August II the Conqueror
b. 12.07.1369 - d. 21.07.1432
King of Poland 22.01.1388 - 21.07.1432
King of Sweden 22.01.1388 - 21.07.1432
Grand Duke of Lithuania 05.10.1397 - 21.07.1432
Grand Duke of Moscow 01.05.1407 - 21.07.1432
King of Bohemia 05.07.1423 - 21.07.1432
Prince of Smolensk 05.07.1425 - 21.07.1432
Part Two
On January 27th, 1408, heir to the throne, Stefan, became ill. Fortunately, the illness was not serious and soon he recovered.
The war against Serbia and its allies was slowly coming to an end. On April 6th Principality of Albania signed peace treaty with Kingdom of Hungary and became its vassal. May 28th has brought information that Bulgarian Empire signed a peace treaty in which it was forced to break diplomatic relations with Bosnia and to pay 5000 ducats of war reparations.
On January 1st, 1409, the Kingdom of Bosnia signed truce with the Kingdom of Hungary, paying 3900 ducats of war reparations. A little later, on January 12th, combined Polish - Hungarian forces defeated one of the last Austrian divisions in the Battle of Steiermark. Two days later, on January 14th, war between Hungary and Serbia ended with Kingdom of Serbia paying 2400 ducats. The last two fighting countries were Austria and Wallachia. Seeing that the war is lost Wallachia, as alliance leader, started peace talks and on January 28th treaty was signed. In accordance with it Principality of Wallachia had to pay 1400 ducats and break diplomatic relations with Ethiopia.
On March 28th, Stefan fell ill with unknown disease. Despite the medics efforts and prayers of August, the second of the name, a few days later he died.
[At this moment I was certain that it was the end of Piast dynasty.]
The year 1410 was spent on economical development of provinces and on dealing with situation in the country after two long wars.
Unfortunately peace did not last long. On April 29th, 1411, arrived envoy from Brandenburg to call to arms. Kingdom of England declared war on Kingdom of Norway, which was an ally of Brandenburg, which in turn took the role of alliance leader. The answer could only be one and the next day Poland was at war with the Kingdom of England and the Kingdom of Castile, English ally. Because of the high experience, August, the second of the name, took the role of alliance leader. At the same time envoys were sent to allies for help. No one refused it.
After months of marching Polish army under the command of Zyndram z Maszkowic reached Larissa, where on January 23rd, 1412, clashed with British troops under the command of the English king, Philip, the first of the name. The skill in art of war of the English ruler proved to be much better and Zyndram had to retreat to Edessa.
On January 29th archbishop of Munster Friedrich Christian, the first of the name, paid homage to the king of England, and on April 22nd joined the war on the side of England. September 9th was another ordinary day of the war. The Polish and Hungarian troops under the command of Zyndram Maszkowic defended against the army English in Edessa. A second army, led by Rafal Piaseczynski, was moving towards Sweden to assist local forces in the fight against Castillian troops. On this day 43 years old August, the second of the name, learned that the queen born him a son, Wladyslaw. The joy was immense and if only there was no war, the king would immediately went to Krakow to see his wife and child.
[And thats how Piast dynasty was saved.]
On December 7th one of the smaller allies of England, Brabant, offered to withdraw from the war under the terms of a return to status quo. The proposal was accepted.
At the beginning of 1413 both Poland and England were already exhausted by war. On both sides began to appear voices that the continuation of the war does not make sense and one need to make peace. Before these plans come true, on August 12th, Holy Roman Emperor Karel, a fifth of the name, announced another reform of the imperial administration.
After many months of negotiations, on October 14th, peace was concluded between the Kingdom of Poland and the Kingdom of England. The Polish king August, the second of the name, had to admit defeat in the presence of Philip, the first of the name.
[I was so happy that they accepted this offer.
The first peace offer from England was to end vassalization of Finland and Moldavia,
pay 200 ducats and cede one of Swedish provinces.]
The year 1414 passed quietly, and it seemed that the country finally has a long-awaited peace. Unfortunately, it was interrupted on October 3rd. Russians living in the northern part of the continent revolted against the current rulers, including Swedish nobility. As the Kingdom of Sweden was in personal union with the Kingdom of Poland, Polish army joined the Swedish to suppress the rebellion.
