What can I say? I like first-hand accounts written in the first person. 
Great work, looking forward to reading more.
Great work, looking forward to reading more.
-
We have updated our Community Code of Conduct. Please read through the new rules for the forum that are an integral part of Paradox Interactive’s User Agreement.
Gahh.. looks like I just lost 15 years...damn you CTD
Well we're back to 1430...
note to self: save more often
Oh well, other than everyone and their brother DoWing me there, nothing much happened anyways.
Well we're back to 1430...
note to self: save more often
Oh well, other than everyone and their brother DoWing me there, nothing much happened anyways.
Originally posted by Mad King James
Gahh.. looks like I just lost 15 years...damn you CTD
Well we're back to 1430...
note to self: save more often
Oh, an alternate alternate history.
Could this be a first? I was once thinking about starting two games with the same nation, trying to make the same decisions in both games and watching when it'll become impossible to run them parallel and how big the differences are in the end. It would have made for a good AAR style, a dialogue between the respective leaders from the two "dimensions".
The Despotate of Morea, the Byzantine empire was pretty much confined to the city itself at this point, Morea was ruled by a relative of the Emperor, and was very close to the Empire, but otherwise autonomous.
Very interesting beginning.
Looks liek u've got a good start and I'll be following this one for xure.
Looks liek u've got a good start and I'll be following this one for xure.
Great job on (I assume) your first AAR!
What mod are you using? I know that Morea isn't normally independent of Byzantium.
Do you have any goals in mind for this aar?
What mod are you using? I know that Morea isn't normally independent of Byzantium.
Do you have any goals in mind for this aar?
Don't tell me you've never used my GC? And thanks
My long term goals are:
a: the liberation of all greek provinces, and to drive the Turks from Anatolia
b: the liberation of all the eastern patriarchs, in Antioch, Jerusalem, and Alexandria
c: freeing all of Orthodoxy from Catholic domination, and be the policeman of the Balkans.
And thanksMy long term goals are:
a: the liberation of all greek provinces, and to drive the Turks from Anatolia
b: the liberation of all the eastern patriarchs, in Antioch, Jerusalem, and Alexandria
c: freeing all of Orthodoxy from Catholic domination, and be the policeman of the Balkans.
Wow, thins one's looking good. Nice smackdown you handed the Ottoman Empire there, heathen Turks. Good luck with the game, I look forward to following your further expolits.
Good luck with the game, I look forward to following your further expolits.
Yeah, I'm going to leave the Turks alone for a bit, so they conquer their neighbors. My biggest hope is they'll annex Trebizond and Candar for me.
If you don't mind me asking here, what improvements does your GC make? Aside from the graphics (I know you're into that), are they historically oriented, or gameplay oriented?
Both, though everything has a historical base.
I changed things so Turkey ends up looking like it's supposed to in 1600, and the rise of Burgundy is more historical (in 1419 it wasn't any bigger than the other French minors, it only got huge later.)
For Spain, I changed it so Castille and Aragon stay as Castille and Aragon until 1516, when whomever owns Madrid and has the other as a vassal becomes Spain. I took Spain's ai off Aragon, and removed the Aragon CBs Castille has on Aragon, giving them them on inheritance (including the Islands, so they don't have that stupid nationalism when you inherit Aragon)
Trebizond can become the Roman Empire as normal, but has a different Roman Empire, using Comneni monarchs and symbolism.
I also start with Prussia owned by the Teutonic Order, they split off later.
I changed things so Turkey ends up looking like it's supposed to in 1600, and the rise of Burgundy is more historical (in 1419 it wasn't any bigger than the other French minors, it only got huge later.)
For Spain, I changed it so Castille and Aragon stay as Castille and Aragon until 1516, when whomever owns Madrid and has the other as a vassal becomes Spain. I took Spain's ai off Aragon, and removed the Aragon CBs Castille has on Aragon, giving them them on inheritance (including the Islands, so they don't have that stupid nationalism when you inherit Aragon)
Trebizond can become the Roman Empire as normal, but has a different Roman Empire, using Comneni monarchs and symbolism.
I also start with Prussia owned by the Teutonic Order, they split off later.
October 1437:
We join a war against Siebenburgen with Wallachia, which isn't the best idea considering their many allies, Serbia and Hungary being the big threat. No matter, I prompty raise punative war taxation, and remind the nobles that paying your share is a good way to keep your head on your shoulders. Unfortunately this means our marraiges with Serbia and Hungary are regretfully annulled.
