Chapter Two
Amazingly, no one else enters the war on Austria's side. Just a few months after the war began, a great victory is won:
The Austrian army is then hunted down and destroyed at Trent. For the next two years, the Austrians lose battle after battle, until most of their provinces are besieged and occupied. During this time many revolts break out in Turkish held lands, so troop commitments to the Austrian effort are somewhat limited.
Meanwhile, peace with Wallachia comes in October of 1408. We get 52 ducats (and a promise to never ever mess with the great Ottoman Empire again). Soon thereafter, the Timurids attack in the East. Many Turkish troops are reassigned to that front.
By the end of 1409, the Austrian defeat is near total and peace is made:
My infamy is currently falling by 0.85/year. I finish research on Land 6 while at war with Austria, giving me Azab Infantry. Research then begins on Government 6. The Turks need an embassy.
In February of 1410, Moldavia is annexed. The war with the Timurids rages on, even as the new Turkish border must be secured against the Golden Horde.
War with the Horde proves difficult in the North, but eventually Poland and Lithuania keep many of their troops occupied. And again the Timurids must split their forces between the Mamluks and the Turks. Many battles are fought and won against the Timurids until, in the fall of 1411, the first Turkish colonist is sent to Erserum.
With the Golden Horde and Timurids contained for now, the Turks decide to finish what they started in Venice. War is declared in December of 1411.
Thus begins The First Great War for Italy. The Ottoman Empire would not know peace again for nine long years.
The war began with a whimper. Denmark immediately pledged their aid to Venice, but Copenhagen is far from Venezia.
Venezia falls rather quickly. The Venetian navy is defeated and harried and then sunk. Naxos and Corfu are besieged. In August of 1412, colonization is completed in Erserum:
A border gives me reconquest CB on the Mamluks. You can also see the entirety of the glorious Turkish navy on this screen. Not enough to take on England or Castille or Portugal, but growing rapidly.
Corfu and Naxos hold out for a long time. Battles with the Golden Horde continue. Then Hungary declares war on the Turks in December. The Austrians have warned Hungary,apparently:
In February 1413, Bohemia enters the war on Hungary's side. In May, France declares war on the Ottomans. Denmark and France both land troops in Ottoman lands, but their navies are sunk and their invading armies destroyed. Norway, Sweden, and Brunswick also enter the war in alliance with the Danes.
In June, Venice surrenders. Venezia and Corfu are added to the Ottoman Empire.
After a crushing defeat in Croatia, the Hungarians make peace in October. This ends hostilities with Bohemia, but also ends the Austro-Turkish alliance.
In November, Milan begins a Holy War against the Turks, bringing the focus of the land war back to Italy.
In February 1414, white peace is offered by Denmark and accepted. By this time, Poland and Lithuania have both made peace with the Golden Horde. The Turks capture Cherson from the Horde, but more and more reinforcements keep arriving. Finally, with Milan and her allies of Switzerland, Genoa, Mantua, and Naples pressing the attack in
Italy, the Ottomans have no choice but to make peace with the Horde.
The Ottomans are forced to release Bosnia from its vassalage, but are now free to turn their attention back to Italy. Later in the year, the Mamluks complete their colonization of Van, and the Ottomans lose their border with the Timurids.
The Turkish navy continues to grow and continues to win:
Milan and Switzerland have occupied Tirol, Trent, and Lienz. But the Swiss are on the verge of defeat and Turkish reinforcements are about to arrive. In December of 1414, a nation re-enters the war....
...on the other side.
Poland and Lithuania both side with the Austrians against the Turks. They will largely be ignored while the Ottomans focus on the war in Italy.
In March, the French offer white peace and I accept. In October, Naples makes white peace. In 1416, the Austrians begin to gain ground, while Milan is on the verge of defeat.
Then, in June of 1416, something completely unexpected happens:
I have never seen the AI form the Netherlands this early. (or at all?)
In April of 1417, Milan is defeated. Pisa and Romagna become part of the Ottoman Empire.
Unfortunately, Poland and Lithuania have captured several provinces while Turkish attention was on Italy. By late 1417, they have reached Thrace. Something must be done.
Peace is made with both Poland and Lithuania. The price? Sphere reduction. Both Ferrara and Corsica are removed from the Ottoman Sphere of Influence.
Now the Turks can focus on war with Austria. Two years later, the Turks defeat the Austrians for the second time:
The First Great War for Italy is over. However, someone forgot to tell Denmark. And Morocco. And Novgorod. From 1419-21, a few naval battles are fought and won. White peace is made in each war.
In October 1419, The Sultan dies and is succeeded by his son, Mehmet (6/6/6). With an Adm 6 ruler, the capital is moved to Constantinople. And Ottoman Tolerance is enacted, bringing more tolerance of heathen and heretic alike.
In late 1419, research is complete on Government 6. In January 1420, construction of an embassy begins in Romagna. When complete, infamy reduction will be up to 1.25/year.
Here is a look at how things stand in early 1420:
