The First French War 1501 -- 1503
France had entered the war with the backing of a coalition of minor partners, notably Savoy, and Brittany. The so-called Pope – that thug Borgia – had committed his son Cesare’s cavalry to French King and King Louis also had an arrangement with the so-called Hafsid Empire for other troops. King Louis had also a pact of alliance with the vast realm of Poland-Lithuania, which did not concern me, but they would keep my allies in Brandenburg busy.
I counted what forces were available to Hesse. We were ready as could be, despite the surprise of war. As of April 1501, Hesse’s army numbered 30,000 men; my allies in Cleves had 39, 000 men, the Palatinate 34, 000 and England had 36, 000 men in the theatre of war, at Calais and In Navarre. In the east, the Margrave of Brandenburg had 25,000 men to fight the Poles alone. I wished the Berliners good luck… we would not be helping each other here.
Shortly after I received the official declaration of war, word followed that France had been joined by the famed Knights of St. John, Genoa and Modena. England, with a fleet, sent assurances that they would aid Hesse from attacks from this quarter. My other allies, caught by surprise with the French declaration, and then hearing the list of foes against them grow unexpectedly, began to make excuses [color= firebrick](OOC: I called for allies a second time in one month, and all my allies deserted my standard against the second alliance of Knights, Genoa, Modena -- only England stayed loyal. ) [/color] It was not until later I found out about their exit strategies.
The rebellion in Zeeland was quickly crushed, but its purpose, whoever was behind it, was met, as it slowed my deployment of my forces. When my troops were ready to move, I sent them fresh orders to march to Hainault and then over the border to attack Artois. With superior forces coming against us, I reasoned that we must take this fight to the French and quickly.
These moves left Hesse lightly defended; only 6000 men I reckoned, remained in the whole of the realm.
I sensed that I may not be able to count on my allies. Our frontiers to the east and north seemed weak, for if there was to be a time for, say, Hanover and Saxony, to take an interest in Hesse’s affairs, this would be it. Such a third party intervention would be fatal. With extreme discretion, I wrote the Fuggers in Augsburg, who soon extended me a tidy war loan. With this cash infusion, I began recruiting more men, and also began to build up the defenses of the critical city of Munster.
As Hesse’s column marched south, I received word that the Elector Palatine had already moved into Lorraine. But France’s vanguard, numbering 24000 men, was already in Luxembourg.
In Artois, my invasion column met up with a screening force of French recruits; they were disposed of with no great loss. In this battle, my commanders tried out some new tactics – for the first time our siege train was deployed in support of the squares of the Landsknechts. [ML4: Artillery Support] . In this battle, the French had no chance and our losses were negligible.
Meanwhile, my alliance strategy was exposed to be a sham. Nervous envoys told me that in the future, their liege’s security would be found elsewhere. Brandenburg sought security in the Hanseatic League’s Naval League (Pommerania, Holstein, Portugal, Venice). Cleves and Baby Maker signed on with Denmark (Norway and Sweden), and the Palatinate shifted over to the Emperor (Austria: Württemberg, Bohemia, Hungary, Baden, Bavaria). All still fought with us in this war, but were keeping their options open for the next.
“With friends like this, who needs enemies, “ I grumbled to the Landgraf as we shared the news in Hesse-ton, aware that I was probably originating a cliché.
“I think…they’ll be back soon enough,” said Wilhelm after some thought. “Portugal and Venice and Sweden…those are poor allies for a German to have.”
I had to agree, but these temperate words of his did not fill me with joy. I had experienced betrayal by friends and allies before, and had expected it this time, but not so early in my career in Hesse.
Had I already miscalculated. Was this the beginning of the end?
My melancholy and worries were washed away by the wine of June; another wedding as Wilhelm gave away Lindsey Hesse-Bennett to some scion of the notorious De Medici family of Florence. The English ambassador missed the party, due to a series of fierce navel battles fought in the channel.
In France, a small force was left in Artois to continue the siege, while I ordered the main army into Champagne. Our besiegers in Artois were soon joined by English and the main army of Baby Maker (who tactfully did not show up for the wedding). We assaulted. The attack failed but the defenders paid dearly. Next time…
In July, the news turned to the worse. Zeeland rose up yet again, and to counter this new threat, I recruited 9000 more men in Hainault and Cologne.
As to the main army, marching through northern France, it numbered 11000 infantry, 7000 cavalry and 15 guns. Though diminished because of siege, campaign and skirmish, the force still could be counted on to handle almost any castle or fort in its way. But as to standing up against a French field army….? I soon found out.
Soon enough, they were chased down and cornered by a large French force, numbering 23, 000 infantry, and 6,000 cavalry. Our veterans performed with pluck, defeating the French, killing I am told, one-third of the enemy, all at a light cost of 3000 lives. Heartened, they besieged Champagne. But within week, they were attacked by a second column -- 17,000 infantry, 2300 horse and 17 guns from Savoy. It was a long day and only 10,000 of the army survived at the end of it. The men retreated towards Lorraine where they found our allies the Palatinians hard at work. Once there, they reformed and marched southwest towards the fresh, unspoilt territory in Nivernais – and in the opposite direction of the surviving French and Savoyard armies.
In September the insurrectionists in Zeeland moved north into the Spanish held territory of Holland (based on this move, I guess the French were behind them after all). I was then able to move in a force of 12000 men to restore order in Zeeland, and they began the work on retaking the province. However, by then, the French had taken Luxembourg, and the initiative had shifted to the enemy.
In October I received word that Brandenburg was more or less out of the war, giving up the eastern territory of Kustrin and 250 marks to the Poles for peace. A heavy price. The Duke informed me that they were the one country he did not expect to see back in our alliance.
The winter brought more mixed news. In January Brittany started a siege in Pflaz with a small force. But, I was able to reinforce the besiegers in Artois with 3000 men spared from my siege of liberation in Zeeland; in Artois, the siege is close to being ended. Any day, any day…
To the south, my army in Nivernais made good progress in its siege, but heavy winter snow and frost made for a miserable time. Many veterans died of exposure, thirst and infection. Others deserted. But by spring, the city fell. After this success, the 8000 survivors (down from 30,000 in under one calendar year) decide to march to nearby Bourgogne, where they planned to rendezvous with reinforcements from the homeland. In fact, at that moment, 9000 recruits were marching south from Hainault via Luxembourg--Lorraine to do so.
But first, the veterans met up with 6600 cavalry of the Borgia, commanded by Cesare himself. And sadly, they were decimated. News reaches me and the Landgraf and we order the church bells throughout the realm to ring in mourning.
“Curse that Roman Bishop,“ cried Wilhelm on the loss of the cream of the army. “He acts like nothing more than some Italian marcher lord. Why should we give him tribute; why not take a few abbeys here to make up for the loss?”
A good question, and I decide to pay a visit to the Archbishop to discuss a matter of “special” taxation after the war. As Hermann was under house arrest in Cologne, and keeping quiet for now, I figure that he could wait and stew a bit.
The turning point comes in the summer, when Artois finally fell to Hesse and allies. However, the French garrison chose to surrender to the hale English generalissimo Thomas Howard, former good Yorkist and now good Tudor; he unfairly takes all the credit. Glory hog. I offer the French a white peace, which they reject; they dramatically serve notice of rejection by attacking the allied forces in Artois with 17, 000 men. Howard, now commanding 40, 000 Hessians, English and Klevians, drubs them. And then fights off a second wave of 10, 000 French, fresh from their success in Luxembourg and then in short order, smites a third wave of 10,000 men. A triple victory. He deserves his glory, I reckon.
Despite outnumbering us, the French have proven themselves unable to concentrate their forces at decisive moments, letting their many armies get defeated piecemeal. This lapse has cost them the war.
I make another offer to France for peace, and while King Louis is ready to talk, he does not want to surrender any land, either to England or Hesse. Negotiations begin to stretch out.
And so the war continues, with reverses and failures on both sides. By August, Brittany has surrounded my headquarters in Cologne, and Savoy’s army has reached Hesse province. I order my remaining forces in Lorraine north to aid Norfolk, who has moved onto besieging Champagne. And by November, Zeeland is recaptured from rebels. Severed heads and hands are ordered to be hung from the wall as a warning.
But suddenly, a mixed force of Poles (!) and Genoese pirates sail up the river, and attack at night, forcing my 10, 000 gendarmes to withdraw to higher ground. The Genoese pursue, but they are over eager and I am able to coordinate a counterattack a few weeks later, and so exact meticulous revenge. But the Poles remain as threats, operating out of the many estuaries of Zeeland. It will take time to dislodge them.
Me and the Landgraf confer over Christmas. We have an opportunity to make peace, but King Louis will not surrender any territory to us. We could keep on fighting in the field, but with the challenge of holding new territories that need vigorous policing, enemy armies already in Hesse and Cologne, and another large French army to enter the field by spring, a longer war is not in our interests. And a longer war always has the risk of expanding, and Hesse, with only England to count on as an ally for the near future… we ask the French for peace for a third time.
In January, to our great relief, King Louis agrees to call it a draw. He will receive all of his territory back, withdraw the Bretons and Savoyards and pay for the cost of new paint for damaged property [color= firebrick](40 gp) [/color]. With this peace, I consider the war technically to be a victory; according to the final field dispositions, a draw; but strategically, I can only view this war as a defeat; for we have lost three of our allies, and now we have to pay back Fugger with interest!
Next: The Iron Glove 1503-?
