This is an AAR about my second ever game of EU. I'm playing Sweden with a general idea to play a 'historical' game - that is, I´m not trying to conquer the world, but instead try to loosely follow the historical developments. I won't take on any other assignments than those my monarch gives me, and will then try to see them through. And, of course, no reloading. We´ll see where this combination leads. I'll be playing with the settings as very hard and aggressive.
Part 1: The struggle for the union, 1492 - 1512
It is January and winter in Stockholm, the year of Our Lord 1492. A chilling wind from the frozen Baltic Sea is blowing, as it always does at this time of the year. It's almost dark already, even though it's early afternoon. The sky is overcast and seems to reflect the state of the realm. There has been trouble with the Danes, again. The union between our two kingdoms is crumbling and our country is in disarray, the peasants restless, the economy in shambles. I walk in the snow-covered, cobbled streets towards Tre Kronor, the royal castle, where my lord, Sten Sture is awaiting. I've been told he has an assignment for me.
Sture is in a bad mood. He reprimands me for my conduct of the matters of state. I point out to him that our difficulties are mainly caused by our political and economic subservience to Denmark. He tells me then that he has decided to break free from the danish yoke. He wants me to defeat the enemy and conquer Skåne. It will be my duty to immediately start the prepapations for war. I leave the castle with dark forebodings. This is not going to end well.
Sweden has 35000 infantry and 12000 cavalrymen in her army. As soon as the game has started the Dane begins to fortify his border provinces, Skåne and Östlandet. He certainly suspects something is afoot. I start to recruit some more infantry, fodder for Mars in the coming struggle. Hurriedly I send an emissary to Russias Ivan III and he returns with good news: our marriage proposal has been accepted. Now the only problem will be to find a suitable lady to marry one of Ivans boyars. I have secured my back. In June we declare war to the Danes.
The war for freedom begins well, during June we defeat the main danish army in the bloody fields of Skåne and lay siege to Lund. Our small and technologically backward navy sails to Öresund and blockades (or tries to) Copenhagen. In August we defeat the danish navy there, and the enemy retreats back to harbour. In September he tries to break out again, but the wind favors us and we drive him back, demoralized. Öresund is secured and Lund falls in November. Denmark sues for peace, offering us Skåne and we gladly accept. We come through the war with remarkably small losses and have now asserted our right to be a sovereign kingdom among others. Sture is pleased with me. The Kalmar union is dissolved, but there are many, who would like to see it re-established. Now it is time to get the country back on her feet, restore stability and confidence. We will invest all available money first in stability, then in technological advances in every field.
We don't have many friends and are surrounded by hostile powers: Denmark, Hansa, Poland and Russia. I start to break out from this diplomatic isolation by offering marriage deals to several countries, first to Saxony, then to Hannover, Austria and France. Our proposals get trounced by Poland and Hansa, but now we at least have made some potential future allies. I just don't want to enter any real alliance yet. With corresponding advances in technology, we start to send merchants to foreign trading centres and establish our presence in Novgorod, Venice and Flanders, all bringing in a nice income. We also begin to reform our administration and intensify taxation by promoting officials. In 1494, a massive war breaks out between England and France and their allies. Both major powers do well, France annexes Milan and Naples. Papacy is trounced, Rome is all that is left for them. In the Autumn, Russia declares war on Kazan. The Danes have by now allied with them and they start to march to Russsias help via Finnmark and Kola. With leaders like that, the next war with the Danes will be easy.
The unionists have still many supporters in Sweden, and Hans is recognized as a king in Sweden, too, in 1497. Even though it doesn't affect our sovereign status, I, as a known supporter of the Sture cause, am afraid of the change. It turns out that there is no need for me to worry: Hans appreciates my administrative abilities and I continue in his service. However, I long for the day Sture will be back. Being a member of a Finnish noble family, I have a better grasp than the counsellors of Hans about the military realities along the eastern frontier. I'm finally able to persuade the king to grant money to fortify Kexholm in Karelia, our easternmost outpost against the heathen Russian hordes. The fortress is ready in AD 1500. Hansa loses a war against Poland and is forced to cede both East and West Pommerania. I begin to feel the hostile stare from the polish shore of the Baltic. So far the big territory-winners have been France, Poland and the Turk.
