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A Catholic in Pagan Lands: Another CK Dynasty
Alright, after three failures as the Count of Suenik, I am moving to Lubeck. Lubeck is a Pagan land ruled by a Catholic. It's a one province minor power with no alliances and nobody's vassal.
I thought about trying as one of the counts in the Alania Duchy, running a pagan land just east of Georgia, but I thought that would be too similar ot the previous dynasties. So, enter Lubeck. Our ruler is 27 year old Budivoj Nakonid, with a 7/9/9/5 selection of stats and Vengeful, Proud, and Reckless as his traits. We begin with a claim on Mecklemburg, both the county and the duchy, and Rostock. I have no wife, no children, which is interesting. It means if I immediately marry into a family, my son will be the heir instead of my grandson. I have a 4 year old brother who is my current heir and in another's court. I am courtier-less, so some should be joining me in a few days. Okay, let's look at Lubeck in terms of mapage |
Here you are:
 Lubeck is the tiny grey province at the base of Denmark. Mecklemburg, a five province pagan nation, is to our east. Then Pommerania, a three province pagan land. Note that either Germany or Denmark or Mecklemburg could eat us up if they wanted. We'll have to be careful. However, expansion along the Baltic pagan provinces is a good idea for an empire. |
Honestly, pledge to Germany or Denmark or hell even Poland.
The Pommeranians are tougher than they look and they have a tendency to ally with Mecklemberg and vice versa. |
Our laws:
Semisalic Primogeniture. Again, I prefer Salic Primogeniture, but this is not bad. Traditional Custom - I will again move to Feudal Contract. Ecclestical Balance - The church means more here in the heart of the HRE than it might out in the middle of Islamic lands. I will stay with balance. Well, since I;m not moving that, I will hop to Salic Primogeniture. Next up is wife hunting. Ideally, I want a mate that can get me land. Nearby areas: Kalmar Lan has no wife, no children, nothing. Finneveden has a wife, nothing else. Dal has a wife, nothing more None of the one province Swedish counties have an open opportunity. What about something bigger? The King of Denmark has about 10 children. Nothing there. Many of the nearby counts and dukes don't have any children. Give us a generation, and we might be able to snag something. None of the nearby counts or dukes in Germany, Poland, Sweden or Denmark are vulnerable. So, for now, I need a wife with great stats who is young and can have several children. I find my ideal mate, but she's 20 and a duchess and the papal controller. She won;t come to my court and marry me. Her stats were 9/13/8/9/ - a perfect match. Ironically, one of the best young steward courtiers is Mariam from Georgia, but I went that route before, so I'll stay away this time. Besides, what would I want with the crown of Georgia? After much searching, I find a decent wife and make an offer. On December 28, 1066 I am wed. I take the duty. My new wife is Ermentrude de Macon, a 21 year old with 5/9/8/10 stats and deceitful trait. She is one of the 10 children of the Count of Besancon, and his oldest daughter. My courtiers are three Von Rostock women. No one suitable to be my Marshal is in my court. Jan 12 - The King of Hungary wants an alliance. That's a powerful ally. He's just too far away for me. Jan 13 - My wife is already expecting. Jan 16 - The count of Bascanon wants to marry his Marshal with my Spy Master. I agree, and hope that I get a replacement courtier who is male and can serve as my Marshal. Plus, he gave me his daughter, so its only right. Jan 18 - I reject Navarra's alliance overtures. I get my first event Pagan Subjects are Resisting Their Subjugation I choose to buy them off. I get a 10% bonus to peasant loyalty in Lubeck. Jan 24 0 Norway has sent a courtier with an alliance offer. Now this is closer than Hungary and Navarra. I take a look at the map. I intend to expand eastward, but Norway is west and North. I accept, Norway is now our ally. |
My hope is that Norway will keep Denmark/Sweden/Germany off our backs. Then we can look at the Mecklemburg/Pommerania allince. Right now, in our one province, we make 500 less troops than Pommerania does in all three of theirs. That's not bad, and it certainly doesn't scare me.
June 25, 1067 - The Emirate of Azerbaijan DOWs Suenik. Just in case you cared. August 29, 1067 - Suenik pays all of their dough to Azerbaijan for peace. October 19, 1067 - We have a son, and we named him Wladyslaw. Nov 13 - I grant haven to a fleeing nobleman. Dobromil von Assel, a 19 year old with a martial score of 11 will be my new Marshal. Nov 29 - Another event Religious Tensions Are Rising in Your Realm I Crush Them. Lubeck is now Catholic It is now looted (for the next while I get 90% less gold) It is undergoing a revolt -50% to taxes and loyalty drops every month across the board. December 2, 1067 0 Arable land is deserted and the prosperity of Lubeck is set to poor. Dec 26 - We are expecting again. Jan 1068 Our first year is done. |
I'll be reading. I bought CK and DV awhile back (along with Vichy, that expansion and HoI2:DD). I have played and really like CK, but I don't think I'm finished hiking up the learning curve yet (and yeah, I read through some of Izulde's dynasties as well).
The only thing I don't like is having to play in Europe but I understand that the game mechanics are centered around Medieval Europe. (I'd like to play as the Mongols, but oh well). |
It was a good year. We now have a son, a Marshal, and a Catholic province. Despite the revolt, arable land issue, and so forth, it was a good first year.
What comes next? Jan 28 1068 - I get an event. Frequent Hunting Trips with a Neighbor. I chose to go hunting with the Bishop of Bremen. There was a 75% he would become my friend, but that didn;t happen. Aug 4 -Our child was stillborn I order Forestry built. Dec 16 - I choose to raise my son myself. Hold on a sec. My country isn;t Catholic. Hmm. That event must have been a chance of my province going Catholic, and I assumed that it had. Anyway, looting and revolt are all gone. After another year or two, I may rebuild my troops to the level it needs to be to go offensive. |
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I know hwat you mean. I'd like to try to build a jewish nation from Ifil or a pagan one from Livonia, and so forth. Ah well. |
Feb 17, 1069 - And then I get an event: Mass-Scale Conversions. My rules peity jumps 100 and Lubeck converts. I didn;t have ot go through th sword after all. Huh.
Dec 27 - 1069 - After a quiet year, I get news that my wife is expecting again. Janu, 1070 - As of right now, I have just 100 less troops than the entire Pommerania. Our forces are growing (they took a hit while in rebellion). Two of their provinces are full and one more is almost so. I may be able to hit them soon. Mecklemburg is different. I can summon almost 2000 troops, they can summon almost 4000. The County of Suenik is at war with the Shiekdom of Albania They have captured Dwin. May 1, Our troops are now bigger than Pommerania;s. By two men. July 13 - The 8 province Ducky of Swabia declares independance from Germany, but she is contesting it. Sept 24 - We have a daughter and name her Roza. Oct - 25 - We learn the building of roads Do I build another improvement or save my money for war? Hmm. I order a Fishing Wharf built. Dec 29 - I have an event: I Notice that my Wife Has Been Spending a Lot of Time with a Young Bachelor in my Court. Of my four options, I choose "It's Probably Nothing" Jan 1, 1071 - We are up to 2521 troops. Pommerania has 2214 total. |
At some point in time, Suenik gained Albania and is now a two province state. It also recently decided to join Byzantium.
Lasted longer and better with the computer controlling it that me. That's a real insult. Apr 5 - Swabia lost and is reabsorbed into Germany. May 2 - I get the hunting trips event again. The Bishop of Bremen is now a friend. May 28 - We are again expecting children Jan 1072 - Time to look around for a patsie, because this army is ready to attack |
We have 2977 men. Pommerania has 2285 total. Mecklemburg has 3472 total. I have an ally named Norway.
Time to strike. My plan is to DOW Mecklemburg and launch an attack with all of my forces concentrated in one spot. I only have 500 less men but its all in one location, as opposed to the 5 locations Mecklemburg has to draw upon . In theory, and I admit that it is a theory, I should break them in the first attack, and then take Mecklemburg, while occasionally fending off an attack. Two Wild Cards: Pommerania could jump in and assist her ally. Norway could chose not to assist me. You only live once. Jan 9, 1072 - I declare war against Mecklemburg. Norway joins us. Pommerania does not. My army is ordered to Mecklemburg. Mecklemburg has 1170 troops. My hope is I can break them before reinforcements arrive. Jan 19 - Battle is joined. Feb 5 - We lose 464 men, they lose over 750 but we lost the battle and are retreating to Lubeck Feb 20 - I lose in battle and chose to march my troops through Hamburg into Mecklemburg. Mar 7 - We have a son and name him Pawel March 15 - The Mecklemburg army, at 1587 is besieging Lubeck. My 2389 troops are doing likewise to Mecklemburg. If it looks like they win first, because they have been at it for a month, I'll send my army in at them. My home is that I win much sooner than they. We'll see. June 12 - 388 men from Rugen, a vassal of Mecklemburg attack us June 14 - The Norweigan armies lands at Rostock and begin a siege. June 19 - We defeat the Rugan armies June 25 - We capture Mecklemburg. I get a white peace offer. I send my own with me being given Mecklemburg I order my troops into Lubeck to hold up and possibly raise teh siege there. I accept a white peace with Wolgast, the other vassal. July 9 - We arrive back in Lubeck and are ready to hopefully, raise the siege. July 17 - After a few days of battle, Lubeck accepts our peace proposal. We know have Mecklemburg added to our county. Aug 28 - Mecklemburg lifts the Norweigan siege at Rostock. Dec 1 - I choose to raise my son at the court. |
Jan 1, 1073 - A new year. We apparently are no longer Norway’s ally. Probably when we decalred peace.
On Jan 2, Norway offers us a Peace Treaty. AND they DOW us. That’s just silly. SO I accept the alliance and am now allied with the people attacking us. That’s just wrong. January 26 - After defeating a Norweigan army in Mecklemburg, I send a white peace offer to our ally/enemy. They have sent a rejection today. The game says that I am their ally, but now have new allies. It’s all weird. I’ll try to play through this, but if it goes down, I’m reloading, and I’m sure you can understand that. April 10 - They decline another offer. Here come 1000 troops. Are they for me or Mecklemburg? April 27 - They land in Rostock |
Feb 22, 1076 - Norway accepted our alliance offer.
Let me get you caught up. I went ahead and simmed the next few years without taking notes just in case We are now at peace with Norway. We are once again allies. We have captured Werle and Rostock and Rugen from Mecklemburg. We are also now the Duke of Mecklemburg, and the Chief of Wolgart is now our vassal, since that transfers with the title. We also took a lot of gold from Mecklemburg, but it wasn‘t enough. I still have around -75 gold. Our ruler was injured, then healed with a miracle worker. Several of our kids got traits. I gained a rival in the count of Rugen. Then He was removed from power and he is floating among courts right now. One of our daughters is sick then became blind There is a rebellion in Mecklemburg province. It is also currently looted. The rebellion was from an event regarding Pagan Religions Ceremony that I chose to deny my people. The looting came from war. All of my provinces save Lubeck are Pagan. For part of the war, I was allied with Pommerania, then they left, and post war, Norway came back to me. And that catches you up. Again, the game engine broke on me, but we plowed through it. I hope you understand me not giving you every detail and play by play during the possible years that I might reload. |
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The Pommeranians look like patsies and the Norweigan alliance was enough, I thought. |
Once I had captured Mecklemburg province, it was a dagger into their heart. We took their best province. It made the most money, and it had the most troops. Subtract around 1500 from their total of troops )bringing them to 2500 in four provinces) and add it our ours (bring us to around 4500) and the second war wasn't even close.
Once we captured Mecklemburg, we are in the game for real. I had to lose 100 prestige for DOWs the Duchy again, however, now that I have all five of their provinces I'm set. I'm over the hump, so to speak. Will there still be problems? Sure. Can we still get raped by the Germans, Swedish, Polish, Danish, Norwiegans and later the Mongols? Of course. For now, however, we are alright. |
Okay, I have reloaded my game as the Duke of Mecklemburg.
I want to give Rugen to one of my courtiers as a county, but the only extra courtier I have is pagan, and that's not a good combo. My new provinces. All are pagan and Western Slavic: Mecklemburg - This is now our capital. It is a pretty good province as soon as it returns from rebellion and looting. It is southeast of Lubeck, and adjacent to Werle, Rostock, Lubeck, Hamburg, and to Luneburg, Altmark by crossing the Elbe River. Rostock - This pagan province currently has a thieves guild cutting into our taxes. It is on the tip of the land, adjacent to only Mecklemburg and Werle. Werle - This province is east of Mecklemburg. It may be wealthier than Rostock. It is next to Mecklemburg, Rostock, Wolgast, and Brandenburg. Wolgast - Currently in the hands of a pagan count, which is something we'll have to deal with eventually, This is poorer than all of our non=Rugen province, making it a good choice for a county. It is east of Werle, and next to Brandenburg and east across the Oder is the Pommerania capital of Stettin. Rugen, an island just off the coast of Werle, Rugen is the poorest province we have. As an island, it is not adjacent to any provinces. Next up, when we have stabilized, is an attack on Pommerania. |
March 22, 1076 - Our rival has ended up with the Tribe of Kajanborg, on the Finnish west coast.
Sweden has been gobbling up the one province states like Dal, Kalmar Lan, and Halsingland. Pommerania has joined the Tribe of Yatvigs, in order to secure their defense. I may just jump past them and hit the Baltic states. Or I may systematically wipe them out. May 10 - My wife is expecting. July 23 - The Bishop of Altmark is now a friend. Both of my friends are 66 years old. August 26, 1076 - Deus Vult. The Calls us to arms. Nov 5 - I got lazy as a trait after choosing not to pursue the enemy of my friend as an enemy. Dec 21 - Werle is upset because I am apparently defiling the holy lands of my pagan subjects. I choose to honor their pagan shrine. Clergy power drops and peasant power rises. I lose some piety. Jan 28 - 1077 - We gain a friend in the count of Oldenburg. This is funny because my second grand campaign in EU2 was Oldenburg. This was triggered by a Friend of my Friend event. Feb 5 - We have a daughter and name her Halina. Feb 8 - The Duchy of Saxony declares indepedance and is now at war with Germany. An opening? Luneburg is a province owned by Saxony. |
Go to war to take Luneburg, or just stay on the sidelines?
