So then. Those eastern Indian cultures are now also part of the German group, if I'm reading those colors correctly. Damn. Germans spread like a plague!
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Oh no, they just share the color on the map (Not quite sure why) German is the only Germanic culture in India.
The imperial council worked swiftly to set the Italian princes against eachother and the Burgundian coalition had fallen apart. So long as Austria could maintain the status Quo in Italy and defend the Italian states from Germany and foreign powers, Italy would remain with the Empire.
It would not take long for this new compromise to be challenged by an Ambtious Anniona pretender. The King of Cordoba, the Kaiser's cousin to make his own claim promising the protection of Italy. The Cordoban King quickly found the leaderless Duchy of Fruili willing to support his Cause. With Fruili in open rebellion, the Serbians who's ruler had also died opted to elect Cordoba as the rightful King of Serbia. in hopes that the Spanish could protect them from Austria to the North. It goes without saying the Austrian army was put on immediate alert, and marched to war.
On the Diplomatic front the Adalhard manted to gain some ground. The new King of Britanny felt the Spanish had flown to close to the sun. An attempt to Dismantle the Empire would remove Britannies' only check against the Germans and Spanish. In typical Anniona style, a Marriage between one of Adalhard's and a Breton princess sealed a formal Alliance between the two countries.
The Holy Father, who had casted his vote for Austria at the last Diet Joined the Emperor and Later so would the Bohemians, who also had voted for thier Rightful Kaiser. Forming a Four Part Pact, named "The Holy League"
With War coming the Nobles that had not taken the opportunity to declare thier independence from the Kaiser had presnted yet another ultimatum to the Kaiser, more autonomy, more freedoms as well as tax and levy exceptions. Such a proposal would undermine the entire alliance in its infancy, Adalhard moved quickly and set the Imperial army to crush this revolt before it spread.
While Adalhard crushed the pretenders outside pressberg the Bretons and Bohemians had taken the fight to Cordoba. The Breton navy had been proven vastly superior to the ancient and dated Cordoban Galleys at open sea, and with Naval superiority the Bretons quickly overrun the Spanish half of the Cordoban Kingdom, the bulk of the Cordoban army safely isolated in north Africa.
With their capital under Austrian control, and the Austrian army now finished in Serbia and Verona moving west the Cordobans signed a hasty peace deal. Adalhard accepted, not wishing to prolong the conflict any further.
The Empire had been defended, and Austria proven as the True Emperor, at least for now. Though this would be the first fleeting victory, in a Long and hard Journey to reunite the empire.
Chapter 1: The Cordoban Candidate
Not long after the election the Anniona's of austria were faced with yet another ultimatum. The North Italian lords as a whole had failed to elect thier candidate, the King of Burgundy as Emperor. The King of Burgundy himself was furious with the results and threatened to leave the Empire, taking the Italian Lords north of rome with him.
The imperial council worked swiftly to set the Italian princes against eachother and the Burgundian coalition had fallen apart. So long as Austria could maintain the status Quo in Italy and defend the Italian states from Germany and foreign powers, Italy would remain with the Empire.
It would not take long for this new compromise to be challenged by an Ambtious Anniona pretender. The King of Cordoba, the Kaiser's cousin to make his own claim promising the protection of Italy. The Cordoban King quickly found the leaderless Duchy of Fruili willing to support his Cause. With Fruili in open rebellion, the Serbians who's ruler had also died opted to elect Cordoba as the rightful King of Serbia. in hopes that the Spanish could protect them from Austria to the North. It goes without saying the Austrian army was put on immediate alert, and marched to war.
On the Diplomatic front the Adalhard manted to gain some ground. The new King of Britanny felt the Spanish had flown to close to the sun. An attempt to Dismantle the Empire would remove Britannies' only check against the Germans and Spanish. In typical Anniona style, a Marriage between one of Adalhard's and a Breton princess sealed a formal Alliance between the two countries.
