Part III. No Pain - No Gain.
On November of 1512, news reach the Czar that Venetian alliance goes to war against Turkey. For us it means that Brandenburg will stay out of Russian affairs for awhile. As Czar is urged to avenge Mother Russia for all its sufferings, he wisely decides to use the years of peace to bring the country up in terms of economy and military power. All support for technical development is cut and all the money go to introducing a better taxation system in all Orthodox provinces and upgrading fortresses in all provinces with 0% revolt risk. Army is raised somewhat, but it takes hits from another direction. Death, this invincible enemy, takes its toll on the heroes of Russia. In 1514 Chelyadin dies, soon followed by Shenja. The are given full military honors, and their families well taken care of by the Czar.
In January of 1515 Patriarch receives the news of Reformation from his spies in Europe. As Catholic Church was not able to break the back of the Russian Bear, many began to doubt its efficiency and divine right to rule Europe. With no Poland to protect the Catholic course in the East, many Princes of Germany led people in open revolt against Pope in Rome, taking their time to loot the churches in their estates, thus enriching themselves beyond the point of imaginable.
In May, England makes peace with France. Instead of surrendering Calais, they cede Kent, as if to have a Casus Beli on its neighbor in years to come.
Colonization of Russian northern lands continues, priority given to Ingermanland. On July of 1518, Holstein revolts for the first time. We break alliance with Denmark to seize playing secondary role in it. Immideately, we invite Ryazan', Pskov and Denmark. Denmark King, stubborn as an ass, refuses our invitation and allies itself with Sweden. The most unusual of event from our perspective, it will soon lead with another Union between Scandinavian countries.
In 1519 Narva grows to the size of the city and we gain our first functionable port in the Baltic.
In September we learn with astonishment that Turkish vassal Wallachia gained Cyclades from Venice. In following May, Turks make peace with
Venice getting Illyria. In June Czar's last talented general, Vasiliy Repnin, dies without seeing another war.
The following year two events capture our attention. Helevetia declares independece from Spain and becomes its most dedicated enemy.
Astrakhan' and Sibir declare war on Uzbeks, which we are very glad to hear. The army is brought up to 129,000 infantry, 17,000 cavalry and 122 guns and it keeps growing.
In July of 1522, Turkey and its allies attack Moldova, whose only support comes from Hungary. The war doesn't last long. Moldova is annexed and Hungary is forced to pay war indemnities.
Turks are on the move again and this time their Jihad is directed against Holy Russia. In March of 1525, Ottoman Porta declares war on Russia. They are supported by Walachia, Algiers and most important, our former ally, the Khan of Crimea. Other members of Turkish alliance: Georgia, Hedjaz and Aden do not dare to go in war against
Russian Bear.
Vasiliy is furios of these developments, as they completely ruin his plans of the conquest of Astrakhan' Khanate. He especially is angry at the Khan of Crimea, whose relationship with Russia was always friendly. Czar personally leads the army (31/5.5/60) against the Khan.
No sooner that he enters the Khanate steppes the news from the West reach his tent. Teutons(leader), Prussia, England,
Hungary(leader), Bavaria, Bohemia, Brandenburg(leader), Denmark, Hansa, Pommerania, Portugal, Venice and Ragusa all declare war on
Russia. Madness of 1509 repeats itself again. However, in July of the same year the Brandenburg alliance is dragged by Venice to war against
Turkey.
As if it breaks a balance set by divine forces, Astrakhan' and Sibir decide its time to intervene and declare war on their northern neighbor. They couldn't pick a better time, as winter descends
on Eastern Europe. Some say it is impossible to fight during the winter. Fools. Russians fought in winter for centuries, using frozen rivers as roads. On the other hand, it hampered the movements of their enemies and deprived them of their supplies, like it did with Astrakhan' forces when they decidedto besiege Samara.
