Margrave of Brandenburg

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Consolidate his rule

This was his first council meeting as the Margrave of Brandenburg, Duke of Mecklenburg and Bremen. He inherited his father in a age of 30 and was already skilled in handle the state affairs. He also already had two childreen, a son Johann George who once would inherit him and a daughter, Barbara. Now he was sitting and listening to the Treasurer explaining that the loan his father had took soon must be repayd. Unfortunely the Margravates treusury didnt hold the measure. It was still lacking 60.000 thaler to be able to repay the loan. “Very well then, hold all investments until further notice. All our income shall hereforth go directly to our coffeins” Joachim II declared. By hold all expendits, Brandenburg was able to repay the loan in August.

Among the first thing to do as a regent, was to iniate royal marriages with England and Thuringen. In January 1536 Joachim summoned a meeting with his treasurer. “Well Lutmar, how are our finances?” “My lord, Our tax incomes has raised to 12.800 each month, from production we gain another 2.600 and our trade income is 2.500.” Lutmar answered.

In Mars, the untrustfull peasant in Mecklenburg revolted. Now declaring that Joachim II wasnt there rightfull ruler. Joachim send his fieldmarshall George to deal with the situation. George did it in, as always, an excellent way. Crushing the rebellion and behead the leaders, letting there heads beeing put up on poles at the gates of Lubeck.

Joachim wandered around in the castle garden in Potsdam. Admireing its beuty. He had now been the Margrave of Brandenburg, Duke of Mecklenburg and Bremen in 3 years. During that time he had encouraged economic development, especially trade. The nation had now traders represent in almost every trade center of Europe. He had also promoted tax collectors in Western Prussia, thus making this former polish province more profitable for his nation. His cousin had also marriaged an danish noble man, right after the danish conversion into protestantism. The nation was in peace and all seemed to be calm and joyful.

 

[Morlac]

Calm, joyful? Sounds like another war coming...

 

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Originally posted by Morlac
Calm, joyful? Sounds like another war coming...

You realy, realy thinks so???

 

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Foreign and domestic affairs

“Most honorable Czar of the great Russian empire,

My name is Conrad Burgrafe of Luneburg. I was send here by my lord, Joachim II Margrave of Brandenburg, Duke of Mecklenburg and Bremen. He wish you and your family well and would also like to offer you these charts in exchange of some of your own maps.” It was an August afternnon in the year 1538. Conrad had been used as the Margraves ambassador many times before, but this was his longest tripp ever. The Margrave wished to exchange maps with the russians Czar and it was up to Conrad to do it. A mission that wouldnt be the easiest as miles of differences seperated the both nations. The Margrave though, had been in god fate when he send Conrad off. Afterall Brandenburg and Russia had a royal marrige that went many years back. Conrad was however just not as optimistic when he now stood in front of the Czar and saw his expression. “No” the Czar replied and thus was his mission a failure.

In 1539 Saxony converted. As Joachim had did with many of the other protestant nations, he initiated a royal marriage. That summer France, supported by its allies, declared war upon Spain. We soon was let to know that France annexed the Duchy of Lorraine. The Lutheran faith was still spreading, as the Teutonic knights, Hessen and Bohemia converted in 1541.

In July 1541, Joachim meet whit his fieldmarshall, George. “I am concerned George. Our nation thrive and prosper, but are we able to defend our self in case of a war?” “Well, my lord, The capital is well defended, but its another story about the rest of our provinces.” George answered. “So what do you propese?” Joachim asked. “Give me funds to upgrade our fortresses, at least funds so I can upgrade the fortresses in some provinces”. George answered and funds was raised to upgrade the fortresses in Magdeburg and Kustrin.

 

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Infidels on the raise

Our former enemy, the Duke of Pommerania, come to his senses in 1541 and converted into protestantism. 1541 was also the year when Joachim, wanting to promote law and order in his realm, promoted a chief justice in the province of Brandenburg.

The time passed by under the ruling of Joachim II. The economy was good and on the raise, the armed forces was well equiped and the provinces well defended. Joachim was quait happy when ha message reched him that his, and his fathers, beloved fieldmarshall, George had died. George did get the proper funeral for a man in his position. Highest in command was now general Alciades. Alciades had just assumed his new command when words reached him, that the turks had declared war upon the King of Poland. Thoose damn infidels was on the move again.

 

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Opperunity or not

The Council had been gathered. Its purpose was to discuss the new situation in the east, the war between Turkey and Poland. First to utter his opinion was the chancellor, the aging Jurgen von Fritsches, “We have prosped in peace for some time now. My opinion is that we shall continue do so and not throw our nation in a war we cannot controll the outcome off. Besides, both Poland and Turkey have enormous forces that could crush us, if they decide to do so”. Next to speak was general Alciabades. “Our forces are well equipt and our provinces well defended. Besides, your father was able to manouver our nation into victory every time he intervined in a conflict. Why shouldnt you, my lord, be able to do the same.” Joachim listened to his advisors, one by one, and then made a decision. “We shall intervine into this conflict, but who shall we attack. Turkey whitch hold Silesia our Poland whitch hold Danzig?” The council members looked on eitchother. All knew that Brandenburg for a long time have made claims on both the provinces of Danzig and Silesia. Now they had an oppertunity to sneak in and grab one of them, but witch one? It was the Treasurer who first spoke. “Danzig controlls much of the trade in the Baltic as well in the east, so...” He had to say no more. The target would be Danzig, controlled by Poland.

