Chapter 3: War!!!!
All kinds of wars in this update. I'm also up to 1450, so immediately after this post will be a State of the Republic type post.
Not pictured -- At the beginning of this update, I moved a slider toward further Centralization.
August 17, 1433 -- I ask Polotsk, politely, to lose its freedom and independence for all eternity. It, somewhat surprisingly, declines.
Fools indeed.
August 22, 1433 -- Austria takes a healthy chunk out of Poland.
November 1433 -- Milan is next on Austria's table -- this worries me, because I'd hate to deal with HRE Austria.
January 1434 -- Interesting. I end up not taking advantage of it, but I seem to be getting a good number of these.
August 1434 -- I notice that Zaporozhie has broken away from the Horde. Good to know.
April 1435 -- Production tech 5. I've been building constables on the highest tax provinces when I get the cash -- there's no revolt risk penalty like there was in HttT.
August 1435 -- Ukraine declares war on Moldavia. That reminds me to declare war on them once the truce is up.
September 1435 -- You know Milan is in trouble when Switzerland can take a taste (they get Brescia and 15 ducats). I celebrate by declaring war on Ukraine (Tribal Conquest CB).
November 1435 -- Land tech 5. That should make things a little bit easier.
February 1436 -- I occupy Vilna and quickly peace out Lithuania. I'm not afraid of them, but they don't have much I want either. I can't take Grodno for the lower infamy, since I didn't DoW Lithuania.
February 24, 1436 -- Since they're mostly occupied and have no army, Ukraine WPs with Moldavia. Probably for the best.
Jaunary 3, 1437 -- It's about bloody time! There was a revolt in Moskva (Russian nationalists, usually cross over from Ryazan), so I couldn't leave too large an army in theater.
And sweet, sweet peace.
Well, sweet for me. I wanted to annex Ukraine in its entirety, but it was a little too big. Honestly, I just want Kiev, with its 15 base tax ::drools:: but since it's the capital, I can't do anything about it. I take Podolia to split Ukraine in two, thinking they might move their capital. Plus, I can always take Ukraine as a whole after the truce expires.
February 1437 -- Election! I keep the guy I had before -- 6/6/9 -- and will do so at every election henceforth. Until I can westernize, I'm pretty happy with this leader.
October 21, 1438 -- I'm planning another war -- I leave five regiments in Podolia for the likely Catholic revolts until she converts, so I can use the rest of my army in battle. War against whom, you ask?
I shall make Viborg mine! Pommerania, Aachen, Lorraine, and Holland also join the fray for Sweden.
October 28, 1438 -- Bohemia -- HRE at this point, joins the war, and becomes alliance leader. Crap. I hate cascading alliances
November, 1438 -- What's left of Poland decides to join in -- Poland will make absolutely no contribution to the war effort against me.
December 30, 1438 -- I get what I came for.
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January 1, 1439 -- God decides Moldavia is next on the menu (mission w/ subjugation CB). Let's get through this war first.
February 1439 -- My old 6 star diplomat dies, I quickly hire another one (with the help of my magistrates).
May 1439 -- Here's the theater of battle right now. That's Lithuania in Polesia, with large Bohemian armies pacing back and forth on Lithuanian territory (why? I have no idea).
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I scorched Mogilev at this point -- I thought the war would continue on a lot longer, and didn't want to lose Minsk's tax production, since it's my third best province (behind Novgorod and Moskva). I tried to enter Polesia to break the siege, but quickly discovered, to my dismay, that the moment I did so Bohemia's 20+ regiments were going to join the battle. Instead, I bring down my other army, which is on Novgorod right now, and wait for a good moment to attack.
July 3, 1439 -- Blast! Ukraine just collapsed. Why does this matter, you ask? Because Ukraine reforms as a merchant republic (with no CoT, that's quite a trick). That means no more reduced price territory
Ukraine also refuses to switch capitals, the bastards.
May 28, 1440 -- A boon! While my army whittles away at Polesia (now 40 regiments vs. 20 Lithuanian/Bohemian regiments, who are inflicting serious casualties with their Western units and higher discipline [I assume]
), I discover that Lithuania has had enough and wants peace.
This has two congenial outcomes -- first, obviously, it gets rid of Lithuania. But Bohemia now doesn't have a direct line into my territory and the mostly Lithuanian contingent of the army on Polesia leaves! Resulting in:
The death of the remnants of 15 Bohemian regiments! Take a peek at my army here -- that army had 40 regiments at one point
I'm actually feeling pretty good about getting a white peace out of Bohemia.
July 1440 -- Not any more.
My manpower has been seriously drained by this war, and now, as you can see, we've got landings near Novgorod. My armies need time to recover, and just don't have it.
August 1440 -- I am forced to surrender to Bohemia.
September 1440 -- At least I can still beat up Moldavia! Time to use my new CB! ::crickets chirp::
March 1443 -- Ryazan gets a CB on me for Border Friction -- some how, I don't think they'll do much about it.
April 1443 -- Get "Aristocrats concerned" event. I have to take the 10 prestige loss here, since a move towards aristocracy will put me over the threshold for Merchant republics.
October 1443 -- Notice there weren't any war updates? Yeah, see, I'm a dolt. Golden Horde was occupying Moldavia when I DoWed, and since GH wouldn't just end their war, nothing actually happened. Three year white peace kicks in, now I get to wait another five years to vassalize Moldavia
November 1443 -- My master of the mint pays off with the inflation reduction event. Huzzah! My merchants are so pleased they give me 100 ducats.
August 1444 -- My last slider move towards Centralization for now. I'll try to move a bit toward Innovative (or possibly Quality) for my next move.
October 1444 -- Ingermanland becomes Russian.
May 1445 -- Did you think I was idle during this period? Well, I mostly was, but there was something I was pursuing.
Why Denmark? Well, here's one reason:
Denmark still has all of her territories, (except Gotland), and what's more, made Sweden release Finland, who is also allied to Denmark. Denmark should be very useful, both for their army (not much) and their navy (bingo!), which should help prevent those nasty landings in Northern Novgorod should I go to war with an appropriate power.
August 19, 1445 -- Here's another benefit: Western Arms trade (+6 to Land Tech, -1% to Prestige) from bordering Finland.
April 1446 -- Land Tech 6.
May 1447 -- Dogpile on France! It's a bad sign when you have to pay off Savoy to the tune of 150 ducats.
August 1447 -- Austria and Bohemia make France release a bunch of minors. So long for now, France!
November 1447 -- Government Tech 5.
September 1448 -- Podolia converts to Orthodoxy. Also, trade tech 5.
October 1448 -- Time to die, Moldavia! The Golden Horde can't save you now!
November 1448 -- Insult from Finland. You must want my Finnish cores! Let's see you do something about it.
March 1449 -- Moldavia pays the ultimate price -- vassalization. Next up on God's agenda, conquering Tula from Ryazan. Since Ryazan is also occupied by GH, I learn my lesson and wait patiently for my chance.
This brings us up to January 1450. State of the Republic is coming next!