As I told you, I had guaranteed Gotland. It also was in my influence. This was with the intention of fighting the Teutonic Order over it. It is, however, also a core of Sweden and Denmark. Even though I didn’t want to fight Sweden on land, it did break out of my league while I couldn’t react. I couldn’t bring them back at that time, and I hoped some day it would be possible. I prefer a call to arms for Guaranteeing Independence over a Broken Sphere CB, which is possibly one of the weakest around. This was on my mind. I mostly wished it would dissuade Sweden from attacking Gotland right now, giving me more time to prepare its defence. That part was mostly wishful thinking.
In November 1420, Sweden declared war on Gotland, and I became involved as alliance leader.
The starting position is such that it should be a long, costly stalemate: they have nearly 20 thousand men, I have 9000, but they have 9 galleys and 3 carracks, while I have 20 ships, including 6 carracks. They have a lot of possessions in the Scandinavian Peninsula, all contiguous, but I only own one province linked by land to them; the link to the other Danish provinces can be cut, and my cores are separated by Holstein.
But now, let’s look at who is in the war, as several other countries love Gotland apparently. The Bohemian Holy Roman Emperor would be of much help, but he cannot send troops in Scandinavia. Gotland is not much of a force, but might slow down Sweden, and bring out their navy. The same could happen with Mazovia. But the most important factor here would be Norway. It could wreck my whole plan by giving free war score to Sweden, but also slow them while I take care of the actual war. I only wish it will peace out after I already control my objectives in Swedish territory. They only have 4000 men, but could build up easily, as I have seen them with 9000 earlier. Not enough to win, but it would slow down my opponent.
I don’t want to take territory from Sweden. Apart from Stockholm, nothing there is valuable. Low base tax province with low manpower will just cost BB and slow my research down. This means I can’t really weaken them down this way. Vassalizing will be very difficult with such a large country, and would imply demanding provinces, so it won’t happen. However, at no point have I ever wanted any of that: I just want them to be in my league so I can complete my mission, netting me free money, merchants and prestige. Afterward, I’ll try to make them love me some more so they won’t leave it after 5 years, as I don’t want a CoT in Stockholm. The only other way I can weaken them is by releasing Finland, but it is not a necessary objective. If I think I can’t achieve this objective within several years of burning through my manpower reserves, I will ditch this objective. Sorry, Finns.
I have a plan. It is not perfect, and depends on Sweden doing what I want it to. First, no defence of Skane. I will only block the Danish Straits. I will first wait for Sweden to land troops in Gotland, and try to trap them there with my fleet; when the troops have landed, I push their transports back to Stockholm, and leave my navy in the Gulf of Bothnia, and block the access to Finland from the capital. Then, I will send my army burn the colonies Sweden has to the North, possibly dissuading them from an intervention in Finland. With the war score from Finland, plus possibly some control in Sweden proper, minus Skane, I should be able to ask for them to join my league when their exhaustion will have skyrocketed from war taxes, occupation, and blockades. As mentioned, I don’t seek total victory and unconditional surrender, only an advantageous, quick peace.
So... Let’s go!
When war broke out, almost from day one, I get 6 ducats/month from Bohemia as subsidy. I had a 3-4 army in Skane, 2000 infantry in Lübeck, and 7 cogs. I load the Skane army, and I quickly send all my fleet to the Southern Baltic to watch. I see Swedish ships east of Gotland, so I go there, but my ships do not arrive in time. As my troops are taking attrition, I send them back to Skane, as they could be loaded quickly from there. After a short pursuit, one carrack and one galley are reached, pinned by an allied fleet in the Gulf of Riga. They are sunk. Some other ships (2 galleys) will later be met in the Western Baltic, and destroyed. I send my fleet to Gotland, so it can observe, while not scaring away the enemy ships.
Meanwhile, Norway has been very active, and more effective than expected. It distracted many Swedish troops, as shown by their many defeats in battle. They also engaged what remained of the Swedish fleet in Alands Hav, but I did not intervene, as I’d like to capture those ships some day, and I’d be very happy if Norway lost a few ships: there was no loss on either side, however. This was not enough for me to avoid seeing an 18k strong doomstack in Skane in January, while I was loading my troops. It was an easy victory for them over my 7000 men, but I avoided a pursuit by sending a lonely galley in Öresund from Gotland. This will slow down my offensive, but it is a minor setback. I send my 2k troops in Lübeck to Finland instead. They are unloaded in Österbotten, where they burn the colony.
