- ARCHIVE - Royal Court of Poland

[von Streusser]

EVENT

Polish Succession Crisis

​

The succession crisis in Poland has reached a climax. Boleslaw James Piast has at last challenged the claim Stephan Malachi Jagiello to the Crown of Poland. All the nobles have been called to Krakow to discuss the claims of each.

The houses of Ostrogski and Radziwill are for Jagiello, as well as a few Bathory nobles. The houses of Czartorski, Czwertynski, and Glogowski are in favor of Piast. The undecided houses are Firlej, Leczczynski, Chodkiewicz, Olelkowicz, and Lubomirski. Lubomirski is by far the most powerful noble house in all of Poland, and it, along with Chodkiewicz leans slightly towards Jagiello.

The weight of Poland's future rests upon the Lubomirskis' shoulders, what they decide will likely be repeated by the other, weaker neutral houses. It is in Krakow, at this moment, where the fate next dynasty of Poland is being decided.

MODIFIERS:
Poland spends 1 eco to trigger
+1 to roll for continued good RP.

TABLE:

1. Disaster for the Jagiellos! Important Polish noble houses side with Piast, and loyalist forces find themselves badly outnumbered by potential enemies. The realm teeters on the brink of open rebellion...
(Major Rebellion Event triggered, -1 morale, -1 tech to Poland for 1 year/4 turns)

2. Things are not looking good, my liege...
Several important noble houses align with the Piasts, and outright rebellion is a distinct possibility...
(Minor Rebellion Event triggered, -1 morale to Poland for 1 year/4 turns)

3~4. House Jagiello barely manages to maintain its precious grip on power. Important Polish nobles either align with both sides in more or less even numbers or sit out the crisis, looking to improve their own fortunes with whoever comes out the winner.
(no effect)

5. We should be all right, my liege...
Important Polish noble houses align with Jagiello, and in any conflict the loyalists would have superior numbers. Piast would be a fool to attempt open conflict now, but that does not mean that he will not try other means to subvert the King of Poland...
(+1 morale to Poland for 1 year/4 turns)

6. The nobles of Poland rally behind their King! Piast would be a fool to oppose Jagiello now, by any means! Loyalty to the King is now all the rage.
(+1 tech, +1 morale to Poland for 1 year/4 turns)

ROLL: 1+1 = 2

RESULT: Things are not looking good, my liege...
Several important noble houses align with the Piasts, and outright rebellion is a distinct possibility...
(Minor Rebellion Event triggered, -1 morale to Poland for 1 year/4 turns)
Poland spends 1 eco

EVENT

Polish Succession Crisis

​

The Succession Crisis in Poland has now reached fever pitch! Will the followers of Piast seize their chance in King Jagiello's moment of weakness to rise to arms and oppose him through force, perhaps installing their liege upon the throne of Poland? A realm holds its breath...

MODIFIERS: None

TABLE:

1. Rebellion!!
Formerly loyal provinces rebel! Although the towns and cities of those provinces form no armies, their garrisons strike the colours of the realm’s Head of State from their walls in place of their own.
(25% (rounded up) of owned provinces rebel and have base defence garrisons of -/-/3/4/-. -2 tech, -2 morale to Poland for 1 year/4 turns)

2. Extremely powerful nobles, high-ranking holy men and very influential merchants alike betray their oaths to the lord of the land and furiously express their absolute rage.
(-2 tech, -2 morale to Poland for 1 year/4 turns)

3. Important nobles, local holy men and influential merchants alike express anger.
(-1 tech, -2 morale to Poland for 1 year/4 turns)

4. Significant nobles and merchant classes alike express displeasure.
(-1 tech, -1 morale to Poland for 1 year/4 turns)

5. Minor nobles and marketeers express discomfort.
(-1 morale to Poland for 1 year/4 turns)

6. The revolt is effectively suppressed by the fiercely loyal local militia before it gathers any considerable strength.
(no effect)

ROLL: 4

RESULTS: Significant nobles and merchant classes alike express displeasure.
(-1 tech, -1 morale to Poland for 1 year/4 turns)

TOTAL RESULTS:
(-1 tech, -2 morale to Poland for 1 year/4 turns)
Poland spends 1 eco.

