Greetings, people of the internet, and welcome to my first AAR for not only EU4 but also ever. I imagine just about everyone reading this has committed the rite of passage which that being to put WAY TOO MANY HOURS into this game. (1300 hours plus here) That being said, I do hope you enjoy this series and side note, any suggestions for decisions, expansion options, etc are more than welcome as I am more than willing to accept ideas on how this should go.
Immediate Goals
1. Stop the Ottoman juggernaut from taking over Europe (Basically, block them from expanding in the Balkans.)
2. Retain the independence of Hungary and it's soon to be a dynasty.
3. Become a Great Power
Simple stuff. Still, most of what is to come is on the fly and that's the way it should be IMO.
DLC - All major except Mandate of Heaven and Third Rome.
Mods - Commonwealthball 0.22 & Flatmap without dark water.
Chapter 1 Regency, Janos Hunyadi and Intervention.
The year is 1444, and the state of central Europe and the Balkans is in a desperate array. With the defeat of the Christian forces in the lands of Ottoman Bulgaria, the West knew this Islamic force was not to be trifled with. Still, while much of the crusading forces were destroyed and much of their leadership either killed, captured or never to be seen again, three factors still remained which kept the Ottoman menace pinned down for all but a moment.
First, The remnants of the Byzantine Empire. Since they did not partake in the crusade, this meant they were still weak, but not to the point of just opening the bloody gates to the Sultan to end the war. Consequently, if the Ottomans wanted to puncture any deeper into the Balkans, they would either need to leave a sizable force in the rear to deter any backstabbing, or risk facing a two front war. While the current Emperor wants nothing more than to see the glory of his people once me, everyone knows they are destined to be slaughter sooner or later.
Second, the legendary hero of Albania, Skanderbeg. If there was ever a thorn in the side of the Ottoman Sultans, it would be this man. Wherever the Ottomans went, they knew that any remote attack in Albanian territory would be met with a sword to the neck and the blood of slain infidels would fill the lands of the Albanians. The mere presence of this man instilled passion and hope into a gravely outgunned and outmanned army. That being said, Skanderbeg knew he could only defend his lands and could not venture out 'less he lose his advantage...
FInally, The White Knight, Janos Hunyadi. While Skanderbeg was kicking the butt of any non-Christian/invader who did not speak Albanian who even looked in the direction of his people's home, Hunyadi was busy turning Hungary into the last line of defense for the West. Hungary sat without a king and most of the nobles had begun plots of seizing power for themselves, an act of treason which would destroy the nation from within. Janos Hunyadi knew what he had to do to keep the nation alive...
Finally, Janos called together a Diet of the lords of Hungary in 1445 to get the nation back on track. Through careful diplomacy coupled with force when needed, he was not only able to place himself as Regent-Governor of the Kingdom but have the backing of the nobles which gave him the much need aid to get his diplomatic plan started.
First, he reached out to his former allies, Poland who were not fairing much better from Varna. Upon receiving his offer for an alliance, the Nobles of Poland graciously accepted and further informed the Hungarian diplomat of the plan of restarting the Polish-Lithuania Union in which they offered Hunyadi the crown of the Kingdom if he left his home. To any other man, this would be a very tempting offer, but not Hunyadi. Janos wrote back to the nobles, declaring his intent to stay with his people but stated he would support whomever Poland elected so long as they honored their alliance.
Before responding to the Polish where his loyalty lies, the Austrians came to Janos with an alliance offer which he ultimately accepted but he knew there was a deeper meaning. Janos was aware of the Austrian Habsburg's intent to spread their house across Europe and with Ladislaus the Posthumous being a member of the Habsburg family AND the heir, he needed to keep a close eye on his western ally.
With Austria to deter the Bohemians and the Polish coming the North along with the impassable Carpathian Mountains to the East, Janos focused on the Balkans by sending an alliance offer to both Albania and The Byzantine Empire to keep the Ottomans on their toes. While certain members of the nobles question allying two nations which they see as a waste of diplomatic energy and talent, Janos saw this as arguably his last chance to stop the Ottomans from going out of control. In the end, Janos secured the alliances he needed to keep Hungary safe while keeping two of the most important members of the Balkans under his protection.