With the colony burned, I increase the attrition they will suffer by going through to Finland from Sweden. Also, I’m quite sure it is not good for movement speeds. I send these troops to Savolax to start a siege, as I don’t really care about Kola and other colonies. They are a much better target for Norway, giving me warscore, or them a province, either way. At about that time, Sweden’s war exhaustion is at 6, their capacity is near 50%, and a few provinces on the Norwegian border are occupied, including Jämtland. This is going well, and would get better: Norway eventually will take and steal Kola, and Gotland will occupy Finmark.
As soon as my main army has healed, I send it to Finland. I separate it to besiege all provinces. As there seems to be a lot going on in Sweden, I believe my plan is working: the Swedish king doesn’t care about my puny sieges of 1 tax provinces (though they do produce furs, a very valuable good this early). Not much to say there for the moment...
The Swedish navy is very daring. Nearly suicidal actually. Or maybe it just likes more the life at sea than life itself. Whatever motivated it, they sent a few ships to move around in the Baltic. My own ships leap out, and I sink them (1-0-3) in the Western Baltic. They still have 2 galleys left, however, and I wouldn’t mind taking hold of one, so I wait in Gotland.
After only 176 days, in October 1421, Savolax falls. I send the troops there to reinforce what I have in Viborg, only defended by one regiment. Then it’s Finland (January), and Viborg (March). Therefore, I send troops to Finland, and from there, I intend to attack Stocholm, though some are sent to Tavastland, in case an army comes. And soon after, I see it: the previous doomstack is in Österbotten, arriving in 2 months, which is enough for my troops to get out (but why do they care about Finland, when my troops are in Tavastland?). Went it arrives, the army attempts to get back to Stockholm, but it is soon blocked by my fleet, which had recently destroyed the last enemy ships. It goes back to Österbotten... Stupid AI.
In May, Nyland falls. I only need Tavastland to hold all of Finland. As Sweden’s exhaustion is very high (near 10), I could ask for Finland to be released and for Sweden to join my league, but they still have some ducats left which I want, so I wait to see if I could take Stockholm before their stack arrives. It’s only 50 ducats, but that’s one full carrack, after all. I wait. Norway signs peace in August:
It is a good peace deal for me, in a way. That means one less province behind Sweden to fight later. It also means Norway has a Swedish core, with all that entails in future wars. With the burning of Österbotten and the stealing of Kola by Norway, their respective sizes are much more equal, though Sweden has higher base tax and manpower in several provinces. However, that’s less score for me, and 26 ducats less for me to gain. Minor, temporary setback, but a permanent good, until war tears them apart. I have 100% and broken walls in Tavastland, and 75% in Stockholm. My fingers are crossed...
I don’t have any dates, and no screenshot either, but I succeed in Tavastland. However, the story is different in Stockholm: I was at 100% when I saw the enemy stack coming. It was smaller than it had been, but I didn’t have much time. I decide to wait for it to arrive before signing peace, so I might have a chance to hold the capital at the negotiations. It didn’t work, so:
September 1422, and I’m at peace! My “epic” war only lasted about 2 years... Disappointing. I only have a small revolt in Jylland which succeeded, but about which I don’t have much information other than notes about “Rebels crushed, but win before”. I succeed my mission, and get a new one, which fits what I must do anyway: I must get steel rights from Sweden for some gold, which means gifts I would have given anyway to keep it in my league. In the mean time, I also had an election, in which I chose the Bureaucrat (9-4-3).
...
What?
Oh hell... Another war against superpowers.
Hungary and Trier broke away, and Poland joined on my side. However, the situation is not the same it was against Sweden: Bohemia and Lithuania both have nearly 40 000 men each. There will not be any naval battle, too, as Lithuania only has one transport (which it probably built without a core, but anyway...), and Bohemia has no coast. Gotland is not a factor. The only provinces I can hold are Ösel and Gotland, as they are islands. I just have to hope Poland will offer some fighting...
I do have an advantage, especially on Lithuania. Look at this:
With such high exhaustion, I don’t have much to do to get a peace treaty. Just by holding Ösel, I would make Lithuania’s war capacity plummet from land blockades. I don’t know if I can win, but I can certainly get a white peace or two.
