Ok, this is my first AAR. This is a modified Grand Campaign, with any nation annexable, no golden shields. I'm playing Moldovia. A slight modification is the fact that I have set Transylvania, Wallachia, Maros, Banat and Dobruja along with Bujak (which was already set) as national provinces, to reflect the willingness of the romanian people to unite. These provinces amount approximately to present-day Romania, except for Bujak which is part of Ukraine. Bessarabia might have easily been national province also, but I just could not find its code designation in the 1492.inc file. So, here it is:
The blizzard batters the walls of the throne fortress of Suceava. Inside, Stefan the Great. He is a spent man, all his efforts now proving to be in vain as the kingdom of Moldovia is reduced to what is now today, all his battles against the ottoman hordes and the greedy poles now proving to be useless, his victories that rekindled the hope of a great crusade in western Europe are now long forgotten. But from a dark corner of the throne room a young new advisor steps forward. He speaks of the heritage of the romanian people, of uniting this divided nation, of crushing old enemies. Stefan looks at him with a blank look on his face : "What makes you think you will succeed?". The advisor's eyes are now two flames burning as he anwers proudly : "Because, your majesty, I am a romanian! And I will reunite this people if it's the last thing I do!". Stefan looks at the nobility and clergy gethered in the throne room, everybody nodding "yes". The dices have been cast and the fate of the little kingdom of Moldovia is placed in the hands of this young and zealous advisor.
Chapter I : Awakening
Jan 1492, the situation of Moldovia is poor. The army, although having a brilliant commander, Stefan the Great (4/1/4), is very small, only 10000 men, 5000 infantry and 5000 cavalry. The economy does not produce enough income to maintain this army, let alone allow for future development. The treasury is, however, decent with 99 ducats. I set about to get things moving. First, recruiting more men, 3000 infantry and 3000 cavalry, and also handing over control of trade to the court officials (autosend merchants "on"). Investments in technology are halted and all income goes to treasury. The foreign situation is equally poor: Hungary, Poland-Lithuania and Turkey all have bad relations with Moldovia and Wallachia is a vassal of Turkey, therefore an alliance is out of the question. Once the army is reinforced, I made my first move in my Grand Campaign, declaring war on Wallachia on June 2nd 1492. Of course, given the fact that the ottomans were right around the corner, war against fellow romanians was not welcomed by the nobility (-1 to stab). The moldavian army is marching towards Wallachia, and the first battle is fought in August, a battle which allthough lost, results in only light casualties for Moldavia and very heavy ones for Wallachia. After the troops recovered they are sent once more to attack, this time crushing the wallachian army and initiating siege, but a ferociously harsh winter cut down the moldovian army to 6000 cavalry. Still, the siege ended in October 1494, and Wallachia is finally annexed on the 16th of October 1494.
As things calm down, I turn my attention to foreign affairs and building good relations with Pskov and Russia for a future alliance to counter the polish-lithuanian expansionism. Meanwhile trade has increased the monthly national income to 4 ducats, and the treasury is soon large enough for the bailiff in Moldovia to be promoted. In June 1495 research is completed on cannon-building tecnhiques. In October 1495 an important diplomatic move secured the future of Moldovia as Poland-Lithuania accepted to enter a royal marriage. Now all that's left is to wait for an oportunity to strike at Hungary as I expand my slowly army and trade.
Chapter II : Treachery
March 1498
Things have been quiet for almost three years, with bailiff promoted in Wallachia and trade expanded nicely into Venice, Danzig and Andaluzia, it looks like Stefan the Great will not live to see another campaign. Little did I know that Hungary viewed the annexation of Wallachia as a great threat to its fututre, especially because this enflamed nationalistic spirits among the romanian communities. So in order to solve these problems, Hungary called upon its allies, Austria and Venice, and others which could not interviene directly like Teutonic Order and Iraq. I sheltered the moldavian army in Wallachia, determined to make a heroic last stand if Hungary decides to to annex Moldavia. Unopposed, Hungary and her allies piled almost 48000 men to siege the capital by August 1498, with well over 30000 more men on the way. And by November the capital was overrun by some 74000 hungarians, austrians and venitians. As I expected, this campaign was more like a warning, with the peace offer containing a demand for 30 ducats. But I will not let this come to pass. It's all a waiting game now, as Turkey will surely turn its eyes to the rich provinces of Serbia and Croatia, and maybe the venetian shipyards in Ragusa. I continue to expand my army whenever possible slowly but surely. I just hope that Stefan the Great will not step into the other world before this oportunity arises.