The plan would be to claim Luneburg, then DOW, hit hard and fast, then peace for Luneburg. I hadn't planned on taking it, but when opportunity comes along, one should seize it. It'd nice to have a Catholic province too. On the other hand, I feel like I need to focus on the prize, which is plucking the pagans before other Christians beat me to the punch. Already Poland is at war with Yatvigs and Denmark took Eastern Sames. So no war against Saxony. |
March 1 - However, with Yatviags focused on Poland, this is an opportunity to pluck some pagans. I order my Lubeck army militarized and move it to Wolgast for an attack on Stettin.
March 5 - The Yatviags come to peace terms with Poland. I disband my forces Aug 20 - I get religious tensions in Rostock event. I choose to fight them with the sword. Rostock is now Catholic (I checked) looted and rebelling. Aug 25 - The Thieves Guild in Rostock has been disbanded. The County of Suenik declared independance from Byzantium and it at war with them. Suenik and Nubia are allies. Byzantium has been hemmoraging provinces, but not many to the turks. To in dependence. I count 24 provinces that began the game under Byzantine rule that are now independent. Dec 23 - I get an event - A talented knight offers to teach my child if paid enough. I offer a year's income and a place in my court. My heir's martial skill increases by one. Dec 29 - Religious tension in Rugen, which I don't even care about. I choose teh sword again. Rugen becomes Catholic. They are looted but NOT rebelling. The knight courtier we got is Dobromil von Rostock, a 14 martial guy with an age of 15. I give my current Marshal Rugen, and wait for Dobromil to age to become my Marshal. In the mean time, I have a good pagan to be a temp. My rival has died. July 17, 1078 - Another holy place objection, in Werle. I choose the same - make nice. Oct 15 - I get an event. the Pope is upset that my current Marshal is Pagan. I choose to force convert him. He gained stressed, its pissed off at me, is now Catholic. Oct 19 - My Marshal runs away to another court. Germany keeps hemmorging people as well. Dec 22 - I get the hunting trips event again. We are now friends with the Duke of Brandenburg. Jan 1079 |
Jan 11, 1079 - Our daughter, Roza, became ill.
Mar 1, 1079 - I declare war against the Tribe of Curonian. They are a pagan Tribe in the Baltic area currently without an ally after their previous ally was just taken by Kiev. I order Lubeck troops built. I have some money saved over the past few years. Time to use it. Jul 16 - Our troops arrive in Kurs and begin a siege. Sept 23 - Their forces arrive in Kurs and attack our siege Sept 26 - Around 800 of their troops have sailed to Wolgast. Oct 1 - Roza lost her illness. Oct 5 - We defeat the forces in Kurs Oct 9 - We capture Kurs. I DOW their vassal and order my troops in. Nov 1 - We arrive in Memel. Nov 2 - We drive away the exhausted forces and begin our siege. Nov 22 - I decline a peace for a hundred and fifty or so gold. Nov 25 - I get an event. Difficult to control a province when you are so far away. Werle gets looted revolting, and massive loyalty drops. Jan 24, 1080 - I got an event that made me merciful after I chose not to burn down a building in Kurs. Jan 26 - Memel falls. We take Memel and 54 gold. We take Kurs and 112 gold. I disband my armies. Feb 10 - I have fallen in love with my wife. We are now friends. Alright maptime |
Here is the new Map:
 I have Germany's King on the left, you can see all of the people he is at war with. His country is splintered. Germany needs to reform, because frankly, the best weapon against the Mongols is a strong, united Holy Roman Empire. Right now, it's a morass of duchies, bishoprics, and counties all declaring independence. We may pick off a few provinces here and there, but for now, it's all pagans, just gobbling up their land. I took Kurs and Memel, not just because they are open, but to give me a launching pad into the rest of the Baltic, and give me the ability to catch Yatviags in a two front war in the future. Also, they are solid provinces, and again, I had a window. Like I said, I can use these two provinces to gobble up some of the smaller provinces here. I'd love to have the Baltic states completely under my control. |
May 14, 1080 - I give away Werle to a count, making this my third vassal.
Ideally, We will be stabilizing for a little while. Why is Germany Crumbling? The King was Excommunicated, the realm is under stress, he's rolling with a -211 prestige and -122 piety. No one wants to be under him. The Duchy of Brandenburg just went independent. He has seven remaining vassals, and two are at 0 loyalty. Jul 19, I don’t want another war this soon, my BB will creep up. However, the Tribe of Lettigalians was DOWd by Kiev, and I need to stop them before they keep expanding. I order troops ready. Jul 30 - We get insulted by a tourney by the Duke of Saxony. I demand compensation. We get a claim on Saxony. We are now enemies. Now I am in an interesting spot. Keep going after Lettigalians, or turn around and fight the Duke of Saxony? We keep going, but wow. |
Oct 6 - I DOW Lettigalians. Norway does not join us.
Oct 26 - Our forces arrive in Zemigalians and begin the first battle. Nov 9 = We have won. The siege has begun. Now, do I DOW Osel, their vassal, and attack as well? Jan 11, 1081 - They have opened the door for us to take Osel by removing their vassalage. Feb 2 - Zemigalians falls April 5 - The siege of Osel begins Sept 4 - The clergy in Mecklemburg want to convert the heathens. I support their efforts. Mecklemburg is now Catholic. Sep 9 - Osel falls. I take it and Zeligalians from the Lettigalians. I was not prepared for this war. We are now in negative gold. Still, I have two new provinces, all sparkly and shiny. Let’s look at our Baltic States: Kurs - Captured in the first war, It is a province with a decent enough tax bracket and a Few advancements. It is on the corner or the land, and thus is only adjacent to Memel and Zemigalians. The people here are Lettigallish Memel - South of Kurs along the coast is Memel, the best of these four provinces in tax base. It is right in the middle of things, and the people here are Lettigallish. It is currently experiencing prosperity. It is next to Kurs, Zeligalians, Zhmud, Sambia and Scalova. During the war, The Principality of Galicia inherited by Byzantium. Osel - This island provine is just off the coast of Kurs. The people here are Ugric Baltic and the province is currently rich. The tax base is alright, but not great or anything. Zemigalians - This province is east of Kurs and Northeast of Memel. The people here are Lettigallish. It is next to Kurs, Memel, Litigations (Byzantine), West Dvina (Byzantine), Zhmud, and Aukshayts. By taking Zemigalians, I hope to stop the advance of Christians in the Baltic area. This was a war of ambition, not of need. I would like to take out the adjacent three province Tribe of Lithuanians, three province Tribe of Livonia, the one province Tribe of Estonia, the one province Tribe of Pruthenians and start with the Yatviags. Saxony pledged alliance to Sweden during the war. The Holy Roman Emperor/King of Germany died, leaving behind a son with three vassals. Germany is now at peace, at least. They lost all of their claims. Europe is now a disorganized mess. You could carve a mighty empire out of this, but we have too high of a BB right now, and negative gold, so its cool down time for us. |
September 16, I get the following event:
The Teutonic Order seizes our land. I can choose God’s Will, which amps up my piety, or They Have no Need of Castles, which drops our piety and gives me a 33& chance of becoming a heretic. I have many questions that are unanswered by this event. Would the created Teutonic Order be our vassal? I choose: They Have No Need of Castles. My piety drops by 50. I did not gain heretic however. I hand Osel to one of my pagan courtiers. Nov 19 - While fighting rebels in Werle, my duke was wounded. The County of Suenik is still at war with Byzantium Brandenburg is now a part of Scotland. Bavaria is part of Poland. It seems like the major duchies are aligning themselves with non-German powers. Jan 21, 1083 - After a quiet year and a half, I get an event - The Enemy of my Enemy is my Friend. I agree, and the Duke of Thurigen is now my friend. Feb 10, 1083 - The County of Suenik has been annexed by the Emir of Medina. There they go. They lasted a lot longer than me. |
a new united germany eventually?
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Mar 23 - My eldest daughter, Roza, the blind one, gained indulgent and gregarious in the same event.
Apr 30 - I get an event to Convert Kurs by the sword. I choose to do so. It is now Catholic, looted, and in rebellion. May 5- Norway has declared war on the County of Shetland. I join their call to arms. I don’t care about them. I just want to keep my ally. Jul 30 - I get an event - Deal with Popular Revolt in Kurs. I choose to give in to demands. The rebellion ceases, and I lose some prestige. Aug 4 - The Pope calls for peace in our war. I agree. I never had any desire to wage war against Shetland. Aug 10 - Our Duke gained illness. Oct 14 - Kurs is no longer looted. |
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Not my intent right now. I'm focusing on Baltic expansion. Consider me a combination of the Livonian Order, Teutonic Order, Lithuania, and Mecklemburg gold. Hopefully. |
Oct 20 - My son is 16. Time to find a wife.
His stats right now, and he hasn’t come out of his Court Education yet, are 9/8/5/10, and he is just, modest, and trusting. I start with the obvious rulers. King of Denmark? Wow he has three prodigies among his six kids. Germany’s king is actually a Bishop. The Duke of Brandenburg has just one daughter but he’s 18, plenty of time for more kids. Plus she’s one. I check some other Polish Duchies nearby. Mazovia, no dice. None of the nearby Byzantine holdings are vulnerable either. The first thing close to a hit I find, after looking a lot of places, is the Duchy of Smaland, in Sweden, but he has a 25 year old wife that could still pop out some heirs. He has one 4 year old son, and a 13 year old daughter, able to be married in two years. I need something better than that. He has an intestinal wurm and is severely wounded, so he could die quickly and not have time for heirs. And it is semisolid. A slightly better option is the Country of Braunschweig, with one son at six and a girl at 15. The girls stats are good, making her a good choice for a wife. His wife is dead and he’s 55. It’s just a county, but it is at least a decent one. I’d prefer to wage war against the Duke of Saxony eventually and take his title, along with his vassals, and gain Braunschweig. If there are any better options, that will be the way I go. There is a third option, now that I look closer. The Duke of Sjalland, which is just one province big, has two loving sons, so I dismissed him at first. Open closer inspection, one is a bastard. The other is 15. He has a 14 year old daughter, He’s 49 and his wife is 38 - a perfect age for her. It’ll likely be decades before she dies, so little chance at remarriage, and she’s unlikely to have any other children at this age (I once had a wife who got pregnant at 43, but that’s rate). Sjalland is close and a great province. I’d still have to wait two years for his daughter. It’s just 38 gold to try and whack the Duke of Sjalland’s only male heir. 30 gold for the Country of Braunschweig, and 64 for Smaland’s. Looks like Sjalland is in two years, and has a decent chance of hitting, but by then, the male might be harder to kill, have his own wife, and she might already be pregnant. Instead, I am going to wait on Braunschweig. The daughter there is really, really good as a wife, to help get my dynasty started. On the other hand, the Sjalland’ daughter is acceptable, but not nearly as good. |
Dec 11 -
We would like to announce the Marriage of Wladysaw Nakonid, Heir to the Duke of Mecklemburg and Irmeltrud von Rheinfelden, Daughter of the Count of Braunschweig Irmeltrud's stats: 12 7 12 11 Told you she was good Suspicious, Prodigy, Has not yet finished her Ecclesiastical Education. As a wedding present, I present my son with the Count of Rostock title. He leaves our court for great things. He will be back upon my death. |
Janu 12, 1084 - A Thieves Guild formed in Zemigalians
Janu 19 - I get an event - The Clergy Strongly Endorse Your Crusade to the Holy Land. I can: Deus Vult! I gain 2700 west Slavic men, maybe an extra 1400. I get the Crusader and Zealous traits. I Thank You but I Prefer Your Gold Instead: Lose Crusader and Zealous, Piety drops 40, Gold increases 150, a small chance of getting an extra 336 gold. The only person we are at war with in Shetland. Now, normally, I’d take the gold. However, I have been spending the past few years quietly brining my gold reserves back up and rebuilding my reputation. I’d wanted to wait another year or two, but 2700 guaranteed extra troops is simply tasty. Time to attack the Yatviags. Deus Vult! |
I order my Marshal to take 780 men from Mecklenburg and march to Wolgast. I organize my troops in the Baltic region and order them to Memel. When war begins I’ll dispatch the Lubeck squad to the middle of Yatviag territory.
