces in Poznan and retreat quickly. Rather than continue the march to Danzig, which was almost complete, we cannot even retreat there and must flee to the south. The Pope, or some other guy with no other purpose than to stick his nose in business that is not his, declares this as a crushing victory for Poland (3% on the war even when I didn’t want to fight ). Fortunately we have better news in the month when the Danish province of Jylland is captured.

July-December 1461

England offer us Northumberland, Meath, Lincoln and Cornwall in July but we reject the terms. This will give us completely indefensible provinces. The run around of troops in Poland continue as we are forced to retreat to Mazovia. Very well, I believe a quick raid on Lithuania may be in order. With winter approaching, it is marginally better than disbanding the troops.

In September, we suffer revolts in Mecklemberg and Orleanais. The former is quickly put down although troops are brought north from Roussillon and further ones raised in Bourgogne to relieve Orleans. The Danish capital of Copenhagen falls to our troops by the 13th

We raise further war taxes in October. When London falls, we send England another offer. They agree to cede to us the provinces of Cornwall, Meath and for Sweden to give us Vorpommern. In November, we lay siege to rebel-held Wessex. By the end of the year, we have cleared Orleanais of rebels but a Novgorod force succeeds in driving us from Mecklemberg.

January-June 1462

Tax income for the year exceeds 1000D. Philip orders a review of our current wars. They are as follows (with peace percentages)

Baden (0%)
TO (3%), Prussia (2%), Novgorod (0%)
Navarra(3%), France(29%), Wurzburg(-7%), Ukraine(0%), Scotland(1%), Siena(0%)
Knights(0%)
Denmark(44%)
Teke(0%)
Lithuania (1%), Poland (-2%)
Venice(0%).

There is little we can do about the Knights, Teke or Venice while Baden is just being plain awkward. Progress is steady in the war against the Navarran alliance and against Denmark which should also give us a launch pad to attack the Teutonic Order province of Danzig. With any luck we may also persuade Lithuania to accept peace but for the moment they are not talking to us.

With the war now almost four years old, it is high time that we brought it to a temporary conclusion. Our new year taxes are put to use improving the fortifications in Meath, Cornwall and Vorpommern.

In February, Stettin falls to our armies and Denmark agree to our peace terms ceding Hinterpommern and Holstein to Burgundy. A revolt in Vorpommern is quickly crushed while troops in Hinterpommern engage Lithuanian troops. Our navies in Holland sink a Lithuanian transport almost instantly. To the east, Georgia expands yet again at the expense of Georgia gaining the province of Trabzon to add to their already extensive lands in the region. After defeating the Lithuanians in Hinterpommern we offer them a return to the status quo peace and they accept. Our armies in the province are now freed to march east into Danzig. Work is begun to expand the fortifications in Holstein. Shortly after, Novgorod forces in Mecklemberg are driven out.

On February 21st, Provence falls to our armies. We offer France peace and they grant us Provence and 274D from their treasury. The new money is used to fortify Hinterpommern. It has been a very successful month for Burgundy.

In March we defeat a small Teutonic force in Vorpommern but fail to defeat their armies in Danzig. In mid-March, the Palatinat break off their vassal ties to Burgundy and declare war with their German allies of Cologne, Kleves, Wurtemberg, Bohemia and Brandenburg. Fortunately, we have 40000 strong army in Alsace which moves north quickly to destroy the Palatinat armies. At the end of the month a 28000 strong Venetian army lands in Mecklemberg and lays siege to the province. 13000 men are raised in Pommern and our forces in the region collect in Vorpommern to launch an attack.

In April, Bourbonnais declare war and troops are diverted from the south to lay siege to Tours. Within days of each other, Wurzburg capture Mainz while the Navarra capital of Pau falls to our troops. Sadly for Wurtemberg, they will be forced to return the captured provinces to us when we agree a peace with Navarra. The armies of the Palatinat are destroyed in mid-April and a large siege force is left in the province. Navarra offer us peace paying 64D and ceding to us the province of Navarra. Philip’s armies destroy the rebels in Roussillon by the end of the month

In May, we suffer another revolt in Poitou. There is also trouble among the artisans and we decide to execute the troublemakers suffering a loss to our infrastructure investments. Tours is besieged by the middle of the month.

In June, the nation of Guyenne reforms from the rebel held territory. They declare war on Aragon but have no means of attacking their former masters. We drive the Venetians from Mecklemberg but they refuse an offer of a white peace.

