Francia and Österreich Redux - A Dual Country AAR

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Francia and Österreich Redux - A Dual Country AAR (NA)

** Readers Note - I got about 20 years into a previous AAR, and have decided to drop that one because I used a few stability cheats to aid Austria. Therefore I am starting the same AAR over, 100% clean this time. **

I consider myself an average player. I played alot of EUII and finally got a computer new enough to run EUIII. I'll be playing both France and Austria. I will run each country for five years, then save and load the other country and play the game for five years. I have the standard version EUIII, no expansion packs. All settings are normal and no cheating (Edit - I did use the stability cheat twice w/ Austria), and I am now off of it. I'll list the goals of each country seperately. I'll try to play them as specific to my goals as possible. I'll ally the two countries as quickly as the game will permit.

What if France and Austria allied with each other? Two of the more powerful nations on the earth in the 15th century, could they carve up all of Europe and make the America's a French and Austrian playground? Will the rest of the world stand by and watch? Can England, Spain, and the people of the east, Poland, Lithuania, Russia stop this two headed monster?

France​

French Goals / Strategies

1. Unite the French homeland as quickly as possible
2. Disrupt the efforts of England, Portugal Castille/Aragon in colonizing and trading throughout the western hemisphere, and ultimately conquer both the Spanish and the Portuguese
3. Rely on naval forces, once the homeland is secure.
4. Attempt to have friendly relations with Sweden
5. Be the Defender of the Catholic faith.
6. Reclaim the Holy Land
7. Protect and defend Austria
8. Aid Austria's destruction of Germany.

Austria​

Austrian Goals / Strategies

1. Unite the Holy Roman Empire / Destroy Germany
2. Become the Papal Controller
3. Create the largest land army the world has ever seen.
4. Maintain good relations with the people of the east (Poland, Lithania, Russia)
5. Send the Ottoman Empire back to Asia
6. Control the entire Italian Peninsula
7. Protect and defend France

 

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History of France​

From 1328-1453 - Taken from Wikipedia

The tensions between the Houses of Anjou and Capet climaxed during the so-called Hundred Years' War (actually several distinct wars) when the English descendants of the former claimed the throne of France from the Valois. This was also the time of the Black Death, as well as several civil wars. The French population suffered much from these wars. It has been argued that the difficult conditions the French population suffered during the Hundred Years' War awakened French nationalism, a nationalism represented by Joan of Arc. Although this is debatable, the Hundred Years War is remembered more as a Franco-English war than as a succession of feudal struggles. During this war, France evolved politically and militarily.

 

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History of Austria​

Up to 1453 - Taken from Wikipedia

Following the extinction of the Babenbergs in the 13th century, Austria came briefly under the rule of the Czech King Otakar II. Contesting the election of Rudolf I of Habsburg as Emperor, Otakar was defeated and killed by the German King, who took Austria and gave it to his sons in 1278. Austria was ruled by the Habsburgs for the next 640 years. In the 14th and 15th centuries, the Habsburgs began to accumulate other provinces in the vicinity of the Duchy of Austria, which remained a small Duchy along the Danube, and Styria, which they had acquired from Ottokar alongside with Austria. Carinthia and Carniola came under Habsburg rule in 1335, Tyrol in 1363. These provinces, together, became known as the Habsburg Hereditary Lands, although they were sometimes all lumped together simply as Austria.

The history of the following two centuries had many ups and downs. Following the notable, but short rule of Rudolf IV, his brothers Albert III and Leopold III split the realms in the Treaty of Neuberg in 1379. Albert retained Austria proper, while Leopold took the remaining territories. In 1402, there was another split in the Leopoldinian line, when Ernest the Iron took Inner Austria (Styria, Carinthia and Carniola) and Frederick IV became ruler of Tyrol and Further Austria. The territories were only reunified by Ernest's son Frederick V (Frederick III as Holy Roman Emperor), when the Albertinian line (1457) and the Elder Tyrolean line (1490) had become extinct.

In 1438, Duke Albert V of Austria was chosen as the successor to his father-in-law, Emperor Sigismund. Although Albert himself only reigned for a year, from then on, every emperor was a Habsburg, with only one exception.

 

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France 1453-1467

France 1453-1457​

The English and Breton Wars​

France is ruled in 1453 by soon to be 50 year old Charles VII. He has seen France to the end of the Hundreds Years War and although he has seen threats to his throne he is a failry able administrator of his realm.

As the game begins France is in a war with England, and two provinces are controlled by rebels.

