Ok, after playing a few games as Russia, I decided to give a try to a minor. Ouch!!! Troops are painfully expensive, 1000 cav costs the same as 10 cannons, income is low and inflation is rampant. Can't really go sword-swinging like I did with Russia 
.
Anyway, I played v. 1.07c (US) with certain additions: revamped Russian and Polish leaders files as proposed by Tanone, new Pskov leader and monarch files, new additions to Denmark leader file, new settings for Kazan (stability to -1, reduced army, reduced population in all provinces except Kazan and Ryazan), new status of Pskov as Russian vassal. I played on Normal/Aggressive. Ok, here we go.....
Let me know if you want more, it's really time consuming.
We start in 1492 with huge territory we can't defend, and Sweden as our vassal hating us so much. I wonder how we ended up with them in the first place. Our monarch Hans, after a consultation with nobles, decides to improve our economy, so we invest heavily into promoting bailiffs. We also start our diplomatic activity by proposing a royal marriage to Poland, which they accept. During the course of 1492 we join an alliance with Russia and Pskov, and conclude more royal marriages with Saxony and Austria. We also increase our trade efforts and soon after capture the monopoly at Novgorod. Russia and Pskov declare war on Kazan, we agree to participate, but on my advice we're not going to lend any troops, after all Russia has more than enough. Kazan falls quickly, and the war concludes shortly after with Russia running away with 250 ducats. Something strange happens after that: Russia dissolves most of its army. Nothing else major's happening in Europe besides Spain capturing and annexing Granada in May.
We welcome 1493 with mixed feelings, our income is low, as none of our provinces generate enough to cover our expenses in research. We are eying Holstein with its COT and high income as a possible addition to our crown, but nobles are divided over the possible consequences of the war -- it has to be quick. Then the hell breaks loose. Four wars start almost immediately, as France, Savoy and Papal States declare war on England, Poland, Spain, Naples and Lorraine go after poor Hansa, and Turkey with Crimea and Georgia square off against Mameluks, Venice and Persia. Soon after Iraq declares war on Mameluks. We strengthen our ties with Russia by entering into royal marriage with them, and later on conclude another one with Hannover. In fall, Hansa troops are besieging Western Prussia, while Poland and Spain are gathering their troops. Polish troops (80k)arrive in Eastern Pomerania and lay a siege to a city. Hansa sends their small 8k force in there which is promptly annihilated by Konstantin Ostrogsky. After a short assault, Eastern Pomerania falls. Polish troops are marching into Western Pomerania, and after disposing of a small local force lay siege to a city. Nobles see a clear opportunity of getting Holstein, and since our income still low, King Hans decides that time is right and calls on nobles to join his army.
On February 1, 1494 we declare war on Hansa, our stability drops to 2, but our army (10K cavalry and 10 cannons)under the command of King Hans is marching south. At the end of February we arrive in Holstein and start a siege. A small (8K)relieve force sent by Hansa from Bremen is routed by our beloved monarch. We lose 545 brave Danes, but the siege goes on. We observe Polish troops finishing their job in Western Pomerania after a 2 months siege and short assault, and it's now marching to Mecklenburg. Do Poles think annexation? Well, the fortress in Holstein falls in late May, but we still don't have enough to gain a province from Hansa, so we wait for the Polish to dig themselves in, and join them at the end and capture Mecklenburg. However, Polish general Ostrogski decides to assault the fortress, and while he's doing so Hansa offers us Holstein. We gladly accept, and on June 3, 1494 Danish flag is raised on the RatHaus in Holstein. The war only lasted 4 months, as the nobles expected and we gained a vital source of income.
Poland captures Mecklenburg and concludes peace with Hansa August 7, 1494 gaining 166 ducats and both Pomeranias.