 

[Sterkarm]

The great hall was silent, Lubomirski had made a decision. Wladyslaw, the head, rose to his feet, standing up on the tables. "After a long, careful, thoughtful deliberation, the House of Lubomirski, for various reasons has deemed that Stephan Malachi Jagiello, Duke of Krakow, is the true claimant to the throne of Poland!" The instant he said this, shouts broke out, metal clanged, "Furthermore, we have found that Boleslaw James Piast is a pretender to the throne and should be stricken from his position as Duke of Masovia, as he is a threat to the Polish people!" Amidst the chaos, Jan Chodkiewicz, Count of Piotrkow, rose, and spoke.

"The Lubomirskis are traitors to the Piast line of kings! Let us put Boleslaw Piast on the throne, and he will lead Poland to its former glory! Our rights shall not be taken from us, and Jagiello will not dilute our people with his Lithuanian blood!" The Piast nobles were outraged and they had reached a breaking point. Pouring out of the hall, they made for the wall, to withdraw their troops from Krakow. Kazimierz was in swift pursuit with his army, rallying the Royalist nobles to his banner. The time of reckoning had come...

 

[Longinus]

In Szczecin.

"Well, my dear duke," replies Sobieski, as he bows, "can we expect your support should the Piasts gain the upper hand? And, besides that, can we expect your support in dire matters? We need a port, and we need help in getting one. If Pommerania should either help us gain one by fighting with us against Bremen or by selling us their own port of Gdansk, we would be forever grateful. What say you to a military alliance of our two nations, and perhaps even a marriage to consummate the alliance, with me marrying my Kazimierz to a wonderful Greif girl?"

Wratislaw replies to Sobieski.

“The Piasts? So the rumours are in fact true?” He shook his head in disbelief. ”Well, I definitely can’t say for the whole of the House of Griffon, but I must say the situation in Poland is most, hmmm, how to put it, the situation is unexpected. I mean the Jagiellons seemed to be well established and all… The Griffons have signed some accords with them, mainly about helping them to regain their position in Lithuania, the Concord of Krakow, yes. Our House always held its word. Even though the blood of Piasts run in our veins we would most likely help King Kazimierz.” he sighs.

”This however definitely calls for a meeting of all Pommeranian Dukes. Alas the troubles in Poland are paired with troubles in the German Empire and Burgundy. I fear our help, if granted will be limited.

As for the port in Baltic I truly doubt Pomorze Gdaniskie is for sale, however, who knows what the future brings. The Teutons were quite instable since the past decades.” He coughs as he hears about Bremen.

”Well, despite my objections, Szczecin has been allied with Bremen since many years now. I must admit it was beneficial to us in many ways, most of my family have this inexplicable affection toward the Gremans. Szczecin branch has very close family ties with the Duke of Bremen, late Emperor Joachim’s sister is in fact the wife of Duke of Bremen.

In regard to the marriage and alliance, I know it has been on the House of Gryphon agenda for a long time now. I can safely assure your grace that Pomorze is interested in such enterprise.”

 

[Sterkarm]

Thousands of Polish eagles waved in the bright sun, their shadows covering the trampled grass. At the head of the army stood Stephan Jagiello, Kazimierz Jagiello, Wladyslaw Jagiello, Jerzy Radziwill, and Mikolaj Ostrogski, each commanding their respective troops. The hundreds and hundreds of knights poured out of the gates of Wawel Castle, and into Inner Krakow. Through the streets the cavalry pounded, a trail of infantry in their wake. Awakening the citizens of Krakow, the troops hastened to the outskirts of the city.

The Lubomirskis and Bathorys had gone to Jagiello, and he had a slight upper hand. There While the Piast-supporting nobles were restrained in the castle, Jagiello led his supporters out to the rest of the nobles' army, and the Piast supporters had been allowed to return to their camps.

