Orders and reports thread

[OverKnight]

1288

The French siege of Caen continues, they tried besieging Marseille, but the garrison sallied out and drove them off.

The Russians have retaken Moscow and put an end to the rioting in the city.

I had hoped the city would rebel, but Moscow is a shadow of it's former self. Between Duke Ansehelm and rioting, the city is a ghost town with many damaged buildings. The Duke is on the road to Smolensk in the area of Ryazan.

Jerusalem was besieged by the Egyptians, but the Papacy was able to repulse them without our assistance. Also, another of our priests has joined the College of Cardinals.

Portugal and Egypt along with England and France have reached ceasefires.

Count Lothar Steffen has departed Cagliari with the first Bavarian HA. His ships are weighted down with catapults, so he will arrive at Palermo next year.

Count Edmund Becker has taken command of the second Austrian HA. He will head west as small Polish and Hungarian armies have been spotted north and east of Budapest. A large rebel army is also near the city. Duke Arnold, while the first AHA reinforces, has begun building a series of forts and watchtowers in the mountain passes around Bran.

Dietrich von Dassel and elements of the second Swabian HA are making their way to meet near Paris.

Despite a clumsy assassination attempt by the Danes, Count Fritz von Kastilien will be making his way east as the military threat by Denmark has subsided. This is needed to cover his brother's eventual move on Vilnius.


1288 continued

Count Peter von Kastilien has routed a small force of Poles north of Thorn. He has moved east to begin his drive on Vilnius.

Count Zirn has brought justice to the the Egyptian al Muazzam in the desert south of Damascus. He was an irritant and I am glad he is dead.

Duke Gerhard Steffen has destroyed a small Sicilian force blocking his way to Palermo. The pincer is closing on the Castle.

I took the northern Army of Outremer to the mountain pass northeast of Adana to expell a large Turk army from our territory. I fear the Turks are using our lands to transport troops to Caesarea in their efforts against the Byzantines. This must stop. I faced Kasim of Kabul, his army was destroyed but the coward escaped. I set up a watchtower and will block any further incursions into our frontiers.

The French finally summoned up the courage to assault Caen, but Duke Scherer has repulsed them in a Heroic victory. A smaller French army has moved to besiege the Castle however.

[OverKnight]

1290

Caen remains under a second siege.

The Egyptians have besieged Jerusalem again, but were repulsed by the city's garrison.

A Sicilian fleet has unexpectedly attacked the Imperial fleet carrying Count Hans.

Our ships were put to flight, with one flotilla being sunk. The Count will continue his journey.

Pope Gualandus is dead. The College of Cardinals gathered to select a replacement, but by now it is a mere formality. We can never directly control the Church, but we do control who becomes Pope.

Though Denmark and Spain were reconciled, our Catholic enemies are all in danger of excommunication. As Pope Abbate is only 53, this will last. On the other hand, we must watch our own actions as well.

The Kaiser has been blessed with another daughter, while another son is born to Count Zirn.

1290 continued

Count Peter von Kastilien has defeated a large Polish army blocking his path and has crossed into their territory. He should reach Vilnius by next year. I have not heard from the Count if Tancred von Tyrolia was deemed worthy of knighting.

Count Edmund Becker has crushed two armies outside Budapest. Duke Arnold has constructed a fort and watchtower north of Bran. The fortifications in the Carpathian mountains are now complete.

Count Lothar Steffen has taken Palermo, the last Sicilian possesion in Europe. Edict 12.1 is fulfilled. A diplomat has been dispatched via a large fleet to land in Africa next year. I plan to offer them Cagliari for peace. Due to extra funds provided by Lothar's sacking of the Castle, I have decided to convert Cagliari into a city in preperation for the offer. The forces in the Citadel will rest and rearm, and the two HAs will exchange troops to come to a more consistent configuration.

Kaiser Siegfried has routed some rebels near Innsbruck.

His army will rest and rearm in the Castle.

I have defeated a small army of Turks in the pass northeast of Adana.

I have established a fort at the battle site to contain further Turkish incursions.

Prinz Elberhard has moved south of Jerusalem to face the Egyptian armies that have been brazenly crossing the Pope's land. Count Dieter Bresch is moving the second Army of Outremer south as well, as Egyptian forces have been spotted gathering in the desert near Damascus. He is now east of the city.

[OverKnight]

1292

My Father, Duke Gerhard Steffen, is dead. This is terrible news.