Hans is pleased with me and dubs me Baron. I'm beginning to like his personality, but the wheel of political fortune makes another turn, Sten Sture returns and purges the administration from the union-symphatizers. Not me, of course, I'm allowed to retain my newly won title as well. This time Sten is bad news. He hasn't let go of his ambitious schemes for Norway and he orders me to conquer Östlandet. I try to reason and speak to him about the need to turn our attention towards the east, towards the Russian menace and the tottering Teutonic Order, but to no avail. With reluctance I order the preparations for another war against Denmark to begin. As we are about to declare war, the dissatisfaction among the clergy towards the policy of herr Sten becomes manifest. Rumours of war circulate in the parishes and the peasants are restless. I have my schedule, however, and we declare war in April, as soon as our fleet can put to sea.
Our army marches to Östlandet to lay siege to Kristiania while another army defends Finland from the Russians and Pskovans, who have joined the fray. This time we find the going hard. After declining several peace feelers from Denmark, our navy is defeated in Öresund and the army suffers defeat in Östlandet, which sends it reeling back to Västergötland. Our treasury is exhausted and I take a loan to finance the war. I'm not hoping to conquer anything anymore, just to find a way to extricate ourselves honourably. Our military setbacks have also made Sten Stures position untenable and he is whisked aside, with Svante Sture taking up the duties of the monarch. In 1503, the Russians besiege the castle Olofsborg in Savolaks. Our only hope to prevent the collapse of the defence of Finland is in our army in Karelia, which I plan to commit in the spring. By then, the winter attrition has hopefully evened the numerical advantage of the Russians to more acceptable levels.
Spring comes and with Olofsborg in Savolaks about to surrender, I attack. The army is defeated and retreats in disorder to Österbotten. I've played my last trump card, Olofsborg is lost. And then, Virgin Mary and all the Saints come to my aid and force the unrepentant sinner, heathen and blasphemer, tsar Ivan, to offer us both peace and an indemnity of 250 ducats. To agree or to agree at once is the only question that comes to mind. I promptly negotiate a peace with Pskov as well, on the basis of status quo ante bellum, and they agree. I have my treasury full again and I'm free to turn against Denmark alone. In 1505 we have restored the situation, conquered Jämtland and our army is again laying siege to Kristiania. In November the duke of Kleve, Johann II, is elected the Holy Roman Emperor.
But the Dane has not shot his last bolt. They land and army in Östlandet and win a resounding victory over us. We retreat pell-mell back to Västergötland, with the Danes in hot pursuit. They defeat us again there and the remnants of our army retreat to Bergslagen. Danes lay siege to Älvsborg and I'm left with some time to regroup. Sweden has been bled white by now, our manpower is exhausted and we have more money than we can use. I manage to scrape together a small army with which I intend to drive the Dane out from Västergötland, come springtime. The Armageddon never takes place, Denmark sues for peace in 1507, offering us Jämtland and I'm only too happy to accept. I have failed in conquering Östlandet, but Svante Sture understands the difficulties of my position. He wants me to continue in his service and promises a more sensible policy, now that Sten is gone.
Alas, this is not to be. Svante dies in January 1512 and his follower, Sten Sture (the Younger), again takes up the idea of expansion in the west. We shall make another bid to add Östlandet to our dominions. Who can fathom the minds of princes, whom God himself has set on their thrones? I'm depressed. I try to talk Sten out of it since a war with Denmark now will inevitably lead to a new clash with Russia. That the rulers of this country are preoccuppied with the Danish business is understandable, given the bitter struggle about the future of the union, but it is also dangerous sport. This time I will try to prepare as well as possible, and not rush into a war headlong. I will also build us an effective artillery arm, to quickly reduce fortresses and thus shorten the war.