Feb 9 - I declare war on Pommerania. My hope is that the Yatviags will join us, and Norway will not. Whether or not their one province ally also joins is of no consequence to me. Exactly as I planned occurred. No Norway, none of their ally either. This won’t be easy. But it should be fun. I order the troops from Wolgast into Stettin. I grab 400 troops from Wolgast first. I DOW Scalova, a vassal of Yatviags. Then I order my Memel troops into Scalova. I’ll leave Lubeck back as reinforcement. I have around 275 gold right now, let’s see how far I can spin it. Feb 28 - Troops from Memel arrive in Scalova. Mar 5 - Troops from Wolgast arrive in Stettin. Mar 18 - We win in Stettin and begin the siege. Mar 21 - We win in Scalovia and begin the siege. Mar 28 - I have gotten peace offers from Scalova and Pommerania, both offering gold. I decline both. Apr 24 - Yatviags protest our presence in Scalovia May 12 - We win and the siege continues. We almost lost, and we did lose a lot of men. We could fall if there is another determined push on the eastern flank. May 14 - Stettin falls. I order our men to Slupsk. May 18 - Pommerania comes calling with an offer to give us Stettin and a whole bunch of gold. I decline. I‘m in this for more than one province from the pagans. June 4 - We arrive in Slupsk and attack the forces arrayed here. June 8 - After defeating the remaining forces in Slupsk, we begin the siege. June 25 - The forces we defeated on the Eastern Flank again assault our position in Scalovia. July 2 - We send them home. Aug 2 - A Thieves Guild is formed in Kurs. Aug 9 - Slupsk falls. I force Pommerania to give me her two provinces, Stettin and Slupsk. She agrees. Now, we are still at war with Yatviags and their vassal, Scalovia. I DOW adjacent Danzig and move in. Aug 19 - We arrive in Danzig and assault the defensive forces. Sept 12 - After a tough battle against four armies, we win in Danzig. Siege begins. Sept 15 - We capture Scalovia. I send my forces her to the Vatviags capital. Im in negative gold, so I need to finish this up. Oct 6 - We arrive in Yatvyagi and begin an attack against the two armies here. Oct 8 - A miracle workers come to heal me, but I don’t have enough money, so I put my trust in God. Trust is returned. The Duke has lost his illness. Oct 27 - We win in Yatvyagi. The siege has begun, Dec 23 - After a few small battles in which small pagan forces try to drive us out, I get news that a Small Pox epidemic has broken out in Kurs. Jan 12, 1085 - The pope has died. Hungary is the new papal controller Jan 17, 1085 - I accept white peace with Shetland. Jan 18 - Danzig falls. I take it in peace. I also take Scalovia. I get a little money bump from Scalovia, which must have had a stash somewhere, I got nothing from Danzig. As my armies take damage, my upkeep lessens, and I get money from these new provinces to countermand that. Thus the war is getting cheaper. Okay, I have just 1800 men left on the western flank when I began with 3800. That’s enough to keep sieging, but not quickly. I can DOW an adjacent vassal, like Marienburg or Chelminskie. Or I could just diband the army. In The capital, I have just 1031 troops left seiging, from an initial army size of around 2700, agains a significant drop. Yatviags is down to four provinces. But they only have their capital in their desmense, so I have to actually DOW and attack the other three. Marianburg is a very wealthy province. I give away Stettin and Slupsk to a courtier. I DOW Marianburg and order my forces in. Feb 12 - The Siege of Marianburg has begun Mar 16 - The last remaining army of size, 888 men, has arrived int heir captial to protest my sieging forces. I mobilize 294 troops in Scalovia and order them to Vatyagi. March 24 - We win in Vatyagi. This is going on too long, our treasury is taking a major hit. May 4 - Prosperity in Memel is set to normal after Poor Seed Selection hit us. June 18 - Marianburg falls. We grab it in peace negotiations. We grab a little gold and Marianburg. July 14 - Vatyagi finally falls. I grab it and go to peace. |
I disband my armies.
I wanted to grab the other two provinces,, and I could have, but I didn’t think the monetary hit to keep going was worth it for now. We are at -382 gold after peace. I had to sell a forestry, but I gained six provinces. I came one province away from capturing a land route between our provinces. Next time, next time. July 24, while waiting for the map to change before I give you another map, I gained a rival, the Bishop of Altmark. Because I am a crusader during a crusade, my prestige jumped to record levels for me: 1453 prestige! I have to give away some provinces, but I don’t have anyone extra in my court. I give Pawel, my 13 year old son, Vatyagi and Scalovia. I give the county of Mecklemburg to my firstborn son. That leaves, for our personal desmense, Lubeck, Danzig, Marienburg, Memel, Kurs, and Zemigalians. Our reputation is very bad, and we have -382 gold. It might be a while before we wage war again. |
In 21 years we have taken a lot of provinces, and now our BB is catching up with us. Time to cool off and calm down.
Let’s look at our six new provinces: All are pagan Stettin, East of Wolgast, and West of Slupsk, Stettin is a mildly wealthy, leaning towards average. The people here are Western Slavic. It’s adjacent to Brandenburg and Liubusz in addition to my two provines. Slupsk - Taken because it was there. I need it to be my land connection between my own holdings. East of Stettin and west of Danzig it also borders Lubusz and Gnieznienskie. It’s currently undergoing a rebellion if 188 people. They are Western Slavic here. Danzig - One of the pearls of the war, Danzig is a solid province commercially and militarily of Western Slavs. It is across the Wisla river to the west of Marienburg, and east of Slupsk. It is adjacent to Gnieznienskie and Chelminskie as well. Marienburg - Of those we captured, this is the wealthiest. The Prussian people here have a lot of buildings already built, adding to its value. East of Danzig, this is the eastern end of our western holdings, although just one province separates her with the east holdings. She is also adjacent to both remaining Yatviag provinces in Chelminskie and Galindia, plus the province of Sambia. Scalovia - South and inland of Memel, Scalovia was our first landlocked province, although not our last. The Prussians here are of adequate wealth, and I gave it away to a count so that I had less provinces to rule, thus increasing my percent wealth from each. It is north of Vatyagi, east ot Galinda and Sambia, and west of Zhmud and Sudovia. Vatyagi - Taken only because I had to, this double landlocked province is a bit too deep into the mainland for my taste. It was among the poorest of those I captured too, and I was happy to hand it off to one of my vassals. The Prussians here are southeast of Galinda, north of Plock and north west to Podlasie (Byzantine) and southwest of Sudovia. |
Here is the new map:
 I put the province of Marienburg up, so you can see it on the left. It's the best province in my territory. You can also see my prestige and money. In other news, those provinces which have stars by them designate Scandinavian provinces currently under rebellion. Time to cool off. |
Very nice progress. Just wanted to let you know that you had another reader in me. Keep it up!
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Thanks! |
Oct 25 - I have an event - Popular Revolt in Zemigalians. I choose to Give in To Demands. I loose a little bit of prestige. The rebellion in Zeligalians is over.
My son has had a son, Zbigniew Nakonid When I have a chance, I need to send an assassin to take out the heir of the County of Braunschweig. Feb 4, 1086 -Norway DOWs the Tribe of Kajanborg in Finland. I agree to join but have intention of moving my troops there. I send my second daughter, Halina, to one of my counts whom is losing loyalty as a sign of trust between us. April 1, 1086 - Okay, I am hemmorging loyalty from the Count of Werle at the rate of 3.6 percent per month. I’m already down to 29.4%. The count of Stettin and Slupsk is at -1.4% per month and 51.9 right now. The only other vassal who has a problem with me is the Count of Rugen at -0.8% per month and 83.7 right now. My other vassals are fine with me. Options. I could try to divest the count of Werle from his title. It’s unlikely that he’d agree. Normally, I could give him money and temporarily make friends. I thought maybe sending my daughter would work, and it didn‘t I am bereft of gold. Not many other options around. I could pull a Machiavelli. Commit suicide and let my son take over, with more loyalty. For now, I’d prefer to steer clear of such drastic actions. However, if I send a messenger to the Count, then all of my vassals have their loyalty drop by 25%. That’s the way to start a civil war. Thus only the Machiavelli option is left. However, I have 425 piety and thus our badboy drops more quickly with us at the helm than it would with our son here. Thus, we will stay here a few more months. May 30 - I get a Popular Revolt event again for Danzig. I choose to gibe in, loosing the rebellion there and a bit of prestige. June 1, 1086 - These actions will increase our BB a bit. I grab the following titles: Duke of Brandenburg Duke of Polotsk I then commit suicide. |
Our New Duke of Mecklemburg:
Wladyslaw Nakonid, age 18 Piety 24 and Prestige 89 His gold as count was added to our coffers and helps the treasury significantly. 9/9/8/10 rating. Our court has expanded significantly. The disloyal counts like him much better. Our badboy decreases. Wladyslaw is Just, Modest and Trusting He is an Intricate Webweaver He has real courtiers, and as such, can make some new counts. The following Counties are given to courtiers: Rostock is made into a Bishopric Countess of Mecklemburg Countess of Memel That should help our Duchy a lot. |
You F10'ed? :eek:
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F12d, yeah. This game doesn;t need the other cheats, but it needs the death cheat. I'm always pruning my court by offing that 45 year old 0/1/2/0 courter who is blind and a bastard. I also firmly believe that a ruler should be able to commit suicide, but I have to assassinate family, good courtiers, etc. |
Denmark just took the pagan provinces in Finland that we were at war with.
Nov 26 - I choose to raise my child myself. The new Duke gets a lot more money per month due to good Stewardship, and we are quickly getting out of this financial hole. May 1, 1087 - We are now out of debt. May 13 - I choose to deny the peasants in Marienburg their pagan feast and they begin a rebellion. Aug 29 - I get an event: My Wife is Spending a Lot of Time with a Young Man. I choose it’s probably nothing, and nothing much happens. Oct 18 - I order a library built in Danzig. Oct 20 - Two days later, I get an event about Religious Tensions in Danzig. I choose to crush them. Danzig is now Catholic, looted and in revolt. Dec 17 - I get an event - Revolting Peasants in Danzig are starving and return to fields. I send money to help them with the food. Looting and rebellion are both gone, our piety jumps, but our treasury is back to negative (albeit negative 6). I now have a Danzig fresh with no problems, prosperous wealth, and Catholic. I have a prestige is just 51, but a piety of 253. Feb 2, 1088 - While I am thinking about it, I send an assassin to off the only male son of the Count of Braunschweig. It succeeded but we were discovered. Our son is now next in line. Our badboy raised by one for us being discovered. Our piety and prestige each plummet 100, giving us negative prestige. March 12 - My brother, the Count of Yatvyagi and Scalovia wants to marry one of my courtiers. I agree. My brother is also my only friend. April 9 - I get an event - A vassal is pleased with our rule. Sweden is losing vassals at a steady rate. It is grabbing most of them back in its wars. June 19 - I forgot to renew our alliance with Norway upon my ascension to the throne, because we were aligned with the County of Werle. We are alliance less since we are aligned with our own vassal. That’s just dumb. Who is un aligned? I can’t find a way to divest myself of my current ally. Ah well. My Bishop of Rostock just had a bastard child… |
August 6 - Since I need prestige, I create the title Duke of Pommerania for us. This costs us 100 gold, raises our prestige by 100, and increases the amount of prestige we get monthly.
August 19 - I finally get a notice I‘ve been waiting for. My wife is pregnant. With only one child, I want more issue. Sept 22 - The Republic of Gotland has won its independence from Sweden. I’d be happy to absorb it at some time in the future. Its pretty wealthy. October 7 -- Sad news. I have lost my friend, my brother. Oct 22 - I get an event - My Nonconfrontational Personality has hade my Peers Question My Claims. My choices are to lose my claim on the Duke of Saxony, gain two badboy, or spend 100 prestige for just a 25% chance of losing my claim. I choose to spend the gold. We keep our claim. This has been a month of bad news, Dec 19 - Norway has declared war against Sweden. Jan 1, 1089 - I order a Fishing Wharf in Kurs April 21 - I order men to Osel to put down a rebellion. May 4 - My wife gave birth to a stillborn child. May 16 - We put down the rebellion June 6 - 600 rebels in Marienburg begin an assault on the town. I order troops assembled. June 21 - The rebels are put down. July 1 - The Chiefdom of Sudovia and the Tribe of Lithuanians have attacked my vassals, the County of Memel. I order our troop mobilized and join forces with my vassal. The next war has begun. |
We have just 168 gold, but they are just three provinces. Think I can handle them?
I order troops mobilized in Kurs, Zemigalians, Scalovia, and Yatvyagi I have about 3500 troops here under my command, plus another 1000 Memel troops. The Lithuanians have around 6500. That’s bad math for me. I organize Marienburg and order them to Memel. Werle joined us as an ally, btw. The Lubeck army is around 4000, and I don’t have the coffers for that. I order my northern troops into Zemigalians and the southern troops into Scalovia and then to Memel. I grab the 400 troops in Osel as a quick backup. July 21 - Our Kurs forces arrive in Zemigalians. I order some troops into Zhmud, expecting their forces to vacate before we arrive. July 25 - 4413 men arrive in Zemigalains and assault our 2239 men. We are on defense, and have a better general by far, but it’s not looking good for the home team. Aug 2 - We lose in Zemigalians and our forces are heading to Memel to regroup. They begin to siege. Aug 11 - I decline a peace offer from Lithuanians for all of our gold. Aug 16 - 1000 of our troops, along with the 1000 Memel forces arrive in Zhmud and being to besiege. Werle is out of the war after paying a bunch of money. Sept 8 - The Pope has died. Hungary is the new Papal Controller Sept 15 - Our Osel forces arrive in Memel to bolster the fleeing army. We are still waiting for the arrival of the Marienburg forces. Sept 19 - Zemigalians has been captured by the Lithunians. Sept 22 - I declien their peace offer of our captured province and gold. The County of Sudovia DOWd Yatvyagi and is beginning a siege there. I order my 1400 Danzig forces mobilized. I sent them across the Baltic Our gold is diminishing. Oct 10 - They arrive in Memel. Oct 15 - We have captured Zhmud. I order my besieging force to Memel. Oct 19 - After two of our three armies in Memel has fled, the 2000 fresh troops from marienburg arrive and drive away the Lithuanians. I order my army into Zemigalians. I send my besieging army to Sudovia. Nov 10 - We arrive in Zemigalians as do the opposing forces. Battle is joined. Nov 16 - We defeat them. Nov 22 - The Lithuanians offer us a way out of this war - 555 gold! That’s crazy money. Now that I know they have that much, I;m willing to push this war, knowing I may make some splash at the end. Dec 14 - The County of Sudovia just offered us 491 gold, so these guys have much money. Jan 17 - 1090 - We recapture Zemigalians. I order my forces to Zhmud to relieve the siege there of the remaining Lithuanian troops. Joining us will be the Danzig forces which have just arrived. Feb 6 - We drive away the forces from Zhmud. I order some of our troops to Sudovia and others to their capital. Feb 23 - Our forces arrive. Those in Sudovia are attacked by the 1000 Sudovian troops here. We win in Segovia a few days later and initiate a siege. April 19 - Sudovia falls. We get 453 gold and the province in peace. I disband those three armies. I’m now only losing 2 gold a mnth to army upkeep with my remaining army of around 2000 soliders. May 27 - We capture the province of Aukshayts. I take both provinces plus 140 gold in peace. I disband my armies. I hadn’t planned on taking land this soon after the previous war (five years ago) but they DOWd us, which means taking their lands, while still bad, isn’t as bad. Plus, I made money on the war, so that‘s nice. Zhmud and Aukshayts are downright gold mines, and Sudovia ain;t bad herself. I order a Forestry in Zemigalians and a Tile Factory in Danzig with my blood money. I create the following vassals: Countess of Zemigalians Countess of Kurs Count of Sudovia |
June 15 - The Duchy of Sjaelland is now free of Danish control after winning their war.