The Holy Father, who had casted his vote for Austria at the last Diet Joined the Emperor and Later so would the Bohemians, who also had voted for thier Rightful Kaiser. Forming a Four Part Pact, named "The Holy League"
With War coming the Nobles that had not taken the opportunity to declare thier independence from the Kaiser had presnted yet another ultimatum to the Kaiser, more autonomy, more freedoms as well as tax and levy exceptions. Such a proposal would undermine the entire alliance in its infancy, Adalhard moved quickly and set the Imperial army to crush this revolt before it spread.
While Adalhard crushed the pretenders outside pressberg the Bretons and Bohemians had taken the fight to Cordoba. The Breton navy had been proven vastly superior to the ancient and dated Cordoban Galleys at open sea, and with Naval superiority the Bretons quickly overrun the Spanish half of the Cordoban Kingdom, the bulk of the Cordoban army safely isolated in north Africa.
With their capital under Austrian control, and the Austrian army now finished in Serbia and Verona moving west the Cordobans signed a hasty peace deal. Adalhard accepted, not wishing to prolong the conflict any further.
The Empire had been defended, and Austria proven as the True Emperor, at least for now. Though this would be the first fleeting victory, in a Long and hard Journey to reunite the empire.
How short for a chapter. I will miss the whacky antics of the Annionas and their weird anime portraits. But so far, it seems like a fair start. Haus Anniona über alles in der Welt.
The Holy League... I like it. May this be the first of many victories against those who question your absolute rule.
Chapter 2: Internal Affairs
2.jpg/410px-Holy_Roman_Empire_Crown_(Imperial_Treasury)2.jpg)
With the Cordobans humbled Kaiser Adalhard once more looked inwards to the Empire. The current system in place made passing Further reforms nearly impossible. The Electorate would never support any such reforms that would strengthen the Emperor at expense to themselves, member states found themselves in a similar position, where giving further levies and taxes to the Emperors would mean weakening thier own positions.
The Imperial council had proposed an Alternative. Republics traditionally did not rely nor use their personal levy. Venice in Particular had become the Model city of the empire, Peaceful, rich, prosperous and above all loyal. If the rich cities of the Empire could be exploited for their manpower to strengthen the emperor it would secure Austria's place as a world power. The Imperial Chancellor Welf of Verona traveled to the Venetian republic and proposed a treaty beneficial both to the republic, and Austria.
Venice would become the first free city of the Empire. In exchange for special protections and trade rights within the Empire Venice would provide increased tax income and manpower to the Kaiser when required. In other to avoid outrage at the imperial Electorate, these rights would be given to the Elected Kaiser, not Austria. A stipulation that eased the fears of Austria once again centralizing the Empire.
Adalhard himself while resentful for the loss of an important post was no so foolish as to hand the Carinthian vote to a pretender. The Carinthian fears were settled and relations in Illyria began to warm once more.
Adalhard then proceeded with a campaign to repair the Austrian Image at large. He did not need to look further than the tales of the Sunset invasion, and the Heroics of Austria in defending Europe from the Aztec Menace.
Copies of the Various history texts were collected in Vienna and the Kaiser commissioned over a Hundred Artists, Writers and Musicians to embelish and publish the Tales of Sunset. Austria's Heroic defense against the Demons from the west.
Adalhard next commissioned a great Tournament. Knights and lords from across the Empire were invited to attend, and did so in force. Despite protests of the Electorate and great lords of Europe to ignore the Kaiser's event. The truth of the matter was, Times were changing and the Austrians Knights that had dominated the fields of Europe merely a generation ago were being phased out as advanced Pikes and Arquebuses found their way into more and more European armies.
The Knights of Old, A warrior culture that had defined an entire Era, were to have one last Tournament in the very heart of Europe. A solemn reminder of the Romance, Idealism and Kinship that once inspired the entire Empire. A time were Austrians, Bretons and Italians saw themselves as Brothers, under Rome, instead of Enemies locked in a struggle from dominance.
Meanwhile in Spain, the Defeat of Cordoba had left marks in the Spanish balance of Power. With Cordoba weakened the Navarrans stepped in to fill the void, expanding at the expense of the Aragon and Aquitaine and securing all of Northern Spain. The Basques finally stood as the new Land power in Spain, Though the Cordobans had been left untouched and still could regain their strength, should they abandon their Italian ambitions and focus on bringing the Valencians back into the fold.
