Orders and reports thread

[econ21]

Build queues:

Staufen:
Turn 1: Leather tanner
Turn 2: contd
Turn 3: Blacksmith
Turn 4: contd
Turn 5: contd

Bern:
Turn 1: Contd town guard
Turn 2: Contd
Turn 3: Leather tanner
Turn 4: Leather tanner
Turn 5: Communal farming

Dijon:
Turn 1: Stonewall
Turn 2: Contd
Turn 3: Contd
Turn 4: Paved road
Turn 5: Contd

Taxes high if governed by a general; very high if not. But low enough to avoid a red face regardless.

[flyd]

Franconian build queues.

Frankfurt:

1: Stone Wall (in progress)
2: -
3: City Watch
4: -
5: -

Hamburg:

1: Drill Square (in progress)
2: Land Clearance
3: -
4: Blacksmith
5: -

I hereby designate Gunther von Kastilien as Count of Stettin.

[Ituralde]

Tax levels in Vienna and Prague are to be set to Very High.
Happyness is to remain above a blue face. This overrides any tax settings.

Build priorities Vienna:
City Watch
Fairground

Build priorities Prague:
Marketplace
Town Watch
Town Hall

[OverKnight]

Build Queue for Innsbruck, 4th Diet

1130: Finish Chapel
1132: Crop Rotation
1134: --continued
1136: --continued
1138: --continued
1140: Stables, 1/2

Innsbruck's population is lagging behind our other settlements due to an early focus on troop quality and recruitment, I hope installing crop rotation will help address this. This queue takes precedence over my previous one for the years listed.

[Kagemusha]

I will ratify Fredericus Von Hamburg as Count of Hamburg and Gunther Von Kastillien as the Count of Stettin. Also Jonas Von Mahren has been Knighted on the battlefield of Kamienski.

[Ignoramus]

Chancellor Sigismund the Chivalrous 1136

The second half of my term has been eventful, to say the least.

Firstly, Otto von Kassel finally ended the Venetian farce of besieging Milan with a handful of men.

Next, Dietrich von Saxony repulsed some arrogant Polish nobles in Magdeburg.

Jobst von Sava was elevated into the Imperial family after a solid victory over the Venetians in the Tyrolean Alps.

The Venetians have stormed Bologna. Our men fought to the last, but they were overpowered by superior weapons and numbers.

Finally, the Venetians have been excommunicated. The taking of Bologna was the last straw for the Pope, and the Venetian Doge may now burn in hell. However, it is also bad news, as the Venetian Crusade is now free to return to Italy with their Crusader veterens.

(OOC: Sorry about the brief report. I am going out soon, and I hope to embellish it with screenshots etc. after that.

[Ignoramus]

Chancellor Sigismund the Chivalrous 1136

Certain events must be recorded that have taken place during the year.

We have finally made contact with the Russians. Wenzel von Augsburg report that they are faboulousy wealthy, and equally proud and arrogant. He did, however, manage to exchage maps with them.

Duke Leopold bravely fought off another Venetian assault on Vienna. Another Venetian army, however, is on its way.

Dietrich von Saxony and Jonas von Mahren are defending themselves in Poland, after almost being surrounded.

[Ignoramus]

Chancellor Sigismund the Brav 1140

I now come to sum up my term.

During my reign, the Reich has expanded greatly. We have punished the rebellious Milanese, while holding off the Poles to the north and the Venetians to the south.

The only regrettable incident was the loss of Bologna to the Venetians. I am humbled by this stain on my record and in future I will seek to atone for it. However, Prinz Henry has retaken that city and avenged the brave defenders of that Bavarian city.

The Milanese have besieged Florence. This was fatal on their part, as the Pope has rewarded them with a nice sentence of excommunication, thus making our Italian wars far easier.

Finally, I have some awful news. The French are about to attack us. They have moved into Burgundy and threaten Dijon. As such, we must now defend on three fronts. We must be strong during these troubled times and hope for better days for our Reich.

I now formally lay down my power. May the Imperial Diet elect a strong man who can defeat our many enemies, while keeping order within.

Chancellor Sigismund der Brav.

[Ituralde]

Tax levels in Vienna and Prague are to be set to Very High.
Happyness is to remain above a blue face. This overrides any tax settings.

Build priorities Vienna:
City Watch
Fairground

Build priorities Prague:
Town Guard
Leather Tanner
Town Hall

Orders for the Ducal Army:

The Ducal Army is to be stationed in Vienna until it is fully operational.

Duke Leopold will lead the Ducal Army.

The Ducal Army is to support Duke Leopold in his attacks against the Venetians.

[OverKnight]

Build Queue for Innsbruck

The only available buildings to construct at Innsbruck are Stables and a Ballista Maker. I view neither of these as a priority with the Reich at war and money short. If a Fortress upgrade becomes available, please build that and let me know as I will want to post a new queue after the upgrade.

[econ21]

Build queue for Staufen - highest priority:

1-3: Fortress (highest priority!!)
4-7: Archery range
8-11: Armourer

Build queue for Bern - these are low priority buildings, if money allows:

1-3: Communal farming
4-5: Church
6-9: Crop rotation
10-11: Town hall

Taxes: very high unless general present or would lead to red face.

