Imperial Diet III

[gibsonsg91921]

Hang tradition! It is time to act for what needs be acting. Lothar can lead the BHA to save Zagreb.

[FactionHeir]

I believe the reason we only let knights lead armies is explained by the previous combat experience one gains by commanding a smaller regiment during a battle under an experienced commander. Is it truly wise to send someone who had no experience whatsoever at commandeering a small force even to organize and lead a large household army into battle?
It is understandable that some of our younger nobles thirst to lead an army, but they ought to win their spurs first.
I will endeavor to have the BHA with Lothar Steffen and Peter von Kastilien help in defending Zagreb against the ensuing Hungarian assault under the local garrison commander if the city is not taken before they can reach it.

If the Hungarians do indeed take Zagreb before the BHA arrives, I will have it lay siege at once. I believe the two of them should be able to maintain a siege long enough for Jonas von Mahren to arrive.

[gibsonsg91921]

True, but time spent is time wasted! We cannot afford to lose more provinces to the Eastern barbarians. Several uncommitted squires can meet up with Lothar to make a battle council and they will have experience gained together. Two minds are better than one.

[TinCow]

Chancellor, you would give control of the battle for Zagreb to a militia captain over a nobleman with extensive military training? I may not have drawn blood in battle, but I can guarantee you that I know more about military affairs than some merchant with a fancy suit of armor!

What do the Austrians have to say about this matter? Would they prefer that their city be defended by a militia captain, or a Bavarian friend with immense military training and an entire Household Army at his back?

[gibsonsg91921]

I am from the House of Austria, and I would rather have Lothar Steffen, or any noble squire for that matter, lead the charge than some poor ragamuffin who has no ability to lead large numbers of men. I only worry for the life of the son of Gerhard, but I am sure he shall be brave and up for the challenge.

Lothar, I would send a message to Karl Zirn, son-in-law of Duke Leopold and Count of Zagreb, to hear of his opinion.

[TinCow]

Shall we allow a minor legal problem to threaten the security of the most ancient and noble House of Austria? Bah, this is ridiculous. It seems clear to me that you will not bow to reason, but I refuse to accept this situation and I also refuse to abandon my Austrian allies.

The law says that a man must be Knighted to command an army of seven regiments or more. So be it. Give me 5 regiments of Bavarian foot soldiers and I shall do the rest. A handful of Bavarians is more than a match for a horde of Hungarians any day, not least when a Steffen is in command!

[OverKnight]

Otto raises an eyebrow, as if surprised at the direction the debate has taken.

An interesting proposal Lothar. I do not doubt your skill, but perhaps Peter von Kastilien, who is also travelling with the BHA, could lead a 6 unit contingent himself as reinforcements. We do not know if Zagreb will still be standing by the time you get there, and I would not have our forces defeated piecemeal.

[gibsonsg91921]

In the interest of Austria, this loophole in our Great Charter should be exploited.

[Stuperman]

Good luck to you my son.

[AussieGiant]

Gentlemen,

If we are going to take this line of reasoning then the forces sitting in Ragusa with my own body guard can also join the hunt!!

Jonas with the AHA can therefore engage and occupy the Venetian's to the south east and prevent any attack on Ragusa by them.

I can then travel with the von Mahren's and von Hamburg nobles with most of the Ragusa detachment and meet Lothar at an agreed point. We can them march on Zagreb and then Budapest if need be.

All I ask is that those squires that request it, become knighted in this action.

What say you Chancellor?

Inclining his head towards Otto Arnold continues

King Otto,

You have my gratitude in proposing a brief departure from tradition. I'm sure if it wasn't for your suggestion it would have been dismissed out of hand if myself or Lothar had made the request.

Looking over at Lothar, Arnold stands with a grin on his face, both young men are clearly ready to spring into action as soon as the word is given

[Warluster]

Jobst enters the Diet just before the debate ends, and arives in time to hear Arnold speak, watching him, he looks away and stands and whispers

Too eager this younger ones... excellent.