Part 1: The struggle for the union, 1492 - 1512
It is January and winter in Stockholm, the year of Our Lord 1492. A chilling wind from the frozen Baltic Sea is blowing, as it always does at this time of the year. It's almost dark already, even though it's early afternoon. The sky is overcast and seems to reflect the state of the realm. There has been trouble with the Danes, again. The union between our two kingdoms is crumbling and our country is in disarray, the peasants restless, the economy in shambles. I walk in the snow-covered, cobbled streets towards Tre Kronor, the royal castle, where my lord, Sten Sture is awaiting. I've been told he has an assignment for me.
Sture is in a bad mood. He reprimands me for my conduct of the matters of state. I point out to him that our difficulties are mainly caused by our political and economic subservience to Denmark. He tells me then that he has decided to break free from the danish yoke. He wants me to defeat the enemy and conquer Skåne. It will be my duty to immediately start the prepapations for war. I leave the castle with dark forebodings. This is not going to end well.
Sweden has 35000 infantry and 12000 cavalrymen in her army. As soon as the game has started the Dane begins to fortify his border provinces, Skåne and Östlandet. He certainly suspects something is afoot. I start to recruit some more infantry, fodder for Mars in the coming struggle. Hurriedly I send an emissary to Russias Ivan III and he returns with good news: our marriage proposal has been accepted. Now the only problem will be to find a suitable lady to marry one of Ivans boyars. I have secured my back. In June we declare war to the Danes.
The war for freedom begins well, during June we defeat the main danish army in the bloody fields of Skåne and lay siege to Lund. Our small and technologically backward navy sails to Öresund and blockades (or tries to) Copenhagen. In August we defeat the danish navy there, and the enemy retreats back to harbour. In September he tries to break out again, but the wind favors us and we drive him back, demoralized. Öresund is secured and Lund falls in November. Denmark sues for peace, offering us Skåne and we gladly accept. We come through the war with remarkably small losses and have now asserted our right to be a sovereign kingdom among others. Sture is pleased with me. The Kalmar union is dissolved, but there are many, who would like to see it re-established. Now it is time to get the country back on her feet, restore stability and confidence. We will invest all available money first in stability, then in technological advances in every field.
We don't have many friends and are surrounded by hostile powers: Denmark, Hansa, Poland and Russia. I start to break out from this diplomatic isolation by offering marriage deals to several countries, first to Saxony, then to Hannover, Austria and France. Our proposals get trounced by Poland and Hansa, but now we at least have made some potential future allies. I just don't want to enter any real alliance yet. With corresponding advances in technology, we start to send merchants to foreign trading centres and establish our presence in Novgorod, Venice and Flanders, all bringing in a nice income. We also begin to reform our administration and intensify taxation by promoting officials. In 1494, a massive war breaks out between England and France and their allies. Both major powers do well, France annexes Milan and Naples. Papacy is trounced, Rome is all that is left for them. In the Autumn, Russia declares war on Kazan. The Danes have by now allied with them and they start to march to Russsias help via Finnmark and Kola. With leaders like that, the next war with the Danes will be easy.
The unionists have still many supporters in Sweden, and Hans is recognized as a king in Sweden, too, in 1497. Even though it doesn't affect our sovereign status, I, as a known supporter of the Sture cause, am afraid of the change. It turns out that there is no need for me to worry: Hans appreciates my administrative abilities and I continue in his service. However, I long for the day Sture will be back. Being a member of a Finnish noble family, I have a better grasp than the counsellors of Hans about the military realities along the eastern frontier. I'm finally able to persuade the king to grant money to fortify Kexholm in Karelia, our easternmost outpost against the heathen Russian hordes. The fortress is ready in AD 1500. Hansa loses a war against Poland and is forced to cede both East and West Pommerania. I begin to feel the hostile stare from the polish shore of the Baltic. So far the big territory-winners have been France, Poland and the Turk.
