Chapter 12: The Eagles Clash
(Battle of Odessa, Fought between Russian and Holy Roman Forces)
War, That had become the story of the Mid 1840's. The World at Large had called it the War of Three Empires or the War of Three Brothers started through the Russian Empire refusal to surrender the Baltic to Austrian control. For the First time, the Three brothers of Rome would march against one another in what could only be described as chaos. While it had originally only been simple border skirmishes with an occasional battle in the Carpathians the conflict only grwew and grew until it was the first truly modern war of the Era.
Advisors and Observers from across the world, gathered in Crimea, Wallachia and Poland to observe the war. The Celtic Empire who had sat the war out notably sent a volunteer Regiment named the First Franco-Celt Light Brigade to assist the Byzantine Empire while the Wu Empire still bitter over being humiliated by Austria sent large amounts of subsidies and supplies to the Russians.. Though there were also an abundance of welfare personnel as who cared the wounded and those afflicted with disease, namely Cholera, Typhoid Fever and Typhus. In fact more soldiers had notably been recorded to have died of disease in the war rather than enemy fire, though estimates of exactly how many are up to debate.
Of the Three Great Powers officially involved in the War, The Holy Roman Empire, (Sometimes also referred to by the Annionan Empire or Austrian Empire) was the strongest. While technically fighting for the Aggressors side, The Holy Roman Empire made only minor claims in the war, allowing it's lesser partner the Kingdom of Westphalia to demand the Lion's share of territory from the Kingdom of Denmark, Russia's sole ally.
Under General von Hotzendorf the Empire had adopted a defensive strategy in the Carpathian Mountains in an attempt to show the Russians the futility of their situation. With the Entry of the Byzantine Empire however Von Hotzendorf policies had quickly come under scrutiny by the Reichsrat and later Emperor Wilhelm.
Emperor Wilhelm Anniona I had spent the first half of the war, operating only in a diplomatic Capacity, allowing his Generals to make the majority of military decisions. Wilhelm while considered a progressive time was still a fervent absolutist and had maintained a Rivalry with his Cousin by Marriage, The Russian Empire Empress Victoria. With another distant relative joining the war, Alexios-Duncan of house Anniona-Bretagne had formally declared war on the Russian Empire with terms no less than the return of all Greek land in the Crimea and Alania. An act that would force Emperor Wilhelm now become involved with his leadership and pressure the military to make advances into Russia and force a peace lest the Balance of Power in europe he had spent his career building be destroyed.
Then of course there was the Russian Empire. Boasting the second largest military in europe, and Third largest in the world the Russian Empire was a force on land. The Russian and Holy Roman Empires have been clashing for nearly a thousand years, back when Russia was ruled by the Pagan Bejovic Dynasty and the Holy Roman Empire was merely an Archduchy.
With the Holy Roman Empire trying ever more to push the Influence of the Celtic, Byzantine and Russian Empires out of the various minor states in Europe, the Russians felt more and more marginalized and disinterested in Europe. While the Empire would have been content to be left alone, Russia was excluded from the most recent congress in regards to Scandinavia, a historical region of Russian interest. Feeling that this was the Final straw Empress Victoria announced that the Russian Empire was hearbye the enforcer of Peace in the Baltic and Scandinavia. The Westphalians who had also felt slighted at the recent congress declared war on Denmark not long afterwards, ignoring Russian warning and later refusing to withdraw troops from Danish Poland.
(Russian Empress Victoria I)
With the Holy Roman backing Westphalia, Empress Victoria had but one choice, Attempt to regain their lost prestige and defend the Danish, thus making good on Victoria's declaration or Back down and forever surrender Europe west of Prussia to Holy Rome. The Russian Duma chose the former and thus the war of Three Brothers had begun.
Now Russia was on the losing side however, as it was fighting not one but two great powers, in both Carpathia and in Crimea. Though The Russian heartland for the time being was safe, The Entry of the greeks could spell a death sentence to the Warden of the East.
Last and of course not least was the Eastern Roman Empire. The Longest standing Empire in the world, The Bringer of Democracy and the Phoenix of the Orient. The Byzantine Empire had enjoyed centuries of success following the collapse of Austria in the 15th century. In the late 1700's however Austria was reborn as the Holy Roman Empire, and together with Russia effectively beat the Greeks not one but three times.
