AAR - ThornIs' Polish Campaign

Ok this is actually my first AAR so be gentle (insert virgin joke here) Played on vanilla, with some minor changes. 2 turn years!

Medieval Poland

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King Wladyslaw's Poland

After the nobles revolted and disposed of King Bolesław II in 1979 - for the murder of the Bishop of Kraków - the throne was given to his younger brother Duke Wladyslaw. The new king was also given a mandate to restore peace in the largest Roman Catholic kingdom to the Eastern border of the Holy Roman Empire.
Although Wladyslaw had the blessings of both the Emperor and the pope, the real power of Poland lay in the hands of the nobles and landowners. In order to restore the prestige of his brothers reign he would have to balance the desire to centralize royal power and keeping the nobles content. In the back of his mind the new king realized any internal threat could force him to advocate power to one of his two waring sons.

King Wladyslaw's Two Sons

The heir apparent was the king's illegitmat son Zbigniew, originaly cast into the clergy, he was a deeply religious man, smart and confident in his ability to deal with the inner conflicts of the realm. Although emotional distant to his father and his family Zbigniew was a man of loyalty and patriotism. Favorite son to the nobles he would spend his early life on the far eastern stretchs of the country and througha series of political moves he displayed how calculating of an adversary he would be to his younger brother.
Zbiginiew's genious younger brother, Boleslaw was the military leader of the Polish northern army. A tall, ambitious man, Boleslaw's loyality to his father during this early period was always in question. He married Anna, the lady of a powerful landowner, and was by all accounts an absentee husband, spending his time on the military affairs of the country.

Defence of the East leads Zbigniew to sieze the Advantage

In 1081 requests from the nobles to build upon the defences of the castle of Halych - a fortress bordering the kingdom the wild territories of the east - were answered by Zbigniew, who is made lord of the area. At the same time the heir apparent secured his position by taking a Hungarian princess, by the name of Pioska Herman, as his bride. This made him, in the eyes of the Western Kingdoms, the true heir to Poland and also further pleased the landowners. His piety and willingness to preach the one true faith in the countryside also brought attention from the Vadican, and stories of his great religiousity and nobility, much perpetrated by Zbigniev's supporters, increased his popularity with the local bishops of Poland, as well as the archbishops of Rome. On the other hand his rival brother had tendency to consort with witchdocters, prophets and other suspicous people of the northern countryside.
With the country's eastern border secure Poland turned its attention to securing relations with her neighbors. The western trade routs would solve, at least temporarily money shortages caused by strengthening the defences of Halych.

The Push into the Western Forests

With trade routs opening up with the west and pope's support for the crown growing by 1086 the landowners felt it was time to extend Poland's influence into the dark forests bordering the Holy Roman Empire. Their target the small self governing village of Breslau on Polands south-west border. Breslau had claimed independance during the termoil caused at the end of Bolesław II reign, and it was time to reclaim the western forests. Boleslaw's northern force is sent into action.
On a cool winter morning the Breslau's militia prepared to defend their small village from a Polish army of equal size. Calling every avaliable men from the country sides the Breslau militia, and terrifying western hunters attempted to hold the approaching Polish militia to the streets entering the village. The battle was long and vicious, while Polish light spearmen attempted to push the village milita back. Peasant archers rained down upon the mess of infantry men. Breslau's axe-wielding hunters inflicted dreadful wounds upon the Poles. As his men faught for the streets Boleslaw rode his cavalry force around the village and charged the village army from behind, first cut through the enemy archers then pushed into the mass of urban slaughter. The rebel militia was slowly bled dry.

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Casulties are high are both ends, though the villagers suffer a third more. To his everyone's horror Boleslaw sacked the small village, raping it or its wealth and killing its civilians at random. Through sound of weeping and pools of blood Boleslaw resecured Polands borders.