As the months rolled on and the Ottomans started attacking much weaker targets in Anatolia, Janos started war games with his generals and ordered the training of more troops to complement the war to come. The objective differs depending on which of the two is attacked. As Janos started drawing up plans, his diplomat to the Byzantines came with worrying news. Athens, the vassal of the Byzantine Empire, had just received the support of the Ottomans and were planning to fight for their independence in the coming years once the Turks finished their wars.
Two years later in 1447, the time came where Athens declared their independence from the Byzantines. As expected, the Ottomans were more than happy to weaken their enemy and possibly conquer Constantinople. Hunyadi was busy in northern Hungary when the attack commenced and the general wasted no time and declared that the Kingdom was now in a state of war against the infidels once more.
Time was of the essence as the two armies of Hungary marched south into the lands of the Ottomans. Janos ordered his second in command, Lorinc Festetic, to take the second army and assist Constantinople before the Ottomans cross the Bosphorus and get into Europe. Janos headed straight for the Ottoman capital, Edrine to try and complete the land blockade from Anatolia.
Janos arrived on April 13th to find the Byzantine army under the Byzantine Emperor falling straight into a trap by the Ottomans. As the battle commenced, Janos rushed towards the frontline to save the Emperor from a stray arrow. The arrow hit a Byzantine soldier who screamed in such pain no man should hear. Stopping another monarch from dying like he tried at Varna, Hunyadi took command of the armies and eventually surrounded and annihilated the Ottoman army.
While the Christian soldiers cheered at their victory against what was believed to be an unstoppable enemy, Janos was in deep thought. Why would the Ottomans only send a portion of their army over the straits? The Siege of Edrine would commence and the main Ottoman army was nowhere to be seen. Lorinc Festetic reported that Constantinople was quiet with no invading forces trying to attack. Furthermore, some of his men were becoming restless and commented that they should go on the offensive which both he and later Janos objected immediately.
If they were going to win this war, which was now possible, they must fight smart and not let testosterone lead them to death and defeat.
423 days would pass until Edrine surrendered to the Byzantine-Hungarian army. As the celebrations began within the troops, bad news came from southern Greece. Athens had taken the southern provinces and a small detachment of Ottoman troops aided their siege. When Janos asked for numbers, he discovered the total of their forces only reached 11k, divided almost evenly.
Janos marched with half his army while leaving the other half under the command of Lorinc until he defeated this force and returned to the straits. The Byzantines followed Janos, seeing him as their most capable leader which the Emperor had no objection to. The combat in southern Greece went well as the joint army destroyed the Athen and Ottoman armies separately and stated the siege of Athen and recapture of Morea. Hunyadi, fearing an incoming attack, ordered the Byzantines to focus on Greece as he returned to Constantinople and Edrine.
Arriving at the two points of invasion, Lorinc reported that an army of 12k tried crossing but was swiftly pushed back across to Anatolia. Janos knew the war was going well but the Ottomans were not unleashing their full might on him which worried the man greatly. However, things were going to get much more interesting real quick for the Regent.
His diplomat from Albania came to Janos a letter which held very, very interesting content. Skanderbeg wanted in this war which did not surprise Hunyadi. However, Skanderbeg could not risk attacking alone with Venice ever so keen on taking his land. Therefore, Skanderbeg made an offer that Janos Hunyadi could not believe he was reading, nor refuse...
Skanderbeg offered to become a vassal of Hungary.
Janos asked the diplomat if this was indeed a legitimate letter from Skanderbeg as this was completely different than what the legend was known for. The diplomat nodded, handing another letter from Skanderbeg which went over his reasoning which would be summed up a doing this with the intent of good will between Skanderbeg and Hunyadi. Janos knew Skanderbeg was leaving quite a bit out in these letters but he wasn't going to object. Asking for a piece of parchment along with ink and a quill, Janos quickly scribbled a reply.
The man, the myth, the legend was in this war; and his sword wanted to taste a certain Sultan's blood...
Skanderbeg divided his army and quickly took Avlonya and Uskup before moving to help the Byzantines quicken the sieges of Morea and Athen. Hunyadi voiced his worries to his equal when he arrived in Constantinople about the lack of Ottoman forces and how piecemeal they seemed. Skanderbeg thought on the topic and neither could come to a conclusion with the current evidence. The meeting of the two generals ended with Skanderbeg handing Hunyadi a letter, telling him not to open it until the time is right...
