1176:
The year begun quite eventful with the attack of Frankfurt. The Polish have taken all their courage and attacked our former capital.
Our reports revealed that the Polish force was badly trained.
The brave Milita led by Captain Sigismund did their best to repell the assailants. In the end they were victorious and Frankfurt was saved!
The Polish are not held by back by this defeat in their Eastern operations. They have moved sevarl smaller stacks in position within striking distance of Thorn castle. Gunther von Kastillien tried luring them to battle, but they withdrew several times, leading to a draw near Thorn. It seems that the countryside surrounding this castle will see many more battles in the future.
The Hungarians remain quiet, after the Fall of their capital. Their large force East of Vienna has not moved. Neither to attack the Austrian captial or to reclaim Budapest. After the Crusaders have passed their territory into now Venetian Thessalia, the troops around Sofia have travelled north. With the roads clear Otto von Kassel was able to negate the cavalry into Thessalia right behind the Crusaders, not having to take the longer way around through the wilderness.
The Venetians seem to have reemerged though and the appearance of the Crusaders on their soil has brought at least two sizable armies into the vicinity of Thessalonica. The Crusaders have already moved on though and are now on the border to Byzantian territory.
As requested our diplomats tried to negotiate Military Access but the Byzantines refused it again. I went ahead and gifted them 200 florins for the next 10 turns in accordance with Edict 6.5. Once the gift was accepted I even gave the Byzantines another 1500 florins for Military Access, even granting them access to our territory, to make the passage of the Crusaders easier, but they still refused!
In the South the Venetian army seems not interested in Zagreb, but instead is now heading for Venice. The Venetians seem intent on reclaiming their former capital. I will be hard pressed to intercept the intruders and this will leave Vienna and Budapest virtually undefended. It seems like once again the fate of Venice lies in the hands of the Bavarian Household Army.
The French have not been idle either and their Crusading Army from Tunis has now landed near Marseille. It is a large force of trained soldiers, so either way Gerhard Steffen will see some important battles in the future.
In the West the French are quietly moving their troops around Rheims, making no advance into our territory, not even our former regions surrounding Metz.
Their spy is still causing unrest in Dijon though and although we know of his presence, we were not able to root him out yet. As a result the Riots in Dijon continue.
On top of the unrest caused by the French the recent visit of Michel de Lannoy seems to have lessende the faith of our subjects drastically. Not even the completion of a church in Dijon was able to appease him. As one step Eusebius von der Pfalz has tried and executed a Heretic by the name of Oxyntia who was trying to draw on the popularity of Michel de Lannoy.
The later has meanwhile moved on north near the French border. Another attempt from Charles Otterbach to dennounce him has failed. Michel de Lannoy seems to be on a holy mission and won't be stopped that easily. Our only hope is that he continues into French territory to wreak havoc there.
At the turn of the seasons Guildsmen from a Explorers Guild have approached us and ask to set up on of their Houses in Venice. I leave the choice whether to accept or decline to Emperor Henry, as he is currently in control of Venice.
Conrad Salier has finally assembled enough men in Florence to attack the Milanese intruders. I hope to hear of his victory soon.
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