Poland-Lithuania

[Languish]

Normal/Normal. EU 1.10 IGC 2.3. Enhanced IGC AI (r2).

I spent a little while browsing the forums, playing a few trial games, before settling on Poland-Lithuania for my 3rd AAR. This gives me a good opportunity to try out a reasonable major (large too), observe the progress of the colonial AI alterations i have been working on and also try something a little different with P-L ... oh and as i have been beating up on P-L as the Hanseatic League earlier it was my way of saying sorry...

Part I. Securing the Cores.

In 1492 the united kingdom of Poland-Lithuania was a large (Fig. 1), fairly prosperous, multi-ethnic, multi-religous society that gave off the impression it was united. Underneath it all it seathed with violence, racial hatred and secret links with virtually every nation around its borders. In order to unify the nation properly several steps had to be taken, and they had to be executed quickly and carefully.

In January of that year a declaration of war, rightfully, was handed to the Teutonic Order living along the North Eastern Baltic. This declaration of war also drew in the Orders friends, Prussia, and so war was engaged. The army advanced quickly (Fig. 2) and proved its worth when, by August that same year, both Livonia and Kurland had fallen. By 1494 Estonia had fallen along with Prussia, and indeed any hope for the enemy to attempt any counter-attack. In January 1495 the Order, and their hapless Prussian allies, were annexed (Fig. 3 & 4) into the Polish-Lithuanian Kingdom.

From 1496-1506 the Kingdom set about improving its kingdom-wide collection of taxes, fortifications, and trading ability. These changes cost a lot of money but the dividends were felt almost immediately. Aside from the near constant state of revolt along the east baltic coastline the land was safe and ready for any enemy attack. In fact it was prepared in such a manner as not to repel attacker but to provide superior lodgings for the large polish army expected to arrive on the border with Russia at any moment.

 

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Part II. Everyone getting the boot in.

In October 1507 Poland-Lithuania declare war on Russia, with the firm intention of expanding the kingdom and attaining control of the province of Tula, and not a great deal else really mattered. This drew in a large russian led alliance comprising of Pskov, Crimea, Ryazan and Denmark and all of these allies (barring Denmark) would perform surprisingly well.

Initially the invasion went very well (Fig. 5) in the North as Ingermanland, and Novgorod were successfull captured. The war in the east did not fare so well but then again no polish troops were deployed in those regions so this was understandable. The Russians however seemed to have an almost inexhaustable supply of men, more so than the limitless polish manpower pool it appeared. Early gains were recaptured and the Russians began advancing into Northern Poland.

In November 1509 Pskov were paid to keep there noses out of the war, and to the east, the Ryazan's were paid 8d and eagerly given possession of the far flung and useless non-core provinces of Bogutjar and Vorones. Those two combatants had caused probably more damage than all of Russia's efforts since 1507 so to have them removed for essentially virtually nothing was a real success. A large ryazan might also present a problem for Russia later as well, would would work to the Poles advantage.

It took four further years of fighting, recapturing provinces (both Polish and Russian) before Moscow fell in January 1513. Even after the fall of the Capital the Russians continued belligerently fighting on. Crimean forces fighting in the south were finally defeated, and after the fall of Crimea itself were pressed into a white peace freeing up more men for the war in the north. In 1515 the liberation of Polish Tula is completed and negotiations begin for its return to Polish sovereignty. In March the province is returned by Treaty (Fig. 6) and the war is over. The eight year long war had not gone unnoticed by the concerned alliances surrounding the Poles and several of them, perhaps fearful of Polish designs on Russia and later themselves, began activating their alliances and mobilising troops.

The first such action was undertaken by Hungary (Austria and Bohemia) who declared war shortly after the conclusion of war against Russia. There alliance brought serious amounts of men to southern poland it is was feared, after Austrian and Bohemian successes, that serious damage was going to be inflicted. Fortunately for the Poles a window of opportunity was given to them when the Hungarians were decisively routed in Krakow. An assault was followed up in Northern Hungary (Fig. 8) which convinced the Hungarians to quite before the Poles inflicted further damage. This had the excellent effect of nullifying recent Austrian and Bohemian gains which would have serious affected Poland otherwise. It was hailed as a major success under incredible adversity.

During this war another alliance, the Pskovian-Ryazan Alliance, also declared war assaulting the Baltic and Eastern Polish provinces respectively. Once again Pskov is bought off for a paltry figure and Ryazan is handed 65d and another unimportant non-core province, Donetsk (Fig. 7). The war is over almost as quickly as it had started however numerous rebellions remain principally in the south east.

From 1518-1519 the army is rebuilt as much as is humanly possible before another concerned alliance, the Swedish led North Germanic Alliance (Pommerania, Brandenburg), declares war. It is a war that initially the Polish are unprepared for. Western Prussia falls and Danzig comes under heavy attack. Initially the first relief force is almost annihilated but later the Western Prussia is recaptured and the forces in the Danzig expelled. By 1522 the Swedish are paid 70d and the war is over. In fact for the first time since 1492 there is an appreciable period of peace.

 

[Judge]

Nice writing and informative pictures, poor Order

 

[Languish]

Originally posted by Judge
Nice writing and informative pictures, poor Order

Thanks very much

I am keeping it in the same theme as i wrote the Hanseatic League AAR. That CB against the Order just had to be used

 

[Morpheus506]

How ironic that Prussia and Russia were attacked by Poland, not the other way around.

I feel sorry for the Poles living in Vorones, Bogutjar, and Donetsk! Having all of their nationalities uprooted in such fashion! And over such a small thing! For Shame!

 

[Languish]

Originally posted by Morpheus506
How ironic that Prussia and Russia were attacked by Poland, not the other way around.

I feel sorry for the Poles living in Vorones, Bogutjar, and Donetsk! Having all of their nationalities uprooted in such fashion! And over such a small thing! For Shame!

You should see what happens next then

 

[Morpheus506]

Hmm, I'm intrigued....

 

[Languish]

Originally posted by Morpheus506
Hmm, I'm intrigued....

It's a slight "different way" to play as the P-L to be honest... anyway i need to knock up the screenshots and write the installment

 

[Languish]

Part III. Of Great Things.

Following on from the end of hostilities, and the acquirement of its rightful territory, Poland-Lithuania enters of period of virtually unparalleled peace. In 1529, several years after Protestantism becomes a valid "religon", the first nation becomes Protestant. It a virtually unheard of germanic kingdom by the name of Thuringien and its courage to be the first to admit the yearnings of its own people is appealing even to an overwhelming catholic/orthodox nation like Poland-Lithuania. In its early conquests though, against the Prussians and Teutons, the Kingdom itself had acquired thousands of such people. Their wealth, prodcutivity and religous leanings began to influence even the staunchly catholic king himself.

In 1531 the conversion of the first major western power, Sweden, was seen by many as good an opportunity as there was going to be to change religon in this world of shifting allegiances,alliances and of course... subservence to the pope. Much to the surprise of most of the kingdom Poland-Lithuania was declared a Protestant nation on June 18, 1531 (Fig. 9). A royal marriage with Sweden was arranged a mere few days later leading to many people in the kingdom deducing something fishy was going on. Throughout the remaining months of 1531 the kingdom was wracked by four major peasant revolts of principally an Orthodox origin. The revolts were brutally put down.

In 1532 Hesse and Helvetia joined the growing ranks of the Protestant nations now springing up and royal marriages were soon arranged with them. In 1534 the fruits of a secure protestant middle class along the baltic coast saw the development of the first early arquebus (Land: 5) and of the free service of an explorer by the name of "Wolodyowski although he doesnt sail straight away having required additional transports to begin his voyage. When he does begin his fateful voyage (1538) he uncovers the Canary Islands, The Mauritanian Coastline and the Cape Verde Islands before sinking on his way to the much fabled lands of Brazil.

That same year Denmark converts to Protestantism, and a year later the English follow suit. Throughout 1539 Chief Judges are promoted furiously throughout the kingdom. In 1544 a conquistador by the name of "Lanckoronski" becomes available in the Black Sea port of Bessarabia and he sails to the Mauritanian coastline where land was sighted in 1538 (Fig. 10). Following on from this initial landing, and the rather unscrupulous eradicating of the local natives, the first trading post of the kingdom is established in this region in 1545. The Trade Post is continually developed until in 1584 it becomes a colony, and later in 1588 a city.