July-December 1462

The news becomes more serious in the second half of the year when Hessen cast off their vassal status and declare war in July. Surplus forces in Alsace are sent to Mainz. One peace of good news is the recapture of Wessex from rebels.

By August we hear of a victory in Wessex over the English. On further questioning, the English tell us that they did not need to declare war but had only supported their allies, the Teutonic Order, when they joined the alliance earlier. It is something I have come to expect of the English and their devious methods. Later in the month, we lay siege to Hessen.

In September, we defeat two sizeable Teutonic Order armies in Danzig before laying siege to the rich province. They are driven away by another Teutonic force that land shortly after but we have more armies that can quickly destroy the threat. Philip defeats another rebel army in Normandie before marching on Tours.

In October we suffer a revolt in Meath and the fortress is captured, damaging the works in progress to improve them.The rebellion is put down but our armies are forced to begin a siege of the city. We defeat a much larger English army in Wessex in the same month. Tours falls to Philip shortly after his arrival and he speeds off to Heidelberg. In Wessex, we go onto the offensive after another victory over England. Our troops move on London and Bristol while another victory in Danzig sees the Teutonic Order troops forced to retreat and the city besieged.

November sees London and Bristol under sieges from our forces and success against repeated attempts from the Teutonic Order to relieve Danzig.

In December stability improves and war taxes are raised. We sign a white peace with Baden after our three years of conflict has seen no fighting. Further battles are won against England but we suffer a shock defeat to barely 3500 Teutonic Order troops in Danzig. We launch another attack from Hinterpommern. Vlissingen falls to Cologne led troops

January-June 1463

The Teutonic Order finally agree to a white peace at the beginning of the year. Venice agree to the same terms when these are offered to Doge Cristoforo Moro. The month brings us the shocking news of defeat in Pfalz from an army from Kleves.

Philip receives reinforcements in Alsace and attacks again into the Palatinat territory. He has decided that the war must end by August and Heidelberg must fall before then. On his journey to Heidelberg, he falls from his horse and suffers grievious injuries. He is unable to stay with the army who continue to Heidelberg where Kleves again inflict a heavy defeat on us. The remainder of our forces in Alsace are immediately sent north while another army is raised in Alsace. Anhalt also falls to Saxony freeing up Hessen troops to return to protect their capital. They succeed in breaking the siege in April.

Our response to this is to raise yet more troops in Mainz and repair fortifications in the province. Auvergne declare war again in April. They is now little option but to be brutal with these upstarts. We return to Heidelberg and defeat the Kleves/Palatinat armies before laying siege again.

In May, Cornwall suffer a rebellion and the fortress is taken. We quickly defeat the rebels and settle down for a long summer. The Hessen cavalry army that succeeded in reaching Mainz before our retreating troops are swiftly dealt with and our armies can return to their capital.

In June we lay siege to Hessen and Auvergne. The Pope himself now chooses this time for pressure by influencing local bishops to press demands which we are forced to accept (Innovation –1).

July-December 1463

In August we sign a white peace with the Knights of St John but the war is still not done. Teke follow suit in September as stability recovers. We raise war taxes again. Fortification work begins again in Meath. November sees a revolt in Oldenburg and armies from Alsace are sent to quell the unrest. Cologne capture Luxembourg and now control this province and Zeeland. Philip, still confined to bed after his injuries, swears to be avenged of the Kolners.

January-June 1464

January brings another attack in the Palatinat from Kleves. They will most assuredly be made to pay for this. They are crushed before the month is out and the siege is renewed. We march an army north into Kleves and bring forces to support the siege of Heidelberg. The new year brings revolts in Wessex and Poitou

February brings revolts in Oldenburg, Holstein (fortress taken) and Mainz. The rebels in Mainz are quickly defeated. We achieve success in Auvergne when the capital, Clermont, falls the same month. Heidelberg falls shortly after but we shall wait for Hessen to fall before discussing peace terms with our enemies. Two large armies are rapidly raised in the low countries as Oldenburg shows signs of falling.

In April, we have a stroke of luck when rebels drive away a Magdeburg siege force from Mecklemberg. Our armies in Vorpommern move west to relieve the province before moving to recapture Holstein. We defeat the rebels in Poitou. When Hessen falls later in the week, the peace terms are coltected together. The Palatinat and Hessen Electors and are forced to pay homage to Philip as their vassal lords and empty their treasuries (in total 183D). Bourbonnais and Auvergne are simply annexed.

