The Maltese Falcon and the Last Crusade

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This is my first AAR, being played on a medium difficulty, agressive AI, modified version of VIP. I hope you reading it as much as I enjoy playing it.

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Pope Gregory had arrived from Rome. The people of Valetta gathered for hours and hours just to see their Pontiff in the streets, despite the light mist. Today was a special day, a holy day consecrated by the Holy Spirt. Not only was it the Lord's day, but it would be a day marked down in history for long after. Today the Pope met with the Grand Master of the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem, and today the campaign to win the Patrimony of Christ would be conceived.

THE MALTESE FALCON
AND THE LAST CRUSADE

Malta - 1836​

The Knights Hospitaller of St. John of Jerusalem are in power in Malta. In the 1815 Congress of Vienna, instead of being awarded to Britain as a spoil of war, Malta was returned to the Knights by demand of Austria, Naples, and the Pope. France was forced to pay reperations to Malta and due to this funding, Malta is at an all-time high in power and quality of life. A new Grand Master has taken power in Veletta, Johannes Karl.

Johannes Karl, Priest-King of Malta​

A BRIEF OVERVIEW

The Nation​

Malta is one of the smallest nations in the world, but is richly populated and relatively prosperous for its size.

The People​

The native Maltese are joined by members of the Order from the Two Sicilies and Austria as well as some Italian emigrants.

The secularist and even atheistic trends are deeply upsetting and the Order is contemplating how to deal with this disturbing movement among the population. Christ and his Church must be upheld.

The Military​

Alberto Calzone is the Head Armourer and Lieutenant to Johannes Karl, he leads the military in battle.

The defense force has been increased in Malta to 6000 knights, including Johannes' own personal guard. The fleet however, has fallen in disrepair, with only two ships and their undisciplined crews. The original mission of our fortress here was to destroy the infidel pirates and restore order to the seas, and now we could barely secure our own ports, but Johannes Karl has seen this and is employ policy to allocate funds for a new fleet.

The Politics​

We are allied to and accepted as the last Order with any true military power by the Papal States, the Two Sicilies, and Austria. The only other order close to our power are the Teutonic Knights in Vienna, but they are a puppet of the Hapsburgs. We hold a certain status among truly pious Catholic nations and open our ports as safe harbour to all of them.

We hold onto our rightful ownerships of the territories of Rhodes and Cyprus. After evacuating Acre our Order held both of these islands and they were a beacon and highway to regaining the Holy Land. We must retake these provinces.

Valetta - Gran Maestro's Palace: St. Paul's Chapel​

"...in nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti."

"Amen."

They filed out of the chapel and into the hall, the guards sealing the doors behind them.

"Thank you, your Holiness. We are honored, as always, to serve you and on this occasion to have you as our guest."

Gregory turned to the younger man and replied while continuing down the well ordained hall.

"It is heartening to know of your devotion to regain the Outremer, my son. Too long has the sepulchre been in the hands of enemies of Christ."

"It will take us years preparation in order to muster the men and funds necessary, your eminence, but rest assured that Outremer will be regained so help me God."

"Fiat."

MORE COMING SOON​

In the meantime, any and all comments are welcomed.

 

[Jape]

it said so much for new AARs but this is definately different
I shall be watching this, good luck

and death to the infidel!!!

 

[Freddan]

Cool AAR, I`ll will definantly be watching this. Whats your goals?
This will be very different from other AARs i read so KUTGW!

Freddan

 

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Cool AAR, I`ll will definantly be watching this. Whats your goals?
This will be very different from other AARs i read so KUTGW!

Freddan

Thank's for the compliment.

Goals:

1. Regain the Mediterranean possessions of the Knights of St. John.
2. Regain the Crusader Kingdoms of Jerusalem, Antioch, and Edessa.
3. Support the Pope and stop the corrupt Sardinians and dirty French.
4. Help Austria win the German war of dominance.
5. Generally support the best interests of the Catholic faith.

 

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Shepherding the Herd

March 3rd,

Terrible news today. Pagans have come to power over one of the Church's American flocks! A pagan practicer of "Voodoo" named Jacques Dunete has been elected to power in Haiti after ousting the good Catholic Jean-Baptiste Riché, a dear friend to the Church. He has had the seat of the Archdiocese of Port-au-Prince, St. Michelle's Cathedral, turned into a den of pagans and devil worshippers! We believe this so called "elected" leader is in league with Satan and his lot.

This cannot stand. This abomination must not be left to fester. The Pope has given us his approval, and requested we act in order to restore Christ to the people of Haiti. The First Corps of the Knights Hospitaller are en route to Port-au-Prince

Meanwhile, we have raised enough funds to construct two new transport clippers, which are most definitely needed if we are to retake what we once had.

April 5th,

Our fleet has blockaded Port-au-Prince after being rejected for an audience by the President of Haiti, the Lesser Master in charge of the invasionary force, Alberto Calzone, has taken it upon himself to declare a state of war on the Pagans in Haiti.

The Knights have disembarked and met the ill-prepared Haitians in the streets of their capital.

April 25th,

Glory to God in the highest!

Our glorious army has routed the pagans, and released the Archbishop of Port-au-Prince. The devil, Dunete, himself has been captured, he was forced to give the Kiss of Peace and sentenced to death by flagellation. Unfortunately, Calzone was among the fallen.

Due to the fact that the Haitian people have shown themselves to be poor in judgement, we have re-appointed Riché as presidential dictator, to re-establish order, and have been granted permission by the Pope to oversee the nation until it is back on it's feet.

This victory has given us a piece of Haiti's income, due to the fact they owe us tribute, and it has also given us prestige among the world, we truly are the swordarm of the Church.

October 9,

Upon the glorious return of the Knights to Valetta, the crowd has abandoned it's indifference towards religion, and many have become members of the clergy.

The sudden liberal tendencies among our people are somewhat odd, however.

Valetta - Gran Maestro's Palace: Throne room​

"Monsignor Gran Maestro, the training of the Maltese populace into 40,000 reserve troops has been completed. We are glad to pronounce that these men, who were once farmers, are now Defensora Fides."

"Prepare the invasion force immediately, while the Mohammedists are busy with their internal struggle, our claims will be open to us, calling us home. Christ help us, for Yours is the Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory, now and forever."

*Ignore the 1839 and 1840 dates, they are re-enactments because I forgot to take screenshots the first time.

 

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How do you guys think I'm doing so far, this being my first AAR and all?

 

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Update coming very soon.

 

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NOVUS ORDO
OR THE GREAT MEDITERRANEAN CRUSADE

August 10, 1840
The birds sang their songs while gliding over the city. It was a bright day for fall, and the light seemed to light up every dark place in the entire city. It seemed like any other day, but this day would make history.

Johannes eagerly walked up the stairs on the Papal Palace, the staccato of his boots reminding him of his triumphant re-entry into Malta as a boy, and later reviewing his troops in Nikosia after the grand victory of the Mediterranean Crusade.

When he reached the top of the grand edifice, he genuflected before the Pope, rose and embraced him and shook his hand.

"Cyprus is ours again."​

The City of Nikosia in an early photograph

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April 8, 1838

The political landscape is back to normalcy in Valetta. The brief reign of liberalism over the people has ended and the Maltese people have come back to their senses. About time, Republican scum.

September 1, 1838

The invasion force is prepared. The ships have been built and inspected, and the reserves have been called up for active duty. The war will be soon, the only thing needed now is for the Muslims to turn on each other in Syria.

The strategy will be an attack on Egypt, while remaining neutral with the Ottoman Empire. Due to the overwhelming strength of the Ottoman Empire, and the slim chances of success with one nation, let alone two, Rhodes must wait.

The invasion will begin in Cyprus itself. The entire Order, excluding the Headmaster's guard, which will stay at Malta, will take part in securing the island. A small garrison will be left at Nikosia, and then the troops must move on.

The next step to the invasion will be Crete. Crete is second because it's much less important than Cyprus and gives little bonus to the war score. It's a mere bonus if I am able to take it. After this I must move my men very quickly back into the ships and go to mainland Egypt.

The landing in Egypt will take place at Alexandria. My men will secure this major coastal city before moving into Cairo and forcing a peace. This is the trickiest part of the entire invasion, and my army could easily be destroyed if Egypt left a substansial army in the rear.

April 25, 1839

The Oriental Crisis has begun. Launch the invasion forces immediately.

