Bavaria's leader file
As a next step in reviewing German leader files, after Brandenburg-Prussia and Saxony have been (more or less) done in a satisfactory way, here are my proposals for the Bavarian leader file:
Ernst
Duke Ernst of Bavaria-Munich
not included yet
Participated in his father's feud against Ludwig of Bavaria-Ingolstadt in 1395. Took Friedberg and Schwaben. Unsuccessfully sieged Munich, which refused to swear allegiance to him, in 1403. Began a feud against Ludwig of Bavaria-Ingolstadt again in 1421. Captured Friedberg and Wasserburg in 1422. When Ludwig managed to get around his army and threatened Munich, Ernst pursued him and provoked a battle. This battle on September 19th near Alling turned into a brillant and decisive victory for Ernst. During the conflict over the succesion to Bavaria-Straubing quickly seized most of Straubing.
serves: 1395 - July 2nd 1438 (his deathdate)
rank: 0 (monarch leader)
stats:
suggested: maneuver 3, shock 3, fire 2, siege 0
Abensberg
Niklas von Abensberg
not included yet
The highest captain of Albrecht the Wise in the feud with his brother Christoph. Excelled in the battle of Gingen of 1462, serving Bavaria-Landshut. Captured Christoph, younger brother of the Duke of Bavaria-Munich, in 1471 during the first feud betweenthe brothers. In the second feud 14 years later, he captured most of Christoph's possessions, but was killed in an ambush.
serves: 1470 - 1485
rank: 3
stats:
suggested: maneuver 3, shock 2, fire 2, siege 0
Christoph
Duke Christoph, younger brother of Albrecht the Wise
not included yet
One of the most reputed warriors of his time. Involved in permanent feuds with his brother, demanding a partition of the heritage. A reconciliation was achieved on June 12th 1485. Thereafter, Christoph led the Bavarian army that fought for Maximilian in the Netherlands and for the Emperor in Hungary. Responsible for the successful assault on Stuhlweißenburg. Began a quarrel with his brother again after returning in November 1490. This was only ended when he decided to go on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem in 1493, during which he died.
serves: June 12th 1485 - November 1st 1490
rank: 2
stats:
suggested: maneuver 2, shock 3, fire 2, siege 1
Winzerer
Kaspar Winzerer
not included yet
Nicknamed "miles auratus", the golden knight. Knighted by Emperor Maximilian after participating in the victorious battle of Schönberg in 1504. Commander of the Bavarian contingent in the two campaigns of the army of the Swabian League against Duke Ulrich of Wirtemberg in 1519. Led the Bavarian soldiers in Frundsberg's Italian army. Helped capture King Francis in the battle of Pavia. Called back to Bavaria when the peasant uprisings began to threaten the country. Defeated the peasants who tried to invade Bavaria from Tyrol and Swabia. Sent to Hungary with a small Bavarian troop in 1526, where he could not do much. Mainly used for diplomatic missions between Bavaria and Janos Zapolya thereafter. Died on October 28th 1542.
serves: 1504 - October 28th 1542
rank: 3
stats:
suggested: maneuver 2, shock 3, fire 2, siege 0
Tilly
Johann Tserclaes Graf von Tilly
included in EU2
Summarising his whole career would take rather long. One of the three best leaders of the Thirty Years War, only Wallenstein and Gustav Adolf were probably superior to him. Of the 38 battles he fought in his life he lost only three, Breitenfeld and Rain am Lech, both against G2A, who has 6-6-5-1, had a much more disciplined and better trained army and outnumbered Tilly's army by 10000 men, and Mingolsheim against Mansfeld in 1622. He became the commander of the Bavarian army in 1608, when Maximilian appointed him to seize Donauwörth. White Mountain - arguably the most spectacular victory anybody managed to pull off in TYW - was his victory. Among the cities he managed to capture are Heidelberg, Mannheim and, most notably, Magdeburg.