November 1437:
Serbia embarrassed itself with a failed invasion and spanking at the hands of us and the Romanians, and all their provinces are under seige. Fleeing across the Danube, the Serbian force attempts to break the seige in February and April, but their force is wittled down and obliterated. Quite foolish.
April 1438:
Bosnia enters the fray and joins our forces beseiging Belgrade. This is an annoyance, as their troops eat our food, sleep in the good spots, and basically cause desertions.
Luxembourg offers us peace, which I agree to since I didn't even know I was at war with them.
July 1438:
With Belgrade in our hands, and Nis soon to do so, intelligence reaches me of a Hungarian force marching across the Danube towards Wallachia. I race to beat them there, but they cross the river first, and engage us there. While we are in the end forced back, it is a phyrric victory at best, as most of their army is destroyed. I pull back and build more troops, as thanks to the Bosnians we are short on Infantry. (who as-usual got short-changed on rations)
Hungary seems to be a lot less of a threat than I figured them being. Either they're hiding armies somewhere, or are a lot weaker than I figured them being.
September 1438:
For good measure, I raised war taxes again, since I had drained the treasury a goodly amound so far.
December 1438:
Once Nis fell, I had a tough decision, vassalize Serbia, or take all their money and Kosovo, and leave them to Bosnia. I decided on the latter, I can always betray the Bonsians later and "rescue" our Orthadox brothers later.
February 1439:
Our Romanian friends annex Siebenburgen. I send a cheery congradulatory note, and send the imperial army (now back to proper numerical strength) to drive the little force protecting Wallachia. As expected, the Bosnians march on Serbia to finish them off.
We join a war against Siebenburgen with Wallachia, which isn't the best idea considering their many allies, Serbia and Hungary being the big threat. No matter, I prompty raise punative war taxation, and remind the nobles that paying your share is a good way to keep your head on your shoulders. Unfortunately this means our marraiges with Serbia and Hungary are regretfully annulled.
November 1437:
Serbia embarrassed itself with a failed invasion and spanking at the hands of us and the Romanians, and all their provinces are under seige. Fleeing across the Danube, the Serbian force attempts to break the seige in February and April, but their force is wittled down and obliterated. Quite foolish.
April 1438:
Bosnia enters the fray and joins our forces beseiging Belgrade. This is an annoyance, as their troops eat our food, sleep in the good spots, and basically cause desertions.
Luxembourg offers us peace, which I agree to since I didn't even know I was at war with them.
July 1438:
With Belgrade in our hands, and Nis soon to do so, intelligence reaches me of a Hungarian force marching across the Danube towards Wallachia. I race to beat them there, but they cross the river first, and engage us there. While we are in the end forced back, it is a phyrric victory at best, as most of their army is destroyed. I pull back and build more troops, as thanks to the Bosnians we are short on Infantry. (who as-usual got short-changed on rations)
Hungary seems to be a lot less of a threat than I figured them being. Either they're hiding armies somewhere, or are a lot weaker than I figured them being.
September 1438:
For good measure, I raised war taxes again, since I had drained the treasury a goodly amound so far.
December 1438:
Once Nis fell, I had a tough decision, vassalize Serbia, or take all their money and Kosovo, and leave them to Bosnia. I decided on the latter, I can always betray the Bonsians later and "rescue" our Orthadox brothers later.
February 1439:
Our Romanian friends annex Siebenburgen. I send a cheery congradulatory note, and send the imperial army (now back to proper numerical strength) to drive the little force protecting Wallachia. As expected, the Bosnians march on Serbia to finish them off.
April 1439:
THe Bosnians suprprize me, and march instead into Hungary, and attack Pest. As I march into Hungary, I encounter a wide-open country with no defences whatsoever. The odd coalition of the Empire, the Romanians, and the Bosnians appear only months away from the defeat of the Kingdom of Hungary.
In a desperate move, the Pope invites a delegation to Florence in an attempt to unify the churches, but of course he refused to recognize the eastern rites. He is rebuffed, and, of course, the Catholics take great offense. The King of Hungary sends a threatening letter informing me my heretic soul is going straight to hell, on authority of the Pope, if I don't lift my seige of Eger. I laugh in the messenger's face. Stupid christian, there is no hell, my Dasturjee told me so himself last time I was in Persia.
