Orders and reports thread

[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

[FactionHeir]

Appointments:
Metz: Count Wolfgang Hümmel
Dijon: Count Athalwolf von Salza
Paris: Count Friedrich Scherer
Rheims: Prince Count Elberhard
Bern and Staufen remain Ducal territory.

Build orders:
Staufen:
Finish Master Armourer
Tourney Field
Gunsmith
Stables

Bern:
Finish Huge Stone Walls
Mayor's Palace
Merchant's Quarter

Taxation:
Tax levels are not to be set above High.

Preliminary Household army orders
SHA1 to be led with Count Hümmel. With the passage of Edict 13.1, it will take Bruges if the English are defeated and hold it against hostile attacks. If Paris or Caen are threatened, it is to move to their defense. SHA1 is authorized to raid French territory once Bruges is pacified.
SHA1 will initially be stationed at Caen. Count Scherer is to rotate command of SHA1 with Count Hümmel subject to availability and urgency.

SHA2 to be led by Count von Salza. SHA2 is to defend Dijon and aid SHA1 if odds are infavorable or SHA1 is otherwise unavailable/unable to defend the northern border effectively. SHA2 is authorized to raid French territory and pre-emptively strike at any French or Rebel force.
SHA2 will initially be stationed at Dijon.

No other person with exception of Duke Hans and the aforementioned men are to command any part of the SHA until further notice.

[OverKnight]

Milan

Merchant Vaults
then Chancellor's Discretion

Set taxes to avoid rioting.

Adana

Heavy Armourer
then Chancellor's Discretion

[Northnovas]

Zagreb

The city is being upgraded but I would like the following:

1. Abbey
2. City Watch

after that anything economic for the settlement.

Damascus

1. Cannon Towers ( a must to defend the Cathedral)
2. Communial Farming
3. Merchant Bank (First Bank of Damascus) interest free loans on OAC