Pope-Emperor Martinus V, 1419-1431
The Busy Years
Pope Martinus V had been a pretty good Pope since he took the job in 1417, ending the Great Schism. That is, until the 10th of January 1419 when some immigrant janitors were cleaning the floors of the Papal Palace. Martinus was running at some speed to reach an important appointment in time, but a particularly slippery piece of floor got in the way, and when he woke up it was quite obvious that he had gone mad...
OK, that's all the introduction you get. On the 10th my custom events (as pictured above) triggers and the reconquest can begin!
Imperial Legionaries demonstrate their brand new uniforms for awed Imperial Crowds.
Well, actually nothing happens yet. I centralize a bit and a lot of wars are declared between the AIs. But I do use my superior Imperial Diplomatic Corps to enter an alliance with the northern Etruscan state of Populonia [Tuscany] and some Greek city states [Athens], which brings me into a nice little war between them and the Etruscans of Perusia [Siena]. I invade the province of Siena and lay siege, as the Perusians are busy invading Firenze.
Expansive Lombardians.
Meanwhile the Lombardians [Milan] have invaded yet
another Etrusan city, by the name of Arretium [Modena]. In May 1420 they subdue them completely, and in September I do the same to Perusia. My first conquest! A month later the dastardly Lombardians invade the peaceful Greek colony of Adria [Mantua], which they annex after only a month of war.
In August 1421 my erstwhile Populonian allies decides to make war upon the expansionistic Lombardians and their Ligurian [Genoese] and Transalpine Gaul[Savoyard] allies. The Lombardian hordes are crushed trying to invade Romagna and I respond by invading Lombardia and covering Mantua while my allies occupy Emilia, greatly aided by foreign armies also deciding that they have a grudge against Lombardians.
By July 1422 the Populonians make peace, giving Mantua to me and Emilia to themselves. Understanding that the Lombardians won't last a month with no army and half of Europe against them, I do something rare and break our truce to save the poor bastards. By February 1423 I capture Lombardia for a second time and annex them.
How thoughtful!
In the middle of the Second Lombard War, my Greek allies declare war on Epirus [Albania] who in turn calls for the assistance of the Campanians [Naples]. My Etruscan friends prove their usefulness by single-handedly invading Naples while the Greeks land in Apulia. After that not much happens for several years.
In March 1425 the Greeks finally annex Epirus. In May Apulia falls and is also given to the Greeks. Are they trying to create some empire of their own, perhaps? In any case I see that the Ligurians are trying to invade Campania too, so another truce-breach is unfortunately in order...
After that it's time to rebuild. I increase centralization further in 1429, and in August the same year those dastardly false Romans in Byzantium are finally conquered by the Seleucid Empire [Ottoman Empire]! One less contender to the Imperial Glory...
But soon afterwards, on the 20th of February 1431, the first Pope-Emperor, Martinus V, dies. During his 12 year reign I have retaken 4 more provinces (Emilia, Lombardia, Mantua, Naples) and annexed 3 states and gained two allies. Time to wait and let the BB drop...
Europe at the end of Martinus V's reign.