Christmas Eve, 1451 would be the day everything ended. The Ottomans surrendered to the combined forces and Athen gave up on their quest. Byzantium regained several parts of their former capital, including the all important Erdine. This, above all, meant that any invasion by the Ottomans meant they would have to invade from Anatolia or face the real possibility of being encircled and destroyed by staying in the Balkans.
Janos and Skanderbeg marched into Constantinople as heroes of the Empire, and of Christendom as a whole with the Pope himself celebrating the actions of every soldier who fought and died for the cause. Food, wine, ladies and everything in between could be found in the streets and halls of Constantinople as a new sense of rebirth and relief could be seen on the people's faces. The year ended in joy and for most of 1452, the three Christian realms enjoyed the silence of peace until death came knocking on the door of Albania.
October 2, 1452, would be a day that would be remembered for mourning as Skanderbeg passed away of natural causes. The following week would see a wide variety of figures ranging from Janos, his family, a few Christian monarchs from all parts of Europe from Poland-Lithuania, Byzantium and a few others minor lords. The room was filled with several emissaries from all over Europe to pass respect on their countries behalf alongside a cardinal from Vienna who was ordered by the Pope himself to proceed with the service to give the man the proper care he deserves.
As the ceremonies came to a close, Janos returned to his quarters and believed that now was the time to read the letter. Opening it, the contents were almost astonishing. Skanderbeg, even before joining the war, had contracted a fatal sickness that would kill him in a matter of months. The letter further explained that when he dies, he was worried that the Venetians would smell blood and strike when Hungary is in a moment of weakness. This, coupled with other matters, is why he agreed to the vassalage.
Janos looked over his own health following Skanderbeg's funeral. He knew that he eventually would also die of any number of illnesses or outside factors. Furthermore, he only has roughly three more years until the Habsburg heir was old enough to rule the realm and the Austrians seemed to put more and more pressure in the kid's education, but also his loyalties...
However, there was still hope for Hungary, his sons, Laszlo and Matyas. Janos knew both were extremely capable warriors as they helped in the previous war but also they were very good in the diplomatic and administrative fields. To this end, Jano put all his energy into the education of both his children in hope of either of them possibly being a king in the future. Finally, the day of came for Ladislaus to claim the Hungarian throne which was met with mixed results around the kingdom. Many people had grown to love and admire Janos Hunyadi for helping the nation grow not since the days of Stephen the First.
This popularity would not stand, the Habsburg couldn't let it.
And so it was that several assassins were sent to Hunyad Castle where Janos and his children resided. Dozens of hired assassins broke into the castle with one goal... to removed the Hunyadi equation in Hungary once and for all. The citizens of Hunedoara near the castle could hear the sound of steel clashing against each other. Those loyal to their Lord rushed to the castle to find bodies lying in the courtyard with only one person remaining among them, Matyas Hunyadi.
Janos, Laszlo, the few royal guards who stayed after the Regent ended and every assassin that was contracted laid dead. The town guards quickly surrounded the deceased lord's son who was nothing but in a fit of rage and anger.
"The Austrian Habsburgs will know of this day, the day they failed to subjugate this realm and its people!"
Word spread like wildfire that the Austrians had orchestrated the murder of not only a war hero but their former Regent. The nobles who were undecided on whether to back the new king along with being against Janos all knew what this meant. Within the next week, Ladislaus found a realm that was nearly in full revolt against him and by February 25 of 1455, Ladislaus was killed by what means no one knows. All the people know is that the throne was now without a ruler.
Before anything could be done, Lorinc, Janos' former general and friend declared that the only person worthy of leading would be a native of these lands. Furthermore, he claimed that Matyas, the last known member of House Hunyadi had not only the skills but the wisdom on how to govern the land due to Janos himself tutoring him for such a possibility. Lorinc knew that several would dispute this but the least he could do is see to it his friend's son rightfully received the throne.
And so it was, Lorinc, alongside his bodyguards, personally escorted Matyas to Pest to be declared the heir to the Kingdom of Hungary...