And so, after many years of fighting, we have a brief respite. Philip is getting old and infirm but is regarded by the rest of Europe as worse than dishonourable scum. Somehow the rules of fighting seemed to have changed and it is now perfectly honourable to break with your liege lord and declare war but not to defend oneself from the pack of hounds that howl at the door. Let Europe be warned. Philip has learned well these rules and will not be so lenient in future.

 

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Here are a couple of screenshots showing the earlier parts of the last war and the diplomatic relations after it was over

Click here

 

[unmerged(7404)]

Amazed at your success! You are strong like hell and having vassalised basically, Germany. The world is yours to conquer .

A plus for the screenshot encouragement. I love maps !

 

[coz1]

Ahhh, the old Machiavelli question - Is it better to be loved than feared? They will learn to fear you if they do not already! Great work dealing with the masses once again!

 

[unmerged(6777)]

Yes!!!!!

Well, Lionheart, you've officially crossed the point of no return. There's no point even thinking about being nice anymore and might as well just warmonger your way through the world. Now hurry up and annex France so you can change those screenies to a decent colour and you'll get those delicious leaders to help you deal with everyone else (explorers, conquistadors, siege leaders, etc...), not to mention the events.

Yum.

You definitely did a remarkable job in fending off that first "superwar", though I think that I might have taken the sheer scale of it as a clear sign that it was time to begin the annexations right then, rather than vassalizations. Way to go!

 

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All: This was my first EUII BB war and I can tell you it hurts a lot more than EU I. The minute that truce is over and they're up for it, even if they are a one province minor. In any case, I was trying to bring Burgundy and the wordl to realise that we WERE a major power. As you can see things haven't worked out so I've gone about getting rid of those annoying nations who persist in trying to keep my war exhaustion high. And damn those clergymen men I get my hands of them!


USA Pat: Cheers, mate

coz1: Shame, it seems that this is the way the game will go. Once the annexations continue there's fewer to declare war.

Mr T: Like I said, it wasn't the way I wanted it to go. That was the reason for the vassalisations. But the pin did finally drop this time round that I was never going to get out of it and that those pesky minors just had to go. The plan was so simple but I didn't get the chance to work it out. Now I'm so pissed off with everyone bar none, I'm gonna hit them so hard next time they'll not know what hit them, let alone who, how or when.

Damn them all to hell, I need to save up for those conversions.

p.s No doubt, even if I have the whole HRE, the election will still go against me

p.p.s Philip's new rules of war will now allow France to be forcefully annexed even if I prefer the royal blue to the putrid blue of the French. Make no bones about it, those new explorer types will be French only in language.

 

[Storey]

One thing you can try that works is to start picking out one country and start heavily bribing it. I've managed to reduce those trying to attack me by doing that but it takes a long time and a lot of ducats. Of course if your BB has gone through the roof you might not have that option. Should be interesting seeing what you do next.

Joe

 

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Storey: Even in the last war, I had very high relations with Munster (+180 and more) and they were my long time vassals with no alliance partners.

All I have now is the hope of finding a vassal with relatively poor relations with their partners and flooding them with lovely presents so that they don't join in the fest and can be brought into the alliance. Up till now, there's none available.

Just for the record, Philip's mood - not unlike my own - is that these countries will NOT include Kleves, Cologne, Saxony. Magdeburg, Palatinat, Brittany or France. These boys are ready to be taken down a peg or two when the time is ripe.

 

[Storey]

Originally posted by Lionheart
Storey: Even in the last war, I had very high relations with Munster (+180 and more) and they were my long time vassals with no alliance partners.

Man you must be truely evil for them to hate you this much. It looks like your options are limited.

Joe

 

[unmerged(3525)]

Originally posted by Storey


Man you must be truely evil for them to hate you this much. It looks like your options are limited.

Joe

So much so that this morning I realised that Mosquitos had declared war on me. And they won.

 

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The final rise to greatness

May-June 1464

With peace at last, the focus is on enlarging our alliance by introducing new members. Guyenne is alone in the world and should be the first to benefit. However relations are very low (-200) so we first send them a lavish gift of state, which is cautiously received (-176). Perhaps they still blame us for their loss of independence although I personally tend to feel it was their own error in joining a war in which we didn’t ask for support.

Philip lays plans to expand the Mediterranean navy and galleys and warships are commissioned in our two ports in the region. Surplus funds from the new year taxes are used to repair fortifications in Anhalt and to improve those in Berri and Auvergne.