Three days later Brandenburg was in a state of war with Poland.

 

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The sheep and the lion

Joachim II son, Johann George 19 years old, was eager. Since childhood he had looked forward to this moment, when he would command an own army to take battle against the enemy. He had also been teached by tutors, like his grandfather Joachim I, fieldmarshall Casimir and fieldmarshall George, how to act in war. He was now to take controll of one of the armies that would cross the borders to Poland. His goal was Masovia, where the polish capital Warsawa was positioned. General Alciabades was heading towards Danzig.

In October 1544, General Alciabades could report a strange thing. Turkish troops that recently had captured the provinces of Posen and Krakow fought side by side with his own troops, trying to take Danzig. It where an enourmous force of 86.000 turkish soldiers. Never had he seen such a force gathered in one place. “Thank God we didnt declare war upon them. They would have crushed us in matter of days” Alciabades thought, when seeing the turks in action. General Alciabades soon invited his turkish counter-part to dinner. Togheter they discussed the current situation. The turkish commander wished Alciabades to departure with his tiny excuse for an army, and hand over the siege to the turks. Alciabades, of course, rejected declaring that the troops of Brandenburg was first at the scene. It could have ended in a disaster, but fortunally, the turksih army was recalled. The turks had signed a peace with Poland. Turkey was to be given the provinces of Posen and Bessarabia. Alciabades continued the siege of Danzig and was able to take it in January 1545.

Meanwhile Johann George continued his siege in Masovia. He hadnt been bothered by the poles to much. Only small units of polish infantry had tryed to breake his siege every now and then. Probably had the most of Polands forces been crushed by the turkish invasion. In April could Johann George ride in to the city as an conqurer. The city had falled. The King of Poland immideatily wished to sign a peace where Brandenburg would be granted Danzig. Joachim II accepted the offer.

 

[Dale]

Congrats on the successful wars. Good story keep it up.

 

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Originally posted by Dale
Congrats on the successful wars. Good story keep it up.

Thanx Dale appriciate it

 

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Finding his way home

With the end of the war, Johann George faced a delicate matter. He couldnt return with his army to Brandenburg. Standing in Masovia he had Prussia to the north and the turkish provinces of Posen and Silesia to the west. None of them granted him a right of passage through their territory. There where only one solution, declaring war on one of them. He decided for Turkey and was then able to marh home again. The turksih Sultan was of course very angered by this war decleration and violation of his territory, but was willing to sign peace after we payed him 8.000 thaler in reperations.

 

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Campaign in the east

Now having two turkish provinces bordering Brandenburg, reports talk of a massive presence of turksih troops. Above 65.000 men says to be garrisoned in Posen and Silesia. This was of cource disturbing news for the Margrave. Another strange report that reached him was that the danish king send the Margraves cousin, Vilhelmina, back home. This could mean two things a) Denmark prepared for a war b) Vilhelmina was to ugly to marry. He never said that to Vilhelmina herself, but the Margrave was hoping for the second alternative.

In May reports said that Sweden had declared war upon Poland and crossed the borders. Joachim ordered both his son Johann George and his general Alciabades to Danzig with their armies. This could meen that another oppertunity just raised over the horizont. It was son clear that it was Joachim and the councils opinion that it did. In August 1552 Brandenburg declared war upon Poland and its ally Preussen.

Johann George was ordered to Masovia, a territory he by know was well familiar with. Alciabades was ordered to Eastern Prussia. In half a year Alciabades captured the ill defended fortress in Eastern Prussia. An annexation was on every bodys minds, when a chocking report reached Joachim. The Duke of Prussia had along with his court fled to Donetsk. A province in the far end of Poland, belonging to Prussia. Alciabades was immideatly ordered to take that province. A daring and bold mission, because just getting there was hard. Alciabades was forced to travel through 7 enemy hold provinces to reach Donetsk, but Alciabades wouldnt even been a general if he didnt like challengers and was afraid of taking risks, so he ordered his army to marsch cross the entire territory of Poland, and succed. When he did reach Donetsk, capture the fortress was easy. In December 1562 the Duchy of Prussia was incorporated into Brandenburg. Alciabades then moved on to Poltava.

Meanwhile polish troops invaded Eastern Prussia and Johann George capured the polish capital in Masovia. Joachim wished to sign a white peace with Poland, now when he had gained a whole Duchy, but Johann George asked his father not to. Declaring that the polish troops was weak and outnumbered and that the fortresses was ill defended. If he just could be able to go on with this campaign, even more territory could be gained and maybe even the total destruction of the Kingdom of Poland would be possible. Joachim choosed to listen to his son, after all his son was already an experienced commander, skilled in the arts of war.

 

[Dale]

C'mon George, you can do it! Wipe those Polish off.

 

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Originally posted by Dale
C'mon George, you can do it! Wipe those Polish off.