He is beyond any doubt in, the question is whether he is currently underrated (he has 3-4-4-1). Certainly he was no genius like Wallenstein or G2A, yet still very good and better than anybody else. Rather low maneuver might be right, since he
took massive losses because of bad quarters or bad marching plans during some campaigns (which was partially due to Wallenstein forcing him to take those bad positions), but a 5 in shock or fire is justified IMO. He also performed the two most well-known sieges of the TYW, Heidelberg and Magdeburg, which makes a 2 in siege at least worth consideration - probably should remain 1 if we decide to tune down the siege values throughout the place.
serves: 1608 - April 30th 1632
rank: 0
stats:
currently: maneuver 3, shock 4, fire 4, siege 1
suggested: maneuver 3, shock 5, fire 5, siege 1
Geleen
Gottfried Huyn Graf von Geleen und Amsterad
not included yet
Joined the Austrian army in Italy in 1615 as a volunteer, switched to Bavarian service in 1618. Gained fame by defending Wolfenbüttel against the Duke of Lüneburg in 1632. As a consequence received his first independent command over an army of 10000 men in Westphalia. Defeated armies of Hesse, Lüneburg and Swedes under Stahlhandske in smaller engagements. Returned to the Austrian army in 1636. Appointed commander of Austria's army in the Rhineland in 1639. Successfully sieged Bingen in 1640. Protected the Bishoprics of Würzburg and Bamberg against Sweden until the end of the year. Helped Leopold Wilhelm expel Baner from the Upper Palatinate in 1641. Left the army in 1642, back in 1644 when he again received a command in Westphalia. United his army with that of Mercy, commanded the right wing in the lost battle at Alerheim. Replaced Mercy as commander of Bavaria's Westphalian army after the battle. Definitely ended his military career in March 1647, when Bavaria left the war.
serves: 1618 - 1636
rank: 4
stats:
suggested: maneuver 3, shock 3, fire 2, siege 0
Werth
Johann Graf von Werth
included in EU2
Legendary cavalry general. Joined the army of the League in 1630. Decided the battle of Nördlingen by a brillant cavalry charge. Responsible for the invasion of France in 1636, that stopped before Paris. Defeated Melander near Koblenz in 1637, retook the fortress of Ehrenbreitstein. Trying to prevent Bernhard of Saxe-Weimar from crossing the Rhine, he first gained a victory at Rheinfelden on February 28th 1638, but was defeated and captured on March 3rd. Released ony in March 1642. Shortly thereafter served the Archbishop-Elector of Cologne and liberated all of Cologne. Then won battles for the Emperor against France at Tuttlingen in 1643 and Freiburg in 1644. In 1645 was defeated by a Swedish army near Jankau, won against the French at Herbsthausen and was beaten at Allerheim. Refused to stop fighting when Bavaria left the war on March 16th 1647, as a consequence the Elector outlawed him and he had to flee to Austria.
Also worth consideration as a leader for Cologne, if only for one year.
serves: 1630 - February 28th 163 8
rank: 2
stats:
currently: maneuver 4, shock 2, fire 3, siege 0
suggested: maneuver 4, shock 4, fire 2, siege 0
Gronsfeld
Jost Maximilian Graf von Bronckhorst und Gronsfeld
included in EU2
An officer in the League's army since the beginning of the Thirty Years War. Participated in the siege of Magdeburg and the battle of Leipzig. Had his first independent mission thereafter, ordered to protect the Weser frontline against Georg of Lüneburg, which he failed to do after some fierce fighting. Invaded Westphalia with an army of 13000 men in 1633, defeated by Melander at Oldendorf. Tried to siege Heidelberg in the next year, had to retreat upon the approaching of a French army. Commanded the Bavarian contingent under Gallas throughout 1635. Resigned from the army after the complete failure of Gallas' campaign. Returned in 1645, when he took over the command of Bavaria's army in the Upper Palatinat. Led the Bavarian army to Bohemia in 1647, where it was united with the Austrians of Melander. Stayed with the allied army when it invaded Hesse, but left it because of a quarrel with Melander, taking his army to Franconia. Returned to help Melander against the advancing Swedes and French under Wrangel and Turenne. Participated in the disaster at Zusmarshausen, and took over the command of the army from the late Melander. Was unable to stop the enemy's invasion of Bavaria. Died in 1662.
