In 1421 the Teutons signed a humiliating peace with Poland, releasing the Livonian Order to their own fate.
IV: Bowed, but not Broken
Aftermath
It was a bitter peace, bitterly signed and the result of an equally bitter war. For the first time a Teuton grandmaster had to acknowledge Polish superiority, meaning until this time the
Ordenstaadt could stand safely behind an Imperial or Papal shield and look down on their southern neighbors. Said shield was gone forever: The Bohemian emperor hated the Teutonic Order as regional rivals who'd made him lose face before the electorate, while the Pope's power to do more than condemn and admonish was fading rapidly. The Vatican had relocated to Romagna and the Ottomans had taken Constantinople and were consolidating in both Europe and Anatolia. Christianity had bigger issues.
Article VI of the treaty specifically forbade appeal to either body, going so far as to state such an appeal would be a breach. Articles IX-XXIII went to the heart of the matter, taking the necessary steps to separate Teutonic and Livonian holdings, redrawing lines of organization and fealty, and formally dissolving the ties that unified the two Orders since the Brothers of the Sword joined the Teutons in 1237.
For the Livonians these were their first, uncertain independent steps in a very long time. True, they never lost their autonomy and Landmeister (now Herrenmeister) Konrad von Vietinghof was only
de jure subordinate to Prussia, but there was always a certain comfort in knowing every major decision would be reviewed by Marienberg for possible strategic or ecclesiastical considerations. Their shield was also gone.
In Marienberg the peace was even more bitter because it nearly broke the
grossgebetiger, the Order's ruling body. As a body they'd threatened to imprison their grandmaster, an injury Hochmeister von Plauen wasn't likely to forget. Further, with the immediate crisis passed a few members recanted their 'disloyalty' and stood by von Plauen as he immediately prepared for the next war. The Order still possessed outstanding land claims in both Poland and Lithuania. Now they had three or four 'Tannenbergs' to avenge. His ideal plan called for gathering allies and striking into their heartland, sticking Wladyslaw's head on a pike and parading it around, burning and salting Krakow, then claiming some disputed territory. In that order.
The rival faction, led by Michael von Sternberg, wanted to look west. They'd taken a chunk of Pomerania, and while fighting their way across the Empire wasn't on the agenda, quietly 'absorbing' land as opportunity permitted promised a more favorable outcome than fighting Poland. The Empire was made up of mostly Germans, people who acted, thought and talked more or less as the Order did. Integration would be easier, and in time a new identity as a Germanic emperor's militant shield arm might emerge.
Noticeably absent from their rancorous debate were Pagans (now gone except for isolated pockets) and Orthodox 'schismatics.' An independent Livonian brotherhood meant no eastern crusade could benefit the Order, and the Polish war taught them the
Ordenstaadt needed to strengthen and grow to survive its lonely Baltic vigil.
Most of the council struggled with the paradox of a militant crusading order with no likely targets, von Plauen harbored no doubts as to his future. He, alone, kept the Order forging ahead through those first few months: Diplomats signed an alliance with the Livonians almost before the treaty's ink died, while one with Hungary followed weeks later. Docking rights in Mecklenberg, a privilege so useful during the long struggle with the Danes, held little value now. Attempts to smuggle equipment to and pay off schismatics within Poland, while a balm to his wounded spirit, proved to be a luxury the Teutons could no longer afford.
Sternberg's faction faced a crippling setback as Emperor Vaclav, convinced of Teuton weakness, asserted his rights as emperor.
Tressler Immanuel von Roth (a member of said group) asserted that submission to the Emperor was the only way to assure Teuton survival. Following a stern rebuke, Hochmeister von Plauen answered the diplomat. His response survives in the Marienburg Chronicles.
von Plauen said:
Tell that pox-faced, drunken son of a whore and a goat that if he wants Pomerania, he can very well get off his fat rump and try to take it from me, if he can find a horse who can bear his weight. Tell him we fought the Poles, who if little else are fair fighters, and the Lithuanians, who are bewitched apostates, and from what I have seen a Bohemian can't hold a candle to either. If he thinks to nip at our borders like a carrion eater, he will find the Order is still very much alive.
No doubt the diplomat softened von Plauen's response, for no declaration of war came from Prague. Von Plauen dismissed the tressler a week later.
(Cancel Army Organizer)
By the first thaw of 1422, with no fresh attackers on the horizon and the budget stable-if-not-healthy, those who feared a defenseless Order would be dogpiled
(Like me!) breathed a sigh of relief.