The Eastern Roman Empire is Constitutional Monarchy, like Russia though unlike Russia is a multicultural Empire with numerous faiths and cultures. The Greek Majority, overall was barely a majority at all and many in the Empire's heartland had feared they would become increasingly irrelevant as Byzantine Infrastructure, technology and welfare had enabled massive growths in population for the Empire's Bedouin Minority. The Greek Reclamation party (GRP), had campaigned for continued effort by the empire to reclaim lost territory, and potentially the 'Liberation' the large Greek populations in Sicily. The Party became widely popular and with the Ascension of King Alexios Duncan, a Warhawk Senate and a weakened Russia would be the perfect mix for the Phoenix of the East to ride to war once more.
(Basileus Alexios-Duncan 'The Young')
Basileus Alexios-Duncan I was the youngest monarch in Europe. Taking the throne from his Father at 18, the Imperial Senate had originally purposed a regency. Due to the increasing Nationalist Sentiment both in the Empire such an Idea was defeated and Alexious was allowed to take the Throne. Alexios' Father, Maximilian had spent the majority of his reign solving crisis after crisis. The Ambitious Alexious however had hoped to change this.
Within a Year of taking the Throne Alexious gave his blessing to the GRP, thus combining Monarchist and Nationalist Elements of his nation into a single Power bloc that dominated the Senate. Alexios would be the first Byzantine Emperor in quite some time that had the capacity to lead the country in whichever direction he saw fit.
The Liberals however had feared Alexious would instead use such a majority in the Senate to remove many checks placed on the Monarch and an Anti-Nationalist Coalition mainly comprised of Non-greek and liberal senators had begun to form.
Rather than wait for the winds of change to sway away the more moderate Senators currently supporting the GRP, Alexios acted, first mobilizing the army and later asking the Senate for a formal declaration of war on the Russian Empire for the return of all cultural Greek land. If Alexious was successful he would be hailed as a hero, and his continued control of the senate would be all but assured,.
However, Plans would change as it turneds out. On the Austrian Front Ferdinand von Hotzendorf policy of 'The Austrian' wall was now being put under heavy scrutiny. Hotzendorf passive strategy was now being blamed for the entry of the Byzantine Empire. There was however a ready alternative, Hotzendorf second in Command, General Kurt Miklas.
(Portrait of General Kurt Miklas)
Born of a Noble Family from Carpathia, Miklas had never truly known need, fear or hunger. When he originally joined the MIlitary Milkas was often considered more an aristocrat than soldier. His critics however would quickly be shocked when Milkas graduated at the top of his class at the Tyrol Military Academy. It turned out that despite his privileged upbringing Miklas was a Natural leader, and a bold tactician. Though some of his critics were undeterred and instead attacked his personality and method of speaking.
Milkas after all was a Goth, and thought himself a modern Knight, acting Chivalrous to a fault. Many considered Miklas to serve as a minor commander for the duration of his life as he simply did not have the desire to play politics to gain his own command. This changed however when several of his supporters convinced Miklas to propose his own plan for winning the war, without Von Hotzendorf's consent.
Milkas purposed what he called the Siegfried Plan. The plan was rather simple in practice. The Austrian Army would be reorganized into three different forces, that he aptly named the Shield, Lance and Sword. The Lance as it was called would be comprised of Veteran troops, the few Cavalry regiments the Holy Roman Empire had at its disposal and light cannon regiments. The Idea of course was the lance would strike forward and bring battle to Russians, Should the Lance not suffice, supporting armies under the Sword Designation would be sent to relieve the Lance. The Shield of course was an extension of Von Hotzendorf wall strategy, except more mobile and designed as a method of relieving battle hardened troops by cycling them between Sword, Lance and Shield. Shortly after purposing the Siegfried Plan however, Kurt Miklas sent a letter of Apology both to Von Hotzendorf and the Emperor for acting out of turn and stated his intent to resign.
Emperor Wilhelm however had other plans and relieved Von Hotzendorf from command. Appointing Miklas in his place. The results of course, were nothing more than spectacular.
Under the Siegfried Plan, whatever few Russian armies that remained were swiftly crushed. Months later Holy Roman soldiers had taken Kiev, were now threatening Riga and Milkas had formerly sent a request for a continued advance until he reached Moscow. Meanwhile The Byzantines and Russians in Alania had reached what could only be described as Deadlock as poor terrain, disease and poor morale had infected both parties. General Miklas meanwhile had begun to be known as 'The Terror' by Russian soldiers due to the shock tactics he employed on the field.
With things looking grim for the Russians, Kaiser Willhelm formally sent his offer of an Armistice and an opening for Peace talks in Kiev, An offer far better than the Russians could have hoped for. Willhelm's hope being that the Russian Duma could override Victoria, and end the war, even if she didn't.
The Russian Empire agreed, and the Byzantines who had been sent a similar offer agreed to attend the Congress but not cease Hostilities. Westphalia and Denmark of course would also be attendance.