Swabian Household army:

Normal Garrison: Near Dijon but somewhat to the west, so that it could reach Bern or Metz - perhaps near the watchtower?
However, standing orders may imply positioning elsewhere (e.g. shadowing French incursion).

Fieldmarshall: rotating appointment;
(1) first Sigismund but joined by von Salza,
(2) then after Sigismund's first battle, Sigismund will leave the army and von Salza will take over
(3) then after von Salza's first battle, Prince Henry will join the army
(4) after Prince Henry's first battle, Henry will leave and Sigismund return to take command
etc.
If a general is needed in Italy or elsewhere, the above can be modified by communicating with the Duke.

Standing orders: initially, defend Swabia settlements. If France attacks, try to defend until she is excommunicated, but do not risk loss of Swabian settlement (army to relieve any beseiged settlement). Then attack Rheims if it is prudent to do so.

[Kagemusha]

Build Queu for Frankfurt:

turn 1 City Watch (continuing)
turn 2-5 Paved Roads
turn 5-8 Communal farming
turn 8- Blacksmith

tax rate: very high

Orders for Ducal army:

First orders are to take Magdeburg under command of Dietrich Von Saxony from Polish once reinforced enough. As supporting move,Count Von Kastillien is to open the route behind the Ducal army supplied with enough troops, by destroying the rebel force behind us. After the corridor is open Count Von Kastillien is to move to Stettin,while Count Von Hamburg enters the army.
After Magdeburg is taken the Ducal army will be placed under the Command of Count Von Kastillien and is ordered to start an offensive with goal of taking Thorn Castle.

[GeneralHankerchief]

Florence

1. Stone Wall
2. Communal Farming
3. Church

Obviously this does not take up the entire time allotted. A one-turn of nothing is intended between each construction.

Genoa

1. Land clearance
2. Town Hall
3. Paved Roads
4. begin Fairground

[flyd]

Hamburg:

Nothing yet. The decision on the build queue is to be deferred until it can be assessed exactly how developed Magdeburg is.

[TinCow]

1140 AD

I have scoured the Imperial treasury, but there simply are not enough florins to fund all of the Reich's needs. No new investments in construction can be made this year, as all funds are needed for the recruitment of professional regiments for Franconia and Austria.

Recruited:
3 Peasant Crossbowmen in Staufen
2 Armored Spearmen & 1 Sergeant Spearmen in Innsbruck
2 Armored Spearmen & 1 Sergeant Spearmen in Hamburg

Count der Stolze and his army have moved north and are within a few days march of Dijon. They will arrive in time to protect it, should the French break the peace. A small contingent of militia remained behind to maintain the Alpine fort.

In Italy, the Kaiser has marched forth with his army to deal with the Milanese threat to Florence. Prinz Henry met outside Bologna and they joined forces. Several of Count von Kassel's regiments have been sent to further fortify this force, and the Count himself has been recalled to Bologna to protect it while the Kaiser and the Prinz are engaged.

In the North, I await word of Count von Kastilien's attack on the rebels blocking the supply lines to Duke von Saxony's army.

[Ignoramus]

Build Queue for Metz

After the Blacksmith has been constructed, these buildings should be built if funds permit in this order of priority:

Town Guard
Ballista Maker
Market.

[TinCow]

Continuation of 1140:

Count von Kastillien moves to Stettin and Count von Hamburg joins Duke von Saxony's army outside Magdeburg.

In compliance with Edict 5.1, our diplomat in the east approached the Russians to see if they would consider an alliance. They were not even remotely interested. So as not to make the meeting totally useless, the diplomat proposed an exchange of maps. The Russians refused and countered with a most unusual and unexpected offer:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

The diplomat gratefully accepted this gift and he reports that our relations with the Russians have improved slightly. Perhaps future attempts an alliance should be explored, despite the rejection.

1142 AD:

The year began with dark news:

WAR WITH FRANCE!

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Count von Stolze moved immediately north to aid the nearly defenseless city of Dijon. The enemy force besieging the city turned out to be nothing more than a regiment of knights. They retreated at the sight of von Stolze's army and he was unable to pursue them due to troop exhaustion. It appears that the 'attack' on Dijon was a ruse, while the main French attack is taking place further south. There, a medium sized army has besieged the poor men left to garrison the Alpine force.

In other news, a Polish cardinal died and Karl Herden, one of several HRE priests sent to Stettin, has been promoted to take his place. The Reich now has three Cardinals.

Recruitment this turn is as follows:
2 Spear Militia in Frankfurt
2 Spear Militia in Genoa
2 Spear Militia in Dijon
1 Armored Spearmen & 2 Sergeant Spearmen in Innsbruck
3 Peasant Crossbowmen in Staufen

Formation of Household Armies is proceeding as follows:
2 Armored Spearmen & 2 Sergeant Spearmen depart Innsbruck for Vienna, to form part of the Austrian Household Army.
3 Peasant Crossbowmen depart Staufen for Vienna, to form part of the Austrian Household Army.
2 Armored Spearmen & 2 Sergeant Spearmen depart Hamburg for Duke von Saxony's army, which will be eventually be reformed as the Franconian Household Army.
3 Peasant Archers taken from the garrisons of Frankfurt and Nuremburg and are destined for Duke von Saxony's pre-Household Army force.

