So here we are. Gelre is in a very interesting place as the Protestant Reformation begins south of us. We have a much larger, bigger rival in Burgundy directly to our left. We are desperately trying to gather back our rightful provinces so that we may become The Netherlands. We are so close to taking the low lands for ourselves, but the task is so very large.
February 8, 1506
I WAS WRONG!
Herald from Castile
They tell us about the event of The Iberian Wedding where among the possible options they have decided to bind their dynasty to Aragon's. Aragon is now in a Personal Union under Castile and will go where we go.
This does not bode well with Burgundy and Castille's alliance. Right now Castile and Burgundy combined have around 79,000 troops, while we have around 60,000 between ourselves and France. If we can get a Military Alliance with Austria in 1508 when their truce with Burgundy expires, that will drum up another 35,000 troops and hopefully some of the lesser HRE kingdoms.
March 3, 1506
We can no longer claim that Köln would be a rightful part of our realm.
April 5, 1506
Herald from Tyrone
Diplomat Gelkom is returning home after maximizing relations with Tyrone.
May 24, 1506
Diplomat Gelkom has been sent to Milan to improve relations.
August 13, 1506
Priests are Preaching Heresy!
Rumors talk about several priests who have been preaching a heresy which is clearly against our one true faith. The local populace seem to follow their words, and this may become troublesome in the future.
King Arnold II ignores the heresy. He's not particularly inclined to the church these days.
Lose 5 Prestige (18)
Friestland gets 'Heresy' for 10 years, giving the following effects:
Local Unrest: +2.00
Local Tax Modifier: -33.0%
Local Manpower Modifier: -40.0%
Monthly Autonomy Change: +0.05
August 27, 1506
Diplomat Saelckink is on his way to Burugundy to fabricate a claim on Flandres.
October 13, 1506
A Star Fort is under construction in Osnabrück.
Military Alliance
We have re-entered a Military Alliance per Brunswick's request.
November 7, 1506
Administrative Technology Advance!
Workshop & Courthouse
The problem with a hereditary local nobility is that they tend to value their local interests over those of the rest of the nation. We need to steadily expand the reach of the government, which begins with two of the most important areas of administration, justice and taxation.
Bonus Effect:
Can now build Courthouse
Can now build Workshop
National Decisions
King Arnold II has passed the Act of Uniformity, giving the following effects:
Missionary Strength: +1.0%
March 4, 1507
We have lost our claim on Nassau.
April 2, 1507
July 16, 1507
A Courthouse is under construction in Gelre.
September 4, 1507
Diplomat Saelckink has been sent to Ottomans to improve relations.
October 30, 1507
Bible Translated
A priest in Utrecht has translated the Bible into our language, and has started to distribute copies of it to nearby villages throughout Utrecht.
King Arnold II believes that this is fantastic news! He wants the Bibles spread far and wide throughout all of Gelre.
The religion in Utrecht changes to Protestant
Catholicism Gain +3.0% Reform Desire
The Papal State's opinion of Gelre changed by -40.
Brunswick, Oldenburg, East Frisia, Hesse, Cologne and Burgundy's opinion of Gelre changed by -10.
November 16, 1507
We have converted to Protestantism.
A Missionary has been sent to Osnabrück.
Courthouses are under construction in Utrecht, Westfalen and Berg.
February 5, 1508
Herald from Brunswick
Brunswick broke their alliance with us!
April 5, 1508
Herald from Milan
Diplomat Gelkom is on his way home after we have maximized relations with Milan.
April 11, 1508
Diplomat Gelkom is on his way to Brunswick to fabricate a claim on Hanover.
May 11, 1508
Military Alliance
We have entered a Military Alliance with Austria.
August 16, 1508
Comet Sighted
Peasants are always superstitious, and the appearance of a comet in the sky has caused panic among our people. They are convinced that this is a sign that the end of times is near or that something bad is going to happen.
Lose 1 Stability (-1)
September 10, 1508
Conversion Successful!
We have finally managed to convert the heretics of Osnabrück to the one and only true faith!
A Missionary is on his way to Friesland.
January 13, 1509
A Trade Depot is under construction in Utrecht.
January 30, 1509
Our Merchants are Doing Poorly
Although previously our adventuring merchants were doing good business, things have recently taken a turn for the worse.
King Arnold II believes belts will need tightening in these trying times.
Gelre gets 'Merchants Doing Poorly' for five years, giving the following effects:
Diplomatic Technology Cost: +2.5%
April 19, 1509
Herald from Denmark
We entered a Royal Marriage with Denmark.
May 30, 1509
Military Alliance
We have entered a Military Alliance with Denmark.
June 20, 1509
A Call to Arms!
Denmark has called us to war against Sweden, Livonian Order and The Hansa.
We accept!