France had entered the war with the backing of a coalition of minor partners, notably Savoy, and Brittany. The so-called Pope – that thug Borgia – had committed his son Cesare’s cavalry to French King and King Louis also had an arrangement with the so-called Hafsid Empire for other troops. King Louis had also a pact of alliance with the vast realm of Poland-Lithuania, which did not concern me, but they would keep my allies in Brandenburg busy.
I counted what forces were available to Hesse. We were ready as could be, despite the surprise of war. As of April 1501, Hesse’s army numbered 30,000 men; my allies in Cleves had 39, 000 men, the Palatinate 34, 000 and England had 36, 000 men in the theatre of war, at Calais and In Navarre. In the east, the Margrave of Brandenburg had 25,000 men to fight the Poles alone. I wished the Berliners good luck… we would not be helping each other here.
Shortly after I received the official declaration of war, word followed that France had been joined by the famed Knights of St. John, Genoa and Modena. England, with a fleet, sent assurances that they would aid Hesse from attacks from this quarter. My other allies, caught by surprise with the French declaration, and then hearing the list of foes against them grow unexpectedly, began to make excuses [color= firebrick](OOC: I called for allies a second time in one month, and all my allies deserted my standard against the second alliance of Knights, Genoa, Modena -- only England stayed loyal. ) [/color] It was not until later I found out about their exit strategies.
The rebellion in Zeeland was quickly crushed, but its purpose, whoever was behind it, was met, as it slowed my deployment of my forces. When my troops were ready to move, I sent them fresh orders to march to Hainault and then over the border to attack Artois. With superior forces coming against us, I reasoned that we must take this fight to the French and quickly.
These moves left Hesse lightly defended; only 6000 men I reckoned, remained in the whole of the realm.
I sensed that I may not be able to count on my allies. Our frontiers to the east and north seemed weak, for if there was to be a time for, say, Hanover and Saxony, to take an interest in Hesse’s affairs, this would be it. Such a third party intervention would be fatal. With extreme discretion, I wrote the Fuggers in Augsburg, who soon extended me a tidy war loan. With this cash infusion, I began recruiting more men, and also began to build up the defenses of the critical city of Munster.
As Hesse’s column marched south, I received word that the Elector Palatine had already moved into Lorraine. But France’s vanguard, numbering 24000 men, was already in Luxembourg.
In Artois, my invasion column met up with a screening force of French recruits; they were disposed of with no great loss. In this battle, my commanders tried out some new tactics – for the first time our siege train was deployed in support of the squares of the Landsknechts. [ML4: Artillery Support] . In this battle, the French had no chance and our losses were negligible.
Meanwhile, my alliance strategy was exposed to be a sham. Nervous envoys told me that in the future, their liege’s security would be found elsewhere. Brandenburg sought security in the Hanseatic League’s Naval League (Pommerania, Holstein, Portugal, Venice). Cleves and Baby Maker signed on with Denmark (Norway and Sweden), and the Palatinate shifted over to the Emperor (Austria: Württemberg, Bohemia, Hungary, Baden, Bavaria). All still fought with us in this war, but were keeping their options open for the next.
“With friends like this, who needs enemies, “ I grumbled to the Landgraf as we shared the news in Hesse-ton, aware that I was probably originating a cliché.
“I think…they’ll be back soon enough,” said Wilhelm after some thought. “Portugal and Venice and Sweden…those are poor allies for a German to have.”
I had to agree, but these temperate words of his did not fill me with joy. I had experienced betrayal by friends and allies before, and had expected it this time, but not so early in my career in Hesse.
Had I already miscalculated. Was this the beginning of the end?
My melancholy and worries were washed away by the wine of June; another wedding as Wilhelm gave away Lindsey Hesse-Bennett to some scion of the notorious De Medici family of Florence. The English ambassador missed the party, due to a series of fierce navel battles fought in the channel.
In France, a small force was left in Artois to continue the siege, while I ordered the main army into Champagne. Our besiegers in Artois were soon joined by English and the main army of Baby Maker (who tactfully did not show up for the wedding). We assaulted. The attack failed but the defenders paid dearly. Next time…
In July, the news turned to the worse. Zeeland rose up yet again, and to counter this new threat, I recruited 9000 more men in Hainault and Cologne.
As to the main army, marching through northern France, it numbered 11000 infantry, 7000 cavalry and 15 guns. Though diminished because of siege, campaign and skirmish, the force still could be counted on to handle almost any castle or fort in its way. But as to standing up against a French field army….? I soon found out.