July 14 - I order Training Grounds built in Zhmud. July 18 - I became friends with the Duke of Slesvig My Count of Sudovia has been excommunicated. Uh oh. Aug 2 - The Count of Hylland is a new rival. Aug 9 - Revolt in Marienburg ceases after I give in to their demands. I claim the title of Duke of Courland. We need the prestige bump. Aug 20 - I choose to educate my heir at the court. Aug 22 - I get news that my wife is expecting. March 15, 1091 - At some point in time, my Countess of Memel has gained the rebellous trait. March 29 - I create the title of Duke of Pomeralia I order a Library built in Lubeck. May 25 - We had a daughter and will name her Vladislava. Nov 21 - My boy is asking about heathens. I tell him they are men like us, but enemies. He gains Valorous. Jan 1092 has arrived. Feb 1 - I create the title of Duke of Samogitia and Duke of Lithuania. The extra prestige will help keep vassals in line. June 2 - I put down some rebels is Scalovia. July 11 - I get an event where the Nobles in Zhmud claim they will not follow a Catholic. I agree to crush them!. Zhmud is looted, rebelling and now Catholic. |
Future areas of expansion:
Yatviags - The two provinces of Yatviags are important to capture because they fit naturally into the character of my domain, as well as connect my provinces, although the next capture will do that to. This is something I need to take before Poland gets uppity. Pruthenians - The one province is the brown spot on the coast between my two halves, and as a one province, it shouldn’t be too hard to take. Another vital capture for me. Livonians- These three provinces jump past one Byzantine province from my upper boundaries. Livs is wealthy, Revel alright, and Dorpat pretty poor. Still, I’d like them before another power enters the picture. Estonians - The one province Narva is decent, but not amazing. I’d like to grab it if I can, but of these four, if I had to choose one not to get, it‘d be Estonians. After that, expansion is a question that I need to answer before I continue. Where I went after that is simply a matter of what is available. If two thirds of Finland is still pagan, then I jump the Gulf of Finland and go north. Otherwise, I go where the opportunity is. |
Oct 3 - Ulrich, Archbishop of Saxony wins the title of King of Sweden in battle.
Oct 22 - We are expecting another child. Nov 7 - Zhmud is no longer looted Welcome to 1093 Feb 1 - I order a Tile Factory in Lubeck May 29 - The Chieftain of Wolgast, our own vassal has declared war on us. I mobilize our men. I order troops mobilized in adjacent provinces and send them in. June 19 - Battle begins July 9 - After almost losing twice, only to have reinforcements show up at the last moment, we eliminate the Wolgast army and begin the siege. July 20 - I accept peace with Wolgast for 249 gold and their province. I hate in-fighting like this, because our BB goes up. Wolgast was a recurring problem, probably because it was pagan and led by a pagan ruler that came under our rule way back when we took the Duchy of Mecklemburg title. This was essentially the last engagement of that war. I don’t have anyone in my court as an eligible Count of Wolgast, so I’ll just hold onto it for now. |
July 22 - We have a son and name him Bartosz
Aug 27 - I defeat rebels in Zemigalians Sept 3 - The Principality of Novogorod DOWd Byzantium, signaling their desire for independence. Welcome to 1094 Jan 11 - My oldest boy gained Merciful after I told him about God Jan 27 - Byzantium won against Novgorod and gobbled them back up. Mar 9 - The Teutonic Order come calling again, this time wanting Marienburg. I turn them down, and my piety decreases again. I create the title Countess of Wolgast. Mar 15 - I Send my daughter to the nannies for raising Apr 11 - I hold a great tournament. Apr 16, 1094 - A day planned by my father has arrived. The Count of Braunschweig has died. My 9 year old son is now the Count and leaves to begin his duties under the King of Burgundy. May 12 - I Crush the Burghers in Aukshayts. It becomes Catholic, looted and rebelling. May 14 - Two days later the looting ends. July 1 - I order a Small Castle built in Lubeck - which costs us a pretty penny. It appears our ancestral home may be our border for a long time, so I want insurance. July 15 - I give in to their demands in Aukshayts, I lose a little prestige, and the revolt ends. Sep 26 - I will be raising my second son myself. Dec 6 - I order a library in Marienburg Welcome to 1095 |
Jan 13, 1095 - Some courtiers are flowing into my court - all pagan. This one guy, with an 8.9.13.12 would be a great count, if only he could be catholic.
I appoint him my Steward Jan 17 - I get the expected event. I choose to convert my Steward by force. I gain the Zealous trait. My Steward dies - he did not survive the conversion. Ah well. All’s fair in love and Machiavelli. I appoint my wife Steward again. Feb 20 - I go hunting with the Count of Gnieznlenskie but the 75% chance of him being my friend fails, May 2 - Novgorod is giving independence another go. May 8 - I give in to demands in Zhmud, lose some prestige, and end the rebellion. May 16 - I get this event: God Urges You to Take Up the Cross My choices: Deus Vult! +100 piety, gain crusader. My arms are too tired -100 piety, gain selfish Deus Vult! I needed the piety gain. Our Crusader Expectations jump. June 23 - The province of Lettigalians has been captured by rebels. Oct 13 - Novgorod falls again and is recaptured by Byzantium. Welcome to1096 |
March 22 - My brother has been excommunicated. He is currently the Count of Yatvyagi and Scalovia.
He is Deceitful, Cruel, Sceptical, Suspicious, Hostile, Rebellious and now Excommunicated. Of all of my vassals, only my brother, my former friend, is a problem. And yet, diplomatically, we are fine - at the maximum. He’s my brother, but it it also time to relieve him of his court. I send a message to give me back Scalovia. Apr 7 - He refuses. I demand back Vatyagi Apr 20 - Before giving me a answer, he declares independence. I DOW him. May 14 - Troops from Zhmud arrive in Scalovia and attack the defenders. May 26 - His troops from Yatvyagi arrive in Scalovia. Anticipating this, I organized the County of Memel’s troops and sent them in. Jun 3 - As the general, I defeat my brother, the opposing general, on the field in Scalovia before the Memel troops arrive. We begin the siege. Jun 4 - Troops from Aukshayts arrive in Vatyangi and begin a siege here too. Jun 26 - The Chiefdom of Lettigalians has declared their freedom from Byzantium. July 8 - Scalovia falls. I disband that army. Aug 11 - Vatyangi falls. I take both province and all of their gold. Here’s my problem with that. Our reputation takes a major hit for readding lands that we already owned, from a guy who was excommunicated - not much of a badboy in real life, and its a ajor hit too. I create - The Count of Yatvyagi, Countess of Scalovia. |
My brother ended up back in Scalovia as the spymaster for the Countess.
Welcome to 1097 Jan 11 - Our Small Castle is complete in Lubeck I order roads built there as a follow up. Mar 23 - I create the County of Marienburg and give it away. Again, it helps my BB, and Marienburg is doing really well, and doesn’t need my guidance anymore. It also dropped in wealth, so I am not as interested in it. Jul 8 - The Principality of Polosk, right on our doorstep and to whom we have a claim, just DOWd Byzantium in a fret of independance. If I hadn’t had to have put down my brother last year, we could have taken this opportunity, but instead, I have to sit on the sidelines like a little child. Sept 6 - I order a Small Castle built in Aukshayts. Like Lubeck, this may be my border with the outside world for a while, so I want to protect it. Welcome to 1098 I realized today that I may want a strong Byzantium. With a weakened Germany, a Strong Byzantium would be a powerful anti-Mongol deterrent. What I don’t want is a Byzantium torn apart by war. Of course, this is all long before Mongols, but still. Feb 10 - My daughter is a Prodigy May 2 - Danzig forces defeat rebels in Slupsk Oct 16 - Pruthenians are attacked by their former allies, the Yatviags Welcome to 1099 Feb 18 - Pruthenians are now referred to as the Chiefdom of Sambia after losing their titles to Yatviags. These adjacent pagans just had a war, another opening I could not exploit due largely to civil war earlier (twice). March 3 - Towns grow - Prosperity in Lubeck set to prosperous May 7 - I order a sawmill built in Zhmud Jul 9 - Novgorod will try independence and war one more time. Jul 30 I will be educating my second son at court. Oct 15 - I get an event: Fund Traitors in Enemy Castle It’s a lot of gold, and the event doesn’t tell me who I’m hitting. I decide to call them back. I gain the Lazy trait. Welcome to 1100 |
Feb 6 - We now have a Small Castle in Aukshayts
I order an extensive road network built in Lubeck Feb 22 - Novgorod-Seversky has won its independence from Byzantium. April 15 - After declaring independence, I offer vassalization to the Bishop of Altmark, but he declines. June 12 - Sambia has sworn allegiance to the Uber-powerful Tribe of Cuman. Welcome to 1101 My loyalist vassals are the Count of Osel and the Bishopric of Rostock Okay, I need to make a decision. Do I, or do I not, assassinate my son, the Count of Braunschweig He is 15 and will soon marry and have a family. Now, assuming that I live to an age much older than my 33, my son will have made a lot of choices about his life, without my guidance and input. When I die, my son inherit’s the whole Duchy, and he may have made too many mistakes between now and then. What I can do is Assassinate him, and gain the County as an inheritance. However, if I am discovered, I will probably get the Kinslayer tag. If not, I can try to marry my second son into a nice family, or get us a nice wife. Either way, I don’t hurt the dynasty, whereas I have no idea what my son will want. This has happened before - my son inherit’s a duchy somewhere, and I am still young. I live to 70 or 80, and my son is dead and his son’s son is in his 30s and made a lot of mistakes when I died, setting back the dynasty two generations. An alternative plan is to commit suicide. However, I have too much piety and prestige compared to him that I think it’s a bad play. His weakness is intrigue (6/10/4/11) so its doable. Plus, if I inherit it, I can give it away and drop my BB, and that’s tempting too. I don’t have to do it just yet, so I’ll hold off. You never know, he may marry well. Let’s wait and see what his wife looks like. |
Mar 17 - I put down some rebels in Slupsk
May 7 - I have gained the Bishop of Hamburg as a friend. May 21 - Byzantium recaptures their provinces in revolt next to me May 23 - The County of West Dvina DOWs Lettigallians. I need to take this before they do. I DOW Lettigallians. Then I order my Aukshayts army into their province. July 7 - We arrive and begin the siege. The Lettigalians went to West Dvina to attack them. August 2 - We capture Lettigalians. I take them in peace. I have to get them before Byzantine took them. They are our land connection to Livonia if I can get it later. I order Forestry here. |
January 17, 1102 - I grant Zhmud to one of my courtiers who will become the Count of Zhmud.
I need to keep Lettigalians in order to have a northern outpost, and a territory to upgrade over time. I already ordered a Forestry here, and I’ll keep building it up over time. Feb 6 - I put down some rebel chaff in Werle March 18 - This time its rebels in Memel April 10 - Time for an Extensive Road Network in Danzig Aug 3 - A Tile Factory in Lettigalians Our son was asked to return his title, and HE SAID YES. Idiot. He is now back in court with his decent wife and bastard son. Is his wife an heir to anything? Nope. He married a woman five years older than him who is stressed and ill. Maybe she’ll die and I can remarry him? For some reason, his wife ended up in Rugen. Not only is she virtually infertile, she isn’t even around. I wonder if I get Kinslayer for kill his wife? I am successful and discovered. I can now marry off my son. Again. I did not get Kinslayer. Possible mates: The Daughter of the Duke of Brandenburg, but they are down to one province and I need to kill a son. Duke of Slesvig. I have to kill two sons,but she is 17 and ready to marry. Two provinces. He’s a friend though. County of Lubusz if I wait three years and kill a son The Count of Gnieznienskie, the heir of Poland, has two wives at the same time, each popping out kids. As a result, he has had 11 kids and he’s just 33. And they are friends too! There are no nearby inheritances. Allow me to find a breeder then. A few choices - Siwart from Armenia Minor has a 12/8/18/7 set of ratings. She’s 17 Marguerite from Venaissin has 8/14/16/5 stats and is 16. Nevermind, I found her: Helena Hvide currently in Sjaelland. 14/10/12/3 She is my son’s new bride. |
Welcome to 1103
Jan 14 - My eldest is wrestling with Vengeance and Mercy, and I choose Mercy. He lost the Vengeful trait. Feb 13 - The Count of Stettin has become my friend June 13 - the day I have dreaded is here. Yatviags have DOWd one of the counties of Poland. Poland responded. We have to take them before they do. I Declare war. Livonia has not joined her ally. I order the Danzig forces into Chelminskie Marienburg is dispatched to Galindia June 20 - The Count of Werle has died, leaving us without an alliance. I take the first offer than comes along - I accept an alliance offer from the King of England. Jul 8 - Our troops from Marienburg, Scalovia and Yatvyagi arrive in Galindia and attack the defenders here Jul 18 - Our forces arrive in Chelminskie and begin a siege I turn down a peace offer for 450 gold from them Aug 2 - We win in Galindia Aug 17 - We capture Chelminskie and Galindia I get peace Luckily I had some gold before this war began. I’m still alright. Add the gold I am about to get and its all good. Oct 20 - I get the Teutonic Knights event again, which is very unrealistic. In real life, the Teutonic Knights were invited north by Poland, they didn’t demand land every two years and rive down my piety. I order a church built in both of our new provinces just for me. I give Danzig away to a courtier. I needed it for this war, and now that it is over, I can hand it off. I give it to my son. He has a nice wife, a son with her already and another on the way. |
The newest map.