Regardless, the entire Catholic world is somewhat peeved at me. Well, too bad. One day, I shall show them the glories of Zarathushtri. For I really am the god-sended, though my people called me the Saoshyant.
THe Bosnians suprprize me, and march instead into Hungary, and attack Pest. As I march into Hungary, I encounter a wide-open country with no defences whatsoever. The odd coalition of the Empire, the Romanians, and the Bosnians appear only months away from the defeat of the Kingdom of Hungary.
In a desperate move, the Pope invites a delegation to Florence in an attempt to unify the churches, but of course he refused to recognize the eastern rites. He is rebuffed, and, of course, the Catholics take great offense. The King of Hungary sends a threatening letter informing me my heretic soul is going straight to hell, on authority of the Pope, if I don't lift my seige of Eger. I laugh in the messenger's face. Stupid christian, there is no hell, my Dasturjee told me so himself last time I was in Persia.
Regardless, the entire Catholic world is somewhat peeved at me. Well, too bad. One day, I shall show them the glories of Zarathushtri. For I really am the god-sended, though my people called me the Saoshyant.
Looking forward to more, I enjoy the extra touches such as talking about who rules what prvoince, it makes it seem more realistic and quite believable.
Why fix something thats not broken right? Thats a great speech there, Ill need to write that down somewhere....
RJ
Why fix something thats not broken right? Thats a great speech there, Ill need to write that down somewhere....
RJ
July 1439:
Looks like Croatia wants a piece of this as well, as they join the Hungarian alliance against us and Bosnia.
August 1439:
Word of my exploits has spread, and the defeat of the Turk and the rise of the Empire inspires respect amongst our neighbors.
1440
The Bosnians withdraw to defend Bosnia from Croatian aggression, and the Hungarians rapidly build in their only open province. I defeat the substantial, but ill-trained Hungarian force there, and capture the remaining Hungarian provinces, demanding they bow to the Emperor. Ioannes even makes the trip to Eger for this rare pleasure, the trip being completely safe with our control of the entire country. It appears the Hungarian alliance had collapsed with the last declaration of war, and with a few bribes to the nobility, they join our side, a tournabout I must say! We are now the unquestioned masters of the Balkans.
The Ottoman Empire annexes the Knights of Rhodes. I'd rather liked those fellows, and take offense at this, and promptly declare war on the Ottoman Empire, with plans to greatly expand our navy. General Guistiani, an Italian who for some reason seems to like serving under me, despite the general Italian attitude towards the Empire these days.
In a massive ship-building campaign, I oversaw the construction of 21 new galleys. We will need a strong navy to defeat the Ottomans.
The Second Ottoman War
1442:
The Ottoman army is quickly destroyed, and by the end of February all of the Ottoman Anatolia is under seige. The Naval Battle begins, and the Ottomans are initially successful in repelling our fleet at the Bosphorus, we return to the Aegean and destroy it there.
I debilitating plague strikes eastern Bulgaria, killing about a thousand inhabitants of the capital and innumerable more in the countryside, but the attack on Rhodes commences.
1443:
The attack fails, but the victory is a phyrric one for the Turks, as the newly-victorious army from Anatalya arrives and defeats the few remaining Turkish defenders. Guistiani loads onto our glorious navy and, after a few naval encounters, begins a seige at Rhodes in 1444. Rhodes finally falls later that year.
1444:
Murad, a defeated man, offers Rhodes and Anatalya, along with his treasury, in peace. I accept. Also that year, the full integration of Morea into the Empire also occured. A good year, 1444.
Word reaches me that the Hungarians have declared war on Croatia. I rapidly take command of the war, and after capturing all their provinces, the offer me Serbia and the contents of their treasury for peace.
Looks like Croatia wants a piece of this as well, as they join the Hungarian alliance against us and Bosnia.
August 1439:
Word of my exploits has spread, and the defeat of the Turk and the rise of the Empire inspires respect amongst our neighbors.
1440
The Bosnians withdraw to defend Bosnia from Croatian aggression, and the Hungarians rapidly build in their only open province. I defeat the substantial, but ill-trained Hungarian force there, and capture the remaining Hungarian provinces, demanding they bow to the Emperor. Ioannes even makes the trip to Eger for this rare pleasure, the trip being completely safe with our control of the entire country. It appears the Hungarian alliance had collapsed with the last declaration of war, and with a few bribes to the nobility, they join our side, a tournabout I must say! We are now the unquestioned masters of the Balkans.