Adalhard would be remembered as a Great Kaiser by Austria, though the Electors and more progressive thinkers would see him as a man of a dying breed. The last Kaiser born before the Crisis's that Wracked Austria and Fragmented an Empire. Adalhard was a Kaiser who stopped at nothing to reunite a shattered empire on the Brink of Collapse. For the most part he was successful, and for once in a long time, the Empire would remember an Anniona Kaiser not for his misdeads, but for his success.
Adalhard has saved the Empire, from the Cordobans early in his reign but like so many Annionas before him as he reached into his fiftieth year his life was cut short. Leaving the untested Gundemar to be Elected Kaiser of all the Austrias, Ruler of Rome and King of Italy. Gundemar's Father had saved an Empire, it would be up to Gundemar and his descendants to make it whole once more.
A final tournament, telling the tale of how the Aztecs were defeated, and the death of the Kaiser. An end of an era. Still, Gundemar II can make things right, or at least get things moving in that direction.
Navarra is smart to try and seize what power they can. They'll need it if they intend on becoming the dominant power of Spain.
Navarra is smart to try and seize what power they can. They'll need it if they intend on becoming the dominant power of Spain.
Chapter 3: Consolidating Power
Gundemar's reign would be one of vast development and construction. The Regions Austria had managed to maintain were for the most part, Poor and rural. Vienna itself was the largest city in the Empire but it begun to show its age. Trade from the Levant had made the Adriatic and Italian coastlines richer and more populous than the Austrian heartland. A reality Gundemar had to quickly address or risk the Empire being eclipsed by the Italian princes.
His first moves as Kaiser were to subdue to the Prince of Bavaria, and force the relate of two important Austrian cities, Augsburg and Memmigen. The Bavarians were politically isolated, trapped in the Northern Borderland of the Empire between Austria and Germany. The Few friends she did have were easy dealt with by the other Partners of the Holy Alliance.
Southern Bavaria would be a small stop-gap to ensure Austria had a heartland even if Gundemar's plans for Croatia turned south. Augsburg and Memmingen would be made into Free cities, similar to Venetia. The System in place had been working better than expected, with Venice no longer concerned with continental ambitions the citystate focused on securing trade lanes in the Adriadic for the Empire. The Venetian region swelled with wealth from Greece and Egypt as a result and Gundermar hoped for more of the same for Wien.
The Rising merchant class of the Mediterreanan took note of Gundermar's actions. The Kaiser was good for business and the various Bankers, Merchantment and Trade Princes of Venice, Genoa and the newly christened Bavarian Free cities donated a large sum to the Kaiser, in hopes for his protection of Imperial trade in the Mediterranean.
Gundemar humbly accepted the gift but saw better use in impressing the Nobles of Austria. The Gold was immediatly put to use improving the capital, cleaning the streets walls and castle. An Imperial capital needed to look the part after all.
Gundemar did take note however of the Merchant classes desire for better protections at sea. While Austria was by no means a naval power, the Kaiser set forth a commission to build Twelve ships, a Mix of Cogs, Carracks and lighter trade vessels.
Gundermar would continue his father's diplomatic reforms as well. The Duke of Lombardy controlled the largest and richest city in the empire empire, Milan and had recently become the rising star in Italian politics. While the Cities of Florence, Liguria and Venetia had become the cultural and economic heart of the rennisance, Milan had become the military center. Naturally the Kaiser saw benefit in earned the respect of the Milanese.
Specifically, Gundemar made an arrangement of a young man named Leonardo to serve the Duke of Lombardy as a member of the Duke's war council. Leonardo turned out to be a brilliant man by all accounts and duke was greatly impressed. Though perhaps it may have been wiser to invite the young inventor to Wien instead.
Gundermar then set his focus on the Balkans. Wallachia and Bulgaria had still refused to cease their bitter rivalry, despite the threat of Ruthenia and the Byzantine Empire just beyond the Imperial Border. To compensate for this Gundermar appealed to both Electors desperately, impressing them both with vague promises and generous bribes. The Balkan states, while they may have grown to hate one another, were at least content to take Austrian gold, and protection should the empires of the east interfere in their own little corner of the world.