 I have my land bridge. I also have accumulated a lot of BB, because I didn't wind it all down due to civic strife, taking Lettigalians, and dropping an assassin. Still, this was a capture that was vital to our land. Eventually we'll take that Sambia that's sitting there. Our next target is likely Livonia if they are still around when our BB clears up. |
I need 66% of the lands in a traditional kingdom to create the tile of King. I am close to declaring myself King of Lithuania. There are 19 Lithuanian provinces, and I have 11 of them. That means I need 13 to become King, just two more. Sambia will be one. The problem is that Livonian and Estonian provinces could towards the Finnish kingship, not the Lithuanian one. After Sambia, no remaining Lithuanian province is in the hands of pagans, and so, if I want to be king, after I take Sambia and Estonia and Livonia (hopefully) I need to poach one of the Polish or Byzantine provinces that will suffice.
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Prestige gain monthly:
6 Duke Titles at 0.3 per title after the first - 1.5 16 counts as vassals - 1.3 Traits - -0.3 Total Change Per Month - +2.6 Therefore, I gain prestige at a rate of around 31 a year. Piety gain monthly: Crusader Expectations - -0.5 Church Donations - 0.5 Traits - 0.3 Total gain 0.2 per month, at a rate of 2.4 per year Nov 1 - I get an event: With my Reputation Horrible, Shouldn’t I relinquish my claim? Lose claim on Duke of Saxony - lose a BB Do Nothing I choose to do nothing. Never let go of Duke titles. Nov 14 - I get an event which is amazingly perfect for me: Mass-Scale Conversions Chelminskie converts to Catholic and loses heretic My piety increases 100 I’m alright with that! Dec 5 - I get You Have Lost a Friend. The Count of Stettin is no longer my friend. Welcome to1104 |
Jan 11 - Library ordered for Lettigalians
Jan 23 - Religion tension in Galindia. I Crush Them! It is now Catholic, looted and rebelling May 22 - England attacks Jerusalem. I join our allies. Jun 25 - I drive out rebels in Werle July 27 - The Pagan peasants in Lettigalians see me as the cause of their troubles and are now rebelling. Aug 12 - Galindia recovers from looting Welcome to 1105 We have a white peace with Jerusalem Feb 11 - I got an event - Disloyal Vassal Outmaneuvered. I gained a claim on the County of Stettin Feb 23 - I give in to demands in Lettigalians. The Revolt is over, and I lost some prestige. Feb 28 - I have fallen in love with my wife. She is now my friend. I gained the chaste skill May 18 - The two churches are complete in Galindia and Chelminskie I get the piety bonuses for building them. Now that they are Catholic and are built up, time to foist them off. I create the Countess of Galindia, Count of Chelmiskie to my second son, Bartosz, who is 11 and looking good. Aug 20 - The now Archbishopric of Novgorod DOWs Byzantine and declares independence Oct 3 - I order a sawmill in Lettigalians Oct 22 - That quickly Novgorod is back under the Byzantine fold Nov 1 - West Dvina has won indepedance without going to war. They are a Lithuanian province needed to make myself a King. They are also the poorest province I’ve seen and I have a bad BB. I’d risk it over a major province, but not over them. Nov - I get Religion Tension in Lettigalians. They are now Catholic, looted and revolting. Livonia has DOWs West Dvina, and frankly, they’ll get it. Nov 24 - West Dvina has pledged alliegance to Byzantium again as a desperate move. Dec 4 - Livonia defeated the West Dvinian army and has begun a siege. Dec 21 - 5000 Livonian troops have captured West Dvina They take it, and it is now theirs. Good news for us because when we do take Livonians, we’ll now get a Lithuanian province for our kingship. Welcome to 1106 |
Mar 3 - Lettigalians is no longer looted
The Duke of Saxony has gone rogue again Sweden and Scotland are about to gobble up Saxony. Dec 21 - I order a Fishing Wharf in Lettigalians Welcome to 1107 Sweden gobbled up Saxony May 27 - My daughter is old enough to marry, and she’s pretty good at stats - 10/15/10/11. Someone will want her. Forget it, I appoint her my Chancellor. I take a prestige hit for each unmarried daughter, but I can handle it (-0.2 per month) Sept 23 - Roads ordered in Lettigalians I hand the County of Lettigalians to the new Countess, my old Chancellor. Now that it is Catholic and I’ve built it up, it’s ready for a handoff. I got dragged into another Jerusalem war by England. Oct 4 - My friend, the Duke of Slesvig is now the Papal Controller at 39. Livonia, in another smart move, it attacking the free County of Velikiye Luki, a former Byzantine province that got peace. My daughter became a Charismatic Negotiator, with a diplomacy of 18 now. I wish my eldest son (2,11,2,9) were like her. Nov 6 - I got an event - Being Married to Someone You Love is Great. I could choose to have our strees removed, illness removed or fertility increased by one each. I chose the latter, since we aren’t stressed or ill. Welcome to 1108 Jan 17 - I get a nice war veteran join my court for a little gold. I offer him my daughter’s hand in marriage. Kids! Courtiers! I get 300 gold too. I hope they have great kids! Livonia is now at peace for gold. I would have taken the land if I were them. Apr 24 - I’ve been happy to follow England into these Middle East wars, but they have attacked, on offense, Aragon. That I can’t have. I decline. May 1 - My Marshal died. I appoint my son-in-law. June 8 - Another war vet joins my court. Welcome to 1109 |
Jan 27 - I accept White Peace with Jerusalem
May 17 - The Count of Kleve is now my friend July 6 - The Pope has died and the Duke of Slesvig is still the Papal Controller Nov 19 - I order a Medium Castle built in Lubeck Dec 24 - I am staying clear of a France/England grudge match Welcome to 1110 Feb 6 - I have gained a new friend - the Count of Holstein My reputation is now about where it was before I started my civil war/Lettigalians/assassin/Yatviag assault. I still need a few years for it to cool off more. June 23 - Livonia DOWd Lettigalians. I go to war to protect them. And I go to take land, much land. I order my Lubeck forces dispatched to Livs across the waves. It will take a while for them to arrive, but when they do, they will add a powerful punch. I order my Aukshayts troops to :Lettigalians. I organize my troops in five other provinces and order them to Lettigalians as well. I have a lot of gold, so I should be fine on that front Livs orders their troops to West Dvina instead of into Lettigalians, which is where I expected them to go. I have to turn around and face them dead on. Aug 16 - 9792 Livonians - their whole army, is in West Dvina upon or arrival. We have 6507 men with another 2000 on the way. They moved all of their troops here and caught me by surprise. If I lose this, I am at fault for directing my troops here. Sep 1 - We lose. I order the Danzing army to Reval. Sept 15 - The Livonians arrive in Aukshayts Oct 16 - Aukshayts falls Oct 23 - My army of 8734 men arrives in Aukshayts to protest their presence. Nov 5 - Our Lubeck forces arrive in Livs Nov 10 - We lose in Aukshayts Dec 9 - I lose 1000 troops I had snuck behind in West Dvina. My main forces has been directed to Aukshayts again. Dec 10 - I have embraced a celibate lifestyle Dec 16 - Our Lubeck forces have captured Livs. I order them to Dorpat Dec 21 - Our main army arrives back in Aukshayts and begins a siege Dec 28 - The Danzig army arrives in Reval and begins a siege Jan 11, 1111 - The Livonian forces arrive in Aukshayts and try to drive us back out The Lubeck army has arrived in Dorpat and begun the siege Jan 30 - We lose in Aukshayts again Feb 20 - We have captured Dorpat I order the Lubeck army to West Dvina They are besieging Sudovia Feb 22 500 Troops from Yatvyagi arrive in Sudovia to slow them down March 3 - We hit Sudovia hard, our major army arrives March 10 - This time, we win. March 30 - Aukshayts falls. The Livonian army runs back to West Dvina Livonia has cleverly given away West Dvina as a vassal. I DOW them. Nice try. April 6 - We capture Reval. I order the Danzig forces south April 15 - They arrive back in West Dvina where my Lubeck forces await April 18 - We lose in West Dvina April 24 - Forces from Aukshayts arrive in West Dvina April 30 - We win in West Dvina June 7 - We capture West Dvina I take all four provinces plus several hundred gold. |
I order churches built in Livs and Reval.
I give Dorpat away to a courter, and the new Count of Dorpat is a strong guy As soon as I get a worthy courtier, I’ll hand off West Dvina too. I don’t care about them that much. July 30 - I get a Religion Uprising in Livs. I choose to crush it. Livs is now Catholic, Looted and Rebelling. Aug 3 - My wife is now ill Sept 20 - Livs is no longer looted Sept 25 - I give in to demands and just like that, Livs is fine. Oct 9 - The Crusades have ended. Whew, Oct 18 - the Tribe of Ingers has just taken Pskov in war Dec 19 - I give away West Dvina to the new Count. Welcome to 1112 July 8 - My wifes sickness worsens into pneumonia I appoint a Muslim claim jumper who appeared in my court as the new Steward Aug 12 - My daughter is now stressed Nov 12 - Religious Tension in Reval. I choose to crush them. Looted, Catholic, Rebelling. Welcome to 1113 Jan 19 - I order a Civilian Harbor in Reval Feb 15 - I give in to demands in Reval Aug 13 - The Pope has passed on and the King of Hungary is now the Papal Controller Aug 14 - Reval recovers and is no longer looted Dec 12 - My daughter lose stressed and became depressed. Not a good time to be a woman related to me with my wife getting pneumonia and my daughter getting depressed Dec 15 - My wife dies just three days later. I need a new wife - any courtier will do since I am celibate Deck 17 - I am married to the 16 year old daughter of the Counter of Beresty, Elena of Uglich. 9/10/14/19. Too bad I am celibate. I appoint her Steward Welcome to 1114 |
Jan 20 - The Medium Castle in Lubeck is complete. I now order a War Academy from here.
May 5 - Byzantium recaptures Pskov July 4 - I order up a Naval Harbor in Livs August 4 - The Countess of Memel died and we inherited it. I’ll take this opportunity to build it up some more before giving it away again. I order a Sawmill. My brother and his only son have arrived back in our court. I accept him because he is our brother. I will not grant him another title, but his son I might do. I offer a courtier in Lancaster my nephew’s hand in marriage. They accept Nov 23 - I gain the Count of Dorpat as a rival. Dec 12 - My spy master dies of old age I appoint my brother, the one who seceded from us and caused a war, my new Spy Master. December 17 - The Theives Guild in Reval is disbanded. I get an offer from the Duke of Brunswick to take one of his daughters as a Fosterling. I agree. Welcome to 1115 Mar 9 - I have again fallen in love with my wife, this time my new one. She is now my friend. Mar 19 - I have gained the Count of Lettigalians as a new rival Nov 6 - I order a Civilian Harbor in Memel Welcome to 1116 - The 50 Year Perspective |
The 50 Year Map
 Note that one province Estonia, adjacent to us, has our color on the map but is not us. Denmark has captured a sizable chunk of Finland, and i expect I'll leave it to them. The Soup is what I am going to call that mixture in the Germanic/Burgundian/French states. All of those provinces are owned by a major power - France, Scotland, England, Hungary, Poland, Germany, Sweden, Burgundy or Austria, with only a few provinces occasionally free. This is the consequence of the Holy Roman Empire's collapse. Initially, this was a rainbow of colors, but slowly, major powers moved in, picking off the duchies, and counties, until all we have left is The Soup. Where next for us? Sambia or Estonia. Once those two are done, I'll probably go where the wind wills. |
I am:
The Duke of Mecklemburg Duke of Courland, Lithuania, Pomerania, Samogitia, and Pomeralia The Count of Lubeck Count of Memel, Livs, Reval, and Aukshayts I can claim: Duke of Prussia Duke of Livonia I am choosing not to, and leave it to my successor who might need the prestige. I have 19 vassals Every vassal has one province except for the Count of Stettin, who also has Slupsk and the Count of Zhmud, who inherited Werle I have a total of 26 provinces. I began with one province. Therefore I have gained one province every two years. |
Feb 21 - I decide to disturb my faith and build moneylenders in Lubeck
July 5- The crusades begin again. Target Jerusalem. I hate this thing. I move my brother off as Spy Master. I don’t want an excommunicated man as my spy master during a Crusade, I’m liable to get called out on it. Aug 1 - I jump in front on everyone and DOW Jerusalem For fun, I order the Lubeck troops to sea. Some of the Muslim countries I was at war with are buying my peace, probably because they see that I am serious about Jerusalem. June 8 - 1117 - I give my nephew Memel after the harbor is done. Nov 19 - I lose a friend in Duke of Slesvig because he is a Heretic April 3, 1118 - 6992 troops land in Ascalon after a long voyage. I order them strait to Jerusalem. I DOW Jaffa so I can miss the Jerusalem army in Beersheb April 26 - We arrive in Jerusalem and begin the siege May 10 - 2000 troops arrive in Jerusalem to protest our presence June 10 - After their army got a lot of support, we win. We lost 3383 men, they lose 2563. July 6- They throw everything they have into the battle. 3829 men 0 all of their remaining armies. July 23 - We win in Jerusalem again I get an event and add Iterant Crusaders to my army to bring it up another 2000 men I had to pay them some dough though. Aug 9 - I got what I wanted from Jaffa and accept a White Peace offer from them Aug 14 - We have captured Jerusalem Aug 20 - They decline my peace offer for Jerusalem. Aug 26 - My men have arrived in Hebron Aug 30 - We easily defeat the remnants of the Jerusalem army and begin besieging Hebron Oct 12 - We capture Hebron Oct 19 - They decline my peace proposal. Oct 23 - We arrive in Beersheb Nov 16 - Beersheb falls to us. I move to Ascalon Nov 20 - Their 2500 remaining troops are in Jerusalem besieging us, so I pull my troops back out. Dec 21 - We defeat their troops in Jerusalem Feb 20, 1119 - We arrive back in Ascalon. They have rejected several peace proposals. Their army is here, at 2151 men. Our entire army is here at 2546 March 10 - We win but lost 1000 men May 7 - Ascalon falls to us. I take Jerusalem and 60 gold. I disband my troops We gained a ton of Piety (1842) and prestige (3405) for capturing Jerusalem. We finish the war at -13 gold. At first, gold was a problem, but then as we lost troops, we came back. |
Nov 21 - I accept a Luneburg child as a Fosterling
Dec 7 - I order a Civilian Harbor in Lubeck Welcome to 1120 Why hasn’t this Crusade ended yet? Feb 1 - I order Glass-Works in Reval I then hand it to a nice Count. March 15 - I order a Monastery in Jerusalem Nov 2 - I give in to demands and Jerusalem is no longer rebelling against us Welcome to 1121 Our BB is shrinking well Feb 22 - I agree to crush the Religios Tension in Jerusalem. It is now looted, rebelling and Catholic I organize my army in Jerusalem before the upkeep happens at the end of the month. I don’t want a local power to see my 500 army Jerusalem as a ripe plum with the Looted and Rebelling double take. So I activate the decent sized army. April 19 - The Bishop of Orbetello is now our friend June 6 - Jerusalem recovers and is no longer looted I disband my army now Aug 2 - Hungary and Norway go to war Aug 8 - Naval Harbor in Lubeck is ordered Oct 17 - I order moneylenders in Aukshayts Welcome to 1122 I can wait on attacking Sambia because even with it, I can’t be King now. Kurs was inherited by a Castillean Duke. Annoying. I grab the title of Count of Kurs. It raises my BB a little, but I want it for later. A monastery is built in Jerusalem. I order a Templar House built here. Mar 21 - The King of England has died. I turn down the alliance offer from the new king. I prefer a better ally this time. Apr 4 - Hungary just took five provinces from Poland in war There is now a big giant grey spot in the middle of where Poland used to be May 24 - I gain coward after choosing not to pursue a major illicit operation Sept 29 - Norway paid money to Hungary and the war in over Nov 29 - I have gained the Count of Reval as a rival Welcome to 1123 March 29 - Sweden just took a giant chunk out of Norway in war - They literally no longer exist. June 17 - 1123 - The Second Crusade ends July 10 - My chancellor is ill Dec 15 - I get an event: Should We Not Create a Crusader State? I choose not to. I lose some piety and prestige, but not much. Jerusalem is now heretical Welcome to 1124 |
Good stuff, though I'd like to know how you can manage to stay up so late at night. :)
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Thanks! Because I am currently writing, so I can do that at 8 am, 10 am or noon just as easily. |
This has been very interesting. At first I thought your style would put me off: you move quickly and give very basic details, but you play the game well and you tell me just enough to keep me interested. :)
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I'm really enjoying the style. I like the min detail, and I am really soaking up the thoughts and long term strategies told.