Other wars are going on, with French and English squarring off in a number of naval battles, and French finally capturing Calais. Eventually, French fend off British attempts to prevent them from landing on the Island, so we see French troops wandering in Southern England. Venice seems to have a better of Turkey by winning a number of land battles in Kosovo and Bosnia. War rages in the Middle East too, with no clear success for either side. After the war with Hansa we decide to propose a royal marriage to Spain which they accept. At least that will prevent them to some extent from declaring a war on us. The nobles and the King are very much concerned with Spanish - Polish alliance. We see it as a direct threat to our interests in Germany.
New 1495 brings a new royal marriage with Portugal. In the process we obtain the maps from Portugese, English and Venetians, so we know quite a bit about the world. Too bad we don't have an explorer. Darn, shouldn't we be able to hire one? The wars are still raging, with Turkey and its allies concentrating mostly on Persia, while Venice seem to run rampant in Balkans. Finally on August 12, 1495 Venice captures Kosovo for the 2nd time. English and French are running around in Southern England, with French taking Kent and then losing it. More French troops are brought in from the mainland. We enter into royal marriage with England, and obtain their new maps in the process. Our King decides to start building some fortifications, so we starting a new fortress in Holstein. Sweden meanwhile raised its stability and concentrating her efforts on economy. Can't see any war with Sweden in the near future. A humiliating moment for a Royal English Navy - they are defeated by a fleet of Savoy.
1495 concludes with no clear winner in any of the wars.
1496 sees an improved income from our newly acquired province of Holstein. The King decides to pay some attention to inevitable - war with Sweden and orders an upgrade to a fortress in Skane. We also have to pay more attention to our merchants, as Russia and Pskov (and even Kazan) slowly gaining ground on us in Novgorod. Then Hansa decides to kick our merchants out of Holstein COT. No wonder the King and nobles are enraged. We consider it to be a clear violation of a good commerce practice and should constitute a valid Casus Belli against treacherous Hanseates -- like they didn't have enough two years ago. After thinking over, we decided not to take any action as it would lead to the drop in stability of -8, something that our small and poor country cannot afford. Yet we have a long memory :0. Turkey decides it had enough of Mameluks and drops out of the war with them for 163 ducats in April.
Earlier Persia and Iraq agreed to a white peace.
1497 sees us upgrading our fortresses and sending merchants. However, we don't have the majority in Novgorod anymore, and that prompts our monarch to consider maybe different markets. Treacherous Hansa still continues its policy of pushing our merchants from Holstein COT. They'll pay for it bastards!!. England and France finally got tired of running around and concluded a peace which gave French Calais. England survived this time. Will it next?
1498 sees us continuing our policy of upgrading the fortifications and spending on our merchants. We also trade maps with Russia and gain access to Persia. We're planning to send our merchants to Isfahan next year. On October 17, 1498 Venice agrees to end the war with Turkey by gaining both Kosovo and Bosnia. WOW!! But then again Turkey didn't pay much attention to that war. Earlier Mameluks agreed to peace with Georgia by gaining Georgia. Looks strange, since Georgian capital is there. Maybe they moved? It seems like Turkey is concentrating her efforts on breaking the Persia's back. They already control Kurdistan and Armenia, and we hear there is heavy fighting in Azerbaijan and Kars.
