Destiny of Empires II [Story Thread]

[Exploit]

The Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI listened to the reports coming in from his various advisors. The Byzantine Empire had become an unstoppable juggernaut annexing more of Arabia and using the spoils of war to further advance their technological lead over every other nation. The Byzantine army of riflemen and cataphracts were far superior to any known army but the German nobles were demanding action as the Byzantine intermarriages with the Germans were allowing the Byzantines to heavily press land claims on traditional German lands. Reports were that the Byzantine Orthodox churches were orchestrating the land claims and that this entire land claim effort was spearheaded by the priests of the Sistine Chapel.

To counter the Byzantine land grab threat the Germans had developped an extensive culture of law that all German nobles had become adept at to safeguard their family lands. An overly ambitious German family has used that same culture of law to expand their holdings by laying claim to a town in Alsace which had angered the King of France which threatened a centuries old peace agreement between France and Germany.

Meanwhile the Russian king had died without leaving an heir which had left the Russian lands in turmoil. A group of Russian nobles had led a large army of Russian horse archers and trebuchet to the German border obviously intent on invading German lands. German knights, landsknecht and musketmen had easily crushed the would be Russian invaders with only minimal losses however the army was in an ever increasing state of alertness as potential threats were being perceived on all borders.

[LzPrst]

As the Alsace Town crisis bloomed into a full-scale revolution, King Louis X continued his attempts to shore up power, centralize government and liberalize trade. Yet the nobles and even the church resisted, wishing to keep their old privileges. Though any King worth his salt knows that internal affairs are always important, neglected external affairs are what causes nations to fall.

Thus King Louis X sent envoys to his neighbours:

To Charles VI
The peace between our empires has lasted for many years, and our rulers have considered it one of the cornerstones of the nation's prosperity. The current troubles caused by loss of French farmlands has spiralled my nation into chaos. Therefore I hope that you would reaffirm your commitment to peace in Europe, as well as make a promise that we work to return these lands to France.
Your continued friendship
Louis X

[Exploit]

The Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI, King of Germany, sends an emissary to Basil II to negotiate a Russian Stabilization Treaty.

Greetings King Basil II,

The recent death of the Russian leader with the lack of a legitimate successor has left a situation in which petty Russian nobles are seeking to disrupt the centuries of peace which have existed in Europe in the hopes of expanding their land holdings.

To re-establish the regional peace along our mutual border, we are proposing that Rome annex the southern Russian cities of Kiev and Kherson while Germany will annex Novgorod and Moscow along with the lesser villages in the north. Germany has no intentions of contesting Roman expansion in the south provided there is no Roman interference with Germany's expansion in the north.

Such an agreement will benefit both of our kingdoms, as it will return the stability of our mutual borders while allowing our kingdoms to more easily defend our other borders from potential threats.

Charles VI

[Exploit]

With no response from Basil II to his proposed treaty and the French agitating on Germany's western border, Charles VI decided it was best to put a quick and decisive end to the Russian threat on his eastern border.

Charles VI personally led his elite knights to a swift victory by conquering Novgorod and forcing the Russian nobles to capitulate to German rule.

With the Russian threat dealt with, Charles VI turned his attention to the overly demanding French while keeping a wary eye on the silent Roman empire.

[Exploit]

Pursuant to German mercantile policy on foreign trade and to facilitate the military security of German borders from potential threats, all open border agreements deemed non-essential have hereby been revoked by order of the Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI, King of Germany.

[OzzyKP]

To King Charles VI,

We apologize for our late response. We heartily applaud your decisive victory against the unruly Russians. Expect no complaints from us.

- Emperor Basil II

[1889]

A Hundred Years of Solitude

Over several millennia as a ruling family, the Gupta Dynasty had achieved a degree of respect and authority that is hard to express in English. The royal advisors may have disagreed with the King’s decision to renew war with the Arabs but none of them ever considered challenging his authority. Their only thought was to put aside their misgivings and set about implementing his instructions. Taxes were collected, soldiers were called up and trained, supplies were requisitioned, roads were built and armies began to march.

The once mighty Arab nation had by then been reduced to a tiny rump state. While the city was not much to look at the While the Arab nation may have been in a sorry state the Indian commanders quickly learned to respect the skill and determination of the Arab garrisons. The cities were well placed for defense and the Arab soldiers were well trained, highly motivated and accustomed to privations of warfare and the desert itself. The Indian soldiers detested the heat, the bugs, and the harsh sunlight. They looked up wearily day after day at the ramshackle hilltop outpost they were tasked with capturing and saw little worth fighting for. Moral dwindled faster than the water in their canteens and the Indian commanders found they could do little but established a siege.