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Excellent! |
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Glad ta hear it! |
Since I don’t have to worry about grabbing Sambia right now, due to the lose of Kurs, I might as well grab Estonia.
Jan 11, 1124 - I DOW Estonia. I order my troops in Livs to Narva, their only province. Neither of our allies join Jan 13 - Estonia DOWs our vassal, Dorpat. Their ally, Kexholm, joins them this time. I DOW Kexholm because they DOWd my vassal. We are now at war with both. Kexholm is relatively poor financially, and it’s a ways over from my own holdings, so I have no current desire for it Jan 17 - My brother has died Feb 20 - Our army arrives in Narva and assaults the meager defenders Feb 25 - We win Mar 8 - Kexholm troops arrive to drive us out Marc 24 - The 2000 pagan troops have been crushed Apr 11 - Narva falls. I take it in peace negotiations with Estonia. I get a little gold too. I disband my troops I’ll keep the war with Kexholm going, in case one of my vassals manages to capture it. That way I won’t have to spend money on it. June 6 - A sawmill was completed in Narva. I order up a church Aug 2 - Troops from the Count of Reval have begun a siege in Kexholm. Aug 23 - My Marshal recovers from an illness. Aug 30 - The Count of Reval accepted peace for 70 ducats from Kexholm. I would have kept going. Sept 5 - The Templar House is complete in Jerusalem. I order up a Church. Kexholm DOWs Osel, and that seems like a bad idea, since Osel had some troops of actual size Oct 23 - My Chancellor and Daughter has died. I want to appoint my Diocese Bishop to be my new Chancellor, but I can’t figure out how. So instead I give it to my wife. Nov 12 - I get an alliance offer from Hungary. This is accepted. They are becoming a major power, and perhaps Hungary will be the country that stops in Mongols in 120 years or so. Dec 29 - I blast some rebels in Scalovia Welcome to 1125 |
Jan 15 - I give a little gold to the Count of Osel to keep him in the green and encourage him to continue his war against Kexholm
March 29 - 1800 Osel troops arrive in Kexholm and begin a siege. Please take it, take it! May 18 - I had to appoint a Muslim as a Steward in order to free up my wife as a new Chancellor. The Pope comes calling. In order to dodge his fury, I choose to execute the Courtier. I gain cruel and arbitrary, but at least I didn’t gain Excommunicated (which was a chance if I had chosen else wise). July 29 - Kexholm has fallen to Osel! Aug 8 - The County of Osel has taken Kexholm in peace negotiations. Excellent! Increase my domain by a province and I didn’t have to do anything. Good job Osel. I was hoping one of my vassals might come through for me. From my financial gift to denying a White Peace offer occasionally, I feel that I helped behind the scenes. Sept 1 - After Charcoal spreads to Livs, I order a mine built here. The Count of Osel has given Kexholm away to his firstborn. He’s a good courtier too, so that’s alright for me. The Count of Osel is one of my few loyalists, so I’m happy to have his son as my newest vassal. Sept 10 - I hold a Great Royal Fest when I get that event. I lose a bit of gold, gain a bit of prestige, and my vassals are happy Oct 2 - I get a Vassal Loyal Event and regain just, and lose arbitrary as a trait. My great grand son, Jacenty Nakonid, is born I am 59. My eldest boy is 40. His oldest, still alive, is 22, who just had a son. Welcome to 1126 Jan 18 - I order up a mine in Narva If I had a better Chancellor, I would take Sambia now. My new Chancellor isn’t nearly as good as my old one. Why does that matter? The loyalty of my vassals depends on the diplomacy value of the liege, prestige of the liege, character traits, liege badboy, laws and scutage. My BB isn’s that bad right now, so it would be time to take my reign out for a spin, but I need a good chancellor first. Ah what the hell, let’s get crazy. A look at the Tribe of Cuman. In a surprisingly smart move, the remaining pagans in the area have all allied under one banner. Aland, Sambia, three provinces in the north of Sweden, have all allied with an inland pagan, the King of Cuman. He has seven province sin his desmense plus around 18 vassals, some duke level, some count level. The Tribe of Cuman is a giant green blob in the east of the map, covering land from Mid Russia all the way down to the Black Sea, and covering it thickly. They also have northern provinces like the five I mentions, and some in east Finland. I want Sambia. The rest can remain Cumani. They are adjacent to Hungary in several regions by the Black Sea, so if my ally joined, they’d be too busy to mess with me, plus I’m a distance away and I have a nice sized army. I order my troops in Aukshayts to Scalovia Mar 1 - I DOW Sambia. Cuman DOWs us Hungary DOWs Cuman I order my troops in March 21 - My troops arrive in Sambia April 11 - We barely lose. I order several surrounding provinces troops in action and send them in May 1 - Fresh troops arrive in Sambia We are losing so I take a look - the Chief of Sambia, on the battlefield has a Marshal skill of 20. No wonder I’ve been doing poorly against the genius military guy. May 18 - We lose again May 24 - I have gained the Shiek of Acre as a new rival May 29 - I again get the Married to a Woman You Love it Great event. I choose to de stress and lose stressed. June 1 - The first troops to lose are having another go June 6 - A church is completed in Jerusalem June 19 - We again lose in Sambia. These guys are good June 30 - The second army rearrives July 8 - They lose again July 30 - We arrive in Sambia again Aug 4 - We finally defeat the Sambian army Sept 14 - Sambia falls. I get 500 gold plus Sambia If I wanted Aland, I could DOW it and cross the sea to the island, but its poor, and I don’t care that much. With my blood money, I order a Medium castle built in Jerusalem. I want to do everything I can to turn this into a one province country of significant power. Oct 19 - I decide to build moneylenders in Narva. The negative Piety doesn’t mean anything to me. Oct 24 - I give in to demands in Jerusalem, which is now out of revolt Dec 20 - Aland DOWs Hungary, so I join back. We are now at war with Aland Welcome to1127 |
March 21 - The Pope is now my friend
Hungary is eating Cuman provinces left and right. They have a 20000 army led by their king just tearing through them. Glad to have helped to create a mega-Christian state that can stand against the Mongols. Apr 17 - The loyal Count of Osel is now a rival. That sucks. Jul 4 - The Count of Reval is becoming a real problem. He’s rebellious and my rival and he’s losing too much loyalty to me monthly. I’m having to give him a gift of 100 gold every three months or so to keep him happy. Time to pull out the big gun. I send an assassin. It works, but I am discovered. My BB raises, and his son is pissed until I send 300 gold to cheer him up. Hopefully that’s the last investment I make in Reval for a while. The piety and prestige loss isn’t much these days. July 7 - Reval sends an assassin to kill me and fails and was discovered. That lowers our BB back down. Aug 12 - I hand Narva to a new Count. Nov 1 - Time to build a Naval Harbor in Sambia Nov 16 - Prosperity in Livs is reduced to merely prosperous from rich. Welcome to1128 Jan 1 - The son of the Count of Osel has taken over after his father’s death, and he doesn’t like me as much as his father did, although we are not rivals. Feb 18 - Aland forces arrive in Livs - all 500 of them. I organize my troops I then accept a white peace offer from then. Again, if I had wanted Aland, I would have grabbed it just then. |
April 15, 1128 - The County of Vitebsk has declared war. On us. Byzantium joins them. Hungary does not join them.
