From Dawn to Decadence (M3 AAR Thread)

[devil]

FRANCE 1520-1540
Here follows the tales of François I from 1520-1540, written by the court chronicler.

François I entered into negotiations with the Sultan Suleiman in May 18, 1520 through his agent Frangipani, and arranged a trade agreement. After quick negations he arranged payment to the great explorer nation Portugal for access to the harbours of the Azores.

The King followed the Progress of the Turks in central Europe, and when the sultan declared war upon Hungary, January 1522. François I decided that Italy should be controlled by the French, and began the preparations. After brief negations Helvetia entered a Military Alliance with France. Soon thereafter Our King decided the Savoy was to be the first nation that would accept French Rule. May 29, 1522 the attack came, it was a swift move by the great Lt. Gen. Pierre Bayard, and Savoy fell within months, and naturally accepted French rule. There where great celebrations throughout the realm since our lands in Italy had been united.

In November 1522 François I could declare, his first explorer Cartier, had discovered the new world it was a great day for all of France. Soon colonists where dispatched to the New World looking for gold and glory. Soon after the first colonists had settled, they discovered native pagans, François I quickly declared the natives had to be converted and their lands had to be confiscated by France, soon the first natives saw the holy light and wisdom, and began worshiping the one true faith. Before Cartier’s death he managed to explore most of the Caribbean, what a great year. Soon François I send a new explorer the following years he discovered the west coast of Africa, and as the first white man, reached Cape Hope!

3 Years later the proud Scots, left the alliance with France to join a war against the elector state of Hannover. François I was of course upset and send his diplomat to Scotland, so they would peace the elector, and pay tribute. Unfortunately they rejected, and declined any talks with the King. The King accepted it and swore not to defend the Scots again.

In 1535 The Lorraine caused a diplomatic incident in France, as their diplomat murdered the high standing Diplomat Antonio Rincon, and when Lorraine rejected to send an apology, François I declared they had to be punished, a sad day for France. After some initial fighting local troops took control of Lorraine and decided they should be a part of France, since the people in both nations where so alike. Again François I was celebrated throughout France and as recognition raised funds for the military, so they could protect the new lands.

2 Years later the Genoese overthrew French rule, and proclaimed a local duke as leader. France of course didn’t recognize the Genoese, and is currently in negations with Genoa to become a French vassal again…

 

[Norrefeldt]

The alliance between Denmark and Russia has come to an end!

Due to problems of what an alliance should consist in, and the intrinsic slowness of the Russian people and the Tsar, the Danish king have decided he will break the alliance. The priests of Denmark needs to have some scapegoat for the evils of this world, and since the muslims are to far away, and it would cause problems preaching against the protestants, the old-fashioned Orthodox heresy it will be.

 

[unmerged(11031)]

The Growth of Portuguese Imperialism, 1520 -

To examine the situation that we find ourselves now in, we must look back into the murky past to discover the answers to the pressing questions which now concern us. What Portugal achieved in the first few decades of the 1500s is remarkable given her small manpower base, yet few nations would be able to achieve what the Kingdom of Portugal did.

Portugal is a remarkable land in many ways and those that were involved in the ordering of her affairs were no less so. It had already been decided that the Nation would move to make the distant lands of India subject to Portuguese authority, an ambitious task if ever there was one, as India was many times the size of Portugal, with millions of people. It would be an incredibly difficult land to take, let alone hold. Portugal though did have a number of enclaves on the Sub continent as well as a decisive advantage in weaponry. Over the course of the next 2 decades, Portuguese armies brought the Southern part of India under their sway, ending Mysore and then moving the border of their sovereignty to Hyderabad. Plans were then being made to extend the borders even further, with the grand conquest of India being scheduled for 1600.

Military conquest was not all that Portugal was up to. The Lands of the New World as well as the Cape of Good Hope were being colonised, with the aim to have both areas firmly under the grasp of Portugal by 1560. This did mean that money was being poured into these projects, meaning that Portuguese developments in other areas such as finance and the Navy were suffering, though plans were being laid to combat this by building manufactories, indeed to prove to the World how strong Portugal was becoming, a Fine Arts centre was opened in Lisbon, with all being welcome to come and visit.

All in all, the Future of Portugal was looking brighter, as She had no concerns with the Wars that ravaged Europe. All she was concerned with, with regards to Europe was offering loans to nations at generous rates.
Portugal also says to France to stop their efforts to expand their empire in Africa, especially East Africa

 

[unmerged(10146)]

England Manoeuvring in the European Diplomatic Waters Pressed by the Mighty Spain

- fragments of the discussion between King Henry VIII and his Chancellor –​

Your Majesty, Spain appears to be deadly serious in this matter! We have to return her 250 d or face war !

