Religious Wars - A Desperate World

**Baby Boomer** · 02-13-2008, 11:17

Chapter VI
From April 1st
‘till
July the 1stThe year advances quickly; it whips past and the storms of 1540 are finally blowing over. It does not mean a lack of death though.

The Elections for Holy Roman Emperor were held in Prague these months of winter. A amazing and beautifully affair as never been seen since the days of the Romans. Dukes, Counts and lower ranked nobles of all states in the Empire have banded together. All dressed in different colors to their states code, all with different accents. The highlight was the prince Electors which were up for nomination. There was ArchDuke Ferdinand of Austria who entered the hall flanked by his trusted men. The eagle of Austria flew proudly outside; in entered the King of Spain. Dressed in a deep yellow. And after Duke Albert of Bavaria; blue seemed to wash the hall. The other lower Electors then voted for who they wanted, as did the prince Electors, and in late June the tally was in. The Austrian ArchDuke was victorious and was ridden to Rome where he was crowned by the Pope has Holy Roman Emperor, and thence the old one died peacefully. Lands, armies and more have totaled to Austria’s count. The ArchDuke, now with much land from his crowning and recent Genoan War, has passed a Law and Rule in the Imperial Diet already. The Order of Salvation, renamed from Teutonic Knights, are now accepted as Prince Electors once again. This has been welcomed warmly by the smaller states in the Empire. Lands were gifted. A new map was redrawn and has gathered approval by many in the Imperial Diet. Though the Election dominated the months of late summer and winter it was not the only thing which happened in Central Europe. The new ArchDuke of Austria is Ferdinand’s son, who is being tutored by the wise general Peter Ansbach. He is promising and widely unknown. The Duchy of Saxony was given a opportunity to cede from the Empire but this was downright refused with offense. They still push for the title of ArchDuchy though.

In the lands of the Order of Salvation, recently renamed regarding issues of intentions, they have given the cut off lands of Livonia they honor of independence. Such news was received and Meister Sigismund of Livonia is now Chancellor of the Confederacy of Livonia. They are weak, have not entered the Florins market and still remain a vassal of the Order for another two years but remain their own country. The Order separately has moved more troops through their lands and more expert fortifications were set up on the Polish border, surprisingly and slightly unsettling and quiet. The Order is now part of the Empire; and certain agreements exsist between the Knights and the Emperor. With all this good news bad must come after; many troops and families are now moving across Eastern Europe, through Saxony and into Austria in a massive formation and are marching… somewhere. When stopped they claim they have rights, and are let on, and it is unknown whether it was given right by the HochMeister, Emperor or any other ruler. Their destination remains unknown.

In France the Catholic force in Rouen is reinforced with a further 6 000 soldiers from further West, mainly Nantes and Rennes. The Lutheran force’s strength remains unknown. Nothing happens in the North, and the Lutheran forces and Catholic alike stay silent. The south is now the highlight of the Civil War, with the 18 000 strong force given commands by the King to continue further south to secure the ports bordering the ocean. This is done so but it is clearly obvious the Lutheran forces are fencing up their main cities, and in an important blow they mainly secure the ports and towns on the sea so supply issues no problem. IN a double move the Lutheran’s dispatch several hundred soldiers and cut off the supply lines for a month until threatened by a angry Catholic villagers, also reliant on such supplies. Fortunely, and to the relief of many in Orleans and Rheims there was no major battle. The United Kingdom of Corso, a union of Corsica and Sardina could play a important role in the Lutheran war effort; if all goes to the worst the Lutheran’s may have the option to retreat to the fortress islands where perhaps even the Catholic’s couldn’t touch them. While these military efforts are undertaken in the south another spectacular thing of the mind was achieved in Orleans; the researchers who are constantly testing the world of science and words now control a important technology. The printing press; it is unreliable, large and slow but gets the job done. Such thing may be important in diplomacy, and will speed up communication between several sources. To put such thing to use something happens in a Lutheran port bordering the sealine; a pirate fleet raids the place and seriously damages the capable Lutheran forces there. The King’s advisors immediately jump to the opportunity and beg the King to strike.

