Orders and reports thread

[Stuperman]

All Bavarian lands should have a tax rate that is as high as possible without the threat of Rebellion (Blue face).

[Warluster]

Chancellors Report
1246 and 1248
Kaiser Chancellor Jobst von Salza


Imperial Army Report

Matthias Steffen has started to head towards Sofia, where he will meet up with Hans army and they will travel to the Holy Land, together.

The Commanders and Garrison of Thorn have sallied forth and defeated the Polish Army.

The Russian Crusade army is massing near Madgeburg, It is nearly ready.

Several small Polish armies have twisted past our defences and are near Stettin.

The Polish near Thorn have blocked both bridges with Regiments, Ansehelms wish of moving to the CR army can not be done.



There is a Turkish army in the Adana Region, the Iconicum Offensive Army is ready to go.

Jan von Hamburg has joined King Salier’s army, which is retreating from the face of a Mongol Horde, after the last Chancellors ideas.

Successful! We have killed the cursed Witch Dannae! The Island offensives may continue!

Enemy Army Movements

A very large French Army, which was heading towards Hamburg, has gone west, and is heading towards Paris, men shall be trained as they are elite soldiers.

A large Russian Army is heading towards Thorn.

A medium Danish Army is Westwards to Hamburg.

From the looks of it, the Venetians are now on land.

A medium English Army is camping near Paris!

Caen has resisted the Portugals efforts.


City News
No Construction was completed, but several buildings have started construction in Venice, Zagreb and Damascus.


Battles To Be Fought

Arnold has defeated a Sally Forth.

Ansehelm has defeated the attackers.

Emperor Jobst is fighting a battle against a Danish Army.

[flyd]

Chancellor's Report, end of 1248 through start of 1252

Good Electors,

This is my first report to the Diet, and depending on what the Mongols do, may well be the last. When I inherited the office of Chancellor in 1248, the first thing I noticed was that many of our fronts were undermanned given the threats they were facing. The Outremer, of course, will always be undermanned, given the sheer numbers our eastern enemies are capable of fielding. The situation around Thorn was very bad, with the garrison itself being very small, and a large Russian invading army nearby. The Swabians were under strength as well, but did not face any immediate threats, and the Bavarian armies were very small and spread on two islands. I suppose only the Austrians were well off, with a large army besieging Budapest.

I have attempted to fix this problem. At the end of 1248, every castle in the land was training troops, most at full capacity. Most did in 1250 as well. In the homelands, the highest priority was Thorn, drawing troops from as far away as Innsbruck. The Swabians also received some reinforcements. As a result of the heavy recruitment, the construction was reduced. However, there were sufficient funds to fix all damage caused by the rioting during the previous years. Enough was left over to begin the construction of three cathedrals, four abbeys, and other small churches and chapels during the two years.

In the Outremer, Karl Zirn has advanced towards Iconium, defeating a Turkish army, and now besieges it. As it was apparent that the Mongols would advance on Edessa, I rallied all the remaining troops there. At the end of 1250, there may have been around 2500 Imperial troops there, in three armies commanded by me, Elberhard, and Conrad Salier. In 1252, the entire Mongol army, well in excess of 4000 strong, moved towards Edessa. As I have already communicated to the crusaders, I do not believe this army can be engaged in the open field, and have instructed Elberhard and Salier to withdraw. I will remain in Edessa to delay the enemy, while further defensive preparations take place in and around Aleppo.

in Franconia, the von Kastiliens declined to break out of Thorn in 1250. As a result, a large Russian army has bypassed it and now threatens Franconia. It has not advanced very far yet, however. Some reinforcements have arrived near Thorn already, and others are on the way. Hopefully, sufficient troops can be rallied quickly enough to engage the invading Russian army.

In Austria, Arnold has continued to besiege Budapest. Sofia was given away to the Greeks in 1250, and Hans has started towards the holy land.

In Swabia, the Swabian household army has remained near Paris, moving around as necessary to face potential invading threats. A large French army lurks nearby. The Swabian army has received some reinforcements from Staufen.

In Bavaria, Gerhard Steffen has left Corsica, on the assumption that the Spaniards or the Sicilians will be competent enough to defeat the remnants of Milan. His army was used to supplement Lothar Steffen's army, which assaulted Ajaccio on Corsica. I believe you are aware of the result.

There is nothing else of significance to report.

Chancellor von Hamburg.

[flyd]

Chancellor's Report, end of 1252 through start of 1256.

Good Electors,

I bring you my second report. I need not reiterate what my overall objectives are, I think you know. I shall dive right into theater-specific comments.

The Outremer. Iconium was taken by Karl Zirn in 1252, and given away to the Greeks the same year. They still hold on to it as far as we know. Zirn encountered a large Turkish army on his way back, which followed him to Adana. In 1256, that army has been destroyed. The Saracens threatened the south somewhat, with two large armies invading the Papal lands around Jerusalem. For a moment, it appeared that one army would threaten Acre also, and Jan von Hamburg was dispatched south. However, both armies attacked the Pope at the end of 1254. One Papal army was defeated and Jerusalem was besieged, but the Pope sallied with success. No large Saracen armies currently threaten Jerusalem, which is well-defended. The Mongols failed to siege Edessa in 1254, and in 1256 moved along, crossing the river Euphrates to the north. I must admit that this passage was unknown to me. I attacked the rear of the Mongol formation, destroyed a part of the trailing army and withdrew to Edessa. Currently, three Mongol armies remain at full strength, with two of them across the Euphrates already. The fourth army has no heavy cavalry and is now led by a captain. The enemy artillery has also been reduced, though I do not know if they have any in their leading armies. Recruitment has continued at maximum capacity. Both Elberhard's and Conrad Salier's armies are now at full strength (about 1500 each).

Eastern Franconia. The siege of Thorn was broken with a sally in 1252. By 1254, sufficient reinforcements had accumulated to directly attack the invading Russian army under Miroslav. Ansehelm von Kastilien defeated this army just west of Thorn. In 1256, he moves south to destroy a large Polish army. Currently, one army is active in Eastern Franconia, and is just over 1000 strong. Further reinforcements will be necessary so that both a strong crusade army and a strong Franconian Household Army can be formed. However, if all immediate threats are destroyed, the crusade may depart early, and the FHA built up over time. Conversely, the crusade will not leave unless the threats are destroyed or the FHA is at strength.

Western Franconia. A separate theater really, quite isolated from the east. Large Danish armies have been lurking in the area for a long time. In 1254, they conducted a large scale invasion. I estimate that the total strength of the invading force was around 5000 men. The only field army in the area was the one under Kaiser Jobst and Sigfried von Kastilien, which was probably under 1000 men. One of the Danish armies besieged Hamburg (perhaps 1500 men), while the remaining force, in three armies, surrounded Jobst and von Kastilien in a forest just south of Hambug. I have not received a detailed report on this battle, but it does appear that all Danish forces were destroyed, with von Kastilien in command. As you know, Kaiser Jobst died in one of these engagements. Von Kastilien's army is now quite depleted, and reinforcements are inbound.

Austria. Arnold captured Budapest in 1252. In 1254, the city was besieged by a large Hungarian army, with two more Hungarian armies following. Total estimated strength of perhaps 3000. Arnold's force sallied, and, receiving reinforcements proceeded to destroy all three armies. No further large enemy armies are now in Hungary proper, but others are no doubt in what remains of the Hungarian kingdom. Reinforcements are inbound.

Swabia. No events of interest occured in Swabia, although Paris was temporarily threatened by a large French army. Duke Scherer maneuvered between it and Paris, but the French decided to attack to the west anyway.

Bavaria. Bavaria has been quiet. Some recruitment has been performed at Ajaccio to reinforce/professionalize the Bavarian Household Army. I have not received news of the destruction of the Milanese yet. I plan to send an expedition to Sardinia as soon as the boats arrive, to assess the situation.

There is nothing else to report.

Chancellor von Hamburg.

[flyd]

Chancellor's Report, end of 1256 through start of 1258.

Good Electors,

I has only been two years since my last report, and my term does end soon, but this is a very volatile time. I'll get right into it.

Our alliance with Sicily is no more. The Sicilians have landed an army at Durazzo and attacked the Pope. They have been repelled by the Papal troops, but we needed to abandon one of our alliances. This decision was not as easy to make as it appears. Although aggression against the Pope is the most despicable act imaginable, the Sicilians have been, if my memory does not fail me, our oldest allies, even during the time we had our own... issues with the Papacy. Even so, I could not side with them.

I shall finish with the regional notes.