A personal gift is sent to Guyenne in June and is received more courteously (-98)

July-December 1464

A rebellion in Meath is quickly suppressed while the long standing rebellion in Oldenburg is brought to order by new armies from the low countries. Another gift to Guyenne is barely noticed (-94).

In October, another rebellion rises up in Oldenburg but is quickly suppressed by our armies from Geldre. A letter to Guyenne is politely received (-72) in October while another lavish gift in November leads Guyenne to regard us neutrally (-1)

In December, Holstein is recaptured but the fortifications are badly damaged and must be repaired. Guyenne are admitted into our alliance and we look further afield for other partners.

January-June 1465

New year income allows fortifications in Holstein to be expanded as Charles, the Timid, takes command of the armies in Oldenburg. A revolt in Provence forces our southern armies to move to quell the unrest.

Philip sends a letter to Wurzburg which is cautiously received (-144 to –134) while our southern armies are defeated by Provencal rebels in February. On February 17th Munster cancel their vassal status and declare war after less than five and a half years of peace. Charles marches around half of his forces from Oldenburg with clear instructions from King Philip.

In March, Philip orders war taxes to be levied as naval commanders inform us that our ship construction techniques have improved and we can now build larger ships for transporting armies. Charles’ armies defeat 12000 Munster defenders and their capital is besieged. New transport ships are commissioned in Barcelona. New investments are now directed towards improving our armies since our naval technology is ahead of all our principal rivals.

Infantry are recruited in the north and south to prepare for the anticipated declarations of war in both regions while Mainz troops are moved to Alsace in anticipation of a war agains the Austro-Hungarian alliance. In May, Philip calls for the raising of a tax collector in the undeveloped province of Auvergne. Is it any wonder that they were unable to provide us with even the weakest of a challenges in our previous wars?

We suffer grave unrest in Liege and Philip vows to suppress the revolt (Cent +2, Stab –1, Revolt in Brabant). We have surplus troops in the region who are sent to put down the motley group of artisans and cloth workers.

July-December 1465

The second half of the year sees a revolt in Navarra and our only body of troops in the region are sent from Provence to deal with the rebels. August brings news of Hungary’s victory in its war against Bohemia with the province of Moravia ceded to Hungary. Now we can expect them on our borders within a few short months. The rebellion in Brabant is swiftly crushed by the second week in August.

When stability improves in September, Philip makes a renewed call for war taxes. Another rebel force is defeated in Hinterpommern while the month sees an unsuccessful revolt peter out in Meath through insufficient numbers. The rebels in Navarra are sent fleeing to their homes in October. When Munster finally capitulates to Charles’ forces by the middle of the month, they are swiftly added to the realms of Burgundy. Philip will brook no further insolence from our vassal states.

Once again at peace a personal gift is sent to Eire which is well received (+85 to +174).

In December, Hungary declares war and are supported by their allies. Charles leads his armies south from Brabant but we shall not invade their territories until the winter months have passed.

January-June 1466

Another good year for census taxes allows us to fund improvements to the substandard fortifications in Munster. We retain 1000D in treasury until we know what we need to do with this. In February, Charles leads an army of 24000 into Bern while 20000 new troops are raised in Franche-Comte and Lorraine. Seeing a large Austrian army in Schwyz, he decides to lay siege to Bern itself rather than marching into Austrian territory.

After defeating a small recruit force of Hungarians in Bern, Charles opts to retreat to Franche-Comte when he sees a large Hungarian army approaching from the east. In May, he is intercepted by Pal Kinizsi’s army in Bern and is forced to fight. Charles wins a great victory and marches again on Berne. During the same month Philip is approached by dissidents in England for support and he readily agrees to provide them with funds. It’s not as if relations with England could get any worse and the cost of unrest at home would be much greater.

When Bern is again besieged in June, a larger Hungary force of around 34000 are seen marching to its relief. Charles the Timid once more retreats from the capital but is intercepted again and this time loses the battle and almost 11000 men. He retreats towards Alsace where another army is sent to recoup his losses. On arriving the combined force marches towards Franche-Comte where further reinforcements are called upon.

In September, stability once more improves and Philip calls again on war taxes to be raised sparking a revolt in Calais. Our armies in Lorraine are called upon to crush the rebellion while Charles deals with a small Hungarian incursion into Alsace.

In December, Kinizsi makes a more serious invasion into Alsace with 36000 men. Charles leads his 44000 to its relief while further troops are raised in Franche-Comte. Two days later Brittany declares war and our 47000 strong Mainz regiment marches west.

January-June 1467

Census taxes arrive again and our careful management of finances reveals that treasury is now up to 1755D. In the middle of January, Sweden declares war and is supported by Poland, Lithuania and the Knights of St John. We immediately raise levies of 40000 in our north German provinces to repel the threat from the east. Being on the verge of gaining new military skills, we will gain a significant advantage over our eastern enemies. Back on the Hugarian border, Charles deals Kinizsi a crushing blow in Alsace and fewer than 17000 Hungarians retreat back to Bern. Charles lost 5500 men in the fighting.

In February, we launch our incursion into Poland with 29000 men against Piotr Dunin’s 8000. When a further 17000 arrive to support him ,we are driven back to Hinterpommern although losses were far lower than those suffered by the Polish forces.

March brings a revolt in Munster and a crushing victory over Brittany’s armies. Nantes is besieged and the larger part of the army returns to Maine. By the end of the month, Denmark declare war and our new recruits in Northern Germany are sent to deal first with the Danish threat.

In April, Charles suffers a crushing defeat in Bern against the Hungarians. France declares war later in the month and bring their allies Wurzburg and Navarra into battle. All three of these countries are no destined to remain independent for long as the long list of our beloathed enemies will grow ever smaller. Forces returning from Brittany to the Hungarian front are diverted to Paris while Charles leads his armies into Germany. A small force from Gerona march on Pau while the remainder are sent east to deal with a rebellion in Provence.

In May, our army planners announce a new breakthrough – quite literally as it turns out – when they explain to us new methods by which we can storm fortresses. Well anything that can replace those spades and the ladders is fine by me. Attention is now diverted to developing our naval technology. Early in the month, our forces on the Danish border a ready and the orders are given for them to march into Jylland. During the month, we lay siege to Paris and Pau while Wurzburg have stole a march on us and now lay siege to Dessau in Anhalt. We crush Danish resistance in Jylland and leave a siege force before marching on the capital. To the east, a joint Swedish/Polish force drives our armies from Hinterpommern and lays siege to the province. Reinforcements are called upon to the west.

In June, we are saddened to report the news of the passing away of Philip the Good. Conqueror of France, the Lowlands and Northern Germany his reign has been a resounding success only tempered slightly by his reputation as being worse than dishonourable scum to the rest of the world. Although there is little time to dwell too long on the matter, the ceremony is a grand affair and Charles returns quickly to Dijon to be proclaimed the new king. Although he is unlike his father in matters of diplomacy and administration, his skills as a field commander is already clear and he quickly returns to lead his troops to battle against Wurzburg. Elsewhere, we defeat a second Danish army in Sjaelland and lay siege to Copenhagen. A French army is defeated north of Paris and we withdraw forces from the siege to reinforce the Hungarian border.

July-December 1467

Charles leads his armies in Anhalt to deal a crushing defeat to those of Wurzburg. He marches immediately for their capital. Another force defeats the rebels in Munster and marches towards our eastern front.

War taxes are raised again in August leading to a revolt in Vorpommern. I would have thought that they, better than most, would understand the need for the taxes being so close to the war zone. In reality, with over 800D in treasury, we don’t actually need the money but it is always better to have more money than less. The rebellion in Vorpommern is suppressed as is the earlier one in Provence. Charles begins his siege of Wurzburg while another Danish army is defeated in Sjaelland. During this time, the siege armies in Hinterpommern have risen to over 33000 and will probably take some work to break.

In September stability improves (to +2) until we receive demands for the sale of offices to certain nobles. Since our treasury is already in a very healthy state we have no need for the income and the costs (inflation +3%, tax value of Bretagne –1) are high. We decline to do so and suffer a fall in our stability.

In October, Paris falls and Charles orders a switch in domestic policy towards Plutocracy (Stab to 0) before ordering the full annexation of France (Stab to +1). Surely, our other vassals will learn. We begin work immediately to repair the damaged fortifications in the province. Nantes capitulates a few days later and they are promptly added to the Kingdom of Burgundy (Stab to +2). The fortifications of Nantes are also in need of improvements and work commences immediately. Before the month is out, Charles officially declares Burgundy as the Kingdom of France and adopts the national colours(Stab to +3 ). In return for the title of Duke of Burgundy, he relinquishes the throne to Louis. A prominent French leader, Dunois takes command of our army in Vorpommern and leads it against the siege army in Hinterpommern.

In November, Novgorod chooses to pit themselves against the might of French armies. Their allies, England, Prussia, Teutonic Order, Venice and Aragon support them. They shall all rue the day. Our army in Provence is sent west to strike a blow against Aragon. Teke declare war just a few days later.