Well, pay it than! Settle it, I have no time now, mine hunting party is already waiting in the courtyard…

Settle it you say? But how? Where to take the money from? Look at the last report from the treasury:

1520

1539

Spain is simply ungodly rich! Her advantage over the rest of the civilised world is incredible. There is no doubt in my mind we have to pay every ducat Spain demands, for we stand no chance at all against their armies and mercenaries their money can buy.

Can it be true? Although just looking at those graphs leaved no doubt…But to have the nerve to ask the money from England! England, who as Danish ally and good Catholic country (back than) intervened partly because our Imperial family from Spain asked us to!

Errr…Your Majesty, now when you opened this particular subject, let me just inform you those Spanish economy "experts" from Augsburg, Fuggers, are propagandising against You! What kind of an accounting method they could be using that would result in an English debt to Spain in this deal is a true mystery for me .
I am afraid the situation is in fact the opposite – here are the numbers:

• Spain agreed to send 500 d for English mercenaries to help defend our ally Denmark
• after losing two warships and some infantry and cavalry, of total worth of about 120 d, mercenaries were forced to retreat
• realising our help was not that significant and wishing to help Denmark, England sends total of 311 d to Denmark
• we all witnessed how ruthlessly Spain forced England to "return" her 250 d under the direct threat of war
• simple calculus shows this leaves England in the loss for 181 d !

I suspected it, what else could one expect from Spaniards??!! This can't be tolerated, we will not have it! Such an hypocrisy – to claim it only to be a matter of principle and some sort of money back guarantee policy . What an outrage!
Ah, hunting will not do any longer, let's make plans for WAR! Summon my nobles…

Your Majesty, I advice extreme caution. The war against Scots just ended and our northern border is far from secured. Not to mention the remaining rebellions still not put down. No, now it's not the time, I am afraid…I suppose we will have to settle with the words from our distinguished ally Denmark: "I can only recommend you to pay it up gracefully and try to get as much goodwill from those money as possible."

Smart words indeed, and perhaps only possible for the time being...
But one day... one day, when England is not that weak and poor, we will also be able to speak large words like "principle" and apply one called "money back guarantee"... Although apply it rightfully, not as mighty Spain just did, leaving England unjustly robbed!
Time will come, and we will remember all the treacheries...

:wacko: Yes, yes, My Lord, but here we are again where we started: where to take the money from?

Ah, yes, the money… It appears we will have to choose the lesser evil here. Although perhaps I am doing them wrong, perhaps they are not our enemies after all… They did help us against Welsh rebellion…
Yes, that could be the answer, to sell it... it's really only a liability…And perhaps with this thorn removed we could one day even cooperate against the common enemy…

My Lord, if I understood correctly your…errr…not so articulate reasoning :wacko:, that could lead to some discomfort among the nobility. Although I suppose most of them were smart enough to realise their claims were nowadays nothing more than wishes that just can't come true…

Those barons will obey my orders or I will see them beheaded! It is their Most Catholic Majesty with this unjust demand for money that is forcing us to ask for help in this way.
Tell the barons it is not London they have to address in this particular matter, but Holly Roman Emperor in Madrid and the Pope in Rome .

Your Majesty, I believe we could have a solution here! And a good one in this troublesome time. Sometimes I wander how much more you could have achieved if only you spend a bit less time hunting… be it ladies or boars…

:rofl: Watch it, my friend, the Queen could hear you… Although now when you mentioned it, and with this most urgent matter settled, I am again in the mood…

 

[unmerged(10146)]

TREATY OF CALAIS

§1

England renounces all claims on the French soil.

§2

City of Calais and the surrounding land is sold to the French Crown for 300 d. France agrees the money to be used to release England of the threat of war brought upon it by Spain and the Holly Roman Emperor.

§3

Kingdoms of France and England declare that for the time being there are no opened issues that could lead to disputes or even state of war between two countries.​

Signed:

François I, King of France
His Majesty Henry VIII King of England

 

[Norrefeldt]

Late at night, Christian III awaits the last figures collected by his German spy, the most unpleasant Grüber...

-Sire, Ich habe die figueers....eh.. 153000 German infanteristen were hired by your graze, und 32000 Kavalleristen.... eh.. The rebels hired 176000 and 25000 respectively....eeh.. Veeery hiegh numbers mylord. Withz todays prizees it costed Denmark 2508d and the Swedes 2310d...... Any rumor that it was much more costly for us is not entirely true... Ich can calculate in prozent viefiel...

-Not necessary! Thank you Grüber, you can leave.

The King though of the madness of war for hours that night.