Soon enough, they were chased down and cornered by a large French force, numbering 23, 000 infantry, and 6,000 cavalry. Our veterans performed with pluck, defeating the French, killing I am told, one-third of the enemy, all at a light cost of 3000 lives. Heartened, they besieged Champagne. But within week, they were attacked by a second column -- 17,000 infantry, 2300 horse and 17 guns from Savoy. It was a long day and only 10,000 of the army survived at the end of it. The men retreated towards Lorraine where they found our allies the Palatinians hard at work. Once there, they reformed and marched southwest towards the fresh, unspoilt territory in Nivernais – and in the opposite direction of the surviving French and Savoyard armies.
In September the insurrectionists in Zeeland moved north into the Spanish held territory of Holland (based on this move, I guess the French were behind them after all). I was then able to move in a force of 12000 men to restore order in Zeeland, and they began the work on retaking the province. However, by then, the French had taken Luxembourg, and the initiative had shifted to the enemy.
In October I received word that Brandenburg was more or less out of the war, giving up the eastern territory of Kustrin and 250 marks to the Poles for peace. A heavy price. The Duke informed me that they were the one country he did not expect to see back in our alliance.
The winter brought more mixed news. In January Brittany started a siege in Pflaz with a small force. But, I was able to reinforce the besiegers in Artois with 3000 men spared from my siege of liberation in Zeeland; in Artois, the siege is close to being ended. Any day, any day…
To the south, my army in Nivernais made good progress in its siege, but heavy winter snow and frost made for a miserable time. Many veterans died of exposure, thirst and infection. Others deserted. But by spring, the city fell. After this success, the 8000 survivors (down from 30,000 in under one calendar year) decide to march to nearby Bourgogne, where they planned to rendezvous with reinforcements from the homeland. In fact, at that moment, 9000 recruits were marching south from Hainault via Luxembourg--Lorraine to do so.
But first, the veterans met up with 6600 cavalry of the Borgia, commanded by Cesare himself. And sadly, they were decimated. News reaches me and the Landgraf and we order the church bells throughout the realm to ring in mourning.
“Curse that Roman Bishop,“ cried Wilhelm on the loss of the cream of the army. “He acts like nothing more than some Italian marcher lord. Why should we give him tribute; why not take a few abbeys here to make up for the loss?”
A good question, and I decide to pay a visit to the Archbishop to discuss a matter of “special” taxation after the war. As Hermann was under house arrest in Cologne, and keeping quiet for now, I figure that he could wait and stew a bit.
The turning point comes in the summer, when Artois finally fell to Hesse and allies. However, the French garrison chose to surrender to the hale English generalissimo Thomas Howard, former good Yorkist and now good Tudor; he unfairly takes all the credit. Glory hog. I offer the French a white peace, which they reject; they dramatically serve notice of rejection by attacking the allied forces in Artois with 17, 000 men. Howard, now commanding 40, 000 Hessians, English and Klevians, drubs them. And then fights off a second wave of 10, 000 French, fresh from their success in Luxembourg and then in short order, smites a third wave of 10,000 men. A triple victory. He deserves his glory, I reckon.
Despite outnumbering us, the French have proven themselves unable to concentrate their forces at decisive moments, letting their many armies get defeated piecemeal. This lapse has cost them the war.
I make another offer to France for peace, and while King Louis is ready to talk, he does not want to surrender any land, either to England or Hesse. Negotiations begin to stretch out.
And so the war continues, with reverses and failures on both sides. By August, Brittany has surrounded my headquarters in Cologne, and Savoy’s army has reached Hesse province. I order my remaining forces in Lorraine north to aid Norfolk, who has moved onto besieging Champagne. And by November, Zeeland is recaptured from rebels. Severed heads and hands are ordered to be hung from the wall as a warning.
But suddenly, a mixed force of Poles (!) and Genoese pirates sail up the river, and attack at night, forcing my 10, 000 gendarmes to withdraw to higher ground. The Genoese pursue, but they are over eager and I am able to coordinate a counterattack a few weeks later, and so exact meticulous revenge. But the Poles remain as threats, operating out of the many estuaries of Zeeland. It will take time to dislodge them.
Me and the Landgraf confer over Christmas. We have an opportunity to make peace, but King Louis will not surrender any territory to us. We could keep on fighting in the field, but with the challenge of holding new territories that need vigorous policing, enemy armies already in Hesse and Cologne, and another large French army to enter the field by spring, a longer war is not in our interests. And a longer war always has the risk of expanding, and Hesse, with only England to count on as an ally for the near future… we ask the French for peace for a third time.
In January, to our great relief, King Louis agrees to call it a draw. He will receive all of his territory back, withdraw the Bretons and Savoyards and pay for the cost of new paint for damaged property [color= firebrick](40 gp) [/color]. With this peace, I consider the war technically to be a victory; according to the final field dispositions, a draw; but strategically, I can only view this war as a defeat; for we have lost three of our allies, and now we have to pay back Fugger with interest!
Next: The Iron Glove 1503-?
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so more inflation starts to come in and the price of the valuable troops above becomes more and more expensive... 