Of course to fuel these large development projects, the Kaiser needed gold. While meager contributions from the merchant class were available Gundermar favored a more permanent option. Schwaz Silver Mine in Tyrol was the primary mint of the Empire. The only other major mine in Imperial territory was in Serbia and quite vulnerable to byzantine attack. To Fund his large expenditures, the Kaiser set about expanding the Schwaz mine several times thought his reign and Austria never seemed to run dry on silver during Gundermar's reign, though Inflation that resulted would have to be resolved in less trying times.
There was one last Major reform. Gundermar for all his success had only managed to produce a single Child, The Princess Richenza. Gundermar's wife, had grown old, far out of childbearing age, leaving the Teenage Richenza the sole heir to the Austrian throne. This was a major problem as one of the many reforms implemented by the Electorate was a change to Agnatic succession for the Empire. The thinking being it would be harder for a single state to monopolize the Imperial crown, as well as to help erase the more unsightly things certain empresses of done in the past.
With Papal, Bohemian and Wallachian approval Gundemar sought to undo this reform, the first of many. The Kaiser proposed an act to the Imperial diet named 'The Pragmatic Sanction" stating that to Continue the economic prosperity and peace in the Empire. That it would be unwise to prevent Austria from being able to seek election, despite the gender of her ruler. Austria was after all the Largest state in the Empire, and should it be barred from a Fair and legal election, it could seek a crown through Violence.
The Imperial Electorate was sternly divided on this Proposal. The Bohemians, Wallachians and the Pope all had signed the Act without hesitation. The Sicilians, Serbians and Bulgarians adamantly opposed it. Precisely because they had no interest in Austria to retain the Imperial crown.
The duke of Carinthia sat in the middle, the Duke was old, far beyond that of the rest of the Electorate, and had experienced the true horror of war in the East first hand. Though he was also quite conservative, and may have been content to let the vote stall until an adequate bribe could be leveled for his loyalty. The King of Navarra had other plans.
The Basques had Long since legalized absolute Cognatic succession in their own lands, and now felt the need to press their influence in the world, at large, lest they lose it. The Basques made it clear, If the Electorate barred an Austrian Princess from Succession, Navarra would Join the Bretons, Bohemians and Austrians in Overthrowing the Usurper.
Unwilling to bring such a disaster to Rome, The Duke of Carithia signed, approving the Pragmatic Sanction, rendering the Final vote, 4 to 3 in favor of Austria.
Women were once more Allowed to Rule from Wien.
Hey, a little equality for the HRE. They can't act like there weren't any bad male Kaisers. Smart decision focusing on infrastructure too. The Empire must be strong, both militarily and economically.
Interesting update. Just as a general comment/possible advise. Missions in EU4 are as common as the plague and don't have the amount of character and flavour as events and intrigue in CK 2 (or even the events in EU4). I feel it's not really necessary to include every mission you succeed, unless it's a unique or specific one. It's great you had a bit of a diplomatic reputation boost for a while because of your improved relations, but it does not make for a very thrilling read. As long as you keep some flavour with it in your own writing, it's fine, but don't strain yourself, you'll do tons of missions and most of them will be the same. Same goes for the generic events, tis just the way of EU life 
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Duly, noted, Though i generally like to show all events that pop up at least once.
Chapter 4: The Unholy Union
Denounced by the electors for his cowardice the Duke of Carinthia threw him and his country into the Austrian camp. push the balance of power far into the Emperor's hands. Though this alliance was raw pragmatism and nothing more, the Carinthians continued to support themselves as candidates for the Emperor and continued thier conquests in the Italian Peninsula, much to the dismay of the Kaiser.
The Imperial bureaucracy had expanded in this time, allowing for less control by the nobility and more for the burgeoning new Imperial administration. This freed the Kaiser to pursue other, more ambitious goals. Gundemar in particular had begun to hear rumors through his spymaster of rich lands far to the east, lands that could bolster the strength of the Emperor without being forced to subjugate princes within the empire. The Kaiser doubled his naval funding, and made plans for several bases to allow easier access to the atlantic.
The Kaiser however could not live to see the first of these new ships leave the drydock. He had passed in his sleep and was succeeded by his Daughter Richenza. Richenza had no difficulty being elected Empress with Papal support though the Empress herself was not particularly skilled at much of anything.
In fact it may have been the Kaiserrines ignorance that allowed Gundermar's pet project to continue. The Empress did not touch the funding and allowed the Imperial council to do most of the ruling in her reign. Specifically the talented Eusebi Patern, a Merchant trade prince from Venetia who had a vested interest in the potential resources foreign lands may provide for the empire.
Patern Implemented several reforms, mostly these were trade and tax reforms for the Adratic coast, which now totaled around seventeen percent of the Empire's income after Taxess and Minting. The recent boom of trade had brought sailors from across the world to Austria. Though the austrians quickly discovered they were not the first intrested in looking outwards. The Ummayyad dynasty had been hiring ambitious and brave captains to sail west, into the sunset and some of the ships had been returning with valuable cargo.
Euesbi promised a king's ransom to the man who could sail east and claim these mysterious lands for Austria. The first step on a new age of exploration and christian conquest.
Meanwhile other issues had been plaguing the rest of Europe. To offset the Holy Alliance the Germans had sought out the Ruthenians in the east. The Polish, interested in expanding north into Norwegian and Danish lands joined the alliance shortly thereafter. Together the three powers formed a Bloc more powerful at least on paper than the Austrian led alliance in the south. The King of Germany then died, heiress and the Ruthenians wasted no time. To preserve the alliance the Ruthenians provided a Russian Prince to Germany. The Germans, who refused to acknowledge Austrian rulership once again accepted. Something else had happened, whether arranged or a freak accident the entire Ruthenian Royal family died in transit from Frankfurt and Kiev, leaving the Young King of Germany the last Bejovic of the primary Ruthenian line.
This of course would mean, Germany and Ruthenia had now become bound by a single ruler. The Alliance had become a single entity that spanned the entirely of central and eastern Europe and stood as a major threat to the balance of power for the future. The Cordobans, ever the ambitious sort declared their intent to dismantle the Russian union before things scaled out of hand. The Poles and various Italian dukes still resentful of the Cordoban invasion of the Empire joined the German King, sides were drawn and The War of German Succession was on.
Chapter 4: The Unholy Union
Denounced by the electors for his cowardice the Duke of Carinthia threw him and his country into the Austrian camp. push the balance of power far into the Emperor's hands. Though this alliance was raw pragmatism and nothing more, the Carinthians continued to support themselves as candidates for the Emperor and continued thier conquests in the Italian Peninsula, much to the dismay of the Kaiser.
The Imperial bureaucracy had expanded in this time, allowing for less control by the nobility and more for the burgeoning new Imperial administration. This freed the Kaiser to pursue other, more ambitious goals. Gundemar in particular had begun to hear rumors through his spymaster of rich lands far to the east, lands that could bolster the strength of the Emperor without being forced to subjugate princes within the empire. The Kaiser doubled his naval funding, and made plans for several bases to allow easier access to the atlantic.
The Kaiser however could not live to see the first of these new ships leave the drydock. He had passed in his sleep and was succeeded by his Daughter Richenza. Richenza had no difficulty being elected Empress with Papal support though the Empress herself was not particularly skilled at much of anything.
In fact it may have been the Kaiserrines ignorance that allowed Gundermar's pet project to continue. The Empress did not touch the funding and allowed the Imperial council to do most of the ruling in her reign. Specifically the talented Eusebi Patern, a Merchant trade prince from Venetia who had a vested interest in the potential resources foreign lands may provide for the empire.
Patern Implemented several reforms, mostly these were trade and tax reforms for the Adratic coast, which now totaled around seventeen percent of the Empire's income after Taxess and Minting. The recent boom of trade had brought sailors from across the world to Austria. Though the austrians quickly discovered they were not the first intrested in looking outwards. The Ummayyad dynasty had been hiring ambitious and brave captains to sail west, into the sunset and some of the ships had been returning with valuable cargo.
Euesbi promised a king's ransom to the man who could sail east and claim these mysterious lands for Austria. The first step on a new age of exploration and christian conquest.