*Note to self, be sure to point out to those Electors prone to whining that the quality of troops in the Household Armies will be upgraded when possible, but for now they must be assembled with what is available, rather than what is ideal.*

Construction for this year:
Bologna walls are being repaired
Bologna begins construction of Grain Exchange
Frankfurt begins construction of paved roads
Prague begins construction of town guard, which will allow the city to support the costs of the two spear militia that are currently stationed there.

I, along with my new friends the Teutonic Knights, dispersed another group of vagabonds near Nuremburg. The only loss was Sir Georgus von Jungla, who ran into a tree during the initial charge.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

The locals were very pleased to see the ruffians disposed of and called me a hero. Their words initially rushed to my head, but then I remembered that Pride is a sin and discouraged them from pursuing the matter any further.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

I have heard word that the Kaiser and the Prinz are engaging in battle with the vast Milanese army that is besieging Florence. Nearly 4,000 men are taking to the field, the largest conflict in living memory. Let us pray for victory!

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

[TinCow]

Continuation of 1142:

News has reached me that Kaiser Heinrich and Prinz Henry were victorious in their attack and Florence has been saved! I fear it cost the lives of many brave soldiers of the Reich. Nearly, 1,100 fell in battle, approximately half of the entire combined armies. Fortunately, both the Kaiser and the Prinz are in good health, and rumor has it that they performed admirably on the field.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

After the battle, the Prinz departed the army and began a long journey north. With the French invasion, his personal attention is desperately needed in Swabia.

1144

The year began with bad news. Our north sea fleet, which had been blockading the Polish port of Thorn, has been defeated in battle and much of its strength has been lost. It will take some time to rebuild our naval power in the north.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

However, this event was followed by good news! Our allies, the Sicilians, have declared war on Milan! With luck their powerful fleets and armies will destroy whatever strength Milan has left.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Yet, no matter how good that news may be, it cannot remotely make up for the loss we then suffered. I... I... I know not how to say this gently. It is difficult even for me to write these words.

Sigismund der Stolze, Count of Metz, Second Elector of Swabia, Former Chancellor of the Reich, known to all nobles and commoners alike as Sigismund the Chivalrous... has been assassinated!

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

I know not how it happened. His bodyguards found him dead in his command tent outside Dijon. During the night he was surrounded by his entire army, yet not a single man heard a sound. Worse still, the assassin escaped and we do not know where he has gone. Even the nationality of the evil fiend is unknown, though it could only have been the vile French!

With Sigismund dead, the Swabian Household Army is leaderless and unable to respond to the French invasion! Surely Prinz Henry is whipping several horses to death in order to return to his lands in time to deal with this most savage turn of events!

ALL THE REICH IS IN MOURNING FOR THE PASSING OF SIGISMUND THE CHIVALROUS!

I do not have the strength to write much more. My tears are blurring the ink as I write these words. Yet, the Reich must continue on. We cannot falter and fail at this moment. Sigismund would want it that way. Indeed, I have been told that Jonas von Mahren has been so moved by Sigismund's death, that he has named his newborn son after the late Chancellor.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

In the east, Duke von Saxony's reinforcements have finally arrived and his assault on Magdeburg has begun...

[TinCow]

1144 Continued

Duke von Saxony's victory was resounding and the sack of Magdeburg added a significant sum to the Imperial treasury. He was unable to destroy the rebels which appeared near the castle, but they shall be eliminated next year.

There has been further news from Dijon. An Imperial agent was immediately dispatched to the area. He uncovered information from French merchants who were traveling in the area that revealed the identity of the assassin who slew Count Sigismund der Stolze. His name is Gauchier le Gris and he was dispatched by the King of France!

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Upon hearing this news, the Swabian Household Army immediately began scouring the nearby farms and villages for the devil. They surrounded him as he attempted to flee back to France. A regiment of Swabian knights finally caught up with the man. He was an evil being and deserved death, but even I shudder at the rumors of what was done to him. I cannot not put such an agonizing and horrendous death into words.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

In the east, our diplomat in Russia again attempted to secure an alliance with the Orthodox heathens. Once again they refused, but they have repeated their baffling offer of a monetary gift. The Reich was again enriched by their charity.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Princess Elsebeth came of age in Florence. Out of respect for the passing of Count Sigismund der Stolze, the Kaiser has ordered that her wedding to Count von Kassel is to be postponed until next year.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Due to the large income the Reich received this year, construction was begun in nearly every city in the Empire. Several Counts still have not provided me with build orders for their domains. As such, I am exercising a free hand to build what I believe is proper in those places. Construction is as follows:

Hamburg - Conversion to Large Town
Stettin - Conversion to Town
Magdeburg - Drill Square
Milan - Brothel (*This was Count von Kassel's suggestion. I would have preferred a Church, but Otto will be Duke next year, so I shall accept his wishes on this matter, even though I am still the Steward of Bavaria.*)
Genoa - Land Clearance
Metz - Town Guard
Bern - Town Hall
Dijon - Land Clearance

(*Hmph... let's see them complain NOW about having too little money and nothing being built! All but four of the Reich's settlements are involved in construction as we speak, and two of those which are not are my own Nuremburg and Count von Kassel's Innsbruck. If this is not good enough for them, I may consider having an exorcism performed on the Diet meeting hall.*)

The excessive income this year has also allowed me to devote firm efforts to converting all city garrisons to locally funded militia and to provide further recruitment for the Franconian Household Army. All recruitments are as follows:

1 Armored Spearmen & 2 Sergeant Spearmen in Hamburg (for Franconia)
2 units of Franconian Household Army being retrained in Magdeburg.
2 Spear Militias in Genoa
2 Spear Militias in Bologna
1 Spear Militia in Dijon
2 Town Militias in Florence
2 Town Militias in Metz

In addition, I have allocated funds for the recruitment of three new agents. A priest in Prague to convert the Orthodox heathens in the east, a diplomat in Vienna to open diplomatic negotiations with the Turks and Egyptian blasphemers, and an assassin in Frankfurt to eliminate any further murders that France sends against us.

