The season of 1095 was the start of a period of great difficulty for the Reich. Here the problems and travails of this period will be chronicled.
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The season of 1095 was the start of a period of great difficulty for the Reich. Here the problems and travails of this period will be chronicled.
The campaign season of 1095 started with devastating news for the Reich. In response to the attack on Budapest, the Kingdom of France has decided that the Reich is sufficiently challenged from the east to be ill-disposed to resisting an attack on the west. France declared war on the Empire and, using a small army equipped with ballistas near the border, quickly assaulted and seized Staufen! With the title to the Duchy of Swabia still vacant, a French vassal with distant ties was quickly installed on the ducal throne. As to what action France may take, no one knows. But the citizens of the western lands are ill at ease.
In the east, the war continues. Prince Leopold launched a desperate attack on the King of Hungary in Budapest and, despite great difficulty, he was able to make use of his advantage in cavalry by surrounding the enemy, routing them, and then slaughtering them wholesale as they attempted to flee back to the city square. Although the casualties were not insignificant, he was able to amass 3000 florins in the sacking of Budapest before quickly fleeing to escape the inevitable counterattack. He was able to return to Austria by the end of the season, and will soon be back in Vienna.
To his north, Theodericus der Bartige has taken the bold step of seizing Magdeburg, returning it to his personal desmense. Although this is technically an act of war, the combination of the Duke's inaction, der Bartige's sworn oath that he is still a vassal of the Duke, the Kaiser's public statement that Magdeburg was to be returned to him anyway and desperate situation in the Reich have all contributed to giving the new Count the support of the people and the nobles.
Elsewhere, dormant armies have once again resumed action. The army of Kaiser Heinrich has resumed it's return to Frankfurt, but without it's massive mercenary contingent. Apparently, with the Kaiser's treasury almost empty, the mercenaries have decided it is not in their interests to remain with them. Similarly, Duke Vaclav Premyslid is returning to Bohemia to relieve Prague. Interestingly, his army is not marching on a direct route south through Silesia, but has rather struck out west on a more circuitious path. Although there is a danger the enemy at Prague will be reinforced, right now the besiegers are too weak to assault the walls and the Duke has plenty of time. Fortunately he was able to keep the employment of his mercenaries by promising them all the spoils of the enemy once they relief Prague.
In the future this will turn out to be a pivotal year for the Reich. But for now, the Reich continues to fight on.
The next season saw the further encroachments against the Reich, but a noble defense as well.
The French followed up their capture of Staufen by seizing the castle of Metz, in a simple of assault. They have decisively enlarged their control in the east, and rumors say they are just beginning.
In much more important new, Kaiser Heinrich has returned to Frankfurt. But it is now the powerful return to form that the Reich has been hoping for: The Kaiser is bedridden. With the Kaiser himself paralyzed and unable to act, it is clear drastic steps must be taken.
In the east, the war continues with earnest. The King of Poland as arrived at Thorn with his cavalry, ahead of the main army, and has besieged the castle. With Duke Premyslid continuing his march to relief Prague, it is clearly only a matter of time before Prussia falls to the Poles.
But the biggest piece of news is between Austria and Hungary. The Hun dispatched an army under Captain Harkany to reclaim their capital. He depatched a wing of cavalry to secure the city, while he himself lead an attack on Prince Leopold! But despite the Hungarians securing a nearby hill from which to launch an attack, Prince Leopold refused to stay on the defensive. He sent out his mercenary crossbowmen to soften up the Hungarian line, and when they were nearly gone he ordered his men forward, with Helmut Becker on the right wing and Jens Herden on the left wing. Jens dispatched his foes with ease, and wheeled around to strik the Hungarian center from behind. Helmut's men had the worst of the fighting, and Helmut himself took a nasty wound on his left arm, forcing him to pull back. But he could not remain out of the fighting in good concsience for long, and when the Hungarian left flank wheeled around the Reich's line he charged them with no regard for his own safety, even braking off to engage Captain Harkany's men. Despite being outnumbered nearly thee to one, his retinue made short work of the Captain's men, and send the enemy general fleeing. At this the Hungarian line crumbled, and a general retreat was issued. The Hungarians retreated to Budapest while the Austrians continued on and reached Vienna.
The Reich is under full assault from east and west, yet there remain those who are able to defend. But can they do enough?
This third season has seen a vast addition to the powers which threaten the Reich, and the internal troubles which plague it.
Venice and Milan, the two strongest power of northern Italy, have invaded the Reich. Venice has put Innsbruck under siege, while Milan as chosen the more difficult target of the fiesty Swiss. To the west, the French continue thier campaign of expansion by bring not only Bruge, but Marseille under siege as well. Count Zirn will have great difficulty getting out alive, as cut off as he is.
To the east, there is more good news and more bad news. The King of Poland has taken Thorn, and is attempting to pursue Duke Vaclav. The Czech has proved too slippery however, and doubled back in time to break the siege of Prague. His army sits outside the city walls now, to tired to enter the city this season. And he may not have time to return just yet anyway, as another polish army as appeared from the forests of Silesia and placed Magdeburg under siege. The army is not very impressive itself, however Magdeburg has only Count der Bartige's personal retinue to defend it. Decisive action will have to be taken.
More momentous than all these events however, is the latest news surrounding Kaiser Heinrich. It has been no secret that he has withdrawn from politics, but while some thought this merely the reflection of the rigours of campaignign the truth has turned out to be far more severe. The exact circumstances are a well-kept secret by the Kaiser's men, but it is clear he is indisposed to run the Reich in his preseant state. As a result, it has been agreed that Prince Leopold must assume the duties of the Kaiser before he can assume the title.
As a result, Prince Leopold can now exercise all powers listed under the rules as being that of the Kaiser, for as long as the Kaiser remains ill. In addition to this, he will assume de facto over the Kaiser's land and armies, with enough income taken out of the Kaiser's purse to maintain his retinue. God save the Kaiser!
The campaign season of 1098 was much more mixed than those previously - a decided improvement. Theodericus der Bartige easily crushed the town militia besieging Magdeburg with his trained knights. Southwards the news was more bleak, as Venice quickly seized Innsbruck and eliminated it's small garrison. But help would come in the unexpected form of Pope Gregory who, alarmed to see Christian princes decending upon one of their own like a swarm of vultures (or so he says), has issued orders to Milan and Poland to cease their attacks for seven seasons. Both have complied for now, although Milan is besieging Bern and is "refraining from attacking the Empire" in such a way as to starve the beleagured Swiss. The King of Poland has decided to take this time to seize Pommern, and has placed Stettin under siege. Though the noose continues to tighten, there is still some hope: Prinz Leopold has dispatched Herr Becker and Jens Herden to meet up with the Frankfurt garrison, with orders to sweep south from Innsbruck to Bern. Will they be successful?
The season of 1099 continued the give-and-take nature of times, as the Reich continued to give more than it took. The King of France assaulted and occupied the city of Bruge, and has surely set his sights on Antwerp as well. Poland continues to besiege Stettin, the Prince of France has Marseille in a vice-grip, and Milan continues to starve out the Swiss.
This last act of defiance has caught the eye of the Pope, none too pleased at the Duke of Milan's attempted legal wrangling. He has excommunicated Duke Bernardo, and the entire Duchy of Milan. For his part the Duke shows no signs of backing down, and has continued the Siege of Bern.
More news came from the return of Duke Premyslid to Prague. As his beleagured mercenaries dispersed themselves due to lack of funds, the Duke quickly came down with a stunning affliction that left him bed-ridden. Fortunately the day-to-day running of the Duchy is much simpler than that of the Reich, and the Duke does not requrie a de facto replacement. Still, that is not to say the situation is not without peril...
Stormclouds remain over the Reich. Are the first rays of light beginning to break through?
The season of 1101 did not provide the respite that the Reich had hoped for. The garrison of Stettin sallied in a last-ditch attempt stop the King of Poland, but his cavalry archers and heavy retinue of cavalry outmanuvered them, drew them out and cut them down. France and Milan continued thier attacks on the Reich's cities, leaving Marseille and Bern in perilous straits.
Worse still, another Kingdom has attacked the Reich. King Knud of Denmark, alarmed by the strengthening of Poland's presence in the Baltic, has laid siege to Hamburg. The loss of this settlement would leave the Reich wide open to attack. Although Poland is resting after receiving the Pope's decree, neither France nor Denmark are under such obligations and they continue their assault. In addition, Hungary and Venice are massing their forces.
It seems the noose is continuing to tighten. Will anything save the Reich?
The season of 1102 saw a brief but spirited attempt at resistance to the Reich, as well as an unprecedented defeat.