In December we defeat a small English force in Bristol and lay siege to the city. Anhalt province revolts at the beginning of the month but we shall deal with the rebellion once Charles has captured Wurzburg. Dunois crushes the Swedish, Poles, Lithuanian and Knights army in Hinterpommern although troop losses to disease and hunger were high. He waits in the province for winter to pass. Winter in Alsace is severe for the Hungarians so we leave it to do it’s work before attempting to dislodge them. The Brittany fleet arrives in Morbihan comprising 3 warships and 4 transports (Which they ought not to have had since they were not at Naval Tech 4 ). Our French guns from Paris are distributed amongst our western armies to aid in various siege works. Another English army is defeated in Wessex before we lay siege to Canterbury in Kent by the end of the year.

January-June 1468

The new year brings a revolt in Hinterpommern but Dunois is on hand to quell the unrest. With winter over in Alsace, our forces from Lorraine march to its relief. Tax income is again impressive and we raise a further 28000 men (12000 in northern Germany and 16000 in Roussillon) as well as building 3 extra galleys for the Mediterranean fleet. With Jylland falling to our forces in January, Denmark make a startling offer. In exchange for peace they will give us the provinces of Jylland, Skane, Gotland, Ostlandet, Bergenshus, Iceland, Narvik and Finnmark. It is an offer we cannot refuse (Now why did this happen?) Our treasury then disappears and we go bankrupt. (Mmm?? I think I will probably go and load up the autosave file and start again from the beginning of the year)

 

[unmerged(7404)]

Wow. Great Installment, and finally you've become the kingdom of France. You will get sweet leaders from now on and no fantasy monarchs.

Our treasury then disappears and we go bankrupt.

There is an event for France, where you can't choose to not go bankrupt. However, I don't know if it's so early as 1468. Once again: Amazing success. In my AAR as Brittany I've conquered just as much as you and still I am 30 years further in the game.

 

[unmerged(1996)]

Wow.

I thought I'd just catch up on my reading for a few minutes while I enjoyed a cup of tea and a buiscuit...

an entire hour later...

Magnificent stuff. Talk about Bad Boy Burgundy. What was it, 48 enemies at once at once stage? Superb to see the war developing and the battles unfolding. I could almost smell the rivers of blood pouring across western Europe and hear the screams of the dying echoing to heaven...

I am however bitterly disappointed ()that you've decided to go all French on us. What, no option to remain as noble Burgundy and conquer the world without all those juciy leaders and events? I reckon it would have been far more challenging and enjoyable in the long run. It's gonna get awfully easy for you once you've dealt with England and seen off the Austrians (plus the map would have remained a much nicer shade of blue... although you could always hack into the files and sort that out, surely..?)

Anyway, I'll keep reading on the 'Ive started, so I'll finish principle', as it's all been cracking stuff so far...

 

[coz1]

Have to echo Ariel about becoming France. I totally see the reasoning (unless you just let MrT get you drunk and convince you to do it ) but it just seems more interesting using Burgundy to conquer the world.

One thought - though it's too late - you might have stayed Burgundy but added some French leaders since you obviously own the land already.

Still - this is great read either way so I'll stick around and see what you do with the Frenchies.

By the way - do you keep your Monarch or get the French King from that time? How does that work?

 

[unmerged(3525)]

USA Patriot: It didn't come up as an event. All that happened was that Denmark suddenly offered me all their provinces. I thought, OK thanks and all I saw was my treasury disappeared (that's over 1000D) and a small message to say that France has gone bankrupt. There wasn't any other event or option so I can only assume that Denmark sold me a lot of dud futures contracts that wiped out my entire capital.

Ariel: Point well taken about France. It was just that the event itself had one very good option (no revolt risks in France, +1 stability, extra 15000/10000/30 army, +1 stability, all the French leaders - and Dunois is 4/4/4/1 - and +100VPs) with the only negative being the loss of German culture. To decline the offer only gives +150 relations with England and Austria while giving a stability hit and -200VPs.

Coz1: See above.

Weird thing is that when I reload the autosave game, I get the choice of two Frances. It's about as ludicrous as Denmark offering me all their provinces after I only captured Jylland - and even then I didn't get the pop up box to tell me that I'd done that.

 

[unmerged(7404)]

Weird thing is that when I reload the autosave game, I get the choice of two Frances

Same happens to me in my Brittany->France game. However I don't mind, it's no particular difference