1499 marks the last year of our peace agreement with Hansa. We send our merchants to Isfahan (4 of them). Hansa continues her practices of expelling our merchants from Holstein. Wait, you'll pay the full price! We check their diplomatic relations and find an unpleasant surprise. They're allied with Brandenburg. This kind off cools the hot heads a little bit, but upon further consultation with our nobles we decide to strike. We take a loan and start building troops. On September 1, 1499 the Hansetag is delivered a note of our displeasure with their practices in Holstein and declaration of War. Hansa has a 14K army stationed in Mecklenburg. We don't know anything about Brandenburg, though, let's hope it's not too powerful. Our 1st Army under the command of his majesty, King Hans is marching onto Bremen, while the rest of our troops 24K infantry + 1k cavalry and 10 cannons under the guidance of Junker Schlentz is marching south on Mecklenburg. After a short, but nervous (for me) battle, Hansa troops are routed, Mecklenburg is besieged, while Bremen is besieged by King Hans troops. In early October, 15K Brandenburg Army under the command of Casimir arrives on the scene. The battle is not decided until the very end, when our cannons deliver a final blow to Casimir's troops, they are routed and run very fast back to Magdeburg. Over the next few months, Brandenburg won't even make an attempt to help their allies. In fact, out of 15K army, only 3829 arrive back in Magdeburg in November, this is crushing blow and the turning point in war. The remnants of Hansa army besieging Holstein now, my troops are trained there and I have to avoid the battle and lose it in order to get my troops intact. I send them to Alborg to train. The last gasp of the war sees a relief attempt (12/19/1499) by Hansa troops in Mecklenburg -- the battle is fierce, but in the end Hansa troops are scattered and the siege of Mecklenburg goes on. Bremen walls show first cracks in Novemeber, and Mecklenburg's in December. On November 27, 1499 we hear the news that Turkey captures Kars. The peace there seems to be just a matter of time now. We offer a white peace to Brandenburg and they refuse. On January 4, 1500 Turkey signs a truce with Persia, which gives control of Kurdistan and Azerbaijan to Turkey. We wonder why Turkey didn't go for Armenia with its gold? We would definitely. Finally on February 1, 1500 both fortresses fall. We have an option of annexing Hansa, and thus getting rid of their intrusion in Holstein, or just get Bremen? Upon further consultations we decide not to upset great powers of the region, Spain and Poland and decide on annexing only Bremen and cash. On February 2, 1500 the peace is concluded, Bremen becomes a Danish city. My relationship with major powers don't suffer at all. Our losses for campaign:
Infantry 3065 (combat) 3295(attrition)
Cavalry 352 (comabt) 753 (attrition)
Cannons 4 (combat)
Bremen revolts in August, and the uprising is quickly put down by the King's troops. July 20, 1500 Junker Schlentz dies. He was a brave and experienced warrior and the whole nation will mourn his death.
In 1501 we resume our diplomatic activity, we improve our relationship with Poland and Hannover. Many nobles are contemplating a peaceful assimilation of Hannover, and I cannot agree more. Merchants are sent again, and fortresses are upgraded. Then on June 7, 1501 Russia decides to get go at Kazan again. We have to join, but on July 7, 1501 we drop out, our people had enough. Russia doesn't have too many troops though, so they count heavily on their Pskovian allies and their 32k army. On September 13, 1501 Russian and Pskov troops capture Kazan, Pskovian flag is raised on Kazan's Kremlin. Pskovian prince Ivan Suzdalski and his troops did most of the work anyway. Kazan troops are meanwhile assaulting Moscow, unsuccessfully as expected. Fresh Russian troops arrive in Moscow in October, the battle begins and Russia is victorious, Kazan troops are sent home packing. War rages into Kazan's other provinces, as both Lipetsk and Vorones see a lot of action. 12/19/1501 Russian troops under Vasili Repnin capture Voronezh.
1502 is no different then 1501 - we upgrade our fortress in Bremen and send a new merchant to Isfahan. Treaty of Tordailles is in effect now, as British founded their first colony in Nova Scotia. War rages between Russia and Kazan, and Ryazan now is the scene of heavy fighting. Finally, Pskov troops capture Lipetsk on 5/21/1502, and are marching on Tambov. Then out of the blue Pskov drops out of the war with Lipetsk and 250 ducats. Russia is on her own now.
That brings mixed results as Russia trying to capture both Ryazan and Kazan. The war spills well over into 1503 because
of that. The immediate implications of this war is that Pskov is trying to gain ground they lost in Novgorod, and my
share there diminishes again. At least Hansa doesn't try to completely expel me from Holstein :0. One intresting thing:
there was a rebellion in Western Pomerania raging for like 3 years, and Poland finally noticed it in 1502, which they quickly quelled. Lipetsk also rebels, but Ivan Suzdalski quickly brings the rebellion down.