The Ottoman Empire annexes the Knights of Rhodes. I'd rather liked those fellows, and take offense at this, and promptly declare war on the Ottoman Empire, with plans to greatly expand our navy. General Guistiani, an Italian who for some reason seems to like serving under me, despite the general Italian attitude towards the Empire these days.
In a massive ship-building campaign, I oversaw the construction of 21 new galleys. We will need a strong navy to defeat the Ottomans.
The Second Ottoman War
1442:
The Ottoman army is quickly destroyed, and by the end of February all of the Ottoman Anatolia is under seige. The Naval Battle begins, and the Ottomans are initially successful in repelling our fleet at the Bosphorus, we return to the Aegean and destroy it there.
I debilitating plague strikes eastern Bulgaria, killing about a thousand inhabitants of the capital and innumerable more in the countryside, but the attack on Rhodes commences.
1443:
The attack fails, but the victory is a phyrric one for the Turks, as the newly-victorious army from Anatalya arrives and defeats the few remaining Turkish defenders. Guistiani loads onto our glorious navy and, after a few naval encounters, begins a seige at Rhodes in 1444. Rhodes finally falls later that year.
1444:
Murad, a defeated man, offers Rhodes and Anatalya, along with his treasury, in peace. I accept. Also that year, the full integration of Morea into the Empire also occured. A good year, 1444.
Word reaches me that the Hungarians have declared war on Croatia. I rapidly take command of the war, and after capturing all their provinces, the offer me Serbia and the contents of their treasury for peace.
Back in the capital, Ioannes and I begin the task of assigning estates and govenorship to the new conquests. "How about Diogenes for govenor of Rhodes?" "Good idea, how about Anatalya? Dauid?"
The Capitol is returning to it's old self again, outside the Hagia Sophia in the newly created Victory Square, a 20 foot tall statue of Konstantinos the Victorious, Hammer of the Turk, Defender of the West, astride his mighty horse Sasha points east to Anatolia. The polished marble and gold gleam in the sun. The church is looking quite good as well, a painter from Italy having painted the christian Genesis story on the ceiling.
We've been slowly but surely gaining control over Albania, despotate by despotate. Under Iksander, or should I say Skanderbeg, they've managed to hold off on us annexing them so far. I plan on building our alliance network some more, once Albania is part of our realm, I shall endeavour to add Moldavia to the alliance. Only one war remains however, once Venice annexes Ragusa and Cyprus, we shall have our opening for invasion through Kosovo. It's always best to be the liberator of the conquered than the oppressor, says I.
The Capitol is returning to it's old self again, outside the Hagia Sophia in the newly created Victory Square, a 20 foot tall statue of Konstantinos the Victorious, Hammer of the Turk, Defender of the West, astride his mighty horse Sasha points east to Anatolia. The polished marble and gold gleam in the sun. The church is looking quite good as well, a painter from Italy having painted the christian Genesis story on the ceiling.
We've been slowly but surely gaining control over Albania, despotate by despotate. Under Iksander, or should I say Skanderbeg, they've managed to hold off on us annexing them so far. I plan on building our alliance network some more, once Albania is part of our realm, I shall endeavour to add Moldavia to the alliance. Only one war remains however, once Venice annexes Ragusa and Cyprus, we shall have our opening for invasion through Kosovo. It's always best to be the liberator of the conquered than the oppressor, says I.
Last edited:
Expanding rapidly I see.
Good stuff so far, I hope u'll continue updating frequently.
Good stuff so far, I hope u'll continue updating frequently.
The irony of all of this is that your Byzantine Empire is starting to look very much like the Ottoman Empire did...
Great job, MKJ. Your graphics are a nice addition as well (but then again, I would expect such work from you).
Great job, MKJ. Your graphics are a nice addition as well (but then again, I would expect such work from you
).
While the Croation war continues, Moldavia attempts to take advantage of Wallachia's temporary weakening, and attacks. I don't intend on allowing Moldavia to interrupt my invasion schedule of the Beylik of Karaman however. I write a letter to Julius, the commander of the I Stratoi defending Wallachia. "You're on your own, use local troops and your own initaitive. Signed, the God-Sended."