-------------------
Off topic for a moment, I am not joking when I say the Ottomans did not use their full strength. They weren't in another war and had no reason to. It was... confusing, but I won't complain since it left me with manpower after the war. Anyway, hope you enjoyed and see you next time with Matyas, the Habsburgs, the Green and Blue Blobs and everything in the middle.
Immediate Goals
1. Stop the Ottoman juggernaut from taking over Europe (Basically, block them from expanding in the Balkans.)
2. Retain the independence of Hungary and it's soon to be a dynasty.
3. Become a Great Power
Simple stuff. Still, most of what is to come is on the fly and that's the way it should be IMO.
DLC - All major except Mandate of Heaven and Third Rome.
Mods - Commonwealthball 0.22 & Flatmap without dark water.
Chapter 1 Regency, Janos Hunyadi and Intervention.
The year is 1444, and the state of central Europe and the Balkans is in a desperate array. With the defeat of the Christian forces in the lands of Ottoman Bulgaria, the West knew this Islamic force was not to be trifled with. Still, while much of the crusading forces were destroyed and much of their leadership either killed, captured or never to be seen again, three factors still remained which kept the Ottoman menace pinned down for all but a moment.
First, The remnants of the Byzantine Empire. Since they did not partake in the crusade, this meant they were still weak, but not to the point of just opening the bloody gates to the Sultan to end the war. Consequently, if the Ottomans wanted to puncture any deeper into the Balkans, they would either need to leave a sizable force in the rear to deter any backstabbing, or risk facing a two front war. While the current Emperor wants nothing more than to see the glory of his people once me, everyone knows they are destined to be slaughter sooner or later.
Second, the legendary hero of Albania, Skanderbeg. If there was ever a thorn in the side of the Ottoman Sultans, it would be this man. Wherever the Ottomans went, they knew that any remote attack in Albanian territory would be met with a sword to the neck and the blood of slain infidels would fill the lands of the Albanians. The mere presence of this man instilled passion and hope into a gravely outgunned and outmanned army. That being said, Skanderbeg knew he could only defend his lands and could not venture out 'less he lose his advantage...
FInally, The White Knight, Janos Hunyadi. While Skanderbeg was kicking the butt of any non-Christian/invader who did not speak Albanian who even looked in the direction of his people's home, Hunyadi was busy turning Hungary into the last line of defense for the West. Hungary sat without a king and most of the nobles had begun plots of seizing power for themselves, an act of treason which would destroy the nation from within. Janos Hunyadi knew what he had to do to keep the nation alive...
Finally, Janos called together a Diet of the lords of Hungary in 1445 to get the nation back on track. Through careful diplomacy coupled with force when needed, he was not only able to place himself as Regent-Governor of the Kingdom but have the backing of the nobles which gave him the much need aid to get his diplomatic plan started.
First, he reached out to his former allies, Poland who were not fairing much better from Varna. Upon receiving his offer for an alliance, the Nobles of Poland graciously accepted and further informed the Hungarian diplomat of the plan of restarting the Polish-Lithuania Union in which they offered Hunyadi the crown of the Kingdom if he left his home. To any other man, this would be a very tempting offer, but not Hunyadi. Janos wrote back to the nobles, declaring his intent to stay with his people but stated he would support whomever Poland elected so long as they honored their alliance.
Before responding to the Polish where his loyalty lies, the Austrians came to Janos with an alliance offer which he ultimately accepted but he knew there was a deeper meaning. Janos was aware of the Austrian Habsburg's intent to spread their house across Europe and with Ladislaus the Posthumous being a member of the Habsburg family AND the heir, he needed to keep a close eye on his western ally.
With Austria to deter the Bohemians and the Polish coming the North along with the impassable Carpathian Mountains to the East, Janos focused on the Balkans by sending an alliance offer to both Albania and The Byzantine Empire to keep the Ottomans on their toes. While certain members of the nobles question allying two nations which they see as a waste of diplomatic energy and talent, Janos saw this as arguably his last chance to stop the Ottomans from going out of control. In the end, Janos secured the alliances he needed to keep Hungary safe while keeping two of the most important members of the Balkans under his protection.
As the months rolled on and the Ottomans started attacking much weaker targets in Anatolia, Janos started war games with his generals and ordered the training of more troops to complement the war to come. The objective differs depending on which of the two is attacked. As Janos started drawing up plans, his diplomat to the Byzantines came with worrying news. Athens, the vassal of the Byzantine Empire, had just received the support of the Ottomans and were planning to fight for their independence in the coming years once the Turks finished their wars.
