This is my first try to write an AAR. I play the GC and the settings are hard/aggressive and I use the Swedish patch 1.07c. In 1492 I wasn't making as much notes as I did later so it'll be less details from this year.
1492
1/1
There's a great anxiety in the streets of Granada, the infidel Spanish dogs has made a promise that once and for all wipe out the Islamic presence on the Iberian peninsula and it's rumoured that a large, 40000 men Spanish army is gathering in Toledo.
In the royal palace, where king Zueidina is meeting with his closest and most entrusted advisor (me) there is also a great anxiety, but also an even greater determination. Even though things don't look very promising at the moment we are convinced that we, with the help of Allah, not only will survive as a nation but that we also will be able to reclaim some of what is rightfully ours (Andalusia, Toledo and Gibraltar).
We only have one army made up of 15000 men infantry and 2000 men cavalry commanded by colonel Husein. It would be complete madness to engage the superior Spanish army directly at the battlefield, instead we order Husein to seize the unfortified province Murcia and await further orders there.
We also start upgrading Granadas fortification and recruit 5000 infantry and 2000 cavalry.
Winter
The Spanish army (35000, 5000, 2) lays siege on Granada. Colonel Husein, biding his time in Murcia, sends small groups of soldiers into Sierra Nevada to strike against the Spanish supplylines. This strategy is quite successful and the Spanish army soon suffers from hunger as well as diseases.
March
Our newly recruited army is ready to use, but those greenhorns without any battle experienced is a cinch for the well-trained Spanish soldiers and our men are soon running away in panic. To our great delight they manage to set some Spanish storewagons on fire. This will mean even more suffering for the already malnourished Spanish soldiers.
Spring
The remains of our fleeing army arrives in Murcia where they are put under colonel Huseins harsh drill. The Spaniards brings in smaller reinforcements from Gibraltar, but once again we succeed with a nightly raid against their storewagons and famine and diseases claims many casualties. But still their army is to big for us to dare risking our only army in an assault.
May
France (Savoy, The Papal-state) declare war on England (Naples). What a pity, we had hoped for the French to take on The Spaniards instead.
Summer
A hot, dry summer doesn't help to improve the Spaniards supply situation. Soon the time has come for us to strike back. In August our fortress shows the first signs of beginning to give way but the Spanish army now only amounts to a bit more than 20000 men. We send a messenger to Husein, ordering him to assault the Spaniards in the end of September.
29/9
Husein charges down on the from famine and diseases exhausted Spanish soldiers. A great battle takes place just outside the walls of Granada and when the day comes to an end victory is ours, the Spaniards is retreating back to Toledo. Granada is saved!!! But the war is far from over. We immediately begin to recruit more soldiers. During the following months Spain repeatedly sends in smaller units (6000-7000 men) but Huseins now battlehardened troops easily repels all attacks.
28/12
Granadas fortress is now upgraded. Now we can, at last, mount an offensive without worrying to much about the Spaniards seizing Granada.
1493
5/1
Huseins army, thanks to new recruits, now back to its original strength (15000, 2000) march into Andalusia and lays siege on Cadiz (5000 men garrison).
7/4
A new Spanish army (30000) lays siege on Granada. Now we are beginning to run short of time and we order Husein to seize Cadiz without further delay.
23/7
On the third assault Husein breaches the walls of Cadiz and the city is now ours. This is a glorious victory, three assaults and we have only lost about (1000, 1000) in troops. But we are far from safe, the Spaniards are still besieging Granada. We are holding a council of war and soon two alternatives how to continue the war emerges:
1. Attack the Spaniards in Granada in an attempt to break the siege.
or
2. A fast-forward march through the unfortified Estrameduras into Castille and lay siege to Madrid.
King Zueidina seems to favour the first alternative but I persuade him that you have to play big if you want to win big and Husein is ordered to immediately begin marching on Castille. There is a great responsibility weighing on Huseins shoulders, he just have to capture Madrid before the Spaniards capture Granada. At least Madrid only has a 5000 men garrison, otherwise this attempt had been totally futile.
30/8
Husein seizes Estrameduras. We now control three Spanish provinces, Murcia, Andalusia and Estrameduras. The king, whose nerves seems close to breaking, hopes that this will be enough to reach an favourable peace. Well, it's worth a try, we offer the Spaniards peace in exchange for Andalusia but they refuse.
19/9
Husein arrives in Castille and immediately tries to overrun the walls of Madrid and he comes close to success, losing only about (1000, 1000) troops he decimates the garrison from 5000 to 890 defenders.
But at the same time the situation is beginning to get really precarious for the brave defenders of Granada. This will be a race against time, will Huseins men be able to recuperate enough to capture Madrid before Granada falls into the hands of the Spaniards?
21/12
The brave Husein, knowing time is running short, once again charges the walls of Madrid. VICTORY!!! Now the Spaniards for sure must yield?
25/12
We now send another peace offer demanding Andalusia and 250D war indemnity in exchange for peace and the stunned Spanish king has no choice but to accept our demands.
This war was a major success, not only did we secure Granadas independence (at least for the next five years) but we also got hold of a wealthy and important province containing both a Centre of Trade and a shipyard. The war indemnity we use to upgrade the sheriff in Sierra Nevada into a bailiff and to send a personal gift to the king of France, who we hope will be an allied in the future.
1494
16/2
The Teutonic Knights (the Hanseatic League, Brandenburg, Portugal, Hannover, Venice) declares war on Pskov.
1/3
The Papal-state pays England 140D in exchange for peace.
Technical progress. We find out how to use Field Artillery (weapontech 3) and may now build canons, if they weren't so very expensive that is.
7/4
Russia (Denmark) declares war on the Kazan-Khanate.
27/4
The Teutonic Knights makes a status quo-peace with Pskov after only two months of war.
Our domestic politics works brilliant, +1 stability and 532D invested in tradetechnology as well as infrastructural-research.
5/5
A diplomate from the Hanseatic League arrives and invites us to an alliance with them and Portugal, Venice, Hannover, Teutonic Knights, Brandenburg). News about our great victory over Spain seems to have spread over Europe. Even though this isn't the alliance of our dreams (for that would be one including France) we accept their invitation. This allaince will do for now.
2/9
Russia makes peace with the Kazan-Khanate. Kazan-Khanate pays 15D in war indemnity.
11/10
England is forced into a very harsh peaceagreement with France and has to give up, Wessex, Kent and Calais.
28/12
The fortress in Cadiz (Andalusia) is now upgraded.
1495
2/1
Before leaving Madrid we found and kept some newdrawn maps showing Spains discoveries in the New World. The shipyard in Andalusia provides us with one settler/year and we now decide to try to establish a tradepost on Jamaica.
12/2
We arrange a royal marriage with Maroc and tries to do the same with the Ottoman Empire but they refuse.
10/6
Sheriff in Andalusia upgraded to bailiff.
1496
2/1
Poland (Spain, Lorraine, Kurpfalz, Cologne, Helvetia) declares war on the Ottomans.
4/3
Hungary (Austria) takes advantage of the situation and declares war on The Ottomans.
1/5
Allah is smiling upon his most humble and loyal servant. We've found minerals up in the Sierra Nevadan mountains worth 500D.
We immediately send six merchants to the CoT in Genoa, we recruit a new army (14000, 3000) in Andalusia, we send a personal gift to the king of France, dramatically improving our relations, they are now up to -27 and we send a flattering letter to the King of Portugal, improving our relations (now -158).
6/6
Colonel Husein, the old hero, gets our permission to retire from the army. Awarded with the highest possible marks of honour he goes on to live a quiet and peaceful life on his estates in Andalusia that he was rewarded for his heroic military achievments. His name will forever be held high in honor by all true believers of Islam.
Colonel Jafar is appointed to be the new commander of our army.
Our first attempt to establish a tradepost on Jamaica failed, so now we try again.
We arrange a royal marriage with Tunisia.
15/8
Our new army (14000, 3000) is now ready and armed in Andalusia, we put colonel Suwaida in charge.
4/9
The Ottomans is forced to pay 217D to Hungary for peace.
5/10
Poland makes a status quo-peace with the Ottomans.
1497
2/1
We begin building two transports (not much of a fleet you may think but they'll be quite useful to me as you'll see).
25/1
The settler we sent to Jamaica succeeds in establishing a trade post.
28/1
We trade maps with the Hanseatic League.
27/2
Sent a flattering letter to the King of France telling him how much we admire his great victory over the English. This improves our relation (now -9)
4/7
Our mighty fleet is now launched in the port of Cadiz.
1498
4/7
We now have 2000 newly recruited soldiers available in Andalusia, we split them up in two equally large armies. Colonel Marbat and colonel Sebha are put in charge.
22/8
Sent a flattering letter to Portugal, improving our relations. They are still far from being good though, -121.
1/11
The head of the Infidel Church signs the treaty of Tordesillas, dividing the new world between Spain and Portugal. What a insolence!
2/11
Savoy (France, the Papal-state, Scotland) declares war on Genoa (Parma, Knights of St John).
1492
1/1
There's a great anxiety in the streets of Granada, the infidel Spanish dogs has made a promise that once and for all wipe out the Islamic presence on the Iberian peninsula and it's rumoured that a large, 40000 men Spanish army is gathering in Toledo.
In the royal palace, where king Zueidina is meeting with his closest and most entrusted advisor (me) there is also a great anxiety, but also an even greater determination. Even though things don't look very promising at the moment we are convinced that we, with the help of Allah, not only will survive as a nation but that we also will be able to reclaim some of what is rightfully ours (Andalusia, Toledo and Gibraltar).
We only have one army made up of 15000 men infantry and 2000 men cavalry commanded by colonel Husein. It would be complete madness to engage the superior Spanish army directly at the battlefield, instead we order Husein to seize the unfortified province Murcia and await further orders there.
We also start upgrading Granadas fortification and recruit 5000 infantry and 2000 cavalry.
Winter
The Spanish army (35000, 5000, 2) lays siege on Granada. Colonel Husein, biding his time in Murcia, sends small groups of soldiers into Sierra Nevada to strike against the Spanish supplylines. This strategy is quite successful and the Spanish army soon suffers from hunger as well as diseases.
March
Our newly recruited army is ready to use, but those greenhorns without any battle experienced is a cinch for the well-trained Spanish soldiers and our men are soon running away in panic. To our great delight they manage to set some Spanish storewagons on fire. This will mean even more suffering for the already malnourished Spanish soldiers.
Spring
The remains of our fleeing army arrives in Murcia where they are put under colonel Huseins harsh drill. The Spaniards brings in smaller reinforcements from Gibraltar, but once again we succeed with a nightly raid against their storewagons and famine and diseases claims many casualties. But still their army is to big for us to dare risking our only army in an assault.
May
France (Savoy, The Papal-state) declare war on England (Naples). What a pity, we had hoped for the French to take on The Spaniards instead.
Summer
A hot, dry summer doesn't help to improve the Spaniards supply situation. Soon the time has come for us to strike back. In August our fortress shows the first signs of beginning to give way but the Spanish army now only amounts to a bit more than 20000 men. We send a messenger to Husein, ordering him to assault the Spaniards in the end of September.
29/9
Husein charges down on the from famine and diseases exhausted Spanish soldiers. A great battle takes place just outside the walls of Granada and when the day comes to an end victory is ours, the Spaniards is retreating back to Toledo. Granada is saved!!! But the war is far from over. We immediately begin to recruit more soldiers. During the following months Spain repeatedly sends in smaller units (6000-7000 men) but Huseins now battlehardened troops easily repels all attacks.
28/12
Granadas fortress is now upgraded. Now we can, at last, mount an offensive without worrying to much about the Spaniards seizing Granada.
1493
5/1
Huseins army, thanks to new recruits, now back to its original strength (15000, 2000) march into Andalusia and lays siege on Cadiz (5000 men garrison).
7/4
A new Spanish army (30000) lays siege on Granada. Now we are beginning to run short of time and we order Husein to seize Cadiz without further delay.
23/7
On the third assault Husein breaches the walls of Cadiz and the city is now ours. This is a glorious victory, three assaults and we have only lost about (1000, 1000) in troops. But we are far from safe, the Spaniards are still besieging Granada. We are holding a council of war and soon two alternatives how to continue the war emerges:
1. Attack the Spaniards in Granada in an attempt to break the siege.
or
2. A fast-forward march through the unfortified Estrameduras into Castille and lay siege to Madrid.
King Zueidina seems to favour the first alternative but I persuade him that you have to play big if you want to win big and Husein is ordered to immediately begin marching on Castille. There is a great responsibility weighing on Huseins shoulders, he just have to capture Madrid before the Spaniards capture Granada. At least Madrid only has a 5000 men garrison, otherwise this attempt had been totally futile.
30/8
Husein seizes Estrameduras. We now control three Spanish provinces, Murcia, Andalusia and Estrameduras. The king, whose nerves seems close to breaking, hopes that this will be enough to reach an favourable peace. Well, it's worth a try, we offer the Spaniards peace in exchange for Andalusia but they refuse.
19/9
Husein arrives in Castille and immediately tries to overrun the walls of Madrid and he comes close to success, losing only about (1000, 1000) troops he decimates the garrison from 5000 to 890 defenders.
But at the same time the situation is beginning to get really precarious for the brave defenders of Granada. This will be a race against time, will Huseins men be able to recuperate enough to capture Madrid before Granada falls into the hands of the Spaniards?
21/12
The brave Husein, knowing time is running short, once again charges the walls of Madrid. VICTORY!!! Now the Spaniards for sure must yield?
25/12
We now send another peace offer demanding Andalusia and 250D war indemnity in exchange for peace and the stunned Spanish king has no choice but to accept our demands.
This war was a major success, not only did we secure Granadas independence (at least for the next five years) but we also got hold of a wealthy and important province containing both a Centre of Trade and a shipyard. The war indemnity we use to upgrade the sheriff in Sierra Nevada into a bailiff and to send a personal gift to the king of France, who we hope will be an allied in the future.
1494
16/2
The Teutonic Knights (the Hanseatic League, Brandenburg, Portugal, Hannover, Venice) declares war on Pskov.
1/3
The Papal-state pays England 140D in exchange for peace.
Technical progress. We find out how to use Field Artillery (weapontech 3) and may now build canons, if they weren't so very expensive that is.
7/4
Russia (Denmark) declares war on the Kazan-Khanate.
27/4
The Teutonic Knights makes a status quo-peace with Pskov after only two months of war.
Our domestic politics works brilliant, +1 stability and 532D invested in tradetechnology as well as infrastructural-research.
5/5
A diplomate from the Hanseatic League arrives and invites us to an alliance with them and Portugal, Venice, Hannover, Teutonic Knights, Brandenburg). News about our great victory over Spain seems to have spread over Europe. Even though this isn't the alliance of our dreams (for that would be one including France) we accept their invitation. This allaince will do for now.
2/9
Russia makes peace with the Kazan-Khanate. Kazan-Khanate pays 15D in war indemnity.
11/10
England is forced into a very harsh peaceagreement with France and has to give up, Wessex, Kent and Calais.
28/12
The fortress in Cadiz (Andalusia) is now upgraded.
1495
2/1
Before leaving Madrid we found and kept some newdrawn maps showing Spains discoveries in the New World. The shipyard in Andalusia provides us with one settler/year and we now decide to try to establish a tradepost on Jamaica.
12/2
We arrange a royal marriage with Maroc and tries to do the same with the Ottoman Empire but they refuse.
10/6
Sheriff in Andalusia upgraded to bailiff.
1496
2/1
Poland (Spain, Lorraine, Kurpfalz, Cologne, Helvetia) declares war on the Ottomans.
4/3
Hungary (Austria) takes advantage of the situation and declares war on The Ottomans.
1/5
Allah is smiling upon his most humble and loyal servant. We've found minerals up in the Sierra Nevadan mountains worth 500D.
We immediately send six merchants to the CoT in Genoa, we recruit a new army (14000, 3000) in Andalusia, we send a personal gift to the king of France, dramatically improving our relations, they are now up to -27 and we send a flattering letter to the King of Portugal, improving our relations (now -158).
6/6
Colonel Husein, the old hero, gets our permission to retire from the army. Awarded with the highest possible marks of honour he goes on to live a quiet and peaceful life on his estates in Andalusia that he was rewarded for his heroic military achievments. His name will forever be held high in honor by all true believers of Islam.
Colonel Jafar is appointed to be the new commander of our army.
Our first attempt to establish a tradepost on Jamaica failed, so now we try again.
We arrange a royal marriage with Tunisia.
15/8
Our new army (14000, 3000) is now ready and armed in Andalusia, we put colonel Suwaida in charge.
4/9
The Ottomans is forced to pay 217D to Hungary for peace.
5/10
Poland makes a status quo-peace with the Ottomans.
1497
2/1
We begin building two transports (not much of a fleet you may think but they'll be quite useful to me as you'll see).
25/1
The settler we sent to Jamaica succeeds in establishing a trade post.
28/1
We trade maps with the Hanseatic League.
27/2
Sent a flattering letter to the King of France telling him how much we admire his great victory over the English. This improves our relation (now -9)
4/7
Our mighty fleet is now launched in the port of Cadiz.
1498
4/7
We now have 2000 newly recruited soldiers available in Andalusia, we split them up in two equally large armies. Colonel Marbat and colonel Sebha are put in charge.
22/8
Sent a flattering letter to Portugal, improving our relations. They are still far from being good though, -121.
1/11
The head of the Infidel Church signs the treaty of Tordesillas, dividing the new world between Spain and Portugal. What a insolence!
2/11
Savoy (France, the Papal-state, Scotland) declares war on Genoa (Parma, Knights of St John).