I let half my army in Jylland to take care of the rebel-held fort, a quarter in Ösel, the rest in Gotland. After Jylland is mine again, the army there is divided between my two efforts. It isn’t long before Gotland is mine, and Ösel is well on the way.
However, on the continent, the situation is dire. Mazovia had been vassalized, Northern Poland (remember it has been split a while ago by Bohemia) is fully occupied, and Lublin is besieged. There is some action in Lithuania, but it is destined to end soon. Also, Genoa has used the opportunity to sneak in for trade rights, those for cloth, the most interesting production in the area.
Something unexpected, however, happens: Lithuania asks for a white peace, on January 29, 1624. It isn’t unexpected, as their exhaustion must have been sky high, but still a happy result. Ösel was at 100%, but I had no chance of getting it in a deal, so I accepted. Remained Bohemia.
I had been too aggressive with gifts to Sweden and trade rights, so I was a bit short on diplomats. One thing is sure: in early 1424, I needed them badly. Poland was getting utterly crushed, and with many lost battles, I had no chance for a white peace, even without the score from Polish provinces. I held only Gotland, which is only a minor ally to Bohemia. I was in front of a dilemma: do I annex Gotland, or do I keep it as a negotiating tool?
Gotland is a very poor province from every point of view. It produces wool, and little of it. It is not very populated. It has a low base tax. Economically, it is a burden, because it slows my tech rate. However, it is an island, and it is in the middle of the Baltic. From there, I can strike quickly anywhere around my hanseatic lake. I can also send troops there to recover without risking a battle. From this point of view, it is a very useful province. As it is normally guaranteed by almost everybody, I decided to be opportunistic, and annexed it the day after my peace with Lithuania. However, that doesn’t solve the Polish situation...
As I mentioned, it was hopeless. I decided to end it without having my own capitol assailed. Sorry, Poland, abandoned once again (or, actually, before the other time):
I had never actually given away provinces, or at least I don’t remember it, but apparently, it is good for badboy, as I had now none, even after the annexion. Which is good, but it does sound broken: I get lower BB for abandoning my ally? We are in March, 1624. Everybody is happy: I have a naval base near Sweden, Bohemia has new provinces (which obviously produce cloth...), Poland still has grain-producing provinces for my eventual mission. Great! (Don’t tell that one to Poland, right?)
Fun fact. Remember the rebels I had in Jylland? After their defeat, they had maybe 2000 soldiers left. They made it to Slesvig, and successively won against the 3k strong Holsteinian army! Actually, now, my friendly neighbour has no army, it was completely destroyed. At about that time, the rebels came back to Jylland, and were destroyed, promptly. Poor Holstein... They really need a stronger overlord.
During the next months, not much happened. I send gifts to Sweden, 28 ducats each, netting me a very effective 15 disposition every time. It is still Impossible to get trade rights, and at the end of my session, it will be Very Unlikely...
However, my warring is not over. Utrecht has escaped my league. If I declare war, Brabant, Holland and Holstein would receive a call to arms. Holland? I want Holland in my league. What a great opportunity. And Holstein? It would fit perfectly within MY Empire, and their puny duchy needs some reforms, and a stronger hand over them...
However, annexing and vassalizing would be unwise, since it means I would get over ten BB. I don’t want that. I decide that my priority would be Holland as a vassal and the rest in my league, and if I can’t reach this goal realistically, I will simply annex Holstein. Sounds good.
I start my preparation. I launch two new infantry regiments. I ask military access from Gelre: my operational plan is to go through Utrecht to Holland, and destroy the Dutch army there. Afterward, I would wait with all my troops in Holland, expecting the Brabantian army, and hope to rout it. Meanwhile, four thousand men would attack Holstein, siege it, and join my main attack after victory is achieved. I make my leader a general, but he is useless (1 to fire, 1 to manoeuvre). War starts in March.
First, the Holsteinian front. I was slow, so the Holsteinian army had the time to reach Lübeck while mine was still moving. However, my ally, Magdeburg (useful ally!), was using this route, and achieved victory. I defended Holstein, and destroyed the remains of the enemy. I used 3k men for Slesvig, one unit for Holstein, with the help of Magdeburg. The sieges will last about a year.