Alliance with the Vadican comes at a Price

The Polish diplomat Golinsk was never one capable of tough negotiations. Just one of the many diplomats sent out by Wladyslaw, Golinsk was overly religious, foolish, and completely incompatible of communicating with anyone who didn't share his altra conservative religious view. Though these traits came in play in 1088 when he secured a major alliance with the Papacy. His time with the cardinals made Poland one of the most influencial kingdom in Western Christiandom. But traveling south, after securing a trade agreement with Florance, the struggling diplomat is mysteriously murdered in southern Italy.

Zbigniew fights on the border of Hungary

A large rebellion under Lord Markus, a man of great faith but untested military ability, cut through the countryside bordering Hungary. The Hungarians were illequiped to deal with the problem so Zbigniew sent forth his castle forces to defeat the rebel Lord. After his brother's victory just 4 years before, Zbigniew was looking to make a military impression and differantiate himself from his brother. Launching his attack at night Zbigniew kept his men in deciplined lines, while his archers and horse archers pelted into the rebel's ranks. Markus' patience faltered and he sent his poorly lined men to engage the Poles, but the Zbigniew's well disiplined forces of hunters and nobles quickly break the will of the rebels, forcing their infantry to flee.

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The Polish cavalry was sent into action and the rebels broke into full retreat, but Zbigniew - in calculated, direct contrast to his brother - didn't give chase. The battle was short and decisive, with the Poles only losing one fifth of the men as their adversaries, and it yet again gave Zbigniew the upper hand with his brotherly feud.

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Poland in 1090 was the most favorable and Influencial Catholic country... WIth King Wladyslaw controling the capital Gracow, his older son, Zbigniew held dominance over the eastern border, with his second son, Boleslaw in the west

The Church in the Early 1100's

Cardinal Godizimir the Rightious, Poland's influencial cardinal dies in 1095. At his death the cardinal had become one of the most influencial men in the Western World, and had been responsible for the execution of the many heretics who traveled into Poland from the north, or the east.
The Vadican at the time was going through major changes. Pope Gregory died in 1102 and was succeeded by Pope Angellus of Milon - a man of stoic faith and loather of violence. His rule lasted only a year, but during this time a pious Polish priest named Macin Czaika was promoted to cardinal for routing out two heretical sects in the forests bordering Breslau.
After the death of Angellus the church was divided between three obvious choices for pope. The Italians supported Nicco Amacco, while Spain proped up Domingo Fracco, and the Norman English surported Aston the Rightious. Worried about growing spainish influence and the Italien's precieved cunning Czaika voted for the English Aston. Memories of the death of their diplomat years in Italy before probably had some influence on Czaika's voting against the Italian forerunner. But when the Danes cast a deciding vote for the Italian hopeful Amacco was elected as Pope Tomaskius.

Boleslaw In the North

With the heretic religious sects of the north creeping into Poland the nobles decide to take action. Boleslaw was sent north to attack the small heretic fort of Thorn. This would also give Poland access to the northern seas.
A Polish spy opened the door to the fort in 1096 and Boleslaw moved forward.
WIth the Poles were a feared unit of knights of the religious order of the Temple of Solomon.
The heretic's tried to skirmish and push out the invaders but were driven back to the fort quickly and their retreat to the fort led to their slaughter. The heretics lost more then ten times the casualities they inflicted. Boleslaw sacked the fort, stripping it of its wealth and citizens. Fear if the young prince wanna-be grew throughout Europe, as well as the new Templar Knights, though in reality the knights were never actually used in the battle.

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The defenders skirmish turns into a full retreat.

Once reaching the northern seas the Poles were disappointed to learn the seas were swarming with pirates and the Danish navy. The northern countryside would have to built up before a Polish navy could be created.

King Wladynlaw's Reign Ends

At the same time as Poland gained access to the northern seas changes in the West was taken place. Pope Gregory organized a religious war, or crusade against the Muslims of the Middle East. After the death of Godizimir there was no real appitite for a crusade in Poland, and Venice lead the crusade. At the same time Spain attacked Portugal trying to conquer northern Iberia. This disasterious war lasted for years and would thrust France and Milan into the war.