Meanwhile other issues had been plaguing the rest of Europe. To offset the Holy Alliance the Germans had sought out the Ruthenians in the east. The Polish, interested in expanding north into Norwegian and Danish lands joined the alliance shortly thereafter. Together the three powers formed a Bloc more powerful at least on paper than the Austrian led alliance in the south. The King of Germany then died, heiress and the Ruthenians wasted no time. To preserve the alliance the Ruthenians provided a Russian Prince to Germany. The Germans, who refused to acknowledge Austrian rulership once again accepted. Something else had happened, whether arranged or a freak accident the entire Ruthenian Royal family died in transit from Frankfurt and Kiev, leaving the Young King of Germany the last Bejovic of the primary Ruthenian line.
This of course would mean, Germany and Ruthenia had now become bound by a single ruler. The Alliance had become a single entity that spanned the entirely of central and eastern Europe and stood as a major threat to the balance of power for the future. The Cordobans, ever the ambitious sort declared their intent to dismantle the Russian union before things scaled out of hand. The Poles and various Italian dukes still resentful of the Cordoban invasion of the Empire joined the German King, sides were drawn and The War of German Succession was on.
The new Empress leaves much to be desired, but it could be worse. Can't wait for some exploration! Nice to see the Ummayyads doing the same.
Ouch... something needs to be done about Ruthenia.
Ouch... something needs to be done about Ruthenia.
Now that is one scary PU, seems Ruthenia inherited the EU4 Muscovite behaviour of dying early and often heirless. Whoever wins, going to be one tough @$#%. I think you'll need some classic Anniona scheming* to break it up. Perhaps you might one day take espionage ideas to mess with them
*I'm not sure how much of an EU player you are, but PUs break when upon ruler death the subject has negative opinion of them or the liege has negative prestige. Of course Ruthenia will be so big, they will have a decent amount of liberty desire and you may be able to support their independence or they may declare it on their own when the truce expires.
*I'm not sure how much of an EU player you are, but PUs break when upon ruler death the subject has negative opinion of them or the liege has negative prestige. Of course Ruthenia will be so big, they will have a decent amount of liberty desire and you may be able to support their independence or they may declare it on their own when the truce expires.
Reunifing the Empire seems more hard than it may seemed... The German-Russian union however is something I never heard before in an AAR, figures in AH.com, it would be considered so ASB... And yet is something of epic!
Yea Ruthenia is the strongest nation on the board right now. In comparison, I'm around 5thish, though only because the Empire gives me more forcelimit than i can possibly pay for, otherwise i'd be higher up. The Byzantines, Iraqi's and Germans are stronger than me.
The Funny thing is, on paper the Ruthenians should be able to break away Easily if it wasn't for Poland, which can serve as a soak for Russia's initial strike. The Germans have the superior economy and can actually afford to spam mercenaries if they look like they will lose.
Also, its Germany, not Ruthenia that's the little Pu magnet. In my test game Britanny Pu'd Germany instead, and then PU'd Navarra. The Navarrans at least seem to have dodged that bullet so far however. I'm fairly familiar with Eu4, So i dealt with those Pu's the best way, possible, Using the Bretons as a club to beat up everyone else until their subjects dowed for Independence with Scotland and Denmark's help. (Denmark has the largest Heavy Fleet in the world right now btw) We arent using that Particular save becuase it was very, very boring once I had annexed Serbia and Carinthia and given their votes to someone more reasonable.
The Funny thing is, on paper the Ruthenians should be able to break away Easily if it wasn't for Poland, which can serve as a soak for Russia's initial strike. The Germans have the superior economy and can actually afford to spam mercenaries if they look like they will lose.
Also, its Germany, not Ruthenia that's the little Pu magnet. In my test game Britanny Pu'd Germany instead, and then PU'd Navarra. The Navarrans at least seem to have dodged that bullet so far however. I'm fairly familiar with Eu4, So i dealt with those Pu's the best way, possible, Using the Bretons as a club to beat up everyone else until their subjects dowed for Independence with Scotland and Denmark's help. (Denmark has the largest Heavy Fleet in the world right now btw) We arent using that Particular save becuase it was very, very boring once I had annexed Serbia and Carinthia and given their votes to someone more reasonable.