"Aye, aye sir!"

 

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End of eastern campaign

After staying a couple of days in Warzawa, Johann George marsched his army to Podlasia. Meanwhile, Alciabades acted like an whirlwind in eastern Poland. In Mars 1554 he took Poltava, June - Krementjug, October - Ukraine. Nothing seemed to be able to stop him. Johann George was almost just as succesfull, Podlasia and Lithuania fell in his hands. When the polish troops finaly captured Eastern Prussia, Johann George was already on his way to Curland. Now half of the polish territory was garissioned by troops from the Margravate.

“My lord, thoose peasants in Mecklenburg have rebelled again” It was the aging chancellor Jurgen von Fritsches who uttered the words. “Do they never quit” was the Margraves reply. “Apparently not my lord. General Alciabades also reports that the King of Poland raises new troops and he wishes for reinforcements”. “Reinforcements!? We have already drain our resources to finance this war. Tell him there is no reinforcements” Joachim replied. “Yes my lord, but he specificly writes in his letter, that without reinforcements the poles probably will take back what we already have gained” Jurgen answerers. “Hmmph, rebells, enemies when will they ever give me a breake. Send an ambassador to the King of Poland. I have some matters I would like to discuss.” Thus was a peace signed in 1556 between Joachim II and the king of Poland. Joachim was to be given Curland and the province of Lithuania.

The peace was somewhat a dissapointment to Johann George, but his father, knowing his son love for adventure, send him to Mecklenburg, fighting rebells.

 

[Morlac]

You're probably better off not annexing Poland quite yet anyway. At the rate you're going, everybody in Europe is going to be mad at you soon...

 

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Originally posted by Morlac
You're probably better off not annexing Poland quite yet anyway. At the rate you're going, everybody in Europe is going to be mad at you soon...

Think you are right Morlac!

Current badboy status is

Brandenburg 16, close followed by the evil turks 13 and then a big jump to Austria 3 and France 2.

I guess that if the Margrave of Brandenburg doesnt become a peacelover soon, his tale will end in a rather violent way

 

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Learning to handle state affairs

Johann George fighted off the rebells succesfully. That summer another revolt began in the province of Lithuania. Lithuania was the only province in Brandenburg with an catholic population. When discussing the matter with his advisors, Joachim was advised to let the revolt continue, thus making the province and the population weak so a conversion could be made in the future.

Joachims son, Johann George was ordered to Berlin in November, where he should aid his father with the ruling of the Margravate. His days as a commander was over for now. Almost at the same time, General Alciabades, retired. He had been suffering from gout some time now. His retirement maybe came as an relif for himself, but it was a great loss for the Margravate.

In Berlin Johann George began with his duties. One of the first things to do was to assist his father on iniating royal marriages with Sweden, the Palatines, Hannover and Russia. He was also in charge of inspecting the new, uppgraded walls at the fortresses of Mecklenburg and Bremen that his father had decided to build.

In December 1559 a new nation took form, the Netherlands. It had revolted from the spanish crown. Joachim sended his son Johann George to Amsterdam, where he should act as the Margravates representative for some time. Johann George seemed to have done such an impression that the Netherlands next year wished to join the alliance.

 

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Family business

Joachims brother Hans, had since the last war with Poland gained much land in the province of Courland. He was known as Markgrave Hans von Courland. He wanted to build up Riga as his capital city of the province Courland. In order to finance his building projects he raised taxes and created a special beer tax. Specially the beer tax angered many, both commoners and the burghers. Joachim was therefore forced to garission troops in Courland in order to help his brother withhold the risings.

“If I didnt knew better I would think we still where at war” It was the Treasurer who adressed Joachim. “At war you say. What on earth make you say so?” “Well my lord, your brothers politic, a long with the risings in Lithuania cost us a great deal in funding troops to counter the threat from the rebells” the Treasurer answered. “My brother and I have discussed that matter. He is doing a great job on enhanching the beuty and infrastructure of Courland. I just wished thoose ungratefull burghers of Riga could see that, but soon they get use to it. Being a part of Brandenburg is an whole other matter than being subjects to the king of Poland.” Joachim remarked. “Yes, of course my lord, but its draining our resources and along with your own building projects its...” “Enough!” Joachim raised from his seat. “There is a way to deal with this situation. Order the promotion of tax collectors, that should do it” and so was tax collectors promoted in the provinces of Bremen, Mecklenburg and Danzig. Some of the increasing funds was spend on uppgrading fortress in Western Prussia, some of it to finance the war against rebells. In October 1563 the persecution of catholics in Lithuania had been so succesfull that a conversion was possible. The Evangelical Church of Brandeburg established its authority.

 

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If anyone is interested I will slow down our pause this AAR awhile´cause Im gonna mix a bit whit the game files. It takes some time making back-ups, copy and paste so therefore I decided to do so, but like an austrian say "I´ll be back".

 

[Lord E]

This is an very good and exciting AAR, and I think you are an exelent writer.

You shoud not stop to long, because I am sure about that there is many others that like your writing, and that the agree with me on that we are looking forward to the rest of this AAR.