Part seven - WAR
A "short" Update just on one war....
During the professoers lecture suddenly a student in the first row raised his hand and asked a question, only understood by the Professor.
What do you mean make it mor interesting? ... More personal view of history? ... Its boring?? Well, you are here to learn something, not to have fun. ... Oh don’t come me with pleeeaase now ... oh and stop it, don’t even think of looking at me like a puppy .. thats unfair I have all thes nice facts i could tell you! ... No? ... Oh, I can’t resist such helpless looking students.
He throws away his thin staple of paper and grabs a much thicker one from his pocket. But it can take a little longer...
So, where was I? Ah yes. WAR!
Well, as I said Joachim waited for a opportunity of war against Bohemia and its ally Austria. Till 1516 no opportunity arrived, so he got to impatient and declared war anyways.
The Strategy was like the one in the first Austrian war. Frundsberg should move almost 30000 men to Brabant conquer the city and force Burgundy out of the war again.
Versuvs Austria 27000 men marched against Salzburg and 27000 more against Morovia. With the goal to capture the cities and beat all armies encountering them.
The swiss allies were supposed to hold off Milan, or at least buy some time till Frundsberg could come down and help. But what a supprise when Milan dishonored its alliance with Austria and did not join the war immediatly.
The war in the east did not start very well, both armies in Bohemia and Austria were driven back by superior forces, Frundsberg on the other hand celebrted great succes. When he arrived in Brabant he had to fight a 15000 men strong Burgundian army. No enemy survived the slaughter. It is said, that when Frundsberg laid siege on the city the second time in 11 years he went up to the wall and shouting up “People of Brabant, we were here 11 year before and yout defenses did not hold us back, why should this change now? Surrender or be destroyed.” His call was answered by an rain of arrows, of which none hit him. So he started his siege again, and after only 5 months the city fell again, and Burgundy had to accept a white peace.
In the east only the austrian campaign was succesfull, lead by Winzerer, they were able to kill the defender and lay siege onto Salzburg. The Army in Bohemia on the other hand was beaten over and over again. Till may the 27000 men strong army was reduced to little more than 6000, so that fresh recruits had to be trained again. In the meantime news reached Joachim, that Milan joined the war on side of Austria, and a 40000 Men strong army was dispatched conquer germanies small ally the Palatinate. But the brave defender managed to kill 13000 of the attacking army and repell the attackers.
But like in the last war the nobles could not hold still. This time they even tried to ursurp against Joachim. But the plot could not succeed. The noble was arrested and, although that caused quite a stirr under the nobles, behaeded. His estates on the other hand were left to his heirs.
Through all internal troubles the war against the austrian alliance continued. Frundsberg was send down to Lombardia to throw Milan out of the war, or weaken them enough that they would not be a danger anymore. At the same time the Milan Army moved down to catch the german Army before it could reach the Milan capital. A race begann. Frundsberg pushed its men on as fast as possible, but still he was to slow. To still reach Lombardia before Milan, a diplomat was dispatched to Pietmonte. And, really, he had success, the small geman minority could be convinced to use the war to reach their own freedom. 6000 Rebells started a siege against the fortres. Although they had no chance against the Milan army, as they arrived, they still bought Frundsberg enough time to reach Lombardia before the Milans. When the Lombardian army arrived just days later, a defense was allready prepared by Frundsberg. 26000 Germany stood against 23000 Milan soldiers. At first the Milan soldiers could make some succes and push the german lines far back. The Milan soldiers saw the victory right in front of them, as the German cavalary hit the Milans from both flanks and the rear. The slaughter was great, all Milans died, with only 3600 dead Germans.
After one year Lombardia finally fell. As the war against Bohemia was still going poorly, Frundsberg was dispatched to help out. The war against Austria was going well, Salzburg has been conquered and the Steiermark was under siege.
It took two more years of hard bloody fighting, but with the help of Frundsberg and the Palatinate Army, the veteran Bohemian Army, that won so many battles against the germans could be destroyed and all Bohemian Fortresses were captured. Bohemia had to accept a peace that cost it all but its capital province.
But the joy of victory was dimmed. By new bad news. The noble faction was on the move again. The beheading of one man was clearly not enough, another noble tried to throw down the king, and he too was caught. This time a clean sweep was made by Joachim. ALL of the traitors were killed and much land was taken from the nobles. Hopefully this would finally end the troubles with them.