Other developments concerning the Household Armies are as follows:
The previously mentioned forces of the Austrian army continue to march to Vienna. A group of Mailed Knights has also been dispatched to Vienna to join the army.
The Bavarian Household Army is being formed. 1 regiment of Armored Spearmen and 2 regiments of Sergeant Spearmen marched south from Innsbruck, where they met up with Count Otto von Kassel and some men he brought with him from Bologna. The Count is now in command of the Bavarian Household Army, though it is still vastly understrength. The remainder of the Bavarian force will come from the 3 regiments of Peasant Crossbowmen who are marching from Staufen, and a group of Mounted Sergeants who are riding from Metz. It is essential that these forces combine soon, as the French will surely break through the Alpine fort soon and move into Northern Italy. With the Swabian Household Army leaderless and concerned with hunting down the assassin, they failed to move south this year.

Word has reached me that the Kaiser and his army have pursued a group of rebels to the border with Rome, where he has cornered them by the sea. I await news of their destruction...

(Scribblings at the bottom of the page indicate that the following lines were added in haste and frustration.)

The Kaiser has cleanly vanquished the rebels...

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

..but he has moved his army onto Papal soil in the process! I have received a formal complaint from Pope Gregory himself about this matter. What does the Kaiser think he is doing down there?!

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

[TinCow]

1146

*At last the year of cruelty and assassination is behind us. With God's grace, this year will bring peace and prosperity.*


The first news I received this year came from north and south, but concerned our navies in both regards. In the north, the Poles chased down the remnants of blockade fleet as it was sailing for the safety of the port of Hamburg. They were greatly damaged and forced to seek shelter in a small cove. Instead of safety though, they found pirates and they are presumed to have died to the last man. In the south, the Venetians built 2 ships to break out blockade of Venice. With our 4 to oppose them, victory was certain. Yet... somehow... the Venetian ships were victorious! Not only victorious, they sank our entire fleet!

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

More bad news arrived from the Church. It seems Cardinal Peter Scherer, already in poor health, has succumbed to the peace of death. His holy guidance of the Reich will be sorely missed. Not only have we lost a Cardinal, the Reich no longer has a Bishop Preferati to stand for Pope at the next election. A Venetian priest has been chosen to replace Cardinal Scherer in the College.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Perhaps as the first demonstration of our new loss of influence in Rome, the Pope has given us a discouraging order. We have been ordered to cease our war with Poland, under threat of excommunication! I do not envy the man who has to break this news to Duke von Saxony.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

The Venetian sun seems to be in the ascendancy. On top of securing one of their own to replace our Cardinal, they have negotiated a peace with our Sicilian allies. This would not be so bad, if it were not for the fact that the Milanese refused our offer for a ceasefire! I do not understand this reaction. I had been assured that they sought peace and would look upon such an offer as being very generous, yet they refused! Our diplomat shall try to approach a more reasonable Milanese leader next year about this matter.

Yet, with all the bad news, there is some good. The Council of Nobles is pleased that we have blockaded Cagliari for many years now and have awarded us 1,000 florins for our efforts.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Our Russian friends have continued to be generous, though their generosity has been steadily decreasing. As much as I enjoy this extra income, the diplomat in Russia simply must depart to meet with a passing English envoy. There is other work to be done and I am somehow feeling wrong for accepting so many gifts from the Russians for no explainable reason. I almost feel like I am being bribed, and I will not allow it to continue any longer.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

I have been informed that the final stones have been laid on the outer curtain wall of the fortress at Staufen. I was perhaps a bit hostile on this matter in the Diet, but now that the project is complete, I admit that its benefits are significant. As a peace offering to Prinz Henry for his wisdom on this matter, I have ordered a new Archery Range to be built there, in accordance with his wishes. The full construction list for this year is as follows:

Staufen - Archery Range
Florence - Stone Wall
Bologna - Market
Stettin - Town Watch

It is only appropriate that the first recruits from Staufen, including a group of Dismounted Feudal Knights, be allocated to Swabia. The Swabian Household Army is lacking in infantry, so 2 regiments of Sergeant Spearmen are being recruited for them alongside the Knights.

Prinz Henry himself finally reached the army this year and it is on the move and preparing for action. It will move south to block the French next year after it has been reinforced with fresh infantry. I wish I could send them into the offensive against the French forces, but Edict 5.12 forbids this.

Duke Leopold has been frustrated with the slow movement of the recruits dispatched to him. He has ridden out and met them in the field. His superior military knowledge will surely allow them to move faster from now on. The entire army will reach Vienna next year and will begin the march south on Zagreb.