Time for real war now. I organize my Aukshayts army and order them to the adjacent Byzantine province of Polotsk. I grab a claim on the Polotsk County. I have been gaining 90 gold a month with my provinces, so I’m fine that way. I summon the Livs army - 6000 strong, and order them to the province of Novgorod, a nearby Byzantine province. See, one of the ways you win in CK is always keeping a plan in your back pocket. If I can take Polotsk, then I can grab a King title. If I can take Novgorod, then I get the best province in the entire region, financially. I organize a few smaller provincial armies to deal with Vitebsk;s mighty 300 army. May 5 - We arrive in Polotsk. Siege begins. 4436 Byzantine troops from Novgorod arrive in Pskov where my 5932 troops are. May 19 - I accept peace with Vitebsk for 312 gold. May 22 - We lose in Pskov when the Emperor himself arrives leading reinforcements. May 24 - The Pope, our friend, has died. We are now the new Papal Controller May 30 - Polotsk falls. I order my troops deeper into Byzantine territory. June 20 - Our retreating forces win in Livs. I order them back to Novgorod. Troops have arrived in Velikiye Luki, and are met by the Emperor June 27 - We lose on Orsa, win in West Dvina, and lose in V. Luki I’ll rally these forces in West Dvina June 30 - In an annoying display of efficieny , Cuman, whom we are still technically at war with, landed 3633 troops in Sambia, forcing me to mobilize nearby forces. July 1 - Troops arrive in Pskov and begin another tussle July 7 - We lose in Pskov July 21 - My troops arrive in Sambia 2500 troops arrive in Livs and begin a siege July 24 - We win in sambia, and our forces that lost in Pskov drive the attackers in Livs Aug 7 - The Byzantine War Machine in cranking it up. I keep the 5000 troops in Sambia and order them over to help out. I also order my Lubeck forces to Pskov That’s my reserve. If I order it in, you know its serious I have 8000 troops in Livs with 1500 more under way from Reval. I have 5304 in West Dvina 5316 in Sambia And now 9000 in Lubeck traveling the scenic route through the Baltic They have - About 3000 in Jacweiz marching 1500 in Polotsk trying to retake it. 8400 in Orsha 787 in V Luki 3500 in Pskov This is a real campaign in a real war I order the 8000 Livs troops to Polotsk. West Dvina to Livs and the 1500 from Reval to join them there. |
Sept 13 - Polotsk has fallen back into their hands
Sept 24 - We lose in Polotsk and are forced back to West Dvina Oct 14 - Forces from Sambia arrive in Polotsk and begin an assault on the troops there. Oct 21 - After ordering the northern army in Pskov, we drive back the Emperor. We also win in Polotsk and rebegin the siege there. I order the forces in Pskov to continue to Novgorod Nov 1 - We arrive in Novgorod and begin the siege Nov 5 - 2745 troops arrive in Aukshayts and begin a siege of us. Nov 15 - Byzantine troops arrive in West Dvina, cutting off my reinforcements going to Aukshayts Nov 23- We lose in West Dvina Nov 24 - We capture Polotsk and I order my forces to Aukshayts Nov 28 - Novgorod falls Dec 14 - Just a few days before Aukshayts is set to fall, our troops arrive from Polotsk to protest their presence. Dec 18 - 2000 Byzantine troops arrive again in Livs and begin a siege I order my 6000 damaged troops to Smolensk. Dec 24 - We win in Aukshayts and break the siege. We also win in Livs - The Lubeck troops landed. I claim the Count of Novgorod title. Welcome to 1129 Jan 26 - We capture Smolensk. I offer peace for Polotsk and Novgorod Feb 15 - They decline Mar 5 - We capture Moskva Apr 20 - We capture Rostov June 12 - I have captured two more Byzantine provinces but they still won’t budge on the war front. We keep killing their remnants in the north, while we take their provinces in the south, but no dice. I’m almost out of gold, so I need to wrap this up or disband some armies. I choose to punish Byzantium for their stubborness. I pillage every province I have captured except the two I want, a get a little gold. July 14 - Yet another province of theirs falls. July 27 - I accept a White Peace offer from Cuman Aug 18 - A Thieves Guild has formed in Sambia Sept 1 - We are now in the hole |
Oct 15 - We are starting to lose ground. My besieging armies were losing, so I disbanded them, and now Byzantium is taking back the Russian provinces. I make an offer for just Polotsk
They decline. This war is never going to end. Fine then. Two can play this game. If this war is going on forever, I’m going to win. I DOW Orsha after claiming its title. Nov 11 - I begin the siege of Orsha Dec 5 - Orsha falls to us I get 454 gold and Orsha in a peace deal. That money will help us keep going. It’s a lot of BB, but it was worth it to actually get land. Welcome to 1130 |
I am moving so many armies around, because they just keep coming. I thought this would be a quick strike war, and its not. We are not winning this war. They just keep coming and coming and coming. I am the only person Byzantium is at war with, and they can turn their full attention to me. Unless…
I order my Jerusalem troops mobilized and head to Byzantium’s capital but it doesn’t work. I can’t go through the surrounding Muslem people. I disband them. It was a good idea but poor execution. March 26 - It’s a constant game of move and hit. Apr 1 - After all of these military losses, I’m not losing money anymore May 7 - They recapture Novgorod. I only have Polotsk left. They just keep coming. They have turned down two White Peace proposals from me. May 18 - I give Orsha to a courtier as a Count because we lost a battle here today,a nd the siege would start tomorrow otherwise. June 2 - Sambia is now Catholic, Looted and Rebelling July 26 -After much maneuvering, 12000 men with the Emperor at the head take Livs. Sept 25 - We drive out the Byzantines in Livs and begin a siege to take it back Sept 30 - We again win in Livs, but sits hanging on by a thread Oct 20 - Byzantium finally accepts our white peace offer Well, we didn’t get Novgorod and we didn’t even get Polotsk, but we did poach Orsha, so it’s not a total loss. |
Dec 16 - I accept the King of Denmark’s fosterling
Welcome to 1131 Jan 11 - I order Glass Works in Lubeck Feb 25 - The Medium Castle is complete in Jerusalem June 5 - I gain the Count of Tavasts as a friend. Aug 8 - I get the event: The Peasants Are Starving and Leave Their Revolt. I choose to open our coffers to help them. Their prosperity improved to rich, they are no longer rebellion or looted. Dec 10 - My Marshal dies and I have no male courtiers Welcome to 1132 |
Well, I am free now. I can go anywhere or do anything, militarily. I have no idea where I will expand next. Some ideas and directions:
Jerusalem - Build upon my Fiefdom here in Jerusalem until I have forged a major Crusader State. Finland - I could hop the Gulf of Finland and begin expanding in the far north of Finland, by our province in Kexholm. There are a handful of provinces back here that are still pagan. Three to be exact, and none are that valuable. Had I taken Novgorod in the war, I would push to take Vodi, which would connect Kexholm and Novgorod. Russia - I can continue to expand landward and eastward, but Byzantium is a formidable opponent, as I’ve come to realize. Also in the way is Hungary and as you go inward, Cuman. All are very powerful. Poland - I could try to slide south east and gobble up the rest of Poland. They have 11 provinces left in their main area, divided by Hungary. All four the provinces that border us are decently valuable. However, I don’t have many claims down here, so that’d increase the badboy issues. In fact, I just checked - I have no claim on any Polish territory. Scandinavia - I could hop the Baltic and start gobblin up Scandinavia. We could start with Denmark. Well, actually, if I really want to take on Scandinavia, I should grab the three Cuman provinces at the north end of Sweden first. Then I have a launching point. The Soup - Or, I could head south or west of Lubeck, and start grabbing Soup provinces. I have a claim on the Duke of Brandenburg, for example. It’s not much of a ducal title these days - just two provinces. Or I could fight the Duke of Slesvig, who is currently independent. I suspect I’ll go where the opportunity lies. If I crusade is called next week, then I have a reason to start grabbing land in the Levant. If Altmark goes independent, then I have a target right by home. For now, I just wait. And watch. |
Feb 6 - And opportunity strikes. The Duke of Asturias has given Kurs to his son. As soon as my troops are revived, barring any other changes, I may take back my province.
A quiet year. No events, no major wars, no major peace treaties, nothing. Welcome to 1133 Jan 11 - a few provinces (Minsk, Starya Ryssa) are joining Novgorod as a free state, (Not in Novgorod province, but based out of Torzhok.) Let’s take a look at my Duke: Wladyslaw Nakonid, 65 years old Western Slavic Catholic 9/9/10/9 Crusader, Celibate Intricate Webweaver Chaste, Lazy, Deceitful, Just, Cruel, Modest, Zealous, Trusting, Coward This guy is an institution With my BB beginning to ebb, but my country needing to still spend time recovering, I dice to make a few moves. You never know when my Duke will die, so let’s use up some of that prestige. Duke of Slesvig As a lark, I offer the newly independent Count of Jacwiez, at war with Byzantium, vassalization. He accepts. That does increase my BB. Now I need for Byzantium to not kill him. I order him to revoke his title. For his people. He accepts. Also jumps my BB, but it works. I then give it away to the new countess of Jacweiz. And just like that, we have a new province. Jacweiz and Orsha isolate the Byzantine province of Polotsk, which is now completely surrounded by us. |
June 2 - The King of Hungary died. I choose not to renew my alliance with them. They left us alone against the Byzantines when they declared war against us. I won’t forget that.
July 1 - I get an alliance offer from the King of Burgundy. Let me check. Nah, I decline The province of Mecklemburg has been inherited by a vassal under the court of Hungary, so we have lost it, like we lost Kurs. This is getting irritating How do we not even have a claim on Mecklemburg, when we used to when we started the game? Well, I grab County of Mecklemburg as a title. Aug 11 - The Archbishop of Sweden is offering me an alliance proposal. This I take. Sept 10 - Sambia is revolting because be tolerate heretics in our desmesne (Jerusalem). Fine then. I give away Sambia to the new Countess of Sambia We are down to Lubeck, Livs, Aukshayts and Jerusalem in our desmesne. Dec 8 - My great grandson, and ultimate heir, is third in line for the Duchy of Bohemia. Interesting. Welcome to 1134 Jan 11 - I send an assassin to take out one of the people between my great grandson and Bohemia. He is the Marshal of Bohemia, and just newly married, so I want to take him out now prior to any brides. He has a low intrigue (3) so this may be very doable. If failed, but we were not discovered Hold on, let me check something. Yep, I can excommunicate him. Let me try. Hmm, for some reason, the game won’t let me. The Pope’s piety and prestige are both higher than this guy’s. The game says I can, and yet, when I click on Otakar, the game does nothing. Hmpf, Useless pope. I try another assassin. We succeed but are discovered. My great grand son is now second in line. Here’s why that was important. The succession Line for the Duke of Bohemia - One of his Counts, My Heir. Sucession line for that Count - Duke of Bohemia, My Heir. Either way, they are going through him. Jan 28 - The Duke of Bohemia has died of natural causes! Wow, what a lucky break! Of course the guy was like 66, but still, for him to die the month we assassinate one of his heirs, that’s great! Jan 30 - We get the obligatory counterstrike, which fails. June 17 - I get the Duke of Brunswick as a friend Aug 12 - I gain my son, the Count of Danzig as my friend Welcome to 1135 |
May 20 - The Count of Wolgast has inherited the province of Esztergom, in the heart of Hungary. It’s a really solid province in value, but way out there for us.
My great grandson has also inherited the Count of Yatvyagi Anyway, I mention this because the Duchy of Bohemia is now at war with Hungary, and I fear they will gobble up my heritage. Oh well, good luck to Bohemia Byzantium is experiencing Realm Duress. The Leader has a -717 piety and a -5823 prestige. Not sure how you get htat bad, but he did. Sept 22 - The Duke of Bohemia is now at peace with Hungary after paying some money. Oct 8 - After rebelling against Byzantium, Velikiye Lukii agrees to vassalization with us. Now, they are at war with Byzantium, but I don’t fear Byzantium as much now as I did a few years ago. They appear to be safe for now, but if troops in purple arrive, I won’t be afraid to DOW them and keep V. Luki. Nov 4 - I drive out some rebels in Kexholm. Nov 21 - Today was the day I am going to take out Byzantium in the north. Before that, a map to demonstrate what is going on. |
The Eastern Portion of Our Realm:
 Okay, a quick catchup. Many provinces are splitting off Byzantium with their issues. Among them are the large grey Principality, to which also the province directly below V Luki belongs. A small red province the same color as Denmark (sorry) is the Principality of Novgorod and several reds belong to them southward. Polotsk is the Byzantine province directly surrounded by us. I want that. Novgorod province is the long province near the top, in a darker shade of purple. I want that. I have claims on both it and Polotsk. A couple of provinces are currently solo. The white tip of one is that the bottom of the screen and adjacent to us. There is also a blue solo province and a light green solo one and alight brown one. The provinces that Byzantium holds that I have arrows in are pointing to who currently controls the province. All five arrows demonstrate that someone else has besieged and taken those provinces in war and currently hold them. So, what do I know? From the last time we fought, Byzantine has currently lost 14 provinces on the map, and we have three of them in our fold now. That could be 10000 or 15000 less troops to draw upon total - good for us. Secondly, I know that Byzantine is currently in a lot of battles and wars, unlike before. They are distracted, and thus a Blitzkreig attack is likely to knock them flat. Thirdly, I have the experience from the first war to guide me. Time to tame the bear. |
Operation: Blitzkreig
Target A: Polotsk The Polotsk province will be assaulted by the combined forces of the reserve. Itis not a front in the war, so long as we take it before the war is over, we are successful. It does not have to be first, second or third. Target B: Novgorod The combined forces of the Latvian/Estonian provinces will send an army against Novgorod. This includes Livs, which will be the backbone of this army. For purposes of discussion, this will be referred to as the Dart Army. Their purpose is to dart in, snatch a province, then dart out, hitting where needed. Target C: Havoc A smash army consisting of the combined forces of Aukshayts, and various surrounding provinces will quickly enter Byzantine provinces in the east and south east, actively seeking out engagement with their forces. The goal of this army is to actively defeat the Byzantium forces in open battle, keeping them on the run. This is our Hammer Army. Target D: Russia A final army will consist of the various Lithuanian provinces, and its goal will be to take one or more provinces in mainland Russia, in and around Moscow. The goal of this is to drive up our warscore and hurt our opponent's chances of continuing war. This is our Anvil army. Target E: Backup The Lubeck army will be assigned to backup the first assault, and will be dispatched to Livs, and from there, into Byzantium as needed. The names of my five armies are Reserve, Dart, Anvil, Hammer, and Lubeck. I will refer to them as such during the war to expedite things |
Nov 21, 1135 - I declare war against Byzantium
Sweden does not join us, not that there’s much they could do anyway Dec 13 - The Dart army arrives in Novgorod to fight troops there Dec 22 - We win and begin the Siege of Novgorod Jan 10, 1136 - We capture Novgorod. Good Dart Army, very good. I order the Dart Army into more Byzantine territory. Time to harass. Jan 21 - At 12000 men strong, the Hammer army has gathered in Orsha. I order them in. Jan 30 - Two more provinces split off of Byzantium - Moscow and some Turkish province. Feb 1 - The Dart Army has arrived in Trans=portage to fight the 2500 Byzantine forces here. Feb 9 - The Dart Army is victorious Feb 21 - I switch gears. I order my Anvil army into Polotsk. I will capture it early. Considering how bad Byzantine is getting beat, they may let the two provinces go. Mar 1 - My Hammer Army blasted the Byzantines Mar 11 - The Hammer Army grabbed a provinces for us Mar 18 - Polotsk fell. I send a peace offer Mar 30 - They accept our peace proposal - we also got 500 gold from them too. I order a sawmill in Polotsk Since my BB was almost all gone, we are still fine after grabbing those two provinces. |
May 1 - Poland just lost four provinces to the Duchy of Lesser Poland who won their war of secession
June 11 - I give Polotsk to the new Count. I will be keeping Novgorod June 24 - I get n event - Ruler commit’s a dastardly act of cruelty in Jerusalem. My piety takes a hit, as does the loyalty of two classes in Jerusalem June 25 - A Croatian county attacks Sweden, I declare war back with my allies. Croatia joins. June 28 - Novgorod is no longer looted July 28 - Another heritage scheme broken up. The Duke of Bohemia ceded his duchy to Hungary in another war. Aug 17 - I order a Grand Shipyard in Lubeck Oct 13 - I dial up Training Grounds in Novgorod Welcome to 1137 Aug 14 - Poland keeps falling apart, since the King was Excommunicated apparently, although I didn’t do it. I order a Small Castle in Novgorod Sept 17 - I blast some rebels in Polotsk Nov 8 -I get an event about my Marshal having long term service, so I reward him. Welcome to 1138 |
January 26 - While under siege from the Emperor of Byzantium, I offer Pskov a vassalization. They accept. Of course, the Emperor is only 250 men strong I think we can wait it out.
Pskov was important to get because it’s the land connection to Novgorod. Feb 1 - I order a Glass Blower in Aukshayts Feb 14 - I DOW the Tribe of Ingers and move my Livs forces into Vodi March 5 - Our troops arrive in Vodi and assault their troops Mar 28 - We defeated the pagans and being our siege I get an offer for peace for 1692 gold, That’s a lot of gold. I already have over 2000 though, so I’m good. I want the land. May 1 - We capture Vodi. I grab it and 500 gold from them. I now have a land connection all the way up to Kexholm. June 1 - My Marshal has died. |
Sept 1 - There is no more Byzantium, in the same place. Bulgaria has taken their King title. They have grabbed the Principality of Novgorod, which is bad for us. They can now launch an attack on Pskov, and there is nothing I can do, unless I go to war.