Chapter III : Revenge
Nov 1502, the oportunity I waited for so long has arrived. My economy is now brimming, with a monthly income of 5 ducats and some 50 ducats in treasury allowing for decent expansion and army maintenance. Hungary together with its two thugs Venice and Austria is at war with the ottoman mammoth, hoping to gain Kosovo and Bosnia. Still, I realize that I must wait and see if the turks respond to this attack with enough force to allow me to handle the remnants. Moldovian standing army under Stefan the Great now at 30000 with 8000 cavalry will stay in defense and the Wallachia regiment with 20000 will liberate national provinces. But for now I must until the hungarian dogs and their thugs are weakened.
Finally I decide in February 1503 to strike at Hungary, assuming the winter and turkish troops have humbled my most hated enemy. This decision caused much turmoil because a peace agreement was signed just 4 years ago, and another war against overwhelming odds terrified the country, bringing the country on the brink of civil war (-3 national stab). Despite this, I am confident things will go smoothly. Stefan the Great is defending the capital and the Wallachia regiment is on its way towards Banat. But things take a turn for the worse, as hungarian armies abandon the sieges in the Balkans and head towards the capital. A ferociuos battle ensues, and Stefan the Great is forced to retreat, but not before inflicting horrific losses on the enemy. As Stefan the Great rallies his army and the Wallachia regiment is about to break the defenders in Banat, an unexpected peace offer arrives in June : White Peace. It's clear that the hungarians know the turks are coming and want to wrap this up quickly. Unknown to me, the turks were engaged in a war against the Mameluks and Persia soone after Hungary declared war, and their forces were concentrated there, so the diversion I hoped for never happened. I accept the peace offer and turn to the task of explaining my failure to assess the true situation in front of the nobility and clergy. The debate is heated and rages over for months on end, with the country on the very edge of collapse. Stefan the Great dies in May 1504, leaving the little kingdom of Moldovia with an uncertain future, and his son Bogdan III on the throne, not a brilliant monarch.
June 1505, the debate about my "foolish and hopeless" campaign seems endless, with various circles of power trying to seize control and take advantage of my failure in the last war, thus tearing national stability to shreds. This whole matter is made even worse as Hungary and its allies make very good progress. Still, at the end of June, the main ottoman armies arrive on the front. Even though the country is convulsing from this huge scandal, I still hope for another attempt to liberate Banat, Transylvania and Maros, and I watch closely the campaign in the Balkans.
August 1506, the wieght of the ottoman hordes has broken the hungaro-austro-venetian axis. The time is right to make the move, such a occasion comes only once every 100 years. It's been barely a month since the scandal has begun to subside, and now I'm ready to break another peace agreement. And even though I know I might push Moldovia into the abyss of anarchy, I'd rather this kingdom go down in flames than rot for 1000 years as a vassal of some greedy nation. I finished dictating the dclaration of war and now I prepare myself to break the news to the court nobility. As I make my way down the halls of the palace, I feel like entering the lion's mouth and I wonder if they will assasinate me when they'll hear that war is upon them once more.
Septemeber 1506, the future seems as dark as the autumn clouds above me puring cold raindrops like 1000 arrows against my skin. But there is still hope. Wallachia regiment is on its way to Banat, and Austria has just proposed a white peace. Meanwhile the scandal at the court rages, and the threat of someone jumping at me with a knife in the dark is very high... Don't they realize I do this for my country, not for myself?