In Franconia, Duke von Saxony finally chased down the rebels who had eluded him last year. He is now returning to Magdeburg to assemble to full might of the Franconian Household Army for the first time.

In Italy, Count Otto von Kassel has been trapped in the Alps by a Venetian attack force that appears to be bound for Milan. I am awaiting word of his attack. Hopefully he will be successful, for he has a wedding to attend afterwards!

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Count von Kassel has been victorious with only light casualties! He has executed the remaining prisoners, completely gutting Venetian power in Italy in the process. While I will not say that I approve of such treatment of Christians, I suppose they deserve no better since their chosen leader has been excommunicated by the Pope. Woe to those who defy the Church.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

It is time for the Royal Wedding! For the first time in many decades, Bavaria will have a Duke! It is a time to rejoice!

[GeneralHankerchief]

Kaiser Heinrich:

If I may interrupt for a minute. Otto von Kassel and Princess Elsebeth have married.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

My congratulations to both. Otto von Kassel is now Duke of Bavaria.

-edit- As a wedding present, I hereby allocate Genoa to Bavaria.

[TinCow]

Continuation of 1146

I will not recount the events which have led to our war with Pope Gregory and inevitable excommunication. They are well known to everyone by this point, so I shall move on to more recent matters.

The Kaiser left a token force to guard Rome and immediately moved north towards Pope Gregory and Duke von Kassel. For his part in this madness, the Duke has gone west and gathered the remainder of the Bavarian Household Army around him.

Sensing an impending, unavoidable riot and the coming conflict between the Kaiser and the Pope, Jobst von Salza left Milan to return to his homelands of Swabia.

As for myself, I did what little I could, by travelling to Metz to help the Swabians supervise their border provinces.

Though it is blood money, the money gained from the sack of Rome must be put to use. Perhaps it can be cleansed if used to protect the faithful of the Reich. Further construction due to the additional funds is as follows:

Rome - Wall Repair & Town Hall
Vienna - City Watch
Innsbruck - Stables

I have devoted much of the money to recruiting many more regiments to defend the Reich. We will surely need them in the time to come. Recruitments are as follows:

2 Town Militia in Genoa
2 Spear Militia in Bologna
2 Spear Militia in Bern
1 Armored Spearmen, 1 Peasant Crossbowmen, & 1 Mailed Knights in Innsbruck, to act as further strength for the Austrian Household Army
1 Armored Spearmen, 1 Peasant Archers, & 1 Sergeant Spearmen in Hamburg, to act as further strength for the Franconian Household Army
1 Spear Militia & 1 Crossbow Militia in Frankfurt

As the year ended, Pope Gregory's vast army laid siege to Genoa. The garrison was quickly strengthened when word of the Kaiser's attack on Rome reach them, but I fear they will not be able to hold the city for long.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

The French army in the Alps has finally starved out the brave men who were manning the fort. They have surrendered it to the enemy, who have made the place their own.

1148

The year began with a bad omen. A small Hungarian army has crossed the border near Vienna. It appears that they intend to take advantage of the Kaiser's damnation. Duke Leopold was passing by Vienna with the Austrian Household Army on his way to Zagreb. He wisely took up position on the bridge north of the city to prevent the Hungarians from crossing it, should they prove to be hostile.

As expected, uncontrolled rioting erupted in Milan, killing thousands of commoners and damaging several of the cities structures. Two regiments of peasant archers from Bologna have been sent to Milan to help the militia restore order, but several more regiments of militia will have to be recruited hastily if they are to have any hope of succeeding.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

A French spy was found in Dijon and escaped before the militia could apprehend him. It appears that our foes will continue to use dishonorable methods to attack us.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Jobst von Salza has taken over command over the Dijon garrison. He is being watchful for French assassins, and will be supported by the nearby Imperial spies and assassin.

Prinz Henry has joined the fresh infantry from Staufen to the Swabian Household Army and has begun the march on the French army in the Alpine fort.

Duke Otto von Kassel has adopted a Bavarian named Gerhard Steffen. As would be expected, he has absolutely no regard for the Lord. Gerhard Steffen is serving with Duke von Kassel in the Bavarian Household Army, which is waiting for the Kaiser's force to come farther north before closing on the Pope.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Count von Hamburg has departed Magdeburg to supervise Hamburg's first years as a city.

Construction this year is as follows:
Nuremburg - Stone Wall
Hamburg - Grain Exchange
Prague - Leather Tanner
Milan - Church
Frankfurt - Communal Farming
Dijon - Leather Tanner
Bern - Communal Farming

Recruitment is as follows:
Bern - 1 Spear Militia & a priest to deal with rising heresy.
Milan - 3 Town Militia, let us hope they are enough to quell the madness
Hamburg - 1 Town Militia

*May God have mercy on the Reich.*

[TinCow]

Continuation of 1148:

Pope Gregory has assaulted and taken Genoa! He moved faster than any of us could have anticipated. The large militia force in the city proved totally ineffective and the Papal forces suffered few casualties.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

1150:

Duke Leopold's firm stance on the bridge by Vienna has deterred the Hungarians, and they have returned their army to their own lands. Duke Leopold has begun the march on Zagreb

Order has been restored in Milan.

