The Reign of King Ludvik Jagellon – 1516 to 1526
Allied w/P-L, Hungary, Saxony
The Reformation
1516
King Ludvik Jagellon, “The Child King” – so called because he was merely an infant when his father died, ascended to the throne of Bohemia at a time when the House of Jagellon was at its height. Members of this dynasty sat on the thrones of Poland-Lithuania, Bohemia, and Hungary. Though the dominant party in the dynasty was obviously the King of Poland-Lithuania, all three monarchs were ultimately controlled by our Brotherhood. With a firm grip on this Eastern Europe Alliance we were well on our way towards world domination.
Ludvik himself was a king of moderate abilities
(Diplomacy 4, Administration 5, Military 5) but much spirit. He had plans and dreams for the nation, and had the youthful energy to bring them about. Unfortunately he came to the head of a nation that was still very much divided among itself. On his coronation day we received word that the Presburg Austrians had decided to test the new kings mettle by launching another revolt. No doubt they hoped that in the transition of power they would be able to regain their independence of our crown and perhaps make their way back to the Austrian fold. If this was their thought they were sorely deceived as to who truly held the power in Bohemia. It was not Ludvik or a Council that determined the course of this country, it was the Brotherhood, and more specifically, myself. I dispatched Colonel Plzen with the Army of Bohemia once more. The entire month of March was spent routing out these rebels, but they were scattered in the end, at a sore loss of 2000 of our footmen and 400 cavalry I might add. We commissioned 3000 new troops in Sudeten following the uprising to fill these ranks.
Russia continues in its militaristic path by declaring war on Astrakhan at the turn of this New Year. Denmark again backs them in this war, while Crimea comes to Astrakhan’s aid. We are certain of the ultimate outcome of this war. Given Russia’s current strength, and the massive numbers of foot soldiers they are able to muster, it seems inevitable that all of the Central Asian steppes peoples must eventually succumb to their onslaught. Crimea realizes this also and, a few months later, pays Russia 19 ducats to leave them alone.
King Ludvik shows an early penchant for diplomacy when the Austrian-Bavarian-Venetian alliance runs out in late May. Determined to court as many German princes as he can, he sends a gift of 25 ducats to the King of Bavaria, hoping to lure them away from Austria
(relations improve from –11 to +11). Austria and Venice immediately renew their ties, but now the Bavarians are doubtful. The tides of power have obviously shifted to the Jagellonic Alliance, and they wonder if they might be better off letting bygones be bygones. By late August, after an official visit to Munchen by Ludvik himself, Bavaria agrees to join our alliance. Austria is so put out that they go so far as to invite Oman into their alliance with Venice. We laugh at the desperation this move reveals.
On October 31, 1516 Europe is rocked by an event that will change it forever. It is on this day that an Augustinian monk of peasant origins nails a parchment of 95 Theses to the door of the church in Wittenburg, a medium sized Saxon city. Perhaps if Rome had acted more quickly to either squelch this monk’s heresy, or if it had been more sympathetic to his appeals for Reform, the movement started by this Martin Luther would not have had the catastrophic impact that it did. Unfortunately his indictments against the abuses of the Roman church caught and spread like wildfire among the northern German people, helped along by the burgeoning printing industry, which produced hundreds of pamphlets per day to spread among the people. Furthermore, Luther’s message of salvation by faith alone, rather than by the sacraments and mediation of the Church hierarchy is a welcome one to people who wish to free themselves from the burden of a righteousness gained by endless service to the demands of the Pope, the constant purchasing of indulgences for the remission of sin (which of course meant that the rich got into heaven a lot faster than the poor peasant), and the incessant trading and veneration of a host of holy relics (the Elector of Saxony was reputed to have a personal collection of some 5000 relics, including the bones of eleven of Christ’s toes!) By years end this heresy had spread into our realms, re-igniting the Hussite majorities already existing in Silesia, Sudeten, and Bohemia itself. Indeed, from what we can gather, the Lutheran heresy is itself very similar to the one promulgated by our own Jan Hus some 100 years prior. Of course, as a follower of the Divine Light, I am somewhat indifferent to these debates about Christian theology. Nevertheless, remaining faithful to the Catholic Church is more expedient to our long range goal of dominating the Holy Roman Empire; thus we resolve to remain officially Catholic, while at the same time being tolerant of the diverse views within our realm. Fortunately we have already had 100 years of practice with this in our attempts to maintain peace between the Hussites and the Church.
