17th century

[Rodion Romanovich]

Official statement from Denmark:

It's widely known that the very legal noble revolt in the year of the Lord 1605 against the rule of King Sigismund was directed against his attempts to reduce the influence of the Sejm. To speak of having a right to "bring a vassal back in line" for no reason, if anything, must be taken as an indication that he is making the same mistake again. At first the attack was presented as a war on a Protestant, then the King declares acceptance of all religions, and suddenly the attack on one of our allies is presented as an attack on a vassal accused of some unspecified crime, rather than a war against the Protestant faith. Will you now, when you return to the Sejm, withdraw that statement and again tell them that it was in fact an attack on the Protestantism?

Denmark wishes to keep peace and order in the region, and since we have had good relations with the Commonwealth previously, and played - and still play - a crucial role in enabling the Commonwealth to sell their goods abroad, we deserve an explanation for why one of our allies (that we are acting as the protector of) was attacked for seemingly no reason. In this conflict so close to our homelands, it will be difficult for us to be netural, and we will soon be forced to take sides. The question is - which side should we choose? The side that was attacked and begs us for our help, or the side that attacks our ally, but has apparently forgotten what a problematic situation it puts us in, forcing us to choose sides between two countries that should both be our friends. The side that also abandoned us while we were at war, and made separate peace with our common enemy Sweden. That enemy is now our friend, but is still the enemy of the Commonwealth.

In the meantime while we await your response, Danish ships will assist Brandenburg in supplying the civilian Protestants in Königsburg and Memel and ensure their safety and upkeep stability of trade in the region. Denmark also offers Protestant refugees from Prussia to settle on Danish soil until the matter has been resolved.

[Marshal Murat]

B]King Sigismund of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
Concerning Prussia and Brandenburg[/B]


Prussia is a vassal of Poland. He is a vassal and has to submit to the rule of the King and the Sejm.
As such they are under our jurisdiction. This isn't a fight against Protestants, it is a fight against the use of Polish lands for a war that Poland considers outside of the realm of combat. We don't care if the Holy Roman Empire wins or loses this war, or if the Protestants are destroyed. We are concerned about our territory being used by any nation as a training ground for this war.

Some Brandenburg troops under training

.

This statement in the course of the war has revealed that the Brandenburg elector has used the vassal of Prussia as a training ground, far from the Holy Roman Empires control and jurisdiction.
Denmark, we aren't asking you to attack us, or defend us. We are asking that you provide for the war that you signed up for. Do not think that Brandenburg is a white sheep, and that we attacked them without reason. We have had information from honest Poles, stating this treasonous act against the Commonwealth.
I present to the Sejm, and the world, my report on the situation.
I was presented with information that the Elector of Brandenburg has used Prussia as a training ground for his soldiers in a war against the Holy Roman Empire. This war, a regrettable incident, has not involved Polish soldiers. We are not taking sides in this conflict, we are preserving the sanctity of Poland. If we allowed this use of land for a war that we consider beyond our needs or wants, then I consider this illegal. My quote...

War in Prussia
The invasion of Prussia is the right of the king to prevent the Protestants from using Polish territory to train troops to fight in this European war. We are disgusted that Brandenburg would use the land and peoples there-in for a highly suspicious and religiously driven war.

I am preventing the Polish nation from having to chose sides in this suspicious conflict. I am not declaring any religion false or bad. I am saying that the Protestant use of Prussia for military campaigns in Germany is something that the Crown doesn't want to occur. If the Holy Roman Empire tried to use a vassal in Poland for training, then we would have done the same.
Prussia is mine, a vassal nation that has been raped of her resources for a war that we aren't interested in. I am protecting my nation from the turmoil and religious conflict that has highlighted the recent months.
Do not believe that I will watch as parts of my Commonwealth are drawn into this war, piece by piece. We are neutral.
If the Protestant Coalition decides that this act of bringing Prussia back to the fold, and taking her resources from the war that Poland doesn't support, then we will be forced to reply in kind.
We do not want to kill Danes, Swedes, French, Dutch, or other nations over a purely internal matter. If Brandenburg had kept the war to her own territory then we wouldn't have this problem. I am disgusted and appaled that Brandenburg has considered this a war against Protestantism, and drawing in outside forces to combat my troops. This is a war to preserve Polish neutrality in this conflict.
I do not want Bradenburg to control this province and abuse her resources again. As such, I ask Prussians to lay down their arms and avoid further bloodshed. In Memel and Koeingsburg, we ask the citizens to open the gates to the Poles. Your neutrality in the conflict of Europe is assured, and you will be free to worship as you please. I am not forcing this war on Prussia and involving the nation in this conflict.
I state again that this war is an internal matter. We are preserving Polish neutrality and the citizenry from the harsh situation of war.

[Randarkmaan]

Official statement from his most illustrious majesty, Ahmad I, Sultan, Caliph and ruler of Constantinople:

"All jews and muslims who may remain in Iberia and who face religious persecution as an every day event, are welcome to come to the Ottoman Empire, here you will have sanctuary against the repressive despot residing on the Spanish throne."

Also he wishes all monarchs, who celebrate the New Year as according to the faulty Gregorian calendar, a very happy New Year!

[IrishArmenian]

As such they are under our jurisdiction. This isn't a fight against Protestants, it is a fight against the use of Polish lands for a war that Poland considers outside of the realm of combat. We don't care if the Holy Roman Empire wins or loses this war, or if the Protestants are destroyed. We are concerned about our territory being used by the Protestants as a training ground.

I apologise, good Sigismund, did you just contradict yourself in the same paragraph?
Indecision probably runs in your family, I can tell Russia's new Tzar-elect will be able .
Good King of France, why do you forsake me? The Boyars were bought out, and you hide as soon as the winds shift? At least the Sultan is still my brother.

[Marshal Murat]

What contradiction???

[Rodion Romanovich]

Official statement from Denmark:

All troops are always in training to stay fit. That the legal garrison troops of Prussia carried out training to stay fit can't be against any known law. However, we understand your concerns that Poland may be drawn into the Kaiser's war. Therefore, we will quickly liberate the cities that Brandenburg lost to the Kaiser, so that the troops in training can return to Brandenburg, and only their garrison troops will have to stay in Prussia. We will also give guarantees of military assistance in the case the Kaiser were to attack the Commonwealth. Thus there should be no reason to continue besieging these cities and pillage and burn among the Protestant civilians. As protectors of Brandenburg we also have to demand that the Commonwealth pays for the damages done so far.

[IrishArmenian]

Sigismund, you said specifically "This isn't a fight against Protestants" and then later said "used as Protestant Training ground". Wouldn't it be just as good to say either "This isn't a fight against Protestants...used as a Brandenburg Training Ground." or, be blunt "This is a fight against Protestants...used as a Protestant training ground."
What you said is either a contradiction, or it has Brandenburg only training Protestants in Prussia and training Catholics somewhere else, which seems a little bit stupid.

[SwordsMaster]

His Catholic Majesty the King of Spain declares valid the vote of the russian boyars, and recognises the polish Tsar of the Russias. He is also very disappointed in the russian nobility and their lack of honour and convictions in their choice to switch to a ruler that offered them more terrenal commdities. We hope that the new Tsar will restore honour into the court of the Third Rome.

His Catholic Majesty also recognises the war in Prussia as internal affair, and recognises the right of the King of Poland to ensure that his territory is used in the best interest of Poland.

[IrishArmenian]

I see my former friends have now deserted me.
No matter, the Sultan is still my brother.
Do you conform to Poland's wishes out of fear?
What is there to fear from them? It must be fear, there is no other answer. France and Spain are afraid of you, Sigismund, well done!