In April of 1526, Vasiliy already was in possession of Donetsk, Kremenjug and Crimea. Khan was forced to make peace, ceding the former two provinces to the Czar.
In June we receive the news of the annexation of Ragusa by Turkey. Czar did not even bother to think about it twice, as he was already on his way to the east. The war with Astrakhan' took a different direction as Russian forces repelled Khan's attacks on Samara and went on besieging Astrakhan' fortresses in turn.
In year of 1527, English alliance fights French, who are supported by Scotland, Helvetia, Navarra and Lorraine. In September we bribe Turkish vazier with insignificant amount of 44,000 roubles and hepersuades the Sultan to make peace. In February of 1528, Holstein becomes independent for the second time. Later it is re-annexed by Denmark, only to revolt for another time.
In May 55,000 more roubles are sent to Brandenburg to make peace on that front and secure our flanks against an attack on Teutonic Order. The Knights again proved to be a great menace, and there is no way Russia will have to cede yet another province to the Order.
In August Czar captures four core provinces of Astrakhan' khanate, but annexation is out of the question as they still possess a newly conquered province in Uzbek steppes. After some fighting with Sibir , Czar wisely decides to make peace, demanding Orenburg, Uralsk and Volgograd.
Meanwhile Turkey gets Istria from Venice and, what's more important, the forces of Hungarian alliance completely overun Poland and Ukraine.
Czar moves his army to the west, supplying it with recruits on the move. One by one Russian cities are liberated and enemy is pushed back. In some provinces, he encounters rebels, whose fate
is similar to the one of the Hungarians. They are all slaughtered to the last man. Who will come to us by the sword will die by the sword.
During this campaign Czar finds another talented general in his army. His name is Shah Ali Kasimovskiy (4/2/2), from the eastern parts of
Russia. He is immideately sent to take control of the Western army. As South Army, led by Czar, is fighting Hungarians and their allies, Western army is operating in Lithuania and northern Poland, liberating the cities taken by Prussians and Teutons. A month later Vasiliy Mikukhinskiy (3/2/2), yet another new talant, takes control of
the Northern army, which goal is to bring war to the Teutons. After defeating the knights in Novgorod and Tula, he marches on Livonia and
after a brief assault, captures the city.
Turkey has grown in size for since the last defeat from the Russians, the Khan decided to throw his lot with Constantinople and Crimea
became a part of Turkish empire.
In April of 1533 Turkey again declares war, but Czar is adamant in his decision to secure his western flank first. One after another, he
captures back provinces on the Western bank of Dnieper, and then moves to the north-east, to liberate the province of Mozyr. Crossing the river, he gets a fever and has to live the army to a less competent general. In December he dies, never fulfilling all of his dreams, not even living to see a victory. He is succeded by his wife, Elena Glinski, who will remain a regent for her son Ivan. She is faced with a difficult task of bringing a country out of another prolonged war. In March she makes a white peace with Hungary, but is astonished by another declarion of war from Astrakhan' and Sibir. In February of 1536, Ryazan' makes peace with Turkey and receives Kouban', suprising the whole continent.
Czarina decides its time to make peace with our southern neighbor. Turkey is bought off once again.
Meanwhile, all provinces of Teutonic Order come to the control of Russian armies, but it still refuses to surrender, relying upon its Prussian allies to bail them out of this disaster. A controversial decision is made by Elena to cede Galicia to Prussia, thus getting them out of the war. As soon as it is done, Teutons surrender the
remainants of their army (some 17,000) and their provinces are incorporated into Russian realm, four of them full of Protestant heretics, whom Russian Church detests even more than Catholics.
Russia gets its first fleet. 4 warships and two transports sail to the port of Tallin. In the same month of April 1537, peace is made with England and her miserable forces are called off the continent. Following May, Czarina decides that Russia has seen enough of fighting and makes peace with Sibir, basically letting go an easy target.
In September of 1539 England goes in yet another war with France.
These news are of little importance, unlike the ones of Turks annexing Georgia in following May.