He looks around

mein fellow electors, if Thessalonica is not taken, perhaps when the united Ausrian/bavarian Armies have finished with Zafreb and bUdapest, they could move in on Thessalonica?

It would be ripe for the taking, when these two young commanders are done, Arnold could follow his fathers footsteps and finally take Thessalonica, and Lothar could defend Bavaria from the Milanese Invaders.

To other matters;

I receive news from Dieter, he sources say the Veneatians may still be on Crete? Perhaps if we wanted to rid our seas of their nuisance we should take out the outost there? it would be a great stopover for our Crusaders, and a base for the Crusade?

Jobst sits

[gibsonsg91921]

In that case I desire to join the hunt!

[Stig]

A messenger from Ansehelm enters the Diet and speaks

Meine Herren

Young Ehrhart, you must remember that there are more duties to a man than to go on "hunting". Austria is big and entire Austria needs to be defended. Soon your father will return to Franconia which means you have to do the things on your own. Thessalonica is far away and the journey is long. While the Austrian Household Army is away other cities need proper defences. The Hungars themselves will mostlikely not stay away. They'll come back, and when they come Austria should be ready for it.

As to Crete, attacking it sounds interesting, but we need the Household armies in the Reich and Crete is simply too far away. The Prinz's Imperial Army will be occupied with the Danes, and I don't know what der Kaiser himself wants to do. Sending an expedition to Crete sounds promising, but could be very dangerous, I think it's best to stay away from these plans for the coming years and look into them again later on.

Ansehelm
Heir to Franconia
Count of Thorn (maybe within the following hours it's ours again)

[gibsonsg91921]

Alas! Ansehelm is correct - all the generals of Austria cannot be committed to a single task. I am ever eager to receive my knightship, but I am afraid that must wait.

[FactionHeir]

*Hans be heard muttering something about a dog and a bone*

Please note that our borders are already far stretched and are becoming more difficult to defend given the funds we have while we still want to expand economically. I would advise against capturing regions at this time unless they are of strtegic importance and help defend our borders better rather than stretching them even thinner. That is, we should concentrate only on regions directly bordering us that can sustain themselves in terms of troop production and may be used to defend other nearby regions already under our control.

[Kagemusha]

Messenger enters the diet.

"I report that the Venetian army east to Durazzo has been defeated. The Austrian household army took some casulties,since we were fighting against almost 650 mounted Venetian knights supported by other troops. But with the help of God and good German dicipline,we were able to defeat the foe. I suggest that reinforcements should be send to strengthen this battered army and then we should attack Durazzo.

Jonas Von Mahren"

http://img181.imagevenue.com/view.ph..._122_507lo.jpg

[FactionHeir]

Well done Count von Mahren, truly well done. I shall have the young nobles from Ragusa join you at once if you wish, but I will caution that this will delay your road north to break the siege of Zagreb. In the light of Lothar Steffen's offer however, that may not be required.

OOC: I'll have to remove all other knight units from the AHA though as otherwise the knight limit is exceeded. Personally I think GB shouldn't count as knights for the army composition but merely as cavalry.

[econ21]

OOC: Personally I think GB shouldn't count as knights for the army composition but merely as cavalry.

OOC: GB are definitely included as knights. Due to the 2HPs and regenerating abilities, we need to limit their use in particular - I've read posts of single BGs destroying whole armies. The historical armies rule does state max 2 BG per army as well.

[gibsonsg91921]

Excellent father! Some day I wish to have the same battle prowess as you.

[FactionHeir]

My lords, gave tidings.

Hungary has taken Zagreb from us but at least they have shown mercy to the populace. Nevertheless, the pope has excommunciated them.
I suggest that we retake Zagreb quickly with Lother Steffen nearby with a small but elite force. Also, I will personally take Sofia from them to stop further invasions into Austrian lands.