Regarding such fleets and navies a sea war is being fought in the Baltic, but it is now expanded. The Russian Tsar, acting aggressively sends a strong Russian force to attack Swedish Finland. In coordination with such campaigns the Russian Navy allows several fleets to break off and attempt to relieve the cities which are entrapped by Swedish enforcers. Out of the many blockades most are broken off with inspirited Swedish defense, and said flee to the north at once as if have suffered a horrible defeat. The Russians glory in their attacks before they realise the Navy to the south is being attacked. Before they get there though even more confusing news reaches them; the Swedish had once again disappeared. They retreat north and are now told by fishermen that some Swedish ships had escaped the harbor, but not all. These confusing items of information remain untapped and are assumed useless; the Swedish must’ve lost those ships or could not get the ships all out. All is thrown away and the country focuses on the Russian Army marching up the Finnish coast. The Russian strategy and advance was well planned personally by the Tsar. They march through open fields and easily cross the border by May. This was expected and no sigh’s of relief are heard. The first notable city on the coast, Haukpudas, is sieged by the Russians by land and sea. A expected victory turns into actual battle. The Russian Navy is attacked by the Swedish Fleets which had retreated north. The battle rages a week with several lulls. The small island off the coast turns out to be a small fortress supplying the Swedish Navy. On news of this the Russians Navy falls back to their own city of Osuo where the two nations duel for some time. Finally both sides retreat to their ports. In the Bay of Helsinki the Russian Fleet their moves in slowly and in a tighter death noose and attack the remaining ships. But, strangely, they are empty. No supplies, ammunition or anything else remains on the ships. The Russian Army though is victorious on land, the Swedish are reeling backwards with gret speed and aren’t known where to go. There are hardly any soldiers in the country. The advance expected to be bloody was becoming quite simple on land. The Russians advance to the next notable town, and it also is a easy one to capture. The city falls in easily and the advance so far is victorious. On the opposite of the Russian Empire a similar cleanup operation continues. The Ukrainian Rebels are desperately fleeing south away from the incoming claws of Russian death. City after city falls, people are tortured and more to find out where the rebels hide. Thousands are killed in several weeks and the disastrous first stage of Russian operation now takes a sudden turn to good fortunes. Crimea turns out to be a rebellious area, such facts already known since they were conquered not so long ago. The Rebels are found to have left Crimea now. Several head to Turkey and more to the East of the Black Sea. Those rebels find home in lands occupied Russians Turkish influenced. The rebels heading to Turkey are refused entry and when some are killed when trying they turn to the way their comrades went. After these obvious notions towards their intentions, the Russians turn on the rebels finding home in Georgia and most are executed, the rest flee as a rabble into the wild posing no more threats. Where they flee may be a worry, a Colony of 500 is set up on what is recognised as the Caspian Sea. It could thrive as a major trading, or military place, where exchanges between the Ottoman Empire and Russian Empire may proceed. The same can not be said in the mountainous area where there second Colony of 400 was set up in, as expressed by many, the middle of nowhere.

Speaking of the Turkish Empire: many things happen here. The Persian gains, set to be undone, are now under threat. The Ottoman Army moves in to Anatolia. The Persians siege Batra which borders the Black Sea, economically important for trading between Russia and Turkey. The Ottoman Army heading from Thracia attacks the sigeing force and a battle nesures. While this happens another Ottoman Army, 15 000 strong, moves in from the Middle East where they were patrolling. The mountains surrounding the newly won Persian cities of Erzincan and Erzurum are certain to prove both a advantage and disadvantage to defenders. The cities important to Turkey lie far away, and the terrain between the borders is a mountainous terrain. For this reason they stay there where they are sieged by a weary Turkish force. It appears strong, but is not. Sivas further west is regained from the Persians and the force there takes the easy roads which lead east. The supply lines between the Persian cities and Erzurum and Erzincan are cut and the cities surrounded. Erzurum surrenders in June and the other seems set to before a new year. The Persians set a organised defence is in a line concerning Fatsa, Ordu and Giresu. All have heavy mountaisn surrounding them and can be easily supplied by sea. Concerning Mountains; Rhodes. With most of the heavier mountains conquered by the Ottoman Armies, they move forward to the lighter areas terrain wise, heavily defending soldier wise. The battles beforehand were a hide and seek in the mountains, now it turns into a business about taking the main towns. The Knights are brilliant tacticians and very good architects. All defenses are a detailed artwork, including there towns. Some Ottoman Regiments step north where they surround and siege the town of Sonomi by land and sea. With its star shaped forts, three of them, two are taken by June with losses of 1 000 for Turkey and 300 for the Knights. More Ottoman Regiments siege Afandos, similar to Sonomi, and as before, similar results with 800 dead to Turkey. The centre is left unharmed and a stout line if offense is set up connecting these two sieged cities, and protecting them from a supply line cut.