[I dont know why but that event reduced my Stability by 5. From +2 I ended with -3.]
Lack of resources and high war exhaustion led to signing first peace offer from the rebels on May 1st, 1415. The country was in bad shape after the war so King decided to move the capital to Warsaw, which was located more centrally to all the lands that were under Polish sovereignty. This decision increased the internal stability of the country. the remaining months of the year has passed on economic development.
Beginning of 1416 has brought the news that after months of negotiations Kingdom of Castile entered royal marriage with Kingdom of Poland. On July 22nd envoy arrived from the Principality of Smolensk, asking for help in the war against Polotsk. Polish troops joined the war on the side of Smolensk and under the command of Zyndram z Maszkowic started an expedition to Polotsk, where on November 11th defeated small forces of the enemy. Polotsk strongholds surrendered almost without a fight and a few days later, the province was ceded to the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.
[Technically I annexed the country and sold province to Lithuania.]
The year 1417 passed quietly. Country finally had so much desired peace and the time for licking wounds after many wars.
On February 23rd, 1418, died Rafal Piaseczynski. To emphasize his contribution to the country, the king issued a monument of him on one of the squares in Warsaw. On September 28th came envoy from the king of Hungary Ulaszlo, the second of the name, asking for help in the war against the Byzantine Empire and the Kingdom of Serbia. The king has fulfilled obligations as an ally and joined the war on the side of Hungary.
The beginning of 1419 brought news of the death of the pope. Conclave had chosen Innocentius, the eighth of the name, as his successor.
On February 5th Polish troops under the command of Zyndram z Maszkowic had to recognize the superiority of the Byzantine-Bulgarian forces and, after losing a battle, began to retreat from Kozani to Plovdiv, where on June 11th supported Hungarian troops. On June 24th, second Polish army, led by Zbigniew z Brzezia defeated the Byzantine army in Kosovo under the command of Emperor Demetrios, the first of the name. Zbigniew z Brzezia began to chase Emperor and on July 18th in Albania triumphed. Demoralized Byzantine troops no longer represented any military power and on August 1st were crushed on the outskirts of Kosovo. The Byzantine emperor manage to flee from the battlefield.
The combined Polish-Hungarian troops did not face much resistance, so the greater surprise was the ambush in which on November 18th fell polish army, led by Zyndram z Maszkowic. In the mountain passes of Bitola they attacked from two sides by imperial army and totally defeated.
On January 6th, 1420, one of the last battles of the war took place. Troops commanded by Zbigniew z Brzezia defeated the last army of Demetrios, the first of the name. Peace negotiations were held for many months and peace was signed on August 13th. The Byzantine Empire ended the vassalizaion of Serbia, removed the Kingdom of Serbia on its sphere of influence, annulled all treaties with the Ache, Bosnia, Bulgaria and Epirus, and had to pay 17100 ducats of war reparations.
The rest of the year and the year 1421 had passed peacefully.
In early July, 1422, August, the second of the name, received a message from the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. Nobody knew what was in the message, but it was enough to annoy the king. The next day King called the Council and announced that from this day the Kingdom of Poland was at war with the Kingdom of Bohemia. At the same time envoys were sent to allies for help. Only Denmark broke away from the alliance.
[Started D&T mission to subjugate Bohemia.]
On July 9th Polish army began the siege of Breslau and Ratibor. The first surrendered Breslau on July 15th and victorious troops of Zyndrwam z Maszkowic moved to Liegnitz. On August 30th Hungarian troops have gained full control of the province of Troppau, and on September 4th Leignitz and Ratibor surrendered. September 10th brought the news that Brandenburg army took control of Hradec Kralove, and on October 5th in the Bohemian capital, Prague.
The same day died pope and on October 13th conclave elected Iulius, the second of the name, as new pope.
