The Chronicle of Milan
So after a couple of days of letting people help me figure out what I should do for AAR. Milan was the victor to say the least. This AAR will be a History book with some narrative elements. The style will be like Kapt's Triumph of Eagles, Tommy4ever's AAR in particular Habsburg and Carlist AAR, as well as Chris Taylor new aar Porta Atlanticum, Axzhang's Repubblica di Genova, The Sublime State by daemonofdeacy, and Our Kingdom Stands alone by Eber. I will playing on the regular EU3 (one of the draw backs to my mac, and my Gamersgate account not working). So please all comments are greatly appreciated and encouraged, and enjoy
Dear Dr. William Hearst
I hope this letter receives you quickly. It has been a long time since we have spoken; I much have changed here in Milan. You will please to know that a copy of the manuscript has been sent alongside the letter. I mailed it from Milan as soon as I finished it. There are few things I must attend to before I return home to London
I am aware of what you and your publishers have been more than generous with your time allowances for my trips, and deadlines, but I can assure you that this is the most definitive work on the Duchy of Milan and the Italian Empire. From it’s meteoritic rise to power, to its slow rotten decline. Excuse me for the messy of this draft but I believed that time was of the essence, and thus had skip my usual editing
I will board a train for Paris in a week (so about the time you get this letter.), and then take a boat across the channel. I wish I could be there to see Terrance when show Terrance the manuscript (We have a bet going on whether or not I could get the book done before the publishers pull the plug). Looking forward to seeing you again old friend. Also say hi to Jennifer for me.
Salvatore Catteno
Salvatore Catteno
June 14, 1886
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Part One: From the Banks of the Po
A man that Italian has described the founder of their empire. Stubborn, cunning and ruthless, Gian who took Milan from a tiny city-state to a one of the major powers. In 1395 Gian Galezzo I Visconti declared the duchy of Milan and it quickly became a powerhouse of the peninsula. But by the time this happen Gian was an old man. His manner was that of determined man, who was shaped by war and conflict, yet a constant desire still burned deep in his heart. It was around the 1399 that Gian began to feel the need to centralize the Duchy into a cohesive political force, not an unstable power that could not be able to maintain itself after his death. So thus Gian began a massive period of reforms over the state. (+ 1 for centralization). He began a massive campaign of centralization take some of the authority of the noble and placing it in hands. He established the practice of March, which leads to the creation of a small militia to protect various parts of the duchy.
To secure himself internationally he made himself allies. The Kingdom Hungary, Archbishopric of Aquileia, The Elector Palatine soon became allies of the young duchy. Finally Gian Galezzo I finally secured an alliance with his old friend Vaclav IV of Bohemia the Holy Roman Emperor, the two had become close friends after Vaclav gave Gian the title of Duke
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In hopes of securing his dynasty, he began to look for a wife for his eventually Flippo Maria. As fate would have it that one of those candidates was Isabella d’Este. Isabella d’Este was the firstborn daughter of Niccolo III the Duke of Ferrara. The Duchy of Ferrara was located in critical location in central Europe, as Ferrara geographically divided Milan from its southern territories of Pisa and Siena as a result Milan had to keep relied on the generosity and friendships of Ferrara to get to their southern territories. Initially Isabella was not the desired wife for the Flippo; rather it was Cristina von Wittelsbach of the daughter of the King of Palatine. But it would be an important advisor of the king and one of richest merchant in Milan that would bring her to the forefront. Paolo Testi was a man that made himself trading goods out of Genoa in the name of Milan to England, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe. Testi saw a marriage to the Wittelsbach was not best thing for Milan; rather he believed that a marriage to Isabella d’Este was more preferable. In his mind a way to secure access to the south provinces for the next couple of decades would provide more stability to Milan and thus more wealth to Milan. But it was ultimately the real reason for the marriage for Gian at least was that it gave his son a claim to the Ferrara throne. Gian hoped that upon Niccolo III death Gian could influence the succession so that Gian could become Duke of Ferrara. Thus the couple was married on May 27, 1400 but little realized that dark shadow would hang over this ever-wise happy day.
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The biggest reform of Gian Galezzo I was by far that of army. All of this madness began with the accusation of the two premier military leaders of state Chief of Navy Uberto Odescalchi who was serving as Gian’s Marshall and was the de facto representative of military of the court. Odescalchis was one of the most dominant families in the entire country and had huge sway over the military and the court. Uberto was a loyal supporter of Gian Galezzo I for an extremely long time, and was loyal yet he was disillusioned at how the military was being run. The other man was an important general named Umberto di Carde. Umberto di Carde was a offensive man first and foremost and was seen as increasingly aggressive. Court document describe him as “an uncouth barbarian, who brutality is only matched by his noble warrior sprit. He is barbarian in all but name.” Together they sent a formal petition by to expand and revamp the tactics of used by the army. Thus the army was drastically enlarged. Over the period of the next 2 years the army was enlarged significantly, new leaders were chosen to lead it. Uberto was awarded with a permanent spot in the court, and di Carde was allowed to lead the army of Pisa (about 4000 men).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The true reason for the reformation and enlargement of the army was revealed a few months later during the meeting with a Sardinian ambassador Hans Pil over the discussion of trade agreement. Court documents reveal the events of the meeting.
The 4 men sat around a table, Gian Galezzo I at the head, to his left was Paolo Testi on his right was his chancellor Fillipo Maria Ghiliseri. At the end of the table was the Sardinia ambassador Hans Pil. Hans began the meeting by explaining his purpose and desires that the two of them would reach an agreement. Ghiliseri thanked him saying that the noble Milan was willing to discuss a trade agreement. Hans stood up a said this “ the noble King Mariano V of Sardinia wishes to discuss a trade agreement that will allow both of nations and merchant to prosper. Unexpectedly Gian Galezzo I erupted in a rage of fury “A king, ha your lord is no more a king than satyr to Jupiter. You dirty a uncouth satyr speak as if we are equals, we are nothing of the sort, there will be no more talk of this agreement. Go back to your master a say that Jupiter refuses to deal adulterous satyr.” Hans was removed out of Milan under guard.
Though the court documents portray the incident as a being a show of arrogance by the Duke. But there was a strategy to this, Gian had desired to expand for a long time but all other options around them would bring in the Holy Roman Emperor. Sardinia on the other hand had no allies, was not protected by the Emperor and was weak. A day after the incident Gian revealed document that said that entire kingdom was in fact rightful Milanese land. Now war was inevitable, A collation of Italian powers lead by King Gugliemo IV of Sicily formed to protect Sardinia against Milanese aggression. Finally on September 18 1401 Milanese forces lead by Umberto di Carde invaded the island of Sardinia. The Sardinia war had begun.
So after a couple of days of letting people help me figure out what I should do for AAR. Milan was the victor to say the least. This AAR will be a History book with some narrative elements. The style will be like Kapt's Triumph of Eagles, Tommy4ever's AAR in particular Habsburg and Carlist AAR, as well as Chris Taylor new aar Porta Atlanticum, Axzhang's Repubblica di Genova, The Sublime State by daemonofdeacy, and Our Kingdom Stands alone by Eber. I will playing on the regular EU3 (one of the draw backs to my mac, and my Gamersgate account not working). So please all comments are greatly appreciated and encouraged, and enjoy
Dear Dr. William Hearst
I hope this letter receives you quickly. It has been a long time since we have spoken; I much have changed here in Milan. You will please to know that a copy of the manuscript has been sent alongside the letter. I mailed it from Milan as soon as I finished it. There are few things I must attend to before I return home to London
I am aware of what you and your publishers have been more than generous with your time allowances for my trips, and deadlines, but I can assure you that this is the most definitive work on the Duchy of Milan and the Italian Empire. From it’s meteoritic rise to power, to its slow rotten decline. Excuse me for the messy of this draft but I believed that time was of the essence, and thus had skip my usual editing
I will board a train for Paris in a week (so about the time you get this letter.), and then take a boat across the channel. I wish I could be there to see Terrance when show Terrance the manuscript (We have a bet going on whether or not I could get the book done before the publishers pull the plug). Looking forward to seeing you again old friend. Also say hi to Jennifer for me.
Salvatore Catteno
Salvatore Catteno
June 14, 1886
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Part One: From the Banks of the Po
A man that Italian has described the founder of their empire. Stubborn, cunning and ruthless, Gian who took Milan from a tiny city-state to a one of the major powers. In 1395 Gian Galezzo I Visconti declared the duchy of Milan and it quickly became a powerhouse of the peninsula. But by the time this happen Gian was an old man. His manner was that of determined man, who was shaped by war and conflict, yet a constant desire still burned deep in his heart. It was around the 1399 that Gian began to feel the need to centralize the Duchy into a cohesive political force, not an unstable power that could not be able to maintain itself after his death. So thus Gian began a massive period of reforms over the state. (+ 1 for centralization). He began a massive campaign of centralization take some of the authority of the noble and placing it in hands. He established the practice of March, which leads to the creation of a small militia to protect various parts of the duchy.
To secure himself internationally he made himself allies. The Kingdom Hungary, Archbishopric of Aquileia, The Elector Palatine soon became allies of the young duchy. Finally Gian Galezzo I finally secured an alliance with his old friend Vaclav IV of Bohemia the Holy Roman Emperor, the two had become close friends after Vaclav gave Gian the title of Duke
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In hopes of securing his dynasty, he began to look for a wife for his eventually Flippo Maria. As fate would have it that one of those candidates was Isabella d’Este. Isabella d’Este was the firstborn daughter of Niccolo III the Duke of Ferrara. The Duchy of Ferrara was located in critical location in central Europe, as Ferrara geographically divided Milan from its southern territories of Pisa and Siena as a result Milan had to keep relied on the generosity and friendships of Ferrara to get to their southern territories. Initially Isabella was not the desired wife for the Flippo; rather it was Cristina von Wittelsbach of the daughter of the King of Palatine. But it would be an important advisor of the king and one of richest merchant in Milan that would bring her to the forefront. Paolo Testi was a man that made himself trading goods out of Genoa in the name of Milan to England, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe. Testi saw a marriage to the Wittelsbach was not best thing for Milan; rather he believed that a marriage to Isabella d’Este was more preferable. In his mind a way to secure access to the south provinces for the next couple of decades would provide more stability to Milan and thus more wealth to Milan. But it was ultimately the real reason for the marriage for Gian at least was that it gave his son a claim to the Ferrara throne. Gian hoped that upon Niccolo III death Gian could influence the succession so that Gian could become Duke of Ferrara. Thus the couple was married on May 27, 1400 but little realized that dark shadow would hang over this ever-wise happy day.
------------------------------------------------------------------
The biggest reform of Gian Galezzo I was by far that of army. All of this madness began with the accusation of the two premier military leaders of state Chief of Navy Uberto Odescalchi who was serving as Gian’s Marshall and was the de facto representative of military of the court. Odescalchis was one of the most dominant families in the entire country and had huge sway over the military and the court. Uberto was a loyal supporter of Gian Galezzo I for an extremely long time, and was loyal yet he was disillusioned at how the military was being run. The other man was an important general named Umberto di Carde. Umberto di Carde was a offensive man first and foremost and was seen as increasingly aggressive. Court document describe him as “an uncouth barbarian, who brutality is only matched by his noble warrior sprit. He is barbarian in all but name.” Together they sent a formal petition by to expand and revamp the tactics of used by the army. Thus the army was drastically enlarged. Over the period of the next 2 years the army was enlarged significantly, new leaders were chosen to lead it. Uberto was awarded with a permanent spot in the court, and di Carde was allowed to lead the army of Pisa (about 4000 men).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The true reason for the reformation and enlargement of the army was revealed a few months later during the meeting with a Sardinian ambassador Hans Pil over the discussion of trade agreement. Court documents reveal the events of the meeting.
The 4 men sat around a table, Gian Galezzo I at the head, to his left was Paolo Testi on his right was his chancellor Fillipo Maria Ghiliseri. At the end of the table was the Sardinia ambassador Hans Pil. Hans began the meeting by explaining his purpose and desires that the two of them would reach an agreement. Ghiliseri thanked him saying that the noble Milan was willing to discuss a trade agreement. Hans stood up a said this “ the noble King Mariano V of Sardinia wishes to discuss a trade agreement that will allow both of nations and merchant to prosper. Unexpectedly Gian Galezzo I erupted in a rage of fury “A king, ha your lord is no more a king than satyr to Jupiter. You dirty a uncouth satyr speak as if we are equals, we are nothing of the sort, there will be no more talk of this agreement. Go back to your master a say that Jupiter refuses to deal adulterous satyr.” Hans was removed out of Milan under guard.
Though the court documents portray the incident as a being a show of arrogance by the Duke. But there was a strategy to this, Gian had desired to expand for a long time but all other options around them would bring in the Holy Roman Emperor. Sardinia on the other hand had no allies, was not protected by the Emperor and was weak. A day after the incident Gian revealed document that said that entire kingdom was in fact rightful Milanese land. Now war was inevitable, A collation of Italian powers lead by King Gugliemo IV of Sicily formed to protect Sardinia against Milanese aggression. Finally on September 18 1401 Milanese forces lead by Umberto di Carde invaded the island of Sardinia. The Sardinia war had begun.