Milan has broken the truce and lays siege to Florence. I will call back our fleet and start blockading their ports pending further notice from Bavaria on how they wish to respond.

[GeneralHankerchief]

Conrad Salier:

This is distressing news indeed. Is there any force in the area that can get to Florence quickly enough or shall we have to wait for a House Army to get us out of danger?

[FactionHeir]

We currently have few forces guarding Italy as the BHA is aiding the Austrians. However, readily available are a few light cavalry regiments and one regiment of pavise crossbows as well as the usual militia. Gerhard Steffen and Fritz von Kastilien are also nearby.
Considering that Lothar Steffen will only take part of the BHA, I will send back the remainder immediately.
Reports from the crossbows I commanded to retreat indicate that the new landing party is solely footknights. I still lack intelligence on the small army besieging Florence however but this should be alleviated as time passes.

In other news, I would like to inform the diet that Thorn is back in Franconia's hands.

[OverKnight]

Otto stands and speaks:

My lords, with the second Crusade rapidly approaching the Levant, It is now time to assign the Outremer counties.

I am happy to assign the County of Aleppo to Fredericus von Hamburg.

Adana is assigned to Conrad Salier, may he do Bavaria and Outremer proud.

Otto's expression grows a bit stern.

Even though Ulrich Hummel was the only member of the Diet to vote against this current system, and might consider this a demotion, I offer him Acre. Despite our differences, he has served Outremer well.

Edit: If I am unable to fulfill my term, I ask that Duke Leopold be appointed in my place, he is a fearsome General and as an ex-Chancellor he would be an able leader for the Kingdom.

I ask you to join me in congratulating the first Crusader Counts!

[AussieGiant]

Congratulation to you all!!

[Warluster]

Prinz Jobst stands

But on the matter of Crete, it is a very strategiclly well placed place.

Think about it, we capture Crete, we control most shipping from Europe to the Holy Land? Plus a good area to qyuickly supply our Crusaders!

On the matter of who to take, it can be an expedition force, an Austrain General can raise a rather small expedtion and take Crete, he could then return to Europe.

It wouldn't cost much, as it is advanced already, and we could make it a major money maker. Plus it woyld knock out our major enemy!

Think on it gentlemen,

Prinz Jobst sits

[AussieGiant]

Now to business back here in the Reich.

Lothar can you please kick the crap out of those Hungarians in Zagreb.

Jonas, are we feeling lucky?

Chancellor, any particular reason you left the remaining foot in Ragusa? Are your trying to have my knighthood be the shortest in history?

[Ignoramus]

Ulrich Hummel rises to speak.

Very well, mein King, I shall serve you as Count of Tripoli. But remember that I am not a piece of dirt to be trodden underfoot.

Ulrich bows and makes preparations to depart to his new county.

[FactionHeir]

Steward Arnold, the foot in Ragusa was recently hired this year and would not be able to make it down to Durazzo in time. It will be able to join you once you head north though. The crossbowmen that you reinforced von Mahren with were the most recent garrison of Ragusa. Ehrhart von Mahren is also on his way down and should be able to lead the additional pavise regiment to your east.

[AussieGiant]

Steward Arnold, the foot in Ragusa was recently hired this year and would not be able to make it down to Durazzo in time. It will be able to join you once you head north though. The crossbowmen that you reinforced von Mahren with were the most recent garrison of Ragusa. Ehrhart von Mahren is also on his way down and should be able to lead the additional pavise regiment to your east.

Dear Chancellor,

Were there not 2 units of DFK and 2 units of spearmen as part of the garrison also?

I swear I saw them training in the coutryard?

[FactionHeir]

The spears were recently trained and the knights were not available to reinforce the AHA (limit on knights). I have sent what I could.
Regarding this matter, the Doge has sallied forward and I await word from von Mahren on the outcome of the battle.

(Odds 1:1)