This is the current situation in the Outremer:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

As you see, the Mongols have been trapped. Karl Zirn holds Adana, Conrad Salier holds the bridge north of Damascus, Elberhard holds Aleppo, and I hold Edessa. If the Mongols continue to avoid a fight, they have nowhere to go but Turkish lands. Else, they must attack us at our castles or across bridges.

Not everything went as well, however. The fleet that was transporting Matthias Steffen was attacked by a large Egyptian fleet. Although the two fleets were evenly matched, our fleet lost. One of the ships was sunk, but the Lord must have been looking over Steffen that day. His ship escaped, and an escape to the east was possible. Steffen has reached the shore of Asia, and disembarked, for it is unsafe to continue on a severely depleted fleet. He will continue overland unless a fleet in the Outremer can be assembled.

In Eastern Franconia, no major threat to Thorn remains, although there are many small enemy armies about. The crusade should be able to leave at the start of the next Chancellor's term.

In Western Franconia, the Danes have invaded again and besiege Hamburg. Siegfried von Kastilien is there with a reinforced army.

Bavaria will need to reorganize somewhat now that we are no longer allied with Sicily. Although too late for my Chancellorship, I expect that Lothar Steffen's army will leave Corsica to protect Rome. We have received indication that the last Milanese stronghold is still under siege, and may surrender in 4 years.

There have been no events in Swabia.

That is all.

Chancellor von Hamburg.

P.S. Condolences to my brothers on the death of Agnes von Saxony.

[flyd]

Chancellor's Report, end of 1258 and end of Chancellorship.

Good Electors,

I wish I could end my term in office on a positive note, but it is not to be. Jerusalem has been sacked by the Saracens. The attacking army was less numerous than the Papal garrison and besieged the city for only one turn, but was still victorious in the assault. The Pope has lost his life. One of our cardinals was easily elected, and the Papacy is now based in Durazzo.

The Mongols have moved south and are now outside of Aleppo, but have not besieged it. They may decide to bypass it, which is why the Damascus garrison was strengthened as much as it could, in case some were wondering. The Danes no longer siege Hamburg, and our good allies, the English, have gone to war with Denmark, attacking them near Antwerp.

However, it looks like the Milanese have managed to save themselves for the time being. Their last citadel was two years from surrender, but the Spaniards have lifted the siege and agreed on a ceasefire. A large Sicilian army remains on Sardinia.

The Reich now, is much stronger than it was when I was elected. In the Outremer, we have four full-strength armies, whereas at the start it would have been difficult to assemble one. Franconia was virtually without an army, and now has one assembled, and perhaps a second if reinforcements are collected. All other house armies have received reinforcements as well, and remain strong, though the Bavarian one could use some work. Almost all cities in the Empire now have the highest level of church possible, or are currently constructing it.

During my term, we experienced large-scale invasions by the Mongols, the Turks, the Russians, the Danes, the Poles, and the Hungarians, while the Pope has been constantly attacked by the Saracens. All of these threats still remain. The Mongols, though heavily reduced, still retain about 3000 troops in our lands. The Turks have been assembling at Caesarea, and are about ready to send another army our way. The Saracens have sacked Jerusalem. The Danes still have multiple large armies around Antwerp, and probably in Denmark too. I know not of what Poland and Russia are up to, but I doubt we've seen the last of them. At least one large Hungarian army has been spotted. The French have been busy with Portugal, but they do outnumber us in the region significantly, and one French army has been sitting on our border for a long time. The Sicilians are currently neutral, but who knows what will come from them. We are still not out of the woods, but we are better prepared now.

Chancellor von Hamburg.

[AussieGiant]

Duke Arnold Austria

AHA command is to be handed over to Sigismund von Mahren.

Further orders are to be given to Sigismund von Mahren. If edict 11.5 is passed then Bran is clearly a target of opportunity.

Duke Arnold is to collect the Imperial, Feudal and Mailed Knights being sent to Budapest as reinforcements, and form an small four regiment Cavalry only force. This is to engage all rebel forces in the Austrian interior and wipe them out.

Once this is complete he is to head for Ragusa to ensure Sicilian encroachment is deterred and to personally oversee the continued training of reinforcements for the AHA and send them on their way to Sigismund.

Taxes in all provinces to be yellow face or better.

Build Orders:

Ragusa

Armoury
Baron's Stables
Gunsmith

Budapest

Militia Drill Square
Alchemist Lab
Ballista Towers

Vienna

Huge Stone Walls
Gunsmith
Alchemist Lab

Venice

Dockyards
Merchant Bank