 

[Norrefeldt]

Devil, I have put a link to the image found with the statistics. Any objections? I thought it would be informative for a possible outside reader.

 

[juv95hrn]

The treaty of Ragusa​

The Ottoman Empire hereby resigns its suzerainty over its vassal Ragusa and declares the Republic of Venice as the new protector and benefactor of the Province of Ragusa.

1. The Ottoman Empire shall, when so wished for, be admitted passage with military forces, both at land and at sea, for any cause in the Province.
2. Venice shall compensate the Ottoman Empire for lost tribute.


Signed…

Süleymân I Kanuni
Sultan of the Ottoman Empire


Pietro Lando
Doge of Venice

 

[unmerged(5394)]

Creation of the Spanish Empire (1520-1540)

Despite his relatively young age (Born at Ghent in 1500), Carlos I was a mature, wise and above all a very gifted man. He was a talented poet, excellent in rhetoric, spoke numerous languages, was thus educated in the very best humanistic traditions. However, despite being influenced by all the various ideas that the Renaissance had (re)introduced across Europe, He remained a devoted and a passionate catholic throughout his entire life. Many of his contemporaries failed to realise this particular side of Carlos I, and thus portrayed him as a true follower of Erasmus of Rotterdam or that of his old tutor, Adrian of Utrecht. There is no doubt that it was his education and the influence of his remarkable tutors that had raised much expectation that he would indeed pursue a rather peaceful policy after being elected as Emperor in 1520. Hopes were therefore flying high throughout Europe, from the castle of Buda to the northern shores of Hibernia that an age would finally set in where war would become obsolete or at least limited to fighting the Turks in Europe and tolerance would be the prevailing attitude on the continent. Tolerance, both as far as solving the various previously created conflicts and also as far as handling of new radical religious ideas were concerned. These hopes were more or less met in the first 20 years of his reign, as we will see, from the short summery of those two remarkable decades. Those decades have witnessed Spain’s raise to the incontestable power in Europe resulting in the nickname contemporaries have given him: "The Magnificent" or “el magnifico”. (Back in those days, rumours were circulating, that there was a contemporary Sultan who would have loved to be called that way as well, but aparently he failed to produce anyting outstanding during his riegn, let alone anything "magnificent")

to be followed...

 

[ForzaA]

Austria 1520-1540

DISCLAIMER: My AAR’s will contain some parts of the Wheel of Time novels by Robert Jordan. Be they happenings in the book, things that are likely to happen in one of the next books, or things that likely have happened, or things that could have happened. As such, I would advice anyone who is in the process of reading the series to be aware that I might be giving away some plotlines.

The Wheel of Time turns, and Ages come and pass, leaving memories that become legend. Legend fades to myth, and even myth is long forgotten when the Age that gave it birth comes again. In one Age, called the Seventh Age by some, an Age yet to come, an Age long past, a wind rose in the Bosporus. The wind was not the beginning. There are neither beginnings nor endings to the turning of the Wheel of Time. But it was a beginning.
Born among the Turkish camps, bustling with activity, it was a wind that was almost wet with blood, poised to blow northwest into Europe and envelop all of Christianity in doom. The wind howled on the plains of Hungary, striking fear into the hearts of many a Hungarian.

But the wind blew further still, north and west, slowly losing some of its momentum, almost reaching Vienna, Seat of the governor of Austria. Georg, back on his way from a meeting with his lords, Karl, or Carlos, Ruler of all of House Habsburg, and Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, and Ferdinand, who ruled Austria in the name of his brother, let his thoughts drift over recent events. Now that the Turk had, as expected, invaded Hungary, events had run as prepared, the moment the first Turkish soldier had set foot on Hungarian soil, an envoy had left Vienna, carrying a simple message in blood-red ink:

“to the Sultan, Suleyman,
die Infidel!
His majesty, Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, King of Spain,
Carlos I.”​

Of course, this message meant war, and Georg had left for his command immediately. In the past two years the army had seen a massive increase, mostly cavalry, to be ready for the Turk, training had become more determined then ever, but Georg had trouble having hope.
-Know your enemy, know your terrain, and the battle is almost won.- The thoughts he came to refer to as Trickster kept reminding him of that, but Georg still feared for his sanity, and indeed, for his health in the upcoming war.

Arriving at camp, Georg immediately gave orders to pack, and be ready to march in a day.
“Men, the day has come, the Turk is invading Hungary, it is up to YOU to save Christianity, but the Lord marches with us!”
A loud cheer engulfed the camp. “Death to the Infidel!” “For Bavaria!” “For Austria!” “For Hungary!”
Yet some cheers were remarkably absent, the cheers of the northern territories of the Empire, where the heresy was spreading like a wildfire.