Finally, on 5/4/1503 Russian troops capture Kazan. The next day, 5/5/1503 Kazan agrees to peace and gives Russia Vorones and 90 ducats.
to be continued.......
. Anyway, I played v. 1.07c (US) with certain additions: revamped Russian and Polish leaders files as proposed by Tanone, new Pskov leader and monarch files, new additions to Denmark leader file, new settings for Kazan (stability to -1, reduced army, reduced population in all provinces except Kazan and Ryazan), new status of Pskov as Russian vassal. I played on Normal/Aggressive. Ok, here we go.....
Let me know if you want more, it's really time consuming.
We start in 1492 with huge territory we can't defend, and Sweden as our vassal hating us so much. I wonder how we ended up with them in the first place
. Our monarch Hans, after a consultation with nobles, decides to improve our economy, so we invest heavily into promoting bailiffs. We also start our diplomatic activity by proposing a royal marriage to Poland, which they accept. During the course of 1492 we join an alliance with Russia and Pskov, and conclude more royal marriages with Saxony and Austria. We also increase our trade efforts and soon after capture the monopoly at Novgorod. Russia and Pskov declare war on Kazan, we agree to participate, but on my advice we're not going to lend any troops, after all Russia has more than enough. Kazan falls quickly, and the war concludes shortly after with Russia running away with 250 ducats. Something strange happens after that: Russia dissolves most of its army. Nothing else major's happening in Europe besides Spain capturing and annexing Granada in May.We welcome 1493 with mixed feelings, our income is low, as none of our provinces generate enough to cover our expenses in research. We are eying Holstein with its COT and high income as a possible addition to our crown, but nobles are divided over the possible consequences of the war -- it has to be quick. Then the hell breaks loose. Four wars start almost immediately, as France, Savoy and Papal States declare war on England, Poland, Spain, Naples and Lorraine go after poor Hansa, and Turkey with Crimea and Georgia square off against Mameluks, Venice and Persia. Soon after Iraq declares war on Mameluks. We strengthen our ties with Russia by entering into royal marriage with them, and later on conclude another one with Hannover. In fall, Hansa troops are besieging Western Prussia, while Poland and Spain are gathering their troops. Polish troops (80k)arrive in Eastern Pomerania and lay a siege to a city. Hansa sends their small 8k force in there which is promptly annihilated by Konstantin Ostrogsky. After a short assault, Eastern Pomerania falls. Polish troops are marching into Western Pomerania, and after disposing of a small local force lay siege to a city. Nobles see a clear opportunity of getting Holstein, and since our income still low, King Hans decides that time is right and calls on nobles to join his army.
On February 1, 1494 we declare war on Hansa, our stability drops to 2, but our army (10K cavalry and 10 cannons)under the command of King Hans is marching south. At the end of February we arrive in Holstein and start a siege. A small (8K)relieve force sent by Hansa from Bremen is routed by our beloved monarch. We lose 545 brave Danes, but the siege goes on. We observe Polish troops finishing their job in Western Pomerania after a 2 months siege and short assault, and it's now marching to Mecklenburg. Do Poles think annexation? Well, the fortress in Holstein falls in late May, but we still don't have enough to gain a province from Hansa, so we wait for the Polish to dig themselves in, and join them at the end and capture Mecklenburg. However, Polish general Ostrogski decides to assault the fortress, and while he's doing so Hansa offers us Holstein. We gladly accept, and on June 3, 1494 Danish flag is raised on the RatHaus in Holstein. The war only lasted 4 months, as the nobles expected and we gained a vital source of income.
Poland captures Mecklenburg and concludes peace with Hansa August 7, 1494 gaining 166 ducats and both Pomeranias.
Other wars are going on, with French and English squarring off in a number of naval battles, and French finally capturing Calais. Eventually, French fend off British attempts to prevent them from landing on the Island, so we see French troops wandering in Southern England. Venice seems to have a better of Turkey by winning a number of land battles in Kosovo and Bosnia. War rages in the Middle East too, with no clear success for either side. After the war with Hansa we decide to propose a royal marriage to Spain which they accept. At least that will prevent them to some extent from declaring a war on us. The nobles and the King are very much concerned with Spanish - Polish alliance. We see it as a direct threat to our interests in Germany.