Czar decides to convert Protestants in Baltic provinces to Orthodox faith by sword if not by word. Teutons rebel and declare independence. The rebellion is crushed within a month, but conversion takes a slower pace.
In 1542 Turks attack Austria, but Elena is too busy improving relationships with the members of our alliance. In July of 1542 she convinces Prince of Ryazan to accept suzerenity of Russia and Ryazan' principality becomes our vassal.
In January of 1543 Michail Glinskiy, veteran of Twelve Years War and Patriotic War of 1508-1512, takes the regency in his hands. Nothing significant happens during his reign, Hungary cedes Banat to Turkey and Persian gets Syria from Ottoman Porta. Venice goes to yet another war against its easten neighbor. Things remain the same in Russia, investments made in infrastructure.
January of 1547 Michail is replaced by Ivan IV, who at last became of age to rule Russia. He is organized, industrial, technical, unstable, religious liberal (tell it to protestants in Baltic provinces) and unpredictable. Immideately he invests 1,000,000 roubles in infrastructure and trade and proceedes to wage a diplomatic offensive on Pskov, which soon submits to his authority and becomes a vassal of Russia. Later he empties the treasury and sends 500,000 roubles to Denmark, dramatically improving relationships between our two countries, and luring Denmark in Russian alliance.
No pain - no gain. Russia does not possess a lot of diplomats to play diplomatic games like its Western neighbors. It doesn't have an extensive network of alliances, which may help it in coming wars. Her conquests are not in a style of blitzkrieg anymore, for each new province thousands of lives have to be sacrificed. But no other country has the reserves of patience and determination of Russia. One step back, two steps forward, this dance of death moves Russian borders further west and east, until the long-awaited breakthrough will take place and victorious Cossack begin their march until the ends of the earth.
On November of 1512, news reach the Czar that Venetian alliance goes to war against Turkey. For us it means that Brandenburg will stay out of Russian affairs for awhile. As Czar is urged to avenge Mother Russia for all its sufferings, he wisely decides to use the years of peace to bring the country up in terms of economy and military power. All support for technical development is cut and all the money go to introducing a better taxation system in all Orthodox provinces and upgrading fortresses in all provinces with 0% revolt risk. Army is raised somewhat, but it takes hits from another direction. Death, this invincible enemy, takes its toll on the heroes of Russia. In 1514 Chelyadin dies, soon followed by Shenja. The are given full military honors, and their families well taken care of by the Czar.
In January of 1515 Patriarch receives the news of Reformation from his spies in Europe. As Catholic Church was not able to break the back of the Russian Bear, many began to doubt its efficiency and divine right to rule Europe. With no Poland to protect the Catholic course in the East, many Princes of Germany led people in open revolt against Pope in Rome, taking their time to loot the churches in their estates, thus enriching themselves beyond the point of imaginable.
In May, England makes peace with France. Instead of surrendering Calais, they cede Kent, as if to have a Casus Beli on its neighbor in years to come.
Colonization of Russian northern lands continues, priority given to Ingermanland. On July of 1518, Holstein revolts for the first time. We break alliance with Denmark to seize playing secondary role in it. Immideately, we invite Ryazan', Pskov and Denmark. Denmark King, stubborn as an ass, refuses our invitation and allies itself with Sweden. The most unusual of event from our perspective, it will soon lead with another Union between Scandinavian countries.
In 1519 Narva grows to the size of the city and we gain our first functionable port in the Baltic.
In September we learn with astonishment that Turkish vassal Wallachia gained Cyclades from Venice. In following May, Turks make peace with
Venice getting Illyria. In June Czar's last talented general, Vasiliy Repnin, dies without seeing another war.
The following year two events capture our attention. Helevetia declares independece from Spain and becomes its most dedicated enemy.
Astrakhan' and Sibir declare war on Uzbeks, which we are very glad to hear. The army is brought up to 129,000 infantry, 17,000 cavalry and 122 guns and it keeps growing.
