I play with settings on normal, V1.07b. Compensation payed after peace treaties will be referred to as x,000 ducats.
A very slow start
In the year of Our Lord 1492, Alexander VI becomes the leader of Catholic Christians, Guardian of the Sole True Faith, the Pontifex Maximus.
He finds a world in change. Monarchs no longer acknowledge the Pope as the highest institution. The claim to protect Christianity, but this is just pretence to further their goals. Heathens rule in the Holy Lands.
Alexander VI sets an agenda that all the Popes who will follow him will continue. The Papal decisions shall be followed by all Christians. The power of the Vatican must not only be of spiritual nature, but also of sacular power.
To bind catholic countries to the Vatican, Alexander VI gives out cardinal posts to many countries. He also improves relations with his allies: France, Savoy, Poland-Lithuania, and Navarra. In addition, Alexander starts to invest into infrastructure trade, and the army.
In may 1492 good news reach the Eternal City: Spain has driven the heathens out of Spain and has annexed Granada.
Things improve further in the next few years: the Papal State becomes largely diplomatically recognized, the army grows, and income rises.
In february 1495, our Polish allies go to war with Turkey. Without hesitation, Alexander joins the missionary cause. While we support the fight rather spiritually than with our still solely defensive army, the Turks nevertheless land a small force in our Romagna province. Fortunately, The Army of the Holy Cross rakes through their lines and whipe them off the earth. The Papal Fleet leaves for the Gulf of Venice and manages to rout a superior Turkish fleet.
In March 1496, Poland and Turkey make peace. For our joining the battles, we receive 40,000 ducats.
While we try to further improve our economy and army, our allies France, Savoy, Navarra, Poland, and Scotland go to war with the Spanish coalition of Spain, Naples, Portugal, Milan, and Lothringia.
In december our troops are ready to march to Naples. A force there is destroyed quickly and we lay siege on the city. However, a Napolitanian army manages to begin sieging the Romagna. Things don't look good there, so Alexander decides to withdraw the Army of the Holy Cross from Naples to battle the Napolitabians in Romagna. With heavy losses we drive the aggressors back to Naples.
While we bolster up our army again, a new general emerges, assuming command of the Army of the Holy Cross: C. Borgia. In february 1497 he introduces the first artillery units to Papal forces. He leads the troops back to Naples, laying a siege in March, quickly gaining the upper hand.
In April France annexes Milan, and while we are glad things go well for our strongest ally, we had targeted Milan as a future province of our Divine Realm. Alexander VI decides to accept this. However, he becomes furious when - while the Papal army is about to capture Naples and move to Apulia, France and Spain agree to make peace, returning to the pre-war status quo. We have no choice but to remove our forces back to Rome.
In 1498, the French drag their allies to war once again, this time against isolated England. French forces invade the British Isles. Alexander VI is relieved the war takes place far from Rome, and therefore decides to officially declare war on England, too. A few hundred troops will land in Italy during the hostilities, but they are no threat.
In may 1498, corruption hits the Vatican. Cardinals have taken bribes from citizens who wanted their will to be put through. Inflation rises over the next month, destabilizing the Papal economy.
The Treaty of Tordesillas is signed in Rome. Portugal and Spain agree to divide the world among them.
In 1501, shortly before Alexander VI denies trade to all nations for 44 months (a symbolic gesture as Rome has no trade center), the Spanish annex the province Skane from Denmark. The following year sees the end of of the French/English conflict. Scotland receives the provinces of Ulster and Connaught, France gets Calais and Leinster, Ireland. The very same year, 1502 AD, pope Alexander VI dies after ten years of successful leadership.
The Conclave elects Julius II to be th new leader of Christianity in 1503. During peaceful years he continues to improve the Papal country and diplomacy. However, in may 1505 the pope becomes very sick. He doesn't adress anyone outside the most inner circle of advisors and cardinals until january.
In february 1506 Austria, a good friend of the Papal cause, loses the province of Salzburg to Saxony. In July, C. Borgia, hero of the war against Naples, dies.
July 1508 engages us into the first of the Polish Wars that will take place in the next years, first against Kurland, which is annexed by the Polish only 4 months later. In december, Poland declares war on the Teutonic Knights, to make peace again 4 months later, in march 1509. Julius II gratiously receives his share of the compansation the order pays to Poland. In november 1510, Poland takes her allies once more to war, this time against Kazan, in january 1511, Poland opens hostilities against Crim.
Our neighbours in Venice enter an unholy alliance in july of 1511: They join with England, and the heathens of Persia, the Mamelukes, Iraq and Hedshas against Tripoli, Turkey, and Tunis.
In september, Poland makes peace with Kazan, only to declare war upon Astrakhan and the Golden Horde a few days later. However, the Polish Wars bring little gain to the Polish and Catholic cause.
In may 1512, 7,200 faithful believers in the Lord voluntarily join our troops. The Papal army is more than five times larger than it was 20 years ago.
1513: Julius II dies, Leo X becomes new Pntifex Maximus.
England - while not befriended with us the way we would consider desirable - annexes the heathen Tripolitanians, securing a solid Christian foothold in Muslim territory the following year.
Soon after this, it is march 1515, alarming news arrive from Wittenberg. One Martin Luther calls for a reformation of the charch, questioning the Papal status and rule. Obviously, the enemy does not only lurk under the crescent moon of Islam, it also hides in the shadow of the Holy Cross between our very own lines!
In 1518, the merchants of Romagna donate their ressources to improve the fortresses of their province.
Carlos I of Spain is crowned to be Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire in 1519. While not befriended with Spain, we must nevertheless accept the vote of the Imperial provinces and crown him Emperor.
The Vatican focuses on its own development once again. In 1523, after the death of Leo X, Clemens VII follows as new Pope.
A year later the French coalition goes back to war with the Spanish. Clemens sees the chance of completing what Borgia didn't manage to achieve: bring down Naples to rule the southern half of Italy. However, once again, shortly before the success of sieging Naples, France and Spain make peace. Clemens is tempted to break the alliance with France, but his advisors convince him that he must not give up his most important ally.
Reformation spreads meanwhile: 1525 is the years when the first ruler of a country converts to the new Lutheran Christian belief: Hessia. In the years to come, Switzerland, Hanover, Sweden, Prussia, England, Thuringia, England, Denmark, Hansa, and others follow.
The heathen Turks win a war against Britain, securing them the province of Meath on Ireland.
While the Pope Clemens ponders those alarming events, the army loses faith in the Catholic Cause and 17,400 soldiers desert. Pope Clemens VII dies a bitter man in 1534.
His successor, Paulus III, decides to not only economically further the Papal influence. He declares war on Naples. The infidels there have repeatedly questioned the Pope's decisions, often even openly opposed him. The Spanish and French allies join the war. April 1535 brings glorious news: Naples has fallen! The people of Rome celebrate while the army moves on to conquer Apulia. While we prepare for a lengthy siege, messengers from France tell of our ally making peace with Spain, which receives the Champagne. Now Spain is free to turn her eyes on the Papal lands that had started the war. And indeed, it doesn't take long before a Spanish force lands in Emilia. Few first, but more follow, and we are forced to wihdraw our troops from Apulia, making hastily peace with Naples, receiving 60,000 ducats. Our troops manage to fend off the Spanish for a while, but more and more Spaniards pour into Emilia, and soon it becomes clear that Paulus III's troops cannot be reinforced fast enough to hold ground for too long. In 1539 France also drags us to war against England, the Mamelukes and Venice. 1540, Paulus III enacts a war tax to aid the war effort. 1541, after the fall of Emilia, we accept a peace offer from Spain and pay them 36,000 ducats in indemnities. However, shortly before the peace, we managed to steal maps to the vast Spanish colonial Empire.
Worn out, the Papal provinces of Emilia and Romagna in ruins, the forces dwindled to the numbers of 1492, Paulus III ponders the future of the worldly belongings of the Catholic Church. He decides to build up the army again and to aid France in their fight in Venice, this way there might be territorial gains for him in it. France has already taken Mantua, sieges Istria, Illyria, and Venice. Our Papal forces have a low ranked leader, so joining the French sieges offers little benefit. We boldly send our forces to Ragusa in 1543, laying siege there. But just when the troops have arrived, France annexes Mantua and makes peace with Venice. The Papal troops have to withdraw.
A short war of Poland against the Crimeans brings us 30,000 ducats, but this is but a drop of water onto a hot stone. The Papal income is down to an almost all time low. The monopolies in Andalusia and Tago have been broken. Naples has reinforced her troops to the number they entertained before the war. To add to the insult, the citizens of Rome have adopted to the new Lutheran belief! The Pope doesn't dare showing himself to the public any more as he must fear to be attacked by the fanatic heretics. And even worde news arrive with merchants from Switzerland: another reformer of the church is gathering equally large support in Christian countries as Martin Luther. His name is Jean Calvin.
These are indeed dark times for the Christians loyal to the Pope. Little has improved since Alexander VI became pope 55 years ago, rather things have gone worse, splitting up the Catholic bond in western Europe....
------------------
Attrition is not a strategy. Attrition is the apparent lack of strategy. (Sun Tzu)
[This message has been edited by Sytass (edited 14-02-2001).]
[This message has been edited by Sytass (edited 14-02-2001).]
A very slow start
In the year of Our Lord 1492, Alexander VI becomes the leader of Catholic Christians, Guardian of the Sole True Faith, the Pontifex Maximus.
He finds a world in change. Monarchs no longer acknowledge the Pope as the highest institution. The claim to protect Christianity, but this is just pretence to further their goals. Heathens rule in the Holy Lands.
Alexander VI sets an agenda that all the Popes who will follow him will continue. The Papal decisions shall be followed by all Christians. The power of the Vatican must not only be of spiritual nature, but also of sacular power.
To bind catholic countries to the Vatican, Alexander VI gives out cardinal posts to many countries. He also improves relations with his allies: France, Savoy, Poland-Lithuania, and Navarra. In addition, Alexander starts to invest into infrastructure trade, and the army.
In may 1492 good news reach the Eternal City: Spain has driven the heathens out of Spain and has annexed Granada.
Things improve further in the next few years: the Papal State becomes largely diplomatically recognized, the army grows, and income rises.
In february 1495, our Polish allies go to war with Turkey. Without hesitation, Alexander joins the missionary cause. While we support the fight rather spiritually than with our still solely defensive army, the Turks nevertheless land a small force in our Romagna province. Fortunately, The Army of the Holy Cross rakes through their lines and whipe them off the earth. The Papal Fleet leaves for the Gulf of Venice and manages to rout a superior Turkish fleet.
In March 1496, Poland and Turkey make peace. For our joining the battles, we receive 40,000 ducats.
While we try to further improve our economy and army, our allies France, Savoy, Navarra, Poland, and Scotland go to war with the Spanish coalition of Spain, Naples, Portugal, Milan, and Lothringia.
In december our troops are ready to march to Naples. A force there is destroyed quickly and we lay siege on the city. However, a Napolitanian army manages to begin sieging the Romagna. Things don't look good there, so Alexander decides to withdraw the Army of the Holy Cross from Naples to battle the Napolitabians in Romagna. With heavy losses we drive the aggressors back to Naples.
While we bolster up our army again, a new general emerges, assuming command of the Army of the Holy Cross: C. Borgia. In february 1497 he introduces the first artillery units to Papal forces. He leads the troops back to Naples, laying a siege in March, quickly gaining the upper hand.
In April France annexes Milan, and while we are glad things go well for our strongest ally, we had targeted Milan as a future province of our Divine Realm. Alexander VI decides to accept this. However, he becomes furious when - while the Papal army is about to capture Naples and move to Apulia, France and Spain agree to make peace, returning to the pre-war status quo. We have no choice but to remove our forces back to Rome.
In 1498, the French drag their allies to war once again, this time against isolated England. French forces invade the British Isles. Alexander VI is relieved the war takes place far from Rome, and therefore decides to officially declare war on England, too. A few hundred troops will land in Italy during the hostilities, but they are no threat.
In may 1498, corruption hits the Vatican. Cardinals have taken bribes from citizens who wanted their will to be put through. Inflation rises over the next month, destabilizing the Papal economy.
The Treaty of Tordesillas is signed in Rome. Portugal and Spain agree to divide the world among them.
In 1501, shortly before Alexander VI denies trade to all nations for 44 months (a symbolic gesture as Rome has no trade center), the Spanish annex the province Skane from Denmark. The following year sees the end of of the French/English conflict. Scotland receives the provinces of Ulster and Connaught, France gets Calais and Leinster, Ireland. The very same year, 1502 AD, pope Alexander VI dies after ten years of successful leadership.
The Conclave elects Julius II to be th new leader of Christianity in 1503. During peaceful years he continues to improve the Papal country and diplomacy. However, in may 1505 the pope becomes very sick. He doesn't adress anyone outside the most inner circle of advisors and cardinals until january.
In february 1506 Austria, a good friend of the Papal cause, loses the province of Salzburg to Saxony. In July, C. Borgia, hero of the war against Naples, dies.
July 1508 engages us into the first of the Polish Wars that will take place in the next years, first against Kurland, which is annexed by the Polish only 4 months later. In december, Poland declares war on the Teutonic Knights, to make peace again 4 months later, in march 1509. Julius II gratiously receives his share of the compansation the order pays to Poland. In november 1510, Poland takes her allies once more to war, this time against Kazan, in january 1511, Poland opens hostilities against Crim.
Our neighbours in Venice enter an unholy alliance in july of 1511: They join with England, and the heathens of Persia, the Mamelukes, Iraq and Hedshas against Tripoli, Turkey, and Tunis.
In september, Poland makes peace with Kazan, only to declare war upon Astrakhan and the Golden Horde a few days later. However, the Polish Wars bring little gain to the Polish and Catholic cause.
In may 1512, 7,200 faithful believers in the Lord voluntarily join our troops. The Papal army is more than five times larger than it was 20 years ago.
1513: Julius II dies, Leo X becomes new Pntifex Maximus.
England - while not befriended with us the way we would consider desirable - annexes the heathen Tripolitanians, securing a solid Christian foothold in Muslim territory the following year.
Soon after this, it is march 1515, alarming news arrive from Wittenberg. One Martin Luther calls for a reformation of the charch, questioning the Papal status and rule. Obviously, the enemy does not only lurk under the crescent moon of Islam, it also hides in the shadow of the Holy Cross between our very own lines!
In 1518, the merchants of Romagna donate their ressources to improve the fortresses of their province.
Carlos I of Spain is crowned to be Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire in 1519. While not befriended with Spain, we must nevertheless accept the vote of the Imperial provinces and crown him Emperor.
The Vatican focuses on its own development once again. In 1523, after the death of Leo X, Clemens VII follows as new Pope.
A year later the French coalition goes back to war with the Spanish. Clemens sees the chance of completing what Borgia didn't manage to achieve: bring down Naples to rule the southern half of Italy. However, once again, shortly before the success of sieging Naples, France and Spain make peace. Clemens is tempted to break the alliance with France, but his advisors convince him that he must not give up his most important ally.
Reformation spreads meanwhile: 1525 is the years when the first ruler of a country converts to the new Lutheran Christian belief: Hessia. In the years to come, Switzerland, Hanover, Sweden, Prussia, England, Thuringia, England, Denmark, Hansa, and others follow.
The heathen Turks win a war against Britain, securing them the province of Meath on Ireland.
While the Pope Clemens ponders those alarming events, the army loses faith in the Catholic Cause and 17,400 soldiers desert. Pope Clemens VII dies a bitter man in 1534.
His successor, Paulus III, decides to not only economically further the Papal influence. He declares war on Naples. The infidels there have repeatedly questioned the Pope's decisions, often even openly opposed him. The Spanish and French allies join the war. April 1535 brings glorious news: Naples has fallen! The people of Rome celebrate while the army moves on to conquer Apulia. While we prepare for a lengthy siege, messengers from France tell of our ally making peace with Spain, which receives the Champagne. Now Spain is free to turn her eyes on the Papal lands that had started the war. And indeed, it doesn't take long before a Spanish force lands in Emilia. Few first, but more follow, and we are forced to wihdraw our troops from Apulia, making hastily peace with Naples, receiving 60,000 ducats. Our troops manage to fend off the Spanish for a while, but more and more Spaniards pour into Emilia, and soon it becomes clear that Paulus III's troops cannot be reinforced fast enough to hold ground for too long. In 1539 France also drags us to war against England, the Mamelukes and Venice. 1540, Paulus III enacts a war tax to aid the war effort. 1541, after the fall of Emilia, we accept a peace offer from Spain and pay them 36,000 ducats in indemnities. However, shortly before the peace, we managed to steal maps to the vast Spanish colonial Empire.
Worn out, the Papal provinces of Emilia and Romagna in ruins, the forces dwindled to the numbers of 1492, Paulus III ponders the future of the worldly belongings of the Catholic Church. He decides to build up the army again and to aid France in their fight in Venice, this way there might be territorial gains for him in it. France has already taken Mantua, sieges Istria, Illyria, and Venice. Our Papal forces have a low ranked leader, so joining the French sieges offers little benefit. We boldly send our forces to Ragusa in 1543, laying siege there. But just when the troops have arrived, France annexes Mantua and makes peace with Venice. The Papal troops have to withdraw.
A short war of Poland against the Crimeans brings us 30,000 ducats, but this is but a drop of water onto a hot stone. The Papal income is down to an almost all time low. The monopolies in Andalusia and Tago have been broken. Naples has reinforced her troops to the number they entertained before the war. To add to the insult, the citizens of Rome have adopted to the new Lutheran belief! The Pope doesn't dare showing himself to the public any more as he must fear to be attacked by the fanatic heretics. And even worde news arrive with merchants from Switzerland: another reformer of the church is gathering equally large support in Christian countries as Martin Luther. His name is Jean Calvin.
These are indeed dark times for the Christians loyal to the Pope. Little has improved since Alexander VI became pope 55 years ago, rather things have gone worse, splitting up the Catholic bond in western Europe....
------------------
Attrition is not a strategy. Attrition is the apparent lack of strategy. (Sun Tzu)
[This message has been edited by Sytass (edited 14-02-2001).]
[This message has been edited by Sytass (edited 14-02-2001).]
Good. Shame still that you lost, but the Papal staits should concentrate on divine affairs, not to fight with it's neighbours. So maybe it was a sign of god?