Our men move into Cyprus under cover of night and find it virtually deserted. The few garrisons that remain are arrested and kept in the prison at Nikosia. Our forces quickly sweep through the island unopposed and move on.

September 18, 1839

Our men move into Crete and quickly secure the area, as in Cyprus there is very little resistance and we need only station trace garrisons to hold the land. Our troops reload quickly, this campaign must be as swift and wrathful as a bolt of lightning.

Februrary 14, 1840

Our men have defeated a fledgeling Egyptian navy and have started to disembark at Alexandria. The city falls without any major garrison, most of the men in the far east and far west.

April 2, 1840

Our men have secured Alexandria, but it seems our fortunes have turned for the worst! The Egyptians and Ottomans have brokered a peace, and the Egyptian navy has completely crushed by landing ships. My army is now stranded, pilgrims in an unholy land.

But the bold Eugenio Boldacci, Hospitaller Hero, isn't quite through yet...

August 10, 1840

Boldacci - The Hospitaller Hero

Instead of backing down and trying to hold Alexandria, until a failure peace could be reached with the Egyptians, as his aides advised him to, Boldacci continued with the bold invasionary plan, having lost already almost half his men in a brief battle in Alexandria and from disease, he now assaults the garrison of 10,000 at Cairo with his 16,000 men. After the garrison is defeated, 10,000 Egyptians come to retake the city before the Crusaders can get a real hold on it. They are relatively easily dispatched and Crusaders settle down in Cairo, combing through the city for the Mohammed Shah, who was unable to escape. Now, an army of 30,000 Egyptians arrive from the front and attack the now severely weakened crusader army of 14,000 men. Luckily for the Crusaders, the Egyptians are 1/3 irregular militia and are easily broken. The remaining 20,000 fight hard and long, and the city is severely damaged. The Crusaders finally rebuff the Egyptians and capture the Shah. They force him to sign a peace. Around 10,000 Crusaders survived.

August 10, 1840

The holdings of the Knights Hospitaller in the Mediterranean

Monsignor-Gran Maestro Johannes Karl arrives in Rome to meet with the Pope about the re-emergence of chivalry in the realm of Catholicism, and the new Outremer...


Whew, that was long, any comments?

 

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I love the bit with Jaques Dunaut and his den of voodoo devil worshipers getting smashed. So basicly the objective is to launch a victorian crusade into the holy land and reclaim the Holy City for the one true faith just like in the good old days.

What is the political beliefs and ideology of the ruling party, let me guess.

Ideology- Conservative
Economy- Interventionism
Trade- Protectionism
Religion- Moralism
Minority- Residence
War- Jingoism

Kind of would be what the knights hospitalier would have believed in.

 

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The parties are the same as the Papal State's.

I started with the Moderati in control, because I wanted to reflect the Order's dependence on the Papal States yet it's being a military order, it had couldn't be anti-military, so you are right on everything but Jingoism, which is Pro-Military.

Perhaps in future versions of my Malta mod I will make the Knights have their own parties.

 

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Come on guys, I'm starved for comments.

 

[unmerged(32924)]

You should get all the lands which were under the rule of the Crusaders.
You progress very well.

Knights with rifle.. who have ever heard about such a thing?

 

[unmerged(24031)]

This is really cool.

Where did you get all the manpower?

 

[unmerged(45022)]

This is really cool.

Where did you get all the manpower?

During that war I raised my military spending heavily, and managed to convert a pop into soldiers. I got 1-2 manpower every 6 months.

4 of the divisions were reserves that I saved up for.

 

[Mike von Bek]

Hmmm, I wonder which side the Knights will fall on in the quest to reunite Italy?

 

[Jape]

Nice work against the heretics, but until you get Rhodes and Jerusalem I won't be satisfied , keep up the good work brother-knight

 

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Good work, you actually managed to beat the Egyptians. Love the concept also.

 

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Sorry for the lack of updates, I figured the entire forums were down because the paradox site itself is down.

I'll update soon enough.

To answer one of the questions:
The Knights steadfastly support the Patrimony of St. Peter and the Neapolitan Bourbons. Piedmont must be stopped.

 

[TC Pilot]

Ooh, this has got to be the first Malta AAR I've seen.

Good luck, and crush all the heretics....whoever they are....

 

[Lurken]

This is looking beutifull. Give us more. Please.