BKB how should I call this unit ?
NEWS
Here are my first historical introductions - these for the polish faction. I know that my english isn't as good as it should be so plese free to correct me - send me PM if You see any mistake.
Here they are.
EARLY
'The Golden Age'
The XVth century was very good time for Poland. After a long struggle the Teutonic Order was finally crushed and the polish part of pomerania
was reclaimed. The trade flows undisturbed once more to the Baltic Sea and beyond, the Jagiellonian university in Krakow is one of the most famous and respected in the whole Europe and slow process of colonization of the future Ukraine has just begun.
Thanks to the union from 1385 the Polish-Lithuanian state became the largest catholic country in the world and still remains to be so, but it shouldn't be forgotten that only smaller part of the population is really polish and the number of the orthodox christians is only a little smaller than of the catholics.
The Polish-Lithuanian state is a multinational country almost as the United States of America will be in the far future. Poles, Lithuanians, Germans, Ruthenians, Belorussians, Ukrainians, Russians, Jews and Tatars, and many more less numerous or less known peoples live in this country. Certainly religious tolerance is required if the state is going to survive. The state will benefit from numerous ideas created
by this diverse society, but Poland isn't obviously the best candidate for future european super-power.
Only thanks to the ruling Jagiellonian dynasty and many mutual interests of catholic and orthodox nobles the union still survived and although one danger was eliminated many more queue up to reveal themselves.
In the east Muscovites are closer and closer to create Russia once more. Certainly after they conquer the decaying remnants of once-great Golden Horde they will try to get as much as they can in the west.
In the north the Kalmar Union is close to be broken and whatever appears to replace it almost certainly Poland is going to be one of its targets.
In the south the Ottoman Empire becomes stronger and stronger, it seems that Hungary will be its next prey, but it's easy to guess who could be the second. Even small states of Germany and the Crimean Khanate can be more than just irritating.
Fortunatelly expansion is still easier than it seems. Livonian state is an obvious choice - rich and relatively weak - also eastern, even russian provinces are rather easier to take than anything to the south or west of Poland. The danger is that the furure war against the Ottomans seems inevitable, so probably preparing strong in the southern border is a matter of close future.
HIGH
'The Great Experiment'
The last century was the golden age for this multinational country. Not many and mostly victorius wars were fought, peace with the Ottoman sultans lasted for almost the whole XVIth century. The trade flows as never before and polish grain feeds many of western countries. Polish nobles are one of the best educated in the whole continent.
The death of Zygmunt August ends the long reign of the Jagiellonian dynasty and although sometimes it seems completely opposite the Polish-Lithuanian union is to last for more than two centuries from this time. The last years certainly were extremly important for the future of this country. The kingdom was reformed, many changes implemented and finally the new political union between the two nations was signed in Lublin in 1569. The monarchy was almost replaced with Rzeczpospolita ( republic), but still many more changes have to be implemented.
Religious tolerance, strong Sejm ( Parliament) and finally the requirement to swear to obey all this to the the nation is irritating to many would-be kings of the Republic, nevertheless the power of the king is still strong enough for any skilled monarch.
The first election is close and much depends on the future ruler's personality.
It is difficult time for Europe.
Western Europe enters one religious war after another, the southern countries fight back ottoman fleets and finally Russia looms as the big, dark cloud in the east. Certainly Ivan the Terrible isn't the best neighbour for Poland.
Fortunatelly it is the time of the best and the most skilled commanders in polish history and the reformed polish army is one of the best in the whole Europe. Any skilled ruler should bear this in mind.
It seems that war against Russia is a matter of days rather than years and a decisive blow is necessary to cut Russia from the Baltic Sea. Expansion in any other direction is more difficult, but it's impossible to avoid ottoman expansion so probably it's better to attack turkish provinces than to be attacked.
LATE
Playing the Polish at this period is harder than in chosen difficulty level.
'Calamitatis Regnum'
Is this tha end of independent Poland ?
After the magnificient king Stephen Bathory something bad had happened. The intolerant 'jesuit king' was elected. Sigismund's reign was disastrous for this country. Unnecessary wars, bad allinces and many political blunders mark the long reign of this king. Despite the fact that polish armies humilated the biggest european powers and most skilled commanders, even captured Kremlin for a year or more, too many opportunities were wasted.
Poland is still the most tolerant country in Europe, but certainly not thanks to Sigismund who seemed to be extremly well skilled in offending everybody, even the best statesmen as the chancellor Zamoyski.
His son Wladislaw was better ruler, but it wasn't very difficult after his father's reign.
Unfortunatelly he wasn't good enough to repair all the damage which was done by his father, especially when it comes to idiotic persecution of orthodox christians.
The next Cossack rebellion has just started and what was started as a local insurrection easily became civil war or even national rising of the whole Ukraine.
Beware, because Russia, Sweden, the Ottomans or even the Crimean Khanate and Branderburgia may join the invasion if they see Poland as an easy prey.
Polish army is still very good and has very good commanders, but it is small and using low quality, but cheap troops as Szlachta seems to be inevitable.
This time it is the battle for survival, rather than conquest.
What do You think about these ?
Regards Hetman
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