I have an army 27k strong and two very capable generals. I decide to appoint Jean Bureau as head of the King's Infantry. He will be instrumental in defeating the English forces in the homeland.

Jean Bureau is the commander of the King's Army. He is a very fine commander and will be put to use uniting French lands and extending our claims.

Here is my original court.

 

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For my first slider adjustment I made a move to naval forces over land forces. With the help of the Austrian army I'll be able to concentrate on the sea in due time.

Bureau's army quickly defeated the 2k unit that England has to Cascogne. I also sent 6k men to siege Calais, as well as 1k each to take back the provinces of Dauphne and Lyonnais.

I sent two ambassadors to England to ask for Calais and Cascogne. Both offered were rejected.

Due to the rejection I loaded up 5k cavalry on will sail them around Ireland and unload in Scotland. From there I hope to raid England and force them to accept the secession of Calais and Cascogne.

 

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Peace With England

With Xiantraillais marching his cavalry toward London and Jean Bureau turning back every attack the English made across the channel they finally ceded Calais and Gascogne to me putting and end to English claims in the French homeland.

Bureau has been summoned to Paris to receive a heroes welcome.

 

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Bureau Meets Charles VII

After the parade for Jean Bureau was over he was summoned to meet with his highness King Charless VII.

Palace Guard - Sir General Bureau is here to see you.

Bureau - You summoned me sir?

Charles VII - Yes sir please have a seat.

Bureau - What can I do for you?

Charles - General you have won this country a great victory over the English, it is my vow as long as I am King to keep the English off of this continent. I will do whatever is necessary. I however must tell you of the real season you are here. I want to grant the Breton's a place in our great nation. Therefore I want you to prepare you men for another war. As soon as you are ready send a message rider and I will give you my blessings.

Bureau - Thank you sir, I look forward to serving my lord. Is that all your highness?

Charles - Yes sir you may go.

 

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Bureau's Men are Ready

32,000 troops ready to take Brittany and Navarra.

 

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July was a good month!!

While my 32k troops were crushing Brittany and Navarra I received this message.

About a year and a half after the war began my troops finally succeeded in the siege of Navarra.

A few days later now with Navarra firmly in my grasp I made the Breton's my vassals.

Now my task will be to amend our relations and add them to our realm.

Charles is pleased with General Bureau.

 

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Period End 1457

Period End Summary

Diplomacy - Military access granted to Provence, The Papal States. Military access received from Burgundy, Scotland, Austria, Armagnac

Land Gains/Losses - Navarra, Calais, Cascogne

Economic Improvements/Status - None - I still have to mint money to be in the green. Hopefully with some stability increased it will happen.

State Matters - Appointed three members to the court. I hired an artist, a diplomat and a naval reformer. I will build a navy in due time that will be able to go toe to toe with the Spanish, Portuguese and English.

Missionaries - None

Espionage - None

Colonial Adventures - None

 

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Austria 1458-1462​

Unification Efforts​

Well, well, well what has Austian been up to since the game's start?

Well lets start with this.

Its nice to know that Austria already controlls the HRE, now I have to keep it that way, but I guess when you have vassals that are HRE electors.

Austria has already claimed a few vassals

They made some great court appointments.

And here is what they look like. (PS I like they are back to white with NA)

They have very average relations with the Hungarian's. Id like to keep them friendly for the time being with the hopes they can hold back the Ottoman's.

I have good relations with the Bavarian's. They may be a target for vassalization assuming I can muster enough cash to bribe them into it.

 

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Mu Rulers

Ladislaus the Posthumous is the ruler of Austria. He is just 17 years old and is not very skilled in the arts of war. He is an average diplomat and administrator. He does seem to be sick often, of what I dont know.

 

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After a quick look at the situation in which Austria finds itself I have concluded that it would be best to move on Salzburg, due to having an allaince with Saxony among my counted vassals. It is my goal to annex Salzburg and to vassalize Munster. The only small concern that I have is that these countries are allied with the Teutonic Order. I hope they are never able to breach Austrian borders.

Goal #1 accomplished. I sent the Duke's Infantry into Salzburg, all 16K strong.

The Hohensalzburg was no match for the Duke's army who stormed the fortress.

The Saxon's are doing a fine job repelling the Teutonic Order while I lay siege to Munster.

Goal #2 accomplished, and I picked up a province in the process.