"Open the gates, open the gates, archers, man the walls!" Kazimierz shouted, leading the line of cavalry. Wladyslaw, catching up with the infantry, followed him through the gates, gathering the troops together. The nobles' troops drew closer to the gates, thinking they were being let in. But as soon as they came near, the cavalry poured out, and the nobles were so surprised that they immediately stopped and retreated, shocked that the Ostrogskis, Radziwills, Bathorys, and even the Lubomirskis rode with the Jagiellos.

"Hail," shouted Kazimierz, "the King of Poland, Stephan Malachi Jagiello, heir of Wladyslaw III! Swear fealty to him and the Jagiellonian line!"

The nobles were unwavering, but the Jagiello supporters rallied their troops and prepared to flank the outnumbered Piast supporters. Spears would be shaken, shields would be broken, and blood would be spilled.

"I have the support of Chodkiewicz, Glogowskis, Czwertynski, Czartorski, Firlej, and Leszczynski, more houses than you have!" Boleslaw shouted back, "The Sejm have decided, and you have moved to obstruct their decision. Your are no true Polish king, Jagiello, you are a traitor to Poland!"

"I am the only King of Poland! I am descendant of Wladyslaw II and the foremost claimant to the Lithuanian crown! If you oppose me, then you shall be humbled." stated Stephan, "Once again, there is only one true King of Poland, and it is I!"

So stood the battle. The Piasts were slightly outnumbered, facing the Royal troops just outside the castle gate. Both forces were mainly cavalry, and they faced off against each other, with the Piast infantry forming a line behind their mounted troops. It was on a plain, with the walls reaching out to the sides of the Piasts, somewhat protecting the flanks of the Piast line.

The Royal cavalry gained speed, trotting, then galloping towards the Piast horsemen. Lubomirski rode alongside them, and the nobles lowered their lance. Like a joust, the Piast cavalry and their nobles galloped out to meet the charging Jagiellonian knights. Suddenly, a hail of arrows came down upon the Piast horsemen, dismounting many of them, and bringing their steeds to a halt, throwing them to the wet, dewy grass. Archers manned the wall, and then rained wave after wave upon the Piast infantry.

Yet the clash was still brutal between the knights of the two houses, nearly rending the ground asunder. Many nobles fell to each others' lances, and Jan Chodkiewicz, Count of Piotrkow, was one of the first to fall dead to the ground. Kazimierz skewered a knight of Glogowski upon his lance, then drew his sword, fighting the Piast knights close up. Wladyslaw was in his first battle ever, and he fought well, pushing through to regroup with the main part of the line. He found himself defending the right flank (all sides from Piast view) against Ryszard's valiant, yet foolhardy and poorly organized charges. Still, they were hard to fight back.

Ryszard Augustus Piast, second son of Boleslaw, was leading the Piast knights through the massacre, but in the end his troops were not strong enough and he found himself nearly surrounded. He hurriedly retreated to the main battle, helping his father merely hold their position. Ryszard's troops were doubtful, but he rallied them around him and made charge after charge into the Royal cavalry, but to no avail.

Stephan led the Royal line, wedging his way through the Piast Royal Guard, pushing Boleslaw to the right side of the line. Boleslaw was desperately fighting for his life amidst the chaos. He was not as great a warrior as his son, Ryszard, who had finally been pushed back and was wounded. A gap was opening, and the Noble forces were falling back slowly towards their infantry line while the Royal infantry approached the cavalry battle, though most of the Royal forces were knights and horsemen.

Kazimierz fought his way through the battle, trading blow after blow with the knights of Glogowski, leading his own Royal troops through the melee. He found his way to Wojciech Glogowski, at the head of the house, rallying his men about him. Charging at him, Kazimierz caught the Count of Radom off guard, and Wojciech was barely saved by his own sword. But as he passed, Kazimierz cut Wojciech on the side, and blood began to creep from the wound. The two warriors' blades met many times, and Kazimierz finally managed to cut at Wojciech's swordhand, and, instantaneously, he impaled the Glogowski leader. The noble lord lived for only a few seconds before he slid from his mount.