A large Polish army has been sighted near Prague. However, Scouts in the nearby watchtowers report that it is composed of many peasants. As such, Duke Leopold will continue his march on Zagreb and Jonas von Mahren will see to the defense of the city. He has recruited two regiments of mercenary spearmen to aid in the defense of the city. Further militia recruitment will also be done.

Prinz Henry is marching on the French Alpine fort.

Duke Otto von Kassel and Kaiser Heinrich had a difficult decision to make. If they united their forces, the Pope would have time to repair the walls of Genoa and recruit more men. If they besieged Genoa immediately, they will be forced to do so with separated forces. They chose to begin the siege immediately. Duke von Kassel's Bavarian Household Army is now besieging the city from the north. Kaiser Heinrich's Army will arrive to besiege the city from the east next year.

The Milanese have firmly refused another attempt at a ceasefire. These negotiations are pointless and I will not attempt them again.

Gunther von Kastilien has taken command of the Franconian Household Army and has begun the march on Thorn.

There has been much skulduggery near Dijon. A French spy and a highly skilled French assassin have been detected there. Our Imperial spy in the region was killed while discovering this information and our Imperial assassin failed in his attempt to eliminate his vastly superior counterpart.
Jobst von Salza has prudently moved to Metz until this French murderer can be disposed of.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Count von Kastilien has a new son by the name of Fritz and Jobst von Salza has a new wife named Heidindrodis Godwinson.

Construction is as follows:
Stettin - Grain Exchange
Magdeburg - Practice Range
Rome - Leather Tanner

Recruitment is as follows:
Prague - 2 Spear Militia
Hamburg - 1 Spear Militia
Magdeburg - 1 Mailed Knights
Stettin - 1 Town Militia
Milan - 1 Spear Militia & 1 Crossbow Militia
Frankfurt - Assassin
Dijon - Spy
Staufen - 1 Dismounted Feudal Knights

As the year ended, news came that a small Polish force had somehow slipped through our borders and besieged Frankfurt!

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

1152:

Duke von Saxony has taken a small force from Magdeburg and is marching to relieve Frankfurt.

The Polish force near Prague has begun its march on the city, though it is not yet under siege.

Gunther von Kastilien and the Franconian Household Army have advanced into Polish territory. The siege of Thorn is expected to begin next year.

Duke Leopold has begun the siege of Zagreb.

Kaiser Heinrich has joined the siege of Genoa.

Prinz Henry has besieged the French inside the Alpine fort.

Near Dijon, our Imperial assassin has once again failed to kill his counterpart.

In foreign affairs, Hungary has refused our alliance offer firmly. However, an exchange of maps was arranged. News has come of a war between Egypt and the Turks.

Count von Kastilien has another son! He has named this one Peter. Gerhard Steffen has married Kungund von Austria.

For my part, I eliminated some more rebels near Dijon. The local peasants once again wished to honor me. This time I humored them. I am sure I will get many marriage proposals from local women from now on, but I have made a vow of celibacy and will refuse them.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Construction this year:
Hamburg - Town Hall
Florence - Paved Roads & Merchants Guild
Prague - Town Hall
Bologna - Church

Recruitments this year:
Prague - 2 Town Militia
Magdeburg - 1 Armored Spearmen
Stettin - 1 Town Militia

1154:

Pope Gregory has reconciled with Venice and they are no longer excommunicated. Hungary and Sicily are once again at war. The English want nothing to do with us and will not agree to an alliance. I fear our war with the Pope will prevent us from any friendly relations with any Catholic states.

With the Franconian Household Army deep within their territory, the Poles have recalled the army that was advancing on Prague. It appears to be heading to confront Count von Kastilien outside Thorn.

I have allowed the Merchants Guild to begin operating out of Nuremburg.

Duke von Saxony has chased the Poles from the walls of Frankfurt and trapped them near the river. I await news of the battle...

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...he has prevailed and the Imperial capital (and the Diet with it) has been saved! We all owe Duke von Saxony our sincere thanks.

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I now await word of Prinz Henry's assault on the Alpine fort...

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...the Prinz has retaken the fort and wiped out the French invaders, though many good Swabian men died in the assault. A small contingent has been left behind to maintain the fort, and Henry has begun the march north towards Rheims. Staufen will be ordered to prepare reinforcements, including the Reich's first Pavise Crossbowmen, for the Swabian Household Army as it passes by.

When news of the Prinz's approach reached Dijon, the garrison became greatly concerned. The Imperial assassins sent to dispose of the French murder had failed again. With the Prinz passing so close by, he would surely make a tempting target for the Frankish devil. In desperation, the entire garrison began to comb the fields around Dijon. Though there were only seven regiments, the river and the city itself limited the area in which the man could hide. Finally, after man hours of searching, he was cornered and slain in a farmhouse by the north gate of the city. Imperial spies will continue to keep a watchful eye for further assassins.

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I now await word of Duke Leopold's assault on Zagreb. It is time for the House of Austria to repay the Venetians for many years of treachery and bloodshed!

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Duke Leopold assaulted the city at night, bypassing the regiments waiting to reinforce the city. He has pushed those same regiments some distance from the city and is now waiting for the remainder of the Austrian Household Army to catch up next year before advancing on Venice in accordance with Edict 5.26.

In the north, Count von Kastilien is leading the Franconian Household Army against a small Polish force outside Thorn. With luck, he may be able to completely destroy the army and the Thorn garrison which is arriving to aid them. If this happens, there will be no one left to defend the castle and he will be able to walk right in through the undefended gates. I await word of the results.

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[GeneralHankerchief]

Kaiser Heinrich:

Rome is now capital of the Reich.

This will be made official once I assault Genoa.

[TinCow]

Continuation of 1154 :

Count von Kastilien has successfully driven off the Poles and cleared the road to Thorn. Unfortunately, a large nurmber of Polish soldiers escaped during the battle and they have secured the fortress at Thorn against attack. It will require several years of work to build sufficient siege equipment to overcome the two ringwalls.

All the Reich waits in anticipation of the final confrontation between Kaiser Heinrich and Pope Gregory. May God have mercy on their souls.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

[GeneralHankerchief]

Kaiser Heinrich:

Since we're in an Emergency Session, I might as well do my usual duties.

Zagreb goes to Austria
Magdeburg goes to Franconia
Florence goes to Bavaria

In addition, I have a further build queue for Rome:
1. land clearance
2. start a Cathedral

[OverKnight]

Build Queue for Genoa:

1154: Raze damaged Thieves Guild, repair everything else and start a Town Hall
1156: --continued
1158: Council Chambers 1/3


Build Queue for Florence:

1154: Paved Road 2/3
1156:--continued
1158: Council Chamber 1/3

The goal here is to reduce squalor and discontent. Tax levels are to be adjusted to avoid red faces if possible.


BHA Commands:

Otto von Kassel, accompanied by Gerhard Steffen, will pursue and attack the Milanese force outside of Genoa with the BHA. I hope Gerhard will prove his mettle. I will gratefully accept reinforcement from other forces if the Chancellor deems this wise.

After this, the BHA will be placed under the Chancellor's direction. He may use it to form the nucleus of a Crusade Army if E1.1 passes.

Send a messenger if you have any questions.


Edit: I have decided to add new build queues for all the other settlements of Bavaria, except Nuremburg, Maximillian's County.

Build Queue Innsbruck:

1154: Knight's Stables
1156:--continued
1158:--continued


Build Queue for Bologna:

1154: Church 2/2
1156: Large Stone Wall
1158:--continued


Build Queue for Milan:

1154: Inn
1156:--continued
1158:--continued

Tax levels are to be adjusted to avoid red faces if possible.

[Ituralde]

Build priorities Zagreb:

Conversion to Castle

[TinCow]

Continuation of 1154:

With Pope Gregory slain, an election was held in the College of Cardinals. Kaiser Heinrich approved the appointment of the Portuguese cardinal, Manoel the Righteous, who became known as Pope Accattus.

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Soon afterwards, Duke Otto von Kassel moved on the Milanese force outside Genoa and thoroughly defeated it. With the last hostile army in Italy defeated, Otto took a small contingent of infantry and began the journey to the Crusade rendezvous. Gerhard Steffen took command of the remnants of the battered Bavarian Household Army and garrisoned Genoa. The Bavarians will need to be reinforced before they can resume any offensive operations.

Construction for the year was as follows:
Genoa: Thieves Guild destroyed, repairs made, Town Hall
Zagreb: Conversion to Castle begins
Rome: Land Clearance

Recruitment was as follows (all of this is for the Crusade):
Frankfurt: 2 regiments of Teutonic Knights
Staufen: 1 Pavise Crossbowmen
Innsbruck: 2 Armored Spearmen
Zagreb: Priest
Vienna: Priest
Bologna: Priest
Milan: Spy

As the year ended, a messenger brought word that Pope Accattus had brazenly thrown off the Kaiser's authority and laid siege to Rome with nothing more than his bodyguard! Such arrogance!

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

At the same time, apparently operating under orders from the Pope, an Inquisitor visited the Swabian Household Army and tried Prinz Henry for Heresy!!! Fortunately, the Prinz's piety was obvious to all and he was found innocent.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

The Prinz has become a bit more pious as a result of this most terrifying of events.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

1156:

The Council of Nobles has rewarded us with 1000 florins for the lengthy blockade of Cagliari. Our blockade fleet moved north and attacked the Milanese ships that were transporting the remnants of the army that faced Duke von Kassel. The engagement was a victory, but the Milanese escaped.

A Scottish diplomat arrived in Frankfurt and proposed to give us trade rights in exchange for a small tribute. Negotiations were successful and resulted in an exchange of trade rights without tribute. The Scottish also paid us 1000 florins as part of an exchange of maps. An alliance was attempted, but it could not be reached. Our diplomat informed me that an Alliance could have been bought for 100 florins of tribute for 10 years, but he did not offer it as the Diet has not authorized any monetary expenditures for this.

Eusebius von der Pfalz has been made a Cardinal. There are rumors that he hides more under his robes than most would suspect. Some suggest that he is closer to Cardinal Otterbach than is appropriate under the circumstances.

Hungary has allied itself to two of our enemies, Poland and France. Unless something is done to improve our relations with them, the Reich may find itself with another war to fight.

The Merchant's Guild has established itself in Genoa.

Jobst van Salza has moved to Dijon to keep order and to take command of the Swabian Household Army. The Army itself was delayed and unable to reach Dijon this year. Apparently they were investigating a mysterious accident in which a Papal Inquisitor drowned after falling off a bridge in the middle of the night.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Duke Leopold has begun his march on Venice. The siege is expected to begin next year.

Construction is as follows:
Magdeburg - Blacksmith
Nuremburg - Paved Roads
Vienna - Fairground
Dijon - Council Chambers
Bern - Church

Recruitment is as follows:
Staufen - 1 regiment of Dismounted Feudal Knights & 1 regiment of Pavise Crossbowmen
Genoa - 1 Spear Militia & 1 Merchant Cavalry Militia
Florence - 1 Merchant Cavalry Militia

Kaiser Heinrich has marched down to Rome with two regiments of crossbowmen to deal with the new Pope. He did not take a full army with him as the Pope had no one with him but his bodyguard and would be easily defeated. However, the Pope was more clever than anticipated! As the year ended, he abandoned the siege of Rome, hired two regiments of mercenaries, and turned on the Kaiser! Heinrich has no infantry with him at all and the peasant crossbowmen will not last long in a melee battle! If he is to live to see another sunrise, he and his bodyguard will have to take the brunt of the fighting!

Oh what irony that the Kaiser should be most direly threatened by the man he personally approved for the Papal Throne!

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

The Kaiser has prudently withdrawn from the battle. The Pope's mercenary knights and spearmen were too much for his contingent of peasant crossbowmen.

1158:

A diplomat attempted to reach a peace agreement with the Pope, but the negotiations were a complete failure. Kaiser Heinrich left his crossbowmen and circled around the Pope in an attempt to reach Rome, whether the garrison is being strengthened greatly. The peasant crossbowmen which had accompanied him retreated to Florence.

Duke Leopold has advanced to the causeway which separates Venice from the mainland. His men are exhausted though and are not able to begin the siege this year, even though the city is within sight of their position.

The Crusaders continue to gather their forces and head towards Zagreb.

Construction for this year:
Staufen - Armorer
Metz - Market
Stettin - Communal Farming
Prague - Communal Farming
Bologna - Large Stone Wall

Recruitment:
Rome - 2 Spear Militia & 1 Crossbow Militia

I have received word that Field Marshal von Kastilien is preparing to assault the Polish fortress of Thorn. He significantly outnumbers the defenders, who have only a handful of infantry to man the walls. I expect word of a crushing victory soon...

The Crusade gathering continues

[TinCow]

Continuation of 1158:

Thorn has fallen to the Franconian Household Army. Much praise is due to the House of Franconia, who have single-handedly fought off repeated Polish invasions. They have consistently defeated the Reich's enemies and secured the strategic castle at Magdeburg and the fortress at Thorn. Few Houses have ever accomplished single-handedly what Franconia has managed during my term.

As the year ended, Jonas von Mahren joined Duke von Saxony's rump Crusade army.

1160:

As my term as Chancellor comes to an end, there are a few pieces of news to relay.

First, I have received word that our allies, Sicily, have been excommunicated again, though I know not why.

Several children have been born: Kordula Steffen, Niesenn von Mahren, and Siegfried von Kastilien. In addition, I have adopted a religious man to assist Bavaria as I depart on the Crusade. His name is Conrad Salier and I hope he will serve Bavaria well.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Though my term as Chancellor ends at the beginning of this year, I have taken the liberty of seeing that the Crusader forces have been moved forward. There are now 3 armies that will eventually make up the Crusade. Prinz Henry and I are northeast of Venice and will reach Zagreb in 2 turns. Duke von Saxony and Jonas von Mahren are south of Prague and will reach Zagreb in 2 turns. Duke von Kassel is west of Prague and will reach Zagreb in 3 turns. In addition, the 3 priests and the spy outsize Zagreb have been assigned to the Crusade and should accompany us.

I have also taken the liberty of ensuring that Duke Leopold's siege of Venice began, as the Austrian Household Army was already adjacent to the city.

As I leave the office of Chancellor behind, I have some final words. First, I leave the Reich Treasury with 12,725 florins. I urge all landed Lords to carefully consider the future build queues for their provinces. With the capital of the Reich moved south and our continuing excommunication, there is a great deal of unrest in many of our cities. Constructions that promote happiness will be of great use to us.

In military affairs, there is mixed news. We now have two fortresses, at Staufen and Thorn, and three castles. Our ability to recruit many regiments of strong, professional soldiers has never been greater. The Austrian and Franconian Household Armies are strong and capable of immediate action against any foes. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said of the Swabian and Bavarian Household Armies. They both meet minimum strength requirements, but the quality of the troops available to them is poor and many units are under strength. The Bavarians are currently garrisoning Genoa, which would otherwise be in unrest, and the Swabians are likewise garrisoning Dijon.

Our enemies have suffered many defeats, but many still have a strong will to fight. There are four armies that must be noted. First, there is a very strong Venetian army which has appeared south of Zagreb. Second, there is a strong Polish army to the east. It currently poses no threat to us, but should be watched. Third, a French Prince and heir is leading a strong army which is approaching Dijon from the southwest. Finally, the failed Hungarian crusade army is returning to their lands. They have entered Imperial territory west of Dijon. This is a strong army which will be of immense danger to Swabia if war breaks out between our nations.

And with that, my term as Chancellor is concluded. My God have mercy on the Reich.

http://www.totalwar.org/patrons/pbm/kotr1160.zip