The whole idea of this game was to play with Church mentality in mind. Surely, Popes too wanted to expand their territory. But in the same time the was a concern for the well-being of the Christendom in general. My goal would be to grow Papal States into a state one has to reckon with and then forge together a mighty Catholic alliance that will rock the world. I decided not to care whether a particular province would go to me or to my ally. As long as the Catholic world grow I am happy.
First Venetian War
Being in alliance with France had its advantages. Unfortunately, French took a long time to declare a war on Spain, which would consequently allow Rome to attack Spanish vassal Naples. Thus, a ruling Pope decided to initiate a conflict himself and ordered an attack on Venice. A province in dispute was to be Mantua. Roman army, led by Borgia, easily overan Venetian forces, took Mantua and Venice and forced the doge to cede the former and hand over the remaining treasury. The year was 1499. Papal States grew to the size of four provinces.
In the end of the war French finally decided to make a move against Spain. Rome sacrificed all of its ships to get Borgia to Sicily (as Naples refused to join Spaniards in war), but as the island fell to this rather talented general Spanish quickly ceded Luxemburg and Artois to France, effectively ending the conflict.
Second Spanish War
Time passed fast and the Church was determined to grow. Once Spanish diplomats arranged the annexation of Naples by Spain, a ruling Pope saw an opportunity to enlarge his domain to the south. Frequent rebellions in Naples all but wiped out Spanish garrison there and the time was ripe for war.
25-strong Papal army, led by Pope Julius II himself, crossed the southern border and attacked 8,000-strong Spanish army. The battle was short and bloody and its outcome (Papal victory) sealed the fate of the southern Italy. After the battle Papal armies took one by one Naples, Apulia, Messian and Sicily, forcing Spanish to cede the former two and pay 250,000 ducats in war indemnities.
After that war French went on an offensive against Austria. Pope wisely decided it was time to leave French alliance and start building one of his own. Tuscany was the first to join.
Egyptian campaign of 1530
As Turks failed to annex Mamelukes in the first war, an opportunity presented itself to attack Mamelukes in Egypt and establish a base for future crusades in the area. When Suleyman I led his armies in the second war against Mamelukes, Romans gathered 30,000-strong force and secretly sailed toward Egypt. By that time Mameluke empire was cut in two by Turkish provinces of Samaria and Sinai, and Papal army had to care only about the western forces of the infidels. And those were already engaged against Turkish and Tunisian army. Mameluke navy fought desperately to prevent a landing, but had no such luck.
After the landing it was a matter of time before all Mameluke cities fell under Papal control. Roman navy returned to Apulia. And a new army was raised in Italy to counter the threat of the rebels. Finally, Mamelukes signed a peace treaty with the Holy See, giving up Alexandria, Delta and Cataract.
Second Venetian War
As all the best generals of the Papal army lied dead on the battlefields of Italy and Africa, the doge of Venice seized a moment to start a war of vengeance against Papal States. Tuscany fought bravely, but loosing Florence to Venetians had to settle for white peace. The war lasted 20 years. At first, Venetians captured Alexandria and Delta, while desperate fighting around Mantua led to temporary victories of both parties. Finally, Papal army was able to use its numerical superiority and break its more technologically advanced foe on the battlefield. As Venice fell and Egypt was liberated, the merchant republic had no choice, but to acknowldged that the war couldn't be won. After refusing white peace for more than 15 years, she agreed to stop the hostilities.
During the conflict, Austria managed to annex Hungary and was glad to receive an offer of alliance. Genoa vassalized its former master - Milan, and too joined Rome, Florence and Vienna in an alliance soon to be known as the Holy Catholic League.
Growth of Ryazan'
Church was glad to learn of the growth of the state of Ryazan'. Its conquests ensured that Russia would be cut off from Siberia and be enable to annex such a big state easily. Russian difficulties meant the growth of Poland, one of the most devoted Catholic states in the Christendom.
Papal possessions in Egypt.
