Syndic Wilhelm Zebnitsch (23 December 1467 - 08 July 1492)
Elected the day after Ulm annexed its rival Memmingen, Syndic Zebnitch was a Diplomatic candidate who was expected to peacefully consolidate Ulm's position as its neighbors remained incensed at the annexation of an Imperial Free City.
Ulm proper had effectively doubled in size(18 to 35 development). Sadly this meant that Ulm was no longer eligible for protection from the HRE as a OPM Free City. Ulm was forevermore a Oligarchic Republic, albeit one that embraced Republicanism as a virtue.
An alliance of Hesse, Cologne and Munster attack Ulm's enemies of Wurzburg and Bavaria, but Ulm's overwhelming AE cripples it's opportunity to eat Bavaria. In any case in May 1468 Austria warns Ulm not to go to war with any countries (until June 1488).
But opportunity knocks! In 1472 Ulm's ally Salzburg attacks weakened Bavaria and Ulm swoops in to take Ingolstadt.
Having expanded Ulm's territory again in the face of overwhelming opposition from the HRE, Syndic Zebnitsch chooses to Consolidate his Power in the Republic. Hungary with Austria attacks Venice and reduce it greatly, but the AE from this conquest hurts Austria's candidacy and Bohemia is reelected as HRE.
News from around Europe, the French-Castillean war against England drags on. Holland declares an independence war on Burgundy while Castille supports them. Aragon takes advantage of Castile's overreach and attacks them. Denmark attacks Scotland and annexes most of them. Poland attacks the Teutonic Order. Milan attacks Venice. Closer to home, Mainz is annexed by The Palatinate. Hesse annexes Wurzburg. Salzburg takes two provinces from Bavaria and Ulmers outraged by Salzburg's gall in taking so much declares it her new rival.
In 1476 Ulm's vassal Ansbach is integrated. In 1477, the ruler of Boehemia becomes the HRE. The Burgundian Succession happens, dividing Burgundy between France and Castille. France attacks Leige.
Impressed with both his military and diplomatic accomplishments, Syndic Zebnitsch has so far been reelected twice and switches the National focus of Ulm from Military to Administration and chooses Influence Ideas.
Memminger sepratists stage an uprising, but they are put down.
In 1478, Austria is defending Albania from the Ottomans but losing badly. Taking advantage of Austria inability to follow through on their warning, in 1480 Ulm attacks Augsburg and its allies Wurttemberg and Wurzburg.
Ulm wins the war in 1482 and vassalizes Augsburg and Wurzberg, which leads to a war with Salzburg which had attacked Augsburg but is instead humiliated by Ulm. The Palatinate replaces Augsburg as Ulm's rival and Syndic Zebnitsch is reelected again.
In consolation for losing the HRE, Austria attacks weakened Salzburg and divides it with Bavaria. In 1484 France attacks Holland and crushes Bohemia.
With the warning from Austria finally expired in 1488, Ulm attacks the isolated Palatinate.
Ulm is satisfied in taking only the province of Mainz in order to avoid AE.
Europe on 08 July 1492, Syndic Wilhelm Zebnitsch dies at the age of 75. He had been reelected 4 times and his greatness and strength were indisputable. However his long rule had eroded Ulm's Republican traditions, which his successors vowed to rebuild.
In the next episode, an Ulmer monk named Englebert makes history...
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