serves: 1631 - 1662
rank: 2
stats:
currently: maneuver 2, shock 2, fire 2, siege 0
suggested: maneuver 3, shock 2, fire 2, siege 0
Aldringer
Johann Graf von Aldringen
not included yet
Participated in the siege of Heidelberg in 1622. Gained his first merits by skillfully defending the bridge of Dessau against repeated attacks for almost a month until Wallenstein's arrival and the famous battle. Captured Plauen in 1627. Took part in the War of Mantuan succession under Collalto. Invaded Wirtemberg with an own army thereafter. Distinguished himself in the battle of Nürnberg, and was praised enthusiastically by Wallenstein. While Wallenstein turned north after the battle, he defended Bavaria against Horn throughout 1632, retook Landsberg and Güntzburg. Switched from the Emperor's to the Bavarian army in
1633. Successfully assaulted Kempten in January 1633. Quite successful in slowing down Horn, however had to retreat gradually when Horn's army was joined by that of Bernhard of Saxe-Weimar. United his army with the Spanish forces of the Duque de Feria in autumn 1633. Together, the Bavarian and Spanish army took Konstanz and Breisach. Gathered an army of 10000 men in Bavaria in 1634 and managed to recover Straubing. Killed in the assault on Regensburg on July 22nd 1634.
serves: 1633 - July 22nd 1634
rank: 1
stats:
suggested: maneuver 3, shock 3, fire 3, siege 1
Mercy
Franz Freiherr von Mercy
included in EU2
First mentioned as an officer under Tilly in 1631. Appointed commander of a Bavarian army on September 27th 1638. Forced Baner to retreat to Bohemia in 1640 and 1641. Responsible for the brillant victories at Tuttlingen in 1643 and at Herbsthausen in 1645, both against the French. By holding Wirtemberg, he prevented the French and Swedish army from uniting. Shot during the battle for Allerheim (that was won due to his brillant planning) on August 3rd 1645. Paradox certainly underrates him, he had an almost clean record and definitely was one of the better leaders of the TYW. I'd thus give him at least 3-3-3-0, even a 4 in either shock or fire might not be over the top.
serves: September 27th 1638 - August 3rd 1645
rank: 1
stats:
currently: maneuver 1, shock 3, fire 3, siege 0
suggested: maneuver 3, shock 3, fire 3, siege 0
Maximilian II Emanuel
Elector Maximilian II Emanuel of Bavaria
included in EU2
Important in the battle for Vienna with his Bavarian army of 12000 men. During the war against the Turks won battles at Gran and Mohacs, successfully assaulted Neuhäusl, Buda and Belgrade. Commander of the Imperial army in the War of Palatine Succession, without particular success. Joined the French side in the War of Spanish Succession by seizing Ulm on September 9th 1702. Missed the opportunity to decide the war by going for Vienna immediately, instead decided to invade Tyrol with 12000 men. Beaten back by popular resistance. Won the first battle of Hochstädt on September 20th 1703 against Austrians under Styrum. The defeat in the second (famous) battle of Hochstädt in 1704 was probably less his fault than of the French. While Bavaria was occupied by Austria and treated like a conquered province, Max Emanuel continued the fight in the Lowlands for a while, where he however was mostly ignored by the French generals who were actually in charge.
serves: 1683 - February 26th 1726 (his deathdate)
rank: 0 (monarch leader)
stats:
currently: maneuver 3, shock 3, fire 2, siege 0
suggested: maneuver 3, shock 3, fire 2, siege 1
Törring
Ignaz Graf von Törring
not included yet
serves: 1715 - 1743
rank: 3
stats:
suggested: maneuver 2, shock 2, fire 2, siege 1
Seckendorf
Friedrich Heinrich Graf von Seckendorf
included in EU2
serves: 1741 - 1745
rank: 3
stats:
currently: maneuver 3, shock 3, fire 3, siege 0
suggested: can remain as they are
Deroy
Erasmus Graf von Deroy
included in EEP
serves: 1792 - August 28th 1712
rank: 3
stats:
currently: maneuver 2, shock 2, fire 3, siege 0
suggested: can remain as they are
Wrede
Karl Philipp Fürst von Wrede
included in EEP
serves: 1799 - 1838
rank: 3
stats:
currently: maneuver 4, shock 3, fire 3, siege 0
suggested: maneuver 4, shock 3, fire 3, siege 1