Ahhh now for some Turk whipping. I join Guistiani in Smyrna and spend the day inspecting the troops, as 10,000 new infantry are raised for the bloody business ahead. "The Turk has held Anatolia for centuries now. They drove us from our homes, they took our land, they forced their religion upon us, but now!" I waved my fist. "NOW we get our revenge!" A cheer rose up, and I could feel the energy. Well, sort of, after 30 years of war, people were sort of tired of fighting, but the constant victories and new land had allowed enthusiasm to remain high.
"For the Empire!"
After an initial failed assault on Taurus, I decided to wait them out, and took the outer cities, then once taking Alexandretta, we marched on Larende, and met Taj Al Din's army before the high pass. The battle was a bloody and gruesome affair, waged on and off through the mountains for over two months. Finally victorious, we drove the Karamans northwards, and the seige began.
Meanwhile the Moldavian force, while wittled down somewhat, had been basically victorious, and I agreed to a peace in exchange for their treasury. Their army is in no shape to conquer Wallachia at this point anyways.
Ahhh now for some Turk whipping. I join Guistiani in Smyrna and spend the day inspecting the troops, as 10,000 new infantry are raised for the bloody business ahead. "The Turk has held Anatolia for centuries now. They drove us from our homes, they took our land, they forced their religion upon us, but now!" I waved my fist. "NOW we get our revenge!" A cheer rose up, and I could feel the energy. Well, sort of, after 30 years of war, people were sort of tired of fighting, but the constant victories and new land had allowed enthusiasm to remain high.
"For the Empire!"
After an initial failed assault on Taurus, I decided to wait them out, and took the outer cities, then once taking Alexandretta, we marched on Larende, and met Taj Al Din's army before the high pass. The battle was a bloody and gruesome affair, waged on and off through the mountains for over two months. Finally victorious, we drove the Karamans northwards, and the seige began.
Meanwhile the Moldavian force, while wittled down somewhat, had been basically victorious, and I agreed to a peace in exchange for their treasury. Their army is in no shape to conquer Wallachia at this point anyways.
Ioannes dies, and Konstantinos, Hammer of Turks, becomes the Emperor. Ironic, since after that, the Karamans break our seige on their return to Taurus. Blast.
After my head was firmly attached again, I decided to pull back and get our invasion back together again.
We march once again on Larende, and the battle is a victorious one, but Guistiani dies in the attack to a Turkish arrow. He is buried as a true war hero, and when I get back to Constantinople I shall have a statue of him, pointing west.
The seige is reinitiated, and now victory is but a matter of time. In October, Konstantinos declares war on the defenceless Ottoman Empire, and our conquest of Anatolia is well under way.
Konstantinos rapidly institutes reforms, and taxes heavily. Rebels in Kosovo rise up and begin seiging Nis.
1450: Karaman surrenders their outer cities, and Taj sends me a quite terse peace treaty which reads more like a rant about infidels to me...
The Hammer then declares war on Dulkadir, and I lead a force on towards Sivas. Later that year, Mehmet rises to the throne, after his father died from the shock of learning that Angora had fallen.
1451:
Dulkadir falls, and The Hammer declares war on Candar. But then he notices Candar is at war with Trebizond. Secretly, he feigns defeat, and gives the Candarogularri a goodly sum of money.
After my head was firmly attached again, I decided to pull back and get our invasion back together again.
We march once again on Larende, and the battle is a victorious one, but Guistiani dies in the attack to a Turkish arrow. He is buried as a true war hero, and when I get back to Constantinople I shall have a statue of him, pointing west.
The seige is reinitiated, and now victory is but a matter of time. In October, Konstantinos declares war on the defenceless Ottoman Empire, and our conquest of Anatolia is well under way.
Konstantinos rapidly institutes reforms, and taxes heavily. Rebels in Kosovo rise up and begin seiging Nis.
1450: Karaman surrenders their outer cities, and Taj sends me a quite terse peace treaty which reads more like a rant about infidels to me...
The Hammer then declares war on Dulkadir, and I lead a force on towards Sivas. Later that year, Mehmet rises to the throne, after his father died from the shock of learning that Angora had fallen.
1451:
Dulkadir falls, and The Hammer declares war on Candar. But then he notices Candar is at war with Trebizond. Secretly, he feigns defeat, and gives the Candarogularri a goodly sum of money.