In the Netherlands, the first part of the plan was achieved victoriously. Utrecht was defeated, though the army escaped, and after some playing Pong for some time, there was no Dutch army anymore. I started the siege of Holland, but I was smug, and attempted to simultaneously destroy the remains of the army of Utrecht, which was slowly building up. I had to flee before victory however, as I saw Brabant in Zeeland, and even with all my force, I lost 3 thousand men in twelve days of battle. Bad ending. I successfully escaped to Gelre, because Brabant did not follow me in Utrecht. However, while I was attempting to send my troops back to Hamburg, I get this:
Hum... I can’t give much attention to this new war, but I liked Finland. They give me fur trade rights, and Novgorod would probably not be so kind. However, I quickly found out it was not much of a danger for my friends, as England AND Sweden are in the war too. Remember that England owns all but four of the British Isles, and has the largest big ship fleet in the world. By December 1425, within six months, they had conceded defeat to me. I was alliance leader.
I attempted a new offensive in Holland, this time with all my troops, with Holstein occupied. This new strategic attack was unsuccessful in the same way the first one was, but I took a heavy toll from the combined forces of Holland and Brabant, which lost 5000 men while only 3500 of mine were casualties. I went back to Hamburg, but for some reason, the archbishop of Utrecht thought sending his fleet at sea was a great idea. I captured one big ship, but the rest survived the encounter. This was August 1426.
In spring 1427, my army has fully recovered, and I am ready for a new attempt. Utrecht was, as usual, easy, but I had tremendous dice rolls in Holland:
Yes. I had a 9, an 7, and a 9 to begin with. That was against a +2 shock leader. I’m surprised they stayed for three shock rounds, but I won’t complain. I had even more luck on a strategic point of view: Brabant was now at war with Burgundy, as alliance leader, and with only Cleves as ally. That does not sound good. I eagerly accept a white peace. I am victorious, it only remains to take the remaining forts. At that moment, Holland had a capacity of 17% and WE of 9.13, Holstein was at 0% and 11.71, and Utrecht was at 51% and 5.97, but losing a battle with all their inflated army involved.
During the sieges, this happened, too:
Great! I’ll go for Reconquest some other day, because right now, I don’t have the casus belli active because of the ongoing war.
With Holstein, already occupied, I only asked for them to join my league, and give me their gold. Utrecht was the first to fall, and I got their large treasury, and a trade league agreement. The money was enough for me to use the Alder von Lübeck decision, which is quite costly, but useful on the long run (and better used early on). Zeeland fell after about a year, but Holland lasted 633 days, until May 1429. It was time for peace:
This ends the playing portion of this report. I ended on the day peace was signed, May 26, 1429. However, I forgot to sink their fleet, but as it is now my vassal, it is in part mine.
There was a lot of change in Europe. In Scandinavia, after the war, Norway colonized Österbotten and Lappland, two provinces that normally belong to Sweden. Finland has also taken Karelia from Novgorod, which is losing a war against Moscow. In the HRE, Thuringia has collapsed: Wurzburg is now independent, and its own territory is now Bavarian. Poland has annexed its vassal, Pomerania, which will increase its survival chances. The war with Burgundy turned catastrophic for Brabant, now annexed to Burgundy. Genoa has lost all its possessions, and Hungary is a two province minor, with Croatia being independent. England took one province from Scotland, and now holds considerable holdings in Southern France, having annexed Auvergne, an ancient French vassal, after it gained its independence. Aragon holds territory in Brittany, which is quite weird, and half of Sicily, with Naples in the other half.
The most disturbing prospect, however, is Bohemia. It is easily achieving victory against Austria, and even if it doesn’t have the Imperial prestige anymore, it owns a large amount of territory in Poland, and could annex Mazovia diplomatically. Also:
Hum... This happened shortly after my war against them. Doesn’t sound good. Hungary is but a shadow, but Milan and Bohemia together means the end of Austria, the only strong neighbour Bohemia has. Without allies (and by allies, I mean Milan or Lithuania), the Hapsburg do not have a chance, if we use the current war as a standard.
This is the Baltic at the end of my session:
This is it! Sorry for being slow, I played Friday, but I couldn’t write this until yesterday night and this morning/afternoon. It’s quite a lot of writing, really, but it’s fun. Also sorry to slower connections for all the screenshots, I did resize them a bit however.
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