Re: The Thirty Years War
-Year 1618-Year started just like any other year before it. The same religious problems, scandals and intrigues. However, careful observer could notice changes in Europe. Keywords to describe those months could be expansion and contraction boom.
from January to June
In spite the cold weather and constant rain king James I ordered to renew the look of London and Inverness and to build large port in the Faroe Islands for Transatlantic trade. Politically they found themselves in a difficult spot. They had promised to back Saxony on their way to unify the Northern Germany but Dutch armies in the same time had conquered couple of small states there already. This most certainly will make life in that region more interesting.
While the French were quiet the Spanish were busy. They repaired many ports to bring more wealth to Felipe III. However, news from Portugal made him a bit troubled. Duke John IV Braganza had repaired one of the border forts and it seemed that he was planning to go even further. Perhaps he would try to call himself King of Portugal? Feeling threatened, Felipe III sent one of his army towards the Portuguese border.
In Italy, Savoy had got itself into trouble when their ruler Charles Emmanuel I used the name „Turkey“ to describe Ottoman Empire. Sultan Osman II responded to that with his insults. While they were sending curses and insults to each other, the Swiss, in north, were expanding fast. Promising prosperity and protection to smaller Southern German states they tripled their size in six months. They also invaded Milan in order to secure their southern border and received Spanish provinces in Provence, France.
The Swiss were not the only ones who increased their territories, though. Ottomans invaded Wallachia and within few months they had seized the whole country. Muscovy, or Tsardom of Russia, brought Ryazan under it's control and Denmark unified Norway. Even Saxony and Poland-Lithuania gained some new provinces.
While all these events were happening some people in Bohemia were plotting a revolt. In May they started it by throwing two Austrian governors out of window in Prague. Soon the whole region threw off the Habsburg yoke and gathered behind a man called Jan Tabor. He was elected to lead Bohemian army until their future ruler could lead them. Having rather large army under his command, Jan Tabor, moved south to threaten Habsburg homelands. This was a mistake, though. Austrian general Tilly had moved north to stop any Bohemian incursions and on the first days of July a battle will be fought between those two armies...
The map:
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- Proud Horseman of the Presence 
Originally Posted by A Very Super Market
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