On January 24th, 1423, to the Polish king August, the second of the name, came envoy from Brandenburg and said that his country has made peace with the Kingdom of Bohemia. It couldn't change anything, because Polish troops and allies had total control of the territory of the Kingdom of Bohemia. On January 31st surrendered Erz, and on April 4th Niederlausitz and Hradec Kralove. On June 3rd once again surrendered Prague, this time to Polish troops.
Bohemian army was nonexistent and peace talks began, which ended on July 5th with peace of Prague. Karel, the fifth of the name, renounced his claims to the Bohemian crown, and Polish king August, the second of the name, was crowned as new Bohemian king.
[Fulfilled mission to subjugate Bohemia.]
As the Holy Roman Empire lost its emperor, the electors met and chose the August, the second of the name, as new Emperor. Perhaps this was the reason why on September 1st Kingdom of Hungary broke the alliance with the Kingdom of Poland.
On January 2nd, 1424, dies childless last hospodar of Moldavia and in accordance with age-old eternal tradition Moldavia was incorporated into the Kingdom of Poland.
On July 5, 1425, dies Gleb, the third of the name, Grand Duke of Smolensk. To the surprise of all he wrote in his last will that the Polish king August, the second of the name, and his male descendants, should rule his country.
[Lucky personal union from royal marriage.]
On the beginning of January 1426 started the war against the Duchy of Pomerania. The king and the council agreed that it is the best time to reclaim former Piast lands. February 6th brought two events. Army commanded by Zyndram z Maszkowic defeated in battle for Hinterpommern forces of the Pomeranian Duke John Frederick, the first of the name. On the sky yet another comet was spotted. This time the king was not happy seeing it.
On March 28th Brandenburgian forces had total control of Hinterpommern and on April 12th of Koslin. Seeing total defeat Pomeranian duke had no other choice but to accept peace on polish conditions. He paid homage to August, the second of the name, annulled all treaties with Holstein, Mecklenburg and Riga, and had to pay 5000 ducats of war reparations.
[Fulfilled mission to subjugate Pomerania.]
The remaining moths of the year did not bring notable events neither the year 1427.
In early March 1428, knyaz of Yaroslav, Semen, the second of the name, placed himself under the care of Kingdom of Poland and paid homage to August, the second of the name. Similarly, on August 28th did knyaz of Pskov Republic Faddey, the first of the name.
A little earlier, on July 26th envoy from Milan arrived to ask the Holy Roman Emperor, August, the second of the name, for help in the war against the Venice Republic. On the side of Venice fought Austria, Salzburg and Aquileia.
As soon as it was possible Polish troops moved to Austria where met the Bohemian troops besieging fortresses. On November 2nd Polish army led by Zbigniew z Brzezia started siege of Salzburg, which ended on January 8, 1429.
A week later, the archbishop of Salzburg, Maximilian Gandolf, the first of the name, paid homage to the King of Poland. On September 9th, 1429, after 199 days of siege, surrendered Treviso. Venetian traders understand that the war was lost and sat down for peace talks. Venice renounced their claims on Verona and ended the vassalization of Aquileia.
The year 1430 passed without major events. The king and council spent time on economic development.
January 1431, has brought information about the war between Novgorod Republic, Wallachia and Brandenburg, Denmark. Because Brandenburg was a Polish ally, the king decided to intervene. And so, on January 25th began the war against Novgorod and Wallachia. On March 6th began the siege of Calarasi, which surrendered on March 14th. On April 1st Zbigniew z Brzezia started siege of Wallachia, which surrendered on April 11th. A day later Wallachian hospodar Radu, the second of the name, signed a peace with the Polish king August, the second of the name, and converted himself to Catholicism.
On April 29 began the siege of Veliky Novgorod, which surrendered on May 5th. The next day Knyaz Konstantin, the first of the name, paid homage to the king of Poland.
On February 13th, 1432, another comet appeared on the sky. Most council members agreed that it was bad omen.
On July 21st at the age of 63 dies August, the second of the name, King of Poland, Sweden and Bohemia, Grand Duke of Lithuania and Moscow, Prince of Smolensk, Lord protector of Pomerania, Pskov, Yaroslavl, Novgorod and Finland.
By descendants called "the Conqueror".
Poland and its neighbors at the end of August reign.
(click for bigger image)