New 1495 brings a new royal marriage with Portugal. In the process we obtain the maps from Portugese, English and Venetians, so we know quite a bit about the world. Too bad we don't have an explorer. Darn, shouldn't we be able to hire one? The wars are still raging, with Turkey and its allies concentrating mostly on Persia, while Venice seem to run rampant in Balkans. Finally on August 12, 1495 Venice captures Kosovo for the 2nd time. English and French are running around in Southern England, with French taking Kent and then losing it. More French troops are brought in from the mainland. We enter into royal marriage with England, and obtain their new maps in the process. Our King decides to start building some fortifications, so we starting a new fortress in Holstein. Sweden meanwhile raised its stability and concentrating her efforts on economy. Can't see any war with Sweden in the near future. A humiliating moment for a Royal English Navy - they are defeated by a fleet of Savoy.
1495 concludes with no clear winner in any of the wars.
1496 sees an improved income from our newly acquired province of Holstein. The King decides to pay some attention to inevitable - war with Sweden and orders an upgrade to a fortress in Skane. We also have to pay more attention to our merchants, as Russia and Pskov (and even Kazan) slowly gaining ground on us in Novgorod. Then Hansa decides to kick our merchants out of Holstein COT. No wonder the King and nobles are enraged. We consider it to be a clear violation of a good commerce practice and should constitute a valid Casus Belli against treacherous Hanseates -- like they didn't have enough two years ago. After thinking over, we decided not to take any action as it would lead to the drop in stability of -8, something that our small and poor country cannot afford. Yet we have a long memory :0. Turkey decides it had enough of Mameluks and drops out of the war with them for 163 ducats in April.
Earlier Persia and Iraq agreed to a white peace.
1497 sees us upgrading our fortresses and sending merchants. However, we don't have the majority in Novgorod anymore, and that prompts our monarch to consider maybe different markets. Treacherous Hansa still continues its policy of pushing our merchants from Holstein COT. They'll pay for it bastards!!. England and France finally got tired of running around and concluded a peace which gave French Calais. England survived this time. Will it next?
1498 sees us continuing our policy of upgrading the fortifications and spending on our merchants. We also trade maps with Russia and gain access to Persia. We're planning to send our merchants to Isfahan next year. On October 17, 1498 Venice agrees to end the war with Turkey by gaining both Kosovo and Bosnia. WOW!! But then again Turkey didn't pay much attention to that war. Earlier Mameluks agreed to peace with Georgia by gaining Georgia. Looks strange, since Georgian capital is there. Maybe they moved? It seems like Turkey is concentrating her efforts on breaking the Persia's back. They already control Kurdistan and Armenia, and we hear there is heavy fighting in Azerbaijan and Kars.
1499 marks the last year of our peace agreement with Hansa. We send our merchants to Isfahan (4 of them). Hansa continues her practices of expelling our merchants from Holstein. Wait, you'll pay the full price! We check their diplomatic relations and find an unpleasant surprise. They're allied with Brandenburg. This kind off cools the hot heads a little bit, but upon further consultation with our nobles we decide to strike. We take a loan and start building troops. On September 1, 1499 the Hansetag is delivered a note of our displeasure with their practices in Holstein and declaration of War. Hansa has a 14K army stationed in Mecklenburg. We don't know anything about Brandenburg, though, let's hope it's not too powerful. Our 1st Army under the command of his majesty, King Hans is marching onto Bremen, while the rest of our troops 24K infantry + 1k cavalry and 10 cannons under the guidance of Junker Schlentz is marching south on Mecklenburg. After a short, but nervous (for me) battle, Hansa troops are routed, Mecklenburg is besieged, while Bremen is besieged by King Hans troops. In early October, 15K Brandenburg Army under the command of Casimir arrives on the scene. The battle is not decided until the very end, when our cannons deliver a final blow to Casimir's troops, they are routed and run very fast back to Magdeburg. Over the next few months, Brandenburg won't even make an attempt to help their allies. In fact, out of 15K army, only 3829 arrive back in Magdeburg in November, this is crushing blow and the turning point in war. The remnants of Hansa army besieging Holstein now, my troops are trained there and I have to avoid the battle and lose it in order to get my troops intact. I send them to Alborg to train. The last gasp of the war sees a relief attempt (12/19/1499) by Hansa troops in Mecklenburg -- the battle is fierce, but in the end Hansa troops are scattered and the siege of Mecklenburg goes on. Bremen walls show first cracks in Novemeber, and Mecklenburg's in December. On November 27, 1499 we hear the news that Turkey captures Kars. The peace there seems to be just a matter of time now. We offer a white peace to Brandenburg and they refuse. On January 4, 1500 Turkey signs a truce with Persia, which gives control of Kurdistan and Azerbaijan to Turkey. We wonder why Turkey didn't go for Armenia with its gold? We would definitely
. Finally on February 1, 1500 both fortresses fall. We have an option of annexing Hansa, and thus getting rid of their intrusion in Holstein, or just get Bremen? Upon further consultations we decide not to upset great powers of the region, Spain and Poland and decide on annexing only Bremen and cash. On February 2, 1500 the peace is concluded, Bremen becomes a Danish city. My relationship with major powers don't suffer at all. Our losses for campaign: Infantry 3065 (combat) 3295(attrition)
Cavalry 352 (comabt) 753 (attrition)
Cannons 4 (combat)
Bremen revolts in August, and the uprising is quickly put down by the King's troops. July 20, 1500 Junker Schlentz dies. He was a brave and experienced warrior and the whole nation will mourn his death.
In 1501 we resume our diplomatic activity, we improve our relationship with Poland and Hannover. Many nobles are contemplating a peaceful assimilation of Hannover, and I cannot agree more. Merchants are sent again, and fortresses are upgraded. Then on June 7, 1501 Russia decides to get go at Kazan again. We have to join, but on July 7, 1501 we drop out, our people had enough. Russia doesn't have too many troops though, so they count heavily on their Pskovian allies and their 32k army. On September 13, 1501 Russian and Pskov troops capture Kazan, Pskovian flag is raised on Kazan's Kremlin. Pskovian prince Ivan Suzdalski and his troops did most of the work anyway. Kazan troops are meanwhile assaulting Moscow, unsuccessfully as expected. Fresh Russian troops arrive in Moscow in October, the battle begins and Russia is victorious, Kazan troops are sent home packing. War rages into Kazan's other provinces, as both Lipetsk and Vorones see a lot of action. 12/19/1501 Russian troops under Vasili Repnin capture Voronezh.
1502 is no different then 1501 - we upgrade our fortress in Bremen and send a new merchant to Isfahan. Treaty of Tordailles is in effect now, as British founded their first colony in Nova Scotia. War rages between Russia and Kazan, and Ryazan now is the scene of heavy fighting. Finally, Pskov troops capture Lipetsk on 5/21/1502, and are marching on Tambov. Then out of the blue Pskov drops out of the war with Lipetsk and 250 ducats. Russia is on her own now.
That brings mixed results as Russia trying to capture both Ryazan and Kazan. The war spills well over into 1503 because
of that. The immediate implications of this war is that Pskov is trying to gain ground they lost in Novgorod, and my
share there diminishes again. At least Hansa doesn't try to completely expel me from Holstein :0. One intresting thing:
there was a rebellion in Western Pomerania raging for like 3 years, and Poland finally noticed it in 1502, which they quickly quelled. Lipetsk also rebels, but Ivan Suzdalski quickly brings the rebellion down.
Finally, on 5/4/1503 Russian troops capture Kazan. The next day, 5/5/1503 Kazan agrees to peace and gives Russia Vorones and 90 ducats.
to be continued.......
