The Icy Star Ascendant

[Secret Master]

The War of the Sund: Part 2

January, 1529: More troops are being raised, and Frederick sees ultimate victory in his grasp. Hess has turned Protestant, and they are given a royal marriage.

In March, a revolt occurs in Holstein, but the English who are sieging Hamburg are kind enough to put the rebels down for the Union. Meanwhile, the Union's navy is defeated in the Battle of the Kalmar Strait. Reinforcement by sea is now closed for the moment. Pommerania has landed what few troops they have in Vastergotland, laying siege. It will be a futile gesture, reasons Frederick.

The war in the south is quieting down. The Knights accept a status quo peace with the sultan.

In April, the Portugese land at Jyland. Once again, good fortifications are making it difficult for these attacks to succeed. The Egnlish have not made a dent in Holstein's defenses, while Eastern Pommerania is half way to surrendering.

July, more Portuguese land at Jyland, and now the garrison has a serious problem. Frederick sends a separate offer of peace to the English, asking for status quo. They decline. The garrison at Jyland falls at the end of the month, and Portugal demands Jyland and Iceland in return for peace. Frederick declines.

August sees the second Battle of the Kalmar Straits, this time giving the Union a victory. Reinforcement by sea is now possible again. Pskov joins the siege at Eastern Pommerania.

September sees Pskov accept war damages from Pommerania. Eastern Pommerania falls to the two generals.

On October 8th, 1529, Pommerania ceases to exist, and is absorbed into the Union.

With Pommerania defeated, the League is next. Frederick orders his generals to retake Danzig, so the League may be annexed. Meanwhile, Portugal still occupies Jyland and Iceland. They demand them both in a peace offer, but are refused again.

January 1530: The two generals, Lunge and Rantzau have been reinforced, and now march on Danzig. The English continue to watch the garrison at Holstein, but do not have the troops to lay siege. The Portugese continue to sit at Jyland.

By February, Danzig falls to a brilliant assault. The Hanseatic League is then annexed to the Union. The war with Portugal, England, and occasionally Venice, continues.

Then, in April, a declaration of war comes in from the Poles. Frederick immediately calls on his allies, and they respond. The war has just gotten worse. At the same time, huge desertions are reported in the army. It cannot now relieve the garrison at Holstein. Frederick is furious, and reprimands his generals for their incompetence.

In July, a revolt in Holstein removes the English army there, but now blocks passage of the Union's army. The third Battle of the Sund is fought, as the Union's navy defeats a coalition of its enemies. What few reinforcements there are to send to Mecklemburg may now be sent. Then, Mecklemburg goes into revolt, throwing out the army there. The army only has cannon, and cannot defend itself.

In August, Brandenburg declares war. Frederick becomes greatly concerned.

January, 1531: Eastern Pommerania is under siege from Brandenburg. Portugal continues to demand Jyland and Iceland, but Frederick refuses. A large army is being raised in Copenhagen, and with naval transport, the remains of Rantzau and Lunge's army should be able to link up, for a drive back into Jyland. Mecklemburg has fallen to rebels, and Bremen is under siege by them.

In April, the armies unite, but cannot advance on Jyland until their morale improves. Portugal is landing troops in Mecklemburg.

In June, the army advances on Jyland, but is repulsed.

In July, Frederick offers a white peace to Poland, Brandenburg, and England, but each one refuses.

In the east, the Pskovians are doing poorly against the Poles, and sign a separate peace with Moldavia. The Russians are holding their own.

In October, another assault is launched against the Portugese forces in Jyland, but once again, the two generals are forced to withdraw back to Copenhagen. The English demand 9 ducats for peace, and Frederick accepts.

January, 1532: The Portugese are sieging the rebel garrison at Mecklemburg. More reinforcements are under construction for the army. Brandenburg has made no headway in their siege against eastern Pommerania.

By February, Jyland is under siege by the army. The Portugese are still demanding stiff terms of peace.

In April, Portugal has sacked Mecklemburg, but Jyland will soon be back in Union hands. They demand Jyland, Mecklemburg and Iceland, and Frederick tells them to go to Hell.

By May, Bremen has fallen to rebel scum. But the rebels hate the Portugese, and are now trying to dislodge them from Mecklemburg.

In July, Austria annexed Bohemia peacefully.

By August, the Russians and Pskovians have turned the tide against the Poles. There could be a good settlement there soon.

In September, Jyland is returned to Union control. Moldavia has the audacity to demand war damages for peace. They are ignored. The army marches south to relieve the garrison at Holstein.

The army reaches Holstein by October, but has arrived too late, and must siege the rebels there. Brandenburg demands 9 ducats for peace, and Frederick accepts.

January, 1533: Frederick offers a white peace to Portugal, and they see their position worsening daily. They accept. Now, only the Poles and rebels must be dealt with. The Alliance of the Northern Wind is still at war with Poland and Moldavia. More reinforcements are called up, but the end is in sight now.

By February, rebel Holstein has been returned to Union control. Bremen still is in rebel hands, however.

In March, Bremen is brought back under Union control. Frederick orders the army into Poland, but expects to negotiate a peace settlement before they get there.

Then, on April 15th, 1533, Frederick I dies quite suddenly, as soon as he receives news that Moldavia and Poland-Lithuania have accepted a white peace. The War of the Sund is now over, and on his death bed, Frederick has achieved his goals, though at a great cost in lives. His son, Christian, will be the one to deal with the political fall out from the War of tthe Sund.

On the death of Frederick, the Union looks like this.

 

[Secret Master]

Thanks for the support, fellow armchair-emperors. Anyone care to guess on the Union's foriegn policy now that they have almost turned the Baltic into the Pond of Kalmar? Bear in mind, I have already played out the scenario to 1660s, so I can't change it if you guess a better foriegn policy than the one I adopted (though, my next monarch turned out to be incompetent anyway!).

BTW, I think I will adopt a new avatar for the duration of this AAR. It is appropriate to use the Kalmar avatar while I tell its saga. I just hope the swedes on the forums dont lynch me!

 

[unmerged(3999)]

Personally I would lay low and let my BB settle down a bit... you've already drawn DOWs from Poland and Brandenburg. Do I think that's what you did? No.

When I play Baltic countries I like to swipe the Marches from England (assuming they still have it...), and use that as a base for both eating away at England, and working on allying with/diploannexing Scotland.

 

[Secret Master]

Stubbornness Hath Endangered the Crown: The reign of King Christian III, the Stubborn

Stubbornness Hath Endangered the Crown:
The reign of King Christian III, the Stubborn
(April 15th, 1533-December 31, 1558)

As of April, the War of the Sund is over. The exception is that Pskov and the Poles have to settle a separate peace, since Pskov gave Moldavia a separate peace. Christian is confident that it will work itself out soon enough. After his coronation on April 23rd, Christian gives a statement to his nobles. He tells them that he has no desire in his heart for war, and would rather be a peace-monger. The nobility are by and large annoyed with his attitude, but since they do not want war right now either, his goals match theirs for the moment. Christian also states he will continue his father's religious policies, and that Catholics had better beware.

Of particular interest to Christian are the events that have occurred in southern Europe during the War of the Sund. He notes the growing power of Austria, and the diminished power of the Ottoman sultan.

Also of interest are the captured English maps from the war, which reveal a larger world out beyond the Atlantic. For the moment, Iceland and Finnimark need colonization, as per the Internal Colonization Program, but they provide interesting options for the future.

In June, Pskov settles its dispute with Poland, paying small war damages. The Alliance of the Northern Wind is once again at peace.

In September, peasants in Mecklemburg go into revolt. The army does not deploy immediately to stop them, but rather waits for them to starve before advancing.

January, 1534: The peasants in Smaland have increased the fortifications there without royal funds, pleasing the new king greatly. The infrastructure in Lappland, Narvick, and Mecklemburg is upgraded. Settlers are now being sent to Iceland and Finnimark. The revolt in Mecklemburg is put down quickly.

On the diplomatic front, relations with the Protestant world have decreased since the annexing of the Hanseatic League. Christian decides that he must work to unite the Protestants under one banner, diplomatically speaking, while at the same time not abandoning his Orthodox allies.

January, 1535: Interesting news from England. King Henry VIII has embraced Protestantism. Christian sees an opportunity to heal the rift between the two countries, and offers a royal marriage. He accepts. The infrastructure of the Union is continuing to upgrade, and settlers are still being sent to Iceland and Finnimark. A letter of introduction is sent to Hanover, and the Union's relations to them improve slightly.

January, 1536: Brandenburg has embraced Protestantism. Christian offers them a royal marriage, and they accept. Another letter of introduction is sent to Hanover, but they still hate the Union. Upgrades continue in the provinces, as Christian orders the promotion of legal counsels to chief judge. This will take a long time, and be incredibly expensive, but Christian does not care. With the extra tax revenue from the new provinces, the upgrades should proceed smoothly.

In May, the peasants in Bremen rise in revolt. The army is sent after them, and they are crushed. General Lunge has died, and the king authorizes a state funeral for him.

In September, Eastern Pommerania rises in revolt, including the garrison. The army, under Rantzau, moves to crush them.

January, 1537: Eastern Pommerania is retaken from the rebels. Infrastructure upgrades continue within the Union. Things are very quiet in Europe at the moment, which pleases the peace-mongering Christian to no end.

In March, rebels rise in Western Pommerania, but are crushed by the army as it passes through. Then, the Russians declare war on Kazan, and call on the Union and Pskov to help. Christian and Pskov accept, though Christian notes he has no real way to get troops to the battle front.

In October, it is revealed that Christian's wife, the Queen, is with a child, but not the king's! Christian orders her imprisoned for adultery, and annuls the marriage. The scandal at court has temporarily hurt Christian's standing among other monarchs, and so he decides not to work diplomacy for awhile, as it would be ineffective to do so.

January, 1538: Kleeves has turned Protestant, and Christian offers them a royal marriage. They accept. Christian continues his building program, and notes that within a year, Finnimark should be raised to city status. Russia's war continues, but Christian is not concerned, as it is a local conflict.

In March, rebels seize control of the garrison in Eastern Pommerania again. Christian orders the army there quickly, before they can declare independence.

In July, Eastern Pommerania is secured from the rebels.

On July 13th, 1538, Poland-Lithuania and her ally, Moldavia, declare war on the Union of Kalmar. Christian is enraged, and calls on the Russians and Pskovians to help. They accept. The First Baltic War has begun.

 

[Secret Master]

The First Baltic War

The First Baltic War (July 13th, 1538- October 2nd, 1539)

Christian is angry at the Poles, but there is one good thing: the army is already in Pommerania. He orders them to strike at Protestant provinces, so that they can be "liberated" from the Poles.

Rantzau's army is driving towards Eastern Prussia, but a huge Polish army is spotted heading for the Pommeranias. Rantzau ignores them, and continues to advace.

In August, a small Polish delaying force stops the advance of Rantzau in Eastern Pommerania. He may have to give battle to the Poles here, as they are heading towards the province.

In September, the large Polish army strikes the army at the Battle of Stettin. Rantzau reluctantly gives battle, and routes the Poles badly. Rather than move on to Eastern Prussia, he turns to pursue the fleeing Poles into Western Prussia.

In November, he defeats them again at the Battle of Thorn, and initiates a siege in Western Prussia. Despite his victory, Rantzau is cut off from his supply lines, as small Polish detachments are besieging Danzig and Pommerania. He decides to assault the fortifications, but is badly repulsed. A small Moldavian army rescues the garrison, and Rantzau retreats deeper into Poland, to Posen.

By December, with nowhere else to go for the moment, Rantzau lays siege to Posen, awaiting reinforcements.

January, 1539: Over 20,000 infantry in reinforcements are being raised in Jyland, but there is some question of how to get them to Rantzau and his 160 guns. With Danzig and Eastern Pommerania under minimal siege, Christian is unsure as to how to deliver reinforcements to Rantzau in the field. He adopts a wait and see attitude. The Russians are of little help, as they are still trying to crush Kazan. Pskov is still raising an army with which to strike at Poland.

In February, the Poles try and lift the siege of Posen, but fail. They then in turn lift the sieges at Eastern Pommerania and Danzig, and start marching east towards Pskov. Posen itself cannot hold out much longer, and Rantzau tells his king that it should fall within three months.

On June 8th, Posen falls to Rantzau. Also, Kazan offers Russia war damages, and the Russians accept, so they may focus on the real enemy, Poland-Lithuania. Rantzau now marches to Western Prussia, to annihilate the Moldavian army there and to link up with the 20,000 reinforcements.

In July, Rantzau links up with the reinforcements, and lays siege to Western Prussia. In the east, Pskov has sacked Welika, but the Poles have sacked Pskov itself.

By October, the Poles have besieged Posen, and the peasants in Mecklemburg have risen in revolt. The siege drags on in Western Prussia. Seeing that his current advantage in the war may be lost if it drags on, Christian offers peace to Poland, demanding war indemnities in exchange for peace. On October 2nd, the accept, and pay 25 ducats in war indemnities. The Baltic war was now over, with little changed.

 

[unmerged(5736)]

oooo... only 25 ducats in War damages ? that must have hurt... i wish there was an easy way to tell whether or not the cpuntry u demand 250 ducats in reparations from actually has the funds to do it ! anyone know of a way ?

n e way, cool AAR Secret Master. Nice to see one of the baltic states fight back against bloody Poland-Lithuania !

 

[Secret Master]

Continued Revolts and Peace-mongering from King Christian III

With the war over, Christian orders Rantzau to put down the revolt in Mecklemburg. He starts moving the army there.

In November, Western Pommerania has risen in revolt. Now the army must put down both revolts.

January, 1540: The revolts have been put down, and Christian feels he can continue his building program. Finnimark is now a true city, and he prioritizes the placement of infrastructure there. Iceland is still in need of colonizing, and so the effort there continues.

In May, Bremen peasants rise in revolt. Rantzau marches to them in order to suppress the revolt. He is successful.

However, in November, peasants in Eastern Pommerania rise in revolt. While they too are defeated, King Christian wonders as to the wisdom of adding more lands to the Union.

January, 1541: Saxony has turned Protestant. Christian immediately offers them a royal marriage, but they decline, citing the fate of the Hanseatic League as a Protestant country. Christian is angered by this refusal, but realizes that given some time, fellow Protestants will forget the League.

In June, Mecklemburg rises in revolt once more. The army is now stationed in Mecklemburg, and subdues them.

In October, Holstein rises in revolt. Also, rumors circulate through the court at Copenhagen about Spanish conquests in America.

In January, 1542, the last colonists are shipped to Iceland to turn it into a city. Still, Christian notes there are more colonists ready to be sent to new areas. With Iceland to become a city, the Internal Colonization Program will be complete. Christian notes that he has the stolen English maps, which show places such as "Savannah" and "Chesapeake" and "Roanoke" on them. Since these places are devoid of any European influence, Christian orders his settlers to begin building trading posts in this new world. The first will try to be established in Chesapeake.

In April, Western Pommerania rises in revolt. The army is dispatched to deal with them.

In May, Christian offers the Russian Czar a royal marriage, and they accept.

In December, Scotland declares war on England. The feud between them continues.

January, 1543: Christian learns that a trading post has been set up in Chesapeake. He orders that there be continued efforts to make a Union presence in the Americas. Iceland is now a full province of the Union, and so is now being upgrading in infrastructure. The promotion of legal counsels continues, slowly. Left over income goes to the army, as the constant revolts make life difficult.

In the south, France finally ends its war with the Ottoman sultan. France accepts Cyranica as a condition of peace. The power of the Ottoman sultans seems to be broken, as the Balkans are divided up between Austria, Savoy, France and Baden.

Also, Christian arranges another royal marriage with Pskov.

In February, plague strikes the Union. Thousands die as the flue ravages the peasants in the countryside.

In June, the Scots sue for peace and offer large war indemnities. The English accept.

In December, the garrison at Holstein goes into revolt. The army, still under Rantzau, moves in to destroy them.

January, 1544: General Rantzau sweeps in and assaults Holstein, sacking the town. Then, news reaches court that East Pommerania has risen in revolt and secured the garrison. Meanwhile, trading posts are being set up in Roanoke and Savanah. The promotion of legal counsels continues.

By April, Pommerania is secured once more.

In October, the Czar decalres war on Kazan. Christian does so as well, a per the terms of the alliance, but there is no practical way to get the army there. Christian sets plans in motion to give the Russians the gift that keeps on giving: ducats.

In January, 1545, Christian presents a large personal gift to the Czar. The Russians are greatly impressed by this gesture, and the Union and Russia now share a far closer bond. A few trading posts are now present in the Americas, and the continuing improvements to infrastructure promise to raise the glory of the Union.

On February 27, 1545, Poland-Lithuania declares war on the Kalmar Union. Christian calls upon the Alliance of the Northern Wind, and Pskov and Russia eagerly accept the call to arms. The Second Baltic War has begun.

 

[Secret Master]

The Second Baltic War: Part 1

The Second Baltic War
(February 27th, 1545- March 17th, 1553)

The Polish Army is marching towards Danzig, and the Poles clearly want to march from Danzig, up through the Pommeranias. Rantzau has orders to stay in place until his newest reinforcements arrive. Then he will march to lift any potential sieges of Danzig or the Pommeranias.

In April, General Rantzau informs the king that the Poles have made a feint, and in fact are marching east. They are not going to siege Danzig at all, but rather are going to help their Moldavian allies attack Pskov. Christian orders Rantzau to strike at Eastern Prussia, in order to liberate Protestants there.

In May, a small detachment of Polish cavalry land at Skane. They are too small to even siege, and so are just roaming the countryside looting. Christian ignores them, as the army is better employed against the Poles on their home turf.

In June, the navy deploys off the coast of Poland in order to intercept their pitiful navy. Admiral Skam is successful, and defeats the Polish navy at the Battle of Riga Gulf.

In August the Polish navy tries to bypass Admiral Skam again, but loses once more. Meanwhile, East Prussia is under siege.

Then news reaches court that a massive storm has disastrously wiped out over half of Skam's fleet. What the Poles cannot do, nature has.

January, 1546: East Prussia is starting to break, and should fall within the year. Reinforcements are being called up from everywhere within the Union. The situation for Pskov is much more grave. They have sacked Welika, but both of their provinces are under Polish occupation.

On February 1st, 1546, Pskov ceases to exist and accepts an offer of annexation by Poland- Lithuania. The war has taken a turn for the worse.

By March, Admiral Skam has the Polish navy running all over the Baltic, as well as their Moldavian allies.

In April, the Russian army has placed West Prussia under siege, while Rantzau tightens his grip on East Prussia. It is only a matter of months before it falls.

In May, Eastern Pommerania rises in revolt, and the Poles bring a small army into Danzig, cutting off Rantzau's supply lines and his reinforcements. A royal marriage is given to Georgia, and they accept. At the end of the month, the Poles try to lift the siege of East Prussia, but are too late. Rantzau has sacked the city. The navy is mobilized to bring him fresh reinforcements with the revolt in East Pommerania blocking a land advance of reinforcements.

In July, Rantzau moves into Danzig, restoring his supply lines and awaiting fresh troops.

In August, a large Polish army is seen heading towards East Prussia. Rantzau feints a move into Pommerania, in a pretend attempt to escape. The real goal is to beat the rebels, then march on Posen. The Russians appear to almost have sacked West Prussia.

In September, the revolt in East Pommerania is put down, and General Rantzau receives his reinforcements. The Poles attempt to assault the garrison in East Prussia, but fail miserably. Rantzau now moves to lift the siege there. A decisive victory should open the door to both Memel and Warsaw. The Russians have successfully sacked West Prussia, and now sit and wait for a move on Posen.

In October, Christian drafts the "Unfriendly Powers Edict". With it, he states a new foreign policy that forces a trade embargo on anyone at war with the Union. He immediately applies it to both Poland-Lithuania and Moldavia. Polish trade is paralyzed, except in Moldavian Kurland.

On October 18th, France declares war, dragging themselves, the Pope, Savoy, Naples and Venice into the Second Baltic War. Christian immediately applies the Unfriendly Powers Edict against all of them.

On December 14th, the Battle of Konigsberg is fought, but Rantzau loses to the superior Polish forces. The Poles tighten their grip on Konigsberg and the army is badly mauled.

January, 1547: The Russians are close to breaking Posen, and have Ingermanland under siege. Rantzau awaits reinforcements as the Poles get closer to retaking East Prussia.

In February, Posen falls to the Russians. Christian strongly suspects they will sign a separate peace with the Poles, leaving the Union to founder on its own against them.

On March 7th, Brandenburg declares war on the Union, adding themselves, Saxony, and Hannover to combatants in the Second Baltic War. They have broken their royal marriage with the Union, and share the same faith as the Union, a most despicable act to be sure. Christian does not call on the Russians for help with them, as the Russians have no way to help in that theater. On the bright side, The Poles have lifted the siege of Konisgberg, and are trying to stop Russian advances in their lands. Christian declines to add the Protestant countries of Brandenburg, Hanover, and Saxony to the Unfriendly Powers Act, as he has run out of diplomats.

 

[unmerged(5736)]

Agh !
i hate it when ur at war and then suddenly the entie of europe decides that your capitol would be fun stomping ground for their armies.... then again i really should try to keep my Bad Boy rating down more in my games ....
ah well ... hope it all goes well ! i'd hate to lose this AAR to maruding.... well everybody it seems at the moment !

 

[Xanadu]

Annexing a state with multiple provinces is disasterous. Maybe next time you should gain 2-3 provinces in the next peace proposal so the next time you go to war with them they only have their capital province left to grab & then annex. (Brandenburgh is a great example here).
Good policy on your embargo's. I do that all the time.

BTW Great AAR!

 

[Sharur]

The embargo policy is good except for one thing: it hurts your trade development pretty severly. But if you can afford it, go right ahead!

Great job!

 

[Secret Master]

Thanx

Thanks for the compliments.

BTW, just wait for the best part of this current war. There is a reason the reign of this monarch is called "Stubborness hath endangered the crown".... And it's not because I'm stubborn and quick to fury!

 

[Secret Master]

The Second Baltic War: Part 2

In April, Hanover lays siege to Mecklemburg. Rebels rise in Pommerania, but Christian does not deploy the army. "Let Brandenburg deal with them, as they want the lands so much" he was quoted as saying. The navy deploys to reinforce Rantzau by sea.

In June, East Pommerania is under siege by Brandenburg, and Christian offers them a white peace. They decline. Christian orders the army to advance into Memel, to force the Poles to the negotiating table.

By the end of August, the garrisons in Mecklembug and East Pommerania are half way to falling. Memel is besieged by Rantzau, but the war is looking very bad.

In September, Christian offers the French a white peace, but they decline.

In November, East Pommerania falls to a huge coalition army, led by Saxony. Memel is still under siege by Rantzau, but Christian tires of the growing wars. This is not what he has wanted. As soon as he can, he will negotiate peace with Poland Lithuania.

In December, he offers the Poles a white peace, but they decline it. Christian is infuriated, since he controls East Prussia, and the Russians hold West Prussia and Posen. With the Poles refusal of peace, Christian makes a foreign policy turn. "If it is my father's policies they wish to avenge, then my father they shall get!" With that announcement, he pledges to raise large armies and force the Poles to agree to a humiliating peace.

In January, 1548, the war drags on. Christian borrows money from wealthy nobles and citizens, and starts building a huge army in Skane. When it links up with Rantzau in Memel, Memel will be secured, then it will march on Warsaw. Once the Poles are humiliated, Christian intends to settle the other parts of the war.

Mecklemburg is still under siege, and Brandenburg places West Pommerania under siege.

In February, a large Polish Army cuts of Rantzau's supply lines to Memel by placing East Prussia under siege. Posen has fallen back into Polish hands. The navy moves into position to reinforce Rantzau by sea. In doing so, Admiral Skam fights the Battle of the Sund, forcing a much larger French navy to withdraw out of the Baltic.

On March 10th, Russia signs an exhausted peace with Kazan, ceding them Vladmir. That part of the war is now over. On March 27th, Mecklemburg falls to Saxony.

On May 13th, Memel falls to Rantzau. The Poles offer Memel in exchange for peace. This is not the best offer that could be hoped for, but East Prussia will fall soon and the other powers involved in the war are eating up Union territories left and right. Christian accepts the offer, and this part of the Second Baltic war is now over.

Also, Christian offers Brandenburg a white peace, but they refuse. The navy is preparing to deploy the army to Jyland, with its reinforcements. Once this is done, Rantzau will strike southward, and force the territories back into Union control.

On June 1st, French forces land at Nyland. They are small and in a few months the winter should make them starve to death. Bremen is under siege by Hanover, and Saxony has Danzig under siege. The army has been recovered from Memel, and now sails to Jyland to start the campaign afresh.

By August, West Pommerania has fallen to Brandenburg. The army is still sailing to Jyland.

The only good news comes in September. The nobles report that this will be an exceptional harvest year, and that tax incomes should double. Also, Rantzau has landed in Jyland, and is marching to relieve the garrison at Bremen.

On November 24th, the Battle of Bremen is fought, and results in a great Union victory. Hanover is forced to withdraw back into their territories. Rantzau can now move to retake Mecklemburg.

January, 1549: The army marches on Mecklemburg. Scattered Hanoverian resistance slows Rantzau down, but it is only a matter of time before it is brought under siege. Christian offers Wurtemburg a royal marriage, and they accept. A white peace is offered to France, but they decline.

By February, Mecklemburg is under siege, and already close to falling. A small French force lays siege to Skane, but the king is not worried. Brandenburg demands West Pommerania and war indemnities, but Christian refuses.

In May, Mecklemburg is even closer to falling. Rantzau has been reinforced. More French troops land in Skane. They also burn the trading post in Roanoke.

In July, the French land a small force to lift the siege in Mecklemburg, but are repulsed badly. Saxony demands Mecklemburg and East Pommerania, but Christian declines. Danzig is close to falling to a coalition army.

On August, disaster is reported to the king, General Rantzau has died leading a failed assault against Mecklemburg. The nobility immediately become very concerned. King Christian arranges a huge state funeral for the general. His service to the Union has been invaluable.

In September, Danzig falls to Saxony's coalition army. They demand Danzig, Pommerania, and Mecklemburg. Christian angrily refuses. Naples offers a separate white peace, and Christian accepts. A French army defeats the demoralized army at Mecklemburg, and the siege there is lifted. France and Hanover refuse white peace.

By November the army has put Mecklemburg back under siege. Skane is under heavy siege by the French, and a Saxony coalition army is sieging Bremen.

January, 1550: The Second Baltic War is turning for the worse. Bremen will fall any day, and it will be months before Mecklemburg will fall to the Union's armies. Christian has ordered that all money in the budget be poured into the military, effectively stopping all research. White peaces are sent to France, Brandenburg, and Hanover, but they refuse.

In February, Bremen falls to Saxony coalition armies. Also, Skane falls to French forces.

In March, France tries to lift the siege at Mecklemburg several times, but fails. Brandenburg cuts off the army's supply line through Holstein.

In April, Saxony demands Bremen, but Christian refuses. The nobility begin to question his competence and stability goes down.

In May, the first good news in months arrives. The army has recaptured Mecklemburg. The garrison at Holstein cannot hold out much longer, and Christian orders the army north, to secure supply lines and reinforcements. Small French detachments keep giving battle, preventing the army from making it north, however. Hanover asks for a white peace, and Christian gives them one.

In June, the army is still mired in Mecklemburg, and a coalition army under Brandenburg defeats them at the Battle of Mecklemburg. The army withdraws into Magdenburg, and lays siege. It is unable to link with supply lines and reinforcements. A huge coalition army, led by Brandenburg has laid siege to Mecklemburg.

In August, a white peace is offered to France, but they decline. Rebels besiege occupied Bremen, and Christian is for once pleased that his enemies must deal with rebels as he does. The reinforcements for the main body of the army are cut off from them, and so they lay siege to Holstein.

In September, Mecklemburg falls to Brandenburg, but Madgeburg falls to the Union's army, and Holstein is near collapse. Bradenburg demands Pommerania, but Christian refuses. The main body of the army is still cut off from supplies, and so chooses to strike at the capital of Brandenburg.

In November, the main body of the army is defeated by Saxony in the Battle of Magdeburg. The army withdraws into occupied Pommerania. Saxony demands Bremen again, and Christian refuses. There are loud whispers among the nobility about his competence as ruler. Stability continues to decline. A French army eliminates the rebels in Bremen, relieving the Saxon garrison there.

 

[unmerged(5736)]

argh i don't even wanna guess what ur staility must be like at the moment ! why not cede Bremen for now so u can marshal ur forces and rebuild and then go and annex those german gits in saxony !

 

[The Danish King]

Good AAR, but we need some screenshots.

 

[Xanadu]

At best a +1 stability....Good luck

 

[Sharur]

Fight on! Stubornness is key! AARRRGH!!!

 

[Secret Master]

The Second Baltic War: Final Chapter

January, 1551: The war continues to drag on. West Pommerania is under siege by the Union's army. Rebels have risen up in Memel. Holstein will soon fall back into Union hands. Magdeburg is under siege by Brandenburg, and will soon fall. The treasury is being poured into troop building, and Christian has vowed to not let an inch of Union's lands be taken away. On the 7th, Holstein falls to the army, but Saxony demands money and Bremen. Christian refuses, and the nobility begin to wonder aloud as to his competence. Peasants in Jyland begin a revolt with the news of continued wars.

In February, Bremen is placed under siege, by Union armies. West Pommerania will soon fall to the armies of the Union. Magdeburg continues to hold out against stiff shelling by Saxony.

In March, France demands Skane, and is refused. Bradenburg demands Mecklemburg, and is refused. Saxony demands Bremen, and is refused. Unrest grows with the news of continued war. The French lift the Union siege of Bremen, and force the Union's armies withdraw to Holstein. Bradenburg has retaken Magdeburg.

In May, Brandenburg drives the army out of Holstein. The navy stands by and withdraws them by sea, as well as reinforcements from Jyland which are defeated by rebel scum. They navy will deposit them in Pommerania, and link the army togther.

By June, Holstein has been sieged and sacked by Brandenburg. The nobility have started to openly call for an end to the war, but Christian has ignored them.

In July, Pommerania falls to the newly combined Union army. Saxony defeats the rebels in Jyland, and places it under siege. Saxony demands Bremen, but Christian again refuses. Unrest grows even more with the news of continued war. Christian decides the war must end soon, and orders the Union army into Brandenburg itself. If he can sack their capital, he feels a white peace can be secured.

In September, the army assaults the fortress in Brandenburg, but fails miserably. A relief army lifts the siege and the army retreats back into Pommerania.

By December, Pommerania is under siege by Brandenburg, and Saxony is close to sacking Jyland. Saxony demands Danzig and Bremen, but Christian refuses. Unrest is near a boiling point with the news that the war will continue.

January, 1552: Jyland falls to Saxony. Saxon troops are headed to Copenhagen. Mecklemburg is close to being restored to Union hands. Pommeraia will soon fall to Brandenburg. Christian calls up the last of the available manpower in Svealand. The Union is close to breaking because of the war, but Christian wants to see it though.

By February, the nobility have had enough. When Bradenburg sends a demand for Mecklemburg and money, they inform Christian that if he does not sign it, they will overthrow his rule. He relents to the pressure, and signs the peace. Since Saxony is part of that alliance, all Saxon held provinces return to Union control. The war with France drags on, but the end is in sight.

In March, Christian orders the army to put down the rebels in Bremen, and then they will be transported to Skane, where they can liberate the province from French control.

By April, the rebels are put down, and reinforcements are raised in Svealand. They are marching to Skane to put it under siege in preparation for the arrival of the main body.

In June, the peasants finish a new set of fortifications in Copenhagen, making them the mightiest in Europe.

In July, the navy deposits the main body in Skane. The French try and prevent the landing, but the navy defeats them and pushes them out of the Sund.

In November, Savoy places West Pommerania under siege. Memel falls to rebel scum.

On Christmas Day, Skane is liberated. The army is ordered by Christian to immediately deploy and lift the siege of Pommerania.

January, 1553: The navy deploys to the Sund once more. Admiral Skam fights another Battle of the Sund, against Venice. In spite of overwhelming odds, he defeats them handedly. The army is ready to deploy to Pommerania. Christian is now pouring treasury money into bringing the country out of the chaos it is in.

In March, the army of Savoy is completely annihilated in Pommerania. France offers a white peace on March 17th, 1553, and Christian accepts. The Second Baltic War is finally over.

The war has been a disaster for the Union, even if one province was gained and one lost. The cream of the officer corps of the army is dead, the country is in chaos, and the trading posts in America have been burnt down. There is also outstanding debt, which came due in January. Christian extended the loan, increasing the interest payments. Christian will never again enjoy the full support of his nobles.

 

[Secret Master]

Screen Shots

I am working on posting the screen shots. Once they are on the web, I will insert them into the approrpiate posts where they belong.

 

[Sharur]

One word: OUCH!