Regional Recommendations

Outremer:

Viceroy Matthias has already driven the Byzantines away from Adana. I will follow his request and move his men back to the Iron Bridge.

Count von Salzgitter I advise you to sally forth from Nicosia. I have moved reinforcements meant for the Viceroy's army up to outside your citadel to aid you in your sally. The Byzantines at your walls are an inexperienced army who have sat long in garrison and perhaps grown lazy. Even if you cannot entirely smash their force due to your lack of infantry, I expect you can severely diminish it.

Bavaria:

Duke Steffen you have a large quantity of forces at your disposal, including the remaining men in Count Erlach's army. I would advise you to use the men in your direct command and the cavalry from your son's command to the Byzantine rear to eliminate the Greeks in Italy.

After they are destroyed take your army and lay siege to Genoa. There is a spy within that city, your grand bombard is already nearby, and Count Erlach's men are also available to aid you. Additionally the mounted crossbowmen that your son brings against the Greeks could move, without the other cavalry, to your side at Genoa as well. I expect the French will be shocked.

Hermann Steffen I have no been able to secure a sufficient army for the Pope to grant you entry into the crusade. It may be possible to bring a few small cavalry companies over from Count Erlach's force, but you might then be unable to reach the bridge. The number of permutations requires that you discuss the matter with your Duke and coordinate your movements with him. If he does not feel Count Erlach's men are needed then the Count may join the crusade, lead some men to you, allow you to join the crusade, and then depart the crusade and allow you to complete it. All of that requires that Duke Steffen not desire Count Erlach's men at Genoa.

Kaiser Peter will shadow Duke Steffen's movements.

Prinz Dieter is moving north as quickly as possible.

Austria:

Duke Arnold, crush the inexperienced and foolish Hungarians who have laid siege to Zagreb. I expect they will present you no difficulty.

Count Zirn I would advise you to coordinate your actions with Count von Hapsburg so that as he sallies you arrive to bring the elite Hungarian army at Vienna under cannon fire. If the enemy cannot be completely eliminated I expect they can be weakened a great deal.

Lord Becker you have several options. You could take the Poles sieging Prague from behind, but they are a very powerful army and if you were defeated, Prague would fall.

The better option, I believe, is to assault the small Polish army which is being used to entrap your Teutons. I expect they will retreat, at which time you can bring the Teutons and the cannons into your army, then attack the small Polish force again. You should have no difficulty annihilating them. At that point you will be in position to command a sally from the men inside Prague, or to wait and take command of the defense in the event that the Poles proceed with their assault. The second Polish army southeast of Prague may make it complicated to properly command the defense, so I advise you to order a sally.

Unfortunately you must also consider the plight of Breslau, where your son currently is governing. A medium sized Polish force is to the east of Breslau. If the second Polish army near Prague intends to attack your forces will be stretched quite thin. I advise you to order your son out of Breslau (Or I can do it for you) to preserve his life for certain, and then see what the Poles do next year. I will beef up the garrison of Breslau and Prague as best I am able. If you have troop requests I will meet them.

Franconia:

I am personally hoping that Prince Stenkil will, at long last, screw his courage back up enough to make an attack against Arhus. I am weary of having him near me and eager to redeem my previous defeat.

Duke Dieter I need you to determine if Tancred von Tyrolia is able to handle the defense of Madgeburg. If he is not you will likely have to return to Madgeburg and defend it again, whether by aiding a sally from Tancred or commanding the defense from outside the walls. At least you got to see a little of your Duchy first!

Swabia:

I expect Count Ruppel, ever eager for battle, is already in the process of dismantling the French force south of Dijon.

Sir de Cervole you have been moved as requested, and your ally the spy is ensconsed in Caen. Barring developments I will reinforce you as best I am able and you will meet the King of France personally next season. I am sure you look forward to introducing yourself.

Welf von Luxemburg you are faced with a powerful French force to your north, but you have been reinforced with some men and you have Captain Dimarus' plagued army nearby as well. Also there is a bombard available for your use at the city of Rheims. If you intend to join the crusade bring the bombard into your army first, otherwise place it as you wish to aid you in destroying the French. Let me emphasize that you are free to use Captain Dimarus' men in any way you wish, including letting him lead them into battle (AI control). I am weary of having plagued troops in the field, so if his men can aid you in preserving your own, make that happen.

I believe that is everyone. If you have any questions make them known or send me a private letter and I will respond as I am able.

God grant you all victory, especially you noble few who take up the banner of the Crusade!

Chancellor Fritz von Kastilien