December 26, 1474
Trade Collapse
It is hard to fathom, but for some reason the amount of income from trade has simply collapsed. The cargoes just don't seem to be landed. Is it smuggling? Is it merchants going elsewhere? We do not know, but things are grim...
King Arnold II believes nothing can be done.
Gelre gets 'Trade Collapse' for five years, giving the following effects:
National Trade Income Modifier: -20.0%
October 10, 1475
Diplomatic Technology Advance
Basic Financial Instruments (5)
Overseas trade is very risky, but also highly profitable. The development of financial instruments like letters of credit will help reduce the risk, increasing our profits.
Bonus Effect:
Trade Range: 20
Trade Efficiency Increased by +10%
January 1, 1476
Military Technology Advance!
The Limber (7)
Artillery had been documented in Europe since the thirteenth century, but due to its lack of mobility, it had very limited battlefield use. Thee development of the Limber in the 1470s allowed guns to become more mobile and thus more useful.
Bonus Effect:
Military Tactics: +0.25
Infantry Fire: +0.10
Artillery Fire: +1.00
Enables Large Cast Bronze Mortar
Enables Houfnice.
May 29, 1476
Herald from Brunswick
The great statesman Heinrich IV von Welf of Brunswick has died. Our Royal Marriage with Brunswick has ended.
May 31, 1476
Herald from Brunswick
We entered a
Royal Marriage with Brunswick and their regency council while they await young August von Welf to become old enough to ascend.
July 13, 1476
Influential Preacher
A young devout preacher has spoken out recently about how great our adherence to the teachings of the Holy Father in Rome is. This can only be good for our future.
King Arnold II believes he'll make a nice bishop.
Gain 5 Prestige (35)
November 5, 1476
Herald from England
Diplomat Saelckink has reached maximum value in relations with England. He will return home.
Diplomat Gelkom has been sent to Milan to improve relations.
November 14, 1476
Byzantine Refugees
My Lord, Byzantine has fallen to the Saracens. The last bastion of the Roman Empire, the City of Constantine, is now in Turkish hands. As Christendom reels from the shock, Byzantine refugees flock to the cities and courts of Europe, bringing with them old manuscripts of classical knowledge, tracts by Aristotle, Plato and Galen, and a thorough knowledge of both Latin and Greek. Inviting these refugees to Gelre might provide and enormous boost to our own efforts in the fields of culture and science.
King Arnold II urges them to come to Gelre.
Gelre gets 'Byzantine Influx' for 30 years, giving the following effects:
Technology Cost: -10.0%
Lose 50 Diplomatic Power
Lose 30 Administrative Power
Gain 5 Prestige (40)
December 11, 1476
Herald from Münster
Münster has declared war upon their enemy Cologne.
January 21, 1477
Administrative Technology Advance!
Noble Republic (7)
The notion of a noble oligarchy has existed, since well, at least the Roman times, and remained popular in some parts of the world. Now this idea is once more gaining popularity among those who matter.
Bonus Effect:
Allows Another Group of Ideas
Allows Noble Reublic
Economic Ideas Advance!
We unlocked the Economic Ideas idea group.
April 28, 1477
Border Friction
'Our rightful provinces are held by other nations and our government seems to be making no effort to recover them! What use are they anyway?' proclaims the broadsheet. Widespread dissatisfaction with our failure to recover our claimed provinces is sweeping the nation.
King Arnold II believes a policy change is in order.
Utrecht's opinion of Gelre changed by -50.
June 18, 1477
The Gelren Conquest of Utrecht
King Arnold II has heard the complaints from the broadsheet. Murmurs going through the streets of Arnheim that the new King is weak and afraid of conflict. With the backing of Brunswick and Bohemia, King Arnold II will take Utrecht and inflict punishment on Münster in the process.
Münster is still involved in their war with Cologne, with Utrecht supporting. Utrecht has been left unguarded.
To war!
October 14, 1477
Herald from Aragon
Bronze Cannons
The bronze cannon has made its entrance on the battlefield and is here to stay. The materials needed to feed the growing cannon-making industries have lead to an explosion in demand for copper over the last few years and prices have risen as a result.
January 2, 1478
We have lost our claim on Bréda!
Diplomat Saelckink has been sent to Burgundy to fabricate a claim on Bréda.
July 14, 1478
Improvements in Government Technology
A few local workers in the administration have discovered what they claim is a more efficient way of handling documents. Obviously they do now know what they are talking about, but can it hurt to let them try their new ideas?
King Arnold II wishes to spare no expenses.
Gain 0.50 inflation
Gain 50 Administrative Power
September 24, 1478
Siege Victory!
After 451 days we have won the siege of Utrecht!
October 30, 1478
A Military Leader has Died!
General Luuk Sweerts is dead! He served us faithfully and well. Only the finest funeral will do for such a colossus of combat.
January 2, 1479
Herald from Milan
Diplomat Gelkom is returning home after maximizing relations with Milan.
January 3, 1479
We have lost our claim on Hollande.
January 7, 1479
Diplomat Saelckink is on his way to Burgundy to fabricate a claim on Hollande.
March 5, 1479
We decline.
June 22, 1479
Casus Belli
We have gained the Casus Belli against Cologne. They hold the province of Osnabrück, which we have a claim on.
September 23, 1479
Herald from Münster
Saxony entered a Military Alliance with our enemy Münster.
December 29, 1479
Corrupt Bureaucracy
Bureaucracy sometimes just doesn't work. The wrong men in the wrong places can lead to corrupt practices which hurt the country's income. Even worse, it will take a few years to get the proper paperwork to change it.
Gelre gets 'Corrupt Bureaucracy' for five years, giving the following effects:
National Tax Modifier: -2.5%
January 2, 1480
We have lost our claim on Osnabrück. We have also lost our Casus Belli against Cologne.
February 5, 1480
Siege Victory!
We have won the Siege of Ostfriesland after 481 days.
East Frisia Accepts Peace
East Frisia has accepted peace to end their part in the war.
Terms:
East Frisia will annul all treaties with Utrecht.
East Frisia will release Oldenburg as a sovereign state.
East Frisia will pay 36 ducats.
Gelre gains 3.0 Prestige (49)
February 6, 1480
Münster Accepts Peace
Münster have reached a peace accord to end their part in the war.
Terms:
Münster will cede Friesland to Gelre.
Münster will become a vassal of Gelre.
Gelre gains 6.0 Prestige (55)
Province
Friesland
Base Tax: 6.0
Production: Fish
We have spent 60 Administrative Power to turn Friesland into a core. It will take 12 months.
February 7, 1480
End of the Gelren Conquest of Utrecht (June 18, 1477 – February 7, 1480)
Utrecht has accepted King Arnold II's generous peace offer.
Terms:
We demand their full annexation.
Gelre gains 3.5 Prestige. (58)
Province
Utrecht
Base Tax: 7.0
Production: Cloth
We have spent 70 Administrative Power to turn Utrecht into a core. It will take 12 months.
Mission Complete!
Improve Our Prestige
Gain 1 Stability (+1)
Central Europe as a whole.
Gelre up close.