In July of 1522, Turkey and its allies attack Moldova, whose only support comes from Hungary. The war doesn't last long. Moldova is annexed and Hungary is forced to pay war indemnities.
Turks are on the move again and this time their Jihad is directed against Holy Russia. In March of 1525, Ottoman Porta declares war on Russia. They are supported by Walachia, Algiers and most important, our former ally, the Khan of Crimea. Other members of Turkish alliance: Georgia, Hedjaz and Aden do not dare to go in war against
Russian Bear.
Vasiliy is furios of these developments, as they completely ruin his plans of the conquest of Astrakhan' Khanate. He especially is angry at the Khan of Crimea, whose relationship with Russia was always friendly. Czar personally leads the army (31/5.5/60) against the Khan.
No sooner that he enters the Khanate steppes the news from the West reach his tent. Teutons(leader), Prussia, England,
Hungary(leader), Bavaria, Bohemia, Brandenburg(leader), Denmark, Hansa, Pommerania, Portugal, Venice and Ragusa all declare war on
Russia. Madness of 1509 repeats itself again. However, in July of the same year the Brandenburg alliance is dragged by Venice to war against
Turkey.
As if it breaks a balance set by divine forces, Astrakhan' and Sibir decide its time to intervene and declare war on their northern neighbor. They couldn't pick a better time, as winter descends
on Eastern Europe. Some say it is impossible to fight during the winter. Fools. Russians fought in winter for centuries, using frozen rivers as roads. On the other hand, it hampered the movements of their enemies and deprived them of their supplies, like it did with Astrakhan' forces when they decidedto besiege Samara.
In April of 1526, Vasiliy already was in possession of Donetsk, Kremenjug and Crimea. Khan was forced to make peace, ceding the former two provinces to the Czar.
In June we receive the news of the annexation of Ragusa by Turkey. Czar did not even bother to think about it twice, as he was already on his way to the east. The war with Astrakhan' took a different direction as Russian forces repelled Khan's attacks on Samara and went on besieging Astrakhan' fortresses in turn.
In year of 1527, English alliance fights French, who are supported by Scotland, Helvetia, Navarra and Lorraine. In September we bribe Turkish vazier with insignificant amount of 44,000 roubles and hepersuades the Sultan to make peace. In February of 1528, Holstein becomes independent for the second time. Later it is re-annexed by Denmark, only to revolt for another time.
In May 55,000 more roubles are sent to Brandenburg to make peace on that front and secure our flanks against an attack on Teutonic Order. The Knights again proved to be a great menace, and there is no way Russia will have to cede yet another province to the Order.
In August Czar captures four core provinces of Astrakhan' khanate, but annexation is out of the question as they still possess a newly conquered province in Uzbek steppes. After some fighting with Sibir , Czar wisely decides to make peace, demanding Orenburg, Uralsk and Volgograd.
Meanwhile Turkey gets Istria from Venice and, what's more important, the forces of Hungarian alliance completely overun Poland and Ukraine.
Czar moves his army to the west, supplying it with recruits on the move. One by one Russian cities are liberated and enemy is pushed back. In some provinces, he encounters rebels, whose fate
is similar to the one of the Hungarians. They are all slaughtered to the last man. Who will come to us by the sword will die by the sword.
During this campaign Czar finds another talented general in his army. His name is Shah Ali Kasimovskiy (4/2/2), from the eastern parts of
Russia. He is immideately sent to take control of the Western army. As South Army, led by Czar, is fighting Hungarians and their allies, Western army is operating in Lithuania and northern Poland, liberating the cities taken by Prussians and Teutons. A month later Vasiliy Mikukhinskiy (3/2/2), yet another new talant, takes control of
the Northern army, which goal is to bring war to the Teutons. After defeating the knights in Novgorod and Tula, he marches on Livonia and
after a brief assault, captures the city.