The King’s foolish bid for glory had flopped but that did not make him any more susceptible to good advice. Again and again, he rejected the idea of recalling his forces and renegotiating peace. But he did secretly accept help from the Byzantines. His forces were ordered to make way for Byzantine soldiers that marched forward, swept the defenders aside then presented the burning wreckage as a gift to the king as they departed the desert.

By then Arab settlers had already established another outpost several miles further inland. Even with victory now in sight, the weary and dispirited army moved slowly, established a siege, crushed the last resisters and destroyed the final capitol of the Arab refugees. All that was left then was for the survivors to make the long walk out of the wilderness and back to the vibrant empire that had forgotten them so long ago.

[LzPrst]

The 2nd French Revolution


Following the first power-redistributions caused by the Alsace Town Crisis, the King changed his power-base from the wealthy landowners to city dwellers, specifically merchants, artists, craftsmen, thinkers and priests. These specialists became increasingly important in the economy and the freedom of enterprise they enjoyed spurred great progress on many levels as their competition diversified and expanded France's economy from one of goods to one of markets. Foreigners from far-off nations brought trade goods of great quality to the wealthy French markets and French goods carried by French Merchants crossed the great oceans in search of individual profit.

As these specialists overtook the traditional barter and goods economy, their influence in the courts rose as well. When the King wrote out taxes to pay for colonial adventures, the specialists demanded to be included in the decisionmaking process. Realising that without the specialists' money the Kingdom would collapse, King Louis X gradually devolved power from the throne to a series of high councillors consisting of guild representatives in Paris. The model quickly spread to other cities in the French Kingdom and soon the other cities of the nation sent their own group of representatives to Paris to be represented in the King's court.

The laws were then codified into a document that after many revisions was named the Constitution of 1744. It granted the guild councils direct rule over many parts of the economy and legal systems, reducing the King's role to leader in war, master of foreign policy and protector of the faithful.

[Exploit]

German newspapers are reporting that the Northern Brigades advance into Viking territory has been delayed as the 3rd musket company and the 3rd cannon battery were waylaid by a Russian revolt in Novgorod while moving to reinforce the German Teutonic Knights.

King Charles VI is personally leading the Northern Brigade thrust into Viking lands, which has been very successful. The Viking city of Bjørgvin has already been captured and is expected to be pacified shortly. The Viking counter attack was easily defeated and little resistance remains outside of major cities.

[Hercules]

Phillip V of Spain announces that Spain has been attacked by Alfred of England for no reason. And appeals for other nations for assistance.

[Dick76]

For war there is always reason, perhaps Philip must look back into the past and see what may have caused "dogs of war" in his land.

[Hercules]

Simple courtesy, discussion and then agreement regarding settling of territory in South America could have avoided misunderstanding. But Alfred chose a belligerent path.

If you desperately want that coastal site you can have it.

[Dick76]

Communiqué of the British government: We sent you the peace conditions in Madrid, we hope for a quick response. England does not want to fight in Europe, England, European countries do not want to be weak because Asia is so strong. Better we be united otherwise we better start learning Chinese

[Hercules]

First your 'peace conditions' arrived in Spain during a period of civ 'static' storms. On receipt, your peace conditions amount to the emasculation of Spanish territorial influence. So much for your 'don't want to fight in europe' proclamation, but you still want important Spanish cities in Africa as part of a peace deal in addition to the two you captured.

Secondly you did not follow civil negotiating procedures regarding territorial settling in South America.

I think it is important the world knows how the English King (He is not a British King yet) does business.

[Dick76]

Communiqué of the British government:
The world knows how England does business. All agreements between Alfred and his partners observed impeccably by England. Spain says it has received a British offer of peace too late, England said the proposal remains on one turn. England was tired of writing proposals to Spain for understanding but no answer came, which offended "good old England". Our hand has his sword and will not go without the quotation from most suppliers. The British government calls Philip V to carefully reconsider its position. Because Britain would not hesitate to seek total victory in the war.
P.S. It is always nice to play against someone who knows the history. I know that the year is early the use of Britain or GreathBritain, but to me it sounded better