 

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Teutonic Order Continuing Conflict

Since Saxony was started to break somewhat against the forces of the Teutonic Order I thought it wise to try to end the war with them with a simple white peace. After two diplomatic attempts failed, I decided to march the Duke's army into their homeland to see if that would change their mind. I broke the Duke's Army into several parts to lay siege to as many provinces as possible, yet attempt to remain strong enough to repel an attack from the coast if any of their soliders returned.

After a few more weeks and alot more destruction the Order agreed to cede Danzig to me. I now have a foothold in the Baltic and the Adriatic.

 

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Is Burgundy looking for a beat down? I am not yet allied with France officially. During the French turn I couldnt get out of the Norway alliance for some reason. Ill try to do so here in the next turn. If I do, we will hopefully be able to carve up the Burgundian's fairly well.

Here is the summary of my turn when ended.

Period End Summary

Diplomacy - Military access gained from Cologne., Poland, Riga. Military access granted to Wurzburg, Luneberg, Hesse, Saxony, Hungary, Alsace, The Papal States

Land Gains/Losses - Salzburg, Onsabruck, Danzig

Economic Improvements/Status - Still not where I want to be in terms of production, but I can manage my own for now.

State Matters - Gifted many of my nearby neighbors to gain favor inside the HRE, as well as to set up potential vassals.

Missionaries - None

Espionage - None

Colonial Adventures - None

Austria is doing well in the HRE right now

Here is what they look like at this time. Scattered yet strong.

 

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Dividine world between two monsters.

Long live austria!

 

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France 1463-1467

France 1463-1467​

1st Burgundian War 1463-1468​

Due to Burgundy's warning of Austria, I had to consider just how I might fare against them in a war. I currently have 39k troops, and Burgundy has at least 23k that I can see. They are also allied or vassalizing just about everyone on my border (Switzerland, Alsace, Lorraine, Savoy) They are cut me off from the rest of Europe. If I could get Austria to fight with me, I think we could whip them, if I went at it alone it would be a long and bloody struggle, and my country may not be ready for it yet. I cancelled military access, and also warned them from attacking my neighbors.

In early June 1463 Scotland declared war on England. Although I have alot of respect for the Scots, I just cannot go fight England again. I would like fare pretty well but Burgundy is more of a pressing concern at this time.

I decided to declare war on Burgundy. I knew it would not be easy but I wanted to send them a message that they were not going to put me in a bottleneck. The French borders will expand and it will be at their expense.

Its a complex battle. It only looks like I have more help because of my French cassals.

From the looks of it I have the edge early in the war. My strategy was to try to hold Burgundy in their territory while concentrating on Lorrain and Alsace. I left the Swiss and Savoy up to my vassals.

My vassals did much of the leg work in the south, and used cavalry forces to chase off and slaughter the defeated combatants.

The north was much more difficult however with the Burgundian masses sweeping south.

Savoy would not accept vassalization, so I took her two provinces and left her pretty much meaningless. This also got one more enemy out of the war.

Lorraine had a large force of troops which I had to battle tooth and nail until I finally got them to agree to a peace deal. I wanted to take a chuck out of them and was able to take Metz.

About three years into the war I have the upper hand.

About four years in it seems things are going downhill. THe Bretons have stormed back and helped me take some of the Burgundian provinces.

The success was short lived however as my troops slowly started to fall. I had a decisive advantage on the war score so I wanted to get what I could out of them and end it before I was down to a bare bones fighting force.

I didnt get nearly as much as I wanted to get from them. Again without Austria, I knew it wasnt going to be a cakewalk. I was able to get them to release Alsace, and Switzerland. Hopefully Austria can take those two over in the next few years. I also got them to renounce their claims on Champagne and Calais. They are weakened economically somewhat, and with Alsace and Switzerland hopefully going over to Austria, they will be that much stronger.

 

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Period End Summary

Diplomacy - Military access gained from Gelre. Military access granted to all my vassals

I cancelled military access with Burgundy. I also warned them about attacking any of our neighbors.

Land Gains/Losses - Metz, Savoie

Economic Improvements/Status - None

State Matters - None

Missionaries - None

Espionage - None

Colonial Adventures - None

France a few months into 1468 - I was a little late ending the war.

 

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Austria 1468-1472

Austria 1468-1472​

Teutonic Destruction​

Looking at Austria's borders they were able to annex Wurzburg.

It looks like Austria has a pretty firm hold on the HRE.

Here is a surprise however.

 

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Teutonic Order Continuing Conflict

Austria is again at war with the Teutonic Order, apparently they didnt get enough a few years ago. Rigs and Pskov are also allied and fighting with them. Judging by the 33k troops sitting in Warmia, this wont take long.