Two years later in 1447, the time came where Athens declared their independence from the Byzantines. As expected, the Ottomans were more than happy to weaken their enemy and possibly conquer Constantinople. Hunyadi was busy in northern Hungary when the attack commenced and the general wasted no time and declared that the Kingdom was now in a state of war against the infidels once more.
Time was of the essence as the two armies of Hungary marched south into the lands of the Ottomans. Janos ordered his second in command, Lorinc Festetic, to take the second army and assist Constantinople before the Ottomans cross the Bosphorus and get into Europe. Janos headed straight for the Ottoman capital, Edrine to try and complete the land blockade from Anatolia.
Janos arrived on April 13th to find the Byzantine army under the Byzantine Emperor falling straight into a trap by the Ottomans. As the battle commenced, Janos rushed towards the frontline to save the Emperor from a stray arrow. The arrow hit a Byzantine soldier who screamed in such pain no man should hear. Stopping another monarch from dying like he tried at Varna, Hunyadi took command of the armies and eventually surrounded and annihilated the Ottoman army.
While the Christian soldiers cheered at their victory against what was believed to be an unstoppable enemy, Janos was in deep thought. Why would the Ottomans only send a portion of their army over the straits? The Siege of Edrine would commence and the main Ottoman army was nowhere to be seen. Lorinc Festetic reported that Constantinople was quiet with no invading forces trying to attack. Furthermore, some of his men were becoming restless and commented that they should go on the offensive which both he and later Janos objected immediately.
If they were going to win this war, which was now possible, they must fight smart and not let testosterone lead them to death and defeat.
423 days would pass until Edrine surrendered to the Byzantine-Hungarian army. As the celebrations began within the troops, bad news came from southern Greece. Athens had taken the southern provinces and a small detachment of Ottoman troops aided their siege. When Janos asked for numbers, he discovered the total of their forces only reached 11k, divided almost evenly.
Janos marched with half his army while leaving the other half under the command of Lorinc until he defeated this force and returned to the straits. The Byzantines followed Janos, seeing him as their most capable leader which the Emperor had no objection to. The combat in southern Greece went well as the joint army destroyed the Athen and Ottoman armies separately and stated the siege of Athen and recapture of Morea. Hunyadi, fearing an incoming attack, ordered the Byzantines to focus on Greece as he returned to Constantinople and Edrine.
Arriving at the two points of invasion, Lorinc reported that an army of 12k tried crossing but was swiftly pushed back across to Anatolia. Janos knew the war was going well but the Ottomans were not unleashing their full might on him which worried the man greatly. However, things were going to get much more interesting real quick for the Regent.
His diplomat from Albania came to Janos a letter which held very, very interesting content. Skanderbeg wanted in this war which did not surprise Hunyadi. However, Skanderbeg could not risk attacking alone with Venice ever so keen on taking his land. Therefore, Skanderbeg made an offer that Janos Hunyadi could not believe he was reading, nor refuse...
Skanderbeg offered to become a vassal of Hungary.
Janos asked the diplomat if this was indeed a legitimate letter from Skanderbeg as this was completely different than what the legend was known for. The diplomat nodded, handing another letter from Skanderbeg which went over his reasoning which would be summed up a doing this with the intent of good will between Skanderbeg and Hunyadi. Janos knew Skanderbeg was leaving quite a bit out in these letters but he wasn't going to object. Asking for a piece of parchment along with ink and a quill, Janos quickly scribbled a reply.
The man, the myth, the legend was in this war; and his sword wanted to taste a certain Sultan's blood...
Skanderbeg divided his army and quickly took Avlonya and Uskup before moving to help the Byzantines quicken the sieges of Morea and Athen. Hunyadi voiced his worries to his equal when he arrived in Constantinople about the lack of Ottoman forces and how piecemeal they seemed. Skanderbeg thought on the topic and neither could come to a conclusion with the current evidence. The meeting of the two generals ended with Skanderbeg handing Hunyadi a letter, telling him not to open it until the time is right...
Christmas Eve, 1451 would be the day everything ended. The Ottomans surrendered to the combined forces and Athen gave up on their quest. Byzantium regained several parts of their former capital, including the all important Erdine. This, above all, meant that any invasion by the Ottomans meant they would have to invade from Anatolia or face the real possibility of being encircled and destroyed by staying in the Balkans.
Janos and Skanderbeg marched into Constantinople as heroes of the Empire, and of Christendom as a whole with the Pope himself celebrating the actions of every soldier who fought and died for the cause. Food, wine, ladies and everything in between could be found in the streets and halls of Constantinople as a new sense of rebirth and relief could be seen on the people's faces. The year ended in joy and for most of 1452, the three Christian realms enjoyed the silence of peace until death came knocking on the door of Albania.
October 2, 1452, would be a day that would be remembered for mourning as Skanderbeg passed away of natural causes. The following week would see a wide variety of figures ranging from Janos, his family, a few Christian monarchs from all parts of Europe from Poland-Lithuania, Byzantium and a few others minor lords. The room was filled with several emissaries from all over Europe to pass respect on their countries behalf alongside a cardinal from Vienna who was ordered by the Pope himself to proceed with the service to give the man the proper care he deserves.
As the ceremonies came to a close, Janos returned to his quarters and believed that now was the time to read the letter. Opening it, the contents were almost astonishing. Skanderbeg, even before joining the war, had contracted a fatal sickness that would kill him in a matter of months. The letter further explained that when he dies, he was worried that the Venetians would smell blood and strike when Hungary is in a moment of weakness. This, coupled with other matters, is why he agreed to the vassalage.
Janos looked over his own health following Skanderbeg's funeral. He knew that he eventually would also die of any number of illnesses or outside factors. Furthermore, he only has roughly three more years until the Habsburg heir was old enough to rule the realm and the Austrians seemed to put more and more pressure in the kid's education, but also his loyalties...
However, there was still hope for Hungary, his sons, Laszlo and Matyas. Janos knew both were extremely capable warriors as they helped in the previous war but also they were very good in the diplomatic and administrative fields. To this end, Jano put all his energy into the education of both his children in hope of either of them possibly being a king in the future. Finally, the day of came for Ladislaus to claim the Hungarian throne which was met with mixed results around the kingdom. Many people had grown to love and admire Janos Hunyadi for helping the nation grow not since the days of Stephen the First.
This popularity would not stand, the Habsburg couldn't let it.
And so it was that several assassins were sent to Hunyad Castle where Janos and his children resided. Dozens of hired assassins broke into the castle with one goal... to removed the Hunyadi equation in Hungary once and for all. The citizens of Hunedoara near the castle could hear the sound of steel clashing against each other. Those loyal to their Lord rushed to the castle to find bodies lying in the courtyard with only one person remaining among them, Matyas Hunyadi.
Janos, Laszlo, the few royal guards who stayed after the Regent ended and every assassin that was contracted laid dead. The town guards quickly surrounded the deceased lord's son who was nothing but in a fit of rage and anger.
"The Austrian Habsburgs will know of this day, the day they failed to subjugate this realm and its people!"
Word spread like wildfire that the Austrians had orchestrated the murder of not only a war hero but their former Regent. The nobles who were undecided on whether to back the new king along with being against Janos all knew what this meant. Within the next week, Ladislaus found a realm that was nearly in full revolt against him and by February 25 of 1455, Ladislaus was killed by what means no one knows. All the people know is that the throne was now without a ruler.
Before anything could be done, Lorinc, Janos' former general and friend declared that the only person worthy of leading would be a native of these lands. Furthermore, he claimed that Matyas, the last known member of House Hunyadi had not only the skills but the wisdom on how to govern the land due to Janos himself tutoring him for such a possibility. Lorinc knew that several would dispute this but the least he could do is see to it his friend's son rightfully received the throne.
And so it was, Lorinc, alongside his bodyguards, personally escorted Matyas to Pest to be declared the heir to the Kingdom of Hungary...
-------------------
Off topic for a moment, I am not joking when I say the Ottomans did not use their full strength. They weren't in another war and had no reason to. It was... confusing, but I won't complain since it left me with manpower after the war. Anyway, hope you enjoyed and see you next time with Matyas, the Habsburgs, the Green and Blue Blobs and everything in the middle.
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