The First War of Retribution
1517
Since the annexation of Thuringen and Baden by the Palitinate we had vowed to punish the Elector of Mainz for his aggression against his German brothers. In January of this year we saw our chance to enact this retribution when the Rhineland Alliance’s term ran out. The Palitinate was only able to reestablish ties with Cologne before we Declared War on them. Of course, following so close on the heels of the Protestant outbreak, this drastically affected the stability of our realm, since we were going so far as to attack a Catholic brother while there were heretics we could be routing out.
(-3 stability for lacking a CB and sharing same religion) Regardless, our allies were quick to pledge their support, thus drawing Poland, Saxony, Bavaria, and Hungary into the fight against these two relatively small German states. We could almost hear them wetting their pants.
We begin by sending the Bohemia Army (20500/2200/57) against the Palitinate defenders of Thuringen (4100/970/0). We easily overwhelm them and begin our siege. Thuringen rebels, hoping to regain their independence over both the Palitinate and Bohemia rise against us but are soon suppressed. Frightened of our early lead and our powerful allies, the Elector of Mainz offers us 93 ducats to call off our assault. Or only response is to send our armies to Baden and begin sieging it as well. We decide to send the Bohemia Army from Thuringen since with the arrival of troops from Saxony and Bavaria, the fort there is more than covered. In fact, if it were to fall it will most likely go to Saxony.
We attempt to assault the fort in Baden so as to capture it before the troops being raised there finish their training, but we are unsuccessful. No matter though, we easily send those rookies back to training camp when we face them in pitched battle in mid-May. Colonel Plzen assaults Rastatt in Baden again in June but again fails to breach the walls. He decides to wait the siege out and the defenders finally give in on September 21. Reduced to 19k/0/56 the Bohemia Army then attacks Mainz, meeting a Palitinate army of 2500/5300/0. The German cavalry becomes the decisive factor as Plzen is forced back to Baden with total losses of five thousand men and eight cannon. The Germans grow cocky with this victory and offer us a white peace. We are not so easily subdued however, and we decline. In the mean time the Saxons have finally captured Thuringen.
During June of this year the Rhineland Alliance is reestablished with Kleves, Hessen, Cologne, and the Palitinate. However, Kleves and Hessen join only on the condition that they will not participate in this current war. They were wise enough not to take on the Jagellonic Alliance (Bohemia, Hungary, P-L, Saxony, and Bavaria).
1518
A large joint force from all of our allies moves into Mainz on the 10th of January and begins a siege, the Palitinate forces having fallen back to Pfalz. The Germans quickly rush their troops to relieve Heidelburg in Mainz but are beaten back by the superior numbers of our allies. Getting desperate, they offer us Baden for peace but we decline, deciding to try and gain a bit more for our efforts. In mid-March, Plzen marches against German forces in Pfalz with an army of 7500/0/48. The Germans muster 5200/4300/0 but this time Plzen is ready for their cavalry. He chooses his ground wisely, a marshy area on soggy day. The cavalry is effectively neutralized and his heavy cannon are able to devastate the German ranks as they slog their way through the mud. He wins the day, though at the heavy price of 2300 men. He immediately initiates a siege and refuses to hear emissaries that come offering Baden for peace.
In April Saxony captures Mainz and marches to join our siege in Pfalz. A combined allied force assaults the walls of the city of Mainz (capital of Pfalz) in early June, and in the end the Saxon banner is raised above the city. We know face an uncomfortable dilemma. The Palitinate has been completely overrun by our allied forces. However, we have only managed to capture one of these territories for ourselves. At most we can gain Baden, and if we try to give any other territory to Saxony for their trouble we will effectively cut off our chances of conquering a path to Baden in the future so as to connect our realm geographically. (The Brotherhood had determined long ago that it would be best if Bohemia possessed no disconnected and scattered territories in Europe. They are too hard to defend and maintain.) We finally decide to take what we can get, accepting the German’s offer of Baden for peace, thus ending the Retribution War. Needless to say we are less than satisfied with our gains, and vow another campaign in the near future to liberate Thuringen as well. The Elector of Saxony is also less than pleased with us, considering that he conquered the rest of the Palitinate and went away with nothing for his troubles. We station the Bohemian Army in Baden at the end of the war, knowing that there will inevitably be revolts to deal with there. Of course, by this time the Bohemia Army is down to 1800/0/44. We begin to invest in more infantry to refill the ranks.
Earlier this year our bureaucrats reported that the wise government of King Ludvik had resulted in an 821 ducat gain to both Infrastructure and Trade, as well as a rise in the overall stability of our realm. This almost repairs the damage caused by the bungling policies of the Council a few years back. Also earlier this year we hear, to our surprise, that Astrakhan was actually able to hold Russia to a near stalemate, and earned a peace for a mere 67 ducats payment of tribute.
Europe after the 1st Retribution War
Ludvik’s Diplomatic Offensive
1519
The old Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian dies this year and his son Charles V of the House of Hapsburg (ruler of both Spain and Austria) is elected Emperor. The announcement of this reminds Ludvik that he is not the most popular monarch in the Empire. He resolves to rectify this situation, and thus launches a seven-year campaign to improve Bohemia’s relations with the rest of Europe and especially the electorates of the Empire.
Bohemia’s relations in 1520
During this past war many of our Royal Marriages with our allies and others have expired. We were too occupied during the campaign to notice, and wanted to save our diplomats for peace treaties, however we renew our ties to Poland-Lithuania in February by giving a younger royal cousin to the Duke of Krakow.
(P-L relations +73 to +88) A few days later the Count of Brno’s daughter is given to the son of the Baron of Wittenburg. We feel her Hussite background will fit well with his Lutheran leanings.
(Saxony relations –9 to +5) A month later the Crown Prince of Bavaria marries a Bohemian Jagellon thus bringing them within the family as well.
(Bavaria relations +21 to +36) In July we look beyond just our allies, marrying our way into Brandenburg’s royal family and following this up with a gift of 25 ducats.
(Brandenburg relations –14 to +15) They are still a little leery of our expansionist tendencies however, and refuse to join our alliance when we offer
(Relations slip to +5). In October we renew our marriage to Hansa
(Hansa relations +25 to +40). By this time we are out of diplomats and have to wait for some to return from their errands.
Meanwhile throughout this year, starting in May, Russia and Denmark have been at war with England, Courland, and the Teutonic Order after Russia declared war on the Teutons. A general war also breaks out again among the Muslims in November when the Anti-Ottoman League (Mamelukes, Persia, Iraq, Nubia and the Hedjaz) declares war on Turkey who is backed by Cyrenacia and Tripoli. Aden backs out of their agreement with Turkey.
1520
We continue our diplomatic offensive by offering a Royal Marriage to Kleves in January but they refuse, citing their alliance with the Palitinate as reason not to become involved with an enemy of their friends. Our marriage to Lorraine runs out in February, but instead of renewing it we determine that they will need a bit more coaxing. Over the next year we send them two gifts of 25d each but the gain is slow, which indicates to me just how suspicious they are of us.
(Lorraine Relations +0 to +14)
In international news, we hear that Brandenburg has signed an alliance with Hannover, and that with the expiration of the French and Spanish alliances, Navarra, Georgia, and Hansa are added to Austria’s alliance with Venice and Oman. It seems that Charles wishes to surround himself with many small allies to make up for Austria’s lack of powerful friends.
In July we are amused to learn that our engineers have developed the ability to build Caravels
(Naval Tech 2). Where we are going to build these without a coastline I don’t know.
1521
We offer one more gift of 25d to Lorraine at the beginning of the new year and then finally gain the Royal Marriage we had been hoping for. However they subsequently decline the chance to join our alliance
(Lorraine relations +14 to +36).
In October King Ludvik gets fed up with our poor trade status and declares a universal embargo against all foreign merchants for the next three and ½ years. After he is done ranting I quietly go to him and explain that an embargo isn’t going to do much since we don’t have control of any Centers of Trade.
The Russian-Teutonic War ends with the Teutons paying a tribute of 141 ducats to Russia. We send an emissary to the Muscovites securing a marriage with our Russian brothers. That this new union was possible makes it obvious that the Brotherhood has been gaining influence in Russia.
(Russia relations –47 to –32)
The Muslim War goes badly for Cyrenacia. They give 55 ducats to Nubia for peace in March, another 12d to Persia in December, and then are immediately annexed by the Mamelukes. Of course, we couldn’t care less what the Muslims do amongst themselves.
1522
An agricultural revolution sweeps the nation this year, with new ideas about fertilization and crop rotation leading to much larger yields. The resulting prosperity increases our tax revenues across the board.
Ostmarch attempts another revolt in April, mustering 10,000 rebel troops. They hold out till the end of June but are finally crushed by the Sudeten Army
We make several more significant technological advances this year. Our weapons technicians tell us they’ve developed a weapon called an Arquebus
(Land Tech 5). Though I am unsure of precisely how it works, I am told that it will greatly enhance military. That same month travelers from Italy are employed to teach our merchants the trade and infrastructure principles of the Late Renaissance
(Trade Tech 3 & Infrastructure Tech 3). The most significant thing about this is that they show our merchants how to acquire a monopoly in a Center of Trade and the great usefulness of installing Chief Judges over each province.
We begin to court the Italian members of the Empire by showing our regards to Tuscany with a gift of 25 ducats and a marriage proposal which they happily accept
(Tuscany relations +0 to +33).
Word from the Muslim Wars report that Turkey has given minor cash payments to Iraq and the Hedjaz so that they may focus more exclusively on repelling the Mameluke and Persian threat.
1523
Ostmarch just will not accept our rule it seems, as they revolt yet again this January. Fortunately the Sudeten Army is already stationed there, and they put down the rebellion in less than a fortnight. The Sudeten Army would see more action later this year in December when Presburg revolts. They easily put down that insurrection as well.
Our only diplomatic activity this year is to send 25d to Savoy in hopes of gaining votes the next time a new Emperor is chosen.
(Savoy relations +0 to +8) We also decide to take advantage of our new administrative insights by promoting a baliff in Bohemia to Chief Judge.
The Muslim War ends in February with no territory exchanging hands except for the previous annexation of Cyrenacia. Turkey ends up paying the Mamelukes 74d for peace.
Russia takes another swing at Astrakhan by declaring war in June along with Sweden and Denmark. Astrakhan is again backed by Crimea.
1524
Horror of horrors, a nation has actually left the fold of the Catholic Church. In January the Prince of Hessen has a Lutheran conversion experience and declares his realm to be officially Protestant. We find this especially odd since of all the northern European provinces, Hessen is the one who has to date been relatively untouched by the heresy. In fact both of their provinces still contain a majority of Catholics. At any rate, this decision alienates them from their former allies and they are forced out of the Rhineland Alliance.
We continue our structural reform by promoting a tax collector in Presburg. We feel that this last recent revolt finally broke their spirit, and we no longer fear an uprising in our Austrian territories
(Revolt Risk = 0%).
Ludvik focuses more attention on Savoy this year, offering them 25 more ducats and a Royal Marriage in March, both of which they accept.
(Savoy relations +8 to +43) The rest of the year is relatively uneventful and we enjoy the benefits of peace and prosperity. Ludvik has done well as king so far.
1525
Hessen’s Protestant move last year emboldens several other princes as Prussia and Hannover convert to Protestantism this year.
Ludvik continues bringing the nation up to speed by promoting a tax collector in Ostmarch this year. He also sends three merchants to Andalusia, which has grown quite valuable what with all the explorations the Spanish have been doing recently. Our Late Renaissance techniques help us to achieve a level three share of the trade there.
Having secured our marriage with Savoy we turn next to Genoa, sending them a 25d gift to soften them up and then locking down a Royal Marriage by September.
(Genoa relations +0 to +32)
Just a few weeks shy of his thirtieth birthday, King Ludvik is our riding when his horse throws him and he lands in a wet marsh. In the cold December weather he soon catches pneumonia, and a few weeks later is dead. The nation goes into mourning for the loss of a king so young. This has also caused us some difficulty since the King has died without leaving an heir, and none of the other branches of the Jagellon family has a suitable candidate. I wonder what this will mean for the Brotherhood and for Bohemia as we search for the next king to fulfill our plans.
Next up. . . The Early Years of King Ferdinand and the 2nd War of Retribution.