Some 30 days later, the Austrian and Turkish armies met for the first time on the plains of Hungary. Fighting was fierce, and casualties on both sides were high. Georg was observing the battle from a small hill, with a large cavalry force, invisible for the enemy he hoped, waiting behind it.
-Now! Send in the cavalry now!-
Indeed, it seemed to be the best moment to send in the cavalry. Georg motioned the cavalry forward, and into the battle. ”Los, los caba’drin!” Georg shivered, he didn’t know what he had said, but fortunately the motions were enough to send the cavalry forward.
-Forward, Forward the Cavalry! That’s what it means-
-But what IS it?-
-It’s the Old Tongue-
-Old Tongue? I know Latin, and it surely is not Latin-
-Never mind, some things I cannot explain-

-Would you look at that! What a magnificent sight- And indeed it was, the cavalry charge had scattered the Turkish lines, and the Turks were fleeing in disarray, with both cavalry and infantry hot on their heels. Peering in the distance Georg saw one of the Turkish banners go down. -Excellent, most excellent indeed-
-You see, well trained infantry can stand to anyone, but a well timed cavalry charge can change a battle as well-
-It is as you say, now we must make sure the Turks can’t regroup, this war is far from over- These words proved to be prophetic, for in 1528 the war still ravaged Hungary.

-As I feared, the Bohemians were not trained well enough, they didn’t fit in the army, or, most of them didn’t, anyway-
-True, but they increased our numbers, and some of them have proved quite able-
-Bah! All they did is keep back the Turks for a while, but it won’t end the war, we must go to the offensive.-
-An offensive? Are you mad? Surely we cannot hope to mount a successful offensive.-
-Of course we can, the cavalry is swift and well disciplined, we can beat them on their own ground.-

The next few weeks were spent in busy preparation, and the Austrian camps outside Buda from afar looked like anthills. One night, Georg had a very vivid dream, he dreamed of standing in the camp, overlooking the siege of a huge city, surely that was Constantinople, but HE leading a siege against it? Suddenly, he saw a huge Turkish army marching towards the camp he was in, and he knew they would be retreating within hours. The image shifted, and he saw himself, standing, fighting a group of turks, and he knew he was dying, then, there. Suddenly the image shifted again, and he saw not a single soldier anymore, no horses either, but the tents and catapults were there. The light had changed, too, it was light everywhere, but he couldn’t find where it came from. He wondered what had happened when suddenly someone appeared from behind one of the tents. The man wore a dark-hooded cloak, and seemed to be armed with what looked like a spear, yet it looked strange, almost as if someone put a sword on top of a spear.
The man nervously fingered a scarf around his neck, then spoke: ”Hello Georg, you look surprised to see me.”
Georg shivered at the thought that a man he did not seem to know knew him. ”One never knows what the Pattern has in store, here, you must take this ring.” A ring suddenly drifted from the man, to him, and landed about a foot in front of him.
”But why?” -again someone talking of a Pattern, could it be coincidence?-
”Wear this ring when you go to sleep, and we can meet here, but now, I must go, good luck” With those words, the man suddenly disappeared again.
Georg took the ring, and looked at it with a sharp eye, the ring seemed to twist, he couldn’t keep his eye focused on it, except for some unintelligible signs on it, Tai’shar Manetheren, but what it meant, he had no idea.

When Georg woke up, he found himself clutching a ring in his fist, and like in his dream, he had trouble keeping his eyes focused on it, except for the two groups of signs, Tai’shar Manetheren, could they be words? Georg decided to keep the ring in his pocket, and tried to put it out of his head, for today, they would ride into Ottoman occupied land.

Mere months later, Georg was overlooking the siege of Constantinople, as he suddenly saw a large column of Turkish soldiers approach. He immediately tried to arrange an orderly withdrawal, and called for a messenger. Images flashed through his head, he again saw the images as they were so many nights before. As the messenger arrived, he handed him a few letters, one of them heavy with the weight of the strange ring. ”Here, take these to Vienna, the east gate, tell the guards it’s for Anton, and they’ll know what to do. Ride fast, go!”
The messenger saluted ”Yes sir! At once, sir!”

”Move out!” With those words, the siege of Constantinople was at an end. Far in the west, a lonely rider rode fast towards Hungary. The disciplined Austrian cavalry rode calmly to the north, but then, suddenly, Constantinople must have been about two weeks back, had they ridden at full speed, they were attacked in the rear. Georg immediately ordered a stand be made by the rear guard, so that the rest could escape, he himself rode back, as he had seen this moment, almost every night this last week, and he knew that he had to fight for any to survive this.