It is getting just as deadly on the opposite of Europe, in Ireland. The Siege of Dublin, a offensive action as regarding by the Anglican’s, now progresses smoothly. No moves have been made by either, and it plain that both sides are waiting it out. For what though; is clearly unknown but by the people rulers of these nations. Several moves are made by the Catholic forces residing outside the walls, most of them involving moving into defensive positions. Posters and words spread through the lands following Anglican faith. These bear words persuading people to speak to the Catholic government, to speak of the whereabouts of the Anglican army to stop the Irish Civil War. Such posters are useless so far; the words spoken may have been daggers the way they were received. The same seems to happen in Ulster, word quickly spreads to speak of assassin’s and the likes. It stops in mid May, but signs of a secret war appear. Catholic Government Spies had been doing their work; in May and June some 32 people died in Ulster due to the conflicts, hidden from the naked eye, between two unknown opposing factions. In late June a small bomb goes off in Donegal, 11 die and is received tragically over the nation. In retaliation, a battalion of soldiers destroy several places hiding terrorists in July and 8 of the assassin Guild Members die. This matters reflect what happens across the Irish Sea; in Scotland the places in trouble are visited personally by the King. Most are calmed, but whem the King heads to Glasgow a man attempts to shoot him. The King is saved easily, the gunman being shot down by at least 5 guns, but it certainly rattled the royal Household. The Scottish King, when reached Glasgow, meets his new bodyguard, Kirk MacWilson. The city is angry towards him and his speech is not well received. The next day several Scottish advisors close to the King are murdered in cold blood in their homes in the city, and the King is warned that another attempt on his life may come. The Royal Household leaves at once and nothing regarding the situation arises over the monthes to Kirk’s and the King’s relief. There are small riots in Glasgow and other ports up to the islands of North Scotland. These are put down by some tolerant troops from Glasgow, named the City of Troubles. In Late June several well armed people attack a barracks, and 40 people die in the firefight. Straight after two bombs go off in the west killing another 34 and 6 die from burns. A fire starts, but is quickly put out. That day, probably the worst day in peace time Scotland, resulted in at least 100 people dieing from what appears to be riots. Kirk MacWilson at once travels to the city under heavy protection and they manage to flush out one place, but find no one left alive.

In Germany Duke Albert of Bavaria is at work; the several towns in southern Germany, still suffering from last year’s Augsburg Crash, are now accepted into Bavaria. Thus has yet to provoke a answer from the Emperor, which is possible. It adds considerable lands and 5 000 recruits yet to be trained up. Not only that; the Bavarians then adopt the Dutch Military system. It is is on the same level as the Spanish System; and concerning the Spanish: there King is silent, he speaks nothing even when asked by the African Sultan Achmed. Sultan Achmed ignores the far away Ethiopians, who seem no threat to him. With his troops now trained in Algiers they move swifted through the Saharan Desert with a mixture of supply camels, acting like mules in Europe, and fast locals. Their destination soon realised they reach the outskirsts of a large Timbuktu in early June. Their motive unknown General Valerian rests in the city for two weeks. It installs fears in many, as has reason to suspect. One night in late June a fire starts in one part of the city. As attention is diverted a bomb goes off elsewhere, and then a second and third. By now panic runs through the city and Valerian moves his troops through the panic stricken and flamed city. It appears he is helping the local people, as a regiment does soon. A tide of soldiers sweep in to a target, and soon gunshots add to the yells already heard. Two more bombs go off just past midnight, and many locals report several people’s houses being stormed, then shot in cold blood and houses set alight. Before morning arises a final bomb detonates in a packed market square, not the works of the government. In a week’s time when the Army is gone and people thankful they were there to stop the fires and bombers, a rumor wipes the area of gratefulness; the Timbuktu Trading Company had been destroyed. Its people were all dead, its assets seized and people taken for the African Trading Company. All up 162 locals died from the bombs and firefights. A lot of the eastern side of the town was burnt and at least 180 of the Timbuktu Company had been shot. But was shocking internationally was this; since the Town was international there were many Arabians and Europeans residing there. Some worked for foreign governments, and at least 20 of them died. The country they come from is not known but it shall definitely have a major impact on every singe European company and definitely Africa’s Tugra market. The African Government as good as admitted as the shares owned by the Trading Company were taken into the Royal African Company’s holding.

Germany after the Clause was passed in Prague: