1504-1516: weaknesses revealed
The years immediately following the fall of the Hungarian government were relatively quiet ones (there were a few minor revolts that were quickly crushed), as Hungary tried to put back together its shattered military and economy, and reestablish diplomatic ties that had been severed during the Dark Years. To this end, merchants were sent to all the usual centers of trade: Tago, Constantinople, Venice, Genoa, Andalusia. Trade agreements were also made with Portugal, Spain, and Venice. The monetary gifts to neighboring nations resumed at this time. The Ottoman Empire took advantage of this lull and began an annexation spree in the Balkans: first Serbia (07/1504), later Ragusa and Bosnia (08/1513). In her pitiful state, Hungary was helpless to aid her vassals, and could only watch and wonder when the Turks would once again turn their attention to them.
Hungary needed to build a military, and spent most of its income the next decade or so on troops and fortifications. All of this massive spending led to widespread corruption by crooked administrators (random corruption events in 1507,1509, and 1513. When that last one hit, I had 99 ducats in the treasury and had to take a loan), but this massive spending was necessary, as Hungary was sure to be attacked again. She had begun to lag behind technologically to some of her neighbors, in particular Austria and the Ottoman Empire, and this worried the king. This worry would later prove to be well-founded. But for now, little could be done but build, build, build…. and wait.
They would not have long to wait. On June 9, 1514, Brandenburg declared war on Hungary and its ally Ragusa. Ragusa dishonored the alliance, but that was expected. What truly worried the king and the nobles was that Brandenburg was allied to neighboring Bohemia, and scouts indicated that the Bohemians were marching a large army into Hungarian territory. The new general, János Szapolyai, was a decent enough leader (M:2, F:2, S:2), but his army was composed mostly of new recruits who had no battle experience. Soon enough, they would earn it, as they were immediately marched north to meet the Bohemian threat. They finally met the Bohemians on September 20, and the two old enemies clashed once again. But the inexperienced Hungarian army was no match for the Bohemians, and they retreated after six days of hard fighting. Two more attacks would also fail, but Szapolyai hoped to at least slow the Bohemians down if he could not defeat them entirely.
On 1515, a new Hungarian commander graduated from the military academy and was immediately commissioned to active duty on January 1. Miklos Zrinyi graduated top of the class, and displayed extraordinary abilities in both field and siege warfare (M:3, F:2, S:2, S:1). These skills would immediately be needed, for the Ottomans Empire, seeing its opportunity, declared war on September 5, 1515. Fortunately for the Hungarians, their engineers had discovered a new way to breach fortress walls by assaulting them rather than starve the garrison in months-long sieges (land tech to level 5).
J.S.’s constant attacks on the Bohemians in the north were wearing the enemy down, as well as giving his troops valuable battle experience. A full-scale counterattack was launched on September 25, the same day that Turkish forces laid siege to Kosovo in the south. This time, J.S.’s troops carried the day, and chased the retreating Bohemians back across the border, where they lay siege to Brünn in Moravia on the 27th.
By now the Turks had gathered in force, and a second army had crossed the Hungarian border by night and had reached Banat, where they initiated a siege. The first army, meanwhile, had taken Kosovo on October 13 and moved on to Croatia. Things were now becoming desperate once again for Hungary, who needed to end one war to avoid being blitzed on both fronts. The Ottomans would mercifully end the war after taking Croatia on February 13, 1516, and a peace was signed which gave the Turks control of that province. Now Hungary could concentrate on the Bohemians without having to worry about her southern borders - at least for another 5 years. Ulászló II died on April 14, 1516, and a new king, Lajos, ascended the throne (D:3, A:3, M:2). He sought a quick end to the war in the north, and got it on July 15, when Brandenburg was bought off for the sum of 55,000 ducats. Hungary had lost some money and one province, but considering her woeful state of preparedness, had been fortunate. They would not be so fortunate in future wars.