Bleeding from numerous wounds, Georg sank to his knees, then fell over, and in a last gust of blood from his mouth, he managed to mutter “Lord, let it be enough.”

 

[unmerged(10146)]

The Concise History of European Waged Warfare

Chapter I
1520 – 1539​

The list of wars waged by the most important European powers* in the period 1520-1540

1. POLAND, Teutonic Order and Prussia against RUSSIA, started in February 1521, ended in November 1523 with 50 d, Donetsk and Poltava ceded to Poland
2. VENICE against Mantua, Bavaria and Wuerzburg, started in March 1521, ended in May 1522 with Mantua annexed by Venice
3. PORTUGAL against Mysore, started in Jun 1521, ended in May 1523 with Karela ceded to Portugal
4. SWEDEN, Saxony and Mecklenburg and BRANDENBURG against DENMARK, started in Jun 1521, ended in Jun 1535 with white peace and Mecklenburg paying 200 d war indemnities to Denmark
5. OTTOMAN EMPIRE, Walachia, Ragusa and Moldavia against Hungary, Bohemia and Knights, started in January 1522, ended in April 1527 with Banat ceded to Ottoman Empire
6. AUSTRIA and SPAIN against OTTOMAN EMPIRE, Walachia, Ragusa and Moldavia, started in January 1522, ended in June 1530 with Banat ceded to Austria.
7. FRANCE against Savoy, started in May 1522, ended in Jun 1524 with Savoy becoming French vassal and 50 d and Poemonte ceded to France
8. Papal States, Tuscany and Savoy against VENICE, started in September 1522, ended in May 1527 with Marche ceded to Venice
9. ENGLAND against SWEDEN, started in May 1523, ended in November 1523 with white peace
10. PORTUGAL against Vijayanagar, started in March 1524, ended in April 1526 with Trivandrum, Yanam, Mangalore, Madurai and Mysore ceded to Portugal
11. RUSSIA against Astrakhan, started in Jun 1524, ended in October 1526 with 150 d, Ufa, Bogutyar and Samara ceded to Russia
12. FRANCE against Creek, started in November 1524, ended in August 1525 with Creek annexed
13. Teutonic Order and POLAND against SWEDEN, Mecklenburg and BRANDENBURG, started in January 1526, ended in February 1526 with white peace
14. POLAND against VENICE, started in April 1526, ended in December 1527 with white peace
15. SPAIN against Maya and Zapotec, started in October 1526, ended with Maya annexed in November 1527 and Zapotec annexed in April 1528
16. FRANCE against Cherokee, started in May 1527, ended in January 1528 with Cherokee annexed
17. FRANCE against Lorraine, started in November 1528, ended in August 1530 with Lorraine annexed
18. SPAIN against Inca, started in February 1531, ended in April 1534 with Inca annexed
19. PORTUGAL against Vijayanagar and Hyderabad, started in May 1531, ended in May 1533 with Pondicherry and Madras ceded to Portugal, and 350 d paid to Hyderabad
20. RUSSIA against Crimea, started in Jun 1531, ended in Jun 1535 with 50 d, Kerch, Azow and Lugansk ceded to Russia
21. Hanover, Pommern and Oldenburg against Holstein, Mecklenburg, Saxony, SWEDEN and BRANDENBURG, started in October 1531, with SWEDEN signing white peace in October 1531, and Hanover becoming vassal, agreeing to give military access and 75 d to Brandenburg in August 1533
22. Georgia and POLAND against Crimea, startedin November 1533, ended in September 1537 with 73 d and Kouban ceded to Georgia
23. ENGLAND against Scotland, started in January 1534, ended in March 1537 with 10 d, Grampians and Highlands ceded to England
24. Norway against DENMARK, started in February 1536, ended in October 1536 with Norway annexed
25. RUSSIA against Astrakhan, started in March 1538
26. FRACNE against Benin, started in August 1538

Casualties by country compared with wealth**

AUSTRIA

• 1 wars, total 8,5 years in the state of war
• gains: Banat
• army losses: 57.000 infantry, 140.000 cavalry
• costs of army losses: infantry 340 d, cavalry 1.540 d, total 1.880 d
• total costs of military losses 1.880 d, which is 20% of wealth accumulated in the period 1520-1540

BRANDENBURG

• 3 wars, total 2 years in the state of war
• gains: Hanover vassal, 75 d
• army losses: 29.000 infantry, 4.000 cavalry, 10 artillery
• costs of army losses: infantry 170 d, cavalry 80 d, artillery 30, total 280 d
• total costs of military losses 280 d, which is 12% of wealth accumulated in the period 1520-1540