Hans is pleased with me and dubs me Baron. I'm beginning to like his personality, but the wheel of political fortune makes another turn, Sten Sture returns and purges the administration from the union-symphatizers. Not me, of course, I'm allowed to retain my newly won title as well. This time Sten is bad news. He hasn't let go of his ambitious schemes for Norway and he orders me to conquer Östlandet. I try to reason and speak to him about the need to turn our attention towards the east, towards the Russian menace and the tottering Teutonic Order, but to no avail. With reluctance I order the preparations for another war against Denmark to begin. As we are about to declare war, the dissatisfaction among the clergy towards the policy of herr Sten becomes manifest. Rumours of war circulate in the parishes and the peasants are restless. I have my schedule, however, and we declare war in April, as soon as our fleet can put to sea.
Our army marches to Östlandet to lay siege to Kristiania while another army defends Finland from the Russians and Pskovans, who have joined the fray. This time we find the going hard. After declining several peace feelers from Denmark, our navy is defeated in Öresund and the army suffers defeat in Östlandet, which sends it reeling back to Västergötland. Our treasury is exhausted and I take a loan to finance the war. I'm not hoping to conquer anything anymore, just to find a way to extricate ourselves honourably. Our military setbacks have also made Sten Stures position untenable and he is whisked aside, with Svante Sture taking up the duties of the monarch. In 1503, the Russians besiege the castle Olofsborg in Savolaks. Our only hope to prevent the collapse of the defence of Finland is in our army in Karelia, which I plan to commit in the spring. By then, the winter attrition has hopefully evened the numerical advantage of the Russians to more acceptable levels.
Spring comes and with Olofsborg in Savolaks about to surrender, I attack. The army is defeated and retreats in disorder to Österbotten. I've played my last trump card, Olofsborg is lost. And then, Virgin Mary and all the Saints come to my aid and force the unrepentant sinner, heathen and blasphemer, tsar Ivan, to offer us both peace and an indemnity of 250 ducats. To agree or to agree at once is the only question that comes to mind. I promptly negotiate a peace with Pskov as well, on the basis of status quo ante bellum, and they agree. I have my treasury full again and I'm free to turn against Denmark alone. In 1505 we have restored the situation, conquered Jämtland and our army is again laying siege to Kristiania. In November the duke of Kleve, Johann II, is elected the Holy Roman Emperor.
But the Dane has not shot his last bolt. They land and army in Östlandet and win a resounding victory over us. We retreat pell-mell back to Västergötland, with the Danes in hot pursuit. They defeat us again there and the remnants of our army retreat to Bergslagen. Danes lay siege to Älvsborg and I'm left with some time to regroup. Sweden has been bled white by now, our manpower is exhausted and we have more money than we can use. I manage to scrape together a small army with which I intend to drive the Dane out from Västergötland, come springtime. The Armageddon never takes place, Denmark sues for peace in 1507, offering us Jämtland and I'm only too happy to accept. I have failed in conquering Östlandet, but Svante Sture understands the difficulties of my position. He wants me to continue in his service and promises a more sensible policy, now that Sten is gone.
Alas, this is not to be. Svante dies in January 1512 and his follower, Sten Sture (the Younger), again takes up the idea of expansion in the west. We shall make another bid to add Östlandet to our dominions. Who can fathom the minds of princes, whom God himself has set on their thrones? I'm depressed. I try to talk Sten out of it since a war with Denmark now will inevitably lead to a new clash with Russia. That the rulers of this country are preoccuppied with the Danish business is understandable, given the bitter struggle about the future of the union, but it is also dangerous sport. This time I will try to prepare as well as possible, and not rush into a war headlong. I will also build us an effective artillery arm, to quickly reduce fortresses and thus shorten the war.
