The beginning of a new era
1399. A year of turmoil and decision...
In a hall inside the city of Buda the high officials of the Hungarian court waited nervously for the arrival of their king in order to administer his dominion
Finally a door at the far end of the room opened and the herald announced the arrival of Sigismund the first, through God's Grace King of Hungary. During his 12 year reign Hungary had consolidated it's power as the regional power and few had tried to counsel him as his rule was widely acclaimed as wise, just and strong (
Admin.7 Diplo.6 Mil.6)
He approached his advisors as they bowed their heads and placed his hands on the table in front of his throne.
"What are the main issues today?"
With a bow a diplomat reported: "Mylord, in my humble opinion we should seek a closer relationship to Austria and Poland, both are strong nations which might aid us against the increasing threat of the Turks."
Sigismund nodded his head in approval.
"We agree on your basic assumptions but we doubt an alliance with Poland might help us since they are facing a dire situation in Lithuania, where the mongols are creeping ever closer to our borders as well. Austria should be a fine choice of ally, it eases the pressure on our borders and could provide excellent support."
The king fell silent for a moment and then spoke to the diplomat again:
"Zsigmund Andrássy, we hereby authorise you to seek a treaty of friendship and support with the Habsburgs in Vienna, while you probe for the possiblities of a royal marriage with the Polish and with our fellow Luxemburgs in Bohemia, who are Emperor."
"As you wish, my king." Zsigmund bowed and left the room to carry out his orders.
Sigismund looked at the members of the military and raised an eyebrow.
"We have received quite a lot of complaints about the recent recruits, sir."
The highranking general gulped as he felt the piercing gaze of his king.
"Mylord, we have taken every means to drill and discipline our soldiers, I cannot imagine them molesting our citiziens."
"Every means? So our brave Hungarian soldiers are gamblers, thiefs and liars by default? No sir, we think you have been lazy and been happy enough to just fulfill the quotes without guaranteeing the quality. Improve the situation at once and dismiss all the recruits from the last month!"
The shunned advisor lowered his head in defeat.
"Yes, mylord."
Turning around the man readied himself to leave the room as his king recalled him once more.
"And find new, better suited recruits to increase the strength of the army!"
Nodding the advisor reached the door and left.
"Any other major events?" The king asked looking into the faces of his council.
As he saw no reactions he continued, while walking up the podest to his throne.
"Very well, let the ambassadors and visitors enter."
---
"Rise, ambassador. Tell me what news do you bring from Hungary?"
Zsigmund graciously pulled out a scroll with the royal seal of the Magyars and handed it over to the Polish king.
"Your highness, mylord King Sigismund I von Luxemburg of Hungary proposes a holy union of the two royal houses of Poland and Hungary in order to seal and reinforce our friendship."
Smiling the Polish king broke the seal and read the letter.
"These are extraordinary news ambassador Andrássy! Such a proposal is most welcome and we have an even better proposal for you. What about an alliance? An alliance to strike down the infidels and heretics in our vicinity? Surely this is in the interests of Hungary as well...?"
Zsigmund shook his head.
"I am sorry to say, your grace, that my liege has precisely given me the task mentioned in the letter and not anything else."
Frowning the Polish king called one of his servants and whispered some orders.
"Ambassador, you will surely stay for a while? What about contemplating our proposal after witnessing the power of our country? Especially our financial strength?"
He smiled and pointed at the servant who just returned with a chest.
Greed lightened up Zsigmunds eyes as he saw it and he replied: "It will be an honor to witness them, your highness."
---
Weeks later
"This is outrageous!"
"It is the inconvenient truth ambassador!"
King Sigismund pierced the Bosnian in front of him with eyes full of fury.
"With due respect your highness, your sudden claims to territory that had always been Bosnian with the threat of war is an act against all christian virtues!"
Sigismund stood up and spoke with a tone which froze the the audience hall.
"Of all christians, you a heretic, a so called orthodox, dare to consult christian virtues? Ambassador, you a hereby expelled from the realm of Hungary and as soon as you arrive in Bosnia, you can tell your duke, that there is no need for another ambassador as war will be your only answer from the Magyars! Leave! At once!"
"As it pleases your highness."
Without any other words the Bosnian turned around and left.
As Sigismund heard the door close he waved a servant to him and said:
"Assemble the council as fast as possible!"
"Very well, your highness."
One by one the advisors entered the small room besides the audience hall and as the last one arrived the king opened up the meeting.
"The Bosnians have refused to fulfill the corrections on our borders to meet our demands."
The military advisor immediately said: "A cause for war...a just cause. Mylord, I would declare war right now to crush those disrespectful heretics!"
Zsigmund Andrássy intervened: "Do not forget that the Bosnians have the protection of the Turk. This might turn from border skirmish to major war!"
Sigismund nodded as if in approval but said: "Andrássy, we usually value your council high but with those alliances you have secured it should be easy to reach our wargoals. I will personally lead the armies to victory over the heretic and the infidel."
"But your highness!" The chamberlain chimed in, "what if, in the worst case, you fall in battle? You have no heir, what will happen to Hungary?"
Sigismund closed his eyes.
"You speak wisely chamberlain...I cannot leave the fate of this country to luck if we should fall without a heir."
"But isn't the Queen pregnant right now? We have a heir!" the military advisor said.
"Only if the Queen does not loose the child like she lost the two before..."
"No further words of that tragedy, lords. Your objections are sound but my will to fight the Bosnians is still unbroken. I will wait for the Queens course and with God's help we shall smite the heretic in February as soon as a prince greets the world."
(
Got Boundary Dispute on Bosnia and forgot to take the screen :S)
---
Months later
Striding up and down the towerchamber King Sigismund finally stopped and stared out of the window.
I should know now...every moment might bring me news if I can calmly go to war with an heir to the throne
A knock on the door.
"Your majesty, I bring news from the queen!"
Excited Sigismund opened the door and his servant bowed hastily before continuing:
"It's a boy, a strong and healthy boy!"
A broad smile formed on the King's face and he grabbed the messenger at his shoulders.
"I have a son! My line will be unbroken! Go now and tell the generals, we are to go to war with the Turks and the heretics!"
"Yes, mylord!" the servant ran down the stairs.
---
A Week later at Osijek
"My King, I bring letters from Krakow and Vienna!"
"Hurry, hand them over!"
Sigismund took them and quickly broke the seal, as he read both letters his face became first frustrated then bewildered and finally panicked.
"Mylord, what are the news?" Zsigmund Andrássy asked as he stepped out of the royal tent in the army camp.
The king turned around and stared at Zsigmund.
"Tell me, Andrássy....what is the meaning of this treachery!?"
Andrássy took a step back as his king exploded in fury.
"What treachery, your highness?"
"THIS!" Pointing at the letters the king yelled in anger.
"The Habsburgs and the Polish abandoned us!"
Andrássy's eyes widened.
That two-faced Polish bastard....
"But, the treaties..."
Sigismund's piercing gaze drilled holes into Andrássy's head.
"Enough with your treaties...Guards! Put him into chains and keep him locked up!"
"But, mylord!"
"Shut up, we now have a real hard war to win and you failed us!"
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Hopefully you enjoyed this first post of the AAR. Just a few questions to you guys:
-Any bad grammar stuff?
-Are the pictures too big?
-Shall I keep it in the current style or go into some less RPG-style?
-Bets on the outcome of the first Hungarian-Ottoman war? 