Helmut Becker laid siege to Innsbruck on the orders of his lord the Prinz, but it was soon apparant that the Venetians had well prepared for this: It was not long before a second Venetian army marched north under the command of Barbus Selvo. Helmut decided a quick march was in order to intercept this new threat before he was enveloped, but no sooner had he departed then Alessandro Selvo departed from Innsbruck with his garrison. Despite an agressive attack, Barbus Selvo's army held firm long enough or Alessandro to arrive and lend his strength. Outnumbered and outmanuvered, Sir Helmut had little choice to order a withdrawl, which soon turned into a route. His army has now moved back into Bavaria.
Even more troubling than this is the news from Provence. Prince Louis has led his army into Marseille itself! The whereabouts of Count Zirn are currently unknown, but it appears the Prince of France was able to enter the city without a fight! If this is true, it would be the result of either extraordinary subterfuge or... negotiations.
Speaking of which, the locals in Saxony are wondering why King Knud is maintaining the siege of Hamburg rather than storming the castle and overuning the single regiment defending it. Perhaps the King is also awaiting to hear the result of some diplomacy?
The possibility that the Reich is negotiating with it's enemies is disconcerting to the people, but it does raise new hope that the Time of Troubles will soon be over. Still, it is hard to imagine that the terms of these talks will be very favorable...
The season of 1104 was dominated by French efforts to expand eastward. All other nations made no new effort to attack the Reich, as the Poles were forbidden by the Pope, the Venetians were seemingly content to secure Innsbruck, and the Hungarians apparently had other matters to deal with. The Milanese and the Danes continued their sieges of Bern and Hamburg, respecticely.
King Phillip of France has laid siege to Antwerp, in a bid to consolidate his control of Flanders. As Duke Hummel did not have to fight in any battles thus far, he has his full compliment of soldiers sans the regiment of Peasant Archers under siege in Hamburg. The King has brought ten regiments, including a team of siege engineers and their ballistas. Both sides command a considerably portion of their realm's resources.
But more shocking is the fate of Count Zirn, now revealed. In order to save himself and his desmense he has sworn fealty to the Kingdom of France! Provence has many ties to the French lands, so this is not too surprising, but it is another humiliation for the Reich to endure. How much more can it take?
The season of 1105 saw the storm beginning to end for the Reich. Prinz Leopold has sucessfully brokered peace with Denmark, receiving tribute in exchange for Hamburg. He has also ordered the recruitment of militia throughout the cities he controls, giving the Reich a much-needed boost in fighting men.
And they will be needed, as another castle as fallen. Duke Bernardo of Milan has finally seized Bern, and added Switzerland to his domain. With the loss of Bern and Hamburg, Magdeburg remainas the only castle in the Reich. Count der Bartige has a great responsibility on his shoulders.
But there has been more good news this season. Prinz Leopold has finally taken a bride; a fine german woman named Judda. Their marriage has given the people much to celebrate, and is an important step in preventing a succession crisis. This season has seen a great uptick in the Reich's fortunes, one it's people hope will continue.
The season of 1107 saw a minor miracle for the Reich: There were no new attacks against the Empire. The realms of Europe seem content with their holdings and are now turning to other affairs. With this, the Time of Troubles seems to be at last drawing to a close. The biggest news in the realm has been Prince Leopold's decision to offer Helmut Becker the hand of his sister, Princess Agnes. Becker eagerly accepted of course, and has now established himself as an important figure in the Reich.
Coincidentally, the next regularly-scheduled Diet session is approaching. It is hoped that this will provide the Reich with the opportunity it needs to renews it's spirit and embark on the road back to greatness.
The season of 1108 has seen a dramtic shift in the state of the Reich that has surely heralded the time of troubles.
Kaiser Heinrich has awaken from his malaise, and has called for an emergency session of the Diet! This the Kaiser once again present to lead the Reich, there is hope now that they can begin to recover from the Time of Troubles!
Helmut Becker has installed himself as Duke of Bavaria with the blessings of the Prinz. With this, the Reich is once again restored to four Duchies: Austria, Bavaria, Bohemia and Holland. Though the four houses will likely work together in the short-term to recover the Reich, one wonders how long this harmony will last...
Now is the time for the Reich to work together to reclaim thier former glory! Though their enemies are strong, and France's assault is still in play, there is now renewed hope that the Reich will recover.