(Stab 2) Danziger merchants went so far as to cancel several interest payments on outstanding loans, not out of any great love for the Order so much as to convince von Plauen not to think of them as enemies, and to pay up.
(Gift to the State: 9.55d)
New World Order
The Hochmeister's devotion to stabilizing the economy didn't distract him from his true purpose.
Every silver coin that entered the treasury went right back out into slowly rebuilding the Teuton army. Indeed, if the economy broke under loan payments, so be it. He hadn't forgiven the Danzigers for rising up after Tannenberg and resisting new taxes. Further, most of his creditors, like elsewhere in Europe during this period, were Jews: Repudiating a few loans presented no ethical dilemma.
In May 1422, riders from the Livonian Brotherhood raced to Marienberg with urgent news: The Danes were back for Osel, and while the Order no longer had direct interest in Livonia, there was the matter of an alliance.
It would not do. May finally saw Teuton ships repaired enough to begin escorting trade convoys again. The Teuton army still only existed on paper, with Grand Marschall Jungingen training the first banner of horsemen himself. The Teuton navy could
try, but the last war proved the Kalmar Union could control the Baltic with ease. The Livonians would be sent away empty handed and empty hearted. It didn't help matters when Danish king Erik VII lamented von Plauen's decision:
And here I was hoping for a rematch. I did not know the Order breeded cowards.
(Insult)
Ten months later, following a stubborn defense, Denmark signed peace in exchange for fishing and trading rights.
(I didn't see their war end so I'm not certain of the terms, except no land exchanged hands and the LO is still independent.)
As the Livonians struggled, the Order continued to quietly strengthen. Deep rifts still needed to be healed: Peasants resented draconian taxes that only went into replenishing the army. Pomeranian dissidents in Hinterpommern longed to return to Duke Wroclaw despite the fact Castillans were overwhelming his lands, one of the odder side effects of a Bavarian/Austrian disagreement that got out of hand. Some in the Neumark thought they'd do better reunited with Brandenburg. With tension mounting through 1423, the Order's new tressler (treasurer), Anton von Freiburg, authorized a general amnesty for 'misplaced' tax records.
(Stability 3)
The effect wasn't quite as intended: Merchants hailed the amnesty. Pomeranian nobles in particular loved it as this erased a number of 'excises' and other poorly hidden penalties resulting from their resistance during the war.
(Hinterpommern becomes Core) Local nobles, already taxed lightly as much of their holdings were held in the Church's name, applauded the effort. If Freiburg expected the effect to trickle down to the commoner however, he'd be disappointed. So would the peasants, but without backing from even the burghers to fund mercenaries they held their peace. Freiburg learned his lesson well however, taking time during the amnesty to update his records and so tax more efficiently in the future.
(Improve Government Tech: +0.5 inflation, +50 Admin points)
Politically the Order strengthened as well: An alliance with Novgorod replaced the Livonians, a necessary step to contain Lithuania. For their part, the Lithuanians described their relationship with the Order as 'cordial' despite deep seated cultural and religious differences, while Wladyslaw repudiated his interest in forcing von Plauen to 'bend his knee.'
(I guess Poland has a new mission, as their subjugation CB ran out in 1423) Perhaps this was the beginning of a thaw, though it would take longer to reach Marienberg.
Decision at Kulm
Jungingen's efforts to rebuild the army proceeded, though to his distress he couldn't convince his new recruits to do more than defend their home villages.
(My morale is crap due to high War Exhaustion, which isn't going down very fast due to von Plauen's Dip 0. They're locked in place.) He appealed to his lieutenants, who reported wide spread unwillingness to serve as more than a defensive local force. A Teuton serjeant, later disciplined for insubordination, bluntly said:
Serjeant said:
We know what happens when you bring together men from all over and try to lead them, Grand Marschall. They die.
Jungingen didn't need help feeling guilty about his misadventures during the last campaign and ultimately stepped down. Immanuel von Altenburg succeeded him with eloquence:
Altenburg said:
You will stand up and report to Marienberg, or I will kill you myself.
This failed to have the desired effect, and since it turned out Altenburg wasn't willing to murder his own troops (or get murdered by them), the impasse continued into 1424.