Turkey has grown in size for since the last defeat from the Russians, the Khan decided to throw his lot with Constantinople and Crimea
became a part of Turkish empire.
In April of 1533 Turkey again declares war, but Czar is adamant in his decision to secure his western flank first. One after another, he
captures back provinces on the Western bank of Dnieper, and then moves to the north-east, to liberate the province of Mozyr. Crossing the river, he gets a fever and has to live the army to a less competent general. In December he dies, never fulfilling all of his dreams, not even living to see a victory. He is succeded by his wife, Elena Glinski, who will remain a regent for her son Ivan. She is faced with a difficult task of bringing a country out of another prolonged war. In March she makes a white peace with Hungary, but is astonished by another declarion of war from Astrakhan' and Sibir. In February of 1536, Ryazan' makes peace with Turkey and receives Kouban', suprising the whole continent.
Czarina decides its time to make peace with our southern neighbor. Turkey is bought off once again.
Meanwhile, all provinces of Teutonic Order come to the control of Russian armies, but it still refuses to surrender, relying upon its Prussian allies to bail them out of this disaster. A controversial decision is made by Elena to cede Galicia to Prussia, thus getting them out of the war. As soon as it is done, Teutons surrender the
remainants of their army (some 17,000) and their provinces are incorporated into Russian realm, four of them full of Protestant heretics, whom Russian Church detests even more than Catholics.
Russia gets its first fleet. 4 warships and two transports sail to the port of Tallin. In the same month of April 1537, peace is made with England and her miserable forces are called off the continent. Following May, Czarina decides that Russia has seen enough of fighting and makes peace with Sibir, basically letting go an easy target.
In September of 1539 England goes in yet another war with France.
These news are of little importance, unlike the ones of Turks annexing Georgia in following May.
Czar decides to convert Protestants in Baltic provinces to Orthodox faith by sword if not by word. Teutons rebel and declare independence. The rebellion is crushed within a month, but conversion takes a slower pace.
In 1542 Turks attack Austria, but Elena is too busy improving relationships with the members of our alliance. In July of 1542 she convinces Prince of Ryazan to accept suzerenity of Russia and Ryazan' principality becomes our vassal.
In January of 1543 Michail Glinskiy, veteran of Twelve Years War and Patriotic War of 1508-1512, takes the regency in his hands. Nothing significant happens during his reign, Hungary cedes Banat to Turkey and Persian gets Syria from Ottoman Porta. Venice goes to yet another war against its easten neighbor. Things remain the same in Russia, investments made in infrastructure.
January of 1547 Michail is replaced by Ivan IV, who at last became of age to rule Russia. He is organized, industrial, technical, unstable, religious liberal (tell it to protestants in Baltic provinces) and unpredictable. Immideately he invests 1,000,000 roubles in infrastructure and trade and proceedes to wage a diplomatic offensive on Pskov, which soon submits to his authority and becomes a vassal of Russia. Later he empties the treasury and sends 500,000 roubles to Denmark, dramatically improving relationships between our two countries, and luring Denmark in Russian alliance.
No pain - no gain. Russia does not possess a lot of diplomats to play diplomatic games like its Western neighbors. It doesn't have an extensive network of alliances, which may help it in coming wars. Her conquests are not in a style of blitzkrieg anymore, for each new province thousands of lives have to be sacrificed. But no other country has the reserves of patience and determination of Russia. One step back, two steps forward, this dance of death moves Russian borders further west and east, until the long-awaited breakthrough will take place and victorious Cossack begin their march until the ends of the earth.
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I was worried about my Astrakhan' exploits, but it appeared all that happened was for the better not for worst. Rhine? It will mean moving to Protestant Germany, and I am not sure I am prepared for it. I might be forced to do it though, if Brandenburg keeps on attacking me... At any rate, they will bring upon themselves, don't blame me for the slaughter before conversions 
