Sforza!!! - A Milan AAR

[rhynoclemmis]

Well, the more the merrier. I still haven't the hardware to play this game, but in other Paradox titles some of the best moments are when you have to slug it out on a narrow front in order to advance into the other's heartland - like here, where your only land connection to your foes is the strip on the Mediterranean coast.
(Except for Sicily, but that's no heartland.)
A fitting parable is banging your head against the wall several times until you either break through or break your head. One of my favorite pasttimes.
My wall isn't Papal Controller though, nor was it ever declared Holy Roman Emperor.

And the usual commentary coming days too late:
Good to see that Admiral Seeland was still around to be handed his behinds by your mighty fleet. And your nigh useless allies....

 

[unmerged(60841)]

Looks like someone is a little upset about what Containi and Francesco did to their father.Well, it's not the best situation you could've hoped for- especially with Castile hopping in on their side. I think this will be your most challenging war yet. But if you break Aragon and sap some of Castile's strength, it could be the best one for you long-term. Are you allied with Navarre? If so, I think someone just got annexed.

 

[unmerged(68757)]

Originally Posted by Technomucio

At west you have France , Castille and again Aragon...and i think Aragon will become an ally of Castille...i dunno why , but i have a deja-vu of my own game

I have to quote myself

As I told you now you have to fight against bot Castille and Aragon togheter , damned deja - vu

I think it will be an hard war , Castille is powerful and Aragon can give you some problems...but you can win this war too specially by land

We now have to wait first step to understand what they want and maybe if someone can attack them too (Portugal ? Algeri ? France? England?) or someone will attack you :wacko: (but i really don't think it could happens...).

And now attack Aragon in Palermo and Gibilterra and maybe Balears

 

[unmerged(63576)]

The AI has certainly seen an improvement seen Eu2 in when they will DOW someone... (they even claimed my throne once when i was alredy overstretchingm yself with an entangling enemy!) (followed by a DOW offcourse!)

But atleast your allies are on your side now... Now if you grant them Military Acces (if you havent alredy done it) the only thing is to hope they will help...

And fightinh Castille + Aragon = Spain by yourself!

BTW, does forcing another nation to cede provinces to your ally give you additional prestige?

 

[Rensslaer]

Aragon wasted no time in besieging Roussillon. They easily brushed aside our 2-regiment screening force, which was nowhere near ready for combat. That’s fine. They beat a strategic retreat to Languedoc.


The first naval combat took place at the end of August, 1511. One Aragonese cog, loaded with cavalry, was sunk. The other was captured, and the cavalrymen imprisoned.

As we are at war with the HR Emperor, we know we must act immediately to bolster our defenses. I take a loan, and begin building troops everywhere – infantry, and some artillery. I also begin construction of a caravel, though I am doubtful it will be ready in time for use in this war.

A lone cog transported a regiment of infantry from Crete to Palermo, and began a siege there. I considered moving my regiment from Malta there, too, but decided I didn’t want to risk losing Malta.

But King Francesco, leading a column of 10,000 through Avignon, and General Gaetano del Carreto, with another 11,000 in Languedoc, were about to go on the offensive.

Another 3 regiments boarded ships, for transport to the Balearics, or perhaps to Barcelona. The venerable Admiral Bargnani led them forth, intending to cut a path through the Aragonese ships.

They first met a small force around the Balearics, in early November. After a couple of days, these enemy ships were joined by another set, making 6 galleys against Milan’s 4 carracks and a barque (as well as 4 transport ships, carrying 3 regiments).

Finally, on Christmas Day, Bargnani’s fleet emerges victorious. Having lost a barque (I keep losing barques! What’s that about?) and a cog, he transferred the soldier passengers to a captured flyte and continues. But his achievement – sinking 5 of Aragon’s galleys – is important.

He then proceeded to order the disembarkation of his cargo troops to the shores of Barcelona.

Milanese troops, meanwhile, were following up on a Tuscan attack on the rebels at Messina. The Tuscans had been turned back, after heavy combat. But Gen. Visconti arrived quick on their heels, and caught the exhausted rebels in a bad sort. They fell, soon after. Visconti then marched to join the siege at Palermo.

Another army was attacking the rebels at Bremen. It became a long struggle. Casualties on both sides were relatively low – it became more like a chess game.

They did succeed, and as soon as they did so, they began sending portions of their army across the Holy Roman Empire toward the battlefields of Spain.

 

[Olaus Petrus]

Good. Try to defeat Aragon ASAP, before you end in heavy battles with Castilians.

 

[unmerged(60841)]

I like the aggressive strategy- I think a quick peace is essential before the combined forces of the eney can bring their weight to bear, hopefuly you can draw Venice into your alliance and once Bavaria has been dispatched with again Brandenburg will send some aid. A terrific bit of luck in the early naval engagements. Good luck

 

[Eams]

Nice christmas present there! How long time have Bargnani been soldiering on now, 20 years?

 

[Tem_Probe]

I see you're landing 3k troops unsupported to besige the Aragonese capital. Are you mad? Without more troops, these guys are minced meat, especially with approaching Castilean armies.

 

[unmerged(24320)]

Rensslaer: ...The first naval combat took place at the end of August, 1511. One Aragonese cog, loaded with cavalry, was sunk. The other was captured, and the cavalrymen imprisoned.

awesome ! ! oh, how many troops does a cog hold ? ?

Rensslaer: ...at war with HRE...I take a loan...

wonderful ! ! not that you had to take a loan, but that you did it to augment your fighting forces ! !

Rensslaer: ...But King Francesco, leading a column of 10,000 through Avignon, and General Gaetano del Carreto, with another 11,000 in Languedoc, were about to go on the offensive.

results ? ? what do you mean, wait for the next update ! !

Rensslaer: ...Another 3 regiments boarded ships, for transport to the Balearics, or perhaps to Barcelona.

OK, what is the size of a regiment. 1000, 10.000, or ???

Rensslaer: ...The venerable Admiral Bargnani led them forth...these enemy ships were joined by another set, making 6 galleys against Milan’s 4 carracks and a barque (as well as 4 transport ships, carrying 3 regiments)...Finally, on Christmas Day, Bargnani’s fleet emerges victorious.

and, just as important, no soldiers were lost ! !

Rensslaer: ...But his achievement – sinking 5 of Aragon’s galleys – is important.

WOO HOO ! ! you bet that was important ! !

magnificent update ! !

 

[unmerged(68757)]

Reading first steps i'm thinking about a quick deal with Castille in order to a white peace , but i'm afraid they'll refuse it...

But i want to wait another update to confirm it...

I agree with Probe about your 3000soldiers attack in Barcelona , i think it's too soft

But it's too early for talking...we've to wait and see.

Go Milan , Go Sforza against the nasty Spaniards

 

[unmerged(58610)]

You biggest naval victory yet. Perhaps the Aragonese just like barques?

I am underwhelmed by the forces sent against you. Suspicious that Francesco II died whilst passing through Avignon. What are Francesco III's stats?

You have Carreto with 11,000 about to take on the Aragonese at Rossillon and proceed thence to Giron and Barcelona where they can link up with your advance guard.

Castille and Aragon ought to be able to put you under a lot more pressure.

 

[unmerged(59737)]

Are you sure 3,000 men will be able to reduce Barcelona by themselves? Or are you planning on reinforcing them?

 

[Lord E]

One war ends with annexation and victory, and then these bastards in Aragon declare war on you… Damn them. But I see you managed to give them a very good beating and lesson and you won more land form them, great work!
Then you had rebels and the bloody Mecklenbugers destroying your peace, can’t they just leave you alone? I think you made the correct decision in making peace with Mecklenburg, then you could focus on the rebels at home and try to stay at peace for some years. But no once again Aragon has to spoil the fun, this time I think you should make sure they will not live to start another war, crush them once and for all!

 

[Duke of Wellington]

A real mess of action going on now.

 

[VILenin]

Aragon jumps on your back again, but this time they've brought a friend. A big friend. Here's hoping you can take on all of Spain. Of course, you've yet to disappoint in a war so I think I can feel pretty secure with an eventual victory from you, even if it takes a long time to achieve.

 

[stnylan]

All very busy in the Western Med. These Aragonese wars always seem to revolve around seapower. I wonder how Castille's addition will alter that particular balance.

 

[PrawnStar]

I knew Aragon was waiting for a chance!

Are they still too big to force vasselise with any reasonable hope of being able to diploannex?

 

[Dhimmi]

this will be a hard war, and what are the austrians doing atm?

 

[Director]

Interesting and suggestive that the tide of naval combat seems to have turned against the galleys. Naval superiority will allow you to drop troops behind their lines - as you are doing - but you should not depend on this strategy in this war. My gut feeling is you need to end this one quickly... you may not have the reserves for a long, drawn-out struggle.