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A map of Poland in 1100

By 1100 suspicion in Poland was rampant. A Danish spy was discovered in Krakow and Merchant routs were under fire from Italian competitors.
The landowners and nobles turned their attention to the East and the Russian Orthodox fort of Vilinius calling for an attack. The fort would act as a buffer to the expanding Russians and would give them a foothold to spread Western Christianity eastward.
Before they could mobilize King Wladynslaw died in 1101. Zbigniew started a march to the capital. His brother Boleslaw, then defending the north, called on their brother-in-law Boguslaw Buszak, a defensive specialist, to lead Thorn.
Zbigniew is secured as king when in 1103 the heir to the Holy Roman Empire and budding burreaucrat tried to take advantage of the death of Wladyslaw moved an imperial army into the Poland by means of the southern road to Breslau and it took Boleslaw to move south in a show of force to cause the Imperial's to withdraw.

Boleslaw Moves to the East

With his brother frimly planted in the capital and his brother-in-law now in control of the north, Boleslaw sieged the Orthodox fort of Vilinius in 1104.
Without the Templars his force is infantry heavy and worried about the deadly northern horse archers.
He sieged the fort and planted his army waiting for the Orthodox to sally-forth. He was worried about the heavy damage cause with a full assault on the fort.
His plan worked, when supplies ran dry a year later the people of Vilinius opened the gates and charged the Polish army.
The skirmish was heavy but Polish peasant crossbowmen took out the horse archers before they could do much damage. The Vilinius militia, under Sobislaw, broke into a retreat. Sobislaw was captured and the city is sacked.

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The Italian Powers

By 1106 Venice had captured most of the Balkins and Greece from small rebel states and the Byzantines. The first crusade also led to a victory for the Italian state, with the capture of Antioch. Hungry attempted to balance Venician control of the region by attacking the Balkins, but the quick war ended in a stalemate.
At the same time as Venice was making a bid for power Milan was pushing farther into southern France. An alliance was made between Milan and Poland in 1110, but when the pope heard this Poland is forced to break the alliance. Milan feeling the heat turned to the Muslims, making an agreement with the Egyptians and forcing Venice to attack their neighbor, but Venice was defeated in northern Italy. In 1118 Pope Bernadius excomunicated Milan, but even this is unable to stop the city of Venice falling.

The New Defender of Poland

A loyal, brutal warrior named Wartislaw of Volhynia is adopted into the Polish royal family in 1106. He would be given control of the main Polish force, which at the time, guarded the border of the Holy Roman Empire. He would be a formitable, and bloodthirsty foe. Large and demanding his leadership would be more aggressive then his predecessor.
With his inclusion Boguslaw Buszak, the defender of Thorn, retired as commander of the army, dying peacefully two years later, leaving three sons and daughter.

Pope Bernadius and the Second Crusade

A pious priest named Mattka, was made cardinal in 1110. He would join Macin Czaika as player in Vadican politics. The two would get a chance to wield power when two years lader Pope Tomasicius died, and with the support of the Hungarians Czaika was elected pope in 1112 as Pope Bernadius of Poland.
In little time the world would know his power. Before the excumincation of Milan in 1118, and under the banner of routing heresy, he called a second crusade in 1114, calling on the Christian world to take the city of Acre south of Antioch, and to destroy Muslim influence in the Holy land. Wartislaw, with the Polish Templars, prepared to take up the banner and travel to the Muslim world, but trouble fist came from the border.

