The Hannoverian Chronicles – Part I
Country: Hannover
Other Majors: Spain, France, England, Turkey, Poland-Lithuania, Austria
Patch 1.09
IGC 2.0 with Free Ireland, Free Bretagne, Free/Aus Lowlands
Difficulty - Normal, AI - Normal, FOG - on, Random and Historical Events
It is 1January, 1492, and Heinrich VII rules Hannover, a country of two provinces, Oldenburg and Hannover. A 10,000 strong army stands in Oldenburg, holding the coast, and a 25,000 force protects the capital province. However, relations with most other countries are good, the best being with England at +140, and the worst, our southern neighbours in Hessen at –80. Stability is at +2, and 99D sits in the nation's treasury. Our glorious ruler has stats of Diplomacy 4, Economics 3, Military 4, and looks like he won't interfere in his nation's running too much.
Feb 14 – Brandenburg refuse our offer of a Military Alliance, and our only diplomat has been wasted on a futile mission.
Feb 19 – Half of our precious treasury is used to pay for the promotion of a Tax Collector in the capital province of Hannover.
Mar 22 – The minor nation of Grenada is annexed by Spain. Or so the Spanish ambassador has told us.
April 1 – France (Savoy, Papal States, Brittany) declare war on Austria and her allies (Bohemia and Lorraine). Such a belligerent nation so close to our small country kindles a frenzy of diplomatic discussions at court as the king is consulted about prospective allies.
May 3 – Hungary joins the Austrian Alliance, but does not enter the war with France.
May 6 – Negotiations with Saxon result in the forging of a Military Alliance with them for the mutual protection of our two countries.
July 12 – France militarily annexes Lorraine.
Aug 21 – Our only merchant is sent to Mecklenburg to try and produce some revenues for our desperately poor country.
Aug 29 – A messenger arrives from Saxony, proffering the hand of its king's daughter in marriage to one of Heinrich VII's sons. The proposal is accepted, further cementing our relations.
Sept 20 – Our merchant reports back that he has managed to establish a small stall in the centre of trade in Mecklenburg.
Oct 2 – The court at Thuringen reject our gracious Royal Marriage proposal. We may not forget their rudeness in a hurry.
Oct 18 – Another merchant is sent to follow the first to Mecklenburg.
Nov 16 – And he too manages to set himself up in business there.
Nov 17 – But bad news follows as out western neighbours, the Dutch, enter a Military Alliance with the Hanseatic League, Pommerania, Holstien and Portugal. Most of our neighbours are now in other alliances, but we are not too worried, as our relations are all good with them.
Dec 10 – 1,000 Infantry are recruited in Oldenburg.
Jan 1, 1493. Stability +3. Yearly income 21D. Treasury 38D.
Jan 6 – A Royal Marriage is arranged with England, and our relations improve as a result (+155)
Jan 29 – Another merchant climbs aboard his cart bound for Mecklenburg.
Feb 1 – Our land tech increases to provide us with field artillery. Which we can't hope to afford.
Feb 25 – We now have 3 merchants trading out of Mecklenburg, But their return is small.
Feb 26 – Brandenburg enter the alliance with the Hanseatic League, Portugal, Holstien, Pommerania and the Netherlands. Quite a blow, as we are now surrounded by this alliance on three sides.
Jun 1 – Trade and infrastructure levels increase to level 2.
July 16 – Turkey declares war on the Mamelukes. The action is too far off to be of more than a passing interest to the court.
Aug 8 – A Royal marriage is arranged with Hessen, slightly improving our relations (-57)
Aug 29 – Mecklenburg can expect another Hannoverian merchant soon, as another is sent north to ply his trade.
Sept 12 – Hessen reject an offer to join Saxony and ourselves in a Military Alliance, and our relations suffer as a result (-66)
Sept 27 – Hannoverian merchants never fail, it seems, and four merchants are now doing business out of the Hansa controlled trade centre.
Oct 20 – 1,000 infantry recruits are ordered to bolster the army in Hannover.
Nov 26 – The Franco-Austrian War draws to a close with France winning Franche-Comte at the peace table. In an interesting footnote, the treaty was signed in Hannover, so maybe everyone will think of us as neutrals and leave us alone until we can build ourselves up. I do hope so.
Jan 1, 1494. Stability +3. Income 23D. Treasury 36D
Jan 8 – The Palatinat joins our Military Alliance with Saxony. Not a great power, but every little helps.
Feb 15 – Seeing as they are so successful, another merchant begs leave to travel to Mecklenburg.
Mar 17 – He too makes a niche for himself. We now have five merchants on this centre of trade bringing in 5D per year in revenues. Not really as great a killing as the expenditure has warranted.
May 27 – Kleves reject our invitation to join our Military Alliance. 'Sod 'em' was Heinrich's reaction.
Sept 24 – A Royal Marriage is arranged with Brandenburg. At least that gives us a little security to our east. Relations with them are at (0).
Nov 13 – Poland-Lithuania (Moldovia) declares war on Russia (Crimea, Ryazan, Pskov and Venice). Now this could be a biggy.
Nov 15 – Venice (Russia and Pskov) declare war on little Ragusa. Crimea and Ryazan decide that one war at a time is enough for them and decline to side with their allies this time round.