Poles in the Kulmerland (Chelmno) didn't appreciate the Order's strengthening. Duke Konrad of Masovia ceded the region to the Teutons in 1226 and even sponsored German settlers, but the Poles always held the majority and never forgot their identity despite centuries of pressure from their Teutonic overlords. They'd enjoyed a few repatriation attempts: A widespread, bloodless revolt followed Tannenberg with the organizers dissolving following the Treaty of Thorn. Pole commander Zawesa Czarny briefly conquered the region during the last war, but again it didn't last. By 1424 dissidents throughout the region were convinced there were only two things for it: First, they could come to more amenable terms with the Knights, second they could revolt and join Masovia while the Teutons were still too weak to resist.
Von Plauen didn't do amenable.
At the outbreak of hostilities, the Teutons had 4,000 men under arms, and Altenburg still wasn't having any success in organizing them. The
grossgebetiger reluctantly authorized an additional 3,000 mercenaries - only to find they wouldn't move from their staging ports either!
Mercenary Captain said:
We know what happens to mercenaries when the Teutons go on campaign.
Masovian diplomats offered to serve as mediators, but von Plauen sensed a trap and rebuffed them.
(Masovia asks for MA) With the Order unwilling to accept help and unable to stem the rebellious elements in their army, towns throughout the Kulmerland surrendered in August.
Altenburg finally spurred his army into motion, promising the spoils of the Kulmerland 'as if they were freshly conquered' as well as appealing to ethnic fears.
Altenburg said:
And if you won't defend the Order, what then? Do they march on Marienberg? Will you bend your knee to a Polish hochmeister?
Over the next few months the 'regulars' convinced the squatting mercenary companies to see things their way, and on November 16, Altenburg descended on the Kulmerland.
He wasn't ready. The Order wasn't ready.
(I realized as the fighting began that I was still at half military maintenance.)
The army's 'revolt' had cost it months of training and perhaps a year's worth of cohesion. Every man fought for himself. Fortunately the rebel 'commander', a Polish soldier named Bogumil, knew nothing of tactics and so the two armies engaged in a frontal brawl. The armies were even, 7,000 a piece. As it turned out losses would turn out to be equal as well, some 1,100 wounded or dead. Altenburg lost his flanks though and had to withdraw.
Bogumil triumphantly led his 'army' into Poland to swear fealty. He had reason to be confident: He could simply hand the Kulmerland to Masovia or Poland, and had just bested the Teuton army to keep it.
Wladyslaw didn't see it that way: Despite von Plauen's intractibility, he still saw the Knights as a valuable northern buffer that could be incorporated peacefully. Whereas Sternberg once imagined the Order as the Emperors' militant arm, Wladyslaw wondered if the
Ordenstaadt would like a job as his 'ace in the hole', his last resort army when the Polish (or Lithuanian) nobility grew uppity. Von Plauen wouldn't live forever, his council might be more obliging, and anyway the last thing he needed was Bogumil's renegade army encouraging other nobles to raise armies of their own.
(Odd. With Chelmno in rebel hands my country was 50% broken, and their demand was to be 'given' to Masovia. Then rather than go for Marienberg or chase my army down, the rebels went to Kalisz. Wladyslaw showed up with his army.)
He executed Bogumil in early January. Altenburg returned to Kulm later that month and claimed the last town of the dying rebellion by August. Before the usual (and promised) atrocities occured, Hochmeister von Plauen stopped them.
In 1425, von Plauen was 55, in the mood to reexamine his life, and fairly secure atop the Order. Though not at all convinced of Wladyslaw's trustworthiness, executing Bogumil had been a solid first step. He was willing to wait and see.
(And remove Poland/Lithuania as rivals. For now.)
****************
COMMENTS: Well, I fully expected to be dogpiled with 0 army. I'm not sure it's good for the AI that I wasn't, but I'll take it. The next test will be December 1426 when the Poles decide if they'd like to try again. They don't have a CB though.
I wanted to discuss the economy. As I wrote last time, I thought the Order had 18/20 loans and 18.9 war exhaustion. It turns out I read the screen wrong, the 18/20 was also a reflection of war exhaustion. I kept spending money (and taking loans for those mercs) expecting to go bankrupt in September 1424 and living with the consequences. Nope.
Actually, the EU4 wiki says you don't go bankrupt unless interest payments > income, and I'm a long ways from that. I am gaining 0.1 inflation every time I renew though, and between that and my 'Improve Tech' events I'm up to 4 inflation. I'm hoping the AI continues to leave me alone, because I need to take a few years and try to deal with this. There are 17 loans pending.
