The Georgian Conquest of Van
If there's anything that King Erekle's predecessors didn't do that he has aspired to, it is to take the fight to Qara Qoyunlu, who have long been a bastion of safety for the Shia sect of Islam directly south of the Georgian border.
Off and on for nearly 170 years Armenian patriots have attempted to rise up to take their provinces back from the Qara Qoyunlu horde, but have failed every time. King Erekle has read the histories and feels the plight of the Armenians, being forced to live among a people that oppress them. However, King Erekle does not wish to free the Armenians as a sovereign nation, he wishes to take their provinces and integrate them into Georgia, making them free citizens and giving them the same liberties as his own Georgian people have.
Qara Qoyunlu has been a powerful entity in the middle east. They have multiple vassals: Haasa, Aq Qoyunlu, Tabarestan, Shammar and Shivran. They have had a strong alliance with Golden Horde, an enemy that King Erekle's forefathers were quite familiar with, for nearly 150 years. It is the appeal of moving south into Qara Qoyunlu's territory that sparked Erekle to form an alliance with the Egyptian Mamluks.
King Erekle has called upon his banners. The 1st Army in Samtskhe, the 2nd Army in Khundzia and the 3rd Army in Sivas. The Commonwealth, Muscovy and his new allies, the Mamluks have agreed to join the war.
February 1611
The 1st Army arrives in Van, while the 3rd Army sieges Erzincan and the 2nd Army battles in Shirvan.
May 1611
After a shocking loss in Shirvan by combined Shirvan and Qara Qoyunlu forces, the 2nd Army has retreated to Crimea. The 1st Army left Van to track down the Shirvan Army in the Georgian province of Khundzia.
Aq Qoyunlu has also been integrated by Qara Qoyunlu.
Event: Successful Bureaucracy
An empire of this size needs a lot of bureaucrats, perhaps offering a sign up bonus will encourage their numbers to grow.
King Erekle decides to do whatever it takes. -163.03 ducats, +50 administrative power
Military Technology Advance: Tenaille (14)
It was difficult to fire around curved walls, thus once attackers got close enough to the fortification, the ability of other parts of the defenses to provide flanking fire was nullified. The development of star-shaped bastions allowed every part of a wall to be supported from other parts.
Bonus Effect: Combat Width +2, Infantry Fire +0.50, Enables Reformed Eastern Hussars, Eastern Caracole and Southern Cossacks, can now build Tenaille.
Economic Ideas Advance: Nationalistic Enthusiasm
The supporting of our troops is vital to national defense. With our excellent administration we are able to secure generous discounts for our supplies.
Bonus Effect: Land Maintenance Modifier -10%
October 1611
We have won the siege of Erzincan after 248 days.
Our armies are struggling to cope with smaller detachments from Qara Qoyunlu.
November 1611
We have entered new royal marriages with Muscovy and Spain.
April 1612
After 187 days we have won the siege of Erzurum.
May 1612
After 156 days we have won the siege of Yerevan.
Conversion Successful!
We have finally managed to convert the heretics of Bolu to the one and only true faith!
A missionary heads to Bozok.
June 1612
Adana is now considered part of Georgian patrimony.
An Heir to the Throne!
Giorgi (5/1/3) has been born! The succession is safe.
September 1612
Golden Horde accepts peace and will pay Georgia 76 ducats.
October 1612
Conversion Successful!
We have finally managed to convert the heretics of Ankara to the one and only true faith.
A missionary heads to Adana.
November 1612
After 294 days we have won the siege of Ganja!
December 1612
Event: Growth of Cities attracts Serfs
It seems as if serfs are moving out of the provinces and aim to earn a living in the capital. This is creating turmoil in the country, but our capital may benefit in the long run.
King Erekle accepts this.
-1.0 Base Tax in Tarki, +25% Local Autonomy in Tarki, +1.0 Base Tax in Kartli.
After 156 days we have won the siege of Van!
March 1613
After 94 days we have won the siege of Nakhchivan.
June 1613
We have lost the siege of Ustyurt!
July 1613
After 249 days we have won the siege of Melikates
December 1613
Event: Struggle Without, Struggle Within
Sometimes, we see conflicts on the international stage mirrored within our own borders. Today, we received news that our war with the Sunnis has brought about a religious conflict in Bozok, where the Sunni and Orthodox faiths exist side by side. People ho used to be neighbors and friends are attacking each other over what they perceive as the differences between us and our adversaries
-4,000 Manpower, Bozok is now Orthodox.
August 1614
Conversion Successful!
We have finally managed to convert the heretics of Adana to the one and only true faith!
December 1614
Event: War-Weary Population
Our peasants are tired of our war and our soldiers are exhausted. This may have some reprecussions on our ability to finish this way in a positive way.
+2.00 war exhaustion.
February 1615
Event: The Weeping Song
The war has taken a heavy toll upon the mothers and wives of our nation, and as you pass this ragged old widow where she sits, her faced buried deep in her palmed hands, your heir asks: 'Oh Father, why are all the women weeping?'
King Erekle tells young Giorgi that they are all weeping for their men.
-40.00 ducats, -2.00 war exhaustion.
April 1616
We spend 125 administrative power to raise stability to +2.
May 1616
Event: National Bank Pays Dividends
Several shrewd loans have led to very good profits at our National Bank. The bank is hiking its dividend and buying back some of its shares.
+80.68 ducats
September 1616
After 421 days we have won the siege of Shirvan.
It should be noted, that despite the lack of updates month to month, Muscovy and the Commonwealth have been taking Qara Qoyunlu provinces left and right. We are slowly but surely wearing them down.
December 1616
Event: Land Technology Research Useless
Several prominent men in our country are pointing out that the path we are going when it comes to army research is utterly foolish and will amount to nothing. They demand that we stop the current approach and stick with what was good enough for our fathers.
King Erekle ignores them. -10 Prestige (86)
December 1616
Muscovy has accepted peace with Qara Qoyunlu.
February 1617
After 121 days we have won the siege of Ardabil.
End of the Georgian Conquest of Van (January 1611 – February 1617)
After six years of bloody war, King Erekle and Qara Yusuf II have reached a peace agreement.
Qara Qoyunlu will cede Van, Erzincan, Yerevan, Erzurum and Ganja to Georgia.
Georgia gains 7.5 prestige (100)
Mission Complete: Conquer Van!
+10 prestige (100), +15 administrative power.
A look at our new holdings in Qara Qoyunlu territory.