The War for the Dark Lion

With the election of the new pope the Germans felt it was time to regain control of the Vadican, but with Poland on their border the Holy Roman Emperor Bezpirum, fearing an attack, sent a force to hold back the Polish forces, sieging Breslau and Krakow, but a show of force from Wartislow forced them to leave quickly. Moving across the border towards Prague he mets a Germanic force of spearmen.
In the Wartislow battle formation the Polish crossbowmen bleed the ranks of German spearmen before they were able to engage the Polish forces. As they charged Warislow sent forth a cavalry, hidden in the woods behind the Germans, to destroy the German siege weapons. In the end that battle is a resounding success. Only a few Poles died while thousands of Germans lie cut down by the forest of Prague

The Warislow Formation
cb = crossbowmen s = spearmen mc = missile cavalry ns = unmounted noble spearmen a = archers h = hunters g = general

----------cb cb cb----------
-------s--s--s--s--s----------
mc -- h--a--a--a--h------mc
----------n---n---n------------
--------------g-----------------

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Taking hundreds of prisoners from the battle Warislow is begged upon to save their lifes. The imperials offer thousands for their release, but it all fell on deaf ears. After the battle every prisoner was slaughtered.

Taking off for the crusades, and confident that he has just beat the Germans for good, Warislow left the border undefended.
This allowed the Imperial Germans, under Captian Godwin, to start to organize a large force. In 1119 he sieged Braslau with his spearmen, waiting for the bulk of his army to join him and cross the border. But Godwin had deaply underestimated the defenders.
The city was defended by Tobiasz Buczak, the son of Boguslaw Buszak. He was severe and unforgiven in his bureacratic dealing, but he was also a great tactition. Knowing he couldn't hold the city if the bulk of the imperial army would arrive he sallied forth. The Germans were hesitant to engage and the Polish crossbowmen gave heavy casualties. Once weakened the Polish cavalry charged, forcing a retreat. Hundreds died, but not one Pole is even injured.

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Tobiasz released what prisoners he took.
When spies reportd a larger German force being organized in Prague he sent forth word to capital and waited for reinforcements.

The Buscak Brothers

What Tabiasz got from the capital would surpise him. Along with a few hundred of poorly disciplined spearmen, proudly riding atop a large steed, came his younger brother Janus. Janus was a dubious man, and one with questionable loyalties. Born spitting blood from his mouth a holy monk, upon setting eyes on him declared, "this man could conquer the world."

Death of a King

Russain ships were sighted outside Thorn. The fledging Polish navy forced them back, twice in just a few years. At the same time an Imperial army beat the Poles to Acre, taking the Muslim city and ending the second crusade. As if forsight in 1122 King Zbigniow, the man who had defended his country since the death of his father over 20 years ago died.
He left his kingdom in a strange state. At war with the imperial forces, a crusader army lost in Asia Minor, the nobles silenced but still deadly, and a country which clearly had become the military arm of the church.
His younger brother would take the thrown, but die mysteriously within months, and the two rival brothers of King Zbigniow were both deceased.
Boleslaws child Zbigniow II took the thrown on his father's deathbed.
Zbigniow II had been a fighter, like his father. He was a tough, stubborn man, and would stay near Vilinius as the war with the Imperials continued in the west.

The Brothers Battle The Imperials In the Snow

During the coronation of Zbigniow II the imperials made their move on Breslau sieging the city yet again. They were led by Johanns Von Jungingen, a man who believed he was a mission from God to swipe Polish influence from the church. The Buscak brothers countered from the icy woods next to the city. Although the two armies were equal in numbers there was great nerviousness on how the Polish spearmen would fare against the heavily armored imperial sargents. But Tobiasz, ever the tactition had a plan. His brother led the main forces, while Tobiasz hid his small cavalry in the forest. The imperials were first to attack, crashing into the Polish forces, almost driving the first line back into the reserves. Janus sent a mercanary force of Frankish mounted knights to attack the wings, while Tobiasz came out of hiding and attacked the imperials from behind. Johanns saw the young general and drove into an attack. Tobiasz faned a retreat back into the woods, where he turned and attacked Johann's cavalry directly. Janus sent his personal cavalry to his brothers aid driving off Johann. The Imperial's morale broke and Janus and the frankish knights give chase. Although Johann got away none of his infantry did, and all captured are executed under Janus' orders.