November 1506, Hungary is now feeling how it's like to be outnumbered beyond all hope as Croatia is sieged by Turkey and its army is reduced to mere thousands. They desperately sue for peace, but I'm not going to let them get away that easily.
Jan 1507, the cold outside makes rocks crack open. Everything is still and white and somewhere out there brave soldiers are sieging a fortress to free their brethren. A herald just came informing that peace was signed between Hungary and Turkey, Turkey taking Croatia and Serbia. Turkey will now surely go for the venetian ports on the coast of the Adriatic Sea, so it's just Hungary and me now... It's high time they paid... Their army, exhausted after their fight with the ottomans, numbers barely 4000 as my spies report, stationed in Ruthenia. The army defending my capital numbers 40000 of which 8000 are cavalry. It's only a matter of time before the romanian brothers across the Carpathians are freed.
Jan 1508, winter now seems strangely friendly, with joyuos snowflakes touching down on the soft white carpet. The war is progressing great, Banat and Maros now liberated and the hungarians being slaughtered there like animals, hatred repressed for centuries now unleashed. The brothers in Transylvania will soon have their chance to quench their thirst for vengeance.
Feb 1509, another year has passed with feutile assaults from hungarian cavalry and with Transylvania being liberated. Still, I want to meet the hungarian monarch Ulaszlo face to face and "discuss" this matter properly. I ordered the Wallachia regiment towards Magyar and the beautiful hungarian capital of Budapest....
Sept 1509, the defenders of Budapest have been starved into surrender. Indeed, Budapest is a beautiful city, even more beautiful with the corpses of these blasted hungarians littering the blood-soaked streets. For the first time I felt the pleasant tingle of the conqueror's pride at the sight of his defeated opponent... In the throne room sat Ulaszlo II and his royal suite, his royal guard keeping a low profile in the back. I made my demands clear when he burst into laughter, saying he would never surreneder to a bunch of barbarian sheepherders. I should have struck him down that instant, but I wanted him to live and see his nation tore apart. I stormed out of the throne room and ordered my wallachian troops to head for Pest and slaughter everyone there.
Nov 1509, Ulaszlo has suddenly changed his opinion after the assault and subsequent slaughter, as per my orders, in Pest, and sent a peace offer agreeing to my demands. Finally, the dream of uniting all romanians is all but finished, with only Bujak and Dobruja remaining to be liberated. I knew very well the hungarians would want revenge and posted an army of 27000 in Transylvania as a deterrent to any attacks.
Chapter IV : Consolidation
Things now quiet down, stability has now skyrocketed after the peace signed with Hungary. Now concentrating on improving relations with Poland-Lithuania and improving my army. It seems that a lasting peace will follow.
March 1513, a "Conquistador" is ready, with 1000 men, in Wallachia. Trained in Madrid, these romanian officers are masters in manouvering in difficult terrain and organizing supplies. These will be a most valuable addition in case of sieges.
An uneventful period follows, until December 1520, when Hungary with Venice, Hanseatic League, Iraq, Teutonic Order and Austria declare war on Turkey, Tripoli, Tunisia, Algiers. This is the perfect oportunity liberate Bujak and Dobruja as a series of very violent battles take place in Bosnia and Kosovo. But the declaration of war is dispatched barely in March 1521. Believing that the ottoman losses were high I expected an easy victory... But the tables soom seem to have turned, as Hungary & allies seem to use me as a distraction to build their forces, and so a 40000 man army of turks march for the capital. This allows the hungarians to take Croatia in June 1521. As the turkish mammoth marches menacingly towards the capital a demand of only 30 ducats arrive, which I refuse. Once again the court is in turmoil because everyone thinks I am steering the country straight into the arms of the sultan. I stand firm in my belief that Turkey will go for Hungary, this belief is strenghtened in September 1521 when Austria tales Serbia. Another very generous peace offer arrives at the court in November which I again refuse. Things now heat up at the court and talk of this being a suicide mission ripples down the corridors of the palace. A final generous demand for 5 ducats arrives in March 1522... I thought very well on this subject and concluded that the wisest thing to do is to just play along and not anger the sultan any longer. This decision proved to be truly wise because by July 1522 Hungary & allies have depleted either their treasuries or manpower, the conflict lasted one more year, with only a minor counter-offensive in April 1523. In the end only indemnitites were paid.
