Gelre will be pitifully easy to hang on to, so we will. The National Focus is moved and the Thuringian Road Network follows.
Meanwhile (ie, Aug 1, 1521),
The Reformation is expanding alright, but there have been no religious squabbles between nations yet.
Well, between Western Christian nations. Spain attacks Turkey, cementing its alliance with Portugal and splitting the Hapsburg alliance and England forces the French to release the Swiss and blahblahblah. That's not important,
this is:
Hesse muscling in on our mission of expanding freedom! ...wait, no, they're friendly, so they're helping our mission? Oh well, they have (almost) the right flag for it, so we let it slide.
Oh what the hell! I look away for a few years and this is what you get yourself into, Austria? The Empire is crumbling, so Thuringia decisively decides to decide about forming Germany at some point in the undecided future.
And also laughs at non-free nations having troubles.
At some point we joined the Venician Trade League, but our merchants can't get a foot in the door. Austria thinks we're amusing little novelties, so they Guarantee us in early 1522.
Twenty days later, the new Austrian king is elected Emperor. We have a bad feeling that we were a publicity stunt.
Also, remember Tirol?
We find out that cousin Freddy got put in charge when it became independent! We immediately begin maneuvering to inherit his land with a Royal Marriage.
Wait...ew.
Erfurt is a college town, so this was pretty expected.
After that, things go nice and quiet, as we bide our time for an opportune moment to attack Anhalt, as Brandenburg guarantees it.
There is a revolt by Gelre..dian? nationalists in May 1523, but that's nothing we can't hand-
Oh.
As the army tries to refill, Hesse annexes Trier and takes a province from Koln.
(The red border is what provinces must be owned and cored to form Germany)
We sent them a princess as a congratulations present, and discover something unsettling.
Johan's always watching.
Shaking off the chills, we discover that Hungary has converted to Protestantism, which prompts our commanders to yell louder.
By January 1524, we're replenished enough to stomp on the rebels, but our mood sours again when we hear that Bohemia has beaten Poland and taken a province. Then two months later Bohemia Guarantees us, so hoorah, I guess.
Hm...get knocked all the way down to Full Decentralization, or take a piddly stab hit that will recover in two months...
Hungary decides to crush all heretics in its borders. Thuringia, though still Catholic, has freedom of Christianity in its bill of rights. As long as the Prots and Refs obey the laws, they're free to worship Jesus as they like.
Unlike the Gelreianites, who are punished for their rebellion by
having their core deleted being instructed in the freedoms of Thuringia.
Then the Pope finally gets off his duff and calls a council.
We still take no side.
This dude is fifty-six years old. He gets a public scolding and a private kegger.
But the good times are interrupted..?
This game likes scaring me, then immediately giving a friendly hug.
England excommunicates Austria, but the Austrians are so damn big nobody tries their luck.
By early 1526, the time for minor reform is here again and we focus more on Land. Why the completely landlocked Thuringia had any Naval focus at all remains a mystery. But, a Grand Captain arrives, finds our current advisors are more useful, then bums around the castle for a year until finally moving out and getting his own place.
Hesse GIs us right afterwards, meaning that we're protected in all four directions.
Then some wonderful news!
Magdeburg is reestablished, cutting off Brandenburg from Anhalt...
Brandenburg can't reach us, Hesse has a Regency Council, and the Palatinate won't help. Ain't I a stinker?
Our little allies Mainz and Oldenburg join in, while Austria merely sends a messenger to say we're in their Sphere of Influence. Jerks.
Wasting no time with a seige, we storm the castle and demand annexation!
On October 23, 1526, Anhalt accepts and is absorbed. The update ends as it began:
Forcing a magistrate to build a road in a newly conquered province.