An august General, he turned the Po River valley into a charnel pit for the Venetians and Hungarians. His seizure of Marseille and Naples were marked by suddenness and disdain for the siege. His reign as Duke saw an era of unrivalled peace and prosperity for Bavaria, as the Duchy was spared much of the strife visited on the rest of the Reich. I will miss him.

In some small recompense, several of the Reich's nobles were blessed with daughters.

Breslau has been besieged by the Poles. They are also within a year's march to Budapest.

The College of Cardinals is at capacity once again as an Imperial priest was promoted to Pope Abbate's vacant slot.

Count Dietrich von Dassel and the second SHA are now in position to support the defense of Caen and will be able to strike at the besiegers next year.

I have moved to northwest of Adana and established another fort in the pass to Turkish Caesarea.

Our diplomat has landed in Africa, and will reach Tunis in a year.


1292 continued

Count Bresch has defeated an Egyptian army southeast of Damascus. The survivors fled north. Prinz Elberhard defeated the Egyptian Crown Prince Mustamsik and his army on the Gaza-Jerusalem border. This is the beginning of a new aggressive approach against the Saracen. Armies near Jerusalem and our borders will be attacked before they can enter our territory.

Count Peter von Kastilien has taken Vilnius. Edict 12.2 is fulfilled. Count Fritz von Kastilien has broken the siege of Breslau and rejoined his infantry halfway between Thorn and Hamburg.

Count Edmund Becker has suffered a crushing defeat to the Poles north of Budapest. The second Austrian Household Army has been destroyed and Wilhelm von Heidelburg was captured and slain by the Polish. Becker and the remnants of his army have taken shelter in Budapest. In response to this terrible news, Duke Arnold is marching west from Bran with the remaining Household Army.

Our diplomat in Durazzo has arranged to donate 500 florins a year for the next five years to the Church. Considering the relative youth of the Pope, I consider this a good idea.

Another of our diplomats on the Russian border stumbled on a Sicilian Princess. He tried to make her an offer she couldn't refuse.

It was a generous but it was refused. I hope our Diplomat nearing Tunis will have more luck, but I fear our reputation is too despicable for anyone to make peace with us.

Finally, I have received word that the French have attacked Count Dietrich von Dassel's army as it lay outside besieged Caen. I will report on the battle in the new year.

[OverKnight]

1294

Sir Dietrich von Dassel is victorious with a crushing defeat of the French who attacked him! The French, shocked by their loss, have abandoned their second seige of Caen. I will begin recruiting new troops there immediately.

Soon after I heard of this Heroic Victory, I received news that two Hungarian armies had attacked Duke Arnold and the remaining AHA.

When taken together, the Hungarians had a well balanced force. However Providence and the terrain smiled upon us, as both served to delay the arrival of the second army. The Duke skillfully used an advantage in height and cavalry to destroy the first army.

Arnold was then able to reform his men to face the second army when it finally arrived. This time he had the superiority in bowmen.

It was a crushing victory.

The Duke was in no mood, as if he ever is, to leave the enemy forces alive.

The Hungarians have also besieged Bran, but with a small army. It should be easy enough to drive off.

The Franconians face an interesting decision as the Teutonic Knights have offered to establish a Chapter House in Vilnius. The question is, do we plan to stay there?

With the Reich flush with Florins, and my building program in full swing, I decided to try one last time to make peace with the Sicilians.

It cost a pretty penny, but we have peace with the Sicilians. I know they could turn around and attack us again, but I felt we must give peace one more oppurtunity. The Sicilians may have forgotten their alliance with us, but they stuck with us through Excommunication, we owed them a chance. However, further treachery will not be tolerated.

Having reached a ceasefire with Sicily, I contacted their allies the Spanish. If we remain at war with them, it could possibly endanger our new found peace.

Again, our reputation has made negotiations difficult, but we must try. Sicily and Spain were our two enemies with whom we do not share a border. I hope this will serve to establish a lasting peace and mutually beneficial trade. We shall see. In both cases, I aimed for upfront payments, so as not to burden the next Chancellor.


1294 continued

Duke Arnold has crushed a small Hungarian army in his path.

Unfortunately for the Hungarians, the Duke's bad mood continues, there were no survivors. The garrison of Bran has also thrown off the Magyar siege. This means that Austria is free of the their troops. Edmund Becker has taken the mounted remnants of his army and is proceeding to the Citadel to recruit a new force.

I welcome Duke Ansehelm and the Teutonic Crusade back to the Reich!