The Noble cavalry wavered, and finally the Glogowski House fled as Kazimierz cut down their patriarch. Soon most except for Krystyn Igantius Piast had fled, but Krystyn stayed. He had been fighting ferociously in this battle, and had held off Kazimierz during the initial charge, but was forced to the sides by Stephan's wedged charge. Krystyn now held off the Royal pursuers from running his less stout comrades down. Yet Krystyn himself was cut from his mount by a hail of arrows intended for the fleeing cavalry. He fell to the ground and was captured, but his wound was hurting him badly, while it went without treatment.

As the Noble cavalry fled behind the infantry forces, Jagiello regrouped his men. The infantry were assembled, and they marched forward. With each passing minute, more Noble infantry fell to the hail of arrows from the parapet of Cracovian walls. They were hit from the sides and as they saw the Royal infantry bear down upon them, they could not quite get their formation together. At this sign, Stephan and his noble allies charged out across the plain of Krakow once more. The Noble infantry were horrified by the massive Royal knights, led by the fearsome Jagiello brothers, Kazimierz Tiberius and Wladyslaw Maximillian.

Numerous infantry regiments broke and ran, and soon the whole army routed. The Jagiello cavalry went in pursuit, and captured many with few of the routers being killed. Many important Piasts escaped, except for the nephew of Boleslaw, Krzeslaw, and Boleslaw's brother, Przeclaw Piast. Yet the casualties were far more upon the field in front of the grand Cracovian walls and the Piast army was still quite strong...

 

[cccino]

A messenger arrives at the King's court bearing a letter.

Onto His Majesty Stephan Malachi Jagiello, King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania,

Disturbing news reaches me of the troubles in your country. News that the noble house of Piast has challenged your authority and claimed the kingly title for themselves. News also of a battle between your supporters and his which, credit to your authority under God, you won.

For details, however, news is scarce. Tell me, of the Piasts, who has escaped? Who remains alive to threaten your rule, and what kind of support do they have among the other noble houses? In what position do you find yourself in combatting the usurpers?


Ulrich II von Cilli, Duke of Carinthia, Margrave of Carniola and of the Windish March, Princely Count of Celje, Ortenburg, and Sternberg, Ban of Croatia and Slavonia, Lord of the Slovenes, of the Kingdom of Bosnia, Lord of the Petovian and Savinian Marches.

 

[Sterkarm]

Stephan Jagiello, having been through hell and back with his men upon the field of Krakow, receives the letter rather late, but all the same sits down and begins to write immediately.

Most Gracious Duke of Carinthia,

I have been occupied fighting the Piast rebels for much time now. They have been pushed out of Lesser Poland, but they still have much influence in Greater Poland. They were chased out after the Battle of Krakow, through rain and mud, but we had to rest. Boleslaw and all his sons save Krystyn Piast are still free and fighting against us. I fortunately have not lost any of my own sons in this conflict, though it is far from over. I am glad for your concern in this matter, I will make you aware of more in the future.

Most Sincerely and Exhaustedly,
King Stephan Malachi Jagiello of Poland and Lithuania

 

[unmerged(7849)]

A letter arives from Denmark,

Stephan Malachi Jagiello, Kind of Poland and Lithuania,

Denmark and Poland; two kingdoms that have never shared anything except for recent decades. We have both been ripped apart by the tyrannical forces of Joachim the Grief, a bastard who I do not mind seeing dead. We have both suffered at the hands of Germans who to this day still occupy land that rightfully belongs to both our Kingdoms.

Perhaps, then, out of this troubling fact that plagues both of us cooperation can be born. I would like nothing more than an exchange of ambassadors between Krakow and Copenhagen. Perhaps then we can sort out any differences, and maybe work on ways to cooperate with each other to restore ourselfs to our past glory.

written by his own hand in Copenhagen,
Peter Gjedde, Chancellor of Denmark, Regent for her majesty Eleanore de Berrie, Queen of Denmark​