Just in case, I mobilize my forces in Livs and Aukshayts and move them to places I can handle. Sept 8 - It looks like Bulgaria has mobilized their forces. This is going to hurt, but I have to protect my own. I usurp the Duke of Novgorod title. Over the years, this guy has collected vassals from the Old Byzantium. There are six provinces in the Duchy of Novgorod, we have four, so I can claim the title by right, without any BB, but I lose some prestige. This will take some prestige, however. I grab the title Count of Torshok. Sept 14 - My Livs forces have arrived in Pskov. Time for war. I DOW the Principality of Novgorod Bulgaria DOWs us back. No Sweden to be seen - nice ally that Sweden Sept 19 - I win a skirmish in Pskov - they were marching here. Oct 5 - My troops arrive in Torshok and begin the siege. I order my force in Orsha, from Aukshayts, into Bulgarian territory Oct 25 - I defeat a small number of troops in Novgorod and a major army in Torshok. The siege continue. Nov 22 - I capture Torshok I take the Duke title, Torshok, and about 50 gold. I gained a bunch of Russian provinces from taking the Duke title, many of which I don’t want. Let’s finish up the wars with the leaders of the two people I just took (Torshok and Vodi) and then call it a night. Dec 15 - Bulgaria accepts my White Peace proposal, which puts Pskov out of the way of danger. May 15, 1139 - The Clergy of Novgorod Request Alms. I give as much as I can spare for the poor of Novgorod and increase the loyalty there a bit of two classes. Nov 14 - I get Increased Land Productivity in Novgorod and it moves from poor to normal. Welcome to 1140 |
Okay, Let's Look at Russia:
 As you can see, when we took the Principality of Novgorod's title, we grabbed their vassals as well. There are several provinces with stars on them. The one by Novgorod was Torshok, the actual province we captured in war. All of the others were vassals that have moved their allegiance to us. Now some fit our profile quite nicely, while some others are just other there. You can also see that province in the middle of Hungary that one of my Counts inherited. The Tribe of Cumans is quite large, as I mentioned. After further review, here is what I think happened with Bulgaria and Byzantium. At some pint in time, Bulgaria gained a claim on the King of Rus, but I'm not sure how. Maybe they grabbed it, maybe they had an event, or maybe they inherited a claim. Then they waged war with Byzantium while they were down. Grabbed several of their province s and took the King of Rus. Now all vassals loyal to the Rus title go with Bulgaria, much like we got the Novgorod vassals. They also grabbed a few provinces from Byzantium, including their former capital. |
What I need to decide now is The Russia Question.
Simply put, do I continue into Russia or go elsewhere? Its important to know that a lot of the Russian provinces are very poor. Poorer than the poor Scandinavian provinces, like Aland. For example, Ugra, which is in the far NE corner that we got, the base income is 0.24. In Trans-portage, which is now ours, it’s 0.42. Here are some provinces SE of Transportage: 0.67, 0.29, 0.67, 0.65, 0.61, 0.28, 0.41, 0.65, 0.12, 0.70. Those are all of the provinces in the NE corner of the map. That’s poor. And that’s the problem with Russia. It’s a very poor state. Now, there are some provinces with value: Tver, adjacent to three of our provinces is rocking a 3.64 - very wealthy. (Lubeck is 3.73 by comparison, and it is one of the best provinces we have). Smolensk is at a powerful 4.21. It’s next to two of our provinces. Msitisavl is at 1.98 which isn’t that bad at all - Adjacent to Minsk, our province captured by Novogorod Duchy and Orsha as well. Lyubech is at 3.64 - and although it is adjacent to Minsk, it is deep into enemy territory - a poor strategic choice for expansion. Moskva is at 2.98 and is adjacent to us in Vyazama. Pereyaslavl Zalesky, next to Vyazama as well has a powerful 4.27. Rostov, next door, has 3.64 This then, is the seduction of Russia. There are these great provinces that lead you into her, only to find crap at the end. If we expand gently, and then let the eastern provinces rot in whoever’s hands, that might be ideal. For the record, here are the provinces we grabbed from Novgorod, but not Tolshok: Minsk - Below Orsha and east of Jacwiez. Vyazma - East of V. Luki, it’s the perpendicular province at the end of our land in the east (still connected to us). Starya Russa - Nestled between Novgoroed, Pskov and V. Luki. A perfect fit to our profile Trans-portage - Adjacent to Novgorod, in the NE. Ugra - Far NE of the map, crap province. Galich Mersky - Near where Mongols often appear. Ick. Far east of Russia. Hlynov - NE of G. Mersky. Also near Mongols. So we gained seven provinces off the Duke title. Plus we got Torshok, which closed a hole in our profile. |
Feb 5 - After seeing how valuable Tver was, I decided to send a random offer of vassalization, since they are at war with Byzantium, they might flock to us as so many others have done. They have accepted, and Tver is now a part of the Duchy of Mecklemburg.
The Emperor of Byzantium is 48 year old Yevstafii of Tver, so he may not give up without a fight. Still, I am unconvinced that they have the ability to take Tver right now, especially through the 1600 Tverese military. Feb 15 0 I order a Library in Novgorod Our BB is not super high, but it is rising. We need to slow down a bit. Unless an amazing opportunity falls into our laps, we should steer clear of swallowing more land right now. March 11 - Poland’s King has died, and his son is a much better ruler without the crisis. April 1= The Duchy of Trondelag just won its independence from Sweden April 23 - A nice courtier has arrived in my court and I make him my new Marshall My second born son, Bartosz has died. He was 47 Aug 15 - We blast some rebels in Polotsk Nov 2, 1140 - At the age of 73, Wladyslaw Nakonid died of old age. He has been Beatified |
Our new ruler:
Zbigniew, Count of Danzig, Eldest Son of Wladyslaw 5/13/4/6 55 Years Old Traits: Chaste, Lazy, Generous, Arbitrary, Cruel, Modest, Sceptical, Trusting, Coward Loyalist, Crusader, Romantic Prestige: 422 Piety: 351 Rivals: Count of Memel, Zemigalians, Stettin and Slupsk, and Opole Friends: Duke of Slesvig, Count of Zhmud and Werle, and Marshal of Denmark. Ally -Count of Rugen. I send some gifts out to particularly disloyal subjects. Vassals are always a bit queasy at changes, and naturally have to grow into their new liege. Thus all vassals take a massive loyalty hit. I claim the title - King of Lithuania Our new capital is Aukshayts My fifth born child has a Diplomacy of 23, and that will help stabilize the realm, as my Chancellor. I have a combined Diplomacy skill of 36. I offer myself to a Courtier in the County of Opole to be my new bride. With the prestige bump from becoming King of Lithuania, I am now at 672, a healthy number. I will not create the Duke titles I can, saving them for a future King to use to pump up their prestige. One of the things I can immediately do is offer vassalization to Dukes. I could not do that before, because I was at the same level as them, but now when a wayward Duchy becomes available, I can try to bring it home. I give away Torshok to the new Count, and Vodi to another new Count. That drops our BB even more. I need a year or so to stabilize my people, and then I can go to war, if needed. |
Nov 16 - Luca, age 17, is now my new wife, with her 6/8/3/17 skills
Welcome to 1141 Jan 11 - I order a Civilian Harbor in Danzig Apr 21 - I lost the Loyalist trait due to an event designed to do so. “What Am I Being Loyal To, Anyway?” was the name of the event. May 25 - My new wife and I are expecting. July 17 - Tver and Byzantium are now at peace, guaranteeing our newest province’s continuing presence. Sept 1 - I grant a Title: The Count of Wolgast and Esztergom is now the Duke of Pommerania. He has great stats, is still young, and has an established family, while also being a loyalist. A perfect choice for my first Duke. The Counts of Rugen and Stettin and Slupsk are now under his control. I have practically no BB (just 3 or so). Time to take it out for a spin. I DOW the Duchy of Asturias, and then the Kingdom of Castille declared war back. We fight to regain Kurs. I order my Aukshayts troops to Kurs Castille is currently involved in a few battles with Muslems to their south, so I hope they won’t sail up some troops, but even if they do, I think I can handle some sick troops after being in a boat for a half of a year. Oct 13 - Our troops arrive in Kurs. I get white peace offers from the Duke of Asturias. Heh. Nope. Nov 6 - Kurs falls. I offer peace. Nov 10 - The Duke of Asturias accepts our peace proposal. We are still at war technically with Castille, but I doubt we’ll come to blows. It was quick. Kurs needs some investment. I order a Sawmill built here. I would grant Kurs to my fourth born son, but he is my Marshal. My fifth born is my Chancellor. First and third are dead. My second born son and heir is my Diocese Bishop. I’m stuck without a son to give to Kurs. So I grant Kurs to the new Countess. |
Nov 17 - A week later I get a major event:
A Vassal of Mine had broken free and is trying to spark civil war. I gain Realm Duress. While I have Realm Duress, I get -3 diplomacy, -2 intrigue, -1 stewardship and -5 prestige per month. That’s nasty. Our stability drops by tow, but I;m not sure how to raise is back up - it’s never been above 0. The Count of Memel has rebelled and we are now at war. I order the Aukshayts forces to Memel. Dec 27 - Our forces arrive in Memel. Jan 16 - I get an event. The Count of Hlynov has declared independence. I decide to let him go. I cannot concentrate on a vassal so far away. Jan 24 - We win in Memel and begin the siege. Feb 18 - I have a son, and we name him Havel. I also gain a new rival, the Count of Pskov Feb 20 - Memel fell. We take it in peace. I decide to give Memel to my daughter, the new Countess of Memel. The family tie should make her a more loyal vassal. Because we took it in self defense and then gave it away, our BB did not take a major hit. I need to steer clear of any war other than our own for the next while, in order to weather out the storm. Money will be spent on appeasing vassals, not on buildings. |
Mar 17 - I get another event. The Count of Trans-portage has declared independence. No war. I let them go peacefully. I could move the Novgorod army over and blast them, but I don’t care about the cheap province.
Mar 22 - I get an event, and one of my courtiers flees to another court. May 5 - We are expecting another child May 7 - Castille declined my White Peace proposal Aug 28 - I get an event to invest some money in my realm. I do, putting over 2000 gold into my stability, but I only had a 50/50 chance of success and it didn’t work. Welcome to 1143 I made it through the Civil War Crisis, Year One. Jan 29 - We had a son and will name him Kazimierz April 15 - I will be sending the first son with my new wife to the nannies to raise. May 23 - Theives Guild forms in Aukshayts |
Aug 8 - We are now at war. It’s a long chain, so get ready:
The County of Opole, which if you remember is a rival, DOWd us. Their liege, the Duchy of Greater Poland follows and DOWs us. The Duchy is a part of Sweden, so Sweden DOWs us The County of Rugen retalites, as our ally, and DOWs Sweden Their liege, the Duke of Pomerania DOWs Sweden Rugen DOWs the Duchy of Greater Poland. Pomerania DOWs them as well. Rugen DOWs Opole Pomerania does as well. Then the ally of Opole, which did not join them in their initial attack, the County of Poznanskie, DOWs back against the people who DOWs Opole. Okay, following all of that? Basically, I am at war with Sweden. Let me look through my claims, see if I have anything that can help us. I have no claims to dial up against Sweden. I order Lubeck forces to the Swedish capital Danzig forces to the Duchy capital (adjacent to Danzig) I spend a lot of prestige to grab the Duke of Greater Poland title. I then Create the titles of Duke of Livonia, Prussia and Esthonia, in order to jack my prestige back up. If I go to war, I intend to win |
Aug 20 - Our Danzig forces arrive in the Duchy’s capital.
Sept 12 - 3500 men arrive to protest our siege of Gnieznienskie I accept peace with Opole for 900 gold and Pozan. For 300 gold. Oct 2 - We win in Gniez. I get news that my wife is pregnant agin. And I get the “You have Fallen in Love with you Wife” event again. Oct 14 - Gniez falls. I take the Duke of Greater Poland. Gniez is back to the now Count. We gain vassals in Lubusz, Poznanskie and Opole. Oct 23 - My troops arrive in the Swedish captial and begin a siege Nov 7 - We capture Vastergotland Nov 22 - Sweden has rejected my gracious proposal. Dec 27 - I captured Smaland Jan 12, 1144 - We capture Ostergotland If they reject this, then I go to war for real. Jan 20 - They decline my peace offer, I just wanted a White Peace. I send troops to more Swedish provinces. |
I grab a claim on Hamburg.
Feb 10 - 8000 men arrive in Lubeck. They will march for Hamburg. Feb 22 - We win in Hamburg and begin the siege. Mar 10 - Hamburg falls. I order my troops onward to Bremen. Mar 17 - Sweden decliners a peace offer for Hamburg. They need humiliated. April 3 - We capture Bremen. April 24 - I capture Halsingland. April 29 - They decline another peace offer. I pillage their lands. May 7 - I capture another province, Osnabruck May 30 - Munster falls. June 29 - We have a daughter and name her Grazyna July 3 - Another peace proposal declind. Aug 7 - Sweden is pushing us back in Munster and defeats our army. Sept 6 - We drive 1500 Swedish back out of Bremen Sept 23 - They have retaken Osnabruck, but I have defeated a besieging army in their captial. Oct 15 - I win about three quick battles in Germany where I ordered a few troops to march. Nov 3 - We lose in Hamburg Nov 15 - We win in Hamburg after sending in a second army. Jan 13 - I drive away the Swedish from Holstein. Feb 15 - I stop the 1200 Swedish from taking Ostergotland March 20 - I’ve been winning a few skirmishes, no more major battles. Mar 26 - I recapture Osnabruck April 4 - My youngest son dies |
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