Count Fritz von Kastilien has moved west to respond to the threat on Hamburg, as the Danes have besieged the Elbe fort. Count Peter von Kastilien has moved back towards Thorn with the majority of his army in response to an increased Polish presence in the area. Sir Tancred von Tyrolia now commands at Vilnius with a small garrison until the fate of the Citadel is decided. There are three units of Polish Nobles to the south, but there is no infantry for a proper siege, and the Duke will soon be in the area.

Cou. . .Duke Lothar has departed Palermo with HA Gerhard. He will take ship to Florence. Count Karolinger will remain in Palermo while HA Otto finishes arming.

Duke Scherer will stay in Caen to refit his army and oversee repairs to the Citadel. Sir Dietrich von Dassel will stay nearby and await reinforcement from Staufen. The siege is over, but both Swabian HAs are battered and not ready for offensive action.

Prinz Eleberhard has moved back to Acre to rest and refit his army. Count Bresch has moved closer to Damascus, as I don't want him going too far from our border in pursuit of the Saracen.

Finally, in order to strengthen our northern border with the Turks, and, as I have been convinced, aid our allies, I have attacked a small Turkish army outside Caesarea. The Byzantines have been sitting outside the Castle for ages, but were outnumbered. I have decided to break the stalemate. As I expected, my attack drew both the garrison and the Byzantines into battle.

The day went well for us and our allies. I hope to write a battle report shortly.

The Turkish Sultan fled, and he and a few survivors are holed up in their capital. I hope that our allies, with many men in the area, will summon their courage and besiege the Citadel. I have done all I can for them besides open the gate.

[OverKnight]

1296

England has besieged Bruges and is again at war with the French. Due to the seizure of Caen, the city is isolated and the English might have a chance to take the city if their courage does not falter.

Caen is again besieged, however I have rushed some Merchant Cavalry Militia to Sir von Dassel and a Portuguese army is in the area and is willing to assist a sally.

The Danish siege of the Elbe fort turned out to be a ruse, they have bypassed it and have encircled Hamburg instead. The fort has served its purpose, however, as the Saxony HA now lies ready to assist. The Prussia HA has sent some troops to Thorn to rearm and Count Peter and the rest of the army have taken up their old position at the bridge south of the Citadel.

A Polish army had besieged Budapest, but Duke Arnold fell upon them like a wolf among sheep.

The Polish Nobles did not fare as well against the Duke as they had in their previous battle near Budapest.

Their army was destroyed and the prisoners executed. The few survivors fled to the hills and will not trouble the Reich again.

The Duke has moved north and has added several regiments of spear militia to his army for the tough road ahead. Reinforcements are coming from Ragusa and Innsbruck, but they will have to catch up. Count Becker has arrived in Bran and is supervising the rebuilding of the 2nd AHA.

Despite my assistance, the Byzantines did not strike at Caesarea, though they have moved several armies into the area. My old friend Kasim of Kabul has stopped threatening our border near Adana and is making his way to the Citadel in a panic. I have moved the 2nd AoO to Adana to rearm. Count Zirn has assumed command of the 1st AoO and has taken position east of Damascus. If the Egyptians wish to threaten the city, they will have to pass by him. Prinz Elberhard has moved to the far south of Papal territory on the road between Jedda and Gaza. My goal with these last two moves is to block Saracen military movement and bring them to battle.

Our assassin has removed a thorn from the Pope's side.

One of our priests near Metz, Edmund Deines, began expressing doubts about Transubstantiation and had to be tried for heresy by his colleague, Johannes Plittersdorf. We lost a priest, but his Inquisitor has gained prestige.

I nearly forgot, I am an Uncle again, Duke Lothar has been blessed with another son, Wenzel.


1296 continued

Count Fritz von Kastilien has successfully lifted the siege of Hamburg and crushed the Danes. He will move to Magdeburg to rearm.

Sir Dietrich von Dassel has pummeled the French near Caen with the assistance of Duke Scherer and the Portuguese Prince. Both HAs will rearm in the area as Caen is free to recruit and reinforcements are coming from Staufen.

Count Peter von Kastilien and the Prussian Army have been attacked by two Polish armies on the south bridge of the Vistula. I will report on the battle in the new year.

[OverKnight]

1298

Count Peter von Kastilien was victorious over the Poles. He will remain in place and receive reinforcements from Thorn.

Our allies the Byzantines have besieged Caesarea and moved several armies into the area. I am glad my attack against the Turks has finally emboldened our friends. The English continue their siege of Bruges.

It appears the Danes have tried to assassinate Count Fritz von Kastilien again. They failed, but their hatred for him is a testament to the Count's many victories over the scum. He has continued on to Magdeburg to reinforce the Saxon Army.