DENMARK

• 2 wars, total 14,5 years in the state of war
• gains: Norway annexed
• losses: Sweden vassal
• army losses: 122.000 infantry, 32.000 cavalry
• costs of army losses: infantry 1.340 d, cavalry 610 d, total 1.950 d
• total costs of military losses 1.950 d, which is 40% of wealth accumulated in the period 1520-1540

ENGLAND

• 2 wars, total 4 years in the state of war
• gains: Grampians, Highlands, 10 d
• losses: 181 d during the defence Denmark
• army losses: 58.000 infantry, 8.000 cavalry, 10 artillery
• navy losses: 7 warships, 4 transports
• costs of army losses: infantry 700 d, cavalry 210 d, artillery 30 d, total 940 d
• costs of navy losses: warships 280 d, transports 40 d, total 320 d
• total costs of military losses 1.260 d, which is 11% of wealth accumulated in the period 1520-1540

FRANCE

• 4 wars, total 5,5 years in the state of war
• gains: Savoy French vassal, 50 d, Poemonte, Creek, Cherokee and Lorraine annexed
• army losses: 46.000 infantry, 55.000 cavalry
• navy losses: 6 warships
• costs of army losses: infantry 320 d, cavalry 940 d, total 1.260 d
• costs of navy losses: warships 370 d
• total costs of military losses 1.630 d, which is 10% of wealth accumulated in the period 1520-1540

OTTOMAN EMPIRE

• 2 wars, total 8,5 years in the state of war
• gains: Banat
• losses: Banat
• army losses: 382.000 infantry, 177.000 cavalry, 35 artillery
• navy losses: 5 galleys
• costs of army losses: infantry 3.820 d, cavalry 3.360 d, artillery 90 d, total 7.270 d
• costs of navy losses: galleys 60 d
• total costs of military losses 7.330 d, which is 45% of wealth accumulated in the period 1520-1540

POLAND

• 4 wars, total 8,5 years in the state of war
• gains: Donetsk, Poltava, 50 d
• army losses: 60.000 infantry, 80.000 cavalry
• costs of army losses: infantry 240 d, cavalry 720 d, total 960 d
• total costs of military losses 960 d, which is 9% of wealth accumulated in the period 1520-1540

PORTUGAL

• 3 wars, total 6 years in the state of war
• gains: Karela, Trivandrum, Yanam, Mangalore, Madurai, Mysore, Pondicherry and Madras
• losses: 350 d
• army losses: 73.000 infantry, 11.000 cavalry, 10 artillery
• navy losses: 12 warships, 1 transports
• costs of army losses: infantry 940 d, cavalry 310 d, artillery 30 d, total 1.280 d
• costs of navy losses: warships 560 d, transports 10 d, total 570 d
• total costs of military losses 1.850 d, which is 10% of wealth accumulated in the period 1520-1540

RUSSIA

• 3 wars, total 9 years in the state of war
• gains: Ufa, Bogutyar, Samara, Kerch, Azow, Lugansk, 200 d
• losses: Donetsk, Poltava, 50 d
• army losses: 169.000 infantry, 99.000 cavalry
• costs of army losses: infantry 510 d, cavalry 890 d, total 1.400 d
• total costs of military losses 1.400 d, which is 14% of wealth accumulated in the period 1520-1540

SPAIN

• 3 wars, total 11,5 years in the state of war
• gains: Maya, Zapotec and Inca annexed
• army losses: 123.000 infantry, 19.000 cavalry, 8 artillery
• navy losses: 19 warships, 14 galleys, 2 transports
• costs of army losses: infantry 1.110 d, cavalry 350 d, artillery 20 d, total 1.480 d
• costs of navy losses: warships 1.270 d, transports 170 d, total 1.480 d
• total costs of military losses 2.960 d, which is 7% of wealth accumulated in the period 1520-1540

SWEDEN

• 4 wars, total 14 years in the state of war
• gains: independence
• army losses: 152.000 infantry, 25.000 cavalry
• costs of army losses: infantry 1.370 d, cavalry 500 d, total 1.870 d
• total costs of military losses 1.870 d, which is 32% of wealth accumulated in the period 1520-1540

VENICE

• 3 wars, total 6 years in the state of war
• gains: Mantua, Marche
• army losses: 26.000 infantry, 5.000 cavalry
• costs of army losses: infantry 280 d, cavalry 120 d, total 400 d
• total costs of military losses 400 d, which is 4% of wealth accumulated in the period 1520-1540

Short description of the most significant wars of the period

POLAND - RUSSIA WAR (February 1521 - November 1523)
Teutonic Order and Prussia joined Poland and the war ended relatively fast, in less than three years. Russia was forced to cede Donetsk and Poltava to Poland and pay 50 d of war indemnities.
Casualties were similar on both sides:

• Russia: 65.000 infantry and 55.000 cavalry, in total worth 810 d or about 8% of the wealth accumulated in the period 1520-1540
• Poland: 52.000 infantry and 58.000 cavalry, in total worth 740 d or about 7% of the wealth accumulated in the period 1520-1540

Polish victories must have been decisive, because the casualties weren’t that high.

SWEDEN - DENMARK WAR(Jun 1521 - Jun 1535)
It was the war for Swedish independence and after 14 bloody years the goal was achieved.
War fortunes were changing during those years and casualties on both sides were huge, comparing to available manpower:

• Sweden: 151.000 infantry and 25.000 cavalry, in total worth 1.860 d or about 32% of the wealth accumulated in the period 1520-1540
• Denmark: 122.000 infantry and 32.000 cavalry, in total worth 1.950 d or about 40% of the wealth accumulated in the period 1520-1540

It appears Danish monetary losses were a bit higher.

OTTOMAN EMPIRE – HABSBURG WAR, for Hungary (January 1522 - June 1530)
It was the first, and apparently only Ottoman attempt to get control over Hungary and access to Europe. It was ruthlessly stopped by united Austrian and Spanish forces cooperating with smaller local armies. Ottoman losses were huge, especially comparing to Austrian and Spanish (which contain the losses against Maya, Zapotec and Inca); Spanish naval losses were large, but apparently a large part was due to attrition; nevertheless, the control over the Mediterranean and the Battle of Otranto we heard so much about wasn't so cheap neither:

• Austria: 56.000 infantry and 140.000 cavalry, in total worth 1.870 d or about 19% of the wealth accumulated in the period 1520-1540
• Spain: 123.000 infantry and 19.000 cavalry, 8 artillery, 19 warships, 14 galleys and 2 transports, in total worth 2.960 d, or about 7% of the wealth accumulated in the period 1520-1540
• Ottoman Empire: 378.000 infantry and 176.000 cavalry, 35 artillery, 5 galleys, in total worth 7.280 d, or about 45% of the wealth accumulated in the period 1520-1540

The true picture of Ottoman losses is clear from their monetary worth: huge 45% of the money ended spend for the lost cause, because in the end it looks like Austria will inherit the whole Hungary. It looks like Ottomans realised it too, because they just moved east…

----------------------------
* Player countries, written in CAPITAL LETTERS
** Military unit prices according to domestic policy and inflation for the last year of the analysed period. Wealth is defined as disposable income minus military maintenance costs.

 

[juv95hrn]

Letter from the Republic of Venice to the Governor of Milan in the year of 1540


The Republic of Venice hereby informs that she sees the French behaviour of allowing hostile nations forces to use French territory as staging ground for attacks against Venetian territory as very detrimental for our nations relations. Naturally the King of France may allow anyone to thread upon his lands and invite any nations forces to enjoy his hospitality. If, however, such forces are allowed to use French territory as staging grounds for any form of hostile actions against the Republic of Venice this will be regarded as an act of war. If France however guarantees that no such further attacks will be allowed Venice will be happy to let the matter drop as befits gentlemen of our mutual rank and status.

Signed
Pietro Lando
Doge of Venice
1540

 

[juv95hrn]

Letter from the Republic of Venice to the Pope Paulus III in the year of 1540



Signori…

The actions of our forbearers the latest decades have led to unfortunate misunderstandings and severe sufferings for our respective nations inhabitants. The Venetian high Council now wants to put and end to these ill tidings and make our two realms prosper once again. We suggest that our two Italian nations will become like brothers again and let peace and prosperity reign. To show our good faith the council have gathered a sum of 50 Ducats as compensation for the land the papal authorities lost in the Duchy of Marche. As soon as our two nations once again are friends this sum will be delivered to Rome with our warmest affection.


Signed
Pietro Lando
Doge of Venice
1540

 

[devil]

Answer from the High Court of Paris

The Republic of Venice hereby informs that she sees the French behaviour of allowing hostile nations forces to use French territory as staging ground for attacks against Venetian territory as very detrimental for our nations relations. Naturally the King of France may allow anyone to thread upon his lands and invite any nations forces to enjoy his hospitality. If, however, such forces are allowed to use French territory as staging grounds for any form of hostile actions against the Republic of Venice this will be regarded as an act of war. If France however guarantees that no such further attacks will be allowed Venice will be happy to let the matter drop as befits gentlemen of our mutual rank and status.

Signed
Pietro Lando
Doge of Venice
1540

The King of France will only allow other nations to use french soil, if the pope decree's it, France has every intension to punish those that commit crimes against the The Holy Father. As long the Republic of Venice accepts these Holy laws, then there will be no issue with France

Signed
François I, King of France
1540

 

[juv95hrn]

Scene from a Venetian trade house in 1540.

Captain Andrea Dorotti reports to his employer and overlord, the rich and powerful merchant/banker Signore Bernafili...




“… and then the galleys appeared from nowhere and without wind we could not escape.
-And you are telling me your ship was the only one to survive the attacks of the pirates, captain?
-Yes sir, the coast is notoriously famous for its savage population and pirate attacks.
-This is enough! I’m taking this to the high council and I demand something done to rid this scourge from the waves of the ocean once and for all. This can not go on any longer…”

 

[HolisticGod]

The Treaty of the Marche

The Pontiff shall allay and rescind his ruling of excommunication against the Republic of Venice, its Doge and Citizens, and shall restore them to good standing by the Lord's Grace

Those estates having been stripped from the ecclesiastic orders in the Marche Land shall be restored by the Doge to the Papal States

The ports and line of the coast of the Adriatic shall be the exclusive and a priori domain of the Republic of St. Mark, who shall use them in good faith to the explusion of the Barbary pirates and the benefit of Christendom

​

​

 

[juv95hrn]

The high Council of Venice in 1540…



“-Friends, lets give thought to the grave matter of the letter we received from Rome today, said the Doge of Venice Pietro Lando.
The great chamber feel silent, the anticipation was evident.
-Your Grace, began a scribe holding a parchment in his aging hands. The Pope will accept the offer we made him and lift the excommunication only if we perform a crusade against the Barbary pirates. We also have to transfer the secular estates in the Duchy of Marche to eccesiastical authorities so that the coast remains Venetian but the interior is restored to the Pope.
The discussion was heated, some arguing for, some against the offer, but in the end the vote was in favor of accepting the treaty…”

 

[juv95hrn]

To the Catholic nations of Europe…

Venetian forces are setting out to liberate our Christian brethren from slavery and humiliation in the Barbary pirates dungeons and galleys. Join in the effort by sending ships to our expedition and gain the grace of our savior in heaven. In case ships can’t be made available in the local area of operations, Venice can arrange such endeavors for a minor fee. Each nations flag contributing to the expedition will be carried on the flagship of Lord Admiral Grimani so that your nation can share the divine grace and prestige the adventure surely will meet. In God we trust, may his righteousness guide us.

 

[juv95hrn]

Liber Chronica di Venezia anno 1540-1563

1540-1542 War against rebels in Ragusa, Ragusa incorporated in the Republic
1543 Genoa provokes Venice causing much unrest in the realm
1544 Venetian government is further centralized
1545 Increased tax incomes from Corfu
1547 Nobles demand their ancient rights which is refused resulting in some unrest
1548 A royal marriage is concluded with the dynasty of Firenze
1549 A manufactory is founded on cyprus
1550 The Crusade against the Barbary pirates is launched and concluded successfully
1552 A Venetian envoy at the Saxon court misbehaves severely and sours relations
1554 The fortress in Dalmatia is strengthened
1555 New judicial installations are started all around the Realm
1557 A university demands fundings and receives it
1560 Many new merchants want to establish themselves internationally
1562 The majority of the population in Cyprus recognizes the catholic church as the true faith

To be continued…

 

[juv95hrn]

The Rebellion of Ragusa

After the Sultan had agreed to sell the overlordship to the city of Dubrovnik in the province of Ragusa, transferring the loyalty of the city to a catholic nation, something went terribly wrong. The city thought that they could maintain their newly won independence without repaying the heavy tribute that Venice had paid to the Turk. Venice of course refused to accept this and ordered the city to open its gates and to demobilize its forces and when this was refused the army was ordered to subdue the rebellious city.

30.000 mixed troops amply supplied under the command of Leonardo de Foscole attempted a landing in the mountainous terrain surrounding the city. The defenders mustered a force of 6.000 cavalry unfit for the terrain it was defending but with unpredictable force they managed to throw back the attackers. The Venetian army retreated to regroup and lick its wounds having sustained serious losses in the attack. After reorganizing the remaining 4.000 cavalry once again was assaulted but to no avail. Venice had been bested once again. Later the same fall the remaining 17.000 Venetian troops managed to rout and annihilate the remaining 2.000 valiant defenders. The cities walls were breached within months and the city disallowed to maintain its previous liberties due to the rebellion that cost Venice around 13.000 of her troops. Once the rebellion was quelled the populace in the Province seemed to adapt quickly to the new rule and peace and prosperity soon returned to the land.