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The Crimes at Nicea

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The Direction of Return from the Second Crusade

The Second crusade was putting a major drain on the economy. It never reached Acre, and after the fall of the city it found itself stranded in Asia Minor, still under the control of Byzantium. Traveling back conflicts with the local population could not be avoided. Emperor Loumbertos sent warnings to the Polish crusade. Then something amazing happened. Spurred on by fanaticism and anger over the Byzantium warnings the crusaders assaulted the capital of Byzantium Nicea.
The Emperor led a fierce defence, but eventually, after much killing, Polish nobles took the eastern wall of the city. Once the gate fell the leader of the crusade, Wartislaw of Volhynia led his forces into the city and was greated by a volly of javelines. The street fighting was bloody as the emperor himself led a cavalry charge against the crusaders, but a lonely Polish hunter knocked the emperor off his horse and to his death. Slowly the crusaders pushed forward towards the city center. The fighting went on almost to the evening and Wartislaw himself was killed in a mess of fighting late in the battle. With his death the city fell to the crusaders, who, now leaderless, went through the streets in a frenzy of bloodlust. Over 5000 citizens were sliced down and the streets of Nicea became rivers of blood. The massacre was so brutal that word of its sheer brutality spread throughout Asia Minor and the Middle East. The imitiate countryside was almost depopulated.

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The Death of Emperor Loumbertos

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Very very nice!
:2thumbsup:

War Ceases with the Death of an Emperor and a Brother

The brothers by 1123 were ready to bring the war to the Imperials, and had a perfect chance in the German city of Prague. The German Emperor Bezpirum had bottled himself up behind the city gates with Johanns von Jungingen and a just a few men. The austere emperor put his faith in his Godly mission and his confidence that reinforcements could be called up in a matter of months to destroy any Polish advance. In fact he welcomed an attack on Prague.
But Janus had a card to play. A spy had infiltrated the city. He was counting on this spy to prevent his brothers army to be trapped in the siege of Prague.
When the brothers moved to the offensive the gates to the city swung open and the two charged forth with the mercenary Frankish knights. The emperor, now seeing his mistake, personally led a cavalry charge with Johanns to his rear and a huge cavalry fight for the streets began. At first the Poles were taking heavy losses, as the Emperor rallied his knights, cutting down the Polish and their allies with ease - but soon the Emperor would be dead. Rumoured to be killed by Tobiasz's own hand the emperors skull was crushed in a single blow. Johanns rallied calling out the emperors name, but the arrival of the Polish infantry halted his attack. Johanns was cut down in the fierce fighting as his Imperial cavalry kept slicing at the Polish invaders even forcing Janus back to the gates. Janus' brother would not be so lucky. In the thick of the fight, Tobiasz was cut down and trampled over. The man born to conquer the world had killed the Holy Roman Emperor but has lost his life as well. Eventually the Imperial cavalry just ran out of men, and the German militia retreated to the woods. The Poles had once again defeated an Imperial force.

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The Death of the Emperor

Janus would spare the city, destroying the landmarks for quick cash he left Prague to its own governship, realizing he had loss to many men in taking the city. After crossing back into Poland the Imperials made an attempt to retake the city, but the inhabitants beat them back.

Janus Meets his Younger Brother

With the Imperial War now cooled Janus returned to Breslau, where he met up with his youngest brother Sobislaw, a militaristic commander, but harboring unappreciated feelings. The two buried their fallen Brother on a farmfield, consoled his widow and began to rebuild the countries shattered forces.
The world was changing by 1125 the Duke of Venice was excumunicated for pushing into Hungarian territory. Milan had conquered almost all of France and the church was losing control of Europe to the Italian states.
King Zibigniew II, still out east, would take a Russian Mistress during this time, scanaling the Polish court. She seemed to unlock a romantic side within the lonely king, and it seemed less likely that he would ever return to the capital.

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Rough Extimate of Borders in 1128

Quote:

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Originally Posted by germanpeon

Very very nice!
:2thumbsup:

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thx