The Steffen family has grown, Lothar has a third son, Bernhard, and my sister Kordula has married a promising noble, Fredericus Erlach.

He is currently in Rome.

I have also received an interesting message from the Assassins Guild in Stettin.

I normally don't respond to such threats, but we could use another blade.

Several small Turk armies are in our territory east of Edessa. I have relinquished command of the northern AoO to King Jan. He is currently between Antioch and Aleppo and while my term will soon be over, I think it would be a good idea for him drive the Turks off. Count Dieter Bresch has taken of the southern AoO and is east of Damascus.

The first Swabian HA is a year away from near full strength as it continues reinforcing at Caen. The second HA is being dispatched to Staufen to reinforce.

Count Hans has landed in Marseille and is proceeding north. Count Lothar Steffen and HA Gerhard have arrived in Florence.

The Russians have sent an army south towards Vilnius. I have asked Duke Ansehelm and the Teutonic Crusade to face them.


1298 continued

Duke Ansehelm has destroyed the Russians, but Helmut von Hamburg was killed saving the army from an ambush. I mourn the man, but salute his bravery.

Prinz Elberhard has crushed an Egyptian army, with many units of Royal Mamluks, southeast of Jerusalem.

Duke Arnold, doubling back with only a cavalry force, has broken the seige of Budapest with the assistance of the garrison.

The army was routed, and the survivors executed. The first AHA then proceeded north.

I am concerned over the level of heresy in Budapest and Bran, due to recent apostate activity, I have dispatched the priests who were working on Ajaccio to the region. I will also recruit new priests in Vienna and Budapest.

Count Peter von Kastilien has moved to the western part of Krakow. An inquisitor in the area has meet with an accident, a tragedy.

Count Fredericus Erlach has joined Duke Lothar and HA Gerhard in a newly built fort outside Florence.

[OverKnight]

1300

Thorn has been besieged by three units of Polish Nobles, this is more of a raid than a real assault.

The English and Byzantines continue their sieges of Bruges and Caesarea. I am glad we have allies, but their deliberate pace frustrates me.

Speaking of the Byzantines, our envoy to their court, Wilkerus von Bavaria, has passed away. He will have to be replaced if we are to continue active diplomacy with them.

An agent from Denmark was expelled from Hamburg, the city might need a counter-spy.

An assassin was recruited in Budapest, fulfilling the Guild's request.

I have bought a new hat with the reward money.

The Scottish Prince, perhaps hearing of our new recruit, has made a request.

I begin to regret our past "sanctions" against the Polish and Danish Kings, as we now seem to be seen as an agent of succesion by the Princes of Europe.

The Pope is pleased by our building efforts in Outremer. Count Karl Zirn has my grattitude for ordering the construction.

The Pope has shown a concrete sign of his approval.

We now control 12 of 13 seats in the College of Cardinals.

Meinburg von Salza has married an ambitious young nobleman in Rome. I hope he has hidden strengths.

A new General in Budapest has been brought into the House of Austria. It seems he is a cousin of another Austrian.

This is my last report as Chancellor. It has been my honor to serve the Reich in the position for the last two terms. This term has seen many positive developments. Our finances continue to grow.

All aspects of the Reich's income have increased. I believe that making peace with Sicily and Spain has added to our trade. Our Merchants are unrivalled, though we can't, at the moment, bring any more into our service.

The creation of the second House Armies, a major accomplishment of my term, has caused our Military spending to increase by twenty percent. I believe the Reich has reached the maximum amount of army costs that we can maintain while still pursuing a construction program and growing our finances. Contrary to when I started as Chancellor, each settlement of the Reich has had near constant building in the past 20 years.

During my term, the Reich has conquered Caen, Vilnius, Naples and Palermo. The Teutonic Crusade reached Moscow and returned safely. The Mongols were crushed underfoot, and I have taken steps to weaken the Turks and Egyptians to further secure Outremer. By aiding our allies the Byzantines near Caesarea, I hope to strengthen our northern border there.

We have faced many battles and relentless enemies. Good men have sacrificed their lives to keep the Reich safe. Despite horrific opposition we have prevailed. From the English Channel to the sands of the East, from the Steppes to the Mediterranean we are dominant. Imperial Hegemony extends throughout the known world. In trade or war, we are feared and respected. I thank you all for making it possible.

My time as Chancellor is done. May good fortune and Providence shine upon my successor, Kaiser Siegfried.

For God, the Kaiser and the Reich,

Count Matthias Steffen

http://www.totalwar.org/patrons/pbm/kotr1300.zip