Nov 29 – In a change of strategy, a merchant is sent to Venice. It costs more, but it looks like the returns may be infinitely better than those that Mecklenburg.
Dec 27 – Although our merchant didn't manage to set himself up in Venice, he did cause the downfall of a Venetian, but I don't think they were too happy about that.
Jan 1, 1495. Stability +3. Income 23D. Treasury 38D.
Jan 10 – At a cost of almost half our cash reserves, another two merchants are sent to Venice (16D)
Jan 25 – The court have to don their morning suits again as Austria agree to a Royal Marriage.
Feb 8 – News arrives that both our merchants are safely set up in business in Venice. Nice.
Apr 1 - Spies steal the sea charts of our closest friends the English, and shameful though it is, we now know of Iceland, the Azores, the Canaries and how to sail to the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.
Jul 30 – One of Heinrich's uglier nieces is married off to a high up member of the Hanseatic League. Relations up to +35, despite her mirror-cracking looks.
Jan 1, 1496. Stability +3. Income 23D. Treasury 34D.
Jan 5 – The Ragusan War is over, and in a shocker of a result, Venice are forced to pay 117D in indemnities to end the fighting. A few raised eyebrows at the court over that one.
Jan 6 – Venice gets another dose of Hannover's excellent merchants, as another sets off to make money for his country.
Feb 5 – Trade is once more expanded in Venice. 3 Merchants bringing in 21D per year. Now that's a return!
Feb 6 – We enjoy the hospitality of the Dutch at yet another wedding celebration. Phew, can those boys brew lager!?
May 26 – Although we arrange a Royal Marriage with Poland-Lithuania, we decide not to attend the celebrations, due to the fighting still raging in that part of the world.
Jun 17 – Another merchant is persuaded to pop down to the northern Med. and ply his trade in Venice.
July 16 – A Crimean merchant is competed way in Venice.
Sep 18 – Russia laugh at our proposal of a Royal Marriage. Swines.
Jan 1, 1497. Stability +3. Income 23D. Treasury 32D.
Mar 3 – Crimea makes peace with Poland-Lithuania, taking Krementjug and Donetsk. Fair play to them.
Apr 29 – The Mamelukes are annexed by Turkey.
Aug 1 – We exchanged our ill-gotten English discoveries with the Venetians, and receive knowledge of the coast of Arabia and western India. Looks interesting. Shame we don't have a port.
Aug 10 – Turkey declares war on Hungary (Austria, Bohemia, Navarra, Helvetia, Baden and Wurtemburg). Methinks they have bitten off a bit much there.
Aug 19 – Pskov is annexed by Poland-Lithuania.
Aug 21 – Hungary, obviously with their hands busy at the moment, decline our invitation to a Royal Marriage.
Oct 13 – Persia (Nubia) declare war on Turkey. Heh heh heh.
Oct 30 – Despite our past friendliness, Venice also decline a Royal Marriage.
Jan 1, 1498. Stability +3. Income 23D. Treasury 48D.
Jan 7 – Hessen once again reject our invitation to our Military Alliance. Relations fall to –36.
Feb 4 – In a shocker of a move, Turkey asks for permission to be admitted to the French Alliance of Savoy, Papal States and Brittany. Oddly enough, the Pope doesn't seem to have any objections, and doesn't veto the move. What curious times we live in. Murmurs begin in court that maybe the Pope is in the sway of other influences, and a fresh perspective is needed for Christianity.
Mar 1 – Land tech increases to level 4, Artillery Support, but the treasury still refused to allow the army to buy any of these new weapons. Too expensive they say.
Apr 9 – Louis XII ascends the throne of France.
Nov 15 – Hessen joins Thuringen in a Military Alliance. That's two states that I really don't like. Heinrich begins to dream of cutting them both down to size a bit.
Dec 1 – Naval Tech reaches level 3. But we have no ships. Or ports. Only a pretty coastline.
Jan 1, 1499. Stability +3. Income 23D. Treasury 65D.
Jan 9 – Turkey pays Bohemia 42D for peace.
Jan 12 – France (Savoy, Papal States, Brittany and Turkey) declares war on England (Spain, Naples and Scotland).
Feb 4 – Baden walks away with 14D of Turkish cash for peace. I think they are happy with that.
Feb 8 – Kleves reject a Royal Marriage proposal.
Feb 9 – But Cologne doesn't.
Feb 15 – Turkey signs a white peace with Helvetia in the Hungro-Turkish war. Whittling down the opponents.
Mar 24 – Cologne put pen to paper and joins our Military Alliance with Saxony and the Palatinat.
May 22 – Bavaria join with Hessen and Thuringen in their Military Alliance. Damn, that one is getting too big to take on comfortably.
July 24 – Turkey signs over Serbia to Hungary, and the Hungro-Turkish War is over. I don't think the Turks will forget the insult too quickly, though.
Aug 19 – We sign a Royal Marriage with Bavaria. Another nation of great brewers.
Sept 26 – The Russo-Polish War ends when Poland-Lithuania extracts Tula from Russia at the peace table.
Nov 18 – The city of Calais begins to crumble under a siege by a combined army of France, Brittany and Savoy. There is no English relieving force in sight.
I know things have been a bit slow, but with a small country like this one, getting the cash in is hard. So what do people think I should do? Teach Hessen a Lesson
Or save for forts and tax collectors first? Input appreciated
Chelmsford