Cataract was easily converted to Catholic faith, but it was decided to raise the tolerance for Islam anyway, to keep Alexandria and Delta from rebelling. There will be time to convert them, but not just yet.
Western Europe in 1560.
First Venetian War
Being in alliance with France had its advantages. Unfortunately, French took a long time to declare a war on Spain, which would consequently allow Rome to attack Spanish vassal Naples. Thus, a ruling Pope decided to initiate a conflict himself and ordered an attack on Venice. A province in dispute was to be Mantua. Roman army, led by Borgia, easily overan Venetian forces, took Mantua and Venice and forced the doge to cede the former and hand over the remaining treasury. The year was 1499. Papal States grew to the size of four provinces.
In the end of the war French finally decided to make a move against Spain. Rome sacrificed all of its ships to get Borgia to Sicily (as Naples refused to join Spaniards in war), but as the island fell to this rather talented general Spanish quickly ceded Luxemburg and Artois to France, effectively ending the conflict.
Second Spanish War
Time passed fast and the Church was determined to grow. Once Spanish diplomats arranged the annexation of Naples by Spain, a ruling Pope saw an opportunity to enlarge his domain to the south. Frequent rebellions in Naples all but wiped out Spanish garrison there and the time was ripe for war.
25-strong Papal army, led by Pope Julius II himself, crossed the southern border and attacked 8,000-strong Spanish army. The battle was short and bloody and its outcome (Papal victory) sealed the fate of the southern Italy. After the battle Papal armies took one by one Naples, Apulia, Messian and Sicily, forcing Spanish to cede the former two and pay 250,000 ducats in war indemnities.
After that war French went on an offensive against Austria. Pope wisely decided it was time to leave French alliance and start building one of his own. Tuscany was the first to join.
Egyptian campaign of 1530
As Turks failed to annex Mamelukes in the first war, an opportunity presented itself to attack Mamelukes in Egypt and establish a base for future crusades in the area. When Suleyman I led his armies in the second war against Mamelukes, Romans gathered 30,000-strong force and secretly sailed toward Egypt. By that time Mameluke empire was cut in two by Turkish provinces of Samaria and Sinai, and Papal army had to care only about the western forces of the infidels. And those were already engaged against Turkish and Tunisian army. Mameluke navy fought desperately to prevent a landing, but had no such luck.
After the landing it was a matter of time before all Mameluke cities fell under Papal control. Roman navy returned to Apulia. And a new army was raised in Italy to counter the threat of the rebels. Finally, Mamelukes signed a peace treaty with the Holy See, giving up Alexandria, Delta and Cataract.
Second Venetian War
As all the best generals of the Papal army lied dead on the battlefields of Italy and Africa, the doge of Venice seized a moment to start a war of vengeance against Papal States. Tuscany fought bravely, but loosing Florence to Venetians had to settle for white peace. The war lasted 20 years. At first, Venetians captured Alexandria and Delta, while desperate fighting around Mantua led to temporary victories of both parties. Finally, Papal army was able to use its numerical superiority and break its more technologically advanced foe on the battlefield. As Venice fell and Egypt was liberated, the merchant republic had no choice, but to acknowldged that the war couldn't be won. After refusing white peace for more than 15 years, she agreed to stop the hostilities.
During the conflict, Austria managed to annex Hungary and was glad to receive an offer of alliance. Genoa vassalized its former master - Milan, and too joined Rome, Florence and Vienna in an alliance soon to be known as the Holy Catholic League.
Growth of Ryazan'
Church was glad to learn of the growth of the state of Ryazan'. Its conquests ensured that Russia would be cut off from Siberia and be enable to annex such a big state easily. Russian difficulties meant the growth of Poland, one of the most devoted Catholic states in the Christendom.
Papal possessions in Egypt.
Cataract was easily converted to Catholic faith, but it was decided to raise the tolerance for Islam anyway, to keep Alexandria and Delta from rebelling. There will be time to convert them, but not just yet.
Western Europe in 1560.