In 1547 a series of laws are passed deliberately inflicting incredible hardship on Muslims and Orthodox peoples (Toleration set to 0 on both) which provoke serious and massive revolts. During this period, which lasts from 1547-1608, hundreds of thousands of people are killed or deported as the army forcibly evicts non-conformist people from Polish land settling protestants from the Baltics as they do. The provinces convert over a long stretch of time, Poltava in 1550, Mozyr in 1554, Smolensk in 1558, Polotsk in 1559, Belgorod in 1560, Kursk in 1565, Tula in 1566, Belarus in 1571, Galicia (Catholic) in 1572, Chernigov in 1573, Bessarabia in 1574, The Ukraine in 1581, and Welikia in 1608 (Fig 3). It's an achievement the Polish are not particularly proud of, even to this day, but was seen as a necessary evil at the time.

During the process the rising middle class increased the treasurey almost completely disproportionately. Money was in the thousands and numerous technological advances were invested in paying dividends almost immediately. Monopolies were attained in Danzig and Kurland and maintained vigorously. Agricultural Revolutions (1562), Exceptional Years (1565), The completion of a Fine Arts Academy in Masovia (1572) and some particularly Good Governement Policies (1596) were to name but a few important events during the brutal purging of the Orthodox peasantry. The Arrival of the great Protestant King Stefan Batory further improved the technological advantage now being enjoyed by the Polish ensuring several important army reformations (1574, and 1577) and the arrival of the first Arquebusiers in 1581 and later the first Matchlock equipped soldiers in 1587.

In 1594, keen to keep the Navy up to speed (it had been neglected for some time), the King ordered the creation of several Naval Equipment Manufacturies (Kurland and Danzig 1596). It was during this period of modernisation that the second protestant polish explorer "Krasinski" offers his services to the polish crown. During the early 1590's his voyages of discovery pass by the Northern Brazilian coastline as far as the coast of Guyana (Fig. 12).

 

[Morpheus506]

Ohhh, I'm waay too familiar with these province names right now..... I just spent a long time capturing, losing, recapturing, and in some cases relosing all of these while I fought Poland. Then the game crashed. I had to fight the whole war over agian!

But now Poland is part of Sibir, so ha!

 

[Languish]

... and what say you of a Protestant P-L then?

 

[Morpheus506]

Uh, I don't follow you. Say again?


btw congratulations Field Marshal!

 

[Languish]

Edited the typo... what say you of a "protesant" state religon and eventual conversion of Poland... that was supposed to be the "shock-horror" surprise thing

Edit: w00t 2500 posts!

 

[Morpheus506]

Heh, they're (or were) HRE in my game so that's kinda funny too.

 

[Languish]

Part IV. Voyages, Settlement and a return to European Affairs.

From 1599 onwards money, men and materials were poured into development of the West African Settlements. The conquistador "Kalinowski" soon arrives in Nouadibuh, and after reminding the natives to find a new home, promptly sets about the foundation of "New Lithuania". During explorations south, and after the clearance of Louga, Portuguese West Africa is uncovered in the province of Senegal and presumably further south. Explorations north of Nouadibuh uncover English held Tassaret (Fig. 13).

In 1605 the Polish West African Company (PWAC) is founded (+200d, +1 Merchant, and +500d Trade) giving impetus to further development in the region and allowing the region as a springboard for voyages to Brazil. "Krasinski" heads to Amapa founding a Trade Post near the Amazon Gulf, stuck between Portuguese Brazil and Spanish Venezuela. He continues his advance into the interior meeting his fate amongst the natives in Manaus. In 1608 all armies are given the appropriate equipment and doctrine to all them to explore (Land: 11) further freeing the burden of hiring daring conquistadors.

In 1613 two Naval Equipment Manufacturies are completed in Memel and Eastern Prussia coinciding with an fortification building program in central poland and a much welcome drop in inflation (-33%). Amapa is colonised by a part of 100 brave protestant settlers and tentatively named "New Podlasia". It will be troubled with stunted growth, peaking at 1622 (Fig. 14), and as a military waypoint for the next few decades. In 1627 the last expedition into the interior reaches as far as spanish peru to find the native, and rumoured wealthy, inca subjugated some considerable time ago. This is the last PWAC sponsored expedition into Brazil and following on from this discovery, and the inability to explore at this moment in time, PWAC funding is virtually stopped overnight.

Throughout 1629-31 much larger fortresses are built across the land, perhaps in anticipation of a future war, that secure the homeland from any credible invasion. Rumours run wild amongst the land that a new stirring is underway and perhaps Poland-Lithuania might expand out or perhaps deliver some destruction upon the turk. It is, however, nothing but rumours. For the next few years the only interesting developments are the construction of a goods manufactury in Lithuania (1630) and consistent annual investment in the navy, army, trade and infrastructure. A Naval Equipments Manufactory is provided by the civil populace in Livonia for free in 1633.

In 1637 Poland-Lithuania enters an English led alliance comprising of Sweden, Kleves, Sicily and the Palatinate. It is noted by the kingdom that England, and indeed the Palatinat, are large and powerful kingdoms (Fig. 15). Reform of the army (+1000d) follows quickly as do diplomatic overtures towards each of the alliance members. The conversion of Estonia in 1639 drags Catholicism towards obscurity in Poland-Lithuania. In 1641 the Polish-lithuanian army rceives its first compliment of Musketeers. Deflation in 1643, a renewal of the English Alliance and the acquisition of Tassaret(Fig. 16) (abandoned by the English) seal a good few decades for the Kingdom.

 

[Languish]

Additional

A monster 5 province Transylvania has sprung up amongst an equally large Turkish invasion of europe.

The Palatinat is a central european power to be reckoned with and England is utterly dominating the Low Countries! Looks like i joined the right alliance it seems, although some strange things are definitely afoot...

 

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Part V. The Cossack Rebellion.

In 1648 the Cossacks rebelled. For the first time the Cossacks had allied themselves with Crimean Tartars and together they formed a formidable fighting force. The mainly Cossack infantry now had a superb mobile cavalry arm while the solely cavalry Tartars had the assistance of the Cossacks defensive firepower. The Polish-Lithuanian Army on the other hand lacked a commander of any real worth and this proved to be a real problem. On August 19th a Polish army heading towards rebelling Krakow (Fig. 17) was defeated at and as news spread of this victories the whole of the Ukraine (Fig. 18), and later Poland (Fig. 19), rose in rebellion.

Large numbers of peasants joined the Cossack army and with the Tartars they ravaged the land 'with fire and sword' slaughtering nobles, Polish or Ruthenian, priests and nuns and Jews in their thousands. The Tartars taught their Cossack allies many lessons in cruelty including the Moldavian custom of impaling alive, which was carried out with relish by Cossacks and Poles alike. No one was in control on either side and the whole region degenerated into mindless violence and cruelty.

It took two years of near constant fighting (Fig. 20), and thankfully unrequired by their allies elsewhere during this most delicate period of Polish History, the rebellion was finally brought under control by March 1650. During the war Pripet converted willingly to Protestantism.

 

[Languish]

Additional

I felt obliged to post the cossack rebellion as an entirely seperate section (even though it covers two years of history). When you put it into perspective this particular problem set the stage for a series of problems that began Poland-Lithuania's decline as Muscovy and Sweden got in on the act beginning the so-called "Bloody Deluge".

In this game, not only is Poland-Lithuania a powerful protestant nation, it is also at peace with Russia, and allied with Sweden. It's quite amazing when you put it into perspective the things you can change in this game. The Monarch, Jan Kazimierz, coming with like seven plus (i didnt count them all) waves of obscurantism and virtually putting all of poland under rebellion was a real shock to the system

 

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Part VI. The Muscovite War.

In 1653 the Fine Arts Academy in Mazovia burnt down to the ground in a devastating fire... another was ordered in its place (completed 1655). Later, in 1655, the country was wracked by a severe political crisis (-3 stability), that last until 1659 virtually crippling the entire country. By 1661 great strides had been made in the art of war, the Navy was making use of early optics (Naval: 13), and the Army of Pistols (Land: 15).

On March 24th 1661 Sweden declared war on Russia in response to growing signs of weakness in that country. The call to arms went to each alliance member and Poland-Lithuania, the great eastern protestant power, duly accepted relishing the first proper test of its army in well over a century. The Polish campaign was organised along three lines (Fig. 21). Von Winter was to attack in Crimea, Stanlislaw Jablonowski was to attack Pskov and Pawel Jan Sapieha was to attack Moscow itself from his base in Tula in the North. Crimea fell in July, and Azov was invested with a large army shortly afterwards, falling in late September. A russian advance into Northern Poland was checked and stopped in Tula. Moscow is invaded shortly afterwards.

The only weakness of the Polish is in the west. A pommeranian army attacking Western Prussia (Fig. 22) in December 1662 inflicts heavy losses on the Polish as they attack to relieve the siege. In the North Pskov falls and the Poles press for an advantageous peace in March 1663 with the Russians. Uninterested in extending its holdings the Poles ask merely for an indemnity and the due recognition of victory in the conflict which is awarded quickly.

The war between the Swedes finishes in december 1663 with annexation of Karelia in Finland and of Lugansk near the Crimea (Fig. 23). For the Poles it is an important test of the worth of their troops, although it is agreed, mre training, investment and better equipment is still top priority.

In March 1664 the English request the alliances support in a war against France and all answer the call. The war is not initially expected to bother the Poles, who instead focus on important events such as a recent agricultural revolution (+1 tax in national provinces) in 1665, rather than affairs of the sword. Interestingly PWAC possessions in Northern Brazil come under French attack allowing the PWAC to finally be rid of these settlements by Treaty in late 1665 (Fig. 24). This conveniently takes the kingdom out of a pointless war with France whome they have no quarrel with.

In 1666, and 1668 military investment continues apace allowing squadron formations and the construction of weapons manufacturies respectively. The first such manufactury is ordered in Belarus in 1668. In 1669 a Naval Equipments Manufactury is provided in Belgorod for free.

 

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Part VII. Alliance Wars, and the end of the Alliance.

In 1669 the Palatinat go to war Helvetia that draw in an interesting set of alliances. The most major partner of the swiss, for some truly incredible reason or another, are the Turks... and the interestingly overgrown transylvanian kingdom. The Polish-Lithuanian forces however are well organised and generally ready for this war... the first such occurance of one against the Turks since they first invade the balkans two centuries ago.

As with most of the recent wars a three pronged assault is undertaken, the first to Moldovia, the second to Ruthenia (under the command of Jan Sobieski) and the last to the Turkish province of Bujak... south of Bessarabia (Fig. 25). By March forces have arrived in Moldovia and Ruthenia, and preparations are being made to invest Bujak (Fig. 26). By May Ruthenia has fallen to Jan Sobieski and the siege of Bujak is underway. A large Turkish army manages to eject the Polish sieging Bujak (Fig. 27) just after a failed attempt to storm the fortifications in the region. As Jan Sobieski storms Magyar to the west of Ruthenia he learns of peace between the palatinat and the swiss ending the war rather prematurely.

In 1670 a weapons manufactury ordered in Belarus is completed, along with the ability to construct shipyards in the Baltic ports (Naval: 16). Recent conflict allows the merchants along the baltics to instigate a trade embergo for three years without harming polands reputation in the local region. In 1673 another weapons manufactury is ordered in Podlasia.

In 1674, the weakened English state declared war on the Scottish occupying its northern provinces, and the Polish reluctantly go into another war. Jan's perception of the alliance is that it serves no practical purpose anymore. The Palatinat and indeed even the English are not as strong as they were when the kingdom originally joined. on January 22nd 1674 the Polish withdraw from the alliance. The English spend many years afterwards virtually begging the Polish to rejoin. All offers are refused. Throuhout the 1670's and early 1680's a large program of reformation is undertaken with construction of massive fortifications along potential weakspots with the borders such as common targets in times gone before (Danzig, Tula, and Western Prussia spring to mind), the promotion of governors in every province (Fig. 28) and of several army reforms (1679, and 1680). In 1681 a new weapons manufactory is completed in the Ukraine, now a fast growing military staging point, in southern Poland.