hungary in 1516
The years immediately following the fall of the Hungarian government were relatively quiet ones (there were a few minor revolts that were quickly crushed), as Hungary tried to put back together its shattered military and economy, and reestablish diplomatic ties that had been severed during the Dark Years. To this end, merchants were sent to all the usual centers of trade: Tago, Constantinople, Venice, Genoa, Andalusia. Trade agreements were also made with Portugal, Spain, and Venice. The monetary gifts to neighboring nations resumed at this time. The Ottoman Empire took advantage of this lull and began an annexation spree in the Balkans: first Serbia (07/1504), later Ragusa and Bosnia (08/1513). In her pitiful state, Hungary was helpless to aid her vassals, and could only watch and wonder when the Turks would once again turn their attention to them.
Hungary needed to build a military, and spent most of its income the next decade or so on troops and fortifications. All of this massive spending led to widespread corruption by crooked administrators (random corruption events in 1507,1509, and 1513. When that last one hit, I had 99 ducats in the treasury and had to take a loan), but this massive spending was necessary, as Hungary was sure to be attacked again. She had begun to lag behind technologically to some of her neighbors, in particular Austria and the Ottoman Empire, and this worried the king. This worry would later prove to be well-founded. But for now, little could be done but build, build, build…. and wait.
They would not have long to wait. On June 9, 1514, Brandenburg declared war on Hungary and its ally Ragusa. Ragusa dishonored the alliance, but that was expected. What truly worried the king and the nobles was that Brandenburg was allied to neighboring Bohemia, and scouts indicated that the Bohemians were marching a large army into Hungarian territory. The new general, János Szapolyai, was a decent enough leader (M:2, F:2, S:2), but his army was composed mostly of new recruits who had no battle experience. Soon enough, they would earn it, as they were immediately marched north to meet the Bohemian threat. They finally met the Bohemians on September 20, and the two old enemies clashed once again. But the inexperienced Hungarian army was no match for the Bohemians, and they retreated after six days of hard fighting. Two more attacks would also fail, but Szapolyai hoped to at least slow the Bohemians down if he could not defeat them entirely.
On 1515, a new Hungarian commander graduated from the military academy and was immediately commissioned to active duty on January 1. Miklos Zrinyi graduated top of the class, and displayed extraordinary abilities in both field and siege warfare (M:3, F:2, S:2, S:1). These skills would immediately be needed, for the Ottomans Empire, seeing its opportunity, declared war on September 5, 1515. Fortunately for the Hungarians, their engineers had discovered a new way to breach fortress walls by assaulting them rather than starve the garrison in months-long sieges (land tech to level 5).
J.S.’s constant attacks on the Bohemians in the north were wearing the enemy down, as well as giving his troops valuable battle experience. A full-scale counterattack was launched on September 25, the same day that Turkish forces laid siege to Kosovo in the south. This time, J.S.’s troops carried the day, and chased the retreating Bohemians back across the border, where they lay siege to Brünn in Moravia on the 27th.
By now the Turks had gathered in force, and a second army had crossed the Hungarian border by night and had reached Banat, where they initiated a siege. The first army, meanwhile, had taken Kosovo on October 13 and moved on to Croatia. Things were now becoming desperate once again for Hungary, who needed to end one war to avoid being blitzed on both fronts. The Ottomans would mercifully end the war after taking Croatia on February 13, 1516, and a peace was signed which gave the Turks control of that province. Now Hungary could concentrate on the Bohemians without having to worry about her southern borders - at least for another 5 years. Ulászló II died on April 14, 1516, and a new king, Lajos, ascended the throne (D:3, A:3, M:2). He sought a quick end to the war in the north, and got it on July 15, when Brandenburg was bought off for the sum of 55,000 ducats. Hungary had lost some money and one province, but considering her woeful state of preparedness, had been fortunate. They would not be so fortunate in future wars.
hungary in 1516