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Chapter 5:
With the Union between East and West, European technology quickly spread into Russia, and later Mongolia. The Mongols, ever the innovative sort discovered that Cannons made from Bronze were reliable and effective at destroying European fortresses. A terrifying realization swept Europe and a new arms race begun. The Quest for Cannon. Austria was slow to adopt this new weaponry, The Spanish and Germans however put it to great use and for the first time cannon fire had begun to determine the tide of battles in Europe.
(A Scale Model of a Cordoban field gun)
With the dawn of new weapons, New styles of warfare were soon to follow. Cordobans had a vast wealth of resources from thier North African possessions as well as large amounts of gold that.. mysteriously had arrived from ships from the west. Using this wealth the Cordobans had begun to use cannon on the field in greater and greater number. However while the Cordoban army was fearsome to face on the field, it grew ever slower as the terrain in Germany was unsuitable and the more Conservative German cavalry, using tried and proven tactics could harass them indefinitely in the German forest.
When a four year interval expired the Empress would assign a new province for the Senator and for the old province a new Senator would be assigned. The hopes of this new Imperial diet was to prevent a second Betrayal of house Anniona while the fledgling bureaucracy began to grow.
Outside the Empire however the chaos of Europe would only spread. The King of Aquiatine had recently had a falling out with his Cousin the King of Navarra over a marital dispute. With the Bretons looking to tighten their grip on northern France Burgundy was finally free to leave the confines of the Empire and strike outwards at the rich lands of Occitannia.
Back in the Empire, Austria had once again found a roadblock on the road towards progress. Eusebi Patern had required the cession of a Port for Explorer craft. When asked formally for port rights the Cordobans and Portuguese had become evasive and eventually hostile to the mere thought of Austria exploring into the west and denied him. The Imperial states were no better, many of whom still mistrusted the Austrians and feared the port would be an entryway for an invasion.
There was no other choice. If Austria was to look beyond Europe she would need a Port. The Island of Malta had a great shipyard and would be the Ideal location. When an Austrian trade ship, named 'The Maltese Falcon' had been robbed by Pirates, Eusebi convinced the Kaiserine the Sicilians were to blame. When the Sicilians denied Eusebi's accusations, war was inevitable.
The Kaiserine was rather disinterested in the War itself and delegated command to the Imperial Senate. Richenza however had continued her father's development campaigns in northern Austria. Under Richenza the Farmlands along the Danube had become Austria's beating heart. Finally Richenza's efforts Culminated in an upgrade project of the Neuhof building in Innsbruck. A Golden roof added to the building to represent Austrian wealth and influence, a Jewel in the Austria's Imperial crown.
The Golden Roof and the Austrian campaign as a whole had inspired the Loyal citizens of Tyrol and Vienna. Austria had survived the fires of a Succession war, Avoided being dragged into the current storm in Germany and kept the Empire, peaceful and civil. The Anniona dynasty had proven that what could not be done with force of arms they would win with diplomacy and influence and a healthy amount of gold. Perhaps Austria deserved to reunite her empire after all.
With the wars in Sicily drawing to a close. The Cordobans finally folded and accepted German Sovereignty of Russia. A frighting Prospect to say the least. Germany would stand as the Supreme power in all of Europe should Ruthenia bend to her whim.
The Danish, had other Ideas. The Republic of Denmark previously had good trade dealings with the Ruthenians in the past. The Russians had given Danish merchants a monopoly on the Baltic trade and now with her fierce Rival, germany as thier head of state the Merchant republic was at risk of losing its crucial trade Empire.
The Republic found a distant Bejovic relative from one the major Republican Families and proposed an offer to the Ruthenian Nobility. A Republican and more importantly Russian Prince, or a German Tyrant. The Ruthenians accepted almost immediately and declared independence from thier German overlords. With the Chaos in Germany reignited, the King of Luxembourg saw his opportunity to unite his lands and run the Germans out of Rightful french land.
The Second Phase of the German Succession war had begun.
Best to try and stay out of that nightmare as best you can. Nice to see some of those reforms are beginning to pay off.
I figured to be hard to hold on, but that PU was especially short-lived... All the better for Austria!