Chapter V : Cooperation
In December 1526 a crucial moment in the history of Moldavia as the personal gifts sent to the polish monarch have improved our relations to a point where a military alliance was formed between the two countries. The future of Moldavia seems secure indefinately with such a country as an ally. From here another uneventful period marked by refitting armies every now and then and only a formal declaration of war to honor the alliance when Poland-Lithuania declared war on puny Prussia. As things continued on this dull note for years to come, I began to brood the prospect of the ultimate revenge on Hungary. By September 1538 the plans are in place. Three armies will participate to this campaign: The Wallachia Regiment of 27000 defending Transylvania, the Moldavia Army of 34000 defending the capital and the conquistador in charge of a 21000 strong regiment. What followed was a ferociuos fight with the hungarians ready to break the capital defenders on several occasions as the conquistador plucked the hungarian provinces one by one. However, before the final victory, the hungarians made a gallant final stand in Ruthenia in July 1540 by defeating the three moldavian armies which launched a joint attack. However, the sheer numbers have spoken and after the battle the hungarian army was reduced to 3000. Three months later the moldavian armies retuned and sealed the fate of a humiliated Hungary which was stripped of all provinces except for the capital. Peace was brief as I would join Poland-Lithuania against an alliance made up of Teutonic Order, Russia and Golden Horde two years later. My contribution was, however, limited, only a siege in Estonia where 15000 men would die in two winters. Later Crimea and Astrakhan would join in against Poland-Lithuania and thus I was forced to send the main moldavian army into battle which suffered horribly from attrition even before engaging the enemy. Howevever, by December 1546 peace would be signed between all beligerants with no border changes. Battered armies return to the homeland where an extensive reorganization process would be launched.
More on the struggle of Moldavia soon...
The blizzard batters the walls of the throne fortress of Suceava. Inside, Stefan the Great. He is a spent man, all his efforts now proving to be in vain as the kingdom of Moldovia is reduced to what is now today, all his battles against the ottoman hordes and the greedy poles now proving to be useless, his victories that rekindled the hope of a great crusade in western Europe are now long forgotten. But from a dark corner of the throne room a young new advisor steps forward. He speaks of the heritage of the romanian people, of uniting this divided nation, of crushing old enemies. Stefan looks at him with a blank look on his face : "What makes you think you will succeed?". The advisor's eyes are now two flames burning as he anwers proudly : "Because, your majesty, I am a romanian! And I will reunite this people if it's the last thing I do!". Stefan looks at the nobility and clergy gethered in the throne room, everybody nodding "yes". The dices have been cast and the fate of the little kingdom of Moldovia is placed in the hands of this young and zealous advisor.
Chapter I : Awakening
Jan 1492, the situation of Moldovia is poor. The army, although having a brilliant commander, Stefan the Great (4/1/4), is very small, only 10000 men, 5000 infantry and 5000 cavalry. The economy does not produce enough income to maintain this army, let alone allow for future development. The treasury is, however, decent with 99 ducats. I set about to get things moving. First, recruiting more men, 3000 infantry and 3000 cavalry, and also handing over control of trade to the court officials (autosend merchants "on"). Investments in technology are halted and all income goes to treasury. The foreign situation is equally poor: Hungary, Poland-Lithuania and Turkey all have bad relations with Moldovia and Wallachia is a vassal of Turkey, therefore an alliance is out of the question. Once the army is reinforced, I made my first move in my Grand Campaign, declaring war on Wallachia on June 2nd 1492. Of course, given the fact that the ottomans were right around the corner, war against fellow romanians was not welcomed by the nobility (-1 to stab). The moldavian army is marching towards Wallachia, and the first battle is fought in August, a battle which allthough lost, results in only light casualties for Moldavia and very heavy ones for Wallachia. After the troops recovered they are sent once more to attack, this time crushing the wallachian army and initiating siege, but a ferociously harsh winter cut down the moldovian army to 6000 cavalry. Still, the siege ended in October 1494, and Wallachia is finally annexed on the 16th of October 1494.
As things calm down, I turn my attention to foreign affairs and building good relations with Pskov and Russia for a future alliance to counter the polish-lithuanian expansionism. Meanwhile trade has increased the monthly national income to 4 ducats, and the treasury is soon large enough for the bailiff in Moldovia to be promoted. In June 1495 research is completed on cannon-building tecnhiques. In October 1495 an important diplomatic move secured the future of Moldovia as Poland-Lithuania accepted to enter a royal marriage. Now all that's left is to wait for an oportunity to strike at Hungary as I expand my slowly army and trade.
Chapter II : Treachery
March 1498
Things have been quiet for almost three years, with bailiff promoted in Wallachia and trade expanded nicely into Venice, Danzig and Andaluzia, it looks like Stefan the Great will not live to see another campaign. Little did I know that Hungary viewed the annexation of Wallachia as a great threat to its fututre, especially because this enflamed nationalistic spirits among the romanian communities. So in order to solve these problems, Hungary called upon its allies, Austria and Venice, and others which could not interviene directly like Teutonic Order and Iraq. I sheltered the moldavian army in Wallachia, determined to make a heroic last stand if Hungary decides to to annex Moldavia. Unopposed, Hungary and her allies piled almost 48000 men to siege the capital by August 1498, with well over 30000 more men on the way. And by November the capital was overrun by some 74000 hungarians, austrians and venitians. As I expected, this campaign was more like a warning, with the peace offer containing a demand for 30 ducats. But I will not let this come to pass. It's all a waiting game now, as Turkey will surely turn its eyes to the rich provinces of Serbia and Croatia, and maybe the venetian shipyards in Ragusa. I continue to expand my army whenever possible slowly but surely. I just hope that Stefan the Great will not step into the other world before this oportunity arises.
Chapter III : Revenge
Nov 1502, the oportunity I waited for so long has arrived. My economy is now brimming, with a monthly income of 5 ducats and some 50 ducats in treasury allowing for decent expansion and army maintenance. Hungary together with its two thugs Venice and Austria is at war with the ottoman mammoth, hoping to gain Kosovo and Bosnia. Still, I realize that I must wait and see if the turks respond to this attack with enough force to allow me to handle the remnants. Moldovian standing army under Stefan the Great now at 30000 with 8000 cavalry will stay in defense and the Wallachia regiment with 20000 will liberate national provinces. But for now I must until the hungarian dogs and their thugs are weakened.
Finally I decide in February 1503 to strike at Hungary, assuming the winter and turkish troops have humbled my most hated enemy. This decision caused much turmoil because a peace agreement was signed just 4 years ago, and another war against overwhelming odds terrified the country, bringing the country on the brink of civil war (-3 national stab). Despite this, I am confident things will go smoothly. Stefan the Great is defending the capital and the Wallachia regiment is on its way towards Banat. But things take a turn for the worse, as hungarian armies abandon the sieges in the Balkans and head towards the capital. A ferociuos battle ensues, and Stefan the Great is forced to retreat, but not before inflicting horrific losses on the enemy. As Stefan the Great rallies his army and the Wallachia regiment is about to break the defenders in Banat, an unexpected peace offer arrives in June : White Peace. It's clear that the hungarians know the turks are coming and want to wrap this up quickly. Unknown to me, the turks were engaged in a war against the Mameluks and Persia soone after Hungary declared war, and their forces were concentrated there, so the diversion I hoped for never happened. I accept the peace offer and turn to the task of explaining my failure to assess the true situation in front of the nobility and clergy. The debate is heated and rages over for months on end, with the country on the very edge of collapse. Stefan the Great dies in May 1504, leaving the little kingdom of Moldovia with an uncertain future, and his son Bogdan III on the throne, not a brilliant monarch.
June 1505, the debate about my "foolish and hopeless" campaign seems endless, with various circles of power trying to seize control and take advantage of my failure in the last war, thus tearing national stability to shreds. This whole matter is made even worse as Hungary and its allies make very good progress. Still, at the end of June, the main ottoman armies arrive on the front. Even though the country is convulsing from this huge scandal, I still hope for another attempt to liberate Banat, Transylvania and Maros, and I watch closely the campaign in the Balkans.
August 1506, the wieght of the ottoman hordes has broken the hungaro-austro-venetian axis. The time is right to make the move, such a occasion comes only once every 100 years. It's been barely a month since the scandal has begun to subside, and now I'm ready to break another peace agreement. And even though I know I might push Moldovia into the abyss of anarchy, I'd rather this kingdom go down in flames than rot for 1000 years as a vassal of some greedy nation. I finished dictating the dclaration of war and now I prepare myself to break the news to the court nobility. As I make my way down the halls of the palace, I feel like entering the lion's mouth and I wonder if they will assasinate me when they'll hear that war is upon them once more.
Septemeber 1506, the future seems as dark as the autumn clouds above me puring cold raindrops like 1000 arrows against my skin. But there is still hope. Wallachia regiment is on its way to Banat, and Austria has just proposed a white peace. Meanwhile the scandal at the court rages, and the threat of someone jumping at me with a knife in the dark is very high... Don't they realize I do this for my country, not for myself?
November 1506, Hungary is now feeling how it's like to be outnumbered beyond all hope as Croatia is sieged by Turkey and its army is reduced to mere thousands. They desperately sue for peace, but I'm not going to let them get away that easily.
Jan 1507, the cold outside makes rocks crack open. Everything is still and white and somewhere out there brave soldiers are sieging a fortress to free their brethren. A herald just came informing that peace was signed between Hungary and Turkey, Turkey taking Croatia and Serbia. Turkey will now surely go for the venetian ports on the coast of the Adriatic Sea, so it's just Hungary and me now... It's high time they paid... Their army, exhausted after their fight with the ottomans, numbers barely 4000 as my spies report, stationed in Ruthenia. The army defending my capital numbers 40000 of which 8000 are cavalry. It's only a matter of time before the romanian brothers across the Carpathians are freed.
Jan 1508, winter now seems strangely friendly, with joyuos snowflakes touching down on the soft white carpet. The war is progressing great, Banat and Maros now liberated and the hungarians being slaughtered there like animals, hatred repressed for centuries now unleashed. The brothers in Transylvania will soon have their chance to quench their thirst for vengeance.
Feb 1509, another year has passed with feutile assaults from hungarian cavalry and with Transylvania being liberated. Still, I want to meet the hungarian monarch Ulaszlo face to face and "discuss" this matter properly. I ordered the Wallachia regiment towards Magyar and the beautiful hungarian capital of Budapest....
Sept 1509, the defenders of Budapest have been starved into surrender. Indeed, Budapest is a beautiful city, even more beautiful with the corpses of these blasted hungarians littering the blood-soaked streets. For the first time I felt the pleasant tingle of the conqueror's pride at the sight of his defeated opponent... In the throne room sat Ulaszlo II and his royal suite, his royal guard keeping a low profile in the back. I made my demands clear when he burst into laughter, saying he would never surreneder to a bunch of barbarian sheepherders. I should have struck him down that instant, but I wanted him to live and see his nation tore apart. I stormed out of the throne room and ordered my wallachian troops to head for Pest and slaughter everyone there.
Nov 1509, Ulaszlo has suddenly changed his opinion after the assault and subsequent slaughter, as per my orders, in Pest, and sent a peace offer agreeing to my demands. Finally, the dream of uniting all romanians is all but finished, with only Bujak and Dobruja remaining to be liberated. I knew very well the hungarians would want revenge and posted an army of 27000 in Transylvania as a deterrent to any attacks.
Chapter IV : Consolidation
Things now quiet down, stability has now skyrocketed after the peace signed with Hungary. Now concentrating on improving relations with Poland-Lithuania and improving my army. It seems that a lasting peace will follow.
March 1513, a "Conquistador" is ready, with 1000 men, in Wallachia. Trained in Madrid, these romanian officers are masters in manouvering in difficult terrain and organizing supplies. These will be a most valuable addition in case of sieges.
An uneventful period follows, until December 1520, when Hungary with Venice, Hanseatic League, Iraq, Teutonic Order and Austria declare war on Turkey, Tripoli, Tunisia, Algiers. This is the perfect oportunity liberate Bujak and Dobruja as a series of very violent battles take place in Bosnia and Kosovo. But the declaration of war is dispatched barely in March 1521. Believing that the ottoman losses were high I expected an easy victory... But the tables soom seem to have turned, as Hungary & allies seem to use me as a distraction to build their forces, and so a 40000 man army of turks march for the capital. This allows the hungarians to take Croatia in June 1521. As the turkish mammoth marches menacingly towards the capital a demand of only 30 ducats arrive, which I refuse. Once again the court is in turmoil because everyone thinks I am steering the country straight into the arms of the sultan. I stand firm in my belief that Turkey will go for Hungary, this belief is strenghtened in September 1521 when Austria tales Serbia. Another very generous peace offer arrives at the court in November which I again refuse. Things now heat up at the court and talk of this being a suicide mission ripples down the corridors of the palace. A final generous demand for 5 ducats arrives in March 1522... I thought very well on this subject and concluded that the wisest thing to do is to just play along and not anger the sultan any longer. This decision proved to be truly wise because by July 1522 Hungary & allies have depleted either their treasuries or manpower, the conflict lasted one more year, with only a minor counter-offensive in April 1523. In the end only indemnitites were paid.
Chapter V : Cooperation
In December 1526 a crucial moment in the history of Moldavia as the personal gifts sent to the polish monarch have improved our relations to a point where a military alliance was formed between the two countries. The future of Moldavia seems secure indefinately with such a country as an ally. From here another uneventful period marked by refitting armies every now and then and only a formal declaration of war to honor the alliance when Poland-Lithuania declared war on puny Prussia. As things continued on this dull note for years to come, I began to brood the prospect of the ultimate revenge on Hungary. By September 1538 the plans are in place. Three armies will participate to this campaign: The Wallachia Regiment of 27000 defending Transylvania, the Moldavia Army of 34000 defending the capital and the conquistador in charge of a 21000 strong regiment. What followed was a ferociuos fight with the hungarians ready to break the capital defenders on several occasions as the conquistador plucked the hungarian provinces one by one. However, before the final victory, the hungarians made a gallant final stand in Ruthenia in July 1540 by defeating the three moldavian armies which launched a joint attack. However, the sheer numbers have spoken and after the battle the hungarian army was reduced to 3000. Three months later the moldavian armies retuned and sealed the fate of a humiliated Hungary which was stripped of all provinces except for the capital. Peace was brief as I would join Poland-Lithuania against an alliance made up of Teutonic Order, Russia and Golden Horde two years later. My contribution was, however, limited, only a siege in Estonia where 15000 men would die in two winters. Later Crimea and Astrakhan would join in against Poland-Lithuania and thus I was forced to send the main moldavian army into battle which suffered horribly from attrition even before engaging the enemy. Howevever, by December 1546 peace would be signed between all beligerants with no border changes. Battered armies return to the homeland where an extensive reorganization process would be launched.
More on the struggle of